Well, the season started last and ESPN is doing it's best again to be Mario's bitch boys. I swear there are times last night it sounded like the PENS had won the cup last year, not Colorado. Yeeesh, it makes me sick sometimes.

Colorado looked good last night, and I'll admit the Pens offense trying hard.

I wish I could have seen the Leafs/Sens game, but it wasn't shown in my area. I'd like to have seen if Cujo was playing weak or it TO's D was looking bad. Guess I'll have to read the Sun!

Flames/Edmonton looks like it could have been a boring game, but Turek already starts off with a shutout! It could really help their team.

Trevor

I will be rooting on my Red Wings out here at the shark tank in San Jose tonight. i will let you know how we look -- i believe the game is going to be carried on both fox sports (bay area/detroit)and ESPN but it doesn't matter to me because i will be their live.

It will be interesting to see the new look wings with the dominator in net. Lets GO RED WINGS!!

How come football is the only sport where everybody plays on opening day? (Well at least before Cleveland came back, now 1 team gets a bye) All these other sports start their seasons with just a handful of games. Opening day should be a huge event, IMO. Let 'em all play!

I thought Colorado looked as good as everybody said they were going to look. If anyone had any doubts that The Avs were not going to be picked again to win the Stanley Cup, I would say their performance last night would have proved them wrong...Roy and Sakic looked excellent.
Sparty, the Detroit-San Jose game is part of a double header on ESPN2.

Hey guys, where oh where are the hockey posts?? There has been quite a few games played. I see where the Ranger and Lindros lost last nite. Any other interesting games???? :confused:

Trevor --

Are you still pissed that the Pens repeatedly knocked the Caps out of the playoffs all these years? Sorry for the teasing --

Get a satellite dish and watch hockey on CBC. Hockey Night in Canada is terrific! It's nice to watch many hockey games in a row and never see Philly or NY. (sorry to fans of those teams, I just got tired of seeing them repeatedly)

Don Cherry is a jerk, but still the coverage is really good.

Well, the Flyers won their opener and then followed up with a pair of ties against Columbus (they were behind in both games but rallied late). I haven't gotten to see much of their games as of yet. I imagine they might get off to something of a slow start while trying to establish some chemistry.

The Flyers still look good - Roenick's got that look in his eyes, Simon Gagne is all-star material, Weinrich was a great pick-up on D, and Boucher looked good in nets tonight, despite the tie (don't overlook Lemaire's Columbus team - they may be play-off bound). Where's John Leclair? Okay, a notorious slow-starter, but he'll pot 50.

Early surprises are the Broons (even without Allison), Canadiens (if Savage stays conscious, Petrov a poolies' dream, and now Doug Gilmour in the fold), Hurricanes (the Irbe wall), Isles (the Peca/Yashin deals and Luongo/Osgood might just work) and the Flames (Turek, 1st NHL Player of the Week).

But, hey, it's just the first week. Let's not jump to conclusions, eh?

Go HABS Go!

Seph,

Yes, the 'Canes so far are the biggest surprise to me, along with the Flames. The others, well, we'll see.

Those I am quite surprised at how bad the Penguins have been. Just sad, but it warms my heart!

Hey, I'll be at a Habs game in Nov (Habs/Caps). You ever go to games?

Trevor

Sure, Trevor, I was planning on going to the Habs/Caps game on Nov. 24 with my partner. Do you have tix yet? Flying solo? Agenda all set? If you're interested, the Montreal gay hockey league usually plays on Friday nights. Maybe you'd like to attend (to "whet your appetite" for Saturday's game)?

You can e-mail me off-board if you like. I love to play tour-guide in this city!

And pucknomad: I agree with you when you say that Don Cherry is a jerk (although that may be insulting to jerks). But his bombastic blatherings may disappear from HNIC now that he's the coach his OHL Ice Dogs team. One can only hope...

Seph,

Yep, got the tickets (or at least, they are on the way). I'm going up with my friend that I split Caps tickets with. My other half will be home with his family for Thanksgiving. There is a large group of people coming up from Washington to see the game. WE'll be on our own, however, as we're going to Ottawa first (I've never been there)


I wouldn't mind watchign the Montreal team play on Friday night. I've met several of the guys on the team over the years at tournaments. But being taken around Montreal would be fun.

Is Sky still open? It was one of the nicest looking bars I've ever been in.

