FIRST OFF…HOW DID THE WE GET HERE…FROM THERE???
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
Thursday, March 27, 2008
ouch!
FIRST OFF…HOW DID THE WE GET HERE…FROM THERE???
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Canuck Nation
CANUCK NATION…”GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE”…
LASTNIGHT AFTER THE CANUCKS BLEW A 2 GOAL LEAD TO CALGARY…
THE POST GAME SHOW ON THE TEAM 1040 WAS FILLED WITH CALLERS RIPPING TOM LARSCHIED…
DURING THE GAME LARSCHIED POINTED OUT THE OBVIOUS…
AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE FLAMES TOOK CONTROL AND OUT PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE CANUCKS…
JEROME IGINAL…DION PHANEUF AND MIKKA KIPRUSOFF SIMPLY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
THE RESULT WAS AN EMBARASSING 3-2 LOSS…
SO ACCORDING TO THE PINHEADS…
HERE’S THE ANSWER…THE SHOOT THE MESSENGER…
WHATEVER YOU DO…NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY…
THE CANUCKS WERE OUT SHOT 18-3 IN THE SECOND PERIOD…AND 33-13 IN THE FINAL TWO PERIODS…
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD THE FLAMES ON THE ROPES AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…
THEY SCORED THE FIRST TWO GOALS OF THE GAME AND OUTSHOT CALGARY 21-7…
FROM THAT POINT ON…THE CANUCKS WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT LOSING THE GAME…THEN THEY WERE ABOUT WINNING THE GAME…
THAT’S WHAT LARSCHIED POINTED OUT…
IT’S WHAT WE PAY HIM TO DO…
IF YOU’RE A HOCKEY FAN YOU GET THAT…
IF YOU’RE A CHEERLEADER…YOU DON’T…
HERE’S THE HARD REALITY…WITH 6 GAMES TO PLAY…
TWO POINTS SEPARATE THE CANUCKS FROM 9TH PLACE…AND THREE POINTS FROM 10TH PLACE…
IT’S NOT LIKE FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
TWO YEARS AGO…THE CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7 DOWN THE STRETCH AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…
I STILL BLAME LARSCHIED FOR THAT…
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT…
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY ARE STARTING TO ACT AND SOUND LIKE THOSE CLOWNS IN TORONTO…
THE LEAFS HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFF IN 4 YEARS AND HAVE NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN OVER 40…AND YET EVERY GAME SELLS OUT…AND THEY REMAIN THE ONLY TOPIC ON EVERY TALK SHOW IN THAT CITY…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT…
UNFORTUNATELY LASTNIGHT THEY DID NOT DO THAT…
REAL HOCKEY FANS KNOW THAT
LASTNIGHT AFTER THE CANUCKS BLEW A 2 GOAL LEAD TO CALGARY…
THE POST GAME SHOW ON THE TEAM 1040 WAS FILLED WITH CALLERS RIPPING TOM LARSCHIED…
DURING THE GAME LARSCHIED POINTED OUT THE OBVIOUS…
AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE FLAMES TOOK CONTROL AND OUT PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE CANUCKS…
JEROME IGINAL…DION PHANEUF AND MIKKA KIPRUSOFF SIMPLY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
THE RESULT WAS AN EMBARASSING 3-2 LOSS…
SO ACCORDING TO THE PINHEADS…
HERE’S THE ANSWER…THE SHOOT THE MESSENGER…
WHATEVER YOU DO…NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY…
THE CANUCKS WERE OUT SHOT 18-3 IN THE SECOND PERIOD…AND 33-13 IN THE FINAL TWO PERIODS…
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD THE FLAMES ON THE ROPES AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…
THEY SCORED THE FIRST TWO GOALS OF THE GAME AND OUTSHOT CALGARY 21-7…
FROM THAT POINT ON…THE CANUCKS WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT LOSING THE GAME…THEN THEY WERE ABOUT WINNING THE GAME…
THAT’S WHAT LARSCHIED POINTED OUT…
IT’S WHAT WE PAY HIM TO DO…
IF YOU’RE A HOCKEY FAN YOU GET THAT…
IF YOU’RE A CHEERLEADER…YOU DON’T…
HERE’S THE HARD REALITY…WITH 6 GAMES TO PLAY…
TWO POINTS SEPARATE THE CANUCKS FROM 9TH PLACE…AND THREE POINTS FROM 10TH PLACE…
IT’S NOT LIKE FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
TWO YEARS AGO…THE CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7 DOWN THE STRETCH AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…
I STILL BLAME LARSCHIED FOR THAT…
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT…
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY ARE STARTING TO ACT AND SOUND LIKE THOSE CLOWNS IN TORONTO…
THE LEAFS HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFF IN 4 YEARS AND HAVE NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN OVER 40…AND YET EVERY GAME SELLS OUT…AND THEY REMAIN THE ONLY TOPIC ON EVERY TALK SHOW IN THAT CITY…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT…
UNFORTUNATELY LASTNIGHT THEY DID NOT DO THAT…
REAL HOCKEY FANS KNOW THAT
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
There will be blood!
