Scooter Chronicles

So I finally got to watch a “real” hockey game last night. Or at least part of one. It was the Flyers first televised pre-season game which the beat the New Jersey Devils, 3-2.

As much as I wanted to just watch the game, I really took note of what the players were doing with the new rules. I wanted to see how these new obstruction penalties were going to be called. What I saw was players letting up and backing down when heading into the zone or chasing the puck. Obviously still trying to adjust to less aggressive tactics. Normally you would see two guys jostle each other heading to the corner and/or the puck.

There were a few penalties that looked strange. Meaning they are now obstruction penalties. Most of the time instead of the player arguing the point, they would have that look on their face as if to say, “That’s a penalty now, too?” But the game flowed pretty well with not a lot of penalties.

Got to see the tag-up rule again in action. Boy does that help the flow! All I can say is, “It’s about time you idiots brought that back!” Always complaining that the game doesn’t flow anymore, then they take away a rule that only made it worse.

Also got to see the major benefits of eliminating two-line passes, and how a goalie can still make good passing plays from the trapezoid behind the net, and all in one play. Flyers goalie Robert Esche went behind the net to stop the puck, turned around, and with plenty of time (Devils on a line change) he fired the puck up the nearside boards. Jon Sim took the puck from what would have been the wrong side of the red line, wheeled in and shot, with Mike Richards following. There was a rebound which Richards slid in under Devils goalie Ari Ahonen’s left pad for the game winning goal.

I was worried that goalies like Brodeur who have always been able to create plays like that would be very limited with only being able to play the pluck behind the net. But Esche proved that at the right time, it still can be done in that small space. And because of the elimination of the two-line pass, that opportunity was created, opening up the play with the Devils still scrambling with their line change.

I think the new obstruction rules will be good for the game. The players will adjust to them and us the fans will get a chance to see more exciting hockey.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. They did a simulation of the shoot-out to give the fans a show. I still freakin’ hate it and always will!! But I think I mentioned that before.