Other NHL games 2014-2015 season

[Avyran]

I'm rooting for the Flames to make it into the playoffs. Would be a really cool story.

They'd get wrecked in the playoffs, but it'd be cool to see folks like Brodie & Monahan step up.

[Humperdink]

Watching the Lightning / Sabres with Pee-Aire as the analyst. The game is somewhat of a yawner., but not to worry Pee-Aire has more anecdotal information than Wikipedia. He has had the mic more than the play-by-play announcer.

[Skatingpen]

Really like the blue jackets 3rd jerseys tonight, just saw them on NHL network live look in. Very classic

[Avyran]

Despres's Ducks career begins now.

[pens2005]

Ovechkin with 2 more. Nhl goals and points leader.

[columbia]

Unlike Crosby, he can score in a cat house.

[Avyran]

Kesler just scored a pretty ridiculous goal. I'll post a gfycat / gif when I can find one.

Despres was being used on the PK there, and is alongside Fowler (as discussed in PR).

[penny lane]

Luongo left tonight's game with an upper body I injury.

[dodint]

So that's what an empty net goal looks like. Neat.

[Avyran]

I think he got hit right in the spot between the neck & the right shoulder... NHL's calling it a head injury, so it might've been the right side of the head.

[Avyran]

[dodint]

He mad? Looks mad.

[Kovy27]

Emergency Goalie going into goal for Florida.

Luongo and Montoya hurt.

[Kovy27]

Montoya back in for now.

[Avyran]

The emergency goalie was Derek MacKenzie in Montoya's pads.

[Durbano]

Kind of hoping Florida's goalie coach enters the game and it goes to a shoot-out.

[pittsports87]

And now Luongo is back after just being in full street clothes.

[Avyran]

Despres is a +2 so far. Initiate (Edit: Back to +1. )

Terrible gfycat of the Kesler goal. For the record, Gagner was going to get penalized for it.

[Avyran]

Despres update. He's played like he has in the good games for us. Was pretty good in the 1st, slipped a bit back in the 2nd. Was a little weak in Phoenix Arizona's goal, but that goal was by no means his fault.

As I wrote in PR, I think he's kinda invigorated / playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Edit: The Coyotes try to get their crowd to howl. I hope they lose.

[BleuLineLady]

The Islanders are the luckiest team ever this year...just tied it in Dallas with one second left off of a Dallas player's skate.

Dallas wins it in overtime...

[Avyran]

Another highlight goal from the ducks, this time from Silfverberg. Link's a gfycat. They've got a heck of a 1-2 punch in Perry/Getzlaf & Silfverberg/Kesler.

Not really feeling the rest of their team, though.

Edit: Ducks' announcers just said that the refs have swallowed their whistles. Despres made a very questionable hit that should have been called holding or interference. Insert-ref-comment-here, & maybe a seething rage gif too.

Edit 2: Yep, these refs suck.

[Avyran]

Yeah, I can summarize the game. Ducks just scored a SHG (Coyotes pulled the goalie to try & get within one).

Despres played 20+ minutes, and was challenged for maybe 2 of them. The Coyotes are Doan, Ekman-Larsson, Smith, & a bunch of AHL all-stars (including several good prospects). Despite controlling play for most of the game, they rarely challenged Andersen in goal. It was not because of Anaheim's strong defensive play (though they played adequately) - it is because Arcobello may be their most gifted playmaker.

Like I said earlier, Despres made his presence known in his first couple shifts with a decent hit. He also had an assist. After the first period, there wasn't really much of anything. He seemed a little slow / lethargic at times, but moved the puck well. He didn't make any major mistakes, so that's a positive. He certainly didn't help stop the Coyotes' only goal, allowing Gagner (!) to control the puck around him & get off the pass to Rieder. But, to strip the puck would've been a great defensive play, so again, it's not a big mistake or anything.

All in all, a big meh. Ducks beat a team they should have, and Despres played like he should have against such a weak team. Anaheim let the Coyotes control play for two periods, hitting with counterpunches for their goals.

Parts of PR's going to focus on his +2 & 1 assist. It doesn't tell anything in regard to his actual play.

(Edit: Just checked. I called it.)

[Avyran]

Matt Martin is a dirty POS unaware moron on the ice.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSK63u8BMiI[/youtube]

[Skatingpen]

Great pass by zetterberg

[Avyran]

Him & Datsyuk are what I hope Malkin & Crosby turn into as they get older.