Damn, i'm still all jacked up about that game last night.

Finally. freaking...finally, this is the team i've been wanting to see for the past two months, THIS is the team that can go out there and compete with the elite. And it's not sickness, it's not who's on what line, it is DESIRE. It is some magical motivation which these guys have not found till the montreal game, and more noticably last nights game against the rags.

If they keep this up (and dear god, I really hope they do) then we can make the playoffs, we can build momentum and actually feel GOOD about the direction this team is going in.

I for one dont want to tank for a good pick, i'm not ready to be the whipping boys of the league. I am invested in this team AND I WANT TO SEE THEM COMPETE.

Last night felt really freaking good, for the first time in a long time I was standing up for a good part of it, invested and interested in every moment.

The question of course is...is this just some fluke? Or was this the sort of game which turns a season around? Could this be a rallying point for this team?

You shut your jinxing whorish mouth young man!

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I don't think their zero-goal effort was a fluke no. Don't get me wrong, I liked the way they played. But they didn't score man, how is it you were on your feet for a good part of the game? Either you need to get some new more comfortable furniture, or you need to split that eight-ball with someone else next game.

Did you see the goal tenders last night. Good lord that was the best goalie duel Ive seen in some time. Who cares about 0-0. That was two world class goalies. And the most inspired hockey I've seen this year. And it started with the devils. Millier looks on! Ennis is on a missio. Villie looks solid on the top line. Did you hear the f-n center? When was the last time that place was that loud! Here is to hoping they keep it up

Oh. Don't take this the wrong way. And I hope he is alright. But can we keep beaning a ref with a puck every game. I don't know of it was a lack of a second ref. or just two teams playing solid hockey. But that game last night is what the NHL should aspire to be!!! That WAS hockey!!

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lol....stu'u...you're always welcome to come split an 8-ball with me

Naw, cmon man, that shit was exciting! I agree they have not been finishing, but did you not get the feeling of intensity, of WILLFULLNESS from them last night? They WERE playing the league leading Rags you know, it shouldnt have been a blowout.

Are you really telling me you were sitting on your ass for the last period and overtime and shootout?

I was something worth cheering for and they definitely kept the momentum from Montreal rolling... a positive thing.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

lol...right, as if a 33823499 game losing streak wasnt enough proof that our desires have absolutely ZERO to do with what happens on the ice?

Sorry, i'll go shave and boil a cat to counteract the bad juju.

Geez, a little humility cross

See, even my typos are awesome

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. The goaltending was good on both sides, with Lundquist playing slightly better IMO, but there were only 1 or 2 fantastic saves. They weren't both pulling Hasek moves out their asses, so to have a scoreless tie, I don't know, it didn't make me feel great about the team particularly. Although again I did like what I saw in comparison to the norm over the past 2-3 months.

I enjoy games with low scoring and great goaltending, and I liked last night's game. The fact though that we enjoyed the effort in losing a SO is a sign of just how far down our expectations are.

Here's why they've looked good (comparitively) the last two games, and this isn't speculation or opinion either - the whole coaching staff sat down with the team to go over film and study Xs and Os during the all-star break. Ruff's system is so damn complicated and full of over-coaching (that is more my opinion) that with injury and line shuffling it's very easy for players to get out of sync or confused. The normal schedule and especially the long road trips don't provide for a lot of down time to study film. Injuries, line changing, young and inconsistent players, and preparing for new teams each day/week make it that much harder to stay on top of individual assignments under such a complicated system.

That means the team needs great health without disruption to the starting line-up, really smart or experienced players under Ruff's style, or time for a lot of film study to be mentally prepared. Being mentally prepared is the huge factor that's been missing, and that's why they have looked so boring, unaggressive, and defensively inept in all three zones. With time to study film and at the marker board, they have been mentally prepared and therefore more confidant and aggressive the last few games. Since Adam greatly needed that time but wasn't available due to the all-star game, he was almost scratched but still played 4th line minutes.

1. We didn't have Vanek or Stafford. Those guys get going with the guys who put in a LOT of effort last night (we had 30 something shots I think?) and we have offense.
2. We played Lundqvuist and the NO.2 Rangers. They couldn't score on us, either.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

So score a few goals without Van & Staff. I don't mean to be overly negative here, but I'll take ugly wins over feelgood loses any day. I take away some positives from last night's game (Miller's play, Leino, Ennis, Myers, etc.), but the fact is they lost, and they lost because they didn't score a goal. And I thought that was the whole point: scoring more goals than the other team and winning.

Interesting, two great games and you think they turned that corner? I hope you're right but I am going to have a hard time believing that. I think they're going to make it fun and interesting but I think they will end 10th.

they had two games with great 60 minute effort. The week long rest did them a world of good but we'll see what happens after they start grinding out the rest of their schedule. Vanek very well would have made a different if he was in the line up but Stafford, seriously??? He is absolutely horrendous this season. Matter of fact, he is worse than Roy and everyone is calling for Roy's head.

So, They may be peeking around the corner but I'm definitely not convinced that they turned it yet.

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You're telling a team in what, 26th place to put up a better performance than last night, against the no.2 team IN THE LEAGUE without their top goal scorer, Vanek, and Stafford, who scored 30 goals last year?

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Also, it's been 3 games. NJ, Montreal, Rangers. Past 3 games we've had 5 points. Considering our rank and our new found effort, I'll take it.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I'd say the NJ game was decent but nothing like the last two nights.

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But we won it so I'm counting it. When you're in 24th you gotta take what you got lol

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Even if we don't make the postseason there are a lot of things we can look forward to down the stretch. Ennis' progression at the center position. The kid can handle the fucking rock, learned how to hit and forecheck, and seems to have a decent grasp on draws. I am excited to see Ville placed on a line with playmakers. Having him out with 3rd or 4th line is not his game. Ville has really flourished in the 1-2 line roll. Ville may not be our center of the future but if he can play in the top 6 as a winger who gives a shit. And if Ennis can turn into the roll Ville was supposed to be in that we just swapped out. If Gerbe and Ennis continue their molding intoa solid pairing with either Staff or Kassian we can create serious 3rd line mismatches. What third line can match their speed? If Roy cannot pull shit together on a line with both Pommers and Vanek we have a serious problem on our hands. Shit or get off the crapper time for Roy.

Our defense needs solid pairings of a stay at home with a presser. For this very reason I want to see McNabb get some serious icetime down the stretch. This guy has speed and fucks shit up all over the ice. You are gaurenteed at least one open ice crushing hit from him every night. It will not take long before teams start second guessing those breakaway passes. If they do it will just dump into the corner for icing because forwards aren't going to be skating with their heads down. No, instead they are going to be looking up to see if McNabb is lurking.

They played good last night but last I checked you need to score to win. Competing well in a game is great but all that matters is who ends up with a win. Miller kept us in it. Plus the players are still committing pretty sloppy turnovers. And our PP, what were we 0-5? That's just not gonna get it done

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff