NHL 2022-2023: FA July 13th - LET IT BEGIN

[TAC]

Watching the Tampa-Carolina game today.
Tampa has FOUR SHOTS through 2 periods, with ZERO SHOTS in the 2nd!!

[jingle.boy]

Yeah, they're in a helluva funk atm.  I'd rather that funk happened in mid April, but it's certainly helping the Leafs' chances for home-ice advantage.

It's incredibly frustrating to see teams bring out their A-game when the Leafs are on the ice.  Where was that performance by last night's Edmonton team earlier this week?  When did Vancouver look like 2011 Vancouver, and Demko looked like Bubble-Demko.  Granted, in both instances the Leafs kinda shat themselves - last night they were very sloppy on the PP.

Hope ROR didn't break his hand!

[gmillerdrake]

Hope ROR didn't break his hand!

Oh no!

[axeman90210]

And Timo already has his first goal as a Devil

[jingle.boy]

And that's why they play the games.  Shit the bed against Vcr giving up 2 shorties on the same PP in the 3rd.

Travel across the country to take a road W in regular time by beating the #3 team in the league with 2 late goals - without RoR and Tavares.  Samsonov was lights out - the game legitimately could've been 3-0 after 1 period with the kinds of chances the Devils had.

[axeman90210]

Yeah, great game last night Chad. I mostly only got to watch the first period, definitely cursed Samsonov under my breath a few times

[jingle.boy]

Yeah, great game last night Chad. I mostly only got to watch the first period, definitely cursed Samsonov under my breath a few times

Based on the 1st period alone, you guys got goalie'd.  He stole that victory.

[jammindude]

Today is going to be a very interesting day in the West.

Just a little over a week ago, the Kraken were in danger of losing the 4th place position in the Pacific.

Today, with Vegas and LA tied with 82 points and the Kraken 2 points back at 80, the games are:

Vegas on the road vs TB
LA on the road vs the Avalanche
and Seattle at home vs Ottawa

I’m predicting a 3-way tie before the day is out.

[SchecterShredder]

Today is going to be a very interesting day in the West.

Just a little over a week ago, the Kraken were in danger of losing the 4th place position in the Pacific.

Today, with Vegas and LA tied with 82 points and the Kraken 2 points back at 80, the games are:

Vegas on the road vs TB
LA on the road vs the Avalanche
and Seattle at home vs Ottawa

I’m predicting a 3-way tie before the day is out.

I assume by 3-way tie you mean Vegas and LA tied for 1st, and Seattle and EDM tied for 3rd 

Boston will be a tough game tonight, but I think the Oil can get it done.

[pg1067]

Today is going to be a very interesting day in the West.

Just a little over a week ago, the Kraken were in danger of losing the 4th place position in the Pacific.

Today, with Vegas and LA tied with 82 points and the Kraken 2 points back at 80, the games are:

Vegas on the road vs TB
LA on the road vs the Avalanche
and Seattle at home vs Ottawa

I’m predicting a 3-way tie before the day is out.

You forgot Edmonton at Boston.

The worst part about this whole traffic jam is that Vegas and Seattle still have a game in hand on the Kings (and on Edmonton).  It will even up by the end of the day on Monday but then fluctuate a bit.  I've said before...the next month is going to be crazy.

PS:  The RW and ROW numbers unfortunately favor Edmonton and Seattle.  The Kings REALLY need not only to win but to do it in regulation.

For today:  Go Kings.  Go Bruins.  Go Lightning.  Go Sens.

[TAC]

You forgot Edmonton at Boston.

I's still fucking pissed this isn't on TV tonight.

[Stadler]

Today is going to be a very interesting day in the West.

Just a little over a week ago, the Kraken were in danger of losing the 4th place position in the Pacific.

Today, with Vegas and LA tied with 82 points and the Kraken 2 points back at 80, the games are:

Vegas on the road vs TB
LA on the road vs the Avalanche
and Seattle at home vs Ottawa

I’m predicting a 3-way tie before the day is out.

I assume by 3-way tie you mean Vegas and LA tied for 1st, and Seattle and EDM tied for 3rd 

Boston will be a tough game tonight, but I think the Oil can get it done.

