[vicki kitterman]

Like him or not, he is good for the game of hockey. Who would the Philly fans hate if he couldn't come back?

This is true, he is a great player who has brought a lot of publicity to a sport that gets less than it deserves. As for who we would hate, Malkin is next in line I guess.

[Jordan Fletcher]

Wow I didn't know that. I though for sure he would have been ready for round 2. Geez I am worried his NHL carreer can be over really soon now. If not this concussion, the next one can do it. At least he won the cup on his young carreer if it is finished.

And even with the spectre of the leagues best forward in years ending his career due to concussion, they still seemingly make little to no effort to prevent head injury. The players are employees of the league, so it shouldn't be up to them whether or not to wear face masks. It's like runnning a construction site without requiring steel toe boes and a hard hat. Mandatory full face shields would go a long way to preventing the kind of injuries that have shortened careers like the Lindros brothers, Kariya, McCabe, Malhotra... the list can go on for pages.

[Kathryn Medows]

It's not quite that simple. In order to get visors or face guards mandatory, the requisite is modifying the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement which means the owners (NHL) and players (NHLPA) have to agree on it. It's not a situation where the league can just tell them they have to.

When you work for a business they already have to list required PPE especially if it's a job where there's any danger. The hockey PPE so far is goalie masks for goalies, and certain padding for every player on the ice and bench. Every arena now has netting on both ends of the ice that extends around half way to the penalty box from the blue line next to the goalie net to prevent fans from getting hit in the face by the most dangerous shots (usually slapshots that get blocked by a stick or skate and soared into the crowd).

And I'm a bit mixed on Crosby. I hate the [censored]. He's a crybaby, and he dives. On the other hand, he is very talented when he isn't doing those things, and if he plays a healthy career like Nick Lidstrom he can easily get #2 all time on overall NHL points.

What most people don't see about injuries nowadays is many are self-inflicted.

Watch how players approach the boards nowadays and how they do it purposefully to face the boards and draw a penalty. This is the new standard because the league has almost wiped out the "keep your head up" rule. This is the result of too much protection for every hit. Anyone who watched the Sharks/Wings series go back and watch the boarding call that Pavelski is the beneficiary of (Bert was assessed the penalty), the one that happens just before Pavelski scores the ensuing goal. Watch how he turns to see Bertuzzi coming, then purposely turns to face the boards again anticipating a hit. This is Case A example of how to draw a penalty, but it's a [censored] STUPID way to do it as it puts one at risk of injury.

The two biggest ways to avoid injury fall on the lap of players. First is keep your head up. Those who admire their passes get blasted. There is no rule that can make safe the issue of player stupidity. Second is quit doing stupid [censored] like facing the boards or falling every time anticipating a hit. Yeah yeah, it's heroic to take one for the team, but it degrades the league overall just like the dumb ass refs who selectively decide what penalties to call and not to call.

As for the Lightning/Bruins.. that was a boring game. I'm sure the Canucks/Sharks game will be a lot more entertaining.

[Paula Ramos]

It's not quite that simple. In order to get visors or face guards mandatory, the requisite is modifying the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement which means the owners (NHL) and players (NHLPA) have to agree on it. It's not a situation where the league can just tell them they have to.

We shouldn't wipe them of any responsibilty to do it just because they didn't have the forethought to include in the CBA during the lockout year.

[Catherine N]

Eh, even the great Steve Yzerman didn't wear a visor until he got a slapshot in the face. Others needed a high stick to get the picture. Some prefer not to wear them, some are ok with it. By far most players don't get injured in the face in this manner. I don't see an issue of this solely because it might prevent injury. It's very easy for a puck to slide up the inside of a visor or an errant stick. The bigger issue is if the player feels comfortable with a visor on. I've played with one on and quite frankly it annoys me, mostly because my face is rather sensitive to humidity. If a player is going to realize it was a bad idea, they will learn the hard way.

[Sarah Edmunds]

Yeah game 1 goes to the nucks.

[Flutterby]

Canucks did in Game 1 what the Wings could not all series.. scored a clutch power play goal and elevated their special teams. I laughed at the Canucks diving though and how ironic it was to see the Sharks of all teams whining about it.

[Mark]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks - Canucks lead 1-0

Eastern Conference
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Lightning lead 1-0

[megan gleeson]

Eh, even the great Steve Yzerman didn't wear a visor until he got a slapshot in the face. Others needed a high stick to get the picture. Some prefer not to wear them, some are ok with it. By far most players don't get injured in the face in this manner. I don't see an issue of this solely because it might prevent injury. It's very easy for a puck to slide up the inside of a visor or an errant stick. The bigger issue is if the player feels comfortable with a visor on. I've played with one on and quite frankly it annoys me, mostly because my face is rather sensitive to humidity. If a player is going to realize it was a bad idea, they will learn the hard way.

I'm not suggesting a half visor, as they seem to do very little, but instead a full face mask that players only seem to wear when they shatter an orbital bone, or have their jaw fractured. In the end, CBA or not, safety shouldn't be up to the players (who at one time wouldn't even wear helmets), but the league. Anyone who buys into the player opposition to the shields oughta talk to the Earhardt family of NASCAR.... Senior and Junior both opposed the neck restraint systems that became mandatory after SR. died in a crash he would have survived otherwise. I'm all for hard hitting, fast play and violent sport, but we shouldn't have to see a player die on the ice to have the desicion made.

[Sylvia Luciani]

I'm not suggesting a half visor, as they seem to do very little, but instead a full face mask that players only seem to wear when they shatter an orbital bone, or have their jaw fractured. In the end, CBA or not, safety shouldn't be up to the players (who at one time wouldn't even wear helmets), but the league. Anyone who buys into the player opposition to the shields oughta talk to the Earhardt family of NASCAR.... Senior and Junior both opposed the neck restraint systems that became mandatory after SR. died in a crash he would have survived otherwise. I'm all for hard hitting, fast play and violent sport, but we shouldn't have to see a player die on the ice to have the desicion made.

Even if you think safety shouldn't be up to the player the player it is.Every player who has ever worn a full mask has said that they hinder they're play and obviously don't like whereing them,

[Justin Hankins]

Even if you think safety shouldn't be up to the player the player it is.Every player who has ever worn a full mask has said that they hinder they're play and obviously don't like whereing them,

Yet for the first 18 years of their life (In Canada, at least), they wore them and never said boo about it. Hockey players are just as fickle a bunch as any group you can put together. Half the players on my Bantam and Midget hockey teams would have liked to go without shoulder and elbow pads if they could afford it, because they felt looser and freer while playing shinny without them. But raise the merest possibility of playing without a can and those same players would shudder - and I'd warrant a can does less to prevent injuries than shoulder pads, elbow pads, or a full face shield do. It's kind of telling that men are more protective of their jewels than their brains...

[Natasha Callaghan]

Even if you think safety shouldn't be up to the player the player it is.

I refer back to my example from NASCAR... Earnhardt SR. was one of the most respected racers in the sport, yet he was incorrect in opposing neck restraints, and most professionals agree they would have saved his life... Clearly these athletes are NOT capable of making intelligent desicions about their own safety. And remember how few players wanted to wear helmets in the first place, or how many drivers opposed safety belts in vehicles in the 80s... Obviously those kind of desicions should be left to the league, not the players.

[Emma]

Eh, even the great Steve Yzerman didn't wear a visor until he got a slapshot in the face. Others needed a high stick to get the picture. Some prefer not to wear them, some are ok with it. By far most players don't get injured in the face in this manner.

It doesn't matter if most people don't get injured in this manner, thing is it has happened. Just like someone said about hard hats at a construction site. Not many people get hit in the head either, it happens what 1 in a 1000 or what ever. Same goes for hockey how many get hit in the face? 1 in a 1000? 1 in 10 000? It doesn't matter what the odds are, over 100s of people got hurt and alot of them seriously. So it's just plain stupid not wearing them.

Funny how the same story is going round and round with helmets. Not alot of people got hurt from not wearing helmets. It's only a small % that does. Helmets are mandatory now. Same story again. If kids can wear all this protection, profesionals should as well. They shouldn't stop just because they are Older now.

[Maria Garcia]

I have to admit, hockey with a visor now instead of the full cage is better. Most kids I knew tried visors in practices and such, and the difference is noticeable when you don't have stupid bars in your vision.

It's guys like Don Cherry who I think push people away from visors as only the "soft European" players wear them.

[lillian luna]

What a wild game last night!
-----------------------------------------
Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks - Canucks lead 1-0

Eastern Conference
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Series tied 1-1

[Setal Vara]

Good game last night, looks like this could be a high scoring affair.

[Darren]

Yeah, that game renewed my hope for the bruins.

[Taylor Thompson]

Bruins vs Canucks!

[Soph]

^- Wouldn't mind that series at all. Make it happen!

[Rach B]

Vancouver absolutely embarrassed San Jose.

Going back to San Jose up 2-0. I wanna see a sweep. Demoralization would be epic.

Humorous how Eager is throwing a fit throughout this game and how this class act helped cost the Sharks.

Additionally, the Canucks are doing what the Red Wings didn't.. score on the power play. Sharks take quite a few dumb penalties, and the Canucks make them pay. That's the key.

[Captian Caveman]

Oh, right, also, Ben Eager, even with all his antics, should be suspended for a single reason: He got flashed in the penalty box, which was shown on CBC and Youtube has a couple which may or may not be up still tomorrow. It's not much of a penalty to get to see boobs while in the box. <_<

[Matthew Warren]

Oh, right, also, Ben Eager, even with all his antics, should be suspended for a single reason: He got flashed in the penalty box, which was shown on CBC and Youtube has a couple which may or may not be up still tomorrow. It's not much of a penalty to get to see boobs while in the box. <_<

Haha that's awesome, I must have missed it. Anyways did anyone else notice how the sharks looked like the hawks at the start of game 4? Its going be a long plane ride home. Also if vancouver's 3rd line keeps on stomping the sharks this series will be over at game 4.

[Chavala]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks - Canucks lead 2-0

Eastern Conference
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Series tied 1-1

[Josh Lozier]

Oh, right, also, Ben Eager, even with all his antics, should be suspended for a single reason: He got flashed in the penalty box, which was shown on CBC and Youtube has a couple which may or may not be up still tomorrow. It's not much of a penalty to get to see boobs while in the box. <_<

I think he should be suspended for the video evidence of premeditation. After the Marleau fight, Eager is seen on the bench screaming and gesturing to Canucks players "You're Next." Within 30 seconds he's on the ice boarding another player... Make this guy sit out a few, Colin Campbell...

[Matt Bee]

I didn't know if Boston would have it in them, but they did.
-------------------------------------------------
Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks - Canucks lead 2-0

Eastern Conference
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Bruins lead 2-1