Saturday, October 22, 2005

I hate to be the one that told you... actually I love it

Dig back in my posts.... I said the Oilers were fucked.

I said Eric Lindros would return to NHL superstar status.
I said Petr Bondra would find himself in Atlanta....

Check the post of Lindros to Toronto from September, and also the Bondra to Atlanta post in September. I got flooded for it, but Lindros is 2nd in NHL goals, Bondra is 6th in NHL points.

Who's the loser now?

I know my shit. Bow down to the almighty hockey king. Duke.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Game Review: Oct.14/05 - Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers

Classic battle of foes.

1st period...

A very slow, chippy start between both teams. What was more unimpressive was the usually electric Rexall Place crowd. Somehow on a Friday night in Edmonton, sold out, the crowd sat in their seats and left their voices at home. Very disappointing.

Rookies Winchester and Rita were given their chances. Hell, Syvret and Shremp were sent down to make room for these guys. Let's see.... Winchester sucks. He doesn't fit into the Oiler style. He's slow, has no heart and no finish on his shift. He's like Brad Isbister, but without skill. Like Isbister had it? no. But neither does this fuck up. Rita.... he's got Oiler speed, too bad he never learned to handle a puck, how to pass, how to shoot. For fuck sakes, the Oilers should have drafted Apolo Ono. He can skate faster. Plus he has countless gold medals, give him a stick, he can't do any worse.

To cut away from the game, and part of the game at this point: MIKED REFS is an idiotic idea from the NHL. People in Edmonton already know what the deal is, we saw it happen. It's not the NFL where you wonder why the flag went down. It was clear why the arm went up. Then the ref says the call, and within 2 seconds, so does the PA announcer. I don't know if I've seen such an absurdely stupid thing this year in the NHL. Lose it.

Then Jokinen scores. No fault of Conklin, Staois was running around like a retard and left Conk out to dry on that rebound that should have been easily picked up by Staois. Shit happens. Staois played a horrible game, making moronic shots on the PP, horrible passes...

One thing I notice, the Oiler defense is slightly cramped in the mind, one time they used the 2 line pass during action sent DVO in alone. Why not make that a steady play? He's always ready for it.

I loved the Oilers faceoff formations, I don't know if that's MacT, Simpson, Huddy... but it's something we haven't seen here in years. They don't just line up straight atom 10-11 year old hockey style. Some point this year, that'll get us an extra 5-6 goals total.

From a docile and slow Oiler period, Moreau threw a cheap knee on knee hit to get the puck out front of the net... if it wasn't the Oilers, I know people on the boards around Edmonton would scream foul. Lucky Klemm got up, Moreau would be suspended for 15 games.

2nd Period:
Conklin let in a second goal and this pissed me off.... MacT pulled Conklin. What the fuck does that say to a kid that already is battling a confidence issue? He was left hanging on goal one. Luongo wasn't pulled until he let in 3 in the first period of the Florida game last night. MacT pulls this shit? Trade Conklin right now for his own good, MacT just crushed him mentally. Let him flourish somewhere else, idiotic move and just cost us a prospect.

2nd, 2nd 2nd.... fuck it, let me wrap this shit up, anyone that cares saw the game:

Stoll - this kid needs a reality check, he's not a star in this league. Like a scout asked Terry Jones in LA... "Why does 16 think he's MacInnis"? That's exactly it. He has no timing, and I'd rather him and Pronger pass it back and forth until someone has a clear shot... not just Stoll shoots it every fucking time Pronger gives it to him.

Hemsky - this kid got cocky somewhere along the line. He thinks he can do it all, it's not like Hemsky of the past that passed it off every time he got the puck, now he thinks he can stickhandle in the zone, wait... wait.... wait... and cough it up. Him and Stoll seem like ego maniacs ready to Randy Moss our chemistry into the ground.

Stars of the Game:
EDM - Radek Dvorak - complete hustle from the start of the game to the finish, was on ice for all Edmonton goals, in fact, Smith would have never scored without Dvorak's hustle and shot on net.
DAL - unseen by many but Jon Klemm - he consistently shut down every attack the Oilers had. Blocking shots, perfect breakout passes. The Stars played a great team game, but his in the rough efforts win my respect.

