ANDREW RAYCROFT OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS COULD WALK INTO HIS OWN BIRTHDAY PARTY AND STILL HAVE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF…
NOW ASK YOURSELF…
HOW MANY FANS DO YOU KNOW WITH A CANUCK JERSEY…WIT THE NUMBER 30 ON THE BACK???
CESARE MANIAGO DOES NOT COUNT!!!
NOW ASK YOURSELF…
WHERE WOULD THIS TEAM BE WITHOUT THAT NUMBER 30???
LASTNIGHT RAYCROFT PUT INTO ANOTHER SOLID PERFORMANCE TO LEAD THE CANUCKS TO A 4-1 WIN OVER ANAHEIM…
HIS RECORD THIS SEASON IS 8-4-1…
WITHOUT THE 17 POINTS RAYCROFT HAS EARNED FOR THE CANUCKS THIS SEASON…
THE TEAM WOULD BE TIED WITH ST. LOUIS FOR 11TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE OF 2.21 TIES HIM WITH MIKKA KIPRUSOFF FOR THE 4TH BEST IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
HIS SAVE PERCENTAGE OF .917 IS BETTER THAN ROBERTO LUONGO’S…
AND THE 8 WINS HE HAS…TIES HIM WITH J.S. GIGUERE OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
GIGUERE HAS PLAYED IN 31 GAMES AND MAKES $6 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
RAYCROFT HAS PLAYED IN JUST 19 GAMES AND MAKES A MERE…$500 THOUSAND…
BUT THE TRULY AMAZING PART OF RAYCROFT…IS HIS ABILITY TO KEEP HIS EGO IN CHECK…
AFTER LASTNIGHTS WIN RAYCROFT SPENT MOST OF HIS ACTING AS IF HE WAS “THE PR REP” FOR LUONGO…
CHECK OUT THIS QUOTE…
“LET’S BE SERIOUS…TAKE A DEEP BREATH EVERYBODY…THIS GUY I’VE WATCHED FOR 60 GAMES…IS A SPECIAL GUY”…
IF RAYCROFT DOES HAVE AN EGO…YOU WOULD NEED A MICROSCOPE TO FIND IT…
THE TRUTH IS…LUONGO HAS STRUGGLED SINCE THE OLYMPICS…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERGE IS A WHOPPING 3.20…AND HE’S BEEN PULLED TWICE…
DURING THAT TIME…RAYCROFT HAS GONE 2-0-1…AND COLLECTED 5 OF A POSSIBLE 6 POINTS…
NOBODY IS SUGGESTING LUONGO IS IN DANGER OF LOSING HIS JOB…
EVERYONE FROM THE OWNER…TO THE BEER VENDORS…KNOW THE CANUCKS ARE ONLY GOING TO GO AS LUONGO TAKES THEM…
BUT…IF THIS TEAM IS STILL PLAYING COME MAY 4TH…
THEN IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO BUY ANDREW RAYCROFT…A CAKE…
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Canucks Playoffs
IN THE WORDS OF JIM MORA:
“PLAYOFFS…DON’T TALK ABOUT PLAYOFFS”…
STARTING TONIGHT IN EDMONTON…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS WILL BEGIN THE FINAL 10 GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON…
FOR THE PLAYERS AND THE COACHES…THAT’S WHERE THEIR ATTENTION HAS TO BE…
THE MATH IS THIS SIMPLE:
THE CANUCKS CAN FINISH AS HIGH AS…FIRST IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS ENTIRELY…
NEVERTHELESS…FOR THE HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…THE PLAYOFFS CAN NOT COME FAST ENOUGH…
IN THEIR EYES…WHAT THE CANUCKS DO…”GOOD OR BAD”…WILL DECIDE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE SEASON…
SIMPLY THINK BACK TO LAST YEAR…
THE CANUCKS WON THEIR DIVISION…AND SWEPT ST. LOUIS IN 4 STRAIGHT…
YET DESPITE IT ALL…WHAT IS THE DEFINING MOMENT OF THAT SEASON???
