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nashvillepreds
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1053 Posts |
 Posted - 10/11/2008 : 14:01:41
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I have decided to make an NHL game day thread. I ill try to post once a day, but I make no promises. In this thread, I will talk about that day's games, the teams playing and major events in the NHL. I will be starting this today, well it here goes.
Ellis or Renne....
ELLIS
Go Preds Go!
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nashvillepreds
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1053 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2008 : 14:44:18
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October 11th 2008
This week we witnessed the beginning of the North American season. It has been very eventful for many teams. Some teams haven't even played their first games yet. I'm sure the beginning of the season has lived up to expectations thus far, but, the rest of the season will be even better. Starting with tonight...
Montreal at Toronto
Toronto exceeded their own expectations on thursday, beating the defending stanley cup champions in their own arena. Kulemin scored his first NHL goal on a break away, the game winner for Toronto. A few players looked very good. Those players included guys like Moore and starter, Vesa Toskala. The habs on the other hand weren't as fortunate as the leafs, coming out on the losing side of their game against the sabres. They looked good, having most of the chances, but blew a lead in the second and eventually lost in a shootout. Both goalies looked sharp as well. We'll see tonight if the habs can turn it around and if the leafs can keep it going. To beat the habs, toronto will have to play the trap as well as they did against the wings. If they do so, they'll defeat the tired canadiens tonight.
Detroit at Ottawa
Detroit did outplay the leafs in their first game on thursday, but their plans were foiled by the neutral zone trap. Holmstrom was doing what he does best, stand in front of the net and screen the goalie. He got 2 goals as a result. He needs to continue this if the red wings want to have a succesful season starting with the game tonight versus the sens. Ottawa looked average in europe and is looking to have a better start back in north america. Their only difficulty will be coping against the high scoring wings without their captain. Alfredsson is gone for 2-3 weeks with a chipped knee bone. The wings will win tonight, but they need hossa Datsyuk and Zetterberg to step up.
St. Louis at NYI
Neither team looked very strong heading into the season. The islanders remain untested, but I doubt their huge youth group, with the exceptions of a few like Comrie and Guerin, will be able to pull off many wins this season. St. Louis also doesn't have a great team, having Johnson out for the season doesn't help at all. After getting many lucky breaks against nashville because of poor goaltending, they'll have to put on a better show tonight, especially in the first period to make sure they can hang on to the win tonight in their second of back to back games. St. Louis will win, but not by much, unless the islanders come out with a lead into the third.
NYR at Philadelphia
the flyers roster is looking very strong and deep. Gagne is once again healthy and is hoping to have a concussion-free season for once. His health is vital for the team's success. Also, Carter needs to have a good season and pick up where he left off last year. New York looked great in pre-season and in Europe. Redden is a tremendous aquisition to the team, even if he was expensive and overpaid. Result: The flyers win by at least a couple. The rangers are still recovering from the time difference between europe and north america. The fatigue they got from last night's game just adds to their difficulty.
Chicago at Washington
Washington may have lost Huet to Chicago, but they signed Theodore immediately after. Ovechkin hopes to pick up where he left off last year racking up goal after goal. He'll need to put on a show if washington wishes to beat their opponents who signed former caps goalie, Huet and star defenseman Brian Campbell. look an evenly matched game through 3 periods. It's all up to Huet and if he and his defense can hold of Ovechkin and the high flying capitals.
Atlanta at Florida
Florida's 2nd game will be as bad as the first but this time, florida won't have McCabe's help on the blueline. He left last nights game with a left leg injury and did not return. Bryan Little was a pleasant suprise last night for the thrashers, netting 2 goals. Look for more of the same high scoring, high paced hockey, Kovalchuk and the thrashers making the difference.
New Jersey at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh looked a bit shaky in europe, hopefully they can recover and play their best hockey. Unfortunately, Crosby and Malkin will be trying to score on the best goalie in the league, Martin Brodeur. It's elite scoring against elite goaltending, it's sure to be an interesting match-up. But with New jersey's added scoring after aquiring Rolsotn and Holik, they'll be hard to stop. I give the devils the slight edge.
Carolina at Tampa Bay
Tampa made a free agent splash, picking up Kolzig and half of the pens team. So far, they've had no chemistry and haven't been able to produce. The loss of Boyle really hurt the bolts and Matt Carle won't be a sufficeint replacement. Carolina looked pretty good in their first game, but defensively they could use some work. Pitkanen came at a high price as Carolina lost star forward Erik Cole, but carolina really needs the defensive help tonight if they wish to beat tampa bay. If the lightning can regroup and find some chemistry, they'll slide by tonight, but not with ease. It may come down to goaltending, in which case Carolina will get the victory. Having a first year starter in Smith, tampa won't get great goaltending.
Dallas at Nashville
Nashville played a very bad game last night, I'm sure Ellis would love to have all 5 of those goals back. Losing Radulov to russia negatively impacted the team and it showed. They have to rebound tonight the beat the stars. Dallas also didn't play as well as they could have, blowing the lead in the third. Expect a slow paced game, with a slight edge to Dallas, if they turn out to have the endurance.
Boston at Minnesota
Boston looked good in their first game. They beat the avs 5-4. Despite allowing 4 goals, Thomas looked sharp, making 35 saves, including a couple in a huge scrum late in the game. The wild lost 2 main pieces of their franchise, Rolston and Demitra. Koivu needs to step up his game like he did in the playoffs. Gaborik will have a lot of pressure on him to produce, hopefully he can do so. Boston wins. They're better in almost every position and aren't playing back to back games. The wild may have difficulty scoring. Backstrom will have to win this one for his team.
Columbus at Pheonix
The Blue Jackects shoes they have speed and cane keep it up throughout the game, beating Dallas in a nail bighter last night. They may not have that endurance tonight, play in their second game in as many nights. Pheonix is untested. The league knows what Gretzky is capable of, lets see if his players are just as capable. Jokinen is the biggest asset to the team. he will have to be at the top of his game tonight. Edge to Pheonix. They're well rested and strong as a team.
Los Angeles at San Jose
The Sharks got a lot stronger defensively, picking up Boyle and Blake. Unfortunately, San Jose had to give up Matt carle, one of their best developing defensemen to aquire Boyle, but it was well worth it. Blake will be playing his former team, who do not look very solid. They announced that 2nd overall pick, Drew Doughty will be playing tonight. It's still unsure if they will start Ersberg or Labarberra in net tonight, but neither have proven themselves as true NHL starters. The Sharks win. They're just too overpowering to such a weak team, losing their top 2 defensemen.
Vancouver at calgary
Perhaps the biggest story of the season so far was the 6-0 blowout on thursday for Vancouver. Calgary has been known to play badly on the road, hopefully the can bounce back at home. Kipper and Iginla need to raise their level of play to what they're capable of. Edge to Calgary. They'll have a mean streak after thursday's game. The crowed boost will only add the that.
Please feel free to give me feedback on this thread and give your input about the games teams regarding to what I said.
Ellis or Renne....
ELLIS
Go Preds Go! |
Edited by - nashvillepreds on 10/11/2008 15:01:15 |
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NHL Game Day Thread 