It'll be a good game, and Boston isn't always great after a break, but that's a game that the B's should win.

[Nick]

that's a game that the B's should win.

I'll take things that could be said about every game the Bruins play from here on out for $400, Alex.

[King Postwhore]

Last game in Edmonton was a tough game. I expect the same.

[jingle.boy]

You forgot Edmonton at Boston.

I's still fucking pissed this isn't on TV tonight.

There's surely a women's game on somewhere!   

[TAC]

You forgot Edmonton at Boston.

I's still fucking pissed this isn't on TV tonight.

There's surely a women's game on somewhere!   

You pig!

NHL Network has NHL Tonight on all night, so I can only hope we get a few live look ins.

[jammindude]

So much for my prediction.

Now we have to win just to pull even. 

[jammindude]

Or worse and we could completely blow it against the FREAKING SENATORS!! 

[jingle.boy]

Grand evening all around. Loved seeing the Oil with a 3rd period comeback. And then Tampa doesn’t get two points.

And holy shit Buffalo. Eric Comrie is an awful goalie.

[Anguyen92]

I hate this day so far when it comes to rooting against other teams.  The Bolts had no issues getting through Quick the last time he faced them back in January, having a .800 save percentage.  Today, he had a .919 with the Golden Knights and won?  I feel ripped off.  Bruins blowing a two goal lead against the Oilers makes me mad as well.  McDavid wasn't even on the board as well.  The Sens also is currently in the process of blowing a three goal lead against the Kraken as well.

At least, the Kings won nice and decisively against the Avs.  Good gravy, guys like MacKinnon and Makar is doing whatever they can, doing everything so fluidly offensively.  Thankfully, the Kings had good coverage for the most part and got some well-timed goals and Korpisalo had to be steady and calm and he did.

Edit: Well, the Sens almost really blow it, but they were able to come back from behind and win in regulation and they need that win as well to keep thinking they have a chance.

[Stadler]

Last game in Edmonton was a tough game. I expect the same.

It was a brutal end to that game.  They played pretty well to start, and pretty much held McDavid to reality, but they just got SO sloppy.  Too many turnovers in the neutral zone, and too many point-blank shots on Swayman.  He didn't play badly, it's just that they didn't do a great job of shutting down their own blue line.   

[Nick]

Well, the Flyers are now only 3-4 years from potentially being reasonably good!

[jingle.boy]

Long overdue.  The pedigree of his dad certainly wasn't something he inherited.

[gmillerdrake]

Just wanted to pop in and say ‘hi’. Not a lot to talk about from a Blues fan perspective. Disappointing season, but…..optimistic about some of the pick ups they made and think that there is still a trade or two that will happen this summer for this ‘retooling’ to take hold.

But it’s been fun to watch all your teams…..looking forward to the playoffs to see how this all shakes out.

[jingle.boy]

In one regard, I envy you that you can just watch the playoffs for the enjoyment of the game, and none of the stress.

[axeman90210]

Glad to see the Devils back in the W column last night. Ideally the game wouldn't have gone to OT as we massively outshot Washington, particularly late, but Timo managed to win it for us in the shootout (after almost costing us the game by taking a penalty late in OT).

[gmillerdrake]

In one regard, I envy you that you can just watch the playoffs for the enjoyment of the game, and none of the stress.

Yeah…..one of the cool things with my youngest son being a hockey nut is we always have a game on and are watching…….doesn’t even have to be the Blues. So, just watching and enjoying hockey with him is something to look forward to for sure.

[pg1067]

Sucks that Tampa and Boston yacked their leads away.  I saw a blurb on the screen while watching the Kings game that it was the first time this year the Bruins had lost after having a 2-goal lead (or something like that).  Thank you Ottawa, and at least the Vegas win wasn't in regulation.

The Kings played great.  If they keep that up, they CAN beat anyone.  I've also been really impressed with what I've seen from Gavrikov in the three (or is it four?) games since the trade.  Korpisalo had looked solid as well, but I'm still worried that turning this into a 1a, 1b situation in goal will adversely affect Copley.