GAME 6 IN CHICAGO…
TWICE IN THE 3RD PERIOD OF THAT GAME…THE CANUCKS HAD THE LEAD AND GAVE IT UP…
IN ALL THE HAWKS SCORED 4 GOALS IN THE PERIOD…TO BEAT THE CANUCKS 7-5 TO WIN THE SERIES AND END THE SEASON FOR VANCOUVER…
IN 2007…IT WAS GAME 5 IN ANAHEIM…SCOTT NIEDERMAYER SCORED THE WINNER IN DOUBLE OVERTIME…
THE DUCKS WENT ONTO TO WIN THE CUP…
THE CANUCKS WENT TO THE DRIVING RANGE AT UBC…
AS THE 2010 PLAYOFFS APPROACH…THE CANUCKS HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS…THE HEALTH OF WILLIE MITCHELL???
ALL WE KNOW IS MITCHELL IS STILL NOT WORKING OUT…AND THERE IS NO TIME TABLE SET FOR HIS RETURN…
SECONDLY IS WHETHER OR NOT LUONGO CAN CARRY THIS TEAM FOR MORE THAN ONE SERIES…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS POINTS TO ANOTHER ISSUE…WHICH HE CONSIDERS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT…
THAT IS…PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS…
TO WHICH GILLIS NOW SAYS…HE BELIEVES HIS TEAM HAS NOW ELEVATED ITSELF IN THOSE TWO AREAS…
IF HE’S RIGHT…THEN THROUGH OUT APRIL…MAY AND JUNE:
WE’LL FINALLY GET TO TALK…”PLAYOFFS!!!”…
“PLAYOFFS…DON’T TALK ABOUT PLAYOFFS”…
STARTING TONIGHT IN EDMONTON…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS WILL BEGIN THE FINAL 10 GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON…
FOR THE PLAYERS AND THE COACHES…THAT’S WHERE THEIR ATTENTION HAS TO BE…
THE MATH IS THIS SIMPLE:
THE CANUCKS CAN FINISH AS HIGH AS…FIRST IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS ENTIRELY…
NEVERTHELESS…FOR THE HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…THE PLAYOFFS CAN NOT COME FAST ENOUGH…
IN THEIR EYES…WHAT THE CANUCKS DO…”GOOD OR BAD”…WILL DECIDE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE SEASON…
SIMPLY THINK BACK TO LAST YEAR…
THE CANUCKS WON THEIR DIVISION…AND SWEPT ST. LOUIS IN 4 STRAIGHT…
YET DESPITE IT ALL…WHAT IS THE DEFINING MOMENT OF THAT SEASON???
GAME 6 IN CHICAGO…
TWICE IN THE 3RD PERIOD OF THAT GAME…THE CANUCKS HAD THE LEAD AND GAVE IT UP…
IN ALL THE HAWKS SCORED 4 GOALS IN THE PERIOD…TO BEAT THE CANUCKS 7-5 TO WIN THE SERIES AND END THE SEASON FOR VANCOUVER…
IN 2007…IT WAS GAME 5 IN ANAHEIM…SCOTT NIEDERMAYER SCORED THE WINNER IN DOUBLE OVERTIME…
THE DUCKS WENT ONTO TO WIN THE CUP…
THE CANUCKS WENT TO THE DRIVING RANGE AT UBC…
AS THE 2010 PLAYOFFS APPROACH…THE CANUCKS HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS…THE HEALTH OF WILLIE MITCHELL???
ALL WE KNOW IS MITCHELL IS STILL NOT WORKING OUT…AND THERE IS NO TIME TABLE SET FOR HIS RETURN…
SECONDLY IS WHETHER OR NOT LUONGO CAN CARRY THIS TEAM FOR MORE THAN ONE SERIES…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS POINTS TO ANOTHER ISSUE…WHICH HE CONSIDERS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT…
THAT IS…PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS…
TO WHICH GILLIS NOW SAYS…HE BELIEVES HIS TEAM HAS NOW ELEVATED ITSELF IN THOSE TWO AREAS…
IF HE’S RIGHT…THEN THROUGH OUT APRIL…MAY AND JUNE:
WE’LL FINALLY GET TO TALK…”PLAYOFFS!!!”…
Monday, March 22, 2010
Phoenix Coyotes
WHO ARE THESE GUYS???
