The 2013 NHL Season Thread

[Kramerica Industries]

Well, at least I was wise enough to know that a 6-1 start to the season was no sure-fire sign that the Lightning were bound for a great season.

Four straight losses, and if not for the canceled game in Boston yesterday, they're returning home back at .500, and all the progress lost. This franchise never ceases to find ways to throw cold water in my face.

[Brass]

8-1-1 feels mighty good right about now.

[The_Admiral]

http://didtheblackhawksgetashutout.com/

JUST DID.

[FGM13]

How about Edmonton has no business holding Nail Yakupov's rights?

I wanted CBJ to get the first pick for two reasons:

1:Edmonton didn't need Yakupov, they needed Murray.

2. I wanted CBJ to have a chance and to not get the rug pulled out from under them.

[NJTank]

Devils two games against Penguins home and home two wins and zero points for Crosby.

I say that is a great weekend

[IceCap]

I guess it's all finally catching up to the Beej faithful, eh?

[infrared41]

It's been a while since I last followed the NHL so I'm a little confused. Can someone explain to me what the Vegas oddsmakers saw in the Rangers to make this team one of the preseason favorites to win the Stanley Cup?

Top record in the Eastern Conference in 2011-12, and they added Rick Nash during the (extended) off-season. King Hank is still the best in the league, IMO. It doesn't appear they are the best in the East (Boston probably is), but it was understandable. A team with Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, and Rick Nash fronting its offense should be pretty friggen lethal. Captain America isn't too shabby, either.

Makes sense. I should add that my question wasn't of the "this team is terrible (insert whining and complaining)" variety. It was a mostly serious question.

The Rangers team that played the third period looked every bit the part of a contender. The Rangers team that played the first two periods was all over the place - it was comical at times. It just seems to me that they have some issues to address on defense. They get careless. Then again, it was their 11th game, they had no preseason to speak of, and as the Admiral said earlier, maybe they haven't gelled yet.

"King Hank" was awesome tonight. He saved their asses in the first two periods. Also, it's too bad Nash and Hagelin can't play the Lightning every day. All of their goals so far have been scored against the Lightning.

Anyway, for some reason, I love beating Tampa Bay. Might have something to do with a podcast I'm a part of.

I guess it's all finally catching up to the Beej faithful, eh?

Be nice.

[maz]

I always have, and always will, hate when the Penguins play the Devils. There's the odd win here and there, maybe even a blowout like last week, but more often than not they just can't seem to figure them out.

[Kramerica Industries]

There is something very screwed up about how the Devils let marquee players leave their team seemingly every off-season, and they don't skip a beat when play resumes.

Zach Parise walks? David Clarkson has nine goals this season. Now, David Clarkson is a pretty good player, but on what planet is he this good a goal scorer? Lou Lamoriello is a helluva master craftsman, that's for damn sure.

[CS85]

The one night I miss a Blackhawks game they post a shutout.

[NEW.ERA]

Somebody has to stop this Blackhawk train. Flames were 2 seconds away, not that it would have stopped them, it sure would be nice knowing that they'd have 1 regulation loss though.

[BLUELANDbeliever]

When are the Preds gonna learn that less than 20 shots just aint gonna cut it? It's bad enough that they are comfortable pissing away the extra point they give to the opposition for OT/SO.

[zpqmaowl]

As said upthread, it wouldn't have been surprising to see them finish 0-0-48 this season.

Hell, they were only three shots short of equaling their totals from regulation and the shootout against the Kings two weeks back (11 to 8).

[The_Admiral]

They'd take more shots if they had anyone who could shoot. Martin Erat sucks, Craig Smith sucks, everyone else sucks, and Shea Weber still can't believe the Predators took him up on that crazy dare and seems to have his head in another zip code. The Predators just suck.

In a related story,

[Kevin W.]

In a related story,

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

[drdougfresh]

I was just looking at the standings, and I have absolutely no idea how Nashville is 6th in the West right now. Wow.

For as terrible as the Wings started, they've hit their stride these past few games -- nice to see. Brunner has been a godsend for this offense. Howard was a beast today, too. Stopped 45 of 47. Also, Dan Cleary still can't skate.

[BLUELANDbeliever]

I was just looking at the standings, and I have absolutely no idea how Nashville is 6th in the West right now. Wow.

For as terrible as the Wings started, they've hit their stride these past few games -- nice to see. Brunner has been a godsend for this offense. Howard was a beast today, too. Stopped 45 of 47. Also, Dan Cleary still can't skate.

The standings are so wonky. The Preds don't 'suck' they just don't have an identity anymore and Trotz hasn't adjusted his coaching style. Rinne was crappy to start the season and the goals weren't (still aren't) there. Hell, if Sergei Kostitsyn would actually shoot on the golden chances he has had, he could easily have 8,9,10 goals right now.

[NJTank]

There is something very screwed up about how the Devils let marquee players leave their team seemingly every off-season, and they don't skip a beat when play resumes.

Zach Parise walks? David Clarkson has nine goals this season. Now, David Clarkson is a pretty good player, but on what planet is he this good a goal scorer? Lou Lamoriello is a helluva master craftsman, that's for damn sure.

In Lou we Trust

[rams80]

I was just looking at the standings, and I have absolutely no idea how Nashville is 6th in the West right now. Wow.

Somebody took Nashville and replaced them with a goddamn soccer team because a draw ensures you score in the standings. They are this season's "Loserpoints 'R Us"

[ninersdd]

Oh, yeah, the Bruins played more hockey today than the Sharks did. Lot of ugly games across the board today. I'm particularly concerned with the Oilers, a team built to score that never scores.

The Sharks have turned into that, only 10 goals in their last 6 games.

The Lightning and Sharks have kind of mirrored each other, in that regard.

Only averaging 1.66 goals in their last three games after their berserk start. SSS, you could say, but that number wasn't/isn't going to get much better playing Tuukka Rask and Henrik Lundqvist the next two nights. In Tampa's case, they weren't going to keep posting 5+ a game, and in San Jose's case, Patrick Marleau wasn't going to keep seeing every single shot of his finding the net.

Its just frustrating with the Sharks. The teams scoring went south after Valentines Day last year. (Including 7 goals in a 6 game stretch). It returned for a few games down the stretch, including a 5 spot in LA in the second to last game of the year. Of course, in the playoffs they put up 8 goals in the 5 game loss to the Blues, which the Kings then went out and matched that in 4 periods against STL. After exploding in the first 5 games this year, the Sharks reverted to the poor offense(the aforementioned 10 goals in 6 games). I mean we should be better; its not like the Sharks are the type of team that relies on its defense/goalie like say Nashville/Phoenix.(Getting shoutout 4 times in 7 games to Mike Smith sucks). Hopefully the tennis road trip does us well, starting tomorrow in a very winnable game in Columbus.