2011-12 NHL Season

[Maz]

I am going to reiterate the fact that he put himself into a vulnerable position after Engelland committed to the hit making it appear to look like a shot to the head

Kruger is out indefinitely with a concussion

A concussion does not always mean a shot to the head. Any sudden and forceful movement of the head can cause the brain to impact the side of the skull, as can the landing from a hit rather than the hit itself.

[BigBubba]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=607696

[IceCap]

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Sodboy13]

That's another 20 years tacked onto the Cup drought, easily.

[Kevin W.]

That's another 20 years tacked onto the Cup drought, easily.

Will those 20 years finally be the impetus for Canada to apologize for Bieber? I think they still owe us for Celine Dion.

[NEW.ERA]

Bieber is a tool of the record labels. We all know he wants to sing awesome folk music. Buble skated with the Nucks, which was funny.

[Maz]

That's another 20 years tacked onto the Cup drought, easily.

Will those 20 years finally be the impetus for Canada to apologize for Bieber? I think they still owe us for Celine Dion.

And Nickelback.

[BigMac12]

That's another 20 years tacked onto the Cup drought, easily.

Will those 20 years finally be the impetus for Canada to apologize for Bieber? I think they still owe us for Celine Dion.

And Nickelback.

They still got 2 gold medals, that's got to count for something.

[The_Admiral]

The hell did McGrattan do to get thrown out of the game? Blow Jackets scored three power play goals on the major. Don't see that every day.

[crashcarson15]

The hell did McGrattan do to get thrown out of the game? Blow Jackets scored three power play goals on the major. Don't see that every day.

This is only the third time in franchise history that the Blue Jackets have 3 power play goals in a road game.

Thanks, McGrattan!

[Sport]

It was a boarding from behind on Jared Boll in front of the Predators bench. Think Claude Lemieux on Kris Draper, but not nearly as bad.

That was the three fastest goals in Blue Jackets franchise history, by the way.

[The_Admiral]

Signing Zach Stortini, waiving Zach Stortini, and then signing Bryan McGrattan was one of the more puzzling sequences of transactions this year. I thought their whole modus operandi was to somehow clutch, grab, and obstruct without ever committing penalties. The Predators aren't even very good at their way of not being very good.

[oddball]

No, that was a headshot, and the onus is on Engelland not to hit the guy in the head. Which he did. After he leapt off the ice.

And why oh why was he not penalized for the hit, anyway? Therein lies the folly of the instigator rule: you shouldn't be rewarded with a power play because your teammate did something so egregious that the other team had to forgo the silly-ass Mutually Assured Slapfighting of "The Hockey Code" and just start kicking the crap out of him. Hawks should've killed the penalty, don't get me wrong, but at least it was a nice gesture to see from a team that all too often lets opponents get away with all the physicality they want.

For a team whose franchise player may have had his career ended by lack of respect for the game, the Penguins have a rather tone-deaf approach.

I am going to reiterate the fact that he put himself into a vulnerable position after Engelland committed to the hit making it appear to look like a shot to the head, and leave it at that. If he had remained in an upright, normal position the "main point of impact" would have been at the shoulder, and it would have been a more full-bodied hit. Should Engelland have gotten a charging call? Yes. I was surprised we got a powerplay out of that. At very least it should have been a 4-on4. To me this looks like a combination of "not enough punishment was done at the time so we're gonna make up for it" combined with Shanahan going "it was close enough, so let's suspend him anyway to send a message."

In any case, what's done is done, the point is moot. I will say, though, that your accusation of the pens being "tone-deaf" in respect to head shots and physicality is false.

He put himself in a vulnerable position? Um he was skating with the puck, explain to anyone some of your "logic" on how he put himself in a vulnerable position. That when he was going for the puck the Pittsburgh player grabbed him (an interference penalty) and turned him? I'm sorry, arguing that a player who is going for the puck puts himself in a vulnerable position is a horrible argument and baseless especially when you actually watch the play and see that Engelland had one intention and that was to hurt the guy who he hurt. You don't launch yourself in the air at another player unless you are attempting to hit the head and hurt the other player. He should've got between 8-10 games. I'm sorry, but this whole idea of not punishing guys who don't have a history is pure crap. If it's intentional as this was, then any player deserves to be hit with a huge suspension.

[The_Admiral]

Whoever the sideline candy is for Fox Sports Ohio looks terrific in a sweater. Kind of an Erin Andrews vibe. Everything else about the Jackets' production is unremarkable. At least they have two good things going for them!

If you catch my drift!

And I think you do!

EDIT: 5-4 Columbus already. Man, if you're gonna blow this game to the shotless wonders, it's really not your year.

EDIT: The Blue Jackets' slogan this year, because every team has to have a stupid slogan every year, seems to be "Gotta See It Live!", but I don't know if it's a long i, that I need to be there in person, or a short i, that I need to witness its existence before it dies. I really don't feel that I have to do either.

EDIT: oh good the Jets game is back on.

EDIT: Wheeler scored. Jets are winning games in spite of themselves. What is the point of this year, really.

[The_Admiral]

Man, if you're gonna blow this game to the shotless wonders, it's really not your year.

[Kramerica Industries]

With nine ticks left.

Impressive. Not that one point was going to make any difference for the Jackets.

[crashcarson15]

WHAT. THE. .

[habsfan1]

You would think that Jacques Martin's departure would give the Habs some new life, but nope. Randy Cunneyworth is now 0-4. Lord Jesus.

[The_Admiral]

I love dropping in on Winnipeg home games. I wish this could last forever. These are the loudest 15,000 people in hockey.

I don't know just how injured they are, but between last night and tonight, the Canadiens are a miserable team. Just awful. Not even francophone coaching could save this thing.

[habsfan1]

I love dropping in on Winnipeg home games. I wish this could last forever. These are the loudest 15,000 people in hockey.

I don't know just how injured they are, but between last night and tonight, the Canadiens are a miserable team. Just awful. Not even francophone coaching could save this thing.

Gomez and Gionta are injured. Markov hasn't played forever. Cammalleri is having a weak season so far. I can't believe David Desharnais, a 4th liner last year has more points than him. It's going to suck, but they are not going to make the playoffs with weak play like that. Right now, there's a pierced hole in their boat and they are going to sink if nothing gets done.

As for the language issue towards the coach, I don't care if he doesn't speak a word of french. Just get someone who will make the team win and I'll be satisfied.