All Things Hockey:

[stoutdude04]

17 hours ago, nate82 said:

Will Ovechkin catch or pass Gretzky this year?  Before the injury it looked like he was going to do it.  He is only 26 away from tying and 27 away from breaking the record.  He is supposed to come back after the new year.  I think he will break it but there is very little news on this or much of a mention about it.

Next year I think.  Even before he got injured I think he would have slowed down.

[yourout]

Playing much better hockey now.

[RedStickBrew]

8 minutes ago, yourout said:

Playing much better hockey now.

Just caught the last period tonight. They are looking like an improved team for sure

[yourout]

11 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

Just caught the last period tonight. They are looking like an improved team for sure

For right now they're playing as good as anybody in the big ten but they dug themselves too big a hole to start the season.

[Samurai Bucky]

16 hours ago, yourout said:

Playing much better hockey now.

If they lose 3-2 in overtime tonight, that would be crazy.

First time I saw them all year.  Good defense and great net minding.  There were a lot of times where the passes were not as crisp, but they were able to hustle their way out of it.

The hit by Michigan at the end was trash.  I guess the net result was a double minor, but there was a game misconduct for Bucky.  Oh well.

[yourout]

The saturday jinx continues.

[RedStickBrew]

11 minutes ago, yourout said:

The saturday jinx continues.

Looks that way. Giving up the shorty really hurt

[RedStickBrew]

[yourout]

Clear interference leads to the winner.

Man we suck in over time.

[RedStickBrew]

1 minute ago, yourout said:

Clear interference leads to the winner 

They did well to get it to OT, just came up short again

[yourout]

1 minute ago, RedStickBrew said:

They did well to get it to OT, just came up short again

Yes. But

The guy gives up the puck and plows straight into the defender clearing a path for the puck handler.

[Samurai Bucky]

8 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

If they lose 3-2 in overtime tonight, that would be crazy.

First time I saw them all year.  Good defense and great net minding.  There were a lot of times where the passes were not as crisp, but they were able to hustle their way out of it.

The hit by Michigan at the end was trash.  I guess the net result was a double minor, but there was a game misconduct for Bucky.  Oh well.

I guess it is crazy.  🤔

[yourout]

Sounds like Hastings and staff agree it was blatant interference that lead to the game winner.

 

 

[Playing Catch]

Since this is "ALL" things hockey...

I know very little about the sport. I struggle with what are probably basic concepts.

But I find myself sitting here watching Wild-Panthers.

It seems like 3rd and especially 4th lines, and the 2nd defenseman pairing should be really good at buying/wasting time in order to give the top players a blow, especially after tough stretches of play... icing, flipping the puck into the stands, etc., would be the dark arts associated with those players, no?

Thanks in advance for any responses. 

[zurch1818]

Typically speaking, the 3rd and especially the 4th line can be considered energy lines. If you have an enforcer, they are likely to be slotted here. They fight, hit and can get the crowd into the game.

They can play a different style hockey. Rather than dazzling and fancy one timers, these lines tend to have an offense that will dump and chase and try to score off rebounds.

There is value to these lines though. A third/fourth line may start more in your own zone where you will play defense. Look at Connor McDavid, he starts in his own zone only 30% of the time because he scores. Kevin Stenlund (I'm a Utah fan), starts in his own zone roughly 70% of the time because is a good defensive player and penalty killer.

Other times you might put a good young prospect on the third line while he is still trying to figure it out.

Oh...and in the NHL, flipping the puck into the stands from your own zone is a 2 minute minor, so you don't want to do that.

For defensive lines, a lot of it has to do with matching up your best defensive line with other other team's best offensive line. Also, the home team has a slight advantage as they get the last change on a faceoff, so they can try to get a mismatch line to spark an offense.

[Playing Catch]

2 hours ago, zurch1818 said:

Typically speaking, the 3rd and especially the 4th line can be considered energy lines. If you have an enforcer, they are likely to be slotted here. They fight, hit and can get the crowd into the game.

They can play a different style hockey. Rather than dazzling and fancy one timers, these lines tend to have an offense that will dump and chase and try to score off rebounds.

There is value to these lines though. A third/fourth line may start more in your own zone where you will play defense. Look at Connor McDavid, he starts in his own zone only 30% of the time because he scores. Kevin Stenlund (I'm a Utah fan), starts in his own zone roughly 70% of the time because is a good defensive player and penalty killer.

Other times you might put a good young prospect on the third line while he is still trying to figure it out.

Oh...and in the NHL, flipping the puck into the stands from your own zone is a 2 minute minor, so you don't want to do that.

For defensive lines, a lot of it has to do with matching up your best defensive line with other other team's best offensive line. Also, the home team has a slight advantage as they get the last change on a faceoff, so they can try to get a mismatch line to spark an offense.

