chile57

@mikemc620 well done. What's the comfort level in the Vaughn Adirondack? Or is it more for aesthetic?

After by pretty much all accounts being a douche everywhere he's been to this point - I think he's probably earned it.

Intentional. I set 'em up - you knock 'em down. Indeed - since the bulbous black mass betwixt the legs is highlighted ever so perfectly by the stark contrast of white socks/lighter colored wall. Sorry about that @ser33 - Google is not generally going to be your friend for my type of humor/sarcasm.

... jock on, pants off... (unless I'm mistaken and @ser33 is just smuggling grapefruits).

@seagoal during the summer my 6' - 4" buddy occasionally tends the net on the other end while my 5' - 4" frame does its best to tend to the other. Its funny to watch him and how he "fits" in the net versus knowing how I need to move and how I (literally) fit IN THE NET. Its like real life Mutt and Jeff. Anyways - I'd be fine with any of those guys winning. Even Markstrom has the rags to riches thing going on so that redemptive arc is always a feel good story.

I have always preferred watching the smaller guys play. Guys like Bishop always just seem to lumber around and have the puck hit them (which is a credit to them). If I'm watching I'll take controlled chaos any day. Plus its always fun to see David go up against Goliath... and win.

Interesting that the lineup consists of only one behemoth along with two smaller guys... there's still hope for me.

Throwing in my two cents... The Vasy goal definitely just seemed a byproduct of a bad bounce (mostly... with a little blame on him for kind of lazily going after the puck a bit later than he should have). But also more "reasonable" considering it was the last goal in a 5-0 waxing (as opposed to Smith's gaffe that "cost them the game"). I think the real crux of things in Edmonton is that - with plenty of goalies available on the carousel - Holland didn't get either an upgrade on Smith or anybody that could at least push him. @WillyGrips13 guys like Mrazek and Anderson have always been a bit injury prone. Can't really comment on the others as I don't know the nature/circumstances of their injuries.

"I don't get shutouts." None of us do with any regularity - that's why we're playing beer league behind suspect defense that is more concerned with lighting up the scoreboard and winning 7-6 rather than just waiting to capitalize on the other teams mistakes and win 2-0 or 1-0. Plus I don't know what your guys beer league teams look like but where I'm at its rarely built from the goalie out - meaning - rarely are your best skaters playing "D". All those guys want to go coast to coast Connor McDavid style, light the lamp and play forward. Frequently the "D" are shoehorned into it (and not so secretly all want to score too).

@coopaloop1234 so you jinxed yourself. Shutouts in mens league are so hit or miss. Rarely are they a function of solid hockey - need a bit of luck along the way.

Heartbreak. Did you let thoughts of the goose egg creep into your brainspace? Was it a legit goal? Defensive breakdown? As much as the guys hustle in front of me sometimes I find generally the generic men's leaguer doesn't carry the same appetite to complete the effort of a shutout as we do/would do. I'm talking when I used to skate out and the other guy was carrying a shutout with two minutes left - I'd be diving to block shots. Admittedly - that might be overkill now that I'm in my 40's.

@Scythe if you are trying to salvage the lid - I can't see a scenario where you don't replace everything but the shell/cage - new harness, new padding, new snaps... even then - probably take a minute to have your schnoz outwork your mind. Good luck.

My condolences @Scythe Funny how hindsight works.

@Vanniek71 ah - got it. Didn't know if it was supposed to be a "design element". Doesn't look out of place - just intrigued as a Marvel aficionado. Sidebar - was this the final answer on your Medusa strapping conundrum?

Looks good @Vanniek71 - like the changeup of a predominantly white Venom mask. One question - what are the outlined white pieces on the crown of the lid coming down to the center of the top of the cage intended to be?

If by "fix their hair" you mean attempt to "reconfigure" sweaty, matted strands to better cover bald(ing) spots - I can relate. Congrats on the win and the swag.

