I absolutely love hockey and every time I watch it, I think of ways to mix up the game a little (or a lot). Just for fun, check this out: \n\nThe goals are 18 inches off the ground.\nThe goalies are nude except for their helmets.\nThe captains are armed with pistols containing one bullet each, but they cannot use them on the goalies.\nIf a goalie dies, the opposing team automatically wins, but otherwise the game continues as "normal". (Maybe not normal, per se, penalties would have to be judged and dealt with differently, but there would still be the opportunity for power plays, etc.)\n\nWhat would this game be called? "Doom Hockey", perhaps? Tell me what you think.
127308
You guys are idiots. This is the only way to make this ridiculous game more interesting. \n\nHockey is inherently boring. I would welcome any way to make this mediocre contest between steroid-enhanced Canadians more compelling.\n\nThese guys have no control over the "puck." Give them some incentive towards getting the stupid rock in the stupid goal and I will applaud it.\n\nI oppose the death-penalty. However, if you make death a condition of this silly ice-fest, I would applaud it.\n\nEmbrace the dark side.
326264
Watched it and LOVED it! My Sabres are the total underdogs in this series and they beat the Senators in their own building. It was one of the most exciting games I've ever seen. It featured fantastic skating and stickhandling, end-to-end rushes, solid hitting, basically everything you could ask for in a hockey game except good goaltending. The Sabres tying the game so late in the 3rd period and then winning it just 18 seconds into overtime was just phenomenal!\n\nIt's nice to see we have fans all around the world. Stay tuned. Buffalo is going to win it all! :)\n\nLET'S GO BUF-FA-LO!!!
316751
Well, Moon, as it's still only the first round, it is far too early to tell. That said, I do like what's been happening so far. As correctly predicted here, the loathsome fat-cat red wings of dread detroit -- the #1 seed in the playoffs -- were unceremoniously dumped by the underdog Edmonton Oilers last night in six games! WOOHOO!!! Also, over the weekend, the Colorado Avalanche took out the hated dallas stars, another favourite, so again: WOOHOO!!!\n\nWhen my glorious Buffalo Sabres remove the utterly hateful philistinia floaters tonight (or Thursday night, either way, they go), the happiness trifecta will be complete and my three most hated NHL teams will have been eliminated in one fell swoop (I'll save that last WOOHOO!!! for later, lol). I love nothing more than to revel in the victory of the good and triumph in the defeat and abject humiliation of the evil -- and this applies to EVERYTHING! :)\n\nBut I digress... One reason these could be the greatest Stanley Cup playoffs of all time is that we missed out on ANY hockey all of last year because of the NHL lockout. Hockey came back in its full raiment of glory this season with rules changes which have directly correlated with a vastly improved on-ice product. Hockey has never been so good! Another reason -- indeed, THE reason! -- this could be the greatest playoffs ever is that my Sabres are so awesomely talented that they could conceivably go all the way and WIN Lord Stanley's Cup! Were that to happen -- and it's far too early to say now -- I would die and go to heaven on the spot! (OK, not literally... I don't even believe in heaven.) ;)\n\nAs for my expectations, well, I'm quietly confident my Sabres will continue to advance after defeating those despicable goon flyers tonight in their hellhole home in philistinia (Can ya tell I hate that godforsaken place and their truly horrible people?). But can they go all the way? In the East, where my Sabres play, Ottawa and New Jersey will be tough opponents and they may have to defeat both to continue (Carolina is struggling badly with Montreal and I'm not worried about facing either of them). If they can get out of the conference, I like their chances in the Cup Final, no matter who they face from the West. But again, all that is a long way away...\n\nLet's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! :)
426942
