Who'd you rather the Nucks play?

[johnnybluenose]

Self explanatory, we have 1-3 nights for this poll to close

 

[johnnybluenose]

I'd rather the Nucks play Detroit, I think we match up better against them myself... plus the obvious would mean that they killed themselves to get to the WCF, and the travel would do more of a number on their legs than ours as they are an older not as deep a team.

 

[fat monkey]

Detroit has a lot of older, beat up bodies right now and San Jose has more weapons up front at the moment, despite Datsyuk tearing it up (although I think Kesler would nullify him for the most part like he did on Toews). Plus, there's something about Niemi that makes me nervous.

 

[The Franchise]

To be honest the Flyers that team is absolute shite.....but I will take the Wings, we match-up way better with them.

 

[bergamascho]

I want the Sharks so when we beat them nobody can say we didn't beat the best. Fcuk the Sharks, fcuk everyone that's left. We only deserve the cup if we beat them all. Simple as that.

 

[italian_stallion21]

I'm with Berg, I want the Sharks. We beat them 3 out of 4 already this year, and I'm more scared of what Datsyuk and Zetterberg can do than I am Thornton/Heatley. Plus it would be nice to put Welly out of the playoffs.

 

[bergamascho]

I'm with Berg, I want the Sharks. We beat them 3 out of 4 already this year, and I'm more scared of what Datsyuk and Zetterberg can do than I am Thornton/Heatley. Plus it would be nice to put Welly out of the playoffs.

I just noticed what it says in your signature line...I just guffawed and my co-workers looked over and asked me if I was ok...

 

[italian_stallion21]

Nice

 

[bandcamp]

Detroit for match-up and SJ because I'd like to fly down and catch those games

 

[Captain Shamrock]

IT doesnt matter because they are going to lose.

 

[The Phantom]

IT doesnt matter because they are going to lose.

Was about to post the same thing Capt'n till I saw your post. Fully agree

 

[italian_stallion21]

But Captain has said that every round Detroit's too old and slow, San Jose, is well, San Jose. We'll beat whomever we face.

 

[oldtimer]

Team 1040 reporting that Malhotra was centring the 4th line in this mornings practice. Probably a very slim chance that we would see him any time soon, but that is great news considering that it might have been a career ending injury, plus it must be a great morale booster for the whole team to just see him out there with his team-mates. As for tonight heres hoping for triple overtime...San Jose 3-2

 

[italian_stallion21]

Apparently he was just out there for fun, but it's a better sign that he will be back at some point, and that it wasn't career ending.

 

[johnnybluenose]

stranger things have happened... surely to fcuk if they could have got insurance coverage for him to practice with his team if he gets anywhere near game fitness he could play in games with a cage or full visor.

I can't imagine that AV/MG would allow him out there halfway through a cup run practicing with the 4th line "just for fun" when those reps and line rushes could be taken by Hodgson, Lapierre, Bolduc, blah blah blah.

Kesler could sure use the help in the faceoff circle and on PK... Hodgson playing 4-5 minutes a game would be no different or better than Malhotra, even if he's just taking the odd draw and once the puck is out of the zone he's changing, ASSUMING he can see.

I'm no eye doctor/specialist, but if his vision is good enough to be out there wielding stainless steel bolted to his feet and a composite stick in hand (potentially putting teammates in harms way if he's half blind) it (his vision) can't get any worse if he's wearing a full cage/visor in game play... he can't take a high stick, a punch, a puck, to the eye with full facial protection on.

 

[termatofylakas]

JBN I don't think it's a vision problem that's stopping him. I am thinking it has more to do if it's good for the eye to be subjected to that trauma so soon after surgery. Then again they said Edler might be done for the year even though the majority of us called BS. We all know it was for salary cap issues.

 

[johnnybluenose]

What trauma? Is his blood pressure/heart rate going to be any higher in a game than a practice? Not at 5-10 minutes a game it's not.

These NHL practices are 45-60 minutes long, uptempo and moving the whole session... The only trauma that can be applied to his eye if he's wearing a full visor or cage is his heart rate/blood pressure. again: I'm no doctor.

The line rushes and situational drills these guys do is one after another, for a solid stretch of time, he's basically going to have skated more miles and taken more passes and "shifts" in a 45-60 minute practice than he would in a game where he plays 5-10 minutes in a 4th line role and the odd defensive face off win... I don't think his heart rate would go under 100bpm during a normal practice, his heart rate would be slightly above/near resting heart rate for 2.5+ hours with a few spikes for an NHL game, again prefaced by saying 5-10 minutes of ice time.

 

[termatofylakas]

More like will his eye, which probably still has some swelling, be able to handle a hit. Yes he can see and skate but he is also taking no contact. It he gets nailed can his eye suffer more damage as I doubt the swelling is fully gone or the procedure is fully healed.

 

[johnnybluenose]

Nevermind, I took twitter as gospel. I am now officially once bitten, so I'm now going to be shy...

Malhotra skates, players take option - 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Finals

"It was a thrill for all of us to see him on the ice and he did partake in some drills," said associate coach Rick Bowness. "I did have to give him heck right away because he went offside on one of our simple little warm-up drills.

"Certainly there's no change in Manny's status. He was just getting a light workout in with the guys. Nothing has changed -- unless there's a complete miracle, there's no chance (he'll play)."

Sedin, Chris Higgins and Mikael Samuelsson, along with defensemen Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo, opted out of the team's first practice since they eliminated the Nashville Predators on Monday.

 

[italian_stallion21]

But then you could read more of what AV says later on, that it's unlikely he'll play in the playoffs. Which is different than not going to play at all. Forever hopeful.....