[day_for_night]

no kidding...someone deserves a raise for getting eric brewer that much $$$!

[tth_fan]

3 point night for Roberts...Pittsburgh definitely looks like a better team with him.

[cferneyh]

Yeah, PIT beating the worst team in the East for the 8th time this season sure shows the difference that he makes.

[thedarkcanuck]

if roberts doesn`t have the game he does today, pit doesn`t beat philly today, so yeah, he made a difference.

[ryan93]

I watched the game and he was definitely a difference maker in this one.

[cferneyh]

My point is that I don't see how Roberts having a good game against the team that PIT beat SEVEN TIMES already this season (eight now) makes them "look better".

But it looks like dumping his ass has worked out nicely for Florida - they are 3-0 since he was dealt.

[tigerthelion]

Big win in the shootout for the Canucks. They retain 1st in the Northwest by the skin of their teeth.

[Hard Canadian]

New season tonight!!! Hawks are much improved! Gonna be an interesting season. Who will end up on top? Here's my top 5 possibilities:

1). Calgary
2). Philly
3). LA
4). Sens
5). Hawks

:lol:

[ryan93]

The Rangers were a very desperate hockey team tonight, they dominated nearly the entire game. Rick DiPietro earned his 15 year deal this game at least, stopping 56 of 57 stops in the game. The Rangers outshot the Isles 17-6 in the 1st period, 19-13 in the 2nd, and 19-8 in the 3rd. The East gets that much tighter with the Rangers moving with 2 points of 8th, and still with 2 games in hand on Carolina.

I'd like to know why Brad Isbister has been in the AHL all season? He was called up once earlier in the season for 2 games and had 1 goal. Then he was sent back down and went on a tear with Hartford, yet wasn't recalled until recently, and he's been one of their best players the past 3 games.

Henrik Lundqvist had yet another very strong game with 29 saves. IMO he's probably been the best goaltender in the NHL in 2007.

[tigerthelion]

The Rangers were a very desperate hockey team tonight, they dominated nearly the entire game. Rick DiPietro earned his 15 year deal this game at least, stopping 56 of 57 stops in the game. The Rangers outshot the Isles 17-6 in the 1st period, 19-13 in the 2nd, and 19-8 in the 3rd. The East gets that much tighter with the Rangers moving with 2 points of 8th, and still with 2 games in hand on Carolina.

I'd like to know why Brad Isbister has been in the AHL all season? He was called up once earlier in the season for 2 games and had 1 goal. Then he was sent back down and went on a tear with Hartford, yet wasn't recalled until recently, and he's been one of their best players the past 3 games.

Henrik Lundqvist had yet another very strong game with 29 saves. IMO he's probably been the best goaltender in the NHL in 2007.

I still gotta go with Luongo in 2007. Other than the last few games, he's been out of this world for the Canucks.

Wow, sounds like a good game for Ricky D.

[grimes]

The Rangers were a very desperate hockey team tonight, they dominated nearly the entire game. Rick DiPietro earned his 15 year deal this game at least, stopping 56 of 57 stops in the game. The Rangers outshot the Isles 17-6 in the 1st period, 19-13 in the 2nd, and 19-8 in the 3rd. The East gets that much tighter with the Rangers moving with 2 points of 8th, and still with 2 games in hand on Carolina.

I'd like to know why Brad Isbister has been in the AHL all season? He was called up once earlier in the season for 2 games and had 1 goal. Then he was sent back down and went on a tear with Hartford, yet wasn't recalled until recently, and he's been one of their best players the past 3 games.

Henrik Lundqvist had yet another very strong game with 29 saves. IMO he's probably been the best goaltender in the NHL in 2007.

I still gotta go with Luongo in 2007. Other than the last few games, he's been out of this world for the Canucks.

Sorry guys, but the best goalie in the league in 2007 is still Martin Brodeur. Luongo is definitely second, but Lundqvist isn't even close to the same level as those two.

If you don't believe me, Since Jan 1:

Lundqvist: 11 wins, 2 shutouts
Luongo: 17 wins, 1 shutout
Brodeur: 17 wins, 6 shutouts

I couldn't find GAA and Save % stats that are only for 2007, but a quick check of the full season's stats shows Brodeur clearly ahead of both of them.

[ryan93]

I'm not sure of the GAA & SP% either in '07, but i know a few games back they showed Lundqvist stats over the previous 20 games and his GAA was 1.74 and his SP over .930, and in the 3 games since then he had a shutout & allowed just 1 goal tonight.

Actually yeah Luongo has been stellar the past few months and i might have to give a slight edge to him, but i think Lundqvist has been just as good as those 2.

[ryan93]

Marcel Hossa sprained his MCL tonight. It's actually a bigger loss than most people probably realize, he's been playing easily the best hockey of his career since being put on a scoring line a couple weeks ago. Up until a couple weeks ago, despite being a very good energy player & one of the teams hardest workers, he only had 2 goals all season. After finally being put on a line with Nylander & Jagr, he responded with 8 goals in 11 games.
I haven't seen any replays of it, but i just went on the NYR board to check up on Hossa, and people on there are apparently claiming that Blair Betts scored at 13:04 of the 3rd period & it went unnoticed.

[grimes]

I'm not sure of the GAA & SP% either in '07, but i know a few games back they showed Lundqvist stats over the previous 20 games and his GAA was 1.74 and his SP over .930, and in the 3 games since then he had a shutout & allowed just 1 goal tonight.

Actually yeah Luongo has been stellar the past few months and i might have to give a slight edge to him, but i think Lundqvist has been just as good as those 2.

Well I was just looking over his game by game stats, and you are right, he has definitely performed very well in 2007. I did some quick calculations and got their GAA's and Save % for 2007 as follows: MB- 2.11 & .926, RL - 2.30 & .932, and HL - 1.95 and .921. Unfortunately, the NHL season doesn't start in January, and Lundqvist's poor play the first few months may very well end up costing the Rangers a playoff spot.

And if I had a choice as to which NHL goalie I would want playing for my team, I'd still take Marty hands down, any day of the week.

[ryan93]

If you go back to January 26th (28 games), Lundqvist save percentage is actually 1.70 and SP% .927.
Yes he did struggle earlier in the season though and although i don't think you could really blame the Rangers poor first few months on him specifically, he was definitely part of the problem by times. He's bounced back nicely though, and if they do manage to squeek into the playoffs, it'll be in large part because of his goaltending.

Don't get me wrong though, with the game on the line, Marty Brodeur is my guy