DANIEL DAY LEWIS WILL NOT BE IN CALGARY TONIGHT…
BUT ODDS ARE GOOD…THERE WILL BE BLOOD…
ACCORDING TO HOCKEY FIGHTS.COM…SO FAR THIS SEASON…THE FLAMES ARE SECOND IN NHL WITH 67 FIGHTS…
THE CANUCKS ARE THIRD WITH 63…
THIS IS NO ACCIDENT…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS LED THE LEAGUE WITH 71 FIGHTING MAJORS AND OVER 14 HUNDRED MINUTES IN PENALTIES…
THE DUCKS ALSO WON THE CUP…
CALL IT PARITY…OR MEDIOCRITY…
BUT THE NHL NO LONGER HAS GREAT TEAMS…
IN THE TWO PLAYOFFS SINCE THE LOCK OUT IN 2004…NO TEAM IN EITHER FINAL HAS MANAGED TO WIN A SINGLE ROUND SINCE…
AND TWO OF THE 4 TEAMS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING YEAR…
THANKS TO THE NEW CBA…THE STANLEY CUP NOW GOES TO A TEAM FILLED WITH PLAYERS HEADED TO THE HALL OF FAME…
IT MEANS COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER INTANGIBLES TO GIVE THEIR TEAM AN EDGE…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM SEEMED TO HAVE FOUND IT…
THE FRANCHISE DUMPED ITS TEAL UNIFORMS AND ITS DUCK LOGO…
ITS NEW IMAGE WAS CAST IN BLACK AND GOLD…AND FIGHTING BECAME THE CORNER STONE OF ITS NEW STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR IT…
IN FACT ANAHEIM’S TOP GOON…GEORGE PARROS NOW TAKES BOXING LESSONS IN THE SUMMER…
IT ALL MAY SEEM LIKE A SCENE OUT OF SLAP SHOT…BUT LAST SEASON IT PAID OFF BIG TIME FOR THE DUCKS…
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS IS A COPY CAT LEAGUE…
AS A RESULT THIS SEASON FIGHTING IN THE NHL HAS DRAMATICLY INCREASED…
NO WHERE IS THAT MORE NOTICABLE THAN IN VANCOUVER AND CALGARY…
WITH JUST A HAND FULL OF GAME LEFT…THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES CAN WIN THEIR DIVISION…OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS COMPETELY…
TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF 3 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…AND THE FATE OF BOTH OF THEIR SEASONS COULD BE SEALED IN THOSE GAMES…
ONLY ONE THING IS ABSOLUTELY GUARENTEED…NEITHER TEAM PLANS TO GO WITHOUT A FIGHT…
BUT ODDS ARE GOOD…THERE WILL BE BLOOD…
ACCORDING TO HOCKEY FIGHTS.COM…SO FAR THIS SEASON…THE FLAMES ARE SECOND IN NHL WITH 67 FIGHTS…
THE CANUCKS ARE THIRD WITH 63…
THIS IS NO ACCIDENT…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS LED THE LEAGUE WITH 71 FIGHTING MAJORS AND OVER 14 HUNDRED MINUTES IN PENALTIES…
THE DUCKS ALSO WON THE CUP…
CALL IT PARITY…OR MEDIOCRITY…
BUT THE NHL NO LONGER HAS GREAT TEAMS…
IN THE TWO PLAYOFFS SINCE THE LOCK OUT IN 2004…NO TEAM IN EITHER FINAL HAS MANAGED TO WIN A SINGLE ROUND SINCE…
AND TWO OF THE 4 TEAMS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING YEAR…
THANKS TO THE NEW CBA…THE STANLEY CUP NOW GOES TO A TEAM FILLED WITH PLAYERS HEADED TO THE HALL OF FAME…
IT MEANS COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER INTANGIBLES TO GIVE THEIR TEAM AN EDGE…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM SEEMED TO HAVE FOUND IT…
THE FRANCHISE DUMPED ITS TEAL UNIFORMS AND ITS DUCK LOGO…
ITS NEW IMAGE WAS CAST IN BLACK AND GOLD…AND FIGHTING BECAME THE CORNER STONE OF ITS NEW STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR IT…
