THE 2014-2015 NHL Regular Season Thread

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:09 pm

So, now that the Sharks are likely out of the playoff picture, how does the lottery process work for the draft. Would the Sharks have any chance at getting McDavid?

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:13 pm

yup. have fun:

http://nhllotterysimulator.com/#/

crazy thing is of course that it's more likely one of the "bottom 3" teams do not get McDavid.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:59 am

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:53 pm

i think i'd rather give up one of the top 2 than see that jersey become real.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:42 pm

Sharks are making their push now to increase their odds of getting McDavid or Eichel. At least, it seems that way...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 4:24 pm

MaxWebster wrote:i think i'd rather give up one of the top 2 than see that jersey become real.

"Cahnah"

(The only way that works out is if McDavid somehow busts and Eichel becomes a HoFer, then we could forever make fun of Boston for ignoring the guy down the street.)

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:31 pm

[...Max thanks Jimmy Howard for looking like he was in sneakers and Mylec pads in OT tonight...]

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:37 pm

Grantland Article about the Flames

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/how-t ... ced-stats/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:45 pm

What's the local take on the Flames? Is it "screw you nerds" or "yeah, we saw Colorado last year and get this is an outlier but its kinda fun"?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:25 pm

"Screw you nerds"

Its a team that wins differently.

They can't win faceoffs and never have the puck. But they don't allow the other team who has the puck to do anything with it. They don't take penalties, they block shots and counterattack quickly. Watching the Flames break out of their own zone is a treat.

They have no #1 goalie. Just ride whoever is hot. Even an AHL goalie for two weeks.

Its a young team that is being thrown into the fire and is very opportunistic. They play the same up 2-0 or down 0-2 and that pisses the nerds off.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:03 pm

Also wanted to add that the writer hits the nail on the head in one obscure paragraph

Possession stats treat all shots as equal, so in theory, a team with the right talent could play a style that relied on shot quality to buck the percentages. Did you ever think of that, stat guys?

Anyone who watches the Flames regularly can see how they play. Their forwards play at the far blueline waiting for the long stretch pass more than any other team in the NHL. This either creates a rush situation which the Flames score a TON of goals off, or the forwards simply tip the puck in the zone and give chase.

What this means is the Flames actually have the puck very little in a game. It's on and off their sticks in a flash. But their huge forecheck creates turnovers and grade-A chances from the slot, and their odd-man rushes of course create high percentage chances.

It's a tough way to play and this is why other teams don't do it. It requires defensemen who can make home run passes under heavy pressure without puck support, it requires skilled forwards who need to make those few 10-bell chances count, and it requires a tenacious, forechecking team that doggedly can wear the other team down and force mistakes.

Advanced stats in hockey aren't measured correctly. Measuring all shot attempts as equal? Could you imagine a basketball team that decided that half-court heaves have the same odds as going in as a layup under the hoop?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:07 pm

Yeah, I've seen that argument, just didn't know if it was prevailing wisdom or 2013-14 Dater-ing. Three problems ...

1. The Dater-ing ... Colorado said the same thing last year. Talent like Duchene and MacKinnon were creating better chances and their defense was forcing only long, harmless shots but ...

2. Studies on shot type have shown that, as a whole, teams don't tangibly control the type and it eventually levels out. If you're forcing play outside, you'll give up some high quality rebounds. Obviously this doesn't work by shift or game or whatever, but overall ...

3. ... your scoring chances will more or less follow your attempts. And eventually your success will be determined by your attempts.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:07 pm

Flames have been fortunate. They keep teams to the outside and block shots.

They are more skilled then people give them credit for. They have score some pretty passing goals rather than just shoot it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:49 pm

Colorado was also top 2 in shooting percentage last year, also top 4 in secondary assists (I can't think of a better marker of "created" goals).

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:35 pm

Flames play like shit for 30 minutes, go down 0-2 then score 2 goals in 90 seconds to tie it up.