Two boys are playing hockey on a frozen pond in Alberta, when one of the boys is attacked by a crazed Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy takes his hockey stick, shoves it under the dog's collar, twists it and breaks the dog's neck, saving his friend. A reporter walking by sees the incident, and rushes over to interview the boy.  \n"Young Flames Fan Saves Friend From Vicious Animal" he starts writing in his notebook. "But I'm not a Flames Fan" the little hero replies. "Sorry,but as we are in Alberta, I just assumed you were" says the reporter and he starts writing again"Oilers Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Attack".  "I'm not an Oilers fan either" the boy says. "Oh, I assumed that everone in Alberta was either a Flames or Oilers fan said the reporter "What team do you cheers for?  "I am a Maple Leaf fan" the boy replies. The reporter starts a new page in his notebook and writes:\n\nLittle ******  from Ontario Kills Beloved Family Pet:.\n\n\nGo Pens  Go
429357
I do agree with you!  I think the role of enforcer is an important one and teams need to be able to "police" themselves!  But you've already covered all that.  The only thing I would add is that people need to look at both sides of the hit.  Not just the guy who dished it out.  It really frustrates me when guys see a hit coming and turn their back to it, or slow up so they are not close enough to the boards to take the hit safely.  And of course then there is always the open ice hits  KEEP YOUR FREEKEN HEAD UP!!  I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for any guy who gets labeled on open ice while staring at his skates.  You learn in minor hockey to skate / stick handle with your head up long before you learn how to hit.  If your in the NHL and you don't have that mastered yet, your going to get plastered!  And I don't feel bad for you!
16995
Why don't you ask Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, or Mario Lemieux why they didn't play a more artistic flowing game of hockey?\n\nIMO, The north American game combines highly skilled artisitic play, with a hard edged, hard hitting action to make it the greatest game in the world.
491349
I'd agree, except in the case where both teams were trying to break the tie with equal effort.\n\nI like overtime.  I like the extra pressure when everyone's dog tired, the herculean effort it takes to make it happen under those conditions.\n\nI see what you're saying about the extra pressure, but worry about that instance where the effort really is equal on both sides -- all out -- and both teams wind up getting penalized.\n\nIt's interesting to think about, though.\n\nI think my perspective is skewed as a player.  In terms of spectating, it makes a certain sense.\n\nA lot of it depends on how much dramatic value you feel the shootout has, I suppose.
646009
In theory the crackdown on obstruction was a good thing.  Yes, I do miss the battles in front of the net... I guess it goes both ways.  I'd rather leave all the hooking and holding out of the game--but I still think that sometimes the refs went a little overboard and sometimes they were true to form and "put away the whistle" during the game... in my opinion it all depends on how they're calling the game and which team ends up with more power plays (if it's the team you're rooting for then of course the refs are doing their job--but again that goes both ways too).
97775
I'm both a hockey player and hockey fan. Hockey is soo fun to watch but nothin compares to goin on the ice with newly sharpined skates and scorin a few goals.  BUT mostly I'm a hockey player......\n\nHOCKEY RULES   HOCKEY RULES   HOCKEY RULES   HOCKEY RULES
273629
It's better than just "good," Moon, it is AWESOME! My Sabres are playing so consistently well that none can stop them on their quest of the Cup. I honestly believe we can and will win it all! \n\nKeep rooting for Buffalo because we are going all the way!\n\nGO SABRES!!!
613495
Hey Awesome Bill! I'm a huge Flyers fan and I'm so annoyed year in and year out how they try to sell us on "Golly, these boys are so big when they start hitting the other team, they'll wear 'em down" etc etc etc. They ALWAYS say that, and what happens? The other team skates past them. You can't hit what you can't catch! I think you've got it rather close to the mark - they've got that Broad Street Bullies mentality even though hockey has moved on long ago. \n\nPlus, they pay so much, it's like there's no heart. The Flyers don't just exit each season, they do the Wle E. Coyote thing - they fall down, get run over by a steamroller, then a 1000 pound weight drops on 'em. I'm from Philly - all we ask is GO DOWN SWINGING!!!! Instead, The Flyers just roll over and die - no heart. Didn't they lose their last game this year like 6-0???? ARGH!\n\nGood question. Thanks for the excuse to vent. \n\nHopefully the 'Canes win tonight for Brind'Amour.
