It's Hockey Season!!

“Sorry I had to take him from you Tango. Maybe we can arrange a trade. I've been able to watch Vokoun during my years in Nashville. He doesn't like shut outs, but always has a good save %.”

“The Devils are tonight's victims.”

“We will see.”

“The Devils are going to lose.”

“I don't think any team in the Atlantic Divsion is a match for the Flyers...well, except maybe the Islanders. They look pretty impressive this year, actually.

Then again, it depends on where the game is; the Flyers seem to have a hard time winning at the Meadowlands...”

“The Flyers are living up to their name, and Forsberg has yet to be in a game. During practice Jeff Carter said that the passes Forsberg was making were incredible. Almost like the puck just seemed to appear on his (Carter's) stick.”

“Missed nearly all the game, but got home in time to see the shootout. WTF? A shootout when the Flyers had won the game? They're doing it in preseason games, I guess to get the players sharp and whet the fans' appetites. The Flyers won that too.

Yes Ox, it will be good to see what they can do with Peter the Great on the ice. I think they don't want to risk aggravating things right now. There will be time for him to heal completely.”

“They are just practicing, I guess, cause they did it at a Pens game that they had lost (pretty badly too).

Forsberg is a good player. Hope he stays healthy, didn't he just have surgery on this past season in Sweden?”

“Yes, and he says he's recovered and ready to play. The team is playing it safe, though.

They also unveiled Goalie Cam, another new innovation. The world through the eyes of Robert Esche! I was watching replays on the morning sports show. It was dizzying!”

“On his helmut? They've had that, I've seen it a few times.”

“No, this one is mounted on the chin part of the mask. They've had it, but from the sounds of things it will become a regular part of the game.”

“Geo, it was cool, but a little disorienting. It also made my HDTV go in and out of HD”

“It's also not a true perspective. They started this with cameras on baseball catchers' masks. Well, it lacks peripheral vision for one thing, and when a batter hits the ball and the catcher does not pick it up right away, it's very disconcerting.

In he case of the goalie cam, if the goalie takes a tumble or goes down to block a shot, it's hard to figure out because you are sitting upright and the scene is turned sideways.

And as a player comes in on the goal, the goalie's head jerks around as he checks for other players who might be in the play.”

“Hey Geo, Remember Roman Cechmanek (sp) and how he would stop the puck by headbutting it? I wonder how that would look via goalie cam. Or when Brian Boucher got the puck stuck in his mask? I think the coolest shot to see on the goalie cam would be a slapshot from the point that just hits right off the chest. You should be able to see it all the way in.

I wonder how much extra weight the camera adds.”

“Probably not a lot of weight. And they trimmed down the amount of gear the goalie can have, so they can afford it.

In all the griping about the goalies' equipment being trimmed down, the point was lost that athletic goalies like Esche or Nittymaki will have less weight to carry, which should help them.

Not sure how goalie cam will be used during games, but I expect like catcher cam it will be used for replays during breaks in the action. Yeah, slap shots from the point should be interesting. Wrist shots may have an interesting perspective as well.”

“Brodeur said that a lot of goalies will have a hard time adjusting because a wall of pads mixed with playing angles was their entire game. We should be able to distinguish the atheletes from the softies”

“It's just another thing that plays into the Flyers' hand.

But even for athletic goalies, there will be adjustments to make as time passes. Hatcher's comments about not being able to stop a guy until he's ready to shoot the puck, for example, cost the Flyers a goal last night. The intent was to increase the number of goals (frankly, I don't think we need more goals, just more play making, more fluid action, and less stoppages), so it looks like it will.”

“This Saturday is the hockey program on ABC.”

“Yeah it looks like a lot of players could really excell in this newer system. Gagne and Pitkanen seem to have used the lockout for bulking up. I have the strange feeling that Nittymaki might be the starter by the end of the season. He's really good and very fast”

“A lot of these guys got a season of experience with the Phantoms during the lockout. Pitkanen, Sharp, Sim, Handzus, and Nittymaki got some great experience.”