OVER THE WEEKEND THE PHOENIX COYOTES PUT TOGETHER BACK TO BACK SHOOT OUT WINS OVER CHICAGO AND DALLAS…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THESE DESERT DOGS WOKE UP IN FIRST PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION…
AND IN A TIE FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IN ALL…THE COYOTES HAVE NOW WON 9 STRAIGHT…
5 OF WHICH HAVE COME IN SHOOTOUTS…
WHAT IS TRULY AMAZING IS THE FACT THIS TEAM DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE PLAYER IN THE TOP 50 IN SCORING…
SHANE DOAN LEADS THE COYOTES WITH 52 POINTS…
GOOD ENOUGH FOR 62ND PLACE…
INSTEAD PHOENIX PLAYS A VERY TIGHT DEFENSIVE SYSTEM…AND HAS RECEIVED OUTSTANDING GOALTENDING FROM ILYA BRYZGALOV…
WHO IS NOW TIED WITH MARTIN BRODEUR FOR MOST WINS THIS SEASON…WITH 39…
HOWEVER MUCH OF THE CREDIT HAS TO GO TO HEAD COACH DAVE TIPPETT…
WHO IS A LOCK TO WIN THE JACK ADAMS AWARD…
TIPPETT WAS HIRED ON THE SAME DAY WAYNE GRETZKY RESIGNED…AND HAD ONLY A FEW DAYS TO PREPARE HIS TEAM FOR THE REGULAR SEASON…
BUT WHAT HAS “THE NHL” MOST EXCITED THESE DAYS IS THE FACT…
FANS ARE ACTUALLY BUYING TICKETS…
SATURDAY’S GAME WITH CHICAGO WAS SOLD OUT…
TO THE NHL OWNERS THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT MATTER MOST…
THE COYOTES ARE DEAD LAST IN ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON AND ARE EXPECTED TO LOSE AROUND $20 MILLION…
ADD THAT TO THE $140 THE LEAGUE PAID TO BUY THE TEAM LAST FALL…AND THE LEAGUE NOW $160 MILLION INTO THIS DEAL...WITH NO BUYER IN SIGHT…
ALTHOUGH THE LATEST RUMOR HAS THE OWNER OF THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX GERRY REINSDORF BACK IN THE PICTURE…
STAY TUNED!!!
NOW IF YOU’RE THINKING TO YOURSELF…”HEY…I’VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE”…YOU HAVE…
IT’S CALLED “SLAPSHOT”…
THESE DAYS ALL THAT’S MISSING IN PHOENIX ARE THE HANSEN BROTHERS…
ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW…IT DOES NOT APPEAR THE COYOTES ARE GOING TO NEED THEM…
OVER THE WEEKEND THE PHOENIX COYOTES PUT TOGETHER BACK TO BACK SHOOT OUT WINS OVER CHICAGO AND DALLAS…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THESE DESERT DOGS WOKE UP IN FIRST PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION…
AND IN A TIE FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IN ALL…THE COYOTES HAVE NOW WON 9 STRAIGHT…
5 OF WHICH HAVE COME IN SHOOTOUTS…
WHAT IS TRULY AMAZING IS THE FACT THIS TEAM DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE PLAYER IN THE TOP 50 IN SCORING…
SHANE DOAN LEADS THE COYOTES WITH 52 POINTS…
GOOD ENOUGH FOR 62ND PLACE…
INSTEAD PHOENIX PLAYS A VERY TIGHT DEFENSIVE SYSTEM…AND HAS RECEIVED OUTSTANDING GOALTENDING FROM ILYA BRYZGALOV…
WHO IS NOW TIED WITH MARTIN BRODEUR FOR MOST WINS THIS SEASON…WITH 39…
HOWEVER MUCH OF THE CREDIT HAS TO GO TO HEAD COACH DAVE TIPPETT…
WHO IS A LOCK TO WIN THE JACK ADAMS AWARD…
TIPPETT WAS HIRED ON THE SAME DAY WAYNE GRETZKY RESIGNED…AND HAD ONLY A FEW DAYS TO PREPARE HIS TEAM FOR THE REGULAR SEASON…
BUT WHAT HAS “THE NHL” MOST EXCITED THESE DAYS IS THE FACT…
FANS ARE ACTUALLY BUYING TICKETS…
SATURDAY’S GAME WITH CHICAGO WAS SOLD OUT…
TO THE NHL OWNERS THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT MATTER MOST…
THE COYOTES ARE DEAD LAST IN ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON AND ARE EXPECTED TO LOSE AROUND $20 MILLION…
ADD THAT TO THE $140 THE LEAGUE PAID TO BUY THE TEAM LAST FALL…AND THE LEAGUE NOW $160 MILLION INTO THIS DEAL...WITH NO BUYER IN SIGHT…
ALTHOUGH THE LATEST RUMOR HAS THE OWNER OF THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX GERRY REINSDORF BACK IN THE PICTURE…
STAY TUNED!!!