IN FACT ANAHEIM’S TOP GOON…GEORGE PARROS NOW TAKES BOXING LESSONS IN THE SUMMER…
IT ALL MAY SEEM LIKE A SCENE OUT OF SLAP SHOT…BUT LAST SEASON IT PAID OFF BIG TIME FOR THE DUCKS…
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS IS A COPY CAT LEAGUE…
AS A RESULT THIS SEASON FIGHTING IN THE NHL HAS DRAMATICLY INCREASED…
NO WHERE IS THAT MORE NOTICABLE THAN IN VANCOUVER AND CALGARY…
WITH JUST A HAND FULL OF GAME LEFT…THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES CAN WIN THEIR DIVISION…OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS COMPETELY…
TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF 3 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…AND THE FATE OF BOTH OF THEIR SEASONS COULD BE SEALED IN THOSE GAMES…
ONLY ONE THING IS ABSOLUTELY GUARENTEED…NEITHER TEAM PLANS TO GO WITHOUT A FIGHT…
Friday, March 7, 2008
LETS SAY…YOU JUST ARRIVED ON EARTH FROM ANOTHER PLANET…
YOU TURN ON THE T.V. ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
YOU’RE WATCHING HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
IT’S TORONTO AND NEW JERSEY WHICH IS BEING TELECAST COAST TO COAST TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIOD…
RON MACLEAN AND DON CHERRY SPEND 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIOD…
THE HOT STOVE PANEL SPENDS ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE LEAFS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THIS PLANET SINCE THE BUILDING OF THE PYRAMIDS…
HOW COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THIS ALIEN THAT THE LEAFS ARE A 12TH PLACED TEAM…WHICH HAS JUST FIRED IT’S GENERAL MANAGER AND HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 4 YEARS…
EVEN WORSE…THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT HAS NOT EVEN GONE TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL IN OVER 40 YEARS…
ODDS ARE GOOD…
THE ALIEN WOULD LOOK AT YOU IN COMPLETE DISBELIEF…SHAKE HIS HEAD…THEN GET BACK INTO HIS SPACE SHIP AND NEVER COME BACK…
MEMO TO HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
THE LEAFS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…GET OVER IT…
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER GREAT CANADAIN STORIES THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION…
THE OTTAWA SENATORS…THE TEAM THAT WENT TO THE CUP FINAL A YEAR AGO IS NOW SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL…
THE MONTREAL CANADIANS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES ARE WITHIN 3 POINTS OF EACH OTHER IN THE FIGHT FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT WORTH MENTIONING…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN IS LEADING THE LEAD IN THE GOALS AND POINTS…
SIDNEY CROSBY IS BACK IN THE LINE UP AND ON SUNDAY HE AND PENGUINS WILL PLAY OVECHKIN AND THE CAPITALS…
AND TONIGHT IN CHICAGO…THE HAWKS ARE BRINGING BACK BOBBY HULL AND STAN MIKITA…
UNFORTUNATELY THE LEAFS WON LASTNIGHT…
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT???
