TSN & OLN are broadcasting the Stars\Coytoes game tonight... which leads me to believe that tonight will be our (Canadians) first look at the OLN broadcast, since when ESPN & TSN broadcast the same games in the past TSN would use ESPN's feed.

From the comments from the Americans in this thread, I'm hoping I'm wrong. The best thing for all parties would probably be the reverse of that where OLN uses TSN's feed.

I don't mind Lindros being in there at all. He has a ton of international shootout experience and decent hands. He hasn't scored but he's looked decent on both his attempts. With Sundin and O'Neill out, you have to use Lindros.

Allison on the other hand is just about a lost cause. I didn't think it could get any worse after that first attempt, but last night looked like something you'd try in bantam. He's awful.

I thought Wellwood was an inspired choice. I'd still like to see Czerkawski give it a try -- after all, if he can't score when he's all alone then what did we sign him for?

looking forward to hearing what you think about it.

Wellwood was amazing last year down here, and he was almost unstoppable in shoot-outs, and on penalty shots. His big knock has always been that he's too small... but with the new rules that goes out the window, and on the penalty shot it shouldn't matter either.

The two givens on the team for the shoot-out have to be Sundin & Welly, you can mix in Lindross, O'Neil, Czerkawski, Tucker and even Domi & Allison on the last shot... but for god's sake leave them to the last shot... don't put one of the other guys last.

OMG! Are they doing this on purpose? My comunity cable station does a better job with the camera in QMJHL games then this. They're so close to the play that any time the puck moves the camara has to jerk to a new position, which means the majority of the game is just one big blur.

The onscreen graphics are horrible, especially when they overlay stats on a crowd shot... it looks like all the lights are off in the arena. I don't really have a problem with the score being on the bottom of the screen, but it would look a lot better if it was directly on the bottom, and full screen... like a sports ticker. Or at least have the scores on top of each other like this:

OLN PHO 0
TIME DAL 0

The NHL can't catch a break, the minute they drasticlly improve their on ice product, they're then left with a cable broadcast in the US that is almost not worth watching. Why couldn't the NHL just work out a deal with OLN & TSN that would have TSN do all the cable broadcasts... and then just have OLN pick-up the games they wanted to?

Because that would make too much sense.

Apparently so. It's so bad that I've just turned the game off, I'll watch the baseball game until The Office comes on... then it's back to the baseball game. I never thought in million years that I'd pick a baseball game over a hockey game this season... THANKS OLN!!!!

So I flipped over to the Stars/Coyotes game during intermission of the Toronto game. I spent the next five minutes swearing and banging buttons on my remote, trying to figure out how I'd accidentally locked my set into "zoom" mode. Then I realized that, no, that's just how OLN is broadcasting the game...

it really is bad on so many levels.
really, "bad" doesn't even come close to covering it. it truly is something you have to see to believe. I can't bear to watch it, although I do like to flip to it from time to time and picture Gary Bettman watching it and thinking it's great coverage.

You would think that if the NHL employeed people with brains they'd have stepped in by now and tell OLN to clean up their act. But that would be asking too much from Bettman and company.

dola...

The Leafs rule!!! They are the best team ever!!!! :D

Ugh. The Hawks are just killing me. I have no idea how they have more shots than the Blues as it seems like most of their chances are awful. Then they give up golden chances to the Blues. That said, Khabibulin has only has 21 shots on goal tonight and has let through 4 yet again. :(

SI

According to NHL.com, the Habs took a bench penalty in tonight's game for "Refusal to Play". Anyone have any idea what happened?

Leafs suck :D

Hey, maybe you'll finally get a W... in the 4TH GAME OF THE SEASON HAHAHA! :D

my goaltending tandem of Khabibulin and Kiprusoff is looking STELLAR!

For some reason this makes me think of a post that had something to do with the Sabres, math, and logic... but I don't really know for sure.

Well, I don't think anyone will ever mistake me with someone who was thrilled with the move to shove Thibault out the door. Granted, all he's done this year is give up 5 and then get hurt but that's better than Khabibulin has done

SI

OLN sucks so far, no doubt about it, but I'm going to give them time. It's not an easy sport to broadcast, and it was sort of alast minute thing.

But don't try to do the cut-away interviews during the action. I don't care who the fudge it is, I want to watch the game, and shrinking it down to half size with 4 minutes left in a 3-1 game is asking for my fist through the screen.

Oh, and Stars win!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!



The people of Toronto are no longer in danger....The sky has stopped falling!!!!! :p

... untill the next loss. :)

81-1 baby

Any other Edmonton fans (or those interested) figure that another solid game from Jussi and anything less than a spectacular start from Conklin in the back to back games this weekend would be enough to make Jussi the regular starter in Edmonton? Considering his lack of preseason work due to injury, Jussi has looked really strong (aside from his assist on the Perry goal against the Ducks) while Conklin has given up more weak goals than quality ones.

Or does MacT stand by his commitment to giving Conklin time to show that he can be a true #1? Can we afford for him to travel that road with an alternative like Markannen on the bench?

