# NHL: March 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 2, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165 "2011-03-02T04:38:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/142 "2011-03-22T11:29:53Z")
I suppose at this point that if I were Mario Lemieux, I would do nothing more or less than that which serves the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise the best. This is because it is now clear that anything less than complete self-immolation will be met with howls of hypocrisy from the whiny bitches that make up the NHL world. Say nothing and you are speaking too little. Say something and you are shooting off your loudmouth in a self-serving and hypocritical way. Speak directly, and you’re sticking your nose into the league’s business just because you’re an NHL Not Star. Have your team’s GM make a statement and you’re failing to stand up for your words. Mario, step back and do what the Pens need done. If the league wants to make changes, wait until they are made before altering what the Pens do and how they do it. There’s no way you can do anything to satisfy anyone outside of Pittsburgh. No unilateral disarmament. Just win the Cup and let the rest play out on its own, because everyone’s going to be crying foul either way. By the way, did anyone watch the Penguins-Red Wings game last night? Man, there were lots of people dressed up as empty seats at Joe Louis arena. Isn’t that supposed to be Hockey Town? What gives? ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/143 "2011-03-22T12:38:21Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > The organization can say anything they want to about cleaning up the game, but they’re the people who pay Matt Cooke to do what he does. Why should anybody believe the words when the actions show something else entirely? Indeed. And don’t forget that they also gave him an “A.” ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/144 "2011-03-22T16:59:59Z")
> **[Matt Cooke's suspension hearing: The top secret transcript](http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2011/03/matt-cookes-suspension-hearing-top.html)** > > An NHL and hockey humor blog. The Best Of Down Goes Brown is available in book stores now. One of my favorite Hockey bloggers does his take on the Matt Cooke suspension. He’s hilarious, despite (or maybe because of…?) the fact that he’s a Leafs fan! ---
**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:** [March 22, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/145 "2011-03-22T20:13:02Z")
Again, time will tell. Mario seems damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. Why did he resign Cooke? Because he generally IS a good hockey player, especially on the PK. IF he manages to cut this shit out, we’d be much better off with him. Note though, I said IF. That and this is most likely his last chance. As for the League, I’m hoping it’s not going to be a case of, “there we punished Cooke, now we did something, are you happy?” and just continued on as before. > [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > By the way, did anyone watch the Penguins-Red Wings game last night? Man, there were lots of people dressed up as empty seats at Joe Louis arena. Isn’t that supposed to be Hockey Town? What gives? I didn’t notice the seats – I was too busy chewing my fingers off in the second half. (Brent Johnson is one BAMF, BTW) As for giving him the A, yes, it was short-sighted. At the same time, with the exception of Staal, ALL of our other captains are out with injuries. Besides, he wouldn’t be the only goon with the A – or even the C on his shoulder. (Ovechkin?) Now I’m not trying to say, “oh yeah, well THEY did it too!” Just that being assigned such a position should probably have more of a higher standard – not just who’s your biggest star, or whatever. (Fortunately we have Kunitz and Adams, at least. And it looks like Brooks Orpik will be back soon) **antonio107** – I love it! ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/146 "2011-03-22T20:57:24Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I suppose at this point that if I were Mario Lemieux, I would do nothing more or less than that which serves the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise the best. I’m sorry, but this is exactly what Lemieux was doing when he blasted the NHL in the first place. Nobody other than Penguin fans believe that he was speaking out due to a genuine concern about the state of the game, which is why he’s been so roundly criticized. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/147 "2011-03-22T21:06:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Mario seems damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. If you’re going to throw the first stone you’d better damn well make sure you’re without sin yourself. He brought the attention upon himself with his very public, very strong words, and now Cooke’s actions have put the public spotlight back upon him. It’s an unenviable position, but it’s not exactly unexpected. The whole “damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t” bit is a false dichotomy. He could ensure Cooke doesn’t play should the Penguins make it to the second round. He could fine him beyond his lost salary and donate it to charity. He could impose a fine upon his own team like he suggested the League do to teams in cases like this. There are lots of things he could do that would show he was serious about what he said and wrote. He’s only damned by his silence and inaction because he wasn’t so when the shoe was on the other foot. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/148 "2011-03-23T11:33:09Z")