Thanks for your detailed points! Much appreciated!

Coincidentally, I was invited to the Wild game on Friday. On the glass/ice! (I don't know what the equivalent of "courtside," is in hockey). I'm psyched!

I love most sports due to the tactical battles. What sorts of things should I watch for? Your Utah Hockey Club at My adopted Minnesota Wild.

[zurch1818]

9 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I love most sports due to the tactical battles. What sorts of things should I watch for? Your Utah Hockey Club at My adopted Minnesota Wild.

That sounds like a blast going to that game! Both teams have been playing good hockey as of late. Have fun. I've never sat there before so I have no idea what to expect. I would enjoy hearing about your experience. 

I think I've said it already in this thread before...but I like watching hockey because there is a flow to it. You can see so much by watching what happens with players that don't have the puck...especially on a power play. I basically stopped watching football after getting into hockey. I guess for someone that likes tactics, that's a good thing to watch.

My fandom of the UHC goes way back to college (circa 2009) when I tried to be a fan of the Wild...but all the games were blacked out in the app and the Bucks got priority to FSN...so I couldn't really watch them. So I said I would be a fan of the team I got good with in the video game...the Coyotes. Then when they moved to Utah, I just continued following them since I liked their youth movement.

[stoutdude04]

On 12/19/2024 at 9:55 AM, Playing Catch said:

Thanks for your detailed points! Much appreciated!

Coincidentally, I was invited to the Wild game on Friday. On the glass/ice! (I don't know what the equivalent of "courtside," is in hockey). I'm psyched!

I love most sports due to the tactical battles. What sorts of things should I watch for? Your Utah Hockey Club at My adopted Minnesota Wild.

How was the game?  I also had tickets on the glass for a Wild game and it was awesome, though this was like 6 years ago(or more).  Do they still do the Audi club?

[stoutdude04]

Bucky drops another tough one on the road.  Up 3-1 and lose 4-3 and Strammel gets another game winner.  9 and 11 or so, but could just as easily have a few more wins(or losses).

[Joseph Zarr]

On 12/19/2024 at 7:55 AM, Playing Catch said:

Thanks for your detailed points! Much appreciated!

Coincidentally, I was invited to the Wild game on Friday. On the glass/ice! (I don't know what the equivalent of "courtside," is in hockey). I'm psyched!

I love most sports due to the tactical battles. What sorts of things should I watch for? Your Utah Hockey Club at My adopted Minnesota Wild.

Hey now! Welcome to the Wild fan club, my friend. I've been a peripheral fan of the Wild since their debut season. I lived in the Twin Cities for twelve years and owned a house across the bluff from the Xcel Energy Center. Went to many a game back in the day. I'm grateful for their current season - I think it's fair to say not many expected this! They're dealing with some nagging but significant injuries right now. The emergence of Rossi this season as a legitimate threat is a huge deal. Having Ek back is a major boost. Middleton's return right around the corner. The one tragic thing of being a Wild fan is they essentially always come up short. I have learned to never get my hopes up. I treat each season accordingly - yes, even in 2025. Despite their fantastic record they aren't dominant and they have one of lower goal differentials of the top teams. 

[Playing Catch]

19 hours ago, stoutdude04 said:

How was the game?  I also had tickets on the glass for a Wild game and it was awesome, though this was like 6 years ago(or more).  Do they still do the Audi club?

Sorry to just now be reporting back, I've been largely indisposed the last couple of weeks.

So my wife and I were invited by her brother and his wife. They had 4 tickets from a professional connection. Corporate perk sort-of-thing. On the glass. two seats away from the Utah bench. These seats came with free underground parking, all-you-can eat/drink buffet and beer in some sort of "club" that I forgot the name of. The food was good, the beer was good. Although, honestly, there were way too many 25-year olds in there (and frankly, all-ages) with their friends POUNDING beers. The drunk quotient was too high for my liking, and I feel like I have a pretty high tolerance.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a huge sports fan, but have never had friends or family that taught me anything about hockey, so I never really learned the sport. The first thing I noticed, EVEN THOUGH this is what everyone says, was the speed. A few minutes before puck-drop, they do the whole drama-lighting, laser-show. But before announcing lineups, the refs get out there during the laser show. My god. Those refs were FLYING. I felt so jealous that I never learned to skate, because it looked amazing. I do think the proximity made a big difference here. Had we been 20 rows up (still great seats!) I don't think it would have been as impressive. But being inches away from the speed was dramatic.

The game starts and I am immediately awed. Taking as many pictures of Kaprisov and Fleury as I could. I was really struck by the fact I could tell my grandchildren (I don't have any, but if I did) that I saw one of the greatest Goalies of all time. It reminds me of my first trip to Wrigley, and seeing Doc Gooden pitch for the Mets. Or my first trip to New Comisky and seeing a young Randy Johnson. I don't know if it was as cool as going to the MNUFC game where Ibrahimovic played, but it was still really cool.

