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Hockey May 2011
Sat, 2011-05-21 01:28
#1
Hockey May 2011
Sat, 2011-05-21 01:38
#2
Well that game was different.
Max "Tete a claque" Lapierre took it upon himself to fill the dumbass void left by Ben Eager's absence, and gave San Hose an early power play. Then the refs had a change of heart and thought it was OK to penalise a skilled Swede for slicing an opponent in the face with a stick, and Aneroid Sask's (neighbours to Travis Moen and Bryan Trottier) Patrick Marleau decided to score some goals.
The Sharks managed to hold on during that 5-minute call for a clean hit and won the game.
This has been some series, though. Alain Vigneault was whining, the players whine, and Jim Hughson called a petulant game tonight. The ice will probably be whining by the time the Cnøcks get back to Vancouver.
Sat, 2011-05-21 06:48
#3
The [url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/video/latest/McGinns-misconduct]"clean" hit[/url]. McGinn's a bum.
Of course, there were some people referring to [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0]to this one[/url] as a clean hit back in March. Maybe they just need new glasses or head transplants, or something.
Sat, 2011-05-21 12:11
#4
Confirmed: Thrashers moving to Winnipeg
Crack out the champagne glasses, Winnipeggers, and pour yourself some bubbly. It is now a done deal.
The National Hockey League will be coming back to Winnipeg, a well-placed, independent source has confirmed to QMI Agency.
Rather than this day being the end of the world, it appears the universe has moved a little closer to its natural order.
Sat, 2011-05-21 12:13
#5
Catchfire
Wow. Go 'Peg.
Sat, 2011-05-21 12:17
#6
Catchfire
As per the McGinn hit, I thought it looked like a minor at most--it had nothing on Eager's vindictive, try-to-injure boarding on Sedin Wednesday night. I also thought Lapi's penalty was understandable, but not particuarly dirty or stupid. The stupid penalty was Burrow's "accidental" tripping of Niemi after the 'Nucks finally had some momentum and gave the Sharks a 5 on 3. Which, of course, they showed Vancouver how to score when given so grand a gift.
On the whole though, the final score was 4-3, with Vancouver taking ten penalties--and the Sharks looked fragile at the end. I'd be worried if I was a fin.
Sat, 2011-05-21 12:28
#7
I also thought Lapi's penalty was understandable, but not particuarly dirty or stupid.
Refs generally call penalties on players who leave their feet when throwing bodychecks. It probably didn't help that Ian White (a Manitoba boy) is about half-a-foot (hmm, I looked it up: White's 5'10" and Tete a clacque is 6'2") shorter than Lapierre.
Sat, 2011-05-21 13:16
#8
on the Vancouver fan theme, Jeffrey Simpson of goofy political-commentary fame, likes to try his hand at sportswriting about twice a year, usually with infelicitous results (he thought Canada was in deep trouble 2 games into the last Olympic tournament);
anyway, he opines today (I won't link , it only encourages him) that west coast Globe correspodent Gary Mason is wrong, and in fact "99 per cent"" of Canadians watching the Canucks on TV are supporters; he even cites Canadiens fans, who by anecdote I understand are more keen on watching Tampa's big French scoring lineup...
the NY Times piece last week was pretty strong, and labelled Canucks a "regional brand" which as a '70s kid I find is true; they were awful for a decade at the start and never developed a real national following
Sun, 2011-05-22 12:24
#9
As per the McGinn hit, I thought it looked like a minor at most...
And at worst it was a dirty, cowardly hit from behind that left a player unconscious on the ice. They can't do that and get away with it.
Sun, 2011-05-22 17:07
#10
Damn yanquis with their penchant for afternoon games. Because I have other things to do, I missed yesterday's game and just now fired up the TV, as I saw on the Slam Sports site that the Vancouver game started two hours ago. What do those people do during the day?
I don't know how this guy gets his information, but Winnipeg's mayor doesn't think the revived hockey team (rising like a phoenix from the hellish flames of Betmania) in Winnipeg will be called the Jets.
Sun, 2011-05-22 17:30
#11
Shhhharks shuck!
Sun, 2011-05-22 19:01
#12
I don't know how this guy gets his information, but Winnipeg's mayor doesn't think the revived hockey team (rising like a phoenix from the hellish flames of Betmania) in Winnipeg will be called the Jets.