NOW IF YOU’RE THINKING TO YOURSELF…”HEY…I’VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE”…YOU HAVE…
IT’S CALLED “SLAPSHOT”…
THESE DAYS ALL THAT’S MISSING IN PHOENIX ARE THE HANSEN BROTHERS…
ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW…IT DOES NOT APPEAR THE COYOTES ARE GOING TO NEED THEM…
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Gary Bettman
THE ONLY QUESTION HOCKEY FANS SHOULD BE ASKING THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW IS THIS…
“HOW IN HELL DOES NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN KEEP HIS JOB???”…
YESTERDAY BETTMAN WAS IN PHOENIX TRYING TO BUY OUT THE LEASE FOR THE COYOTES…
THE DEAL HAS ANOTHER 26 YEARS LEFT ON IT…
THIS IS THE SAME GARY BETTMAN WHO JUST 6 MONTHS AGO CONVINCED THE OWNERS TO SPEND $140 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY THE TEAM…IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF JIM BALSILLIE…
SINCE THEN THE COYOTES HAVE LOST $20 MILLION…
LAST WEEK THE GROUP TRYING TO BUY THE TEAM…”ICE EDGE HOLDINGS” DROPPED OUT…
THE REASONS WERE SIMPLE…
THEY HAD NO MONEY…
NOW…MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME….BUT….
IS THAT NOT SOMETHING BETTMAN SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BEFORE HE COMMITTED THE OWNERS TO A $160 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT???
ADD ON ANOTHER $100 MILLION TO BUY OUT THE LEASE AND SETTLE WITH THE REST OF THE CREDITORS AND THE FINAL NUMBER IS NOW SOMEWHERE AROUND $260 MILLION…
AGAIN…MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME…
BUT IF I WAS AN NHL OWNER…I WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE PISSED…
THERE IS TALK THAT THE COYOTES COULD BE IN WINNIPEG FOR NEXT SEASON…
BUT WHAT FOOL WOULD SPEAD $260 MILLION FOR THE COYOTES…
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING JUST SOLD FOR LESS THAN $100 MILLION…
TOMORROW BETTMAN IS EXPECTED TO BE IN BOSTON…FOR THE RE-MATCH OF THE BRUINS AND PENGUINS…
IN THE LIGHT OF THE MATT COOKE HIT ON MARC SAVARD…THE LAST THING THE NHL NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS A REPEAT OF THE TODD BERTUZZI/STEVE MOORE PERFORMANCE FROM 2004…
THEN THERE’S THE ALEXANDER OVECHKIN SUSPENSION…
AND THE SLEW FOOT FROM STEVE DOWNIE ON SIDNEY CROSBY…
IN THE AFTER MATH OF THE SUCCESS OF THE OLYMPICS…ONLY TIGER WOODS COULD TAKE SOMETHING THIS GOOD AND SCREW IT UP…
THE DIFFERENCE IS…PEOPLE WILL STILL PAY TO WATCH TIGER…
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY TO WATCH GARY BETTMAN???
“HOW IN HELL DOES NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN KEEP HIS JOB???”…
YESTERDAY BETTMAN WAS IN PHOENIX TRYING TO BUY OUT THE LEASE FOR THE COYOTES…
THE DEAL HAS ANOTHER 26 YEARS LEFT ON IT…
THIS IS THE SAME GARY BETTMAN WHO JUST 6 MONTHS AGO CONVINCED THE OWNERS TO SPEND $140 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY THE TEAM…IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF JIM BALSILLIE…
SINCE THEN THE COYOTES HAVE LOST $20 MILLION…
LAST WEEK THE GROUP TRYING TO BUY THE TEAM…”ICE EDGE HOLDINGS” DROPPED OUT…
THE REASONS WERE SIMPLE…
THEY HAD NO MONEY…
NOW…MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME….BUT….
