1/13 Lightning at Sharks

[Jester47]

Stuff You Shold Know...

Puck Drops at: 10:30 pm (again)

TV: Local NONE, CSN-BA (HD) - will have to catch it on CI or one of those intetnet options....

Game previews: NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2008020641), Yahoo!, (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview?gid=2009011318)The Hockey News (http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/22328-Tocchets-Lightning-set-to-face-Kings.html)

I believe Toct said earlier in the week that Ramo would go in this game.

[CTLightning26]

It is on San Jose TV?
League schedule doesn't say it is. Probably wouldn't be on internet if it isn't on tv anywhere.

[bassassin]

Link to an internet site claiming to show the game http://www.atdhe.net/

[CTLightning26]

Yup, it is on. Excellent.
Anybody want to meet me at Barnacles in Brandon at 10:30?
What other places in the tampa area have center ice?

[Jester47]

I would love to my friend but they would be kicking you out about 2/3 of the way through... they close at 1 am and it sounds like last night the game didn't end until about 1:30!!! - not to mention the wife would probably kill me!!!!

[bassassin]

Depressing fact for the match, Sharks unbeaten in regulation at the Shark Tank this season with a 19-0-2 record:doh:

[Netminder]

Depressing fact for the match, Sharks unbeaten in regulation at the Shark Tank this season with a 19-0-2 record:doh:


Good, that means they are ripe for the upset.:happydance::happydance::thumb:

[chad]

Good, that means they are ripe for the upset.:happydance::happydance::thumb:


A glass half-full approach from netminder! Welcome to 2009!

[CTLightning26]

I would love to my friend but they would be kicking you out about 2/3 of the way through... they close at 1 am and it sounds like last night the game didn't end until about 1:30!!! - not to mention the wife would probably kill me!!!!


Nope, over at 1:03 i think

[Sotnos]

Asking for a win against the Sharks with our corps of 4 NHL ready(?) d-men may be pushing it, but if they pull it off I'll be VERY impressed. Hell I'll be impressed if they keep it competitive.

[Netminder]

A glass half-full approach from netminder! Welcome to 2009!

Nothing to do with that ,just trying to win a few $$$ on the law of averages.

Good teams get beat by bad teams often (ie) AZ.vs Carolina,Not many saw that coming. :noidea:

[astro]

Asking for a win against the Sharks with our corps of 4 NHL ready(?) d-men may be pushing it, but if they pull it off I'll be VERY impressed. Hell I'll be impressed if they keep it competitive.

I will be very happy with a competitive game. The Sharks are so damn good, it's going to be hard to keep up.

I'm flying out of LA today and heading towards San Jose. :happydance: The fact that I got to see two wins on this road trip makes me a happy boy. If they win against the Sharks, I am available for hire and follow the team around as a good luck charm. :D

[Bolthed]

Sharks are a machine, and Boyle still has a grudge. :scared:

[bassassin]

If we win tonight it could move us up to 11th and 9 points out of 8th.

Just looked at our record through the last 10 games, it is actually looking alright for once 6-3-1:happydance: Now if only we can keep that up/improve it a bit there is a slim chance we could still make the playoffs.

Now theres some real glass half full thinking:D

[Bolthed]

How 'bout we take the long, hard road to .500 first, eh?

:shark:

[Flycoon]

Sharks are a machine, and Boyle still has a grudge. :scared:

Boyle couldn't be in a better situation. A grudge for being sent to SJ from TB is beyond goofy, regardless of the circumstances. It has worked out extremely well for him.

[jdhebner]

I will be very happy with a competitive game. The Sharks are so damn good, it's going to be hard to keep up.

I'm flying out of LA today and heading towards San Jose. :happydance: The fact that I got to see two wins on this road trip makes me a happy boy. If they win against the Sharks, I am available for hire and follow the team around as a good luck charm. :D

Were you waiting on the North side of the Honda Pond after the Ducks game? I was the nerd there with all the kids if you were.

