The Other Sport That Is in Season... You know... Hockey.

[WayAbvPar]

They may block the home feed but not the visiting team's feed, perhaps? Although I HATE watching the Canucks when I can't hear Hughson and Garrett, it beats the hell out of not watching them at all, and often the visiting feed is the one Centre Ice shows (usually on early East Coast games).

[Azaroth]

Somehow I'm in the Leafs, Senators AND Canadiens region.

And PS, you can stand Jim Hughson?

Man, all I can think when I'm listening to him is "Stop putting that stupid fucking voice on".

[Fordel]

Or the Leafs just suck in every way imaginable.

Which emoticon do I use to represent *this up here*?


For the Leaf games, it isn't a blackout thing, The Leafs have sold out every fucking game for the past like... 50 years? Something stupidly ridiculous, really, us Toronto fans are fucking retarded, we accept it and still follow on and cheer. Were like the Religious Fundie version of a hockey fan. I've never had a leaf game blacked out though, only these exclusive games on Leafs TV now.

The Leaf TV thing is a pure money grab thing, owned by the same set of people who own the Leafs themselves to the best of my understanding.

"Hey, these idiots will pay hundreds of dollars for seats, lets make the shits who can't afford that, pay for games on the TV!"

[WayAbvPar]

Hughson is easily the best hockey PBP guy I have heard. Follows the play well and has a good sense of humor. He does sound kind of like Kermit the Frog though, I will grant you that.

[cmlancas]

I like Rick Peckham and Bobby Taylor for SUN Sports. Granted TB is starting to suck giant cock because Torts refuses to adjust the two-line pass home-run offense against the trap, but their color guys are really good. The radio guy out here screams like a parrot when the Bolts score.

On a side note, most of the guys on VS. are chumps and suck at calling hockey games. Same with NBC when they had the olympics.

[Paelos]

I keep hoping and hoping and hoping that the NHL will finally get it's way back on ESPN, but I don't see it happening.

[HaemishM]

I don't think ESPN wants to pay jack shit for NHL coverage. VS wants (or wanted) to try to make a new ESPN, so way overpaid for the NHL coverage. Until VS goes under, I don't think the equation will change much.

[Mandrel]

I don't think ESPN wants to pay jack shit for NHL coverage. VS wants (or wanted) to try to make a new ESPN, so way overpaid for the NHL coverage. Until VS goes under, I don't think the equation will change much.

The thing is, if Versus wants to make a new ESPN as you say, (and spent so much for the broadcast rights) why don't they you know, show more games?  There are games practically every night of the week, yet VS shows 2-3 games a week.

[murdoc]

I like Rick Peckham and Bobby Taylor for SUN Sports. Granted TB is starting to suck giant cock because Torts refuses to adjust the two-line pass home-run offense against the trap, but their color guys are really good. The radio guy out here screams like a parrot when the Bolts score.

On a side note, most of the guys on VS. are chumps and suck at calling hockey games. Same with NBC when they had the olympics.

TB has the absolutely worst PBP guy I have ever heard, Dave Mishkin or something like that. They play his brutal calls on the sports radio here from time to time. He makes Ric Jenerette in Buffalo seem tame.

[Phildo]

I miss Mike Lang.  And living close to the Penguins.

[cmlancas]

TB has the absolutely worst PBP guy I have ever heard, Dave Mishkin or something like that. They play his brutal calls on the sports radio here from time to time. He makes Ric Jenerette in Buffalo seem tame.

That's the parrot guy. Rick Peckham is the color guy for SUN sports.

[HaemishM]

I don't think ESPN wants to pay jack shit for NHL coverage. VS wants (or wanted) to try to make a new ESPN, so way overpaid for the NHL coverage. Until VS goes under, I don't think the equation will change much.

The thing is, if Versus wants to make a new ESPN as you say, (and spent so much for the broadcast rights) why don't they you know, show more games?  There are games practically every night of the week, yet VS shows 2-3 games a week.

They can't afford to show more than that?

I didn't say they did a good job of making a new ESPN, just that that was the goal.

[Azaroth]

I miss Mike Lang.  And living close to the Penguins.

I can't stand Paul Steigerwald. Mike Lange was a legend, although he still does radio in Pittsburgh and a lot of fans turn Steigerwald off and listen to Lange on the radio.

[WayAbvPar]

Well, the Canucks are done. They were playing like utter shit anyway, and now 2 of their top 4 defensemen are done for the season, and maybe for their careers. This season is gonna be a trainwreck.

[naum]

I miss Mike Lang.  And living close to the Penguins.

I miss Lange too!

I used to Jones over getting a satellite Pens feed and be subjected to the other team's announcers.

Though Lange toned it down a bit for TV audience.

Some Mike Langeism's

* He gave 'em more moves than Mae West.
* They are buzzin' like beeeees around a hive!
* He hasn't scored since the eighth-grade picnic.
* Scratch my back with a hacksaw!
* Well, shave my face with a rusty razor!
* Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!
* He doesn't know whether to cry or wind his watch
* How much fried chicken can you eat?
* He's handing out checks like it's the first of the month!
* Get that dog off my lawn!
* Let's go hunt moose on a Harley!
* If you missed this, shame on you for six weeks.
* He's smilin' like a butcher's dog

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mike_Lange
http://whwf4.tripod.com/mike_lange.htm

[Azaroth]

Well, the Canucks are done. They were playing like utter shit anyway, and now 2 of their top 4 defensemen are done for the season, and maybe for their careers. This season is gonna be a trainwreck.