MAYBE IT’S TIME WE ALL GOT INTO A SPACE SHIP AND FOUND OURSELVES ANOTHER PLANET…
YOU TURN ON THE T.V. ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
YOU’RE WATCHING HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
IT’S TORONTO AND NEW JERSEY WHICH IS BEING TELECAST COAST TO COAST TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIOD…
RON MACLEAN AND DON CHERRY SPEND 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIOD…
THE HOT STOVE PANEL SPENDS ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE LEAFS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THIS PLANET SINCE THE BUILDING OF THE PYRAMIDS…
HOW COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THIS ALIEN THAT THE LEAFS ARE A 12TH PLACED TEAM…WHICH HAS JUST FIRED IT’S GENERAL MANAGER AND HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 4 YEARS…
EVEN WORSE…THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT HAS NOT EVEN GONE TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL IN OVER 40 YEARS…
ODDS ARE GOOD…
THE ALIEN WOULD LOOK AT YOU IN COMPLETE DISBELIEF…SHAKE HIS HEAD…THEN GET BACK INTO HIS SPACE SHIP AND NEVER COME BACK…
MEMO TO HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
THE LEAFS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…GET OVER IT…
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER GREAT CANADAIN STORIES THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION…
THE OTTAWA SENATORS…THE TEAM THAT WENT TO THE CUP FINAL A YEAR AGO IS NOW SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL…
THE MONTREAL CANADIANS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES ARE WITHIN 3 POINTS OF EACH OTHER IN THE FIGHT FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT WORTH MENTIONING…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN IS LEADING THE LEAD IN THE GOALS AND POINTS…
SIDNEY CROSBY IS BACK IN THE LINE UP AND ON SUNDAY HE AND PENGUINS WILL PLAY OVECHKIN AND THE CAPITALS…
AND TONIGHT IN CHICAGO…THE HAWKS ARE BRINGING BACK BOBBY HULL AND STAN MIKITA…
UNFORTUNATELY THE LEAFS WON LASTNIGHT…
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT???
MAYBE IT’S TIME WE ALL GOT INTO A SPACE SHIP AND FOUND OURSELVES ANOTHER PLANET…
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Alexander Ovechkin
TONIGHT THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WILL BE SEEN ON TSN…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME THE CAPS HAVE BEEN ON NETWORK T.V. IN CANADA IN THE LAST THREE DAYS…
THAT’S A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR AN 11TH PLACED TEAM THAT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 5 YEARS…
BUT IT’S PROOF OF THE KIND OF STAR POWER ALEXANDER OVECHKIN NOW PROVIDES…
OVECHKIN NOW LEADS THE NHL IN BOTH GOALS AND POINTS…
AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE COULD WALK AWAY WITH…THE HART…THE ART ROSS…THE ROCKET RICHARD AND THE PEARSON…
OVECHKIN IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE…
BUT IS HE THE GAMES BIGGEST STAR???
IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO TWO PLAYERS…
OVECHKIN AND SIDNEY CROSBY…
ON JANUARY 18TH CROSBY WENT DOWN WITH A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN…
AT THE TIME HE LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 63 POINTS IN 46 GAMES…
THE INJURY COST HIM 21 GAMES…AND BOTH THE HART AND THE ART ROSS…
STILL CROSBY REMAINS THE FACE OF THE GAME…
IT WAS CROSBY…WHICH BOTH…NBC AND THE NHL WANTED TO SHOWCASE WITH ITS WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEARS DAY…
THAT BROADCAST PRODUCED THE LARGEST TV AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. IN 11 YEARS…
CROSBY IS STILL THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE WITH AN AMERICAN ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN…
THE LAST PLAYER TO DO THAT WAS WAYNE GRETZKY…
NEVERTHELESS…OVECHKIN IS BECOMING A HUMAN HI-LITE REEL…
HE IS NOW ON PACE TO SCORE 65 GOALS THIS SEASON…
THE LAST PLAYER TO SCORE MORE THAN 60 IN A SEASON WAS MARIO LEMIEUX…WHO COLLECTED 69 GOALS IN THE 95-96 SEASON…
EVEN SO…HE IS NOT A LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
EVGENI MALKIN IS JUST ONE POINT BACK OF OVECHKIN IN THE SCORING RACE…AND EVEN WITHOUT CROSBY IN THE LINE-UP…MALKIN HAS CARRIED THE PENGUINS TO FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
ALSO KEEP IN MIND…
THE LAST TIME THE WINNER OF THE HART TROPHY CAME FROM A NON-PLAYOFF TEAM WAS LEMIEUX…IN 1988…
THIS DEBATE OVER WHICH PLAYER IS “THE NHL’S BIGGEST STAR” MAY BE DECIDED THIS SUNDAY…
PITTSBURGH IS IN WASHINGTON…
NO SURPRISE…IT’S THE “NBC GAME OF THE WEEK”…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME THE CAPS HAVE BEEN ON NETWORK T.V. IN CANADA IN THE LAST THREE DAYS…
THAT’S A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR AN 11TH PLACED TEAM THAT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 5 YEARS…
BUT IT’S PROOF OF THE KIND OF STAR POWER ALEXANDER OVECHKIN NOW PROVIDES…
OVECHKIN NOW LEADS THE NHL IN BOTH GOALS AND POINTS…
AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE COULD WALK AWAY WITH…THE HART…THE ART ROSS…THE ROCKET RICHARD AND THE PEARSON…
OVECHKIN IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE…
BUT IS HE THE GAMES BIGGEST STAR???
IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO TWO PLAYERS…
OVECHKIN AND SIDNEY CROSBY…
ON JANUARY 18TH CROSBY WENT DOWN WITH A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN…
AT THE TIME HE LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 63 POINTS IN 46 GAMES…
THE INJURY COST HIM 21 GAMES…AND BOTH THE HART AND THE ART ROSS…
STILL CROSBY REMAINS THE FACE OF THE GAME…
IT WAS CROSBY…WHICH BOTH…NBC AND THE NHL WANTED TO SHOWCASE WITH ITS WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEARS DAY…
THAT BROADCAST PRODUCED THE LARGEST TV AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. IN 11 YEARS…
CROSBY IS STILL THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE WITH AN AMERICAN ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN…
THE LAST PLAYER TO DO THAT WAS WAYNE GRETZKY…
NEVERTHELESS…OVECHKIN IS BECOMING A HUMAN HI-LITE REEL…
HE IS NOW ON PACE TO SCORE 65 GOALS THIS SEASON…
THE LAST PLAYER TO SCORE MORE THAN 60 IN A SEASON WAS MARIO LEMIEUX…WHO COLLECTED 69 GOALS IN THE 95-96 SEASON…
EVEN SO…HE IS NOT A LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
EVGENI MALKIN IS JUST ONE POINT BACK OF OVECHKIN IN THE SCORING RACE…AND EVEN WITHOUT CROSBY IN THE LINE-UP…MALKIN HAS CARRIED THE PENGUINS TO FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
ALSO KEEP IN MIND…
THE LAST TIME THE WINNER OF THE HART TROPHY CAME FROM A NON-PLAYOFF TEAM WAS LEMIEUX…IN 1988…
THIS DEBATE OVER WHICH PLAYER IS “THE NHL’S BIGGEST STAR” MAY BE DECIDED THIS SUNDAY…
PITTSBURGH IS IN WASHINGTON…
NO SURPRISE…IT’S THE “NBC GAME OF THE WEEK”…
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tonight's Game
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT THING…
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT IN DENVER…
THE SUN WILL RISE TOMORROW MORNING…AND THE CANUCKS NHL SEASON WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AGAINST NASHVILLE…
THIS IS NOT A MUST WIN SITUATION…