IS THAT NOT SOMETHING BETTMAN SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BEFORE HE COMMITTED THE OWNERS TO A $160 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT???
ADD ON ANOTHER $100 MILLION TO BUY OUT THE LEASE AND SETTLE WITH THE REST OF THE CREDITORS AND THE FINAL NUMBER IS NOW SOMEWHERE AROUND $260 MILLION…
AGAIN…MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME…
BUT IF I WAS AN NHL OWNER…I WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE PISSED…
THERE IS TALK THAT THE COYOTES COULD BE IN WINNIPEG FOR NEXT SEASON…
BUT WHAT FOOL WOULD SPEAD $260 MILLION FOR THE COYOTES…
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING JUST SOLD FOR LESS THAN $100 MILLION…
TOMORROW BETTMAN IS EXPECTED TO BE IN BOSTON…FOR THE RE-MATCH OF THE BRUINS AND PENGUINS…
IN THE LIGHT OF THE MATT COOKE HIT ON MARC SAVARD…THE LAST THING THE NHL NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS A REPEAT OF THE TODD BERTUZZI/STEVE MOORE PERFORMANCE FROM 2004…
THEN THERE’S THE ALEXANDER OVECHKIN SUSPENSION…
AND THE SLEW FOOT FROM STEVE DOWNIE ON SIDNEY CROSBY…
IN THE AFTER MATH OF THE SUCCESS OF THE OLYMPICS…ONLY TIGER WOODS COULD TAKE SOMETHING THIS GOOD AND SCREW IT UP…
THE DIFFERENCE IS…PEOPLE WILL STILL PAY TO WATCH TIGER…
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY TO WATCH GARY BETTMAN???
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Where were you in 82?
WHERE WERE YOU IN 82???
TO START WITH…HALF OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CURRENT ROSTER WAS NOT EVEN BORN…
SO THERE’S THAT…
NEVERTHELESS…IT IS NOW ALMOST 28 YEARS SINCE THE CANUCKS MET THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
THE YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THE ISLANDERS…
THEY HAVE NOT WON A PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 1993…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW LONG THAT’S BEEN…
THAT YEAR…RAY FERRARO WAS JUST 28 YEARS OLD WHEN HE SCORED THE WINNING GOAL FOR THE ISLANDERS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME TO BEAT WASHINGTON IN GAME 4 OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
THIS SEASON THE ISLANDERS ARE 29TH IN NHL ATTENDANCE AND ARE NOW THREATENING TO RE-LOCATE TO KANSAS CITY…
WHICH MEANS…
TONIGHT’S GAME AT GM PLACE…COULD BE THE VERY LAST MEETING FOR THESE TWO TEAMS…
BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY IN 82…
THE ISLANDERS WERE A DYNASTY…
THEY WERE IN THEIR WAY TO WINNING 4 STRAIGHT STANLEY CUPS…
AND THEIR LINE UP WAS FILLED WITH FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS…INCLUDING:
BRYAN TROTTIER…
MIKE BOSSY…
DENIS POTVIN…
CLARK GILLIES…AND BILLY SMITH…
IT WAS ALSO A SPECIAL TIME FOR THE CANUCKS…
THE 82 PLAYOFFS WERE VANCOUVER’S FIRST TRIP TO THE FINALS…
IT WAS ALSO THE BIRTH OF THE WHITE TOWEL…
IT WAS ROGER NIELSON…KING RICHARD…STAN SMYL…AND TIGER WILLIAMS…
BUT IT WAS ALSO HAROLD SNEPTS AND GIVEAWAY IN OVERTIME IN GAME 1…WHICH RESULTED IN THE WINNING GOAL BY MIKE BOSSY…
IN ALL BOSSY SCORED 7 GOALS IN THE FINALS…AND WON THE CONN SMYTHE…
IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…
BUT TO TRULYUNDERSTAND IT ALL…
YOU REALLY HAD TO BE THERE…
TO START WITH…HALF OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CURRENT ROSTER WAS NOT EVEN BORN…
SO THERE’S THAT…
NEVERTHELESS…IT IS NOW ALMOST 28 YEARS SINCE THE CANUCKS MET THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
