Well, that sucked, but it was a lot of fun with the activity leading up the game, and the alumni game with MARIO back on the ice, 24/7, and having Jordan Staal back makes it all worth while.
As for the whole “Crosby vs. Ovechkin” bullshit, blame Bettman. The guy practically jizzes his pants every time someone mentions it. (Rumor has it that both Sid and Ovie are sick and tired of the whole rivalry) Especially since our biggest rivals have always been the Flyers.
I hope HBO does 24/7 for next year’s WC. Even if it’s not the Penguins, I’ll still watch it.
(Besides, Ovechkin’s original rivalry was with Evgeni Malkin. They had a feud after Ovie punched Malkin’s agent in the face a few years ago)
Great game this morning between Atlanta and Montreal. Dustin Byfuglien with a game winning goal in OT and Ondrej Pavelec with over 40 saves.
Looks like the Thrashers might be shaking off their recent struggles.
The Stars have got to get it together tonight against the Blues. After two ugly losses to Detroit and Vancouver, they need a win and hopefully a big one tonight.
I didn’t realize he got pulled after only 8 minutes recently. Does he have any trade value? I wouldn’t think so since both Stanley Cup goalies are no longer with their teams.
You could kinda tell. In the commercials when they were supposed to be glaring across the ice at each other in pure rivalry and near hatred, Crosby looked tired and Ovie look just plain bored.
Just goes to show you can’t force a rivalry. Can’t even resurrect one. They are caused by events on the ice. Ah for the good old days of Detroit/Colorado. That was some good rivalry.
That’s not as big a deal as the NTC and his statements that he wants to remain in NJ. And, you know, his performance.
I’m hoping NJ pulls it together and finishes the year with some amount of respectability restored and he retires. If they continue to stink, he might feel obligated to stick around and “save” the team, which he’s clearly not still able to do.
How about the Canucks! It might be their year finally.
I was hoping last year was their year, but they got knocked out of the playoffs early by Chicago. After Chicago won the cup I didn’t feel as bad about it though.
The Canucks are currently leading the league and still have a game in hand over the teams in second and third. They never really get much attention very far east, but I can assure you that they are well loved here. And this city has been waiting forty years for a Stanley Cup.
Loving the WJHC. Such fun hockey, and I get a patriotic kick out of the fact that the crowd is something like 3/4 Canadian, even for the Canada v USA semi-final. Full credit to Jack Cambell, though…without him it would have been a complete demolition of the US team, rather than just a domination! He made some amazing saves last night! I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s final!
I just realized that I’m going to be missing every single Thursday night Habs game this semester, thanks to an evening class. I’d drop the class if it wasn’t about the one topic I actually care about and want to have a career in! :smack: I’m grateful for iPod apps…!
In other hockey news, the finals of the World Under-17 Challenge are tonight as Team Ontario faces off against Team USA in front of an expected 10,000 fans in Winnipeg. Game is televised at 11:30 PM on TSN
I just want to make a point about the Winter Classic. The Winter Classic is an NHL event that gets them pretty big publicity in the US. It only makes sense that some of the most marketable players in the game are exposed. The issue is that there are more good players in the league other than just Crosby and Ovechkin.
The second thing to consider is the genesis of the Winter Classic. It got its roots after the Heritage Classic in 2003. That game was in frigid Edmonton and featured the Habs and Oilers playing following an alumni game with guys such as Guy Lafleur and Wayne Gretzky.
For the record, this year on February 20, the second Heritage Classic will be played. It will be Montreal at Calgary.
I cheated and looked at the outcome, but I’m watching the U-17 game right now…impressive hockey from 16 year olds. I’m also impressed by the fact that there are 12 000 fans at the MTS Centre for a something which I would have thought would be overshadowed by the WJHC.
I have been rather busy these past couple weeks - I’ve Googled, but am I correct that the NHL has missed it’s own deadline to complete the Coyotes sale, and they are still waiting for Glendale to come up with money to give to Hulsizer (which is weird, since the city aren’t the ones actually buying the team…)? What is going on with that franchise? The whole thing is just so bizarre!