How about them Canucks!

[talloola]

mcTavish is only coaching till their ahl coach, todd nelson, joins the team as 'interim' coach for the
rest of the season.

the shakeup usually jolts teams into playing better immediately, as they feel the loss of their coach,
feel the responsibility of his being fired, and dig deeper, but the long term fix for this team, in my
opinion needs more than a new coach, i mean, it would be interesting to see 'mike babcock', (detroit
coach) take this team for a season, and see if he can make a difference, without changing any of the
present players. i wonder.

 

[JLM]

mcTavish is only coaching till their ahl coach, todd nelson, joins the team as 'interim' coach for the
rest of the season.

the shakeup usually jolts teams into playing better immediately, as they feel the loss of their coach,
feel the responsibility of his being fired, and dig deeper, but the long term fix for this team, in my
opinion needs more than a new coach, i mean, it would be interesting to see 'mike babcock', (detroit
coach) take this team for a season, and see if he can make a difference, without changing any of the
present players. i wonder.

Yeah, me too. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't easier to get rid of coaches than players!

 

[talloola]

Yeah, me too. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't easier to get rid of coaches than players!

well it is definitely easier, sometimes it is the right thing to do, sometimes not.

 

[Kreskin]

yes, but the chipping it off the board style is usually for teams who have a lot of trouble making that
first pass, now with hamhuis out, that talent can suffer a bit, but they will come around, its amazing to
me how some fans can't tolerate the bad with the good, its not all good. calgary has 4 losses in a row,
And they are having a good season, l.a. are struggling, they will come around, san jose are just starting
to play better, minnesota have struggled, a team full of good players, but can't seem to get it going,
but i expect them to get better.

a player like hamhuis out of the lineup changes the defense big time, there isn't an equal to take his
place, the next in line just have to come in and do their best, looks like he will be out for a while.

its a game, there are highs and lows, that is the nature of the beast.

yeah it is fun to watch, desjarden wants them to play a highly intensive fast moving, fast breakout game,
and that is what everyone begs for when they are watching a team who is very defensive, always chipping
it out, and always chasing and checking, waiting for a chance to get a garbage goal, we watched cAnuck
teams play that style many seasons, and we all complained how boring it was.
that style is safe, no risks at all, low scoring usually, and can be played by any team who's coach is
'afraid', like torterella who played 'not' to lose, but never plAyed hard to 'win'.

It's all fine. If the team is firing on all cylinders then it works wonders. If guys are late getting to their assignments then the puck is moving back to their own net real fast and things could look a little ugly.

mcTavish is only coaching till their ahl coach, todd nelson, joins the team as 'interim' coach for the
rest of the season.

the shakeup usually jolts teams into playing better immediately, as they feel the loss of their coach,
feel the responsibility of his being fired, and dig deeper, but the long term fix for this team, in my
opinion needs more than a new coach, i mean, it would be interesting to see 'mike babcock', (detroit
coach) take this team for a season, and see if he can make a difference, without changing any of the
present players. i wonder.

I'm sure he would help but he won't be coming to Edmonton for any amount of money.

 

[gopher]

NYI > NJD 3-2 in shootout


Good match!

Always enjoy the NYC metro rivalries.

But I wonder why the reporters keep mentioning playoff positions for the teams when the season is only one third over. This is something you never hear in MLB or NFL.

 

[JLM]

NYI > NJD 3-2 in shootout


Good match!

Always enjoy the NYC metro rivalries.

But I wonder why the reporters keep mentioning playoff positions for the teams when the season is only one third over. This is something you never hear in MLB or NFL.

Joisy seems to have its demons!

 

[gopher]

Joisy seems to have its demons!

Joisy Devil:

Beware!

Bruce Springsteen and the Joisy Devil:



[youtube]l6leNRGhOqA[/youtube]

 

[talloola]

It's all fine. If the team is firing on all cylinders then it works wonders. If guys are late getting to their assignments then the puck is moving back to their own net real fast and things could look a little ugly.


I'm sure he would help but he won't be coming to Edmonton for any amount of money.

i actually wasn't thinking that he could actually come to the team, i was just making the point
that, even a coach of his stature might not make a big difference unless they made some player
changes, (not any of their top picks, they should stay).

and yeah, if a team is playing their best, and adjustments have to be made if they
are not, and this team is missing a top defensman, which has affected the defense
core somewhat, so forwards must play a bit more 'for them' for awhile, help them
out, and yes play a bit more defensive 'for a while', keep the passes from defense
up to forwards a bit closer, don't spread out too much, don't leave the zone too
quickly, sure, i agree with your views, but overall i like the way desjardin wants
the team to play, and they will most of the time, and if they can't sometimes, then
they can't, winning is the first priority.
i just think that game against new york was a flat start, first game back from
long trip, i don't think the team has changed, and things won't be perfect all the
time, humans are humans, sh*t happens, thats life.