THE YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THE ISLANDERS…
THEY HAVE NOT WON A PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 1993…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW LONG THAT’S BEEN…
THAT YEAR…RAY FERRARO WAS JUST 28 YEARS OLD WHEN HE SCORED THE WINNING GOAL FOR THE ISLANDERS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME TO BEAT WASHINGTON IN GAME 4 OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
THIS SEASON THE ISLANDERS ARE 29TH IN NHL ATTENDANCE AND ARE NOW THREATENING TO RE-LOCATE TO KANSAS CITY…
WHICH MEANS…
TONIGHT’S GAME AT GM PLACE…COULD BE THE VERY LAST MEETING FOR THESE TWO TEAMS…
BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY IN 82…
THE ISLANDERS WERE A DYNASTY…
THEY WERE IN THEIR WAY TO WINNING 4 STRAIGHT STANLEY CUPS…
AND THEIR LINE UP WAS FILLED WITH FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS…INCLUDING:
BRYAN TROTTIER…
MIKE BOSSY…
DENIS POTVIN…
CLARK GILLIES…AND BILLY SMITH…
IT WAS ALSO A SPECIAL TIME FOR THE CANUCKS…
THE 82 PLAYOFFS WERE VANCOUVER’S FIRST TRIP TO THE FINALS…
IT WAS ALSO THE BIRTH OF THE WHITE TOWEL…
IT WAS ROGER NIELSON…KING RICHARD…STAN SMYL…AND TIGER WILLIAMS…
BUT IT WAS ALSO HAROLD SNEPTS AND GIVEAWAY IN OVERTIME IN GAME 1…WHICH RESULTED IN THE WINNING GOAL BY MIKE BOSSY…
IN ALL BOSSY SCORED 7 GOALS IN THE FINALS…AND WON THE CONN SMYTHE…
IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…
BUT TO TRULYUNDERSTAND IT ALL…
YOU REALLY HAD TO BE THERE…
Monday, March 15, 2010
Playoff Pools
IT’S A MONTH FROM THE HOCKEY POOL…
AND YOU’VE GOT TO ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION…
(CLINT EASTWOOD)
DO I FEEL LUCKY???
WELL DO YA…PUNK???
IF YOU DO…THEN LOAD UP ON THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PUT THEIR “MONEY” WHERE THERE “HEART” IS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE NOT ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND IN 16 LONG YEARS…
BUT LAST NIGHT THOSE FANS WERE GIVEN ANOTHER REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE CANUCKS BEAT A VERY DESPERATE CALGARY TEAM…
DESPITE PLAYING THEIR 8TH GAME IN 7 DIFFERENT CITIES IN 13 NIGHTS…
AS A RESULT VANCOUVER NOW FINDS ITSELFS JUST 5 POINTS BACK OF CHICAGO AND JUST 7 POINTS OF SAN JOSE…
THIS IS THE SAME TEAM THAT STUMBLED OUT OF THE BLOCKS AT THE START OF THE SEASON…LOSING OVER 100 MAN GAMES IN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS…
HOWEVER…SINCE NOVEMBER 12TH…VANCOUVER HAS PLAYED 20 GAMES OVER .500…
DURING THAT TIME…THAT TIES WASHINGTON…FOR THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
IT’S ALSO 1 GAME BETTER THAN CHICAGO…AND 2 GAMES BETTER THAN SAN JOSE…
LASTNIGHT HENRIK SEDIN COLLECTED A GOAL AND AN ASSIST…
THE 2 POINTS PUSHED HIM TO WITHIN 3 POINTS OF ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…FOR THE LEAD IN THE SCORING RACE…
THE ASSIST ALSO MAKES HENRIK…THE CANUCKS ALL TIME LEADER IN ASSISTS…PASSING TREVOR LINDEN…
THE CANUCKS NOW HAVE 5 PLAYERS WHO HAVE SCORED 20 GOALS OR MORE…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE DANIEL SEDIN…WHO IS SITTING WITH 19…
IN FACT…THE CANUCKS HAVE NOW SCORED MORE GOALS THAN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
THIS SEASON…ONLY THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS HAVE MORE…
AND WE HAVE NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…
SO WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE HOCKEY POOL…
DO YOU FEEL LUCKY???
