Even if Murray takes over, I don't expect a playoff push. It took 10 games before Laviolette started righting the ship in 2009-10. In a shortened season, a 10-game swoon added to the already-played schedule equals a team too poor to make the playoffs and too good to get a top 5 pick outside of winning the lottery.
- Flyskippy

I agree with all of this.

I was ready to fire Lavvy pretty early on but at this point, I don't think it would matter. This team "is what it is" at this point and frankly, you hope that getting Mez and Matt Read back and the schedule easing up just a bit makes a difference.

That said, I don't think they are any closer to beating either Boston or NJD in a playoff series than they were a year ago.

Anybody out there ever skate with plantar fascitis?
- NickTheKid87

I haven't experienced it myself but I have been reading up on it just now to try to find out a little bit about it. It's a problem that could go away on its own eventually (best case scenario), never go away or (worst case scenario) make a player more prone to compensatory injuries. There are some exercises Timonen can do to manage it.

would briere, Laughton, and a 1st get us Shattenkirk?
- KGBflyers10

No way

I think Barkann did block me.
- Jsaquella

Wouldn't worry about that... I've dealt with Barkann in real life several times. Not a pleasant fellow.

Anybody out there ever skate with plantar fascitis?
- NickTheKid87

Yes, and the effect is kind of like jogging with a few thumbtacks in your shoe.

Anybody out there ever skate with plantar fascitis?
- NickTheKid87

It's common injury in old guys that play tennis... It's a tendon issue. It varies in degree, mainly just pain and stiffness limiting flexibility in the foot. The problem with nonpro's is that its tough to get rid of. The main treatment is rest. However, with the proper PT treatment, he should be able to get better soon. The main issue is pain, but he has played through worse. The flexibility shouldn't be an issue with the foot in the skate.

(frank)ing great:

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN
Holmgren says reason Timonen in right walking boot is plantar fasciitis. "does not affect him when in a skate," he said.


BROKENFOOTITUS
- Philly1980

My son has that. He's right. Even when it flares up he limps but skates without pain. It's the flexing of the foot that causes the aggravation.

I haven't experienced it myself but I have been reading up on it just now to try to find out a little bit about it. It's a problem that could go away on its own eventually (best case scenario), never go away or (worst case scenario) make a player more prone to compensatory injuries. There are some exercises Timonen can do to manage it.
- bmeltzer

I have it. There's a lot of stretching exercises that can reduce the pain and make it easily manageable. There's also orthodics that can help a great deal. The key is to wear footwear with good support and keep up on the stretches.

It's a soft tissue injury that can heal, but skating and a NHL schedule isn't going to help

I have it. There's a lot of stretching exercises that can reduce the pain and make it easily manageable. There's also orthodics that can help a great deal. The key is to wear footwear with good support and keep up on the stretches.

It's a soft tissue injury that can heal, but skating and a NHL schedule isn't going to help
- Jsaquella

Well with homer i would hope that its really that and nothing else

I have it. There's a lot of stretching exercises that can reduce the pain and make it easily manageable. There's also orthodics that can help a great deal. The key is to wear footwear with good support and keep up on the stretches.

It's a soft tissue injury that can heal, but skating and a NHL schedule isn't going to help
- Jsaquella

The scary part is potential compensatory injuries to the achilles tendon or the knees if it's not managed properly, but I think this should be something he should be able to play through with the physical therapy and ortho inserts.

Well with homer i would hope that its really that and nothing else

- Philly1980

It makes sense, though. Timonen's biggest issue that I see is that his first step seems less explosive, and it's the same issue I had when I skated with it-starting up after a stop and changing direction is when I had troubles with it.

Like that Kessel goal the other night, Timonen got beat because he was slow changing direction after the turnover.

The scary part is potential compensatory injuries to the achilles tendon or the knees if it's not managed properly, but I think this should be something he should be able to play through with the physical therapy and ortho inserts.
- bmeltzer

The comensation issues happened to my wife. She has it in both feet, and worse than mine. She has to wear a boot to bed when it gets really bad...and she kicks me at least once a night with the damn thing

The comensation issues happened to my wife. She has it in both feet, and worse than mine. She has to wear a boot to bed when it gets really bad...and she kicks me at least once a night with the damn thing
- Jsaquella

Accidentally, of course.

I haven't experienced it myself but I have been reading up on it just now to try to find out a little bit about it. It's a problem that could go away on its own eventually (best case scenario), never go away or (worst case scenario) make a player more prone to compensatory injuries. There are some exercises Timonen can do to manage it.
- bmeltzer

Just a brief overview...

Basically it is like tendinitis of the foot. There is a thick pad of tissue that runs on the bottom of your foot(Plantar Fascia), from heel to toe which creates the arch. When it gets inflamed it is commonly referred to as Plantar Fasciitis. (itis meaning inflammation)

Majority of the time it is something that will calm down with rest and ice.. often aided with inflammation medicine like Aleve.

Sometimes it can act up suddenly as a result of a trauma. Direct blow to the bottom of the foot or rolling of the ankle. Again, typically given time it goes away.

In some of the more chronic and extreme cases, they will operate. That can be a pretty decent recovery, but a fairly simple procedure. Sometimes it is just a matter of going in and cleaning up some heel spurs.

The fact that Timonen is in a walking boot, to me, means that this isnt super severe. The purpose of the boot is to prevent the foot from flexing and extending. Think about when you walk, how you go heel to toe and your foot kind of bends... the boot eliminates that motion, which is a bigger stresser of the Plantar Fascia.

Fortunately, this is hockey. Skates do not have any give in the sole, so the flexion and extension motions are limited.

All in all.. nothing to concerning.. at least as of now.

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?
- coffee junkie

Doom

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?
- coffee junkie

he'll play a sound defensive game, no points, but no glaring mistakes either


hatty, 2 helpers

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?
- coffee junkie

I think tonight ends up being a flop. Caps come out early and put up 2 quick goals as a result of lazy back checking. Flyers battle back to make it close, but lose it in the third. Gags a non factor on the ice, but a big boost early in the crowd.

Caps have been pretty hot, and are a very good team in back to backs. Flyers HAVE to be ready, but I dont think they will.. I wish I felt differently, and hope they prove me wrong.

I'm getting there. I'm NOT pinning the blame on Laviolette but he is showing some of the signs being in the "coach's death spiral" where you don't have to read very far between the lines (organization publicly says they're "confident" he'll tighten up his system, they bring in an assistant coach of their choosing, going back to the NJ series elimination game and into this season, a couple of players -- Timonen after Game 5 vs. NJ, Bryzgalov at least twice this season -- have uttered the dreaded "ask the coach" quote when asked about things that haven't gone right).
- bmeltzer

Sometimes a coaching change is a result of a guy not having the answers vs being the reason the team isn't playing well. I really like some of the aspects of his style, but there are some areas I think he struggles in.

Predictions for tonight's game?


- coffee junkie

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?
- coffee junkie

it will be a sellout and Gagne will get an ovation

You would hope the goaltender wouldn't have to steal a win when playing a team at the bottom of the Conference on the second night of a back to back for them.
But you may very well be correct.
- PLindbergh31

Caps have been playing very well of late, I don't think of them as a true last place team at this point.

Yes, and the effect is kind of like jogging with a few thumbtacks in your shoe.
- Jsaquella

Probably depends on the person and the injury. I've had planter fascitis several times. For me it was always worst in the mornings right as I got out of bed. After walking around and showering I usually wouldn't notice it at all. It seemed like once the foot was "warmed up" I was all good. Granted, I don't skate for a living, but, at least for me, it was a manageable issue and it went away on its own both times with regularly doing some excercises to stretch the arch of the foot and wearing shoes that have good arch support.

I think tonight ends up being a flop. Caps come out early and put up 2 quick goals as a result of lazy back checking. Flyers battle back to make it close, but lose it in the third. Gags a non factor on the ice, but a big boost early in the crowd.

Caps have been pretty hot, and are a very good team in back to backs. Flyers HAVE to be ready, but I dont think they will.. I wish I felt differently, and hope they prove me wrong.
- jak521

The Caps played last night, so if the Caps come in here and pop an early goal, I'm just going bang my head on the stairs in my section of the arena.

Predictions for tonight's game?

Gag's predictions?
- coffee junkie

5-1 Caps.

Start paying more attention to OBs posts while he prepares for the draft.