Puck You! The Legend Returns
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Yeah it definitely looks like I am not the only person that thinks the referees tonight deserved an enormous PUCK YOU! Not only do they not call anything on the Koivu play, but they give Komisarek a double minor with 4 mins left when Stillman bit his lip to get some blood going. Awful call in OT as well; how can they give us 6 pims in the last 8 minutes of the 3rd, then proceed to make that call in OT? What a disgrace. /end rant
Other brief notes:
- i feel bad for Koivu, i've been trashing his play lately but i hope he's ok
- Cam Ward won it for the 'canes in the 1st 2 periods, he was unreal
- great PK by MTL for most of the game; it's too bad Souray's stick broke on that last one though
- Eric Staal gets most of the points and the spotlight, but Rod Brind'Amour is the 'Canes best player (for the season and so far in the playoffs)
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Other brief notes:
- i feel bad for Koivu, i've been trashing his play lately but i hope he's ok
- Cam Ward won it for the 'canes in the 1st 2 periods, he was unreal
- great PK by MTL for most of the game; it's too bad Souray's stick broke on that last one though
- Eric Staal gets most of the points and the spotlight, but Rod Brind'Amour is the 'Canes best player (for the season and so far in the playoffs)
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Okay I just learned of another PUCK YOU. Denis Gauthier on the Flyers speared JP Dumont in the gut, and Dumont was down for a few minutes. During this time, the Philadelphia public announcer asked the fans to "show some class and cheer when he gets up." Of course, they booed. Congratulations Flyers fans, you've earned your entire city a Puck You!
Official Puck You for Montreal vs Carolina Game 3: THE FREAKING REFS. Saku Koivu gets scraped in the eye with a high stick, out for who knows how long, and not even a call? That's just terrible, especially in the "zero tolerance" NHL.
The Crow flies away
Re-hiring Pat Quinn would be the dumbest damn thing the Canucks could possibly do.
He's no longer a good coach - too stuck in his ways, and just behind the times. What has he done with the Leafs?
Nothing but relied on old, broken down players, resulting in no success. And dont even get me started on the last Olympic team.
My vote goes for Ken Hitchcock, when he's (hopefully) canned by the Flyers, or current assistant Mike Johnston for the simple fact that I know him thru work, have his phone number, and could bug him for free tickets.
Re-hiring Pat Quinn would be the dumbest damn thing the Canucks could possibly do.
He's no longer a good coach - too stuck in his ways, and just behind the times. What has he done with the Leafs?
Nothing but relied on old, broken down players, resulting in no success. And dont even get me started on the last Olympic team.
My vote goes for Ken Hitchcock, when he's (hopefully) canned by the Flyers, or current assistant Mike Johnston for the simple fact that I know him thru work, have his phone number, and could bug him for free tickets.
It's about time! I'm surprised they had the guts to do it. Of course, now there's all the talk of the recently-released Pat Quinn coming back to the Canucks. Would this be a good thing? I'm thinking yeah, though they'll still have to smarten up the players a lot.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Breaking news - Dave Nonis pulled the plug on Marc Crawford! I wonder what Nick will have to say about this one.
Monday, April 24, 2006
My first official PUCK YOU!: Mike Ryder.
Fuckin' newfies.
(honourable mention goes to Eric Staal, who despite 4 assists, couldn't put the puck in the net in OT despite having more chances to score than a naked guy in a women's prison.)
Go 'Canes! (or more specifically, go Cullen and Stillman!)
Playoffs suck when who you cheer for is only determined by the guys in your office playoff pool. Where's those bastard Canucks?
Fuckin' newfies.
(honourable mention goes to Eric Staal, who despite 4 assists, couldn't put the puck in the net in OT despite having more chances to score than a naked guy in a women's prison.)
Go 'Canes! (or more specifically, go Cullen and Stillman!)
Playoffs suck when who you cheer for is only determined by the guys in your office playoff pool. Where's those bastard Canucks?
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Anaheim 4, Calgary 3
Dang, Flames lost but that was an excellent game. Crazy action near the end, some good saves and good chances. For the Puck You, there wasn't really someone super deserving, but let's give it to Anaheim's Lupul because he played a strong game vs the Flames and plus, he's the Palindronian One.
Dang, Flames lost but that was an excellent game. Crazy action near the end, some good saves and good chances. For the Puck You, there wasn't really someone super deserving, but let's give it to Anaheim's Lupul because he played a strong game vs the Flames and plus, he's the Palindronian One.
3-2 now Nick! I will say one unquestionably cool thing about Calgary, or more specifically, their fans. Chris tells me a big group of them were arrested for getting a giant duck horn quacker and going around the hotel Anaheim was staying at, and honking it. That's awesome.