[CTLightning26]

Was just checking through the channels and some days Brighthouse channel 717, the Center Ice HD channel, shows games. It lists Pittsburgh-Phily early and San Jose-Lightning at 10:30, so if you have that channel you will probably will get the game - HOPEFULLY

[bassassin]

How 'bout we take the long, hard road to .500 first, eh?

:shark:

Dont have to be at .500 to be the 8th seed 21-17-5 :p

Oh but in other good news Ranger is out again so playing with 5 D or maybe Koci as a 6th dman.

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said at today's skate that defenseman Paul Ranger will sit out tonight against the Sharks. Ranger has played three games since missing three with an upper body injury. Though Ranger played great Monday against the Kings, Tocchet said, "There are certain things you can't jeopardize with a kid like that."

Tocchet said he could use left wing David Koci on defense if he had to

Ranger out (http://blogs.tampabay.com/lightning/2009/01/ranger-smaby-ou.html)

[CTLightning26]

What about Eminger?
Geez..

[Sotnos]

Oh but in other good news Ranger is out again so playing with 5 D or maybe Koci as a 6th dman.Ouf, this is sounding more and more like lambs to the slaughter.

Sounds like Smitty is in net again, poor guy.

[Hoek]

Yeah I've been watching a lot of games on that channel lately. It's been fun. Not sure what the deal is with that channel even being available to me, but I'm not complaining.. ;)

Aren't we undefeated in the Shark Tank as a franchise? It seems like if there should be time for that streak to finally end it'd be tonight as everything is conspiring against us.

Edit: Nevermind that was Los Angeles except for one loss..

[bassassin]

Ouf, this is sounding more and more like lambs to the slaughter.

Sounds like Smitty is in net again, poor guy.

I agree it does, is interesting how Smith copes as the season goes on, he has played a lot more games than he used thats for sure, wonder how he will handle it. I mean (touch wood;)) he has been amazing so far with the very odd game when he isnt up to form.

[astro]

Were you waiting on the North side of the Honda Pond after the Ducks game? I was the nerd there with all the kids if you were.

I don't think that was us. After the game, my wife and I went upstairs to see if we could meet the Chief and Rick. We saw Dave Mishkin in the broadcast and I yelled his name. When he looked up, I waved at him. I felt like and idiot. We didn't get to see them and walked out and around to the north side.

All this news about the defensemen, makes want to cry and go back to Seattle. :melodramatic:

[BlameItOnHenry]

Not sure if it is relevant to why Ranger is sitting out tonight but after the scrum in front of the net at the very end of last nights game he skating off clutching his arm to his body.

[the_narrow_way]

I saw that too, and was hoping that it wouldn't amount to anything...

[jdhebner]

I don't think that was us. After the game, my wife and I went upstairs to see if we could meet the Chief and Rick. We saw Dave Mishkin in the broadcast and I yelled his name. When he looked up, I waved at him. I felt like and idiot. We didn't get to see them and walked out and around to the north side.

All this news about the defensemen, makes want to cry and go back to Seattle. :melodramatic:

Were you guys wearing bolts jerseys 4 and 19?

[jaydeedub]

Stinks Ranger isn't playing. He really had heck of a game last night and I kept thanking him everytime he'd get the puck out of the zone when he was on the PK. Hope Eminger is well enough to play at least than, if not look out Smitty. Last I saw anything on Eminger was on the 11th the SPTimes said he was "given the day off from practice to rest a nagging injury but should be good for Monday's game..." That didnt happen, so hoping he plays tonight.

[Evan]

Ranger got his left wrist banged on in the final part of the game last night. My guess is that has been plauging him for abit.

[missK]

No Eminger, only Meszaros, Krajicek, Mihalik, Malik, and Quick. Lord help us. I hope the guys will rise to the occasion and make it a close game. Maybe Vinny gets pissed off and hits everything in sight and scores a bunch of points. Please oh please!

