2009-2010 NHL Regular Season Thread

[ElementZ]

Kings blew a 4-0 lead with the Sharks tying it at 4-4, but they managed to hold on for a 6-4 win.

Ovechkin has 3 points in each of his 3 games with the help of Backstrom racking up 8 assists in 3 games thus far.

[coli]

The Flyers/Caps game on Versus last night had that playoff feel to it. I don't know if it was because it was a National Game, but everyone came to play last night. Game of the year so far!

[shizawn]

That goal Griess let in for the Sharks last night was the ultimate rally killer. Bleh.

The Power Play looks good, but they can't seem to score 5 on 5.

[astrochimp]

Wow,the Penguins really sucked tonight.

[LorenzoL]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

Wow,the Penguins really sucked tonight.

And Montreal is getting a beat by the Canucks so far...

[eXcentris]

Well, this proves that Weber (-4 tonight) cannot be confused with Markov.

[Luds]

LOL Habs get served by Nucks. Take that Habs :P

[Dr_Evil]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

Wow,the Penguins really sucked tonight.

That was a painful game to watch.

[astrochimp]

Nice having Centre Ice free for a few weeks

[Me007gold]

Originally Posted by Dr_Evil

That was a painful game to watch.

not if your a 'yotes fan

Originally Posted by astrochimp

Nice having Centre Ice free for a few weeks

yep, just wish more was in HD

[Dr_Evil]

Originally Posted by Me007gold

not if your a 'yotes fan

I meant the style of play more than the outcome. Phoenix just clogged everything up, trap style, and it was just a very boring game.

[SunMonkey]

So, did Hartnell bite Letang or not? He is still a prick either way.

[Me007gold]

Some Terrible ref's in tonites Phx/Buffalo game

[astrochimp]

Nice home debut for Heatley in San Jose.

[shizawn]

Indeed it was. Joe Thornton is off to a great start, too. I'm still worried about the defense, though.

[movieking]

This was pretty widely speculated, but now I guess it is verified:


Theo's secret revealed
Was sexually abused by coach
By ERIC FRANCIS, SUN MEDIA

In a book to be released next week, former Calgary Flames captain Theoren Fleury, reveals he was sexually abused by disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James.

Theo Fleury is ready to tell the world what many suspected for years: He was sexually abused by Graham James.

The Sun has learned the explosive revelation is detailed in his tell-all book, Playing with Fire, which will be released next week.

Fleury will join Sheldon Kennedy as the second player to go public with the sort of allegations that led to a 31/2-year prison sentence for the disgraced junior hockey coach after Kennedy stepped forward in the fall of 1996, telling police he was abused more than 350 times.

Another player testified to similar abuse as part of James' conviction but wanted his identity concealed.

While the horrific abuse of trust Kennedy bravely told police of stemmed from a relationship that started when he first met James at age 14, Fleury's introduction to James came at a similar age, leading up to his one-year stint under James in 1984, when he joined the Moose Jaw Warriors as a 16-year-old.

Kennedy played on the same team in 1984-85 and told the Sun yesterday he knew Fleury was also a victim.

"I knew, but it wasn't my place to say anything," said Kennedy, who lives in Calgary and spearheads several programs aimed at curbing abuse.

"I made a commitment to myself I wasn't blowing the whistle on anybody.

"I did know deep down Theo was going to have to deal with it one way or another."

Bound by a confidentiality agreement with his book publisher, Fleury will tell all starting Thursday night when he appears on George Stroumboulopoulos' The Hour.

His admissions will be fleshed out one night later on CBC's The Fifth Estate, when Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Bob McKeown delves deeply into the former Flames captain's tumultuous life.

While the book, co-written by Kirstie McLellan Day, is filled with raw anecdotes concerning massive drinking, drug and gambling binges, strip-club exploits and his eventual road to recovery, Fleury's relationship with James is sure to capture the nation's attention over the next few weeks.

By several accounts, Fleury doesn't want to be a poster boy for sexual abuse, instead hoping to focus on trying to help inspire change for anyone who felt as hopeless as he did throughout his life.