323775
Well, we have a critical game tonight and I'm pulling for my Sabres to win decisively and wrap up this series. My weekend is little different from other weekends, really. The NHL always has a full slate of games on weekends both during the regular season and playoffs. Before the game, I get out my Sabres paraphernalia (usually a jersey or t-shirt; something more elaborate if I'm going to the game in person -- not an option while living in the DC metro area), some beer and snacks (sometimes a pizza) and call my younger brother and anyone else who is coming over to watch the game.\n\nDo I feel anxious? Sure, it's natural enough given the high stakes. This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after all, and we've not even been in since 2001. Mind you, I feel confident my Sabres will win tonight in Ottawa. If not, we'll finish them off at home in Buffalo on Monday night. Again, I'll be watching at home, likely with my brother, we'll celebrate with copious quantities of beer and war whoops! lol...\n\nIf we don't win, as was the case Thursday night, well, we hang our heads briefly, discuss what went wrong, then pull our heads up off the floor and stand and fight another day! That's hockey. That's Buffalo. That's life. And that's me, too. I never surrender, never give up, always fight, ALWAYS. My Sabres are the same way. When you grow up in a tough climate like Buffalo (as I did ) or Liverpool (as my dad did), it builds your character and sense of resiliency. Only the strong survive, and that strength is as mental, psychological and emotional as it is physical. We're tough. We can take it. And by God, we can dish it out, too! So don't fuck with us! We are made of sterner stuff indeed! :)\n\nIt's almost game time. I'm ready. My little brother is ready. My older brothers are ready -- even my sisters are ready (we're all scattered about a bit but in regular contact). Most importantly, our proud Buffalo Sabres are ready! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! :)
629064
I agree with most of your points. I do like the golden goal rule. The problem with it, is that if a team scores in the first minute of overtime, the other team could come back and tie the game. \n\nI still like the penalties to decide the winner. I feel these days, goalies are just as good penalty blockers as the shooter is at making them.
161565
If that previous poster looks at the penalties that his Flyers were taking it is due to the fact that Philly can't keep up with the Sabres speed. The officals are also dictating this game alot, yes they are saying that your going to get pentalized if you hook or clutch and grab. \n\nGo Sabres!!!  Just admit the fact your team will be looking to next year, maybe time to drop GM Clarke, goon hockey is over.
165096
I think it really depends on the area where you live.  In southern or western states, people might ask "What's Hockey?"  But in Minnesota, Michigan or the Northeast (NY, Boston, etc.), you have a higher percentage of fans, because the sport has more appeal there, due mainly to the fact that Hockey has it's U.S. roots in those regions (the first NHL teams started there, lots of college and NHL championship history, cold weather, etc.).\n\nI know hockey appeals to me because of the fast-paced, exciting nature of the sport.  Many guys like it because it's the only sport where players can get in fistfights and not be suspended.\n\nBut for the answer why guys become obsessed with any sport?  I'd probably say it's the competitive nature of guys.  We tend to make everything a life-or-death competitition.  Playground basketball. Bowling. Darts. Poker. The specific sport/activity varies from guy to guy, but many of us are like this.  So it's not just Hockey...  it just happens to be Hockey for the guys you know.\n\nHope that helps!
355214
A few questions - unless I'm missing somethiing here.\n\n1.  Each team has to play 19 games in order for all to play each other?   That means 190 games in that time frame?\n\n2. Not familiar with the term 'pitches'.  Is this another word for 'playing fields' ?  \n\n3. If it's youth football - is there a time limit to the game?\n\n4. Do you have to schedule a playoff at the end?\n\n---------\nOK -  You obviously sustained a moment of insanity when you volunteered for this.  \nYou have your hands full on this one. \nI'm still trying to digest it all. \nWill let you know if I come up with something.\nGood luck Mom!
374685
There was only 1 game tonight, and I think it is already over.  Thanks for the heads up and I will check it out in the future.  Lets go Caps!!!