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Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:18 pm EDT

Puck Headlines: Goalie pads will shrink; what ails the Bruins?

By Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Wait ... which nuts, Scott Hartnell(notes)? Oh, right, got it. The Philadelphia Flyers tailgated before the Philadelphia Eagles game on Sunday (gallery). Warning: Potential Lauren Pronger sighting. [Broad Street Hockey]

• Kevin Paul Dupont operates on what ails the Boston Bruins, who are stumbling out of the gate this season: "They turned the first five games of the season into an extension of the exhibition schedule, during which, by the way, they lost both games on home ice. Right now, preseason included, they are 2-5 on Causeway Street, which isn't doing much for the young men and women down in the Fan Relations Department, where the mantra right now must be, ‘Well, we'll always have Papelbon.'" [Boston Globe]

• Interesting list: The Top 10 Most Effective Sin Bin Dwellers. Did you know Brenden Morrow(notes) was on pace for second in the League in PIMs before his injury last season? [The Hockey Writers]

• REMINDER: Support Leahy's attempt to watch a game with Gary Bettman. [Puck Daddy]

• OFB bemoans the lack of "sandpaper" on the Washington Capitals' blueline, especially in lieu of the fact that "Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby(notes) read James Michener novels beside Semyon Varlamov's(notes) crease for so much of last spring." [OFB]

• JP presents the Washington Capitals All-Decade Team, which is something we hope all the other SB Nation hockey blogs produce as the 2000s roll to a close. Our end-of-decade lists o'fun actually kick off this Friday, in typical snarky fashion. Should be exciting. [Japers' Rink]

• Former player Ray Ferraro says that the punishing, grueling "bag skates" coaches put players through accomplish nothing. Which is a lot like a fourth-grader proclaiming that detention is a human rights violation. [TSN]

• Big changes for goalies next season when it comes to equipment, as UniWatch discovered from a source at Bauer: "Starting next year goalies will be required to use pads that are measured and fitted to them by the NHL. It won't be a big change for the bigger guys, but smaller goalies who've been using bigger pads will feel the crunch." Again: Why did this take so long? Why did we waste time debating changing the cage before doing something this elementary? [UniWatch; a few readers have pointed out The Hockey News has a piece on this recently. We'd also point you to In Goal Magazine's coverage as well.]

• The Toronto Maple Leafs are shaking things up in searching for their first win tonight. Matt Stajan(notes) and Niklas Hagman(notes)? Healthy scratches. Tyler Bozak(notes) and Viktor Stalberg(notes)? In the lineup. Joey MacDonald(notes)? Starting goalie. Tickets? Available? [Sportsnet]

• Darcy Tucker(notes) and "no comment?" The hell? [Slam Sports]

• The Minnesota Wild are missing Cal Clutterbuck(notes) (out "weeks" with a sprained ankle), Pierre-Marc Bouchard(notes) and that Petr Sykora(notes). But reinforcements are not necessarily on the way. [Russo's Rants]

• Brandon Worley is a rising star on the blogging scene, and this frame-by-frame breakdown of the goals scored against Marty Turco(notes) in the Dallas Stars' loss to Vancouver looks like it must have taken a year to throw together, even if that wasn't the case. Great stuff. [Defending Big D]

• Why Vincent Lecavalier(notes) and Alex Tanguay(notes) have yet to score a goal this season. [Raw Charge]

Uh, wow: The Molson Canadian Hockey House, "which is going to reside the largest ever free standing structure ever built in Canada," sounds like a must-see venue at the Vancouver Winter Games. [Canucks Hockey Blog]

• Great look at the Buffalo Sabres, who are posting some very un-Buffalo Sabres-like stats (116 shots in 3 games) to start the season. [Double-Edged Sabres]

• OMG! DREAMY ZAC EFRON AT A CANUCKS GAME!!!1!!! "Why am I feeling so wrong/My head's in the game/But my heart's in the song!" [NHL ... and for the record, we looked up the "High School Musical" lyrics. Swear.]

