travel_dude

Okay, so what I read was Howden and Hague placed on LTIR, not Carrier or other. Think that leaves the about 4.4M short to activate Stone. Let's see how they handle it.

I think they just want him skating right now. Ruzie is a C, so I don't think they were doing too much out there.

Patches played the other night. So, I assume that they already put Carrier on LTIR. Haven't heard about Brossoit yet.

How does that work? $9.5M to the cap, without cap relief sufficient to add it? I thought that was the problem with them. I think they can move Brossoit to LTIR, but that doesn't get them quite enough does it? Unless you get to both remove his salary and also go over by the equivalent. Anyway, I would like to see how we fare against them with a complete "cheater" roster. HAHA, just kidding about that part.

Stockton has a good chance of winning the Calder Cup this year. They are tops in the league. I'm not entirely sure whether we can call up a player from the AHL after their playoffs start. I suspect you can, but not sure. From what I read, all of Kylington, Guddy, Jarny skated, but Kylington skated with Jarny and Ruzie as a 5th line. Guddy was back with Zady, and Val skated with Stoner. Stockton doesn't play until Wednesday, so the extra practoce doesn't hurt. And we would know by Tuesday if we need the emergency loans.

Seems to check out. I might point out that if we beat Vegas in regulation and win another game this week, Vegas can't catch us, regardless of LA. That means we have top 3 in the Pacific with 3.0 number. LA could still win out and end up with 102, one ahead of us. I would be more concerned if was an EDM fan.

I think the only time he rips it is when he sneaks into the left circle for a one-timer. He rarely does that from the point on the PP. It's like he is guarding against the deflection off the defender. Kylington and Guddy are the few (regulars) that will rip it from that spot. We won't have Stone unless we are down a player, or Zaddy has PO'd Sutter. When Gaudreau is behind the net, there is little chance of defending him. He's super slippery, but also he only goes there when it's safe. Anyway, hope he gets #100 on home ice, so he can move past it. When he does, they will come easy for him, since it's a mental thing at times with him.

Ruzie and Valimaki both recalled on emergency basis again. The likelihood of one or both getting in the lineup is remote. Can't just use a healthy scratch to do it.

Shilly and Guddy both on ice for practice today, along with Valimali (who was re-assigned to the minors). I do expect the team to take time getting them back in. 3 divisional matches this week, but only VGK is a playoff bubble team. Interesting to see how Sutter uses both the D and goalies this week. We can clinch the playoff this week. We can potentially clinch the division this week too.

It's interesting to see how Gaudreau approaches breakaways now. It seems like he's more doing it by instinct as opposed to thinking. Either that or he's scouting the goalies in game and knows where their weakness is. His go to move was always 5 hole, but now he seems to go to spots that the goalie may struggle. A good goalie down low may leave the top corner free. The magic for the top line comes from players driving the net when he has the puck. Lindholm finding a quiet area. Tkachuk powering towards the net. Those primary assists are what, top in the league? The fact that he's also finding areas to score from instead of just shooting top corner from the left circle in a low percentage shot is key. The difficult teams to play limit the middle of the ice. We aren't a great perimeter team. Not many D take a bomb shot from the point, and it usually only works when there is a screen in place.

If we get 2 wins and a OTL (equivalent to 2.5), we have 102 points and VGK gets 9 wins in regulation, they would beat us out in a tie with more ROW. Magic number is still 3.0 (VGK) and division clincher is 6.0 (EDM). We can clinch playoff as early as Thursday with 2 wins and a VGK loss (one of the wins). We can clinch the division this week with 3 wins and 3 EDM regulation losses. I think.

Ruzie and Valimaki both sent back to AHL. Emergency loan conditions are passed. Should mean that we have Guddy and Jarnkrok back.

I don't see a very easy path for the Nucks to the playoffs. Have to run the table and hope that LA falls apart. The Oilers are going into the playoffs without a #1 goalie. And that's assuming they can keep winning against tougher teams. 5 tough games the next two weeks, to which they don't have a great record. They boosted Smith by giving him the easy games. That doesn't work for the playoffs.. If they decide that Smith is the guy, he will stay in until they are on the verge of elimination. If they go Kosknen, he will stay until he loses one. Then it's Smith.

2 B2B's left. Lewis plays on the PK a lot and would like to see them let Lindholm get fresher. Playoffs will be a different beast, so his minutes then will be a product of the team(s) we play.

The way DAL is fading and the Kings harder schedule, we may see LA is 7th-8th spot and VGK in 3rd. I think LA or NAS is probably the best draw. Only way I want to face VGK is with a depleted lineup. A weird twist would be VGK in 8th and they take out COL. That implies LA is 2nd or 3rd. I think it's shaping up to be a fight between 3 teams for 2nd and 3rd in the Pacific, with the WC spot being the runner up. Not sure how 2nd round works if the top seed is out. It should be 2nd seed vs worst seed.

Shouldn't you call that the LPN?

No worries. Missed a gooder, but overall not a great game. I say gooder despite the Flames not looking really strong through the game. Tkachuk needs a few days. Backlund missing a few details, but he hit the goalie blocker high. I am a little concerned about the state of the defense. Not how they play, but who they use. Mackie and Stone were fine. But fine doesn't win cups. Need Shilly and Guddy back. The offense starts half the time from the 2nd pair and the defense starts from 3 pairs strong. Get healthy. Get ready. No matter who we play in round one, it's just a preview to a 2nd round. Attrition is a thing, and I am less worried about depth, but need to be healthy before the playoffs start. Some tune up games for the missing men. The problem with a healthy F group is who sits. Carpenter has been plaing better as of late. Jarnkrok was starting to play better before the "illness". Lewis is best played. Ritchie can play one or two as needed, but doesn't make us a better team. Lucic is a giveaway machine at times, but you manage the minutes for the best forechecking that he can bring.

Ya goot love a guy that plays RW on a 4th line, make them a better line, then kick it up a notch and play as a C to a 3rd line. Last year we had a Nordstrom, who was not even remotely as impactful. He's one of the better PK players we have. Scores big goals. Keeps Lucic from looking like a train wreck. I don't think he was using Stitch as a nickname, just Sutter getting names mixed up at times I think.

I believe playoff magic number down to 3.0 That is any combination of CGY wins and Vegas losses = 3 Division clincher down to 6.0. That is any combination of CGY wins and EDM losses = 6.0 (OTL or SOL = 0.5).

Good teammate. That's what they do. He knew that Toffee has been struggling to core and seems to go on runs. Help him get his mojo. Coach would love that play. I think.

I'm so glad we have a real goalie. Smith would have pulled his groan about three times by now. And blame his D for any goals he let in. Every once in awhile, you need your goalie to keep you in a game. Slight letdown for the Flames type game. Make some lemonaid out of it.

CGY and Line Change = Yikes

Dube tries that move and always ends up on the ice. I like it, he just doesn't have the legs. Bennett could do it, but it gets called as goalie interference half the time. Haha.

Oh, BTW, I am really tired of Tkachuk blind whip pass to Gaudreau. Connects about 1/4 of the time and icing the rest.

Backlund out there on a delayed PP, almost own net goal. Yikes. FInish them off, since they have been hanging around too long.