I saw both of those. Fucking brutal. Fucking Saw On Ice.

Fucking Gary Valk on late night sportsnet "Well, it's like when a boxer gets cut on the head, you know, it's actually GOOD that it's bleeding a lot".

Holy fuck Gary, it's a good thing when a guy is literally POURING blood from his fucking eyes onto the ice?

[WayAbvPar]

I saw the Bieksa one live and nearly vomited. I had given up hope for the game and gone to bed before Salo's. Update from the Canucks' website is reasonably positive, however-

Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa spent the night in the hospital after serious injuries in Thursday night's game.

Salo’s orbital bone wasn’t broken, but the puck just caught his nose as Edler attempted to clear it across the ice.

“In Sami’s case, he’s still also waiting to get operated on, they’re not sure if they’re going to need to put a plate in the upper part of the sinus. [The orbital bone] is not broken, but the nose obviously is, and they might need to put a plate in there. So, we’re not sure of the extent of that injury,” Vigneault said.

Bieksa’s calf muscle was severely sliced as Vernon Fiddler' skate blade cut across the back of his right leg in a second-period pile-up. The cut is much deeper than expected. Vigneault said from what he saw, it was nearly three inches deep.

“The last update I got this morning before stepping on the ice was Kevin was still waiting to be operated on," said Vigneault. "But obviously his calf muscle was torn or ripped, so we’re looking at anywhere from 6-8 weeks probably at this time.”

No fracture and no Achilles damage is fantastic news.

[Strazos]

I'm always amazed that you almost never see skate cut incidents.

Anyone remember when Mikael Renberg took a skate to the face back in the 90's?

[Mandrel]

Clint Malarchuk...

Not for the squeamish.

http://www.ubersite.com/m/32313

[NiX]

This season is gonna be a trainwreck.

Watch the leafs play. With all their players. It's worst than a trainwreck. 

[Fordel]

Having a quarter of the "star" lineup for the leafs out on injuries isn't a train wreck!


It's just Tuesday.

[WayAbvPar]

This season is gonna be a trainwreck.

Watch the leafs play. With all their players. It's worst than a trainwreck. 

Since they are almost always the early game on HNIC, I see more than enough Leafs games. I miss Tie Domi.

Speaking of HNIC, it was nice to see the Sedin sisters found their way to the scoring sheet finally. The only team I enjoy seeing the Canucks beat more than the rat-faced douche *(Ryan Smyth) and his Avalanche are the Flames. And they are coming soon.

[murdoc]

Fucking Avalanche are OWNING the Flames right now. 6 straight wins against them. Good thing we have Vancouver to beat up on in the near future ;)

[Fordel]

Toronto vs. Ottawa tonight.


This game should be full of comedy. Ottawa has lost what, one game so far? Means they're due for another loss, rite? 

[murdoc]

Toronto vs. Ottawa tonight.


This game should be full of comedy. Ottawa has lost what, one game so far? Means they're due for another loss, rite? 

Only if it were a playoff game.

[Phildo]

Or if the Leafs were already out of playoff contention.

[cmlancas]

Hi. The Lightning can't buy a win recently.


 

[Phildo]

That reminds me, if tickets are still available does anyone want to catch the Penguins when they come down to Tampa to beat up on the Lightning?

[cmlancas]

Let's see:

http://www.stubhub.com/tampa-bay-lightning-tickets/?ticket_id=99393322

Some good seats are still available. Prices are unbelievably high right now though. If you wait until closer to gametime, they get much less expensive. For example, I sat at center ice, one more row up, for $38. $140 is ridiculous atm; you could probably beat that price on eBay.

[El Gallo]

If I could get Center Ice in HD, I'd buy it.  Apparently, I can't.  At least not with Comcast DC.  Fuckers.

The other problem with NHL on VS rather than ESPN is that it seems to have greatly diminished the amount of attention hockey gets on Sportscenter and other "news" programs on ESPN.  Which is an issue because ESPN is probably the biggest agenda-setter in US sports.

I also miss Mike Lange. Joe Beninati is a decent broadcaster, but he braodcasts the fucking Caps, for chrissake.  I can't watch that shit too often.

[Phildo]

Let's see:

http://www.stubhub.com/tampa-bay-lightning-tickets/?ticket_id=99393322

Some good seats are still available. Prices are unbelievably high right now though. If you wait until closer to gametime, they get much less expensive. For example, I sat at center ice, one more row up, for $38. $140 is ridiculous atm; you could probably beat that price on eBay.

Agreed.  You interested at all?

[cmlancas]

My girlfriend and would love to go. Knock on wood, the Lightning have never lost a game we have attended. :)


If the tickets come down close to $70 or so a pop, I'd be interested. Otherwise, the tickets are a straight up ripoff; they retail for about $150.

[Fordel]

Leafs beat Buffalo 3-0


If only they could somehow tap into Raycroft's random awesome on demand, they might actually be competitive.

[WayAbvPar]

Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone, but the Canucks have won 3 in a row. and are undefeated in their division. The bad news is that Bieksa is going to be out a lot longer than they originally predicted, according to reports.

[Strazos]

Attn: Crosby is a bitch.

He REALLY needs to stop crying and faking penalties. Smith leans a stick on him (LEANS), and he crumples to the ice like he was shot? Cry more newb.

Also, it's not a great idea to try to get into someone's face, like Mike Richards', and bitch and moan, if you have no intention to ever fight...ever. Richards would destroy Crosby, and it would be sweet.

Watching this in person was also great.