[Stadler]

Sucks that Tampa and Boston yacked their leads away.  I saw a blurb on the screen while watching the Kings game that it was the first time this year the Bruins had lost after having a 2-goal lead (or something like that).  Thank you Ottawa, and at least the Vegas win wasn't in regulation.

The Kings played great.  If they keep that up, they CAN beat anyone.  I've also been really impressed with what I've seen from Gavrikov in the three (or is it four?) games since the trade.  Korpisalo had looked solid as well, but I'm still worried that turning this into a 1a, 1b situation in goal will adversely affect Copley.

They were something like 35-0-3 when leading by two. I would have settled for taking it to OT, get the point, but no dice.

[jingle.boy]

It was an awesome day of hockey for jingle.son and I.  First, we had tix for the Sabres/Rangers game.  Went early to get some wings and beers, and had to hit 3 different bars before it wasn't an hour + wait for a table - despite the fact we were there 2.5 hours before the 5pm puck drop.  Holy shit, the arena was at least 40% Rangers fans (probably over 50% in the lower bowl and the end of the rink where are seats are.  What a great game.  1st period was a little slow, but the Sabres were playing great, and if not for some 5-bell saves by Igor (and an offside on a gaff by Igor trying to clear the puck up the middle of the rink - putting it right to a Sabres player who snapped it into a wide open net), the Sabres could've pulled of the W.  But alas, a deflection off Owen Power's skate was the only goal they got, then a very soft (imo) hooking penalty in OT to give them the PP.  Funny story, we're sitting in our seats, and some guy comes and tells us he has our seat (#18).  I ask him if he's sure it's this row, because our seats are season's tickets.  I start to pull out my phone to show him, and he's "oh, yeah ... we have #20".  I do a double take... "hey, weren't you two sitting RIGHT BESIDE US AT THE BAR!?!?!?"  Literally, this couple was in the table directly beside us for a couple of hours.  What are the fucking odds of that!?

Then, we recorded the Leafs/Oil game, and man was that a fun watch.  The big boys came to play, and Marner had what will surely be a Top 10 Goal of the Year, maybe Top 5 - https://youtu.be/yRbx9pfDadI?t=193.  2 more goals in the next 3 minutes and 4 in the 2nd overall, then held the line in the 3rd for a nice victory.  Murray was a little shakey - though he made some big saves when he needed to.  Overall very good team effort got the job done.  Both Matthews and Tavares hitting the 30-goal mark .... 7th straight season for Matthews.

Hope Stamkos' injury isn't too bad.

P.S.  Dropped 3 large on a Tage Thompson jersey.

[axeman90210]

That sounds like an excellent day (minus the Ranger fans ruining all the bars ). Devils picked up a straightforward enough win in Montreal last night, tonight's the big game though. If we can beat Carolina in regulation tonight we'd be tied in points for the Metro division, though they'll have a game in hand on us. Should be a great game.

[gmillerdrake]

What an awesome time Chad!

[axeman90210]

Biggest game of the year and the Devils came through in spades. It was great to see their best players step up in particular (Hughes with 3 points, Bratt with a couple goals and Vitek securing the shutout), but the whole team played with great discipline all night.

Interesting week coming up as, due to a schedule quirk, we play all three of our games this season against Tampa in the next seven days. Tampa plays in NJ Tuesday and Thursday and then we have a Florida road back to back this weekend with the Panthers on Saturday and Lightning on Sunday.

[Stadler]

P.S.  Dropped 3 large on a Tage Thompson jersey.

So I have an old(er) Islanders Fisherman jersey that I never wear.  I have an older CCM Bruins jersey that has no name/number.  I'm thinking of dealing both - I think can get over $100 apiece for both - and turning it into a new Bruins jersey.  The debate begins, though:  who.   Bergeron and Marchand are the most common. I refuse to get Pastrnak (he sucks).   

McAvoy is a contender, as is Zacha (I'm part Czech, so there's that).   I really like Orlov, but I'd really like to know there's a long term commitment from him and/or the team before I commit to the two bills for a jersey with his name on it.

[jammindude]

Can I just say that I’m amazed at how shockingly fast things can go from “a dogfight for first” to “might not even get an 8 seed” in the final 15-20 games?