A recovering alcoholic who was reinstated by the NHL after being suspended indefinitely six years ago for contravening the league's substance abuse and behaviour policy, Fleury recently captured the attention of Calgarians with a gutsy comeback attempt at age 41 with the Flames.

Although released from the team following a pre-season that saw him pick up a point a game and a dramatic shootout winner, he parlayed the experience into a dignified retirement announcement that sparked debate over whether he belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

One of the questions Fleury will have to answer repeatedly over the next few months as he blankets the country on a book tour focuses around why he chose to help finance the upstart Calgary Hitmen junior hockey team in 1995 with James as head coach.

Why he didn't join Kennedy coming forward in the mid-90s is also a mystery, although both questions can likely be answered by the fragile state Fleury has been in for decades.

Shortly after being sentenced in early 1997, James called the Sun with hopes the paper would slam Don Cherry for suggesting on Coach's Corner James be "drawn and quartered" for what he did to innocent teens. When asked if there were more victims, James, now 55 and believed to be living in Montreal, intimated he "loved many people" -- a chilling response suggesting several other players had been abused.

Fitting a similar profile to Kennedy's, and beset with several of the same off-ice issues, many figured Fleury was also a victim of James.

Now we know.

[kenbuzz]

The Blues lost 4-2 to the Thrashers (yes, the Thrashers). Well, 3-2 plus an empty nett, but a loss is a loss. There goes our undefeated season. Oh well, I suppose that 81-1-0 should still be good enough to make the playoffs.

[kenbuzz]

PS - Cool statue of Al MacInnis unveiled prior to last night's home opener in St Louis:



That's *exactly* the image I think of when MacInnis is mentioned - that, plus how much I wouldn't want to be in front of one of his slapshots from the post.

[Dr_Evil]

The Thrashers I think are actually going to have a good year. They have scoring up front, and a solid set of defenseman. Goaltending is their only big question. I can see them battling for a spot in the east (and giving Waddel a tough decision on Kovalchuk if he doesn't sign a new contract before the trade deadline).

[dek]

Re : Fleury

I don't know how that scumbag James is allowed to be around anyone in Hockey, or in general, period. Glad Fleury got to come back and somewhat kill his demons.

[dvd-4-life]

What does the Toronto media have to say about the goaltending of the Useless Vesa Toskala? I just turned the Leaf game on and bingo-Toskala just let in a goal. Doesn't he get a sore neck from looking back into his own goal because of all the goals he has allowed? I could stop more pucks blindfolded(plus I'm disabled).

[astrochimp]

Originally Posted by dvd-4-life

What does the Toronto media have to say about the goaltending of the Useless Vesa Toskala? I just turned the Leaf game on and bingo-Toskala just let in a goal. Doesn't he get a sore neck from looking back into his own goal because of all the goals he has allowed? I could stop more pucks blindfolded(plus I'm disabled).

The media isnt nearly as hard on him as you are

edit-and the Leafs arent helping Toskala any by taking penalties vs the Pens.

[dvd-4-life]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

The media isnt nearly as hard on him as you are

edit-and the Leafs arent helping Toskala any by taking penalties vs the Pens.

Whats his save pct. ---70 %??? Thats not even good by Pee Wee League standards. The NHL is going to give an award(called the Vesa Toskala Trophy) for the worst goalie in the league and I nominate Vesa to receive his own award. Even Michel Belheumer(spelling) wasn't as bad and didn't he go an entire season for Wash Capitals without winning a game.

[Shamus McAnally]

What a game between Buffalo and Nashville! (And of course, I had Rinne going in 3 leagues, so you knew I wasn't going to get the SO.)

Way too much hockey to watch tonight, but what I've seen has been good. Plus, the Pens won, so you've got to count this as a great night!

[LorenzoL]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

edit-and the Leafs arent helping Toskala any by taking penalties vs the Pens.

That's exactly it. As much as Toskala doesn't really help his case by bailing out his team (I don't even think Vezina will be able to do that), the whole defensive scheme the Leafs use is very lacking.
The Leafs are digging themselves in a hole by going winless so far and looking bad doing it.