NHL 2024-2025

A great little picture my brother showed me. Funny how true it is for him.
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I thought it was a very classy move when he did not want to take the ice with an empty net when he was toed with #99.

 

No issues with Ovi, although I understand he’s a bit nuts from the arena staff we know who interact with him when he’s in town, but whatever. He’s an amazing athlete. I also agree it was classy not to beat the record on an empty net. Still, I can’t help but feel more nostalgic for Gretsky. I also think when it comes down to statistics Gretz got his record in 700+ less shots than Ovi, and he also managed a staggering 1,200 more assists. There’s reasons he’ll always be known as “The Great One”.

 

That assist number is incredible when you think about it.

MDS

 

I don't pay attention to hockey, so maybe I'm totally wrong....but it seems like Gretzky gets a lot of advice from his Dad('Dad told me I needed to be here for O's games.' Is that true?
If so, is it just a son's continuing appreciation for all his Dad has done for him, or is Gretzky kind of a social dolt?

 

Agree...that is the true definition of loyalty.

 

He had a chance to break the record at home, and getting a hat trick in the process, into an empty net, but he told the coach he did not want to get the record breaking goal on an empty net, so he told the coach to keep him on the bench.

 

absolutely

 

Hi Mike. Who do you fancy as the NHL final four? The Canes are defensively solid, well coached, work hard every shift and have awful goalkeeping. I think their last two games they outshot opponents by a 2-1 margin and gave up +6 goals

 

I disagree with the comparison of shots and how many it took, because if we play the "if" game, then let's look at the size of the goalies that Ovechkin shot on vs the ones Gretzky did, and the defensemen that Gretzky had to go through compared to the ones that Ovechkin did. Ovie played in the "dead-puck" era where the over-under on games was as low as 3.5 while the highest was 5.5. The era that Gretzky played in, the over-under (if there was gambling) would have been 7 to 9, somewhere in there. We can debate forever on this, but the fact of the matter is when Gretzky got to 894, nobody thought it would be broken, but along came a guy name Alexander Ovechkin. Gretzky scored 9 goals his final season, at age 39, while Ovie gets 9 in a weekend at age 39. I hear people say now that Matthews will break it, but Austin Matthews does not play enough games, he misses 15 games a year. Think about this, in order to break Ovie's soon to be 900 goal record, someone has to score 45 goals a year for 20 years. I would bet $1 million that Matthews isn't even in the NHL by the age of 35.

Gretzky is the GOAT, some will argue Mario Lemieux is (and rightfully so, if he played as many games as Gretzky who knows what stats he'd end up with), but Ovechkin is now the new goal king....period.

 

That’s a tough one because if a team ends up with a hot goalie they could ride him all the way to the end. Winnipeg likely will choke, as they always do, and moreso their goaltender is the one who chokes. I would say Washington, Florida, Canes in the East, and Colorado, Edmonton, Vegas, Minnesota in the West.

Washington Florida (although Canes are a close 3rd) and Colorado Edmonton for NHL final four.

 

Ovechkin is the new goal king - cannot be argued, but I am more into total points,
Ovechkin isn't even top-10, (11th), but depending how much longer he plays, he
should make top-5, he's 179 pts away from 5th, 23 pts away from 10th.

What's amazing is Gretzky's linemates are 3rd and 23rd on the all-time points list.

You are correct on riding the hot goaltender, just about every team that wins the Cup has done that,
from Billy Smith to Rogie Vachon to Bernie Parent to Patrick Roy to Martin Brodeur to many others.... Fuhr, Hasek, Moog...

I stopped really paying attention to hockey in the mid-2000's, for no good reason...

 

I played hockey, I don't know a single player whose father DIDN'T 'push him' into the sport,
or how to do better. I don't mean a 'helicopter parent', but in any sport, most (but not all) Dads
generally know how to help, especially if they played the game. A lot of guys learned the game
AFTER they played in it and have since given it up.