WELL…DO YOU YA…PUNK???
AND YOU’VE GOT TO ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION…
(CLINT EASTWOOD)
DO I FEEL LUCKY???
WELL DO YA…PUNK???
IF YOU DO…THEN LOAD UP ON THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PUT THEIR “MONEY” WHERE THERE “HEART” IS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE NOT ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND IN 16 LONG YEARS…
BUT LAST NIGHT THOSE FANS WERE GIVEN ANOTHER REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE CANUCKS BEAT A VERY DESPERATE CALGARY TEAM…
DESPITE PLAYING THEIR 8TH GAME IN 7 DIFFERENT CITIES IN 13 NIGHTS…
AS A RESULT VANCOUVER NOW FINDS ITSELFS JUST 5 POINTS BACK OF CHICAGO AND JUST 7 POINTS OF SAN JOSE…
THIS IS THE SAME TEAM THAT STUMBLED OUT OF THE BLOCKS AT THE START OF THE SEASON…LOSING OVER 100 MAN GAMES IN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS…
HOWEVER…SINCE NOVEMBER 12TH…VANCOUVER HAS PLAYED 20 GAMES OVER .500…
DURING THAT TIME…THAT TIES WASHINGTON…FOR THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
IT’S ALSO 1 GAME BETTER THAN CHICAGO…AND 2 GAMES BETTER THAN SAN JOSE…
LASTNIGHT HENRIK SEDIN COLLECTED A GOAL AND AN ASSIST…
THE 2 POINTS PUSHED HIM TO WITHIN 3 POINTS OF ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…FOR THE LEAD IN THE SCORING RACE…
THE ASSIST ALSO MAKES HENRIK…THE CANUCKS ALL TIME LEADER IN ASSISTS…PASSING TREVOR LINDEN…
THE CANUCKS NOW HAVE 5 PLAYERS WHO HAVE SCORED 20 GOALS OR MORE…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE DANIEL SEDIN…WHO IS SITTING WITH 19…
IN FACT…THE CANUCKS HAVE NOW SCORED MORE GOALS THAN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
THIS SEASON…ONLY THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS HAVE MORE…
AND WE HAVE NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…
SO WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE HOCKEY POOL…
DO YOU FEEL LUCKY???
WELL…DO YOU YA…PUNK???
Friday, February 26, 2010
Do you believe in miracles?
NEVER SAY NEVER!!!
30 YEAR AGO TEAM USA SURPRISED THE SOVIETS AT THE 1980 OLYMPICS ON THEIR WAY TO A GOLD MEDAL…
IT STILL STANDS THE BIGGEST UPSET IN HOCKEY HISTORY…
BEFORE THE KICK OFF AT SUPER BOWL 3…THE BALTIMORE COLTS WERE FAVORED BY 20 POINTS TO BEAT THE NEW YORK JETS…
JOE NAMATH BACKED UP HIS GUARENTEE AND PULLED OFF THE BIGGEST UPSET IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY…
IN 1990…BUSTER DOUGLAS WAS A 42-1 LONG SHOT AGAINST MIKE TYSON…
IN THE 10TH ROUND…DOUGLAS KNOCKED OUT TYSON TO BECOME THE NEW HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD…
AGAINST THAT BACKDROP…IT IS SAFE TO SAY…
“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”…
IT ALSO HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY HOCKEY FANS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE A LITTLE NERVOUS AS THEY PREPARE FOR TONIGHT’S SHOWDOWN WITH SLOVAKIA…
ON PAPER…THIS IS SHOULD NOT BE CLOSE…
BUT THEY DO NOT PLAY THE GAME ON PAPER…
TWO NIGHTS AGO…TEAM SWEDEN WAS EXPECTED TO ROLL OVER THE SLOVAKS…
INSTEAD THE DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS WERE SENT HOME…EMPTY HANDED…
IN THE WORDS OF HENRIK SEDIN...“WE WERE THE FAVORITES AND WE COULDN’T HANDLE IT”…
“I HOPE CANADA DOES A BETTER JOB”….