Yes - Croslite = Croc foam (I just prefer to not think about pairs of those pressed against my face necessarily ). He hasn't been able to get hands on that for quite some time now (at least as far back as 2014). Agreed - stuff was excellent. My 2010 is still soft and intact (and that's the lid I wear by far the most). I even have a couple of the Maltese pre-cut kits (not the gel stuff but the colored "foam" stuff - green and black) but am hesitant to jettison the Croslite.

@Chenner29 overall mostly same (though I don't have any issues chin length-wise going between the two). Although both were fit off a mold - I feel like the overall Vapor shape/contouring is a better fit to my melon. I also didn't care for the larger 960/1 backplate (and Dom was kind enough to ship me an additional Vapor one free of charge). Seems like there's a little more wiggle room side to side on the 960/1 too which could be remedied with different/additional foam I've just never bothered to try. Both of the Vapors have the black Croslite foam (smooth as a baby's bottom) too which I prefer to the current tan offering (a little grainier/grittier... at least in my chin sling). Guess just overall the Vapors fit like a glove from day one where the 960/1 needed some tweaking that I've just never bothered doing. Maybe its a mental thing too since I could just never get comfortable in any of the Itech/Bauer "replicas" I tried (hence the custom lid route). That said - this back and forth has inspired me to give it another go this week. Thanks for bouncing thoughts here.

@Chenner29 - with identical PC mask lineups (save for the years (which are even fairly close)) its like we're brothers from another mother. Freaky. Curious - since based on your timeline it looks like you went back to the Vapor-esque shape/stylings - were you less enthused about your 960/1-esque shell? I know I prefer my (2) Vapor-esque shells over the 960/1.

I think we're thinking the same here - you don't want the whole thing to crumple like a wet paper bag because your face lives behind it. Your school of thought loans credence to the fact that nearly every manufacturer rocks a "beefier" center "piece"... whether it be the tricat, a double bar, flat steel, a larger gauge single bar, etc. All as far as I know all also bend outward - making them less likely to bend inward too terribly far. Everywhere else where you'd want it to give way and "crumple" sits much further from one's face.

I had a Fusion for a minute. Solid construction, a little sloppier on the finish. As mentioned by others - the foam as pretty stiff (even when it was brand new). Was not comfortable for me (so I jettisoned it) but otherwise I felt it was a good deal for the money.

I don't disagree with you but I think job one is to deflect the impact as best you can so that its not transferred into the mask/your face (that's why - aside from needing to contour around one's already round melon - masks are roundish). From there - if its going to take a ton of impact - yes it'd be better to bend/crumple (as most all steel used for cages on the market will - we are all hip to titanium cages and their propensity to break as opposed to bend - judge the merits there for yourself). Particularly on the center bar - if your mask fits well (and depending on the size of one's schnoz) - there isn't necessarily a whole of room between the bar and your nose. At that rate - don't think anyone wants the center bar to crumple too terribly much but that's my opinion (and part of why center bars have an outward bend to them to begin with). The triangular center bar isn't immune to bending - my point is just that (in my opinion) its a better option than a flat piece at the overall same width.

The tri-cage was the next evolution from the flat steel. Less likely to bend because: 1) its more/thicker steel and 2) the triangular shape (with the point facing outward) is more likely to take glancing impact (as opposed to flat/solid impact). That said - its not impervious to bending (to that I can attest).

YES - this. Same brother, same. I hate to be that guy "coaching" in beer league but yeah - if they hit the circle and you don't start closing the gap GET. OUT. OF. THE. WAY... especially since I stretch out to 5'-4" at best with a full nights sleep.

I don't claim to know the lay of Bauer's current offering of boots but - if I were you and you are accustomed to slim to no boot strap tension - I'd stick with your current strapping style (through the Lundy Loop and loose). I'm guessing the Bauer will have a stiffer/taller boot as mentioned (where @bunnyman666 hit on stuffed pad versus solid core based pads) so if you feel like they are playing too tall or sit too far off your leg for your liking only then would I entertain tightening up that boot strap (whether it be traditionally placed or through a Lundy Loop). Good luck.