Retards of the Game:
EDM: There was Laraque's ineffectiveness... but no, as much as it pains me to say it: Steve Staois. He fucked up too many times, he hung Conklin out to dry on goal one, he kept getting his outlet passes picked off, he shot on the PP when a shot was unwarrented, and straight into the chest of Hedberg. The entire Oiler team played like shit, but he was the leader of it.

DAL: Hedberg's mask. Anyone get a good look at it? It's hard to explain. People that saw it know. The entire team played a good game, so all I have is his mask.

NHL: Rob Schick: This ref had no idea what he was doing on either side. That crucial puck over the glass penalty to Modano in the final 4 minutes went clearly off Peca's stick. Bad Call. The Oilers didn't score and I'm cool with that, it would have been cheap. But then in the final seconds of the Oiler push, Peca shot the puck on net at exactly 4 seconds left. He didn't blow his whistle until 1.1. Under review the Oilers ended up with 2.5. It don't sound like a lot, but it could have tied the game. His docile whistle makes the wonder of what could have been.

Game Verdict: The Oilers fucked up.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Lindros Moves into top 100 scorers of all time


With his goal tonight, Eric Lindros just cracked the top 100 goal scorers in NHL history. The man he knocked out of the top 100.... Bobby Clarke.

Against the Flyers, sealed the game. Clarke has to be pissed.

Eric's little strut after he buried it was classic too. First time I ever seen him showboat, he knew what he did.

I love the Flyers and hate the Leafs, but that was all too great of a moment for a guy that got the royal fuck over from Clarke. Payback can be a bitch.

Also nice to see Jeff ONeill score a goal for his recently passed brother and point to the sky. Great moment.

I'd review the Oilers game, but I can sum it up in 4 words:
They fucking blew it.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Warning for Poolsters

DO NOT, by any circumstances, check out your league while wasted.

I woke up today to see I swung a deal of Rick Nash for Marcel Hossa, because in my state, I thought I was trading for Marian.

That also goes for using email, or talking to people on IMs that you know personally. You'll regret it later.

That's all.

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Oct.8/05 Game: Montreal at Toronto

Hockey Night in Canada.
It doesn't get any better. Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, the complete Toronto bias. I didn't realize I actually missed this.

Pat Quinn is garbage. There's no two ways about it. Why do people act like he's some legendary coach? He's never actually won shit in his career. Here's a guy that can't see a player of incredible talent opening ice up and playing his heart out in Eric Lindros. The guy is sitting on the bench way too much, every time he's on the ice, Toronto is a threat to score. Rang one off the crossbar in the first period, threw some hits, makes awesome passes and makes a horrible PP decent. Play the fucking guy.
... and like Don Cherry said, why the hell isn't Kyle Wellwood playing when you have Alex Ponakarovski or however you spell that Russian word for pussy playing?

Jason Allison: do us all a favor and retire. I hate the Leafs and love watching them fuck up, but you're embarassing even for me. Has this guy ever heard of the concept of "pass"? Why does he think he can stickhandle through three players? EVERYTIME. It never worked the first time moron, it didn't work the second, the third... give it up. Patty Quinn loves him though, he gets ice time.

Exciting 2nd period I got to say. Back and forth action, Alexander Steen's goal was killer for a kid's first NHL snipe. Theodore was flopping like he was in NHL2006. Perezhogin goes 2 up on Crosby, and Sheldon Souray blasted one past Ed Belfour like he wasn't even there. About time, I was about to rant about how Souray somehow got washed up in one year, but he put Montreal ahead, so I can't hate him too much right now.

Anyways, the third is about to start.... I'll award my stars and retard of the game right now, because Edmonton will be on right after.

Stars:
TOR - Eric Lindros - Keep it up man, even if you're playing on a line with people who can't skate, catch a pass or see you open... you're a beast. Toronto's best player bar none.
MTL - Craig Rivet - stiches, blocking shots and refusing to go down. All heart and a rock on the defense. If he didn't play like that, Toronto would be winning right now.