[jaydeedub]

From the TBL "insider." (http://lightning.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=403940) Looks like Jokinen is in tonight and Craig eats popcorn. Just 5 dmen, one not being Ranger just sucks. Mesz will be playing lots of minutes tonight.

in San Jose that forced the Lightning to land in Oakland last night and take a 40-minute bus ride to the hotel, and it starts to get a little ridiculous. The team eventually rolled into the hotel in San Jose at about 1:45 a.m. PT last night after the win in Los Angeles, and will face a well-rested Sharks team tonight. Oh, and the best part is that the Lightning then get to fly cross-country tomorrow, losing three hours in the process, before facing Philadelphia on Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Do I sound bitter?

The team went to the arena this morning for a quick meeting – all of about three or four minutes. Head Coach Rick Tocchet said the message was clear, that there are a lot of statistical reasons people don’t think the Lightning have a chance tonight.

“So I told the guys, let's go to work," he said. “You’d be surprised by what you can will your body to do.”

The Sharks, meanwhile, haven’t lost in regulation at home (19-0-2-0) and have more points after 41 games (67) than any NHL team since the 1944-45 Canadiens (though the stat is skewed by the fact teams receive a point for OT or shootout losses these days). Nothing like a challenge!

It looks like the Lightning's defense will be even more patchwork tonight than it was last night when the team only dressed five defensemen, including rookie Vladimir Mihalik. Tonight 20-year-old Kevin Quick joins the mix from Norfolk of the AHL, making his NHL debut. Matt Smaby (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve today, Steve Eminger (upper body) still isn’t ready, and Paul Ranger (upper body) has once again joined the injured list after a strong game last night.

So it looks like five defensemen again tonight, with David Koci a possibility to see some time on the blue line, according to Tocchet.

“You've got to buckle up and rely on your forwards to come back,” Tocchet said. “We did a good job of that in LA last night.”

Jussi Jokinen is back in at forward, with Ryan Craig taking his turn among the rotating healthy scratches at forward.

[Evan]

game not in HD on directv?

nm looks like they had some td

[CTLightning26]

O great, channel 717 not showing game yet, if at all. damn them!!!!

[CTLightning26]

IT's ON!!!!!!!
:happydance:
:party:

Ramo in net

[Evan]

suprise! ramo in net.

[pete]

If they win this game, they should divert the plane out of San Jose to Las Vegas.

[Coldrice]

Link to an internet site claiming to show the game http://www.atdhe.net/

Confirming the feed works

[backstop]

Confirming the feed works

Fantastic quality too. Looks better than the sunshine signal usually does

[pete]

Poor Ramo. No chance. Krajicek got lost.

[Coldrice]

Shit! Setoguchi out in front

[Bolthed]

"Well that didn't take very long."

[The Great Zo]

Someone has got to pick up the man open in front.

What's up with the camera angle?

[Evan]

That blueliner for san jose needs to get rid of that puck faster when arty is up there.. got laid out twice.

[Evan]

PP time

[pete]

They need to convert on the PP tonight to give themselves a chance.

[Coldrice]

Good chance there. Good tempo thus far... hope they can weather it

[pete]

Man, they did everything right but score on that PP shift.

[Coldrice]

Would you agree that Quick has not looked tentative so far? Not saying he's done anything in the wow factor but compared to Wishart's call up... (?)

[The Great Zo]

Oh Halpern...

[Coldrice]

Wow Halpern was ready to go there with Murray for the hit on Malone and lost his balance... would've been interesting

[pete]

Halpern going down was fairly embarassing.

[gwf82]

Holy shit, cant stand listening to that bald dude Remenda. He's awful and the play by play guy isnt much better. Why couldnt I get the local broadcast down here on my PC!

[Evan]

quick didn't look too bad that shift, arty put him in a really bad spot too.

[Coldrice]

7.6 on that dive!

[The Great Zo]

Hell of a dive, and the Sharks go up 2-0.

[pete]

Adam Hall scores on Ramo. Great.

[Evan]

least we scored one goal tonight

[Avery86]

Christ .. I'm glad that period ended before it got worse.