Man I hate Calgary. For at least one game I'm glad to see them getting their asses handed to them.
Go Ducks!
That is all.
Go Ducks!
That is all.
Wow. Niedermayer with a huge end to end rush breakaway goal. Fuck now I'm conflicted. Who do I cheer for, my chosen team the Flames? Or my favorite player, Scott Niedermayer? It was a shorthanded goal, too. Man that's highlight reel.
So in case anyone missed this bonecrusher yesterday, Philadelphia's RJ Umberger got absolutely DEMOLISHED by Buffalo's Brian Campbell. Check out the video here.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Philly vs Buffalo, Campbell had a HUGE hit on Philly's Umberger. That was amazing. Umberger will wake up next month sometime. I also love the commentators' disgust at the Sabres rink team playing the hit again on the screen:
Commentator: There's an unwritten rule that you don't replay a play where a guy gets injured....and they just showed it on the scoreboard.
Commentator: There's an unwritten rule that you don't replay a play where a guy gets injured....and they just showed it on the scoreboard.
Yeah, we were both wrong with our predictions too. Souray deserves the Puck You in an otherwise solid game because of his various defensive failures. It's his second PY now. Gerber let in some weak ones. I agree that the turning point was probably that 5 on 3. That could have easily spelt doom for the Habs but they stayed strong.
Recap:
Well it didn't look good after Souray let Cullen go outside and poke in his own rebound past a shaky looking Huet 50 seconds in, but I'm proud of the effort of the Habs tonight. Sure they were outshot badly, but really a lot of those were perimeter shots and not really scoring chances. The habs buried what chances they got, even though Martin baby food didn't look so good. Really I think the "TSN turning point" was when they killed off a 55 second 5 on 3 with the score 3-1 and then they promptly came down and Higgins got the 4th MTL goal. I'm not gonna get too excited; I expect the 'Canes to come out flying next game and Huet will have to be excellent again to keep us in the game.
My 3 stars:
1) Huet - recovered nicely after giving up a fishy first goal. Was solid throughout and i love how calm he is.
2) Plekanec - 2 assists. Great play on the 3rd (kovalev) goal, kept possesion of the puck over the blue line even though he was basically alone, and found kovalev coming off the bench. Made a few other good plays, and wasn't a defensive liability either.
3) Kovalev - 2 goals. Looked a little nonchalant at the start and I thought we'd get the bad Kovalev, but he asserted himself and he's easily our most dangerous shooter as we saw.
Honourable mentions:
Higgins - This guy needs more ice time; he wins races to pucks and plays a simple game.
Sundstrom - Normally I can't stand Sundstrom but tonight he showed his defensive smarts.
PUCK YOU:
Have to give it to Souray, I don't know how many times I've seen him get beat 1 on 1 and he really needs to make the safe play more often. He did look better as the game progressed, and even blew a shot past baby food for the 6th goal. Hard to pick someone to rag on after a game like this, but congratulations Souray, you got the 1st PUCK YOU award of these 2005/2006 playoffs.
Well it didn't look good after Souray let Cullen go outside and poke in his own rebound past a shaky looking Huet 50 seconds in, but I'm proud of the effort of the Habs tonight. Sure they were outshot badly, but really a lot of those were perimeter shots and not really scoring chances. The habs buried what chances they got, even though Martin baby food didn't look so good. Really I think the "TSN turning point" was when they killed off a 55 second 5 on 3 with the score 3-1 and then they promptly came down and Higgins got the 4th MTL goal. I'm not gonna get too excited; I expect the 'Canes to come out flying next game and Huet will have to be excellent again to keep us in the game.
My 3 stars:
1) Huet - recovered nicely after giving up a fishy first goal. Was solid throughout and i love how calm he is.
2) Plekanec - 2 assists. Great play on the 3rd (kovalev) goal, kept possesion of the puck over the blue line even though he was basically alone, and found kovalev coming off the bench. Made a few other good plays, and wasn't a defensive liability either.
3) Kovalev - 2 goals. Looked a little nonchalant at the start and I thought we'd get the bad Kovalev, but he asserted himself and he's easily our most dangerous shooter as we saw.
Honourable mentions:
Higgins - This guy needs more ice time; he wins races to pucks and plays a simple game.
Sundstrom - Normally I can't stand Sundstrom but tonight he showed his defensive smarts.
PUCK YOU:
Have to give it to Souray, I don't know how many times I've seen him get beat 1 on 1 and he really needs to make the safe play more often. He did look better as the game progressed, and even blew a shot past baby food for the 6th goal. Hard to pick someone to rag on after a game like this, but congratulations Souray, you got the 1st PUCK YOU award of these 2005/2006 playoffs.