• When the robot apocalypse finally hits humanity, there will be three preciously scarce commodities left on Earth: Clean water, oil and buffalo chicken wings. [CNBC]

• Will the New Jersey Nets join the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center rather than moving to Brooklyn? And if so, would management have to swap out all the Devils logos on the urinals for Nets ones? [Y! Rumors]

• In praise of John Tortorella's reinvention of the New York Rangers from the Renney-influenced snooze-fest to an exciting, winning hockey team. [Puck Update]

• Lowetide on Edmonton Oilers goalie Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(notes): "I've long felt the Oilers needed to make a decision on this player and the management has hung onto him like grim death, bastardizing last year's roster to keep him away from waivers. I do not understand why they've developed him this way, and if he ends up being an actual player then the Oilers organization has to ask some pretty basic questions Like, do we know what the hell we're doing." [Lowetide]

• We're hoping Pavol Demitra(notes) kept his receipt from off-season shoulder surgery. [Province]

• Jay McKee(notes) has been a cheap, great find for the Pittsburgh Penguins' defense. [LeBrun]

• At last, the proper marriage between the Calgary Flames and "The Departed." [MYFO]

• Finally, it appears the Fox Sports West scoreboard graphic has been possessed by the spirit of Hungry Hungry Hippos; only instead of marbles, it's the power-play time remaining getting gobbled up. [The Royal Half]

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69 Comments

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  1. Brenden Morrow Rocks
    1. Posted by Brenden Morrow Rocks Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:31 pm EDT

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    Nik Hagman's scratched? What. The. Hell.
  2. Big Rich
    2. Posted by Big Rich Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

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    Zac Efron WYSH!!! You just lost your man card
  3. Stryker
    3. Posted by Stryker Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    I'm not sure what is more astounding about that video - that I took the time to watch it, or that someone felt it was worthy of the time taken to create the youtube clip.
  4. J Mill
    4. Posted by J Mill Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    "When the robot apocalypse finally hits humanity, there will be three preciously scarce commodities left on Earth: Clean water, oil and buffalo chicken wings."
    As long as Eric Brewer's on the DL, the robot apocalypse is kept off this ice. Although buffalo chicken wings have been endangered since Marty Brouder's debut.
  5. The Forechecker
    5. Posted by The Forechecker Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:04 pm EDT

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    Over the summer we did crown an All-Time Nashville Predators Team, and considering the lineup, it would qualify as your All-Decade Team as well:
    http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2009/8/21/997403/announcing-the-all-time-nashville
  6. demondg1
    6. Posted by demondg1 Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:06 pm EDT

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    Goalie equipment size is not the problem. The problem is lack of quality scoring opportunities. Make the rinks larger to account for the increased player size over the last 20 years and call the game as the rule book states.
    F the trap. F the trapezoid. F dump and chase. The people demand open ice and run n' gun hockey.
  7. The Bog
    7. Posted by The Bog Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:11 pm EDT

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    Wysh,
    I would like to advocate an entry on the All-Douche team of the decade. Not necessarily exclusive to on-ice conduct.
  8. Doc Crow
    8. Posted by Doc Crow Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:17 pm EDT

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    Wait, the NHL put Kay Whitmore in charge of goalie equipment? I guess they really do want to increase scoring. Maybe he could also give motivational speeches on how to keep one's GAA above 3.0 for every year of one's NHL career, or the best way to live out of a suitcase when you're clearing waivers every six days.
    I never realized how windy it is behind the glass at GM Place until I saw that shot of Zac Efron.
  9. Jerk Store
    9. Posted by Jerk Store Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:19 pm EDT

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    hartnell is approaching ricci ugly. that pic proves he's surpassed brindamour
  10. The KBBL Party Penguin
    10. Posted by The KBBL Party Penguin Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:28 pm EDT

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    Any robot comes between me and buffalo wings is getting an ass full of laser.
    Hmmm... I think we just figured out the plot of the next Terminator sequel.
  11. Jerk Store
    11. Posted by Jerk Store Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:28 pm EDT