Absolutely must step it up in the 2nd. Seems like they can't even leave their own zone.

[Bolthed]

Blood in the water ... Sharks have like 17 shots in a very Melrosesque first period. :pout:

[CTLightning26]

Should have been interference on Marleau on the goal. Or crosscheck, knocking Mez down.
Quick does look comfortable out there. Good for him.

[the_narrow_way]

Hell of a dive, and the Sharks go up 2-0.
The XO Sniper travels it seems. What a dive.

Should have been interference on Marleau on the goal. Or crosscheck, knocking Mez down.
Sometimes they call that, but not that often. It should be a penalty, compared to the other un-important shit they do call.

[Hoek]

Holy shit, cant stand listening to that bald dude Remenda. He's awful and the play by play guy isnt much better. Why couldnt I get the local broadcast down here on my PC!

Meh.. It could be a lot worse. I'll take these guys over any of our southeast counterparts. Remenda gives us way too much respect though.. Nice to see them sharply question the Vinny rumors.

[Coldrice]

Koci just creamed Cheechoo

[Coldrice]

Kicked in?

[Evan]

better not be a goal

[Avery86]

I thought maybe they'd get screwed on that call. Glad they weren't, they've been playing well this period so far, didn't need that.

[Hoek]

Michalek should play for the Earthquakes. :p

[Evan]

Goal!

[Coldrice]

Stammers goal... should be... nice blast by Recchi

[pete]

That's the way Stammer. They're giving themselves a chance here.

[Avery86]

Nicely done by Stamkos. All alone in front of the net and deflects a blast by Recchi.

[Hoek]

SCORE! STAMKOS! From Recchi and R2..

[The Great Zo]

Great playmaking between Stamkos, Recchi, and Artyukhin there. All of them in the right place at the right time.

[Evan]

sharks seem abit flustered and wow what a save on vinny

[Hoek]

Damn! Thought Vinny would pot that for sure.

[Avery86]

Aww damn Nabakov flashes the glove to keep Vinny from tying it up.

[pete]

Crapola. Vinny had the equalizer on his stick. It's too bad the pass wasn't in his wheelhouse for the one-timer.

[pete]

Bad rebound by Karri there.

[Evan]

geeze didnt give ramo any help there. can't leave joe thornton alone infront

[Bolthed]

Ramo often looks helpless behind this defense.

[Coldrice]

Shit. Someone forgot about Thornton... 3-1 Sharks

[Hoek]

Ugh.. That was a complete shooting gallery shift there.. Everyone collapsed into no man's land and didn't really do anything except screen and watch. Didn't protect the front of the net.

[bolts37205]

in his skates and a great view of all the Sharks whizzing by. R2 needs to be the man for us to come back, for whatever reason he is the sweater through which all good things flow right now/

[Hoek]

Ramo is just giving up a ton of rebounds in general. Unsettling to see after seeing the way Smith swallows up shots.

[Coldrice]

Dammit Mihalik, I know Quick is the babyface tonite but you got to dish it off to him when he has a lane out

[Avery86]

They're just lucky that didn't turn into a 5 on 3 there ..

[Evan]

Man that puck about creamed their camera up on the glass..

[Bolthed]

They just said Chewy is hurt. Great.

[Hoek]

Injury bug continues to feast on us. Chewy out?

[pete]

Well, we have plenty of forwards in this organization, so that's not an issue, at least.

[Bolthed]

Too many men. Geez, that's a momentum killer. :nonono:

[Hoek]

How the F did we screw that up? 5 guys were out there and then R2 comes out of the box. :doh:

[Avery86]

Injury bug continues to feast on us. Chewy out?

Time for a Blair Jones cup of coffee, methinks.

[pete]

Great save there by Ramo.

[gwf82]

Haha, who sent the 5th guy out BEFORE the penalty was over. Goodness.

[Bolthed]

Make-up call! :mad: Gonna have to do the heavy lifting in the third. Tall task.