Retards:
TOR - Jason Allison. See above. I hate to think about it again.
MTL - Mike Ribiero. Get some hands, you should have a hat trick right now. This guy is going to be the next Todd Marchant, league leader in goals blown.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Fedor Fedorov traded to Rangers for Balej


In other news... nobody cares.

Oct.7/05 Game - Calgary vs. Columbus

Ok, it was the only game on cable tonight. Flames/Bluejackets. Whatever.

First thing I noticed is Calgary is a fucking slow team. Flat footed and boring. Nobody on that team has any hustle except Iginla, Langkow, and Lombardi. Reinprecht showed up for 5 seconds, but besides that I forgot he was even a Flame.

Ok, and God Bless you Iginla, but you got to stop telegraphing that one fucking shot. Go down the right side, and lift the leg up to snap it on net. The moment you lift that leg up the goalie knows you're going to shoot. It's moronic buddy. Kind of like Ryan Smyth's left wing slap shot. Goalies get a book on you man, why do you think Smyth went from sniper to 15 goals a year?

Sportsnet. Come the fuck on. Come on. What's the deal? It's been over 5 years since you got on the air but still haven't learned to turn up the game sound just one octave? You can't hear shit. It's not the boring ass Columbus crowd, it's you. TURN IT UP.

And Roger Millions needs to go. How depressing is a Sportsnet game with that droning on play by play. The guy has no emotion. Jesus Christ, where was Sportsnet when Chris Cuthbert was up for grabs? Most irritating play by play in the media. I'd think the Buffalo, Pittsburgh or Rod Phillips radio announcers would be more than happy to take a pay hike to go on a national broadcast. Anyways Sportsnet sucks, back to the "action".

What a sleeper of a game. Columbus has no PP. I mean David Vyborny is your QB? I thought the Oilers sucked at this, Columbus just put them to shame. They can't pass, their blueline can't shoot, Delmore is a bust..

Finally a goal, Donovan snaps home a cheap one. Still a yawner of a game.

Columbus blew on the PP, Calgary wasn't much better. They had Chris Simon out there on their 2 man advantages, the new rules should dictate he'd be helpful, but with all the ice in the world, he still has hands of stone. Fuck him. Calgary won't score with him on the ice.

Gilbert Brule!! One good shift, one shot..... denied. Never noticed him again. If I was Columbus, send the kid back to Vancouver for another year, he's not ready for the primetime.

Sean Donovan.... sharpen your fucking skates. It's free in the NHL, you have a trainer. There's no excuse for playing 9 out of every ten seconds of your shift lying on your fucking back. You looked like Bambi hitting the ice. Get a fucking brain dude. Seriously.

Anyways, Calgary wins in a boring game. Darren McCarty was garbage in the first 2 periods, all he did was dump the puck in. Over and over. He also needs to cut that stupid chin hair, it's retarded, you're fooling nobody. But in the last 10 minutes he played like McCarty of Detroit, clizzutch. He put the game away. Clutch.

Stars of the game:
CGY - Daymond Langkow - solid on the backcheck, excellent passer, one goal, one assist. Him and Iginla are going to be danger. Believe that.

CBJ - Marc Denis - if it wasn't for this bust of a draft pick, Columbus would have gotten their asses handed to them.

Retards of the game:
CBJ - Duvie Westcott - what the hell kind of name is that? You'd think growing up with that name he'd grow some balls to overcompensate. Instead he was like a deer in headlights, scared to touch anyone. Excellent passer though, to the other team. Every breakout pass I saw, he sent it straight on a Flames stick. AHL player only in the league due to expansion.

Fan - that fat bastard that was a reject from "the Biggest Loser" on NBC. Painted "Go Blue Jackets" on his fat stomach, irritating enough to see him flop that around, but even more moronic.... he spelled Blue Jackets wrong. "Go Blue Jakets". Some people need to be put down.

Verdict: Calgary is overrated, Columbus really sucks. Sportsnet is worse than them combined.