Thats how this season has gone!

BuffloSoldier · Post by **BuffloSoldier** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:22 pm

Tonight #thetankisreal.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:58 pm

Buffalo is showing them how it's done.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 5:38 pm

BuffloSoldier wrote:Tonight #thetankisreal.

Tonight the NHL presents the 2nd leg of the tie between the Sabres and Coyotes.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:53 pm

Meszaros? Twice?? wtf

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:20 pm

How many games will Byufligien get?

https://vine.co/v/OLPirE2zx5Y

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:39 pm

He's a name player in a playoff race. Even 2 would surprise me.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:59 am

And the DPS joke rolls on unimpeded.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 11:05 am

mister d wrote:And the DPS joke rolls on unimpeded.

Did they announce something?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 11:07 am

Phone hearing so he maxes out at 5.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:19 pm

Drew Miller of the Red Wings got cut by a skate in last night's game...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 3:46 pm

DPS hits the sweet spot between "getting it right" and "what we expected".

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:15 pm

At least it didn't happen in he playoffs. Otherwise he might have been able to pull a MStaal.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:25 pm

We have beat guys who still mock your fans' reaction to that.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:33 pm

Four games for Byufligien. Winnipeg has five left in the season, so they decided to let him play in the last one, against Calgary, which likely will have playoff implications. They would have sent a much stronger message, if they had just made it five games instead of four. But, that's not the way the NHL rolls.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:36 pm

mister d wrote:We have beat guys who still mock your fans' reaction to that.

Ooo. Name names and let's see how they're feeling this afternoon!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 5:07 pm

Pretty different hits when you consider force, leverage and fuck you.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 5:27 pm

mister d wrote:Pretty different hits when you consider force, leverage and fuck you.

Pretty different, or just a bit different? Four games vs. zero games different?

https://vine.co/v/M6eBDEw0FWH https://vine.co/v/OLPirE2zx5Y

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 6:50 am

Equally dickish, though the slash looks worse on Sid than the Cross-Check. I think what makes Buff's so brutal is that he's doing it to a guy on the ice with the weight of his body. There's nowhere to go. All are dirty, but the Buff one goes into supplemental territory.

if you notice, Syd was totally egging that guy on an deserved both of those shots.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:40 pm

Big crowd in Glendale, AZ, tonight!

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:56 am

The Lightning have been struggling of late. Not the best time of year to do so, although I guess late March to early April is better than late April to early May. Quite a few injuries, especially to the backline.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:51 pm

Fucking Pens...

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:29 pm

rass wrote:Fucking Pens...

I was just coming in here to post this.

You think missing the playoffs means a complete overhaul? Their core hasn't done shit in 6 years. Their cap is strictly based around 4-5 guys and that leaves little for depth and depth is needed cause most of these guys are fragile and get hurt 3-4 times a season.

I wouldn't be shocked if Malkin, Letang, and possibly Fleury are moved soon. Plus Martin will leave.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:36 pm

I can't imagine Fleury, with his new contract, is movable.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:38 pm

Just saw that the first round pick the Pens sent to Edmonton is NOT lottery protected.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:47 pm

psunate77 wrote:
rass wrote:Fucking Pens...
You think missing the playoffs means a complete overhaul? Their core hasn't done shit in 6 years. Their cap is strictly based around 4-5 guys and that leaves little for depth and depth is needed cause most of these guys are fragile and get hurt 3-4 times a season.

I wouldn't be shocked if Malkin, Letang, and possibly Fleury are moved soon. Plus Martin will leave.

No. Better chance they clean house on the coaching staff again, and become big time 'cock worshippers. They have a lot cash tied up in those guys, but they should be able to get more out of their bottom 6 than they have (pretty much since the JStaal/Sutter trade).

sancarlos wrote:Just saw that the first round pick the Pens sent to Edmonton is NOT lottery protected.

Yeah. I think that has me rooting for them to make the playoffs as much as anything.