[Hoek]

God damn it Malone! Argh..

Killing ourselves with these dumbass penalties..

[gwf82]

God damn it Malone! Argh..

Killing ourselves with these dumbass penalties..

Ha, you guys are like a full minute ahead of what I'm seeing online...shhhhh :)

[The Great Zo]

Nabokov's glove is the first star of the game.

[Hoek]

Oh man.. Freaking Nabby robbing Pettinger.

[Coldrice]

Great chance for Pettinger short handed

[pete]

Are you kidding on that save by Nabokov? This game could be a lot closer. He's stolen a couple from the Lightning.

[The Great Zo]

Sharks announcers absolutely cannot get the Lightning's players correct.

[pete]

Can't blame that one on Ramo. It was deflected on the way in, so he couldn't control the rebound as well. D-men didn't clear the man out on the rebound.

[Avery86]

A lot of standing around on that goal. Could be bed time sooner than expected.

[Bolthed]

Say goodnight, Gracie. Pettinger can't go high on a fat, juicy scoring chance shorthanded, and then the Sharks cash in with the extra man. This is too tough, kinda going right according to script, unfortunately.

[Coldrice]

Man Meszaros has been snake bit tonite... not saying everything has been his fault but he hasn't been exactly steady so far either...

[Hoek]

Ramo not doing himself any favors. Another one where if he controls the rebound better it's not just an easy tap in.

[Evan]

Wow, time to start the benchings.

[The Great Zo]

Sharks announcers absolutely cannot get the Lightning's players correct.

And Mike Sullivan is in his first season as Lightning associate coach.

[Hoek]

Brutal.. Couldn't get out of the period without giving up yet another one..

[Coldrice]

Well... do they leave Ramo in to finish it out or does Smitty come in?

[pete]

Pathetic.

Bad on Ramo for letting that in 5-hole, but bad on the team in front of him for leaving a guy completely open at the circles.

You leave Ramo in.

[Bolthed]

Hope this doesn't get too ugly.

[Avery86]

What happened to the effort in the first half of the period?

Now they're taking lazy penalties left and right, and this PK is already shorthanded. And after playing so many games in a row? Must be completely exhausted. The third might get really ugly.

[the_narrow_way]

They gave up. It's over.

That kicked-in, waived-off goal followed by dumb penalty after dumb penalty sealed the deal.

[Scobo_24]

this is sad. we play great for 7.5 minutes with aggressive forechecking and puck movement then we let everything collapse on us. am i the only one that thinks Malik is absolutely horrible/lazy player? all i see is him standing around on the power play and not even putting any pressure on the forwards... and for ramo, he is not nhl ready yet 3/5 of the goals were 5hole :duh:

[CTLightning26]

D men are tired.
Legs are not moving.
Ramo has to take one for the team here.
Knew this might happen, but was fun the first 10 minutes of the period.

[pete]

It concerns me greatly that Mihalik looks worse than Quick does.

[CTLightning26]

It concerns me greatly that Mihalik looks worse than Quick does.

Yep. Hasn't shown me much in most of his games.

[pete]

Jesus.

[Hoek]

ROFL.. Can't even make it through the first minute of the 3rd. Sheesh Mihalik.

[CTLightning26]

Good night. lets keep it under 10 guys

[Avery86]

Wow. Only took 34 seconds. 6-1 Sharks.

Looks like it's Netflix time.

[The Great Zo]

I missed the last goal. I was cleaning my bath tub.

[pete]

Unbelievable.

[The Great Zo]

Didn't miss that goal though. Hapless is a word.

[Avery86]

They're going to have to send Ramo to a military psychiatrist after the shell-shocking he's gotten. Christ. It's obvious he needs #1 playing time in Norfolk because this kind of crap isn't gonna cut it as far as development.

[Hoek]

Honestly the only thing that surprised me about tonight is that we had it within 2-1 at one point and were still threatening for a little bit afterward. Now it's just unwinding according to expectations. No reason to get too upset.