Despite getting outshot, 29-18, Utah prevailed 2-1. I was never really able to master understanding how line-changes work, or the broader strategic nuances, but loved it. I'm worried sitting on the glass may have hampered my ability to enjoy it any other way, because it was so awesome.

I was a little surprised by the general atmosphere. Living in the Twin Cities, I've always had an impression that Wild fans that attend the games are typically well-off suburban hard-core hockey family types, and I think that is probably accurate. But I expected the fans to be a bit more "into" the game. I thought the environment would have been more raucous. But I thought it was pretty quiet, and that there were lots of fans that weren't even paying attention to the game. Just my impression.

Anyway, the whole experience was a 10/10. Just a sports highlight for my lifetime, for sure.

[owbc]

7 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Sorry to just now be reporting back, I've been largely indisposed the last couple of weeks.

So my wife and I were invited by her brother and his wife. They had 4 tickets from a professional connection. Corporate perk sort-of-thing. On the glass. two seats away from the Utah bench. These seats came with free underground parking, all-you-can eat/drink buffet and beer in some sort of "club" that I forgot the name of. The food was good, the beer was good. Although, honestly, there were way too many 25-year olds in there (and frankly, all-ages) with their friends POUNDING beers. The drunk quotient was too high for my liking, and I feel like I have a pretty high tolerance.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a huge sports fan, but have never had friends or family that taught me anything about hockey, so I never really learned the sport. The first thing I noticed, EVEN THOUGH this is what everyone says, was the speed. A few minutes before puck-drop, they do the whole drama-lighting, laser-show. But before announcing lineups, the refs get out there during the laser show. My god. Those refs were FLYING. I felt so jealous that I never learned to skate, because it looked amazing. I do think the proximity made a big difference here. Had we been 20 rows up (still great seats!) I don't think it would have been as impressive. But being inches away from the speed was dramatic.

The game starts and I am immediately awed. Taking as many pictures of Kaprisov and Fleury as I could. I was really struck by the fact I could tell my grandchildren (I don't have any, but if I did) that I saw one of the greatest Goalies of all time. It reminds me of my first trip to Wrigley, and seeing Doc Gooden pitch for the Mets. Or my first trip to New Comisky and seeing a young Randy Johnson. I don't know if it was as cool as going to the MNUFC game where Ibrahimovic played, but it was still really cool.

Despite getting outshot, 29-18, Utah prevailed 2-1. I was never really able to master understanding how line-changes work, or the broader strategic nuances, but loved it. I'm worried sitting on the glass may have hampered my ability to enjoy it any other way, because it was so awesome.

I was a little surprised by the general atmosphere. Living in the Twin Cities, I've always had an impression that Wild fans that attend the games are typically well-off suburban hard-core hockey family types, and I think that is probably accurate. But I expected the fans to be a bit more "into" the game. I thought the environment would have been more raucous. But I thought it was pretty quiet, and that there were lots of fans that weren't even paying attention to the game. Just my impression.

Anyway, the whole experience was a 10/10. Just a sports highlight for my lifetime, for sure.

That’s an incredible way to experience your first hockey game. For what it’s worth, most hardcore hockey fans would say that sitting on the glass is something to do once. When you sit a bit higher it’s easier to see plays develop and you can keep track of play on both sides of the ice. If you sit higher I think you’ll also find more people paying attention to the game, since the first few rows are more of novelty seats. 

[yourout]

Not really a fan of these outdoor games. 

Just end up with a lot of bad ice and slow play.

[stoutdude04]

On 1/4/2025 at 7:49 PM, owbc said:

That’s an incredible way to experience your first hockey game. For what it’s worth, most hardcore hockey fans would say that sitting on the glass is something to do once. When you sit a bit higher it’s easier to see plays develop and you can keep track of play on both sides of the ice. If you sit higher I think you’ll also find more people paying attention to the game, since the first few rows are more of novelty seats. 

Yea, this is generally true. However, I had seats on the glass right to the side of the Wild tendy those few years ago and the view was amazing.  We were also right next to the doors where the Wild girls came out to shovel snow...also not a bad perk.  Ha.

My season tickets for the Badgers are right on the goaline about 15 rows up and the view is awesome.  Only trouble is seeing the far near corner, so the jumbotron gets my eyes for those few seconds.

Sounds awesome and I am happy to hear you enjoyed it!

[stoutdude04]

On 1/4/2025 at 8:02 PM, yourout said:

Not really a fan of these outdoor games. 

Just end up with a lot of bad ice and slow play.

Yea, crappy ice for sure, but I always get excited with outdoor hockey as I still do it once a year myself.