Little things mean a lot thread

We're always talking about the biggest things around here, about the big goal or the big stop. I thought it might be nice to point out some of the unboxscored stuff that you may see while you're at or watching the game. Then people who may not get the chance or many not go into the game thread will find about it.

I hope it catches on!

(For example, last year, I thought the way Rafalski played Ovechkin was amazing and unheralded.)

For yesterday's game, I thought the great shift the second line had (Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner) in the Pittsburgh end before the checking line came on and had a spectacular shift really helped bring on that first goal. They did everything but score, and then Madden and Brylin's hard work and Pando's sticktoitiveness did everything and score. I thought both shifts were huge. (OK, I broke my own rule by including the goal -- but I thought Maddog and Sarge's work was outstanding.)

Pando's sticktoitiveness

If that's not an Emrick line email it to him as it should be. ;)

We can all agree Brian Gionta means a lot to this team, but isn't this thread title a bit demeaning?

We can all agree Brian Gionta means a lot to this team, but isn't this thread title a bit demeaning?

Hahahahaha.

Really though, I like how Zajac is playing- he's doing all the little things and fitting in. He just needs to develop a bit more chemistry with patty, or we might have to try moving Parise to his line.

I think Zajac is a great example. He doesn't show any signs of fear or hesitation when someone is on him when he has the puck. I'm very impressed, he looks very confident and self-assured out there.

The rest will come. You can't teach them to be comfortable.

A little thing I liked last night (and countless times before it) is Marty's confidence.

An example from last night was how he got scored on that brutal goal covering the puck, yet 5 minutes later he covered the puck the same way on a similar play. It wasn't much, but I've watched enough NHL goalies change their style mid game for fear of letting the same goal in that it hampers their play. Marty knows his style works, and he won't change it because of a fluke goal, because thats all it was, a fluke.. and he and his "style" are not.

Regarding Pandolfo, he always plays well, but IMO he has been fantastic so far this season. The addition of a speedy winger to his line (Brylin) may be the most important change on the team this year.

Last night: The backcheckin.. Awesome last night.. Along with Zajac control of the puck

I think Zajac is a great example. He doesn't show any signs of fear or hesitation when someone is on him when he has the puck. I'm very impressed, he looks very confident and self-assured out there.

The rest will come. You can't teach them to be comfortable.

Looooved that Zajac moment in the Rangers game when Shanahan muscled him off the puck in the corner -- a real strong veteran move that made Travis look real bad -- but Zajac put on the jets, caught up to Brendan in the nuetral zone and stripped the puck right back, with Shanahan falling on his a**, looking stunned. That kind of second effort doesn't end up in the box score.

(Granted, that particular box score wasn't too exciting in the end... But a great hustle play nonetheless.)

Looooved that Zajac moment in the Rangers game when Shanahan muscled him off the puck in the corner -- a real strong veteran move that made Travis look real bad -- but Zajac put on the jets, caught up to Brendan in the nuetral zone and stripped the puck right back, with Shanahan falling on his a**, looking stunned. That kind of second effort doesn't end up in the box score.

(Granted, that particular box score wasn't too exciting in the end... But a great hustle play nonetheless.)

I loved how even the Rags announcers had to give hima lot of credit for that. Yeah, I live in Atlanta and have to settle for Center Ice which gave the NY feed for that one. Even got to listen to Trautwig's rant about the trap even while his own team was using it.

I loved how even the Rags announcers had to give hima lot of credit for that. Yeah, I live in Atlanta and have to settle for Center Ice which gave the NY feed for that one. Even got to listen to Trautwig's rant about the trap even while his own team was using it.
Oh god how I agree with you about Center Ice, listening to the other feeds is no fun. I wish DirecTV wouldn't black out FSNY if you get Center Ice.

Perfect thread for what happen tonight:

Preds try to clear the puck as time winds down in the 3rd and Rafalski makes a leapin stop to keep it in and Elias plays soccer with the puck behind the net before it ends up right on Gio's stick for the game tying goal

Oh god how I agree with you about Center Ice, listening to the other feeds is no fun. I wish DirecTV wouldn't black out FSNY if you get Center Ice.

