Un"Rule"y...get it?

Todays worst rule in hockey, which will probably change many times, until the game never reaches perfect, is the "shoot the puck over the glass from your defensive zone delay of game penalty". It took longer to write that sentence than the delay it creates. In fact, it takes longer to send someone to the penalty box than it is to grab a new puck and drop it.

It may not be that simple, but if you get penalized for "intentionally" shooting the puck over the glass then you should get a penalty for "intentionally" icing the puck. You ice the puck for the same reason. You are getting buzzed in your own zone and need to clear it/get a whistle/get a line change.

Awhile ago (and not the only example) Aaron Rome (Vancouver Canucks) was on his stomach, swung his stick around on the the ice, in attempt to knock it of the opponents stick. As it was rolling in front of said opponent, it went of the shaft (which was parallel to the ice) and popped over the glass. His only objective was to remove the puck from the opponent and by chance, it left the rink. Did he intentionally clear the puck? He was not in real trouble, he was not at the end of a shift, he was just making a hockey play. Apparently there is no discretion for ref's to make a judgement call. It is maddening. Will it take that play, losing someone a playoff series or worse a Stanley Cup, for it to be changed? Let's hope not.

Yes, they are trying to speed the game and deter players from clearing it over the glass, but was it ever really a problem. It would have continued to go unnoticed to 99% of hockey watchers. The "big dogs" in suits who want to make there mark on the game in some way as they could never actually play the game, were the only ones who thought this rule was needed. How many times do you remember a puck being shot over the glass before the rule was implemented? Never. It went over the glass, they got a fresh puck, dropped it, and kept playing. It did not overtly affect the game, it was just something that happened once in awhile.

If they need to implement something to save face on instituting a ridiculous rule to begin with, they don't have to get rid of it. All they need to do, is treat it like icing. If you shoot the puck over the glass then no line change, you have to stay out. Not allowing a line change will speed the game up more than anything. Puck goes over glass, players line up at face-off dot, linesmen grabs a puck hands it to other linesmen, they drop it and play goes on. It will also reduce the times we have to hear a ref announce a penalty then seconds later hear the P.A. announcer, announce the same thing, but that is another story.

Z

Dose of Doan

Shane Doan may be the best player, playing in this years playoffs, that nobody is talking about. In two games, nobody has made their mark like he has. After 9 hits in the first game, including many bone-crushers, he continued that pace in game 2, but this time added a goal and an assist. There may not be a more all around effective player right now.

He has not been in the playoffs since 2002, and is making every shift count. There is some criticism that he is playing over the line, but as one of the classiest players in the league, he is representing what the NHL playoffs are all about. He can play offense, defense, fight, hit, and lead his team with grit, determination, and class. He epitomizes playoff hockey. Don't be fooled if you think this is going to change anytime soon... and it shouldn't.

Z

Playoffs are Back

One part of me thinks that living in a hockey market like Phoenix, is a little sad sometimes, but at least there is hockey at all. I grew up in Edmonton and enjoyed the Oiler's as a youngster in the 80's, so maybe I was spoiled. The other part of me is happy that I am in a market like Phoenix, because I can enjoy the perks of actually being able to get tickets to any game at any time of year.

The other day I jumped on craigslist to see what there was in the world of game 1 Coyote tickets. There were a bunch to choose from, so I scrolled through checking seats and prices and stumbled upon some that caught my eye. These were 20 rows up in the corner left of Jimmy Howard of the Red Wings. Now, in any Canadian city, I am sure these tickets would have been hundreds of dollars and to actually get them would be a real chore. Anyway, for $75 each, my wife, a friend, and myself, enjoyed a classic playoff game.

The place was electric, everyone in white, screaming, chanting, and heckling. The action was fast, the Red Wings, a skilled veteran team, showed off their talent, with crisp passing, finesse, stick handling, and plenty of shots. The Coyotes on the other hand, a team that surprised everyone this year, and probably continue to, showed the heart, team work, chemistry, and relentless pressure, that has got them to this point. They out hit the Red Wings in a big way, which caused some key turnovers, they won most of the battles for loose pucks and capitalized when they had to. The top scoring defense core in the league had 5 points on the 3 goals and one of the worst power plays in the league went 3 for 4.

It looked like the Coyote game plan was to play with an edge and hit everything that moved. It seems like they realized this is a long series and if they can apply relentless pressure and physical play, they can ware down the aging, and often injured Red Wings. The Coyotes won game one, but it looked as though they were setting themselves up for games in the future as well.

It was the first playoff game I had been to in a long time and I couldn't have been more pleased, as a hockey fan, with the game that was played by both teams. I will be honest, I am not a fan of either team to any great extent, but living in a city you can adopt a like for a team, especially a team nobody thought would be in the position they are.

Now tonight I can sit back and take in some other rounds on TV (go Canucks), and remember the great experience I shared with my wife and friend, in a place where nobody thinks hockey should be.

Z

Non-Playoff Hockey is still Hockey

At this point in the season we all look at the schedule and see who's battling for that final playoff spot or the important playoff seed that could determine home ice advantage for your favorite team. That is what makes this time of year as a hockey fan so great. One thing we sometimes underestimate are the teams that are not in the playoffs.
There isn't much build up or fan fare, and no major implications to these games, but when you have a team that underachieved all season, there are jobs at stake. It is also a time when coaches will give young guys a chance to throw the jersey on. Maybe these guys aren't vying for the Stanley Cup, but they are vying for a job next season or a contract extension. It is there chance to prove themselves. This includes young players, but maybe more importantly some veteran's that underachieved and may find themselves on the outside of franchise plans for the future. These players and teams throw it all on line, for a chance at a job or better salary at contract time. They have nothing to lose and sometimes put forth a better effort than they have all season.
So when you look at the match-ups for the next few nights, don't just discard the teams out of the playoffs, you may miss an exciting hockey game, and maybe a couple of playoff spoilers.