4-1 Montreal, with a goal deflected off Gerber's ASS. Nice dive-pass on the play by Montreal though to set up the semi-breakaway that led to the goal.
5 on 3 for Carolina, Montreal's doing everything they can to let Carolina back into the game. Huet's doing well though, I have to admit.
ALEXANDER PEROZHOGIN. I forgot about him. Screw my prediction, Perozhogin will axe down Carolina's top line and Montreal will win.
Awesome! Jim Hughson is doing this series. On the SPac the other night he predicted the habs have a very good chance of upsetting the canes. Hughson is by far the best announcer in hockey.
Gonna look into my Cristobal and say: Carolina 5, Montreal 3 is my prediction. Carolina will be too much for them at home and fired up, but we'll put up a fight and get the split on monday. I also have the sabres-flyers game on the other TV, so i'll try to keep up with both games. On a more serious note, beer #2 has been cracked.
Prediction for the Carolina - Montreal game: Carolina 4, Montreal 2. On a related note, MAN it's been ages since I've actually sat down to watch Hockey Night in Canada!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 2005/06 SEASON IN A NUTSHELL
Before the playoffs begin, let's reflect on the Toronto Maple Leafs season. As disappointing as it is for the Leafs faithful to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 1998, the season wasn't actually all bad.
First off, a few positives:
1. A playoff push down the stretch - sure, they didn't make the playoffs, but they managed to finish 7-1-2 their final ten games to, at least, make things interesting. They could've easily called it a season after a couple losses to Montreal in March set them back, but they had a strong April that had Tampa Bay and Atlanta looking behind their backs, and they ended up ninth in the standings, two points behind the Lightning. As a Leafs fan, I could at least take a little consolation with the fact they played with the sort of heart and desire they were missing most of the season.
2. J.S. Aubin - he returned to the sort of form he had while he played in Pittsburg, and his confidence between the pipes was vital in Toronto's push down the stretch. He's already under contract next year, which is a positive for the Leafs, who will likely buy out the remainder of Ed Belfour's contract. Hmm, maybe the Eagle will finally retire now. With Justin Pogge already signed as well, the future between the pipes looks bright for the buds.
3. The play of the youngsters - with injuries to vetrans like Eric Lindros and Jason Allison down the stretch the Leafs were forced to throw a little speed and inexperience into the lineup. The Leafs realized taking chances on youngsters can pay off. With Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Dion Phaneuf stealing the spotlight, rookies like Kyle Wellwood and his 45 points were under the shadow. But Wellwood was an exciting player to watch. Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Alex Steen and Ian White were also strong down the stretch.
4. Bryan McCabe - what a season this guy had. The veteran defenceman missed nine games, but still amassed 68 points. I believe had he played in every game this season, he'd of scored more points than Nicklas Lidstrom.
5. The late surging Mats Sundin - I believe the play of the Leafs star was the biggest factor behind their strong play down the stretch. Where was this sort of performance the rest of the season? Obviously skating around faster skaters helped him get his legs back, but I also believe he just never got warmed up until towards the end.
Sounds like an awful lot of positives for a non-playoff team. Well I always try and see the glass half full. But here's some disappointments.
1. Ed Belfour - The Eagle returned for another year, and while he wasn't healthy all season, he still struggled with consistency. He's steps away from retirement I hope.
2. Eric Lindros - what a bust of a signing this was. Even when he was healthy he had 22 points in 33 games, which are pretty disappointing stats. Even with his history with concussions, Lindros should be a point-a-game kind of guy.
3. Pat Quinn - relieved of his coaching duties today, I'm relieved to see that the Leafs have finally cut somebody loose, although I don't particularly like John Ferguson and would like to see him out as well. As much respect as I have for Quinn and his record, his time is up and it's time to get a fresh face behind the bench. He was 300-196-52-8 with the Leafs, which ain't bad.
4. The trade deadline - the Leafs were pretty much quiet the whole day, only to pull the trigger and land Luke Richardson! Now, why would they go with a washed up defenceman? Oh yeah, because they don't have enough veterans on their team. They need another old guy to keep the few younger players in line. I honestly think the Leafs should have been a little more aggressive at the deadline, even though they were a few points out of a playoff spot at the time. Change isn't a bad thing. Look at how the team performed down the stretch when regulars Eric Lindros and Ed Belfour were out of the lineup.
5. Undisciplined play - Too many times this season the Leafs got frustrated and lost their composure. I agree it's good to stir things up time to time, but they got out of hand at times. Also, where was Tie Domi this season? I heard he had about as many fights as goals, with like five goals and six fights, or something like that.
That's my ranting for now. Nick, I challenge you to do the same thing, but with the Canucks season. We're all interested on how a a true Vancouver Canucks fan would look at their season.