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    i thought the world had gone mad when i noticed the sabres had taken 116 shots in 3 games. but then i realized they only scored 4 goals so all is well.
  12. Brodie30
    12. Posted by Brodie30 Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:35 pm EDT

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    Wait... Scott Hartnell uses a hair straightener?
  13. HotStacey
    13. Posted by HotStacey Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:38 pm EDT

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    yeah the league knows, but doesn't want to acknowledge, that scoring's down so they're gonna do what? tell commentators like bill clement to keep saying "that's the difference in the NEW NHL!" so people who don't know how to do a search for NHL scoring averages won't notice anything. THEN, since goalies, defensemen, and owners of the 26 NHL teams that have no chance of winning the cup have a intere$$t in keeping scoring low - they've decided on "making the goalie pads smaller"......again. but THIS time it will work, right?;) you just wait - by 2012 scoring will be up by at LEAST .026%. and then we'll see the full capabilities of crosby and OV.
    either make the net a few inches bigger, get rid of 70 unnecessary stoppages by omitting offsides or play four on four to get rid of the worst 200 players or nothing will change.
  14. HotStacey
    14. Posted by HotStacey Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    i think zach effron just broke the record for "douchiest picture ever taken."
    anyway, the goalie pad thing will obviously do NOTHING as teams will just draft bigger goalies. what a waste of time. not to mention i'm sure teams will just cheat in other ways to make up for it anyway.
  15. mother pucker serif
    15. Posted by mother pucker serif Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    @The Bog
    You mean the Flyers?
  16. Pat
    16. Posted by Pat Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    I'm looking at that picture and all I can think is "Letang was in that mouth."
    Allegedly.
  17. joe h
    17. Posted by joe h Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    The goalie equipment rule is long overdue, but Marty will circumvent it by eating more...
    on a quasi-serious note, I wonder if Luongo cries and retires if they follow through, like he claimed last year.
  18. decappa
    18. Posted by decappa Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    +1 for the Hungry Hungry Hippos comment
  19. Michael J
    19. Posted by Michael J Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    How come people can not find a 1-0 or 2-1 game entertaining? As a Bruins fan I think the most exicting game last year was our 1-0 win over the Rangers late in the season. I am always on the edge of my seat when you know that one little mistake could put the game in OT or worse cost you it. Unlike the 6-4 games which are fun to watch, but have way less drama.
  20. Dany Heatley Speedwagon
    20. Posted by Dany Heatley Speedwagon Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    "for the record, we looked up the "High School Musical" lyrics. Swear."
    Fair enough, but how do you explain the fact you know who Zac Efron is, what he looks like, and what movie he would be in?
  21. HotStacey
    21. Posted by HotStacey Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    "How come people can not find a 1-0 or 2-1 game entertaining? "
    because, in that case, we'd just watch soccer. and, yes, the 6-5 game last night was a total snore. definitely not absolutely fantastic and won't probably be up there with the (high scoring) WAS/PHI game.
  22. Kawsmoe
    22. Posted by Kawsmoe Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Hartnell - "San Dimas High School Football Rules!"
  23. The Bog
    23. Posted by The Bog Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Stacey,
    Thank you for showing your true hockey intellect by suggesting they get rid of offsides or playing entire games of 4 on 4. While we're at it why don't we get rid of body checking and call a penalty if a player blocks a shot. Maybe we can make the nets twice the size and just not have goalies. Then maybe we will have a game for the true hockey fan.
  24. M
    24. Posted by M Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    @michael J great comment. I like to see scoring as much as the next guy, especially when it is highly skilled players doing what only they can do, but if you can't enjoy watching a 2-1 hockey game maybe you really can't appreciate the sport of hockey. It seems that the same people who are trying to increase scoring are the ones who shun fighting or even checking for that matter. I am so tired of the goalie equipment topic it is just stupid, it is as boring as the steroid issue. You have to already be really good to have an inch of padding to make the difference.

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Greg Wyshynski

Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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