2nd Intermission Live Blogging

Grapes is here. Awesome. Seriously.

--Danny Alfredsson took a slap shot AT Scott Niedermayer? And I missed that with the mute button on? If Alfredsson did that deliberately--good grief. That's nonsense. There's a reason Scottie's a winner of multiple Cups and you're not, Danny.

--If that was deliberate, I'll wait for some other European to captain a Cup winner. I'll take Jagr's Rangers winning the Cup before Alfredsson does. Shooting the puck AT a future Hall of Famer? Are you a punk? Seriously, you must be a punk.

--Brett Hull as NHL commissioner? Don Cherry as NHL commissioner? Well, things could always be worse (and that's not snark, I'm very serious. Seriously.)

--Brett Hull is back to being a blunt Bozo. Memo to Brett: Shields do not make a player weak. Shields do not make a player a pussy, wussy, or whatever else you'd like to say on TV that you can't. Shields should be MANDATORY for players who are entering the league. Protect players' eyes and their eyesight. Use some common sense.

--I'm the older sibling of a goalie. When people are shooting pucks at my brother at ridiculous rates of speed, I like him to have the best equipment possible. As it is, and as a part of hockey, he's still suffered injuries. There is no need to shrink goalie equipment to put NHL goalies, junior goalies, or college goalies, at unnecessary risk. Of course some goalie equipment has been outlandish. But let's be real: Goalies are better now than they used to be. There are fewer goalie positions available, and expansion hasn't diluted the talent pool as much. Likewise, goalies get much better training in technique than they did in previous generations. Shrinking goalie equipment to a point that points goalies at risk for injury is just silly stupidity--and it's also silliness to think that goalies would suddenly stop using technique and studying videotape and staying in shape just because goalie equipment would shrink. Hate to break it to Brett the Bozo, but slightly smaller goalie equipment is not going to result in more goals. It's just not.

--Hull and Grapes think fighting has a place in the game. I agree with them. Fighting is a part of hockey, and honestly, fighting does help to keep players honest. (Georges Laraque has an important role to play on a regular season Pittsburgh team.) However, if, as Hull and Grapes appear to be claiming, the instigator rule scares teams off--okay, fine. But if something egregious (by egregious, I mean dangerous) happens, then a team has to take their lumps which, of course, is a little easier to stomach in the regular season. Of course all of this talk of "keeping order" could be maintained if the referees would just call the rulebook. But you'll have to get back to me when National Hockey League refs actually start calling the rulebook (and yes, that last sentence was entirely snark).

--Grapes and Hull fighting over Alfredsson's goal was hysterical. I loved to watch Brett being razzed about the goal in the crease. But again, in all seriousnes, I'm easily amused. And while usually screaming that has no point (particularly when it's Yinzers talking about Stillers football) bothers me, I was at least mildly entertained. I guess I enjoy watch Bozo Brett being mocked. I also enjoy Grapes being challenged. It's lovely.

--Grapes talks about Chris Neil diving like it's the end of the world. "I mean, when players like Chris Neil start diving..." What? Jaromir Jagr doesn't dive. Players like Chris Neil do dive. Whether Grapes likes it or not, character guys like Chris Neil are not flawless, no matter how well they play the "Canadian" game.

--Brett Hull wants officials with NHL or junior experience. I want officials who actually call the game. Here's the problem, and I've seen it for years because I've been blessed to watch Lemieux, Jagr, and Crosby. (No comments about how spoiled I am. I am aware of the privilege I've had and still have.) With players like Jagr and Crosby, honestly, hooks and trips could be called at least every other shift (and that's putting things mildly). Crosby and Jagr both have the strength to maintain control of the puck and stay upright, for the most part, but penalties go uncalled when players like Crosby and Jagr fail to embellish. It's old news, and I've been screaming about it, at least, since I was twelve (back in 1994). No matter who's on the ice, the officials must be trained to call a hook as a hook or interference or roughing as it is--no matter if the player has the amazing skillset to fight through whatever the illegal play is.

Too often NHL officials are just like the NHL higher-up's. Andy McDonald didn't get hurt; no suspension. Chris Pronger gave an opponent a concussion. The NHL suspended Pronger. The NHL suspended not just for the action but for the result of the action. In games, NHL officials call the result of the action (a player lying on the ice) far too frequently than they actually call what happened. NHL officials have to be trained to see what happens and not just the result (oh, Crosby still has the puck, yawn).

I realize I just said NHL officials have to be trained. Who's doing the training? The NHL. Yeah. Good luck on that. Maybe in.... Oh, let me be real. Grapes or Hull will be commissioner before that happens.