 

[gopher]

NYR > Cal 5-2

Very dominant performance by the Broadway Blues - went for the cycle as they scored empty netter, short hand goal, and PPG. Four wins in a row.



Leah Hextall who works for Sportsnet is hottt. Really cute gal.

 

[talloola]

NYR > Cal 5-2

Very dominant performance by the Broadway Blues - went for the cycle as they scored empty netter, short hand goal, and PPG. Four wins in a row.



Leah Hextall who works for Sportsnet is hottt. Really cute gal.

rangers are certainly having a good trip. i have to add that, they caught canucks on their first game
after that 7 game road trip to the east, and they came out flatter than a pancake, lost the game in the
first 5 minutes.
they beat edmonton, as has everyone else, as edmonton can't beat anyone right now.

they caught calgary on a down trend, a team who had played so good all season till 5 games ago,
and all of a sudden the wins dried up, so rangers, and good for them, have come thru the northwest
at a good time for them.

are they going south to california after tonight?

 

[gopher]

I think they are headed to Carolina and then home.

Ah - I just checked: they won't be heading to California until the second week in January. Meanwhile they have a home-and-home series with the Hurricanes and then some individual matches to end the year and start the new one.

 

[talloola]

I think they are headed to Carolina and then home.

Ah - I just checked: they won't be heading to California until the second week in January. Meanwhile they have a home-and-home series with the Hurricanes and then some individual matches to end the year and start the new one.

i wonder how many teams in the east would ever have a 14 day, 7 game road trip like canucks just had,
i know other west coast teams would, i'm curious. that trip was obviously very hard on them, they
were very tired last 2 games of the trip, and that first game back at home, they came out awful,
we had not seen them play like that this season at all.

 

[gopher]

You bring up a very good point that is often overlooked when discussing pro sports - that is the extended distances and the impact of them upon the teams who are from the West Coast and Northern regions.

Most teams in the East Coast such as NYR, NYI, NJD are within a handful of miles from each others. Philadelphia is only 100 miles away. Boston, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto can be reached in less than one hour via airplane.

But teams up North and in the West Coast have to travel for many hours and this can take its toll on the players after such an extensive season. They have a tremendous handicap and probably explains why with few exceptions there have been so few sports dynasties in these regions.

 

[talloola]

You bring up a very good point that is often overlooked when discussing pro sports - that is the extended distances and the impact of them upon the teams who are from the West Coast and Northern regions.

Most teams in the East Coast such as NYR, NYI, NJD are within a handful of miles from each others. Philadelphia is only 100 miles away. Boston, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto can be reached in less than one hour via airplane.

But teams up North and in the West Coast have to travel for many hours and this can take its toll on the players after such an extensive season. They have a tremendous handicap and probably explains why with few exceptions there have been so few sports dynasties in these regions.

yes, this is true. i think the nhl should 'not' be allowed to schedule a road trip that has more than
5 games.

our schedule in this area has improved somewhat with the new divisional changes, but i still see these
ridiculous long trips east, i guess its all about saving money for the league.

with detroit and columbus now in the east, and winnipeg in the west, and the division changes, they have
tried to bring in less time changes, and make travel more north/south, and it is better, but certainly
still leaves something to be desired by the north west.

 

[talloola]

eddie lack is playing tonight, listened to an interview with desjardin this morning, and he said that
this was a scheduled game for eddie, and the decision has nothing to do with how either goalie is
playing, and he also said that their recent problems have 'NOTHING' to do with goalkeeping, they
have other issues, such as getting to the net, getting more scoring chances.


he didn't mention
the defensive problems, As that isn't an ongoing problem, but one from the last game, and a bit
harder for them since hamhuis has gone down.

the players expected to score have not been doing that, actually the 4th line has been doing that
recently. the twins line, the bonino line. they must put points on the board, that is their
job on the team, they haven't had a lot of powerplays, but 5 on 5 is the problem, those two lines
must get it going. burrows has played so well, maybe he needs to play with the twins for awhile,
i wonder.

anyway, desjardin will change up lines as they go along, if certain lines keep treading water.

and of course all of them have to be responsible definsively, that is always the case.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canucks look to end skid against Stars

Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver CanucksSTARS (11-13-5) at CANUCKS (18-10-2)

TV: SN, FS-SW+

Season series: Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen made 43 saves, and forward Erik Cole had two goals in a 6-3 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 21 at American Airlines Center. Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller was pulled after allowing five goals on 13 shots. Dallas was 3-0-0 last season, outscoring Vancouver 12-3.