[http://www.fannation.com/truth\_and\_rumors/view/274296-cooke-i-need-to-change?eref=sihp](http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/274296-cooke-i-need-to-change?eref=sihp) Cooke vows to change. I guess he doesn’t want to ride buses in the ECHL ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/149 "2011-03-23T21:08:40Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > [HomePage - OnSI - Sports Illustrated](http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/274296-cooke-i-need-to-change?eref=sihp) > > Cooke vows to change. I guess he doesn’t want to ride buses in the ECHL Forgive my basic cynicism, but an athlete who has screwed up royally wants to change? Alert the media! On the other hand, at least he’s not going to “rehab.” I suppose that counts for something. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/150 "2011-03-23T23:24:05Z")
Some people say that I’m a bad guy They may be right, they may be right. But it’s not as if I don’t try I just fuck up, try as I might But I can change, I can change! I can learn to keep my promises, I swear it! I’ll open up my heart and I will share it Any minute now I will be born again! Yes I can change, I can change! I know I’ve been a dirty little bastard I like to kill! I like to maim! Yes, I’m insane! But it’s okay, 'COS I CAN CHANGE! ---
**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:** [March 24, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/151 "2011-03-24T01:17:33Z")
In OTHER hockey news, [_‘24/7 Pens-Caps’_ receives three Emmy nominations](http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=556892) ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/152 "2011-03-25T14:36:40Z")
Well that was a pretty big beating the Bruins gave the Habs. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/153 "2011-03-25T21:41:28Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > Well that was a pretty big beating the Bruins gave the Habs. I’m pretending yesterday didn’t happen, mmmkay? Actually, I think it was ridiculous how little effort the Habs put in, and I hope they got bag skated at 3am when they landed back in Montreal. 4 regulars back in the lineup from injuries and they played worse than the AHL team they had before. I actually think it was a terrible idea to reinsert 4 guys who hadn’t practised with the team more than once in weeks; there was no communication, no chemistry and the lines that worked pretty well until then got disrupted. Huge coaching mistake, IMHO. And the Bruins managed a minimum of gooning, to their credit. I still wish someone - c’mon Mara! - would knock Greg Campbell clear out of his skates, because I loathe the little prick, and after his comments on the radio Recchi deserves to be wedgied into next week. Still, Habs have won the season series, and the play-offs are a whole new series. One bad game does not a season make. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/154 "2011-03-26T01:54:28Z")
We need to start winning in regulation time! That game drove me insane. Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad for the win, but Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/155 "2011-03-26T02:36:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > We need to start winning in regulation time! That game drove me insane. > > Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad for the win, but Jesus. Would have been nice to keep the Devils from getting a loser point, but by the same token it was nice how well the Penguins took it to them all game long. Both teams just looked really tired in the last half of the third. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/156 "2011-03-29T02:58:13Z")
The Stars have made me sick the past few days. But, Anaheim is losing 2-0 after the 1st period and the Stars have a must win game in Phoenix tomorrow. Wish it wasn’t busy season at work so I could go. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/157 "2011-03-29T03:40:10Z")
In the last three games, I have as many goals as the entire Hab team put together, which is probably why they had the bejeezus skated out of them the other day at practice. Three games coming up that are winnable in theory, but Carolina, Jersey and even Atlanta still have a chance (albeit minuscule) to overtake Buffalo, so it won’t be easy. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/158 "2011-03-29T04:12:15Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > We need to start winning in regulation time! That game drove me insane. > > Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad for the win, but Jesus. My team needs to start \*\*losing \*\*in regulation again, FFS! At least in the shootout, you get to watch Alex Kovalev’s only remaining marketable skill, 'cause it sure as hell isn’t his grit and his hustle. ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/159 "2011-03-29T10:31:17Z")
Teemu Selanne is amazing. Just plain amazing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/160 "2011-03-29T13:09:20Z")
Interesting that the schedule makers had the Wings/Hawks playing 4 of 5 games against each other (then the Hawks play some non-division teams). ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/161 "2011-03-29T13:46:37Z")
> [@nani](#): > > Teemu Selanne is amazing. Just plain amazing. He is probably one of the top two European-trained forwards to ever play the NHL game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165.md?page=9)