AMEN TO THAT!!!
IT’S THIS SIMPLE…
IF CANADA PLAYS THE SAME GAME TONIGHT…THAT THEY PLAYED WEDNESDAY AGAINST THE RUSSIANS…
THEY’LL MEET TEAM USA IN THE GOLD MEDAL GAME ON SUNDAY…
ON WEDNESDAY THE CANADIANS USED…THEIR SPEED TO TAKE AN EARLY 3-0 LEAD…
AND THEY USED THEIR SIZE TO PHYSICALLY ELIMINATE THE SKILL OF THE RUSSIANS…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN WAS SHUTOUT…AND WAS MINUS 2 ON THE NIGHT
ACCORDING TO SIDNEY CROSBY…
THE SLOVAKS CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE STILL WANT TO COME OUT THE SAME WAY…WE WANT TO COME OUT HARD”…
SOUNDS GOOD…BUT…THERE IS STILL THE MEMORY OF 1998…
WHEN DOMINIC HASEK CLOSED THE DOOR ON TEAM CANADA…
CAN YOU SAY…”JAROSLAV HALAK”???
WHICH GETS US TO THE HARD REALITY OF SPORTS…”EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW…YOU NEVER KNOW”…
30 YEAR AGO TEAM USA SURPRISED THE SOVIETS AT THE 1980 OLYMPICS ON THEIR WAY TO A GOLD MEDAL…
IT STILL STANDS THE BIGGEST UPSET IN HOCKEY HISTORY…
BEFORE THE KICK OFF AT SUPER BOWL 3…THE BALTIMORE COLTS WERE FAVORED BY 20 POINTS TO BEAT THE NEW YORK JETS…
JOE NAMATH BACKED UP HIS GUARENTEE AND PULLED OFF THE BIGGEST UPSET IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY…
IN 1990…BUSTER DOUGLAS WAS A 42-1 LONG SHOT AGAINST MIKE TYSON…
IN THE 10TH ROUND…DOUGLAS KNOCKED OUT TYSON TO BECOME THE NEW HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD…
AGAINST THAT BACKDROP…IT IS SAFE TO SAY…
“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”…
IT ALSO HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY HOCKEY FANS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE A LITTLE NERVOUS AS THEY PREPARE FOR TONIGHT’S SHOWDOWN WITH SLOVAKIA…
ON PAPER…THIS IS SHOULD NOT BE CLOSE…
BUT THEY DO NOT PLAY THE GAME ON PAPER…
TWO NIGHTS AGO…TEAM SWEDEN WAS EXPECTED TO ROLL OVER THE SLOVAKS…
INSTEAD THE DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS WERE SENT HOME…EMPTY HANDED…
IN THE WORDS OF HENRIK SEDIN...“WE WERE THE FAVORITES AND WE COULDN’T HANDLE IT”…
“I HOPE CANADA DOES A BETTER JOB”….
AMEN TO THAT!!!
IT’S THIS SIMPLE…
IF CANADA PLAYS THE SAME GAME TONIGHT…THAT THEY PLAYED WEDNESDAY AGAINST THE RUSSIANS…
THEY’LL MEET TEAM USA IN THE GOLD MEDAL GAME ON SUNDAY…
ON WEDNESDAY THE CANADIANS USED…THEIR SPEED TO TAKE AN EARLY 3-0 LEAD…
AND THEY USED THEIR SIZE TO PHYSICALLY ELIMINATE THE SKILL OF THE RUSSIANS…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN WAS SHUTOUT…AND WAS MINUS 2 ON THE NIGHT
ACCORDING TO SIDNEY CROSBY…
THE SLOVAKS CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE STILL WANT TO COME OUT THE SAME WAY…WE WANT TO COME OUT HARD”…
SOUNDS GOOD…BUT…THERE IS STILL THE MEMORY OF 1998…
WHEN DOMINIC HASEK CLOSED THE DOOR ON TEAM CANADA…
CAN YOU SAY…”JAROSLAV HALAK”???
WHICH GETS US TO THE HARD REALITY OF SPORTS…”EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW…YOU NEVER KNOW”…
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