Stars team scope: With Dallas in sixth place in the Central Division prior to games on Tuesday, general manager Jim Nill said he remains patient. "We were fortunate to make some moves last season that probably put us ahead of what anybody really thought, and now it all has to come together," Nill told NHL.com. The Stars defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday; forward Tyler Seguin had one goal and one assist and has 38 points. Backup goalie Anders Lindback was recalled from the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League on Sunday and will start on the upcoming three-game road trip, coach Lindy Ruff said. Lindback went 3-2-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in his past five starts for Texas.

Canucks team scope: Vancouver has been outscored 17-7 during a four-game losing streak, and coach Willie Desjardins confirmed Tuesday the Canucks will tweak their system. "We're just trying to make changes that allow us to more utilize our talent," Desjardins said. "I think certain lines are good at certain things and others have other strengths, so we want to try to maximize that with our systems with all the lines." Goalie Ryan Miller is 1-3-0 with a 4.10 goals-against average and .837 save percentage in December. In his career against Dallas, Miller is 4-4-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .877 save percentage. The Canucks confirmed Monday that rookie center Bo Horvat would not be loaned to Canada for the World Junior Championship. Horvat, 19, has one goal and five points in 17 games. "Bo Horvat has proven he can contribute to the success of the Vancouver Canucks," general manager Jim Benning told the Canucks website.

 

[gopher]

Ottawa > NJD 2-0


Devils out played Nats but their goalie Anderson kept the net empty of Devil pucks.


Interesting segment on Toronto and its deal which sent Tom Kurvers from the Devils in exchange for draft rights for Scott Niedermeyer. Kurvers (Bloomington, MN) was one of Gopherland's greatest amateur players and was a fair NHL pro. But Niedermeyer is a Hall of Famer and one of the best during his era. Seems that the folks in Toronto has never quite forgiven team management for making that deal.

 

[Cannuck]

Ottawa > NJD 2-0


Devils out played Nats but their goalie Anderson kept the net empty of Devil pucks.


Interesting segment on Toronto and its deal which sent Tom Kurvers from the Devils in exchange for draft rights for Scott Niedermeyer. Kurvers (Bloomington, MN) was one of Gopherland's greatest amateur players and was a fair NHL pro. But Niedermeyer is a Hall of Famer and one of the best during his era. Seems that the folks in Toronto has never quite forgiven team management for making that deal.

The Leaves have made so many bad deals over the years nobody bothers to keep track of them anymore. But seeing as this is a Nucks thread, we could also talk about Vancouver sending Cam Neely and a draft pick (Glen Wesley) to the Bruins for Barry Pederson....probably one of the worst trades in my lifetime.

 

[gopher]

The Leaves have made so many bad deals over the years nobody bothers to keep track of them anymore. But seeing as this is a Nucks thread, we could also talk about Vancouver sending Cam Neely and a draft pick (Glen Wesley) to the Bruins for Barry Pederson....probably one of the worst trades in my lifetime.

I understand the Leafs have the highest team valuation of any squad in the NHL. That makes you wonder - why if they have so much $$$, why is it that they have failed to put together a management board that can scout the better talent and put the proper personnel on the ice and coaching staff that would bring the Cup to Toronto ???

 

[Cannuck]

I understand the Leafs have the highest team valuation of any squad in the NHL. That makes you wonder - why if they have so much $$$, why is it that they have failed to put together a management board that can scout the better talent and put the proper personnel on the ice and coaching staff that would bring the Cup to Toronto ???

Because they don't have to. The idiots there line up to pay obscene amounts of money to watch a perennial loser. Why spend money if you don't have to?

 

[gopher]

Because they don't have to. The idiots there line up to pay obscene amounts of money to watch a perennial loser. Why spend money if you don't have to?

I well remember the LONG Stanley Cup drought the Rangers had and for many years the fans screamed at team management for failing to put together the proper personnel that would give them the Cup. Then back in 1994 when they finally won, the fans celebrated like heck. I would imagine that Leaf fans must be giving team ownership absolute Hell for their prolonged hiatus as Cup winners.