[TexasBolt]

The only positive is that Ramo does not yet fear Dan Boyle.

But there's still time.

[the_narrow_way]

WTF? C'mon refs, that guy worked St. Louis over and finished by crosschecking him. Grow some f'in balls.

BTW, the play-by-play guy sucks. At least the color guy gives credit where credit is due.

[The Great Zo]

R2 with a couple of F-bombs in the box after Grier points at him.

[The Great Zo]

Prospal gets a crap interference call, yells at the ref, and gets a 10 on top of it. His night is done.

[the_narrow_way]

Meszaros gone for 2 for cross-checking, for doing his job and clearing out the front porch.

F this league. Koci gets two for cross-checking.

[Avery86]

What a ridiculous call on Prospal. And to add insult to injury, he gets an extra 10 for rightfully being upset over the BS call.

Now Mez with a penalty.

[The Great Zo]

Meszaros goes for 2. 5 on 3 for Sharks. Koci loses his mind and gives Semenov no less than a half-dozen cross checks in the crease, and now he's gone for the night too.

[Coldrice]

The implosion is in full effect

[Avery86]

What the hell is Koci's problem? What a garbage fit he threw, the team doesn't need crap like that.

[TexasBolt]

Thank God that's over. I'm sure it will be a pleasant cross-country plane flight tomorrow.

[Coldrice]

Some things I've come to the conclusion on... and this game helped solidify some hedged thoughts I've had recently.

Ramo has obviously not handled his demotion to Norfolk well and not getting #1 time there hasn't helped either. With Tokarski onboard now, he may get a 1-year extension on his current deal just to bide time till Smitty's deal is up and Tokarski gets another year under his belt to continue proving that he is the battler he's shown to be. If he can't rebound (no pun intended) in the 09-10 season, he's gone.

Malik has looked better only by the fact that Wishart and Mihalik have blown their opportunities. Says something when Quick gets his shot and immediately leap frogs them both in a single game in my opinion.

With the D in and out of the M*A*S*H unit I expect a few minor league deals to be done for defensemen that could possibly get a call up.

Or they skip that move altogether and a roster move and/or picks dished out to get another dman.

Koci and Jokinen sent to Norfolk and Smoke and Downie board a plane heading to Tampa. Koci went "Roy" the last few minutes of the game and that's not characteristic of him, but should seal the deal that he head's back to the Ad's.

From the too many men on the ice penalty on... the entire team went into shut down mode. One thing is for sure, that's going to be one loooooooooooong ass flight home.

[pete]

Um, you can't evaluate Ramo based on that game. The Anaheim game is a much fairer representation of where he is.

[Coldrice]

Compared to last year's play, this game, his struggles in Norfolk, plus Anaheim being the lone bright spot thus far... I think I can. Ramo has been one of my "hedged thoughts" that after tonite's game made me think that what I said could come to fruition. Let me explain.

Yes he was left on his own far too often tonite, but I remember that happening last year too and he handled it better than what was shown tonite when his dmen abandoned him. What I meant about him not handling his demotion was it appears he's trying too hard.

When he played against the Devils in November, he looked shaky but I dismissed that as it being his first go at it since going to Norfolk, coming in in relief of Kolzig.

Then the on and off struggles in Norfolk, where in my opinion he should not be a below .500 goaltender... again, based on last year's play and regardless of the make up the Ad's have there.

Then the Anaheim game he appeared a little over zealous but pulled through.

Then tonite, despite being abandoned he was a bit over zealous again with his positioning.

[Jester47]

I agree it wasn't the kid's best game by far but you just can't keep leaving men open in the crease like that... JT even showed them a perfect example of how it can be done without a hard croos check when he pushed our d-man out of the way before his goal.

I think Mez was trying to do too much last night with all of the yong faces on D, he has been playing much better that this of late.

Thank god I packed it in after 4-1... the internet feed looked great as someone else commented, thanks for the link CRice.

