Observations XIV

[handtrick]

Stu>Steve

 

[Adz]

we used to say 6 hole when it appeared the puck magically passed thru the goalies body.

That was actually mentioned as being a slang term.

 

[Pred303]

Stu>Steve

 

[PredsV82]

Stu>Steve

he doesn't post often, but when he does, by God its profound.

 

[FossilFndr]

Hope it isn't overconfidence with Wilson & Subban ... this team has nothing to be overconfident about. Not one position, not one line, not one ... anything.

 

[Pred303]

he doesn't post often, but when he does, by God its profound.

profane often, profound rarely.

 

[Pred303]

the second we lost that game last night handtrick texted me 'sometimes I hate hockey'.. and I agree 100%.

 

[Adz]

the second we lost that game last night handtrick texted me 'sometimes I hate hockey'.. and I agree 100%.

I was too pissed off for texting. No telling what I'd have written but it wouldn't be suitable for a mixed audience or even an audience at all. PFan98, Absey and Bryan avoided reading all my venting, so I guess that's a good thing. I was alone anyway, barely said bye to the usher and was out of that building in about 2 minutes, then made a beeline for the Pinnacle garage. I couldn't even share in the grumble fest in the elevator and was on my way home in 5 minutes. Good thing there wasn't a line for the exit because I'd have probably plowed through them.

 

[Pred303]

found this breakdown of even strength points interesting;

forsberg 25
arvidsson 21
johansen 20
ribeiro 18
neal 18

fisher 16
wilson 14
ellis 13
josi 12
ekholm 12

smith 11
jarnkrok 11
watson 10
subban 10
irwin 9
weber 6
sissons 5

 

[Pred303]

which also demonstrates some of the changes in pp points from this year versus last;

forsberg only 6 pp points this year versus 23 last season
johansen 15 versus 11 last year (42 games)
josi 9 versus 24 last year (feeding weber)
ribeiro 7 versus 15 (less PP time)
neal 6 versus 14 (about same pace, expected his PP points to increase with no weber)
avridsson 5 versus 1 (much more PP time)
subban 7 (compared to weber's full year 26)

all in all one can see several things here. for one, Forsberg's biggest down this year has been on the PP. Obviously we need more points from the backline here too. The whole PP hope was that with no Weber on the PP we would get more production from the forwards here, and it just hasn't been happening.

 

[Scoresberg]

Oh, look Lavy again messing with the lines just when we scored 4 goals. Lavy will you just?? Please??

 

[NSH615]

Oh, look Lavy again messing with the lines just when we scored 4 goals. Lavy will you just?? Please??

Need some Defense.....


The only real change is Watson back with Fisher where he was playing good and Jarnkrok in Ribeiro's place. Ribeiro is pretty much a one trick pony at this point. Pass the Puck and do nothing else.

 

[NSH615]

Well this is kinda weird.............





Career Game #1: For Columbus vs Nashville
Career Game #400: For Nashville vs Columbus

 

[Scoresberg]

33, agreed Ribs is pretty useless but surround him with Jarny (mr. Defense) and Smith with whom he has had chemistry with and every now and then he'll produce. He is pacing for 40p season again. I don't mind Jarny as the #3C, but Ribs has the ability to produce with the right players unlike Harry Z.

 

[triggrman]

Jarnkrok's best game as a Pred.

 

[bdub24]

Oh and the Blackhawks are just pooping all over themselves...love it

 

[Pred303]

whew. another wild, nail biting finish that shows just why the last 5 minutes of a one goal hockey game is the most nerve wrecking short period of time in the world of sports. and, depending on the outcome, how a person can both love and hate this game in a two day span.

we played hard, and we mostly played really well.

smith. jarnkrok, ekholm, zolnersomething, Wilson, fisher great jobs.

 

[PredsV82]

The Turd finally bubbled up to the surface tonight. I wondered how long we were going to have to trash him and how many trade proposals we'd have to suggest before he finally showed up. Got himself from an 11 goal pace for the season the almost a 15 goal pace in one night. If he can approach his usual 20 by the end of they season that will be really helpful

 

[drwpreds]

whew. another wild, nail biting finish that shows just why the last 5 minutes of a one goal hockey game is the most nerve wrecking short period of time in the world of sports. and, depending on the outcome, how a person can both love and hate this game in a two day spa.

YES, YES, YES.

I have always said exactly the same thing- I am a huge sports nut- follow many sports- and there is absolutely no other sport that comes close to being as nerve racking as hockey is- especially in situations like you describe. You can't relax for one second watching a hockey game- it is so stressful. Every other sport gives you ample time to relax and catch your breath- not hockey. Games like tonight, I sometimes have to turn the game off- I just can't take it.