The league owns the name. Though it's also the same situation as the Cleveland Browns, but remember we're dealing with Bettman here. As for the name in 2nd place in that poll, the Falcons-it does have some history behind it:
Sun, 2011-05-22 19:19
#13
I have a replica Falcons Olympic sweater, which I wore to games when the World Juniors were in town. Lots of people gave me the thumbs-up for it, and one guy asked if I played for them (we used to play together).
My great-grandmother, a Gimli-Winnipeg Icelander, knew every player on that team, according to my grandmother. The Falcons were a mythic-heroic team to my family when I was growing up.
Sun, 2011-05-22 23:49
#14
Anyway, he opines today (I won't link , it only encourages him) that west coast Globe correspodent Gary Mason is wrong, and in fact "99 per cent"" of Canadians watching the Canucks on TV are supporters; he even cites Canadiens fans, who by anecdote I understand are more keen on watching Tampa's big French scoring lineup...
Not me. I'm a Habs fan first and foremost just to be clear. Vinny has turned his back on the club de hockey to play in Tampa. And that Gagne character used to play for Philly, a team that most of us Habs fan loathe anyway, and so Gagne is loathesome by association. A grandparent once played for the Habs and, later, the Bruins. I can cheer for any of the Habs, Bruins or Canucks. And most oddly for a Habs fan, if the Leafs are ever in there for a run at the cup, I can secretly cheer them on if they are an only other option. I cant' stand to see Leafs fans suffer this much. Their drought is cruel and unusual punishment for what was a once proud team and fan base. It would be good to restart the Habs-Leafs rivalry. In the meantime... Habs sign Alexei Emelin to one-year deal. Yes! Oh and, uh,
GO CANUCKS GO!
Mon, 2011-05-23 00:40
#15
It's too bad that the reffing has been such a big presence in this series but San Jose really has only themselves to blame. It's not exactly a secret that the Canucks powerplay will bury you if given an opportunity. Chicago and Nashville are two of the more disciplined teams in the league but San Jose just doesn't seem to get it, especially since their PK is nothing special. Right from the gate, their Captain tries to pick a fight on the opening faceoff, their star drops the gloves in an obvious mismatch, their coach repeatedly puts out their assassin when it's clear he's out of control. If your coach and your leaders aren't preaching discipline then you can't expect the team to play that way. Last year after Vancouver came apart at the seams ina similar way against Chicago, discipline and composure were the key words at the exit meetings. Supposedly, they showed Kesler tape of how Toews responded to the physical and verbal abuse by skating away and coming back and scoring a goal. San Jose needs to learn that lesson, it might be too late this year.
Mon, 2011-05-23 03:06
#16
I thought Vancouver looked terrible in the last 15 minutes of the game. The Sharks were all over them - even before they pulled Niemi it was like they had an extra guy out there and the Canucks couldn't even clear it out of their end. Much in the way that the Sharks managed a win on Friday due to the Canucks taking dumb penalties, the Canucks built a big lead by taking advantage of the power play opportunities they were handed, and then nearly blew it in the third. It frustrates me to see them resorting to their usual tricks of getting a lead and then trying to sit on it for the rest of the game. You can get away with that against Nashville, but you can't play that way against teams with high-powered offences like San Jose and Chicago (notwithstanding that the Canucks managed to squeak by in the first round).
They need to show up on Tuesday ready to play a full 60 minutes of hockey or they'll be going back to San Jose.
Mon, 2011-05-23 04:34
#17
16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...
Mon, 2011-05-23 06:04
#18
It frustrates me to see them resorting to their usual tricks of getting a lead and then trying to sit on it for the rest of the game. You can get away with that against Nashville, but you can't play that way against teams with high-powered offences like San Jose and Chicago (notwithstanding that the Canucks managed to squeak by in the first round).
Ahhem, I think they have and are continuing to do so. Sharks D is so flimsy that it negates the high powered offense. You knew they were worried about Vancouver when Thornton was trash talking Kessler and goading him to a fight. And then someone must have instructed McGinn the bum to get out there and do something really dumb and cowardly, like put a hit on Hamhuis from behind. Desperate moves by a desperate team.
Sharks positional play sucks and no discipline. And the frustration is a result of their porous defense and lack of commitment to blocking shots, covering guy, turnovers etc. Sloppy-sloppy. They want to score goals but not work to prevent them, which is easier than scoring them. They'll never win a cup with this team or this style of play. Theyre done.