Before the playoffs begin, let's reflect on the Toronto Maple Leafs season. As disappointing as it is for the Leafs faithful to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 1998, the season wasn't actually all bad.
First off, a few positives:
1. A playoff push down the stretch - sure, they didn't make the playoffs, but they managed to finish 7-1-2 their final ten games to, at least, make things interesting. They could've easily called it a season after a couple losses to Montreal in March set them back, but they had a strong April that had Tampa Bay and Atlanta looking behind their backs, and they ended up ninth in the standings, two points behind the Lightning. As a Leafs fan, I could at least take a little consolation with the fact they played with the sort of heart and desire they were missing most of the season.
2. J.S. Aubin - he returned to the sort of form he had while he played in Pittsburg, and his confidence between the pipes was vital in Toronto's push down the stretch. He's already under contract next year, which is a positive for the Leafs, who will likely buy out the remainder of Ed Belfour's contract. Hmm, maybe the Eagle will finally retire now. With Justin Pogge already signed as well, the future between the pipes looks bright for the buds.
3. The play of the youngsters - with injuries to vetrans like Eric Lindros and Jason Allison down the stretch the Leafs were forced to throw a little speed and inexperience into the lineup. The Leafs realized taking chances on youngsters can pay off. With Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Dion Phaneuf stealing the spotlight, rookies like Kyle Wellwood and his 45 points were under the shadow. But Wellwood was an exciting player to watch. Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Alex Steen and Ian White were also strong down the stretch.
4. Bryan McCabe - what a season this guy had. The veteran defenceman missed nine games, but still amassed 68 points. I believe had he played in every game this season, he'd of scored more points than Nicklas Lidstrom.
5. The late surging Mats Sundin - I believe the play of the Leafs star was the biggest factor behind their strong play down the stretch. Where was this sort of performance the rest of the season? Obviously skating around faster skaters helped him get his legs back, but I also believe he just never got warmed up until towards the end.
Sounds like an awful lot of positives for a non-playoff team. Well I always try and see the glass half full. But here's some disappointments.
1. Ed Belfour - The Eagle returned for another year, and while he wasn't healthy all season, he still struggled with consistency. He's steps away from retirement I hope.
2. Eric Lindros - what a bust of a signing this was. Even when he was healthy he had 22 points in 33 games, which are pretty disappointing stats. Even with his history with concussions, Lindros should be a point-a-game kind of guy.
3. Pat Quinn - relieved of his coaching duties today, I'm relieved to see that the Leafs have finally cut somebody loose, although I don't particularly like John Ferguson and would like to see him out as well. As much respect as I have for Quinn and his record, his time is up and it's time to get a fresh face behind the bench. He was 300-196-52-8 with the Leafs, which ain't bad.
4. The trade deadline - the Leafs were pretty much quiet the whole day, only to pull the trigger and land Luke Richardson! Now, why would they go with a washed up defenceman? Oh yeah, because they don't have enough veterans on their team. They need another old guy to keep the few younger players in line. I honestly think the Leafs should have been a little more aggressive at the deadline, even though they were a few points out of a playoff spot at the time. Change isn't a bad thing. Look at how the team performed down the stretch when regulars Eric Lindros and Ed Belfour were out of the lineup.
5. Undisciplined play - Too many times this season the Leafs got frustrated and lost their composure. I agree it's good to stir things up time to time, but they got out of hand at times. Also, where was Tie Domi this season? I heard he had about as many fights as goals, with like five goals and six fights, or something like that.
That's my ranting for now. Nick, I challenge you to do the same thing, but with the Canucks season. We're all interested on how a a true Vancouver Canucks fan would look at their season.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
First Round predictions....
Everyone else should have to make 'em too..leavin' them in the comments might be a good idea.
WEST
(1) Detroit over (8) Edmonton
(2) Dallas over (7) Colorado
(6) Anaheim over (3) Calgary
(5) San Jose over (4) Nashville
EAST
(1) Ottawa over (8) Tampa Bay
(2) Carolina over (7) Montreal
(3) New Jersey over (6) NY Rangers
(5) Philly over (4) Buffalo
There ya go. I'm sure I'll go 0-for-8, as is my custom with these sorts of things.
Everyone else should have to make 'em too..leavin' them in the comments might be a good idea.
WEST
(1) Detroit over (8) Edmonton
(2) Dallas over (7) Colorado
(6) Anaheim over (3) Calgary
(5) San Jose over (4) Nashville
EAST
(1) Ottawa over (8) Tampa Bay
(2) Carolina over (7) Montreal
(3) New Jersey over (6) NY Rangers
(5) Philly over (4) Buffalo
There ya go. I'm sure I'll go 0-for-8, as is my custom with these sorts of things.
