I haven't been to the ballet in over 2 years. It's getting ridiculous.
- TheMussel

It's a real Nut Cracker isn't it.

Leafs didnt play last night


Zing!!!!
- senstroll

funny that you mention it, last time I went was after a leafs game

It does raise an interesting question, as per this photo that was taken moments ago in Ottawa:



What message do you think this guy is trying to convey with his U.S. Confederate flag?
- Atomic Wedgie

That they are (frank)ing ignorant on many different levels 🤷🏼‍♂️

funny that you mention it, last time I went was after a leafs game
- TheMussel

Yeah, I was reflecting on what I was saying Underhill, and I don't know. I'm sure people did not like Gretzky's wraparound goals either. The league clearly didn't. They moved the nets because of him. Then teams and goalies needed to adapt to defending against the wraparound and the pass out and they largely did. The Michigan goal in many ways is no different - teams are getting burned because they are cheating on the play. Rather than pursue the puck carrier, they're taking away the passing lanes and pushing in to prevent the wraparound, but they aren't pressuring him. The Michigan sort of forces teams to stop letting a guy just stand there. It technically keeps things in motion.
- Monkeypunk

If new doesn't compromise the old in hockey, I'm in.

It just comes down to "it's hard to score in the NHL". The league didn't stop butterfly goaltending when it obviously cuts down goals compared to the stand up style from the 80s. Equipment size is bigger and lighter. All types of things have happened to assist the goaltender. Forwards are just now finding 'new' ways to beat them and I think it's awesome to watch.

The evolution of offense is a good thing for the game IMO. Although and being a Canadian, flashy stuff is always a little frowned upon by most Canuckleheads especially in the NHL. They like the frozen-tundra-vanilla of the game.

Kinda why my flashy ass went to the U.S. of A to live in year round sun shine female doges!

- winsix

"just poppin into zanzibar for a poke"

He ruptured his ACL first week in December. Been waiting since then. Apparently, it’s common and they saw some lumps on his meniscus on his other leg and he’ll probably need another in 6-8 months. Thank God for insurance. It’s $7,000
- Canada Cup

Hope he's alright CC!

"just poppin into zanzibar for a poke"
- TheMussel

Can you get the HPV vax too? Asking for Val Kilmer and Mikey Douglas.

Can you get the HPV vax too? Asking for Val Kilmer and Mikey Douglas.
- underhill14

You can get HPV I guess?

It happened in 1990-91, "The goal lines, blue lines, defensive zone face-off circles and markings all moved one foot out from the end boards, creating 11 feet of room behind the nets and shrinking the neutral zone from 60 to 58 feet."

. . .BUT, I am clearly misremembering this. I thought it happened earlier, and I thought it was in response to wraparound goals and trying to create more room behind the net to make it harder - but just thinking of the logistics in that statement, it doesn't make sense as Wedgie noted.
- Monkeypunk

So what I was able to unearth was that they moved the nets up from 10 feet to 13 feet from the boards to create more space behind the net - in an attempt to give more forwards the same type of opportunities Gretzky created. Like . . .the thinking was that it wasn't that Gretzky was that much better, he was just better and doing it in 10 feet of space, and having 13 feet of space would make others better? I don't understand this thinking, but when the rules are made by people who've suffered multiple concussions, you're sometimes better off not asking.

Then when that didn't work, they moved the other lines, and reduced it from 13 to 11. The initially cited timeline above, I think is wrong, but I haven't found specific dates yet.

Covid sucks and all but the fact that they are able to detect and estimate levels of covid-19 infection in Toronto from wastewater that goes through the city's water treatment facilities is pretty godamn neat

Covid sucks and all but the fact that they are able to detect and estimate levels of covid-19 infection in Toronto from wastewater that goes through the city's water treatment facilities is pretty godamn neat
- TheMussel

Yeah they converted the corn season tracker software

Covid sucks and all but the fact that they are able to detect and estimate levels of covid-19 infection in Toronto from wastewater that goes through the city's water treatment facilities is pretty godamn neat
- TheMussel

does it track covid in piss bottles thrown in the ditch by truckers?

If you change the size of the NHL nets (or puck) suddenly any record around scoring that is broken or reset has to have an * beside it in my opinion. Same to some degree for goaltending too.
- Cush29

Things change. Look at the goalies.

Ken Dryden wrote an interesting essay making a detailed case for bigger nets and I thought it was a strong case.

Things change. Look at the goalies.

Ken Dryden wrote an interesting essay making a detailed case for bigger nets and I thought it was a strong case.
- Zezel

I'm still pretty certain that Ken Dryden never has and never will like hockey.

I wonder how coaches feel about the lacrosse goal.

And I'm not talking about the old school, don't disrespect the game nonsense.

I'm just wondering if the coaches would rather have their players focusing on making a traditional play, instead of something that could be perceived as a gimmick.