Mon, 2011-05-23 12:14
#19
Anyway, he opines today (I won't link , it only encourages him) that west coast Globe correspodent Gary Mason is wrong, and in fact "99 per cent"" of Canadians watching the Canucks on TV are supporters; he even cites Canadiens fans, who by anecdote I understand are more keen on watching Tampa's big French scoring lineup...Not me. I'm a Habs fan first and foremost just to be clear. Vinny has turned his back on the club de hockey to play in Tampa. And that Gagne character used to play for Philly, a team that most of us Habs fan loathe anyway, and so Gagne is loathesome by association. A grandparent once played for the Habs and, later, the Bruins. I can cheer for any of the Habs, Bruins or Canucks. [ ...]GO CANUCKS GO!
I have long liked Tampa Bay, and their 2004 team was really outstanding -- the scoring champ, MVP, Conn Smythe winner, then a reprise at the '04 World Cup with Lecavalier winning the MVP there ... Wot a lineup!!
Anyway, saw Lecavalier play last weekend vs. Boston, and yes #4 has that long stride and moves that remind you -- when he is on his game -- of both the Big M and Gros Bil. I would love to see him win the Conn Smythe by great play in the Cup finals. That would be a tribute to some great Habs (he has already won the Rocket), a team that if you had not noticed, are not playing.
BTW, Vinnie never vetoed a move to the Habs, the trade was just never concluded. He is probably lucky, because he would have been eaten alive there.
Mon, 2011-05-23 15:10
#20
Catchfire
It frustrates me to see them resorting to their usual tricks of getting a lead and then trying to sit on it for the rest of the game. You can get away with that against Nashville, but you can't play that way against teams with high-powered offences like San Jose and Chicago (notwithstanding that the Canucks managed to squeak by in the first round).
Vancouver has outscored the opposition in the third period by a massive margin all year. This series, they have outscored San Jose by something like 15-3.
I also don't know why Vancouver fans seem to think San Jose is some also-ran hockey club who should just be letting Vancouver walk all over them. They are in their third conference final in six years. They are a great organization and know how to win a hockey game. Of course they are giving Vancouver all they could handle in the last ten minutes of a 4-2 game with the series on the line.
Mon, 2011-05-23 15:52
#21
N.Beltov
yea, in fact I think the Canucks have learned since the Nashville series NOT to "sit on a lead" and are getting better at turning up the heat and pressing forward or keeping their foot on the accelerator. For example, the 4th goal in Game 4 was a cushion that made the SJ comeback more difficult and ultimately unsuccessful (despite scoring 2 goals after Vcr's 4 to narrow the gap).
Vancouver is improving, perhaps only in small ways, with every series and will be well prepared for a final series should they get one more win against SJ. This series, for example, they are looking like the juggernaut that they were during the regular season. Very bad for opposing teams. The twins are returning to their torrid pace of scoring that they lost in the Nashville series and showing their patented jaw-dropping creativity - Hank or Henrik got an amazing assist on a goal that Burrows scored when the former passed the puck to Burrows between the legs of the SJ goalie. Sublime, really. Burrows shrugged his shoulders in the interview; "the puck hit my stick and went in ... I didn't really see it".
I took a ferry to Saltspring Island this weekend and in my Canuck jersey was surrounded by young women in SJ jerseys. Fortunately, they were friendly and took a photo with yours truly grinnin like a fool.
Tue, 2011-05-24 08:21
#22
The Dogs book their ticket to the Memorial Cup Final.
As soon as the puck left Jonathan Huberdeau's stick, he thought he'd blown a golden chance to send the Saint John Sea Dogs to the MasterCard Memorial Cup final.
The Sea Dogs are happy his judgment was off.
Huberdeau scored 17:35 into overtime to send the Saint John Sea Dogs to the Memorial Cup final after a 3-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack Monday.
Huberdeau found himself alone in the slot late in overtime and fired the puck at the Owen Sound goal. He thought his shot would miss, but he ended up beating Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington.
http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=366687
Tue, 2011-05-24 10:58
#23
"Sea Dogs" makes sense as a nickname for a hockey team, whereas "Ice Dogs," or any other name containing "ice." doesn't. Yes, the game is played on a sheet of ice - so what? Ice isn't exactly an exotic medium in Canada. You don't hear of football teams called the "Grass Bears" or basketball teams called "Wood Giraffes" after all.
Wed, 2011-05-25 00:55
#24
16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...
Wed, 2011-05-25 01:16
#25
N.Beltov
4-3 Chicago: the slaying of the dragon and an unhappy chapter comes to an end.
4-2 Nashville: Kestlerian heroics, or carrying the team on your back, and learning to win by one goal when necessary.
4-1 San Jose; the return of the twins, being good is also being lucky, and the vindication of Bobby Lu.