BUT IT IS A STATEMENT GAME…
ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO THE CANUCKS SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
IN THE PAST FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE QUESTIONED THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM…
BUT RARELY HAVE THOSE FANS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CANUCKS HAVE ENOUGH HEART…
YESTERDAY IN A TEAM 1040 POLL…HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WERE ASKED IF THEY THOUGHT THE CANUCKS NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT…
85 PERCENT OF YOU SAID…”YES”
THE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…WHO INSISTS THIS TEAM DOES INDEED HAVE HEART…
QUOTE…”ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP IS THAT THEY DO CARE”…
THE HEADLINE IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE TODAY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“COACH SAYS PLAYERS CARE…SO PROVE IT”…
THAT’S WHAT TONIGHT’S GAME IS ALL ABOUT…
PROVING NOT ONLY TO THE FANS BUT ALSO TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE A PLAYOFF TEAM…
WHAT ADDS TO THE DRAMA IS THE RETURN OF PETER FORSBERG…
THE AVALANCHE WILL BE PLAYING IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT ARENA…
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE ELECTRIC…
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE GAME WILL BE CRITICAL…
IT’S NOT THAT THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 3 STRAIGHT…IT’S THE WAY THEY LOST THOSE GAMES…
MENTAL MISTAKES…AN INABILITY TO EXECUTE…AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PAY THE PRICE…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES REVEAL IT”…
WIN OR LOSE TONIGHT…
BY THE TIME THE SUN RISES TOMORROW…WE WILL KNOW ONE THING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW NOW…
WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT IN DENVER…
THE SUN WILL RISE TOMORROW MORNING…AND THE CANUCKS NHL SEASON WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AGAINST NASHVILLE…
THIS IS NOT A MUST WIN SITUATION…
BUT IT IS A STATEMENT GAME…
ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO THE CANUCKS SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
IN THE PAST FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE QUESTIONED THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM…
BUT RARELY HAVE THOSE FANS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CANUCKS HAVE ENOUGH HEART…
YESTERDAY IN A TEAM 1040 POLL…HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WERE ASKED IF THEY THOUGHT THE CANUCKS NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT…
85 PERCENT OF YOU SAID…”YES”
THE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…WHO INSISTS THIS TEAM DOES INDEED HAVE HEART…
QUOTE…”ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP IS THAT THEY DO CARE”…
THE HEADLINE IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE TODAY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“COACH SAYS PLAYERS CARE…SO PROVE IT”…
THAT’S WHAT TONIGHT’S GAME IS ALL ABOUT…
PROVING NOT ONLY TO THE FANS BUT ALSO TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE A PLAYOFF TEAM…
WHAT ADDS TO THE DRAMA IS THE RETURN OF PETER FORSBERG…
THE AVALANCHE WILL BE PLAYING IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT ARENA…
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE ELECTRIC…
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE GAME WILL BE CRITICAL…
IT’S NOT THAT THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 3 STRAIGHT…IT’S THE WAY THEY LOST THOSE GAMES…
MENTAL MISTAKES…AN INABILITY TO EXECUTE…AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PAY THE PRICE…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES REVEAL IT”…
WIN OR LOSE TONIGHT…
BY THE TIME THE SUN RISES TOMORROW…WE WILL KNOW ONE THING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW NOW…
WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
Monday, March 3, 2008
Canucks
IN THE LAST WEEK THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOSE A HOCKEY GAME…