 

[drwpreds]

Oh, by the way, if we were able to win our games in hand, we potentially could be just 5 points behind the Hawks for 2nd in the division.

Not saying its going to happen- still highly unlikely, but given where we stood a month ago its hard to believe we could be even this close.....

 

[jwhouk]

A little thought exercise: What would the NHL standings look like if all 30 teams played at the same 82-game rate that they have played against the Predators since 1998?

Sadly, as you can tell from the standings, the Preds wouldn't even make the playoffs in this scenario, but it's interesting to see who has done exceptionally well against the Preds - and who hasn't.

TM | C | D | GP | W | L | OL | SL | OT | GF | GA | GD | PTS
Detroit | E | A | 82 | 47 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 248 | 202 | 46 | 104
Montreal | E | A | 82 | 43 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 195 | 227 | -32 | 102
Boston | E | A | 82 | 41 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 218 | 195 | 23 | 99
Florida | E | A | 82 | 33 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 194 | 203 | -10 | 93
Ottawa | E | A | 82 | 39 | 32 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 228 | 235 | -7 | 89
Tampa Bay | E | A | 82 | 34 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 229 | 244 | -15 | 81
Buffalo | E | A | 82 | 34 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 201 | 236 | -35 | 80
Toronto | E | A | 82 | 33 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 205 | 255 | -50 | 74
Philadelphia | E | M | 82 | 41 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 235 | 181 | 54 | 109
New Jersey | E | M | 82 | 46 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 238 | 210 | 28 | 106
Washington | E | M | 82 | 46 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 238 | 217 | 21 | 100
NY Rangers | E | M | 82 | 43 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 227 | 182 | 45 | 97
Pittsburgh | E | M | 82 | 38 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 222 | 244 | -22 | 86
Carolina | E | M | 82 | 31 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 188 | 220 | -32 | 75
NY Islanders | E | M | 82 | 35 | 43 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 211 | 227 | -16 | 74
Columbus | E | M | 82 | 25 | 46 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 181 | 256 | -75 | 61
Dallas | W | C | 82 | 47 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 225 | 184 | 41 | 98
Chicago | W | C | 82 | 44 | 29 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 238 | 236 | 2 | 97
St.Louis | W | C | 82 | 40 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 206 | 187 | 19 | 93
PREDATORS | W | C | 82 | 39 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 217 | 222 | -5 | 89
Minnesota | W | C | 82 | 37 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 220 | 227 | -6 | 84
Colorado | W | C | 82 | 35 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 226 | 244 | -18 | 83
Winnipeg | W | C | 82 | 32 | 41 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 201 | 240 | -39 | 73
Vancouver | W | P | 82 | 48 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 236 | 199 | 37 | 102
San Jose | W | P | 82 | 45 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 224 | 204 | 20 | 100
Anaheim | W | P | 82 | 44 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 228 | 200 | 28 | 96
Arizona | W | P | 82 | 40 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 217 | 229 | -12 | 94
Los Angeles | W | P | 82 | 41 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 234 | 215 | 19 | 92
Calgary | W | P | 82 | 39 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 226 | 229 | -2 | 85
Edmonton | W | P | 82 | 32 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 225 | 231 | -6 | 75

 

[Scoresberg]

Thanks for that, jwhouk. Really interesting stat!

And even if Subban and Josi don't gel defensively, they can drive the possession up so much that they won't even have to defend a lot.

 

[Pred303]

lavy will go back to josi-ellis, ekholm-subban when josi returns. we won't see josi-subban unless we really struggle defensively i don't think

 

[NSH615]

lavy will go back to josi-ellis, ekholm-subban when josi returns. we won't see josi-subban unless we really struggle defensively i don't think

Well 76 has been on ice for 50% (4) of the goals against over the last 2 games. Something is breaking down there. And I find it no coincidence that we play strong defensively and have some low scoring close games when he was out, especially the last 3 weeks, and then 3 games back and the defensive lapses on this team start again much like before he was hurt.

 

[drwpreds]

Well 76 has been on ice for 50% (4) of the goals against over the last 2 games. Something is breaking down there. And I find it no coincidence that we play strong defensively and have some low scoring close games when he was out, especially the last 3 weeks, and then 3 games back and the defensive lapses on this team start again much like before he was hurt.

Do you honestly think Subban is the reason we had a couple of shaky defensive games this week?

What about the 2 games last week that he played in that we played well??

Again I will repeat- PK Subban is the most polarizing player I think I have ever seen in any sport- ever......