GDT: Hickster Pucksters visit Puckster Hicksters

[The Faulker 27]

Watching any Hurricanes game is optional at this point.

 

[RodTheBawd]

Binge watch Peaky Blinders or watch this **** show? Idk

New season is as awesome as all prior.

 

[Lempo]

New season is as awesome as all prior.

Again, someone spoiling stuff when alternative entertainment option is named.

 

[Unsustainable]

I’ll watch a little, if they do good I will finish the game, if they are getting killed, Call of Duty time

 

[Cane mutiny]

Eric Staal would take the optional skate. I'm not sure which emoji I'm supposed to use here.

We could actually use Eric Staal now, and that's a sad admission.

 

[RodTheBawd]

We could actually use Eric Staal now, and that's a sad admission.

We could use any Center better than Rask or Ryan, which is not a tall order.

 

[Bub]

If a hockey game is played between two non-traditional teams, how many main board threads will be made about the Leafs?

This is good Zen.

 

[Wolfpuck]

This is good Zen.

Namaste and shit, y'all

 

[Roboturner913]

There was an optional pregame skate today. I'd love to know who did and who didn't take that option.

IMO. Transparent attempt by Pastor Bill here to create a "they're not working hard enough" narrative. Does anybody here really think this team struggles because it isn't working hard enough?

 

[Joe McGrath]

Special Teams last year on 12/21: +14
Special Teams this year: -8

That’s a 22 goal swing from this time last year in the wrong direction. Horrifying.

 

[Roboturner913]

I reminded my boss a few minutes ago that I would be leaving an hour early to get to Nashville on time and he looked at me with such pity. At least I think it was pity.

 

[Wolfpuck]

Special Teams last year on 12/21: +14
Special Teams this year: -8

That’s a 22 goal swing from this time last year in the wrong direction. Horrifying.

I refuse to believe Hainsey and McClement were that good...

 

[Joe McGrath]

I refuse to believe Hainsey and McClement were that good...

Mcclement wasn’t. Hainsey might have been.

 

[GoldiFox]

I refuse to believe Hainsey and McClement were that good...

The loss of Hainsey was a big hit to the PK. Big veteran presence who could cover some of Faulk's terrible defensive IQ. Canes had #6 PK last year and now have the #29 PK.

Also, the book is out on how to beat the Canes defense. Crowd the net and you will find zero resistance. Nobody is afraid of any individual defender the Canes have. The forwards are too terrible defensively to make anyone pay for being aggressive down low. If a Canes forward does spring a breakaway then they are more likely to drop-pass it to the chasing defender than create any meaningful scoring chance.

 

[Breakdowns]

I think they have changed PK system this season, and it`s not working.

 

[Lempo]

I reminded my boss a few minutes ago that I would be leaving an hour early to get to Nashville on time and he looked at me with such pity. At least I think it was pity.

At my employer, the standard practice is to only appoint people stupider than you as your subordinates, so your own mediocrity looks good in comparison. If this was in our company, I would say he was smiling inwards.

 

[StormCast]

Binge watch Peaky Blinders or watch this **** show? Idk

By order of the Peaking F****** Blinders, watch the blinders.

 

[StormCast]

Mcclement wasn’t. Hainsey might have been.

The PK linchpin was Stalberg with his anticipation and speed. Never replaced.

 

[Joe McGrath]

The PK linchpin was Stalberg with his anticipation and speed. Never replaced.

Hopefully McLovin can be that guy.

 

[Breakdowns]

What are the chances that f***ing Darling will start again?

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Through December 21, 2016, the goalies had a collective shorthanded SV% of ~.941.

NHL.com - Stats

Through December 21, 2017, the goalies have a collective shorthanded SV% of ~.832.

NHL.com - Stats

The team is actually giving up marginally fewer shots shorthanded, on a per game basis, but the SV% is down 100+ points. Ward has had some years where he is now, but Darling is vastly underperforming his career average. Darling is in John Grahame territory right now.

What we saw last year was unsustainably good goaltending shorthanded. I think what we’re seeing this year is unsustainably bad goaltending shorthanded.

 

[Stickpucker]

There is no thunder here to steal bub.

 

[AhoLottaLove]

New season is as awesome as all prior.

Unfortunately, this is not the only season I can think of that is more of the same.

 

[Bub]

Unfortunately, this is not the only season I can think of that is more of the same.

So, based on the last few posts here you've got a choice tonight between Peaky Blinders and PK Blunders.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Through December 21, 2016, the goalies had a collective shorthanded SV% of ~.941.

NHL.com - Stats

Through December 21, 2017, the goalies have a collective shorthanded SV% of ~.832.

NHL.com - Stats

The team is actually giving up marginally fewer shots shorthanded, on a per game basis, but the SV% is down 100+ points. Ward has had some years where he is now, but Darling is vastly underperforming his career average. Darling is in John Grahame territory right now.

What we saw last year was unsustainably good goaltending shorthanded. I think what we’re seeing this year is unsustainably bad goaltending shorthanded.

If my math is right, that means that if we had a .941 this year on ~120 shots, instead of .832, that would be a difference of 13 less goals (12% of our current GA)