# NHL: January 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 1, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053 "2011-01-01T15:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/61 "2011-01-09T04:15:59Z")
What the hell happened? Did we eat Suck Flakes for breakfast or something? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/62 "2011-01-09T07:10:14Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Well I’m looking forward to the big showdown in Vancouver tonight. A nice little king of the hill battle at season midpoint. AT least as much as you can in an 82 game year where no game really matters that much once you know you are on top. > > Of course if the Wings lose it’s because they are hurt… and playing on back to back nights in a different time zone 😉 > > I love Ken Holland and his drafting/developmental staff more and more everyday. Last year the pulled a whole line up (Abdelkader, Eaves, Helm)who stepped right in and made thing happen. This year they just picked the new crop and Tatar and Mursak popped up wreaking havok. Yay! we won(mostly) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/63 "2011-01-09T20:57:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > (If I may get a bit “puck-bunnyish” for a moment, the one with the best hair is of course, Kris Letang) I love hockey for hockey, but when the players are good looking, it’s a nice bonus. Kris Letang does have good hair, in addition to other assets! Habs had a beautiful comeback win against the Bruins, who continue to be the Canadien’s bitches. Watching Chara go apeshit at the end was nearly as fun as the win! The two teams are now tied for first in the division, though Bruins have 2 games in hand. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/64 "2011-01-09T22:10:44Z")
Well, we’re playing Boston tomorrow. (It’s on Versus, too – I HATE Versus!) > [@mnemosyne](#): > > I love hockey for hockey, but when the players are good looking, it’s a nice bonus. Kris Letang does have good hair, in addition to other assets! I wasn’t going to say it, but let me just put in my support of this post. 😉 We have a very good-looking team. 😃 (Except for poor Tyler Kennedy. But I still love you, TK) 😉 On topic: I really hate seeing Sidney Crosby giving interviews. Go home and get some rest, Sid – the sooner you get back, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/65 "2011-01-10T01:04:18Z")
Every time the NHL imposes discipline under the new head shots rule, I support the rule less and less. The suspension that was just handed out to Kostopoulos is appalling. It’s unfortunate that Stuart got hurt but in my mind, that was a hockey play, ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/66 "2011-01-10T04:00:05Z")
It’s borderline, but I’ve seen worse that wasn’t even called, and I’ve seen worse that received less suspension time. I support the rule - and in fact want ALL head shots banned - but the NHL is a joke. Colin Campbell is an incompetent idiot, and the league has about as much integrity as my toenail clippings. But I like the sport, so I keep watching. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/67 "2011-01-11T05:14:21Z")
Looks like Alexander Frolov is out for the year. He hasn’t done much this year with the Rangers. He’s only on a one year contact as well. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/68 "2011-01-14T03:02:19Z")
Canes lose 3-2 to the Sabres in the HSBC, snap the 8 game point streak. Overall I can’t complain, they played a better game than on Tuesday, against a lesser goalie they might have won. Props to Jeff Skinner on scoring another goal before he starts shaving.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/69 "2011-01-14T03:12:50Z")
Looks like Derek Boogaard might be done for the year as well. Stupid signing for the Rangers to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/70 "2011-01-14T04:49:01Z")
Hell of an exciting game between Philly and Boston tonight - not especially well played, especially on the defensive end, but very exciting: 1-0 PHI, 2-1 BOS, 3-2 PHI, 4-3 BOS, 5-4 PHI, then 6-5 BOS with just over a minute left plus an empty netter to end it at 7-5. It’s weird: usually I am much more into playoff hockey than regular season, but the Bruins have really grabbed me this year. ---
**Author:** ![Squonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squonk)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/71 "2011-01-14T04:57:46Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > Hell of an exciting game between Philly and Boston tonight A little weird, too. 12 goals - 12 different goal scorers. 33 total points, nobody had more than two. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/72 "2011-01-14T18:48:23Z")
My Canucks take on the Capitals tonight - should be a great game. I think everyone is bringing their best game with them when they play the Canucks right now - because they are #1 in the standings. The Islanders put in an awesome effort and the Rangers beat them 1-0 last night (first Canuck loss in regulation for 17 games!). Stupidest thing, the NY Ranger crowd chanting USA. Doesn’t anyone know 50% of the players on a typical NHL team are Canadian, with about 20% Americans and the rest European. The Canuck goalie last night was Schneider, an American, and I think Kesler was on the ice at the time too. Anyways, I’m excited to see the Capitals lose at home. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/73 "2011-01-15T20:04:38Z")
