Hockey

[SerenityNigh]

My exes kid plays it...I used to play field hockey.

I’ve watched quite a bit but it was back when the neutral zone trap and left wing lock were prevalent defensive schemes. My understanding is fouls are called more frequently now which nullifies dome effectiveness of these defenses. Also I’d guess the average defenseman can skate and pass better than a few years ago, but maybe I still just miss John Stones.

 

[Methuselah]

Can't stand it, but to be fair, it is bloody slippy out there.

 

[COYBL25]

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Ice hockey, not the other lark.

Who’s the expert here? Don’t we have at least one? Can someone explain the center ice transition or is it all slap the puck forward and try to rattle teeth on the forecheck?

Also, up the forlorn Stars

*been drinking too much to create clever ways to bypass the filter

This is why you can’t figure out the strategy to enter the offensive zone. The Stars try hard but don’t have any talent. The Burnley of the NHL.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Also while we’re comparing hockey teams to English football teams, the Blackhawks are Chelsea, the Maple Leafs are the RS, the Lightning are Tottenham, the Canadiens are Arsenal, the Flyers are Stoke, the Red Wings are Aston Villa, and the NY Rangers are extremely Everton.

 

[SerenityNigh]

This is why you can’t figure out the strategy to enter the offensive zone. The Stars try hard but don’t have any talent. The Burnley of the NHL.

Shut your mouth. I watched Modano, Morrow, Hull, Nieuwendyk, Lehtinen, Sydor, Carbonneau, and others. Those boys could play.

This lot, however... they look better when Bishop doesn’t leak limp wristlers.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Also while we’re comparing hockey teams to English football teams, the Blackhawks are Chelsea, the Maple Leafs are the RS, the Lightning are Tottenham, the Canadiens are Arsenal, the Flyers are Stoke, the Red Wings are Aston Villa, and the NY Rangers are extremely Everton.

Who are the Bruins? Also, Gunners lack the history and beautiful kit of le Habs.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Shut your mouth. I watched Modano, Morrow, Hull, Nieuwendyk, Lehtinen, Sydor, Carbonneau, and others. Those boys could play.

This lot, however... they look better when Bishop doesn’t leak limp wristlers.

That was a bad goal and there was no way Dallas was equalizing again with their pitiful attacking tactics. Anyway to answer your last question, the Stars don’t have enough skill to skate the puck into the offensive zone, plus Nashville is putting defenders in the center ice area, so they have to dump and chase. (For those of you who don’t watch hockey, it’s a lot like pressing in football, you shoot the puck down behind the net and give up possession, then try to check/tackle your opponent into making a mistake with the puck/ball so you can create a scoring opportunity.)

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Tough one the Bruins, maybe they’re Chelsea because they’re dirty cheats with horrible fans, and the Blackhawks are City?

Sticking with Canadiens = Arsenal, both have regal histories, recent struggles, and lots of players who speak French.

 

[Efcjake]

I like PK Subban.

Do you, @Efcjake

Yes indeed C, he's probably still my favourite player.

I hope Nashville wins for him. Every Montreal fan I know still loves him and was gutted by that trade.

I had my missus translating the press conference when we traded him for Weber. I'm still fuming about that trade though we made some better ones last season.

 

[Efcjake]

Ice hockey, not the other lark.

Who’s the expert here? Don’t we have at least one? Can someone explain the center ice transition or is it all slap the puck forward and try to rattle teeth on the forecheck?

There's an offside rule like footy except with footy the line moves with the last player where for hockey the blue line is painted and the rule is that the puck has to cross the line before any opposition player does so there's no goal hanging.

To get around this the players either "dump" the puck in and chase after it. Usually the first one in tries to hold it in the corner to allow the rest of the team to get in position to support. The other option is skating it in but when the defenders can stand their ground then you need a lot of skill to get the puck and yourself around them at the same time.

 

[Efcjake]

I went to watch a game once. It seemed more complicated than I imagined. Not just guys skating around an ice rink trying to smack a puck into a net.

What on earth is the icing rule all about?

That's what happens when a pass is played from one team's zone and it goes through the three lines in the middle to the other team's zone without the team who sent the puck from their zone getting a touch on it before the opposing team does.

This rule prevents a team from defending a lead by simply clearing their lines, or hoofing it every time they get the puck.

 

[Efcjake]

Also while we’re comparing hockey teams to English football teams, the Blackhawks are Chelsea, the Maple Leafs are the RS, the Lightning are Tottenham, the Canadiens are Arsenal, the Flyers are Stoke, the Red Wings are Aston Villa, and the NY Rangers are extremely Everton.

Mate, as much as I hate to say it, The Maple Leafs are us.

Prestigious history with a rabidly loyal fanbase but not won a pot in ages.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Prestigious history with a rabidly loyal fanbase but not won a pot in ages.

Yes, but the Canadian media desperately wants the Leafs to do well so the RS comp is appropriate. (It was either them or Pittsburgh on account of the Penguins’ enduring and supreme good luck... like them somehow winning the right to draft Sidney Crosby when every team in the league had the same odds of getting that pick.)

The Rangers are a better comp for Everton. They also haven’t won anything for a long time, haven’t won as much as Toronto historically, often sign big names past their prime, and try to fix everything with money and fail.

 

[Connor]

As for comparisons, I’m sticking with my Everton = Islanders theory. Dominant in the 80s, rabid fan base, play second findle to a media love-in regardless of how bad the Rangers may be.

If only the Blues could find their own Barry Trotz.