4-0 some Eastern team? Maybe. I predict "firing on all cylinders, unexpected resources, and a thing of beauty".
Wed, 2011-05-25 01:17
#26
Canucks win! Canucks win! Canucks win!
Wed, 2011-05-25 01:34
#27
N.Beltov
Quoted on FB:
That was Bieksallent!!
Wed, 2011-05-25 03:48
#28
go Lightning...
Wed, 2011-05-25 13:27
#29
LOOOOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!
Seriously, the Canucks were completely outgunned last night. The game could very easily have gone the other way - lots of close calls where San Jose couldn't *quite* get it into the net. Luongo was the key to victory last night, that's for sure.
Wed, 2011-05-25 20:12
#30
BTW, Vinnie never vetoed a move to the Habs, the trade was just never concluded. He is probably lucky, because he would have been eaten alive there.
There were trade talks, and Montreal must have been on Lecavalier's list of desirable destinations. Tampa's rookie GM at the time, Brian Lawton, messed up any possible deal. It was leaked which players Gainey was offering up for Vinnie, and those Habs' morale, and production, suddenly dropped off at the time knowing they were being shopped to the Lightning for Vinnie. There was damage to the Habs then as a result. Lawton and Lightning didn't know Vinnie's trade worth at the time and supposedly did some shopping themselves only to conclude later that corporate types would not have approved of a Vinnie trade to any team.
But overall if a high profile player like that is unhappy with where he is, he does have some input into the matter, which was not Vinnie's situation then apparently. I think Tampa's management were having a difficult time deciding whether to shop Vinnie or keep him. I think Tampa's management were having trouble making any kind of executive decisions in general.
Thu, 2011-05-26 17:34
#31
Stevie Y looks as if he's learning his new trade quickly.
Thu, 2011-05-26 19:39
#32
No kidding. I hope they can finish Boston off. St Louis/Stamkos vs The Sedins is a great matchup between the two best playmaker/goalscorer tandems in the league. Lecavalier and Kesler have looked like the two hungriest players this playoffs as well. Their one big weakness would be that Rolly looks increasingly spent. All the rest will probably do him some good if they can make it past Boston.
Fri, 2011-05-27 06:42
#33
go Tampa, the Flying Frenchmen of the South
Fri, 2011-05-27 15:34
#34
There goes the neighbourhood...
Fri, 2011-05-27 21:57
#35
go Tampa, the Flying Frenchmen of the South
There are Francophones on other teams still playing. Bergeron, Marchand, Paille, Burrows and Lapierre. And Savard is sorely missed by the Bruins right now.
And so far it's been the Dwayne Roloson show at TD Garden. Third period coming up.
Fri, 2011-05-27 23:09
#36
go Tampa, the Flying Frenchmen of the South
There are Francophones on other teams still playing. Bergeron, Marchand, Paille, Burrows and Lapierre. And Savard is sorely missed by the Bruins right now.
And so far it's been the Dwayne Roloson show at TD Garden. Third period coming up.
Not to mention the coaches
Sun, 2011-05-29 13:00
#37
The Dogs book their ticket to the Memorial Cup Final.As soon as the puck left Jonathan Huberdeau's stick, he thought he'd blown a golden chance to send the Saint John Sea Dogs to the MasterCard Memorial Cup final.
The Sea Dogs are happy his judgment was off.
Huberdeau scored 17:35 into overtime to send the Saint John Sea Dogs to the Memorial Cup final after a 3-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack Monday.
Huberdeau found himself alone in the slot late in overtime and fired the puck at the Owen Sound goal. He thought his shot would miss, but he ended up beating Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington.
http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=366687
I had hoped that the Saskatoon Blades would have been in the Memorial Cup this year, seeing as how they dominated the regular season in the Dub, then picked up Brayden Schenn from Brandon late in the year. Then I thought Kootenay ("Ice," like the Vancouver "Concrete" lacrose team) was a lock, considering they swept the Blades.
Who the heck are these Sea Dogs?
Apparently Sportsnet is broadcasting the cup final tonight.
Mon, 2011-05-30 08:01
#38
The second time was the charm for Jacob DeSerres.
DeSerres stopped 34 shots to lead the Saint John Sea Dogs to a 3-1 Memorial Cup final win over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, disappointing the Hershey Centre sellout of 5,429.
The 21-year-old was appearing in his second straight Memorial Cup final. Last year he helped the Brandon Wheat Kings reach the title game before surrendering nine goals in a loss to the Windsor Spitfires.