And so the Tampa Bay Lightning hold the dubious distinction of being the first, and up to this point, only, team that the NJ Devils have beaten twice this season. They also: - gave the Devils their first two game win streak since late November; only their second such streak of the entire season - gave the Devils their first road win since early November - allowed 11 goals in two games to a team that had scored only 11 goals total in its previous 6 games and is the league’s lowest scoring team, by far, being the only one to average under 2 goals per game - gave up a short handed goal, the Devils first since early October; only their second one of the entire season I like the Lightning and am pulling for them to win their division over the hated Caps and Hurricanes, but they’d better figure out a way to shore up that defense… they were downright awful in both games! Speaking of the Capitals… is anyone else mildly amused at how, for the past few seasons, their fans have been browbeating “defensive” teams about how the neutral zone trap killed hockey and that their balls-to-the-wall, all-about-offense system is the way of the “new” NHL, have, when the team stopped scoring at a ridiculous, unsustainable rate and the goals dried up, recently implemented the neutral zone trap as their preferred defensive system? Even more amusing is the irony of how the same people who so recently lambasted defensive-minded teams for being “boring” and no fun to watch, are now toasting Boudreau as a tactical genius. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/74 "2011-01-15T20:44:46Z")
2 back to back series this weekend. Red Wings/Jackets on Friday/Saturday and then Predators/Hawks on Saturday/Sunday. Jackets beat the Wings on Friday so I’m hoping for a good game tonight as well. I always enjoy watching the Red Wings lose. The Predators have been hot and cold, but they’ve been doing quite well lately and I wouldn’t mind seeing them take two from the Hawks. I’m also glad the Stars get the suddenly struggling Thrashers tonight. Lehtonen gets to make his first start against them tonight and the Stars are rested and will hopefully get an easy win. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/75 "2011-01-15T23:27:34Z")
Boudreau is a “genius”? Since when? (Well, if unless you’re talking screaming obscenities.) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/76 "2011-01-16T05:03:18Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > And so the Tampa Bay Lightning hold the dubious distinction of being the first, and up to this point, only, team that the NJ Devils have beaten twice this season. > > They also: > > - gave the Devils their first two game win streak since late November; only their second such streak of the entire season > - gave the Devils their first road win since early November > - allowed 11 goals in two games to a team that had scored only 11 goals total in its previous 6 games and is the league’s lowest scoring team, by far, being the only one to average under 2 goals per game > - gave up a short handed goal, the Devils first since early October; only their second one of the entire season > > I like the Lightning and am pulling for them to win their division over the hated Caps and Hurricanes, but they’d better figure out a way to shore up that defense… they were downright awful in both games! And the Lightning gave up six to my Canes, including a shorty by Eric Staal. Stamkos gets the boot at the end for arguing with the refs.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/77 "2011-01-16T14:24:05Z")
Detroit Red Wings: This team has played 1 Game without an injury ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/78 "2011-01-18T15:37:15Z")
The Habs nearly gave me a heart attack last night, going up 4-0 against the Flames, chasing Kipprusoff out of the game, then giving up 4 goals, resulting in Auld getting pulled, and then finally winning in OT. I suppose the one point given to a Western team isn’t that big a deal, but _damn_ games like this are not good for the stress levels! The Habs play again tonight, in Buffalo, and then the NHL scheduling assholes gave them another back-to-back away-and-home on Friday and Saturday (@Ottawa, then Anaheim). After last night, I’m not sure we’ll see Auld again this week (unless he was struck with the flu during the game…it’s been going around the locker room). Also, Carolina…What the fuck?!? ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/79 "2011-01-18T17:33:51Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I suppose the one point given to a Western team isn’t that big a deal, but _damn_ games like this are not good for the stress levels! Thanks for the point **mnemosyne**. It would have been nice to get the W and I thought the Flames were going to get a fifth goal in the third the way they were pressing. That PK Subban shot in OT was amazing. Flames get six out of eight points on a roadtrip that seems unsuccessful on the surface. Hey! What’s up with Kipper? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053/80 "2011-01-18T21:39:06Z")
> [@gregorio](#): > > Thanks for the point **mnemosyne**. It would have been nice to get the W and I thought the Flames were going to get a fifth goal in the third the way they were pressing. That PK Subban shot in OT was amazing. Yeah, I got nervous for a while too, but Price looked pretty solid. I’m glad he shut the door - in hindsight, pulling Auld when it was 4-3 would have been a lot better for the fans’ health! I love Subban - I think it’s going to be fun (and occasionally painful) to watch him develop! > [@](#): > > Flames get six out of eight points on a roadtrip that seems unsuccessful on the surface. Hey! What’s up with Kipper? Isn’t this typical Kiprusoff? Either he plays well, or he gets lit up - there’s no mediocre games from him. Though I don’t watch the Flames much, I just get the impression he’s either only going to allow 1 or 2, or allow 8! Paraphrased from a random newspaper yesterday “The only reason the Flames aren’t in the Western conference’s basement is because the Oilers won’t let them”. Just thought that was funny 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2011/566053.md?page=5)