“That's true. I just moved back to PA, so I wasn't aware that Handzus played with the Phantoms”

“They had a group of guys that were on the Phantoms roster specifically to keep playing during the lockout. Handzus was injured during the first part of the season, but got back into action about January or so. There are a couple of others, and still others that will still be playing with the Phantoms this season, but may be ready next season.”

“That's cool. I grew up in Reading, and I'm looking forward to going to a few Royals games (ECHL). Have you ever been to one?”

“No. I have to get up there one day. I do like going to see the R-Phils, but have not been there recently either.”

“EarthNSky and I are planning to go up one night. Want me to keep you posted?”

“NHL IN NBC!!!

Hey Geezr, The Stanley Cup is where it belongs in Pittsburgh! ha!
last edited: 10/01/05 1:30:30 PM”

“Thanks Ox. I will not be able to make it up there until about mid-season, but keep me posted.

The baby Flyers play in Trenton, then go to the Phantoms.

Enjoy it while you can Tango. It's heading east on the Turnpike next spring.”

“No preoblem Geo. I have the feeling I'll be going to a bunch of those games because they are cheap”

“You're starting that drinking stuff kinda early aren't ya G-dog??”

“Royals games are a lot of fun and the tickets are priced well. The Soveriegn Center in downtown is pretty nice. The Royals have developed into quite a physical team and have been making the playoffs the last couple seasons. I bet they will bring a cup to Reading within the next couple seasons.

last edited: 10/01/05 8:45:03 PM”

“Peter the Great got into last night's game and reportedly was awesome. First game back after a long layoff and operation - I was not expecting all that. Scored a goal and was all over the ice.”

“I can't wait for Wednesday”

“On Wednesday a representative for DirecTV will be here to install our new HD dish. We've also signed up for their Center Ice hockey package. Not only will we be getting all of the Tampa Bay Lightning games in HD, but I might even decide to watch a few Pittsburg Sequins games. ;-)

Tango, you're invited over!
last edited: 10/03/05 11:59:19 AM”

“I got it too! I think I was the first customer too. Where are you guys at now Geezr? I'm gonna try to make it over to the palace on Nov 27 when the Penguins come down.”

“Drop the puck already.”

“Tango, we're in Nags Head, North Carolina. We moved here from Largo in March. I couldn't handle not being able to see the Bolts, so signed up for Center Ice.”

“Wednesday it's GAME ON!---Sweeeeeet
HH”

“Pens vs Devils

Come on Super Mario!!!”

““Pens vs Devils

Come on Super Mario!!!”
Tango
8:36:15 PM
10/03/05
ignore this user

Come on Martin Brodeur. ;-)”

“Dude, Brodeur is such a "has been", especially now with that trapezoid thing behind the net and the corner restrictions. I mean, even the Rangers can put it past him now...”

“1 more day. It's time to put new batteries in all the remotes. I plan on burning up Center Ice.
HH”

“Easy now PhantomSoul. He's my goalie in TTFH.”

“He's my goalie in TTFH.”
Ox
2:09:30 PM
10/04/05
ignore this user

I'm surprised Tango hasn't sent you into the boards for that.”

“I told Tango to offer me a trade”

“NY Rangers' defenseman Dale Purinton has been suspended for 10 games, without pay, and will forfeit $26,658.20 in salary for an eye gouging incident involving Boston player Colton Orr in a pre-season game on October 1.”

“boys will be boys!”

“Tonights the night. Hockey returns.”

“Carolina vs. Tampa Bay @ 7:30 ET

Go Bolts!”

“Peter The Great starts a new era tonight!”

“Let's go Flyers ...

Note to any sensitive types out there. Beware this thread until next June. Tango goes berserk while pucks are rocketing around the ice. Keep the children away from the computer. It's not safe. Dang, it's not even safe in the off season, as I found out at Watkins Glen. Bottom line, if her saliva gets on you, get a rabies shot to be sure. Have a great hockey season, and may the best Flyers team win the Stanley Cup.”