(The kids, the guys that generally did 'better' had these parents, and the parents that
just dropped off their kids at the rink - those kids generally didn't do as well. I played
from age 14 to about 18, and then ages 22-24)

 

I'm not one of these "The Refs and the NHL have it in for someone" but the last road trip for the Golden Knights had some veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery questionable calls from the refs and Toronto. Last night the ref called "no goal" on a save. Toronto looked at it and said it was a goal, but every video shown was completely non-conclusive. Could it have gone over the line? Maybe. Or maybe not. The ref called it no goal and he was right there to see it.

The idea for Toronto is to have definitive proof, not conjecture. If its not 100% clear from a video replay, the ref's ruling should stand. But with the Avs 2 goals down mid way through the 2nd period, for some reason the ref's decision was reversed.

Another call was when a puck was under our goaltender and the whistle wasn't blow. Someone poked their stick under his body and pushed it in.the goal. Called a goal where 1000 times out of 1000 times that would be a stopped play.

Another call was the weakest "hook" call of all time that gave the Oilers a nearly full 2 minute 2 man advantage in a tie game. Of course the Oilers scored a goal.

Weird, eh?

 

Bob, I think VGK will see the Oilers again when it counts. They are probably my tow picks for the west but the AVs have been good all year. I think the East is a tossup with Florida, Caps and Canes as Mike said. But Canes' netminders are awful. Wouldn't be surprised to see Florida take it all.

 

Last night. Canes 33 shots no goals. Buffalo 18 shots 3 goals.

 

One Canes goalie ranks 31st in GAA with .89 something. Andersen is barely over .90

 

WPG vs St Louis: I think its St Louis. In fact St Louis could stay hot and go all the way.
Dallas vs Col: I think its Colorado
VGK vs Min: Should on paper be VGK, but could also be a big upset. A lot depends on game 1 and how they start.
LA vs Edm: I think Edm. They seem to always find a way to beat LA.

Toronto vs Ottawa: Gotta love that Ottawa made it. I don't give them a chance but with Toronto, you never really know. I still think Toronto
Tampa vs FLA: Tampa
Wash vs MTL: Oh, would I wish MTL would beat Wash but there's almost no chance
Car vs NJ: Carolina

There are 3 Canadian teams in the playoffs. At best after the first round there's going to be 2 - or maybe none.

 

Last night the Vegas back up goalie had 3 goals against him --- in 3 shots. I feel your pain!

 

I've been rooting for the Canadian teams for years, only because it is really more THEIR game than ours, and they deserve to have the Stanley Cup reside there at least once in a while. I suppose I should support the Jets because they used to be the Atlanta Thrashers!

 

They were the Winnipeg Jets originally, then moved to Atlanta, and then back to Winnipeg. They never should have left Winnipeg, and Quebec never should have left (now Colorado) either.

 

I agree with this, only because Hellybuck sucks in the playoffs. It's the same ole story with him - a very good year, then a melt down in the playoffs.

I also agree with this

agree

agree

The thing is, Ottawa is going in hot, and the Leafs are the Leafs. Just like Winnipeg's goalie, a strong year followed by a first round playoff choke/collapse. So one really cannot discount and upset.

This one is the toughest match-up to pick, I call this one a 50/50 series.

Once again, never say never...and Ovie's goal record chase is over so they can actually focus on a playoff run....I still side with the Capitals as they have played well all year long.

Agree here too.

 

Just to show you how "going in hot" doesn't always work: In the NBA "Play-In" Tournament, Chicago had gone into the tournament having won 6 out of their last 7 and were playing at home. Miami had gone in having lost 4 of their last 6 and were playing on the road. Most analysts picked Chicago to win, but in fact, Miami won by 19 points! Surprise!

(I have always felt that home ice is less of an advantage in the NHL than home court is in the NBA. Maybe because the fans are separated from the players by the glass?)

 

VGK game 1: 7PM T mobile

I'm happy because we don't normally do well in afternoon games.