Z

Mike Green for President

Well, maybe President is a stretch, but at least give the guy a Norris Trophy. Over the past few seasons, Green has put up more than impressive numbers for a D-man. Actually he has put up impressive numbers for a forward.

Over the past three seasons, including this one, Green has 67 goals, 135 assists, for 202 points in 222 games. That includes over a point a game this season and last. Now you say, "Isn't the Norris for the best "Defense" man in the league?" Yes. He plays in all situations, including the penalty kill. And a major stat to back up this claim. He was +24 last season and is +35 this season. That is among the best, especially on a run and gun team. People say, the team scores so many goals, it is easy to rack up the plus, but with such an offense, your defense has even more pressure to perform. To put up those numbers once could be a lucky season, but to have gotten better each year in the league and continue to put up the same numbers is impressive, and that doesn't take into account the intangibles he brings to the team.

The point is, people always claim he is a liability on the defensive side of things, but if someone has over a point a game from a position that should not result in such stats, and if someone has one of the best plus/minus in the league, and plays shy of 30 minutes each game in all situations. It is time for the "experts" to stop calling out his "defensive liability" and look at the facts... facts that should warrant some hardware on his mantle.

Z

Ten All-Time Funny Hockey Quotes

Here are ten great funny and/or clever quotes in the history of hockey, there are many more, but these are among the best in no particular order.

”Goal-tending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you.” - Jacques Plante

”I know my players don't like my practices, but that's OK because I don't like their games.” - Harry Neale.

”Last season we couldn't win at home and we were losing on the road. My failure was that I couldn't think of any place else to play.” - Harry Neale

”The three important elements of hockey are: fore-check, back-check and paycheck.” - Gil Perreault

Every day you guys look worse and worse. And today you played like tomorrow.
John Mariucci, to his U.S. Hockey team.

”Goaltenders are 3 sandwiches shy of a picnic. From the moment primitive man lurched erect, he survived on the principle that when something hard and potentially lethal comes toward you at great velocity, get the hell out of it's path.” - Jim Taylor

”They say you're not a coach in the league till you've been fired. I must be getting pretty good.” - Terry Simpson

Dick Cavett asked Gordie Howe why hockey players always wear a cup but not helmet. he replied:
"You can always get someone to do your thinking for you"

"All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity."
Gordie Howe

"When hell freezes over, I’ll play hockey there too."
Author Unknown

There are many more, feel free to comment with you favorites.

Calgary Flickering Flames

With 5 games left in the season, the Calgary Flames are sitting 2 points out of a playoff spot. This comes as a surprise to many people, and it should. With the off-season acquisition of Jay Bouwmeester, who was added to an already deep D-core, one of the best goalies in the league and a group of lunch pail forwards who come to work everyday and grind the other team out of the arena. What happened? They were projected to be a top 6 team in the league.

They have a sniper, who also happens to be there leader, who also happens to do everything on the ice including fight when he needs to, but who does he play with, no one. On every great team there are great players, what makes the great teams great is that those great players are playing with other great players (say that 10 times fast). Iginla is on an island. They have not been able to find someone to play with him for many years. Well actually they did have Tanguay who was an upper tier player, gone after 1 season. They did have Cammalleri, who actually outscored Iginla, so why not let go him after one season. Iginla has not had the stability of a solid line mate his whole career and it is unfortunate for him.

The second part is they acquired Bouwmeester, a top level d-man who can work a power-play and give you a few points, while maintaining great defense. He went over 50 games between goals this season. Not to say he was a total bust, because he adds a lot more to a team than just a few points from the point. That being said, he is getting paid elite player money and should produce like that.

Goal-tending is their strong point and Kiprusoff is as solid as they come. He single handedly took them to the finals in '04. What has been different in the years following? Well the year they wen to the finals he only played in 38 games that year. He was fresh. Every year since he has played 74 games twice and 76 games twice. He has nothing left in the tank when the most important time of the year rolls around. They need a sold back up to relieve him of some games throughout the season.

So basically they have no good draft picks this year, they are near the cap, they have a star player who is lonely, they have a great goalie who is overplayed, and a D-core that should be much better. There stats aren't terrible, the team just can't score goals, which in turns puts added pressure on the D. Not included in this post is anything about the many other underachieving players contributing to the problem.

They grossly under achieved in the Sutter brother regime. The fans are tired of it. One Sutter hires another Sutter and calls up another Sutter to play, not a big deal, but it may start to look a little bias in the fans eyes. Something has to change in the organization. Usually it is easy to fire a coach or GM if a team underachieves, but in this case it is justified. To much turn over in the dressing room results in poor chemistry and lowers confidence within the organization.

A major shakeup may be in order. At least one Sutter will be gone, and why not trade Iginla who's stock is still high, for a good player and some draft picks and start rebuilding.

Will they make the playoffs? That is up to the Colorado Avalanche who sit 2 points up with game in hand and a game against the Flames. Flames seem to be winning lately and the young Av's seem to be faltering, so we can only wait and watch, probably until the last day of the season. Should be exciting.

Z