Trevor

Don't count out the Sabres just yet. Even with the dominator in Detroit the goaltending
should be solid this year with Biron and Essensa as the backup. The O should be much improved with the addition of Connelly from the Isles. Only concern is the power play off to another slow start, have to improve, though looked better last night against Philly(short handed goal also)

Anyone who can get a dish or digital cable do it, order Center Ice package, great to see games that don't include the Pens or Philly(no offense to those teams) CBC is the best. Also check out Sabre games on Empire Sports Network, one of the best local team programming around, plus one of the best play by play men in Rick Jenneret

Amerk

Speaking of the Dominator, how 'bout him giving up 4 goals at home vs. the Flames last night? Not too Dominating! And who'da thunk Calgary would be leading the West after Week 1. What's the deal with that?!

Tomorrow night, Sabres at Detroit. That should be interesting!

Trevor, yes, the Sky Pub still stands, although it's been covered in scaffolding for a few months. I guess they're trying to spruce it up a little for your visit! They also added a resto to the complex. And, fear not, the men there are still as hunky and handsome as ever. Btw, how's your french?

The one thing that has impressed me so far most about the new season would have to be the Pittsburgh Penguins start, or lack there-of. Its quite aparent to me they are missing the deadly duo combo of Lemieux-Jagr.

How about the Islanders? 4-0 going into tonight's game against Detroit. I don't seriously think they'll contend for the Cup, but they could be fun to watch this season for the first time in a loooooong time!

Yeah, Georgev_f, it would be good to see the Long(shot) Isles contending this year - so far, a perfect start. Milbury's made some great adds to the roster (talk about yer miracle on ice!).

Lil hump Mike Peca plans to return to the line-up tonight. He says: "I feel really good. It's my first concussion - ever." Well, the first one he REMEMBERS, anyway...

Only 5 teams still without a loss this season. All play their next game at home:

Isles (vs. Red Wings tonight),
Thrashers (vs. Hurricanes),
Canadiens (vs. Devils),
Sharks (vs. Bruins), and
Wild (vs. Oilers tomorrow).

Who woulda picked those five teams to be the last to lose? On paper, it looks like the Trashers have the best chance to remain undefeated. What the....? :eek:

Thats something about the Islanders being unbeaten. I remember reading just last week where Sporting News said they might be good this year, but not this good. Time will tell. They will have their hands full with Detroit. The Canadiens/Devils should be of interest!

Haaaaaaaabs! Best start since '81-'82 - I haven't heard the crowd this LOUD in 5 yrs. (except for 3 yrs. booing). In the city that breathes hockey, we have finally cured halitosis. The Na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey-a-ay, goodbye! was out in full force tonight (thank you, Stevie Wonder) - great hockey! Les Glorieux are back. Devils: 3 losses to start. (huh?)

Rangers at Sens: Best overtime I've seen in a long time.

Blues finally win, in T.O.

Hockey Night in Canada rumour du jour: Stars Joe Nieuwendyk for Sens Daniel Alfredson, but only after 10 games, to see if Alfredson's healthy. Highly doubtful.

I see where the Pens lost again last night! I wonder how long the Pens fans will take it before heads roll??

Not long at all, as they now have a new coach!

Trevor

Hey Trev, REALLY? Who is it???

Trevor, may I?...

The new Pens coach is Rick Kehoe, who was an assistant coach under Ivan Hlinka.

Hlinka got the boot not only for starting the season 0-4, but for refusing to attend English classes during the off-season. He claims he tried to learn to speak English in Czechoslovakia using audiotapes. Mario was less than impressed with the results.

New coach Rick Kehoe played in Pitt. for 11 seasons and remains 3rd all-time Penguin scorer, behind Mario and Jaromir. He won the Lady Bing in '81, was a two-time All-Star ('81/'83), and retired in '85. He has worked with the Pens organization ever since. This is his first head coaching assignment. (He also has a real nice full head of silver hair - important for a coach. - quite the looker!)

btw.... GO HABS! tonight vs. the Broadway Blueshirts.

Patrick gave Hlinka a number of opportunities to prove himself, but learning (if you call it that) English via audiotapes in the Czech Republic is not exactly taking the necessary steps to learn the language. Last year, there were a number of games in which he did not talk to the team after the game; instead, he just left the building. I couldn't imagine not talking to the team after a game, especially a loss. Hlinka was also brought in because he was Jagr's boy, and now that he is not longer in town, well.....
But let's focus on Kehoe's positives...he is very offensive minded, something the Pens are lacking right now. He has been with the system, so that rewards loyalty.
Yes, the Pens are 0-4. Maybe it IS early, but changes needed to be made. We'll see, but it's not as a)shocking or b)bad as one might think.