Who knows with MacTavish. Personally I would go with Markannen as #1, and probably would have from the start of season, but I've just never fell into the Conklin-as-a-#1 camp. If I was in complete control, I would have traded for a true #1 in the offseason...that, and get a number #1 center, as those are the two positions that are really going to affect the playoff race for the Oilers.

Flames signed Bryan Marchment today.

ha ha

I'm not an Edmonton fan, but...

Last night the announcers were saying how MacTavish was vehemently defending his position of not having a #1 goalie... so I think it'll take more than a game or two to change his mind.

Funny how everybody's teams in the preseason, Philly & Calgary, keep making their defense bigger and SLOWER with each acquisition.

Sigh. The Thrashers better be able to score like they did over the weekend, first Lehtonen goes down for a month with a groin injury & now Dunham had to leave in the 1st period with the same damn thing :(

we know you want Mika :D

Wallin of Carolina just scored on his own net during a delayed penalty! Was watching it live on Center Ice in complete disbelief...

I still don't understand how we (Rangers) gave up Jussi so easily. Granted we have a lot of goalie prospect depth, but he's a quality goalie who was given away for much too little.

Dunham is out because of Lehtonan's groin?

Woot! I can now go back to hating the guy (after two years of being reluctantly lukewarm towards him).

Ba-dum-bump.

Meanwhile, young Garnett has been standing on his head for 2+ periods, giving up just one goal. Sadly, the team that got 15 goals in 2 nights vs Washington (w/out Ilya) has been blanked for 58 minutes (w/Ilya), by a rookie goalie no less

Eh, well. The Canes smoked the Caps otherwise, so no biggy. The more I watch Staal, the more impressed I get. He just seems to have the knack for moving the puck to the right place (it's his job, so it shouldn't come as a surprise, but still).

I'm going to miss the free Center Ice now that it's over after tonight, but frankly I don't have the time or money to sit down and watch to my heart's content.

Atlanta is one of my Top 5 favorite teams (lived there for a little while), and since their fate usually doesn't affect that of the Islanders, I can root for them almost all the time.

They got reemed in that Heatley trade, and now goaltending seems to be more and more of a problem. Meanwhile, tonight, they ran into Cam Ward who is on fire right now, but still they didn't have a lot of pressure on the net.

I wonder if Hartley will soon go to a Kovalchuk-Savard-Hossa line. *drool*

~rpi-fan

I think you're getting Atlanta and Washington mixed up. The Caps were the ones who got beat down by the Canes and Cam Ward.

Not the NHL, but apparently, according to the game I went to tonight, in the QMJHL... a goalie can stop a breakaway by running towards the puck & player, the player can't score because once they make contact it's interference. :rolleyes:

Doh! Was talking about Atlanta, and basically my point was tonight they didn't put a lot of pressure on the goal, and I wonder if Hartley will overload his top line in the near future?

BTW, nice win. Ward looks phenomenal, and my Isles barely snuck past the 'Canes b/c of him. Staal and Cole are absolutes horse out there (they're like twins, IMO), and you guys have a good team if you can keep your 2nd & 3rd liners healthy.

I hope Staal's brother has his style and dedication of play.

And I'll miss Center Ice too. Funny how I'm going to miss all this extra hockey, when I don't even bother to check out the Islander and Devil games I have access to. More likely its not the actual hockey I'll miss...but the ability to put on Ovechkin, Crosby, etc for a few mins to get some peeks.

Good luck with Staal's brother, but I'm not sure how much you'll get out of him. He doesn't play very physical, but he also isn't all that skilled offensively.

Unless his skating is/gets really good, he won't have many strong assets, as where in the past his long reach and height would give him leverage out front, he won't get that advantage any more with the new rules.

I thought the goalie couldn't leave the crease during a PS?

Not a penaly shot, just a normal breakaway during the game... bottom line is that it shouldn't have been a penalty. The player was on a breakaway, the goalie was left high and dry, so he comes out past the hash marks to do a poke check... the player tries to get around him, but by this time that's impossible... then the ref calls interference.

I'll go back to my suggestion from last year... there should be a secondary crease that makes a rectangle around the net, from the hash marks to the boards. If the goalie is within that he can't be touched, if he ventures outside of that he is fair game...

Caron had the SAVE OF THE YEAR in the Pittsburgh game.

Absolutely no doubt that this save will stand as best save of the year.

I suggest watching sportscenter or something to see it.

And of course, Crosby with another goal and assist.

Going to the Isles @ Philly tomorrow... any suggestions for body armor to wear?

Just don't dress up as Santa.

Well, all the Toronto and Atlanta fans around here should have lots to talk about over the next little while...

Watched the Leafs/Thrashers game

I have lost all respect for the Atlanta Organization. Cheap shot after cheap shot. 3 seperate attempts to injure. Headhunting, cheap shots. Pathetic. I hope the NHL sends a message to these thugs

Johnny or ML, can ya give me some more info?

I saw Domi had a fight with an instigator, what happened?

Agreed. Details pleased.