While on the subject does it infuriate anyone else why they have to air games in french?? Nothing against French canadians but they have their own feed anyways why ruin it for everyone else....black outs also suck with cablevision in Ny devs/isles/rags are on 71-72 while oln/centre ice is in the 400s if they were all in block it would be much easier to navigate.

While on the subject does it infuriate anyone else why they have to air games in french?? Nothing against French canadians but they have their own feed anyways why ruin it for everyone else....black outs also suck with cablevision in Ny devs/isles/rags are on 71-72 while oln/centre ice is in the 400s if they were all in block it would be much easier to navigate.
They aired one game last year in French and the only reason they did that was because it was a gameday addition to the Center Ice lineup. It was pretty funny.

They aired one game last year in French and the only reason they did that was because it was a gameday addition to the Center Ice lineup. It was pretty funny.

There was 2 in the last 3 days, and i believe 3 since the start of the season. It was funny for about a second, just the wasy its called is akward, i can watch soccer in sapnish or italian but the french lang sounds akward(for me as an American) its a total differnt style.

There was 2 in the last 3 days, and i believe 3 since the start of the season. It was funny for about a second, just the wasy its called is akward, i can watch soccer in sapnish or italian but the french lang sounds akward(for me as an American) its a total differnt style.
Oh wow I didn't even notice, I usually don't go for the Habs games anyway. Some teams just bother me, mostly because their fans seem to spam all the other boards with news of their players. The Flames fans are reeeaaaallllly getting to me now. A thread on the NHL talk board about Yelle getting injured....who cares?!

Oh wow I didn't even notice, I usually don't go for the Habs games anyway. Some teams just bother me, mostly because their fans seem to spam all the other boards with news of their players. The Flames fans are reeeaaaallllly getting to me now. A thread on the NHL talk board about Yelle getting injured....who cares?!

Yeah I agree. But it seems to be the case with most canadian teams the following is just there.

One team I have been watching real close is the ducks....man are they good, as much as seeing scotty playing for them they are exciting as hell. Theyre young gun pool seems bottomless and to think they traded two of them to the oil too.

Ryan, Perry, Penner, Chistov, Getzlaf, and Obrien(-Lupul and Smid) theyre scouts are pulling rabbits out of their hats ala conte

Yeah I agree. But it seems to be the case with most canadian teams the following is just there.

One team I have been watching real close is the ducks....man are they good, as much as seeing scotty playing for them they are exciting as hell. Theyre young gun pool seems bottomless and to think they traded two of them to the oil too.

Ryan, Perry, Penner, Chistov, Getzlaf, and Obrien(-Lupul and Smid) theyre scouts are pulling rabbits out of their hats ala conte
I really prefer the Sharks though. Their "second" line of Bernier Marleau and Michalek is just dominating and when they get 5 on 3s they send out Cheechoo Thornton Bell Marleau and Michalek, which is pretty much unstoppable. Not to mention their young blueliners in Carle and Ehrhoff.

I find there are too many guys that I dislike on the Ducks to really get into watching them. Plus I must be bad luck, whenever I turn it on nobody ever scores.

I really prefer the Sharks though. Their "second" line of Bernier Marleau and Michalek is just dominating and when they get 5 on 3s they send out Cheechoo Thornton Bell Marleau and Michalek, which is pretty much unstoppable. Not to mention their young blueliners in Carle and Ehrhoff.

I find there are too many guys that I dislike on the Ducks to really get into watching them. Plus I must be bad luck, whenever I turn it on nobody ever scores.

yeah its a toss up between the two they are both pretty exciting, and both really got lucky as far as a mixing of youngens/vets in the Salry capped Nhl. I just think how far the ducks have come from the flying V.

But if the Ducks win the cup the Mvp should be split between R.Nieds and Prongers wife