They face a really tough stretch over the middle of this month. Winning games now helps make those games a bit less important, but only in terms of making the playoffs.

Of course they've had rough stretches before, where we'd debate their ability to grab even two points over a 6 or 7 game stretch and they've generally surprised us.

At this point, You just have to give them a hand. I've disagreed with their decisions, the way they have used guys, the way they have prioritized certain types of guys...and they've kept winning.

They're 8-2 over their last ten, featuring wins over some good teams. They're 32-17-6 since a 1-7 start. Despite my concerns and things I haven't agreed with, they keep winning games.

At this point, I'm enjoying the ride.
- Jsaquella

You just summed me up, as well -- I haven't agreed with a lot of the broad strokes from this season, but I've never been ashamed to admit when I'm wrong. They scored more than I thought they would, Andrej Meszaros can still play in the NHL, and Craig Berube did get them to play a better brand of hockey than I thought he could when they hired him.

I own those, and I, too, have enjoyed the vast majority of this season far more than I thought I would after Washington 7, Philadelphia 0.

You just summed me up, as well -- I haven't agreed with a lot of the broad strokes from this season, but I've never been ashamed to admit when I'm wrong. They scored more than I thought they would, Andrej Meszaros can still play in the NHL, and Craig Berube did get them to play a better brand of hockey than I thought he could when they hired him.

I own those, and I, too, have enjoyed the vast majority of this season far more than I thought I would after Washington 7, Philadelphia 0.
- AllInForFlyers

I think it's all about emotions, and a normal fan response sometimes.

its gravy if there is meat cooked in it
- Crimsoninja

This is true

Or, if there was at one point cooked meat in it. Gravy is still gravy after all the pork, beef, veal, sausage, meatballs, and brocciola are scavenged

Also nice to see you guys on the Optimism Train. It makes things more enjoyable eh?

Also nice to see you guys on the Optimism Train. It makes things more enjoyable eh?
- Giroux_Is_God

I've been a passenger on that train all season!

poor kesler
losing 6-1

I will give them one thing, they are a lot more entertaining to watch.

In that first part of the season, even when they started winning a bit, it was brutal hockey to watch. Boring, and so defense orientated.

Think Berube loosened things up a bit, which is nice to see.

I've been a passenger on that train all season!

- MJL

Along with every season

Doesn't make it okay. Bertuzzi should have skated up to him, grabbed him and beat him up. That's a far cry from sucker-punching a guy in the back of the head and slamming his face into the ice.
- jmatchett383

I just feel that his actions were a manifestation of the collective team consciousness, not so much a product of his individual character. That team was out for blood, and they got it.

Barring some miracle, I think this team is a legitimate ECF contender. They could potentially beat any of NYR/Wsh/Cbs/Car/NJ in a 7-game first-round series. They could potentially beat Pittsburgh in a 7-game series. However, unless some upsets happen (and even if they do), they're most likely not making it out of the ECF. Boston and TB would be hard outs for them (although I think they could beat Montreal).
- jmatchett383

I'd be interested to see what a series against the Pens looks like without Talbot on the team now. I was convinced his knowledge of the players and system helped us a lot against them.

Along with every season
- flyer_nutter

Why wouldn't a fan be positive towards the team he roots for?

Every good team in the NHL plays with a commitment to defense. If you don't, you can't win in this League.
And Berube hasn't changed anything with regards to his system and how he wants the team to play, since the day he took over. He has not wavered at all from how he wants the team to play.

I always said sauce as a kid. I have since been corrected by my friend's Italian mother that its not a sauce, it's a gravy.
- PhillySportsGuy

I lived next to an Italian family growing up in South Jersey. The parents were off the boat Italians and would bring over dinner for us from time to time (They even owned a restaurant in Galloway. Can't remember the name of it for the life of me though) But he would laugh at people who called it Gravy and said that in Italy, it's sauce.

I just feel that his actions were a manifestation of the collective team consciousness, not so much a product of his individual character. That team was out for blood, and they got it.
- Tomahawk

Remember when Claude Lemieux decked Draper from behind and gave him a concussion and a broken jaw? McCarty got retribution the right way. And that kind of stuff has gone on since the beginning of time. What Bertuzzi did was inexcusable and his actions were entirely his. Lots of teams have been out for blood. Not many players wound up paralyzed from the retribution. Although I do agree that it was an isolated incident and a really bad decision made by Bertuzzi, that I'm sure he's going to have to live with, and not a reflection of his character.

May I suggest counting calories and tracking eating and activity so you can eat real food rather than limiting yourself in a way you would be unwilling to do for the rest of your life. You'll lose weight. You won't end up craving things. And when you reach goal you'll be eating in a way you're willing to eat long term. (Unless you have legitimate allergy or disorder-related reasons to avoid tomatoes or wheat.)

61 pounds down so far, and no angst.

There are many apps. I use MyFitnessPal.
- bodiva88

This!
I lost 65 pounds last year by eating sensibly and workng out regularly. Just be patient and stick with it!

This!
I lost 65 pounds last year by eating sensibly and workng out regularly. Just be patient and stick with it!
- BiggE

Yep, patience is the key. Down 39 lbs so far!

This is true

Or, if there was at one point cooked meat in it. Gravy is still gravy after all the pork, beef, veal, sausage, meatballs, and brocciola are scavenged
- Giroux_Is_God

of course

poor kesler
losing 6-1
- Winning

"I could be in Pittsburgh right now"

First of all, congratulations to you guys on your dieting -- nice work!

Second, I'm considering watching at least a bit of the Buffalo/Florida game tonight; curious to see Luongo's debut, the fan turnout, and some of their kids. Vincent Trocheck, one of the more important players on last year's U.S. team that won the World Juniors, is making his NHL debut.

"I could be in Pittsburgh right now"
- JAKEw1234

Words not normally said all together

My view of this team is that they are in a good spot right now. Progressing and moving towards the playoffs. They've built a young core, and they seem to be committed to it. The GM has done a strong job building this team to this point. Hasn't been perfect by any means. And I think all the talk of replacing the GM was in haste. Not that I don't think there was any merit to it. But I just never personally felt that his job was in jeopardy in any way. If they don't make the playoffs at this point, it won't be the GM's fault in my opinion. So hopefully they can build on that. But Holmgren's toughest task is ahead. The next few moves that need to be made are key moves, and they are difficult moves. But I think if the right moves are made, it will move this team to the upper echelon of teams in the NHL.
- MJL

I dont know if this is the right coach or not

There's a rumour that the cap won't be rising as much as they thought due to the decrease in the Canadian dollar. It's going up, just not as much.
- mayorofangrytown

I'm still confused by this. Was the league hurt by the weaking value of the dollar?

If the Canadian money (no idea what they call it, nor do I care) loses value, and our dollar gains value, isn't it offset?

Hope this wasn't already covered.

Also nice to see you guys on the Optimism Train. It makes things more enjoyable eh?
- Giroux_Is_God

I'd get on with you, but the price of admission is ridiculous.

Scott Laughton with a nice goal.

Scott Laughton with a nice goal.
- MunsterMike

He's got a cannon from the point on power plays.

Scott Laughton with a nice goal.
- MunsterMike

This was nice too