Any word on the defence going into tonight

Kessel makes things happen. Blake didn't.

Kessel attacks the zone. Blake skated like a frightened deer, afraid to cross the blueline - which constantly put his teammates offside (not a problem with Kessel, because his current dogpoop linemates simply can't keep up with him).

Kessel can make passes. Blake never even attempted.

I'll grant you this - Kessel isn't taking it inside right now - something Blake never did. But it's probably the right thing to do - Kessel has absolutely no support, so the higher percentage play is going around the outside of a defender, and hoping to get a good shot off, than trying to split the defence. That just doesn't happen the NHL today.

Put another way: I'll start yelling at Kessel when he refuses to try to go inside on a 2-on-2. Right now, it's a 1-on-2. There's just no point.
- Atomic Wedgie

absolutely. he'd get stuffed every time.

Any word on the defence going into tonight
- AngryWhiteMale

they suck

thats fine for 5 on 5

but on PP? that not the issue and its more of the same.
- Dozzer

Do you seriously want Kessel in front of the net on a PP? Are we criticizing our best sniper in a decade for not being Gary Roberts, too?

Is that really the best use of his talent? Or would you rather have him on the half boards firing shots off the crossbar?

I'll take Kessel with space hitting the crossbar. Because you know that once he gets one, most of those will be in the back of the net.

haha look at the dorks dorking out. ever touched a boob poindexter?
- sanfordnson

Yes, I'm doing it right now. It's pretty disappointing.

you are terrible at this you know.

explain specifically what about kessel sets him apart from blake.
- Dozzer

I shouldn't even have to. If you seriously think that Kessel and Blake are of the same, you sir, don't have a (frank)en clue judging hockey talent.

Any word on the defence going into tonight
- AngryWhiteMale

nice story

Stop making excuses for him.. He's always scored meaningless goals. And he's not getting that many chances, especially on the PP where he continues to get first unit minutes
- Arctic_AARDVARK

So your solution is to take Kessel of the 1st PP?

Good luck with that. I'm sure Steckel will add a very dangerous dimension to an already dangerous attack.

Let me stop you there... Kessel isn't scoring for a reason. Most of his shots are wide, hit the post, or are a little weak. He's not going to the dirty areas or battling hard for the puck and this is mostly because he doesn't have the size. Stop making excuses for him. He's an NHL hockey player. He gets paid to put the puck in the net and he's not doing it. He's always been a streaky player and there's no place for a guy like that anymore, especially if he's your most offensive player.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Try watching a game sometime, without the hate blinders on.

I know its frustrating, but dont let your emotions take over.

Yes, I'm doing it right now. It's pretty disappointing.
- AdamFrench

Yeah when you grab it and it just feels like a...bag of sand. yeah.

Kessel makes things happen. Blake didn't.

Kessel attacks the zone. Blake skated like a frightened deer, afraid to cross the blueline - which constantly put his teammates offside (not a problem with Kessel, because his current dogpoop linemates simply can't keep up with him).

Kessel can make passes. Blake never even attempted.

I'll grant you this - Kessel isn't taking it inside right now - something Blake never did. But it's probably the right thing to do - Kessel has absolutely no support, so the higher percentage play is going around the outside of a defender, and hoping to get a good shot off, than trying to split the defence. That just doesn't happen the NHL today.

Put another way: I'll start yelling at Kessel when he refuses to try to go inside on a 2-on-2. Right now, it's a 1-on-2. There's just no point.
- Atomic Wedgie

did i not say when kessel slumps he plays like blake?

he is not attacking the zone right now.. far from it.. he stays outside and makes bad passes instead of taking it inside. (i will give you this.. blake chose the bad shot over the bad pass)

and honestly, who was blake's linemates? stajan? antropov? johnny malkiin?

how you could say those guys are any better than JVR and bozak is beyond me.

all i am trying to say is that when kessel is scoring he takes it to the inside.. right now he isnt doing that.. a la jason blake.

I shouldn't even have to. If you seriously think that Kessel and Blake are of the same, you sir, don't have a (frank)en clue judging hockey talent.
- faceto27

I gotta say man.. You are probably the guy i most consistently disagree with.. Dozzer on the other hand makes good points.

The puck was put in the net with a skate that was moving in a forward/kicking motion...It doesn't matter if the player wasn't trying to do so..

It's the rule and thats the reasoning the NHL off ice official gave to Scott Morrison last night..
- Fruitcakenipple

yes it does actually, it was a horrible call.

nice story

Stop making excuses for him.. He's always scored meaningless goals. And he's not getting that many chances, especially on the PP where he continues to get first unit minutes
- Arctic_AARDVARK

If somebody could provide just one metric that actually proves this, I'd like to see it.

Is there a "meaningfulness" column on the stat sheet?

I shouldn't even have to. If you seriously think that Kessel and Blake are of the same, you sir, don't have a (frank)en clue judging hockey talent.
- faceto27

when kessel is slumping he is no better than blake

and dont bother replying unless you actually have something tangible to say.. its wasting my time.

Well lopping his head off is a little extreme

Lets just trade him
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I wondered how that might impact his trade value

Yeah when you grab it and it just feels like a...bag of sand. yeah.
- sanfordnson

It feels like skin, muscle and some fat with this weird nipply thing.

- Leafland

this is why i got a vasectomy...three kids too late. its even better when theyre groin high and run into your pouch at full running speed. youre half-comatose for a good 5 minutes. evil little (frank)ers.

I gotta say man.. You are probably the guy i most consistently disagree with.. Dozzer on the other hand makes good points.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

i dont mind if someone disagrees with me, just make an effort to tell me why

So your solution is to take Kessel of the 1st PP?

Good luck with that. I'm sure Steckel will add a very dangerous dimension to an already dangerous attack.
- Atomic Wedgie

My solution is bench him for a game or trade him. Hes not above a good old fashioned benching.. And if he gets butt hurt about it then he's not mentally strong enough to play in Toronto

- Leafland

I guess that she doesn't want any brothers!!

The puck was put in the net with a skate that was moving in a forward/kicking motion...It doesn't matter if the player wasn't trying to do so..

It's the rule and thats the reasoning the NHL off ice official gave to Scott Morrison last night..
- Fruitcakenipple

It was poop that it was a "distinct kicking motion" though - it seemed pretty clear his feet were just trying to pull up.

If it goes off just the one skate, OK, no goal. But as Big Dion stated, no way he can have it careem off his first skate, and then have the presence of mind to kick it in with his second skate.

It's Bozak, for eff's sakes. One only has to use the scientific method to observe the only plausible explanation for it being a goal was Bozak wasn't trying to do it.

this is why i got a vasectomy...three kids too late. its even better when theyre groin high and run into your pouch at full running speed. youre half-comatose for a good 5 minutes. evil little (frank)ers.
- sanfordnson

Look at the face the (frank)ing guy is making. Little kids just gave him a stroke.

It feels like skin, muscle and some fat with this weird nipply thing.
- AdamFrench

*hard*

bbl

when kessel is slumping he is no better than blake

and dont bother replying unless you actually have something tangible to say.. its wasting my time.
- Dozzer

Ditto