But the Calgary native was a rock for Sea Dogs, who stormed out to a 2-0 first-period lead before DeSerres stood tall to help his club withstand a spirited comeback bid by the hometown Majors.
Simon Despres, Zack Phillips and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Saint John (3-1), which became the first Maritime team to win the Memorial Cup.
Riley Brace replied for Mississauga (3-2).
http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=367328
Mon, 2011-05-30 09:30
#39
why are we waiting 5 full days, right into June, while the NBA proceeds with its finals for the first time in May ??
A.: NBC !
now that my real cheering interests have been eliminated, Sharks and Tampa, I guess OK, I will fall in line and cheer "patriotically" for Vancouver,
although I certainly don't recall any fan stampede toward Calgary, Edmonton or Ottawa for their recent Cup appearances; teams are teams, countries a different thing, in my view ....
Mon, 2011-05-30 10:34
#40
I'll probably root for Cam Neely and Milan Lucic's team, although I really can't get excited about any dog in this race.
Tue, 2011-05-31 00:47
#41
I've never seen the need for singing national anthems before sporting events, but the militaristic displays that have accompanied the NHL playoffs have been particularly nauseous this spring.
That said, the CF presence during the anthem at the start of the Memorial Cup was downright Nuremburg Rally-worthy.
Tue, 2011-05-31 07:38
#42
That was the most disgusting opening ceremonies I have seen in Canada, rivaling USian jingoism. If that is the crap we are to be fed on a frequent basis then I am happy Saint John lost the bid to host the Cup to Shawinigan next year. I wonder if we can ratchet this militarism back if we extricate ourselves from Afghanistan.
Tue, 2011-05-31 07:50
#43
Hockey fans anxious for word that the NHL is returning to Winnipeg could soon get good news.
David Thomson, a potential co-owner of a NHL Winnipeg team who lives in Toronto, was on a plane to Winnipeg Tuesday morning. CBC has learned an update could come mid-morning.
CBC News has been told by True North Sports and Entertainment to have technical people ready to set up as early as Tuesday.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/05/30/mb-hockey-fans-w...
Tue, 2011-05-31 12:28
#44
NHL back in Winnipeg
It's official!
A deal has been reached to bring a National Hockey League team back to Winnipeg for the first time since 1996.
A deal to move the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers to the Manitoba capital has been announced at press conference at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg
Yee haw! The human spirit triumphs over popcorn!
Tue, 2011-05-31 12:41
#45
Now all Atlanta needs is a third hockey team which can be relocated to Quebec City.
Tue, 2011-05-31 21:56
#46
"If we didn't get this done today, there was a good chance it wasn't getting done," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We were really out of time. "It is nice to be back in Winnipeg after all these years."
'It is nice to be back in Winnipeg': Bettman
Yeah, suuuure. Nice try Ratso, but you're the Philadelphia lawyer who took the Jets out of Winnipeg in the first place.
Tue, 2011-05-31 22:08
#47
This is excellent. The Jets were super cool! I kinda like the idea of the Moose as an NHL team though!
Tue, 2011-05-31 22:33
#48
N.Beltov
Since so much public money has been injected into the union-free MTS Centre arena, why not call the new team the "Manitoba taxpayers" seeing as how they paid for it?
Wed, 2011-06-01 07:28
#49
My youngest has taken a Jets' puck to school for show and tell.
Wed, 2011-06-01 12:46
#50
I have a Jets puck that is actually a bar of soap. It used to be white; now it's a dull yellow.
Back in the 80s, I'd cheer for the Jets (they were the local team - although I lived in Saskatchewan, all our TV came from Manitoba: CKX in Brandon, CKND in Dauphin, CKY and CBC in Winnipeg) and thus hated the Oilers, who'd knock the Jets out of the playoffs every year. Now the Oilers seem like cute harmless puppies, and Jordan Eberle is among my favourite NHL players. I wonder if the old loathing for the Oil is going to rise again...
Wed, 2011-06-01 13:15
#51
Fans filled King's Square, the Market Square boardwalk and lined King and Charlotte streets while waiting in the sun for the hometown team to show the products of a successful junior hockey season - the President's Cup and the Memorial Cup.
Police blocked off parts of 10 streets for the parade route. Officers were also out in full force to control traffic and a crowd that Sgt. Rick Caswell of the Saint John Police Force estimated at about 10,000.
The last time Caswell saw so many people on the streets at once was in 2001, when the city held a parade for the Calder Cup champion Saint John Flames
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1411176