I am also in the camp that Downie & Smoke needs to be on a plane headed to Tampa like NOW!!! Let's get them up here and let them play, maybe we could salvage something of the season.

[missK]

And Mike Sullivan is in his first season as Lightning associate coach.

And Stamkos wears #18 and they can't read a roster because all night long they were too busy dissing our team and city to worry about getting the players names right. What a bunch of dicks.

[Sotnos]

And Stamkos wears #18 and they can't read a roster because all night long they were too busy dissing our team and city to worry about getting the players names right. What a bunch of dicks.
I only caught part of the game, but they did seem to be very condescending.

[Wrong Net Paulie]

I only caught part of the game, but they did seem to be very condescending.

If thats how you want to put it.

I preferred no-talent assclown. They were alright for a bit, but then the "team in shambles, franchise in shambles, franchise with no forseeable future" remarks got old.

[CTLightning26]

WTF? C'mon refs, that guy worked St. Louis over and finished by crosschecking him. Grow some f'in balls.

BTW, the play-by-play guy sucks. At least the color guy gives credit where credit is due.

Randy Hahn.. Used to do soccer back in the day.. was one of the play by play guys during the 1994 World Cup

[CTLightning26]

R2 with a couple of F-bombs in the box after Grier points at him.

what the heck. so you got hit Grier. How about when you shot the puck way after the whistle, too.

[CTLightning26]

I only caught part of the game, but they did seem to be very condescending.

Hahn, was, but the color guy was alright. he's one of the best you hear on center ice.
You wonder if Hahn did any prep work he was so off on things.

[Sotnos]

If thats how you want to put it.

I preferred no-talent assclown.:pound: Gotta say, doesn't sound like I missed much and the PBP guy wasn't prepared, which to me is not acceptable.

I remember too well from Remenda's HNIC days that he's a member of the Southern Hockey Haters Club, so I carry a grudge against him though he's miles above many others.

[TexasBolt]

Their PR department is also like a Communist propaganda machine and they may have fed the Sharks' guys some of that garbage. The Stars' broadcasters complain about the information overkill every time they have to do a game in San Jose. Rick and the Chief are lucky they skipped last night's game.

[pete]

Compared to last year's play, this game, his struggles in Norfolk, plus Anaheim being the lone bright spot thus far... I think I can.

The situation in Norfolk hasn't been altogether different than what you saw last night on the blueline, prior to Lundin getting sent down. Even with Lundin, they've got a very inexperienced blueline down there that early in the season was just as porous.

Is Ramo stepping up and winning these games on his own like he did as a rookie in Springfield? No. That's a little bit concerning. However, it's not so concerning that I would say he only deserves one more year and then cut him loose. You're talking about a 22 year old playing a position where guys don't come into their prime until they're at least 27-28 years old. Mike Smith didn't even touch NHL ice until he was 24. I think everyone forgets just how young Karri is. The fact he's already done it in stretches in the NHL should tell you he almost certainly has it in him to improve over the next few years.

[chad]

The Stars' broadcasters complain about the information overkill every time they have to do a game in San Jose. Rick and the Chief are lucky they skipped last night's game.

Speaking of the Stars guys.... I stumbled across a Stars game the other night, and usually I flip a game if it's going to intermission to another game or show... but I looked up and laughed because I thought the host was wearing some kind of crazy wig. Yeah.... so, that's his real hair, huh? He's looked in the mirror and seen other people and said to himself, yes, this is what I want.

I'm afraid that may top Forslund's sideburns.

[Coldrice]

Understood. I was thinking that because of Helenius and Tokarski, if they keep rounding their games out that they might push Karri into the unfavorable category. Then again, like I stated in my original post... if he (Ramo) were to play like last year in the 09-10 season, then he (nor I) need not worry.

[TexasBolt]

but I looked up and laughed because I thought the host was wearing some kind of crazy wig. Yeah.... so, that's his real hair, huh? He's looked in the mirror and seen other people and said to himself, yes, this is what I want.

I'm afraid that may top Forslund's sideburns.