I'd be interested to know what the success rate is for lacrosse goal attempts.
- Atomic Wedgie

Probably if you are a Zegras or Matthews you have latitude to try that. If you're not and you can't make it work they won't like it.

Back in the day the nets had a metal point in the centre along the ice. Mark Howe slid in ass first and at the same time the net got tipped backwards by about 6 inches. He almost got disemboweled.

True boomer story.
- shack67

I remember metal pegs in the posts and the fact that you rarely saw guys 'crash the crease' and absolutely truck a goalie over because of it. Then they put in the flexible rubber pegs and now players don't think twice about it. I know they put in the rubber pegs for player safety but all they did (in this goalie's opinion) was make it safer for players and less safe for goalies.

Never mind the fact the metal pegs were a non-issue far more often than a player crashes the crease now a days. They need to call that far more often, perhaps a rule change because all the look for is goalie interference and it's only looked at if the end result is a goal (in general).

Give me the blue paint and a bubble of safety within it dammit!

Things change. Look at the goalies.

Ken Dryden wrote an interesting essay making a detailed case for bigger nets and I thought it was a strong case.
- Zezel

He's a traitor and his goalie union card was revoked. You can't believe a word that guys says - he's a former Hab AND a politician and a Lawyer (LIAR)!

Covid sucks and all but the fact that they are able to detect and estimate levels of covid-19 infection in Toronto from wastewater that goes through the city's water treatment facilities is pretty godamn neat
- TheMussel

and smart

I feel the same way which is why I will not vote for Ford in the upcoming provincial election.
- dmnted

If new doesn't compromise the old in hockey, I'm in.

It just comes down to "it's hard to score in the NHL". The league didn't stop butterfly goaltending when it obviously cuts down goals compared to the stand up style from the 80s. Equipment size is bigger and lighter. All types of things have happened to assist the goaltender. Forwards are just now finding 'new' ways to beat them and I think it's awesome to watch.

The evolution of offense is a good thing for the game IMO. Although and being a Canadian, flashy stuff is always a little frowned upon by most Canuckleheads especially in the NHL. They like the frozen-tundra-vanilla of the game.

Kinda why my flashy ass went to the U.S. of A to live in year round sun shine female doges!
- underhill14

I don't think goalies have been given any more advantage or their gear or game has evolved anymore rapidly than players.

Goalies evolved from the fat guy who can't skate to being real athletes and moved from using felt padding on their arms to stuff that is more protective. Player's sticks (the main "weapon" for goal scoring) have evolved insanely over the years - look at what the worst NHL player can do from a shot perspective (how hard, how fast and how accurate).

I guess I'll just never subscribe to making changes just to change the game to get more goals. I don't want to see 10-9 games be a normal thing I see it enough in my beer league! lol

I remember metal pegs in the posts and the fact that you rarely saw guys 'crash the crease' and absolutely truck a goalie over because of it. Then they put in the flexible rubber pegs and now players don't think twice about it. I know they put in the rubber pegs for player safety but all they did (in this goalie's opinion) was make it safer for players and less safe for goalies.

Never mind the fact the metal pegs were a non-issue far more often than a player crashes the crease now a days. They need to call that far more often, perhaps a rule change because all the look for is goalie interference and it's only looked at if the end result is a goal (in general).

Give me the blue paint and a bubble of safety within it dammit!
- Cush29

I agree. The goalies get run over too much. Even Don Cherry thought so.

Things change. Look at the goalies.

Ken Dryden wrote an interesting essay making a detailed case for bigger nets and I thought it was a strong case.
- Zezel

With the size of the goalies and equipment it’s more about positioning now. I’d rather see smaller equipment or bigger nets.

While we’re at it lets raise the basketball hoops about 2 feet. I might even watch it then.

new blog everyone

I don't think goalies have been given any more advantage or their gear or game has evolved anymore rapidly than players.

Goalies evolved from the fat guy who can't skate to being real athletes and moved from using felt padding on their arms to stuff that is more protective. Player's sticks (the main "weapon" for goal scoring) have evolved insanely over the years - look at what the worst NHL player can do from a shot perspective (how hard, how fast and how accurate).

I guess I'll just never subscribe to making changes just to change the game to get more goals. I don't want to see 10-9 games be a normal thing I see it enough in my beer league! lol
- Cush29

Hey, the last thing I want is MORE goals. How do you enjoy a blow out of 8-1 if every game is 12-9 like lacrosse.

I just like the smarter/trickier/tic tac toe goals and want to see more of them.

But to your other point, I would like to see the stats on goalies size and GAA over the past 20 years. You're right, goalies are no longer the fat kid that can't skate they are HUGE athletic men....6'5" + some of them now.

And now we're back to the tricky goals being cool because the goalies are covering more of the net and the evolution of said goals are AWESOME for the game. (IMHO of course)

But you're a goalie so I totally understand you position.