If you ask me there is way to many casual hockey fans as it is. NHL hockey is exciting when two teams that aren't littered with talent go head to head. I find close chess match type of games just as interesting and exciting as Sid and Ovie both having hat tricks. Some people just aren't hockey people.
Sestito with the 1st goal tonight.
- Grinder47

The NHL has always been mediocre at marketing.

Being on the ice for a goal against is different than plus/minus. Overall goal differential > Plus/Minus

Im sorry this is the last time I will touch on this topic Jboyd but I actually looked something up this time.

"Plus/Minus is a stat used to measure a players goal differential in ice hockey"
- Grinder47

No, because Plus/Minus arbitrarily chooses to exclude some goals and not others.

Plus/minus doesn’t even say who outscored the most because of its arbitrary methodology, and can even give you false positives — a guy who has a positive plus/minus rating might actually have a negative goal differential. Those who have the worst plus/minus, may not even the worst plus/minus players relative to their ice time. Two players can have the same rating and be vastly different in their outscoring performance.

(frank) Mike Johnston
- DeflatedPucks

That name still gives me chills.

I disagree about the benefits of having Sestito in the lineup tonight.
In the first match-up between the teams, he challenged and fought Wilson.
Wilson was as quiet as a mouse afterward.
Ovechkin was quiet from the outset that night.
The only real cheapshot from that game was Williams suplexing Malkin's neck into the boards.
That's not a typical Williams thing to do. Just sort of happened in the heat of the moment.
I believe the Capitals know that Sestito is willing and able to defend his teammates. It's that simple. They get the message.
- iglooz

MOST cheap shot are heat of the moment, regardless of player, goon or no goon, which is why having goons on the ice is NOT a deterrent.

MOST cheap shot are heat of the moment, regardless of player, goon or no goon, which is why having goons on the ice is NOT a deterrent.
- j.boyd919

If there was still an abundance of fighting in the NHL would you like it less? Or even stop watching it?

As I've said before, there is literally no way to know whether it's a deterrent or not because no player is ever going to say "well, I was going to cross check that dude in the face, but they've got a goon, so I didn't."

All I know is two things - Crosby, Sullivan and Rutherford all seem to think having Sestito in the lineup is a deterrent. But they're not on hockeybuzz.com and they don't have any graphs proving it, so I guess it's not a real thing.

And in real life, being a big tough dude certainly deters people from mouthing off or inciting violence.

As I've said before, there is literally no way to know whether it's a deterrent or not because no player is ever going to say "well, I was going to cross check that dude in the face, but they've got a goon, so I didn't."

All I know is two things - Crosby, Sullivan and Rutherford all seem to think having Sestito in the lineup is a deterrent. But they're not on hockeybuzz.com and they don't have any graphs proving it, so I guess it's not a real thing.

And in real life, being a big tough dude certainly deters people from mouthing off or inciting violence.
- hardnosed

Untrue. Crosby jawed off at Chara that one time.

As I've said before, there is literally no way to know whether it's a deterrent or not because no player is ever going to say "well, I was going to cross check that dude in the face, but they've got a goon, so I didn't."

All I know is two things - Crosby, Sullivan and Rutherford all seem to think having Sestito in the lineup is a deterrent. But they're not on hockeybuzz.com and they don't have any graphs proving it, so I guess it's not a real thing.

And in real life, being a big tough dude certainly deters people from mouthing off or inciting violence.
- hardnosed

Sestito is the pens lucky charm.
anyone remember, steve macIntyre?

As I've said before, there is literally no way to know whether it's a deterrent or not because no player is ever going to say "well, I was going to cross check that dude in the face, but they've got a goon, so I didn't."

All I know is two things - Crosby, Sullivan and Rutherford all seem to think having Sestito in the lineup is a deterrent. But they're not on hockeybuzz.com and they don't have any graphs proving it, so I guess it's not a real thing.

And in real life, being a big tough dude certainly deters people from mouthing off or inciting violence.
- hardnosed

Real life and a sport with referees are 2 different scenarios.

If there was still an abundance of fighting in the NHL would you like it less? Or even stop watching it?
- Grinder47

Depends on how the fights came about, if it was through hard play and heat of the moment, I like a good fisticuffs, but if its that stupid staged bullpoop that Laraque would so often do, then nah, I'll pass, that poop is pointless.

EDIT: Actually, now that I think about it, I'm a huge fan of the UFC and those fights are staged. I'd still watch, regardless.

Give it up and the don't back check!!!!

Wow that was hard to watch. Just put that deep there Geno... And Letang clear that for Murray... He already made the one very difficult save. Ah well. Besides that blunder they look pretty engaged right out the gate tonight which has been a rare occurrence so far in this young season.

Malkin me crazy right now! Play like you give a fock!

Damn, Geno really hates Murray. Knocks his helmet off and then smacks him in the head with his stick. This after he caused the turnover on the first goal.

I guess he has Flower's back.

Wow. Fleury 1 shot, 1 goal.

Edit: Ok, two shots. I thought it was deflected on the original shot. Poor D.

3-0... Gross... Lots of hockey left though...

3-0... Gross... Lots of hockey left though...
- MattStrat

Spotting 3 sucks. The caps will get tired but that's a lot to overcome with Holtby in net.

Murry gets a high stick in the mouth and has to leave? What a wussy.

Well it took MAF 3 seconds to $hit the bed there. Why do we continue to have such horrible first periods?

As dumb as we are playing we will just be lucky no one gets seriously hurt. That pass on the PP by Malkon started the tidal wave of the Caps dominating. Malkin can be a real dumb guy sometimes. Give the Caps credit forr outplaying us. However the Pens look way too passive. Having Sesito won't help us crawl back either. Dumb.

Murry gets a high stick in the mouth and has to leave? What a wussy.
- Grinder47

Sometimes you need to
Santa for
A brain.

Murry gets a high stick in the mouth and has to leave? What a wussy.
- Grinder47

Who the hell is Murry? Takes one to know one, maybe you should go in the corner and grab yourself and quit bothering people.

Missed first period. Looks like I'm glad I did.

Missed first period. Looks like I'm glad I did.
- nh4442

There is still time to watch this train wreck. Ugh!