We try not to talk about Ric Renner's Troll doll hair in public.

http://www.theunticket.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ric-renner1.jpg

Also did you like Razor's burgeoning porn mustache the other night?

http://cdn.nhl.com/stars/images/upload/2009/01/razor_stache250b.jpg

[Coldrice]

We try not to talk about Ric Renner's Troll doll hair in public.

http://www.theunticket.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ric-renner1.jpg

Also did you like Razor's burgeoning porn mustache the other night?

http://cdn.nhl.com/stars/images/upload/2009/01/razor_stache250b.jpg

Razor... with his made up "Scrabble" vocabulary and he actually uttered the word "Fondling" on an attempt on Osgood. With that 'stache... that's troubling to hear him say such things during a broadcast.

[chad]

Awesome. It's a shame there's not a better pic out there of it (I looked, too).

"Troll doll hair" is perfect. That thing was brutal. His hairline and eyebrows nearly connect.

I'm surprised his co-host was able to look away.

[pete]

I'm just not ready to hang my hat on Helenius or Tokarski as the goaltender of the future for this organization over Ramo yet, considering they both have just 1 AHL game worth of experience between them.

[CTLightning26]

Razor... with his made up "Scrabble" vocabulary and he actually uttered the word "Fondling" on an attempt on Osgood. With that 'stache... that's troubling to hear him say such things during a broadcast.

He put the puck "up where your mother hides the cookies" or "up where your mother never dusts"

"heavy metal"

I forget what defenseman he said this about once, but he called him "the high priest of head fakes"

[CTLightning26]

I would think Ramo would want to sign for a year, because if he signs for three he probably won't get more than like $800-900,000 per.

[LilJimmyNorton]

A rare instance when I let the boys pass on a 7-1 beatdown. There was NO WAAAAY they were gonna win that game. SJ is in an entirely different league. Thought through the first period and 1/2 they were not too bad.

Luckily I fell asleep at 3-1. ;)

[jaydeedub]

All the guys must of been dead tired. A road trip with two back to back games. Yikes. And I thought I read somewhere in a preview that they also had practice before the game that day. I would've said screw practice and give the boys the rest they need. Glad I didn't stay up to watch it! But yeah, I completely give them a pass but for the bad, bad score. That just makes everything even worse. They could do well in this next home games and start turning it around.

[Donnie D]

I didn't get to see the game, so all I can go by are these comments.

That said, this is a team with 5 defensemen, a couple of which were AHL call ups on a back to back game against the best team in the league on the last game of long road trip and we are judging that 22 year old Ramo's future is over based upon this one game?:melodramatic:

[astro]

Were you guys wearing bolts jerseys 4 and 19?

Then, that would have been us.

It was a brutal game.... Ramo was let out to dry so often, it was sad. I was surprised that Mike Smith wasn't put into the game.

[nutznboltz]

All the guys must of been dead tired. A road trip with two back to back games. Yikes. And I thought I read somewhere in a preview that they also had practice before the game that day. I would've said screw practice and give the boys the rest they need. Glad I didn't stay up to watch it! But yeah, I completely give them a pass but for the bad, bad score. That just makes everything even worse. They could do well in this next home games and start turning it around.

Eastern teams coming off a long West Coast road trip traditionally play pretty bad in their first home game. The Forum should have a lot of red in it tomorrow night, unfortunately, with a sea of foul mouthed Flyers fans in attendance. I hope the Bolts win but I'm not expecting it.

[the_narrow_way]

Whoever wrote the schedule is a sadistic bastard.

[jaydeedub]

True, but the Bolts have generally been able to come out and play when it was against the Flyers, and Mike Smith should be in goal. I'm also :begging: that Ranger and Eminger are playing. How's that for glass half full?

Nice thing is they have 5 home game stretch here, and they really need to turn it up at home and starting winning in the IP. They have the fewist home wins in the NHL going 4-7-7. Ouch. They could at the very least shoot for .500 at home! 7 overtime loses, 10 for the season! :banghead: