Ryan Wilson: Ehrhoff Bomb Snags Victory From Ottawa Ehrhoff Bomb Snags Victory From Ottawa

Did someone unplug Curtis Lazar's controller on that Ehrhoff goal. He had some distance to cover, but he was the closest to Ehrhoff at that point, and was just coasting, watching Hoff scrape the rafters with his back swing. At least a little pressure might make him rush the shot.

I don't understand how you say there is no room for hits like that. It was a good hit with the contact coming to the chest. Interference penalty at worst. There's no place for admiring passes or skating with head down in the center of the ice. I guess players are supposed to just keep backing up and give the attacking team all the ice and room they want.

I don't understand how you say there is no room for hits like that. It was a good hit with the contact coming to the chest. Interference penalty at worst. There's no place for admiring passes or skating with head down in the center of the ice. I guess players are supposed to just keep backing up and give the attacking team all the ice and room they want.
- hockeyman666768

This. That was a good clean hit and I fully believe it still belongs in the game, keep your head up, nuff said.

I want to acknowledge that was a great shot by Ehrhoff, but there were three guys on Crosby and his pass was exactly where it needed to be. Crosby made that play happen.

That Klinkhammer-Goc-Megna 3rd line looks like it would be a good 4th line, although I don't see Adams being scratched.

Here's the deal with hits like this. They don't accomplish anything so why make them anymore?

Job security, simple as that. As long as in coaches' (and GMs') minds that there is place in the game for that type of physical play or "energy", guys will do it.

Zack Sill is working as a landscaper if that type of play isn't appreciated in pro hockey. Without that edge, Robert Bortuzzo is lost in the shuffle of "good enough" defensemen in the Pens organization and in the NHL. It is the same reason why Despres has made a concerted effort to be more physical this season.

While I've gotten over fighting, I am still a fan of that physical part of the game. I don't have a problem with hits like that.

The problem is that they can't be officiated accurately. I'm tired of hearing how much the referees suck or how inconsistent they are. They are inconsistent with how they manage games, but it's impossible to not be inconsistent with those hits. They just happen so fast. At real time on ice level, you could watch 20 of those hits each one time, and if you are 100% certain of the call/no call on more than a couple of them, you are probably lying. We penalize based on injuries, but it's impossible not to. If you are on the fence about the hit, and the guy is lying there bleeding, and completely incoherent, it's human nature that you'd think it was bad.

Along the lines of my last post...

I played high school hockey in the early 90's in Western PA... Back then HS hockey sucked. Good teams had a few travel players, a few kids who played in house leagues, and the rest of us were idiots who got into the sport late (thanks to Mario).

I was basically Craig Adams, but that was good enough to be like a 2nd center then lol. I remember one play where I was killing a penalty and the point man had the puck in his skates... I stepped up and completely blasted him... right in front of our drunken student crowd, everyone was going nuts, back at the bench, my coach said how great of a hit it was, etc etc etc...

After the game, a teammate who was REALLY good said, "If you would have just poked the puck through his skates, you could have had a breakaway for days..."

It was funny, as someone who had no offensive skill, my sole focus at the time was making a big hit, doing something that I knew I could do, instead of even thinking about something offensively like that.

Alexander Steen to the Pens? What would it take to land him?

Alexander Steen to the Pens? What would it take to land him?
- IronCity

He's pricy.. You'd have to move someone like Martin off the roster somehow to make him fit capwise.

What would St Louis' motive be to move him?

To be honest, besides seeing some of his goals last year, I don't know a ton about him. He's on pace for like 15 goals this season... coming back to earth a bit?

I don't think I have any interest in him.

What is going on with that team this season? Besides the Schwartz/Lehtera/Tarasenko line, there are a lot of forwards who are struggling this season... add the the whole Brodeur thing...

Is Ken Hitchcock just running his course there? Like his last few teams, is he's entering his four season limit with this team?

I guess I answered your question with like 6 more questions

That Klinkhammer-Goc-Megna 3rd line looks like it would be a good 4th line, although I don't see Adams being scratched.
- Tojo.

No chance that line will happen on the norm until next season. But that would be a fair 4th line for us. Hell, I'd rather Megna or Klink on the 3rd over Spaling... but I am just disliking Spaling more and more each day, especially at his cost.

Regardless, Klink is looking better than the Phoenix writer gave him credit for, which is all we needed for the level of play hes expected for

No chance that line will happen on the norm until next season. But that would be a fair 4th line for us. Hell, I'd rather Megna or Klink on the 3rd over Spaling... but I am just disliking Spaling more and more each day, especially at his cost.

Regardless, Klink is looking better than the Phoenix writer gave him credit for, which is all we needed for the level of play hes expected for
- Guile

The last 2 games Spaling had the puck on his stick leaving the zone and instead of just dumping it on the OZ he threw it backwards to our own zone when our D needed the change desperately. These 2 plays resulted in the opponents having some instant pressure when we could have had a breath and change the D...

No chance that line will happen on the norm until next season. But that would be a fair 4th line for us. Hell, I'd rather Megna or Klink on the 3rd over Spaling... but I am just disliking Spaling more and more each day, especially at his cost.

Regardless, Klink is looking better than the Phoenix writer gave him credit for, which is all we needed for the level of play hes expected for
- Guile

Considering GMJR signed guys like Comeau, Downie, and Goc for much less, the Spaling addition is a real head scratcher. He didn't look bad in a lower line role, but hardly seemed the type you need to pay over 2M for.

Hoping Klink keeps up his level of play. Seems like complacency was his biggest problem. Getting traded and almost waived could be what was best for him as a reminder he needs to be at his best to stay in the league.

Considering GMJR signed guys like Comeau, Downie, and Goc for much less, the Spaling addition is a real head scratcher. He didn't look bad in a lower line role, but hardly seemed the type you need to pay over 2M for.

Hoping Klink keeps up his level of play. Seems like complacency was his biggest problem. Getting traded and almost waived could be what was best for him as a reminder he needs to be at his best to stay in the league.
- Tojo.

If I remember correctly, we assumed Spaling to be a way to pressure Sutter to resign a bit lower than he was originally asking. But, then we still have Spaling, who was to be an "ok" 3rd line center (Since it seems like they wouldn't use Goc on the third over him), as a winger... more suited for 4th line duties than even the 3rd line.

I hope he becomes a trade chip, to a team needing a bottom 6 center, for just an asset or another bottom 6 winger.

I don't understand how you say there is no room for hits like that. It was a good hit with the contact coming to the chest. Interference penalty at worst. There's no place for admiring passes or skating with head down in the center of the ice. I guess players are supposed to just keep backing up and give the attacking team all the ice and room they want.
- hockeyman666768

The sole purpose of a hit or check is to seperate the man from the puck... if they dont have the puck then the hit has no room in the game. thats how players get hurt. an injury happens on a clean good hit, hey, tough rocks. but there was no reason for that hit. There is a big gulf between the people that want to see hard hitting hockey for the right purposes and those that just want to see people lit up. peoples got to ask themselves which camp they are in

I'm very surprised no other trade has been explored... Kuni BB ph all hurt... Luckily with letang out we had despres and dumo step up..
Megna has done ok when playing with malkin but with a center like goc he isn't going to excel.. sutter needs to step back to 3rd line duties.. and how the hell is spaling amd downie our top wingers...

Need a trade

I'm very surprised no other trade has been explored... Kuni BB ph all hurt... Luckily with letang out we had despres and dumo step up..
Megna has done ok when playing with malkin but with a center like goc he isn't going to excel.. sutter needs to step back to 3rd line duties.. and how the hell is spaling amd downie our top wingers...

Need a trade
- nh4442

No one will argue that, however, every team is MORE than aware of our injury woes right now. We would be bent over backwards on any trade right now due to the need. We pretty much have to weather the storm until a few return.

Jeremy Morin wants out of Chicago. Good prospect, skill and edge. I would think Chicago has their hands tied a bit now. He has to be put on waivers or traded.

No one will argue that, however, every team is MORE than aware of our injury woes right now. We would be bent over backwards on any trade right now due to the need. We pretty much have to weather the storm until a few return.
- Guile

I'm pretty sure you mean bent over the barrel but I get it ... And agree

I'm very surprised no other trade has been explored... Kuni BB ph all hurt... Luckily with letang out we had despres and dumo step up..
Megna has done ok when playing with malkin but with a center like goc he isn't going to excel.. sutter needs to step back to 3rd line duties.. and how the hell is spaling amd downie our top wingers...

Need a trade
- nh4442

Yes we need a trade but it's not critical. We are first in the division with a game in hand and 10 points ahead of washington that is third. For now we're pretty good in the playoff race. Also, like someone already stated, everybody knows we have only 2 top 6 players healthy and will likely try to take advantage of that.

So if we can keep winning some games we're fine. Kunitz, BB and Letang should be returning soon. And we don't know yet how long PH will miss.

Not panic time yet.

Jeremy Morin wants out of Chicago. Good prospect, skill and edge. I would think Chicago has their hands tied a bit now. He has to be put on waivers or traded.
- usethe1-2-2

With the cap problems they are likely to have next year, they'd be smart to keep him though. Every team has guys like that, sure Bortuzzo would welcome a trade, but the player doesn't have any leverage.

In what way was that hit closer to be dirty? The hit was almost instantly after Turris made the pass, Sill kept his elbow tucked and never made contact with his head. I understand your disdain for plugs like Sill but there's absolutely nothing to criticize here. The last thing you want is to have a guy like Turris comfortable carrying the puck.

I'm pretty sure you mean bent over the barrel but I get it ... And agree
- Bradlee3

Both work, depends on which version of kink you want

Would anyone give Ryan Malone shot?

Would anyone give Ryan Malone shot?
- gravyboy33

No thanks. They can't afford to be adding a potential worthless contract.