THE FIRST WAS TO BLOW A ONE GOAL LEAD TO COLORADO WITH 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE SECOND WAS TO BLOW A TWO GOAL LEAD TO COLUMBUS WITH 15 MINUTES LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE THIRD WAS ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO…WHERE THE CANUCKS DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO SHOW UP…
THEY MANAGED JUST 2 SHOTS IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND A TOTAL OF JUST 10 IN THE GAME…
THE RESULT WAS A 4-1 LOSS…
THE SCORE AND THE STATS DO NOT REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY…
THE HAWKS WERE MISSING 6 OF THEIR REGULARS…INCLUDING THEIR STARTING GOALTENDER…
ON SUNDAY THE CANUCKS WERE UP AGAINST A NON PLAYOFF TEAM WITH A ROSTER FILLED KIDS AND CALL UPS FROM THE AHL…
YET ON SUNDAY THAT GROUP NOT ONLY OUT SHOT AND OUT SCORED THE CANUCKS…THEY OUT HIT THEM…
THE FINAL COUNT IN THAT CATEGORY WAS 15 TO 2…
IT’S ONE THING TO LOSE TO A BETTER TEAM…IT’S QUITE ANOTHER TO GET OUT WORKED BY A LESSER ONE…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
60 MINUTES…1 GOAL…10 SHOTS AND 2 HITS…
IT WAS SO BAD…THE COACHING STAFF CANCELLED PRACTICE TODAY…
THERE IS CERTAINLY LOTS OF BLAME TO GO AROUND…
TO BEGIN WITH…THEIR BEST PLAYERS HAVE TO BE THEIR BEST PLAYERS…
DANIEL SEDIN…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
MARKUS NASLUND…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
HENRIK SEDIN…1 ASSIST IN 5 GAMES…
IF THE CANUCKS HAVE PLANS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…THAT SIMPLY MUST CHANGE…
IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE THEY HAVE WASTED 4 POINTS…
ADD THAT TO THE 8 POINTS THEY DROPPED IN 4 LOSSES TO THE KINGS AND THE LIGHTNING…
AND THE 9 POINTS THEY’VE THROWN AWAY IN THE SHOOTOUT AND THE GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 17…
AS A RESULT THE CANUCKS ARE IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 7TH PLACE WITH COLORADO AND NASHVILLE…
THEY PLAY BOTH THIS WEEK…
IT’S TIME TO FIND FOR THIS TEAM TO WAYS TO WIN THESE GAMES…
IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TIME THEY START
THE FIRST WAS TO BLOW A ONE GOAL LEAD TO COLORADO WITH 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE SECOND WAS TO BLOW A TWO GOAL LEAD TO COLUMBUS WITH 15 MINUTES LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE THIRD WAS ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO…WHERE THE CANUCKS DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO SHOW UP…
THEY MANAGED JUST 2 SHOTS IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND A TOTAL OF JUST 10 IN THE GAME…
THE RESULT WAS A 4-1 LOSS…
THE SCORE AND THE STATS DO NOT REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY…
THE HAWKS WERE MISSING 6 OF THEIR REGULARS…INCLUDING THEIR STARTING GOALTENDER…
ON SUNDAY THE CANUCKS WERE UP AGAINST A NON PLAYOFF TEAM WITH A ROSTER FILLED KIDS AND CALL UPS FROM THE AHL…
YET ON SUNDAY THAT GROUP NOT ONLY OUT SHOT AND OUT SCORED THE CANUCKS…THEY OUT HIT THEM…
THE FINAL COUNT IN THAT CATEGORY WAS 15 TO 2…
IT’S ONE THING TO LOSE TO A BETTER TEAM…IT’S QUITE ANOTHER TO GET OUT WORKED BY A LESSER ONE…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
60 MINUTES…1 GOAL…10 SHOTS AND 2 HITS…
IT WAS SO BAD…THE COACHING STAFF CANCELLED PRACTICE TODAY…
THERE IS CERTAINLY LOTS OF BLAME TO GO AROUND…
TO BEGIN WITH…THEIR BEST PLAYERS HAVE TO BE THEIR BEST PLAYERS…
DANIEL SEDIN…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
MARKUS NASLUND…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
HENRIK SEDIN…1 ASSIST IN 5 GAMES…
IF THE CANUCKS HAVE PLANS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…THAT SIMPLY MUST CHANGE…
IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE THEY HAVE WASTED 4 POINTS…
ADD THAT TO THE 8 POINTS THEY DROPPED IN 4 LOSSES TO THE KINGS AND THE LIGHTNING…
AND THE 9 POINTS THEY’VE THROWN AWAY IN THE SHOOTOUT AND THE GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 17…
AS A RESULT THE CANUCKS ARE IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 7TH PLACE WITH COLORADO AND NASHVILLE…
THEY PLAY BOTH THIS WEEK…
IT’S TIME TO FIND FOR THIS TEAM TO WAYS TO WIN THESE GAMES…
IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TIME THEY START
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