I just saw highlights, stupid Versus, but I think that was more on the defense than on Howard…
Also, the Wings need to stop playing crappy against crappy teams:
16-6-3 against teams that would currently make the playoffs
5-9-2 agains teams that wouldn’t.
WTF?
Also CoJo retiring. To be honest I had assumed he had given it up a couple years ago. A solid regular season Goaltender, but just never was with the team to win the cup, and never put together a run of personal dominance to get it done by himself. But all in all number 4 on the golatender list is a huge achievement, although the all times losses isn’t.
But as a once Red wing, it is one more thing to make me feel older.
The whole game was like watching Sisyphus on ice. The wings would work for 4 minutes with nothing ever really being set up, the the Isles would look at the puck and it would end up in the net. Among the worst games I have ever seen.
Cujo was a great goalie, and an overrated one, IMO. He was pretty awesome in St. Louis in the early 90s, and probably should have won a Vezina or two. But after he was traded to Edmonton; and then on to Toronto, Detroit, etc., his numbers weren’t quite as gaudy, but still very respectable. He helped his teams win some series they should have lost (particularly when Edmonton beat Dallas in '97 and Colorado in '98). But his teams also lost some series they probably should have won (Toronto to Carolina in '02, and his Detroit stint).
I think he’ll get in the Hall of Fame; the hockey Hall is inclusive (as opposed to baseball) and he led a couple of deep Toronto playoff runs. But then I thought the same thing about Doug Gilmour, and he’s still waiting to get in.
Couple of eyebrow raisers. May be TLDR, sorry
Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows accused referee Stephane Auger of bias.. To briefly recap; about a month ago, Burrows got leveled into the boards in a game that Auger was refing. Auger called a major penalty and a game misconduct on the other player. But the league overturned the game misconduct, as the NHL staff believed that Burrows embellished the play (and it did look like he was looking for the ref.) This makes Auger look bad; so before the next Canuck game that Auger was working; he allegedly went over to Burrows and said (to paraphrase) “You made me look bad, so I’m gonna get you.” Auger ended up calling three very, very borderline penalties on Burrows; and on one of those powerplays, the other team (I think it was Nashville) scored the game winner. Burrows was mad afterwards and called out Auger quite explicitly. After an investigation, the league fined Burrows $2500, and took no action against Auger. IMO, I think Burrows might have had a legitimate beef; but he should have told his coach or one of the Canucks’ alternate captains and told them “This ref is mad at me for something I did the last game he worked; watch out.” Right now, he just looks like a crybaby who took some penalties that cost his team.
And in Pittsburgh, FSN Pittsburgh was found to have squelched a replay that cost the Flyers a goal. This had no effect on the game, as the Flyers ended up winning 7-4. During a video review, the NHL Operations department in Toronto were looking to see if Simon Gagne had scored in the second period. The ref ruled no goal, and replays initially shown on FSN Pitt were inconclusive. So the on-ice call was upheld. But after the review period, FSN Pitt showed a replay where the puck was definitely over the line. FSN has suspended a producer (interestingly, the son of a former Penguin.)
Is Patrick Marleau getting any national attention?
re: Burrows
Kenner - I get what you’re saying about Burrows looking like a crybaby. Except, NHL officiating is awful, it literally stinks on ice. Every team could give laundry list of blown, missed, or simply wrong calls. The argument that they even out is flawed, sure they even out - they evenly suck across the board. But nobody will acknowledge that there is a problem. Compounded with the joke that is the “war room”, you end up with the Burrows situation.
What amazed me was the grade A butt kissing exhibited on Versus and the NHL Network. While they are merely the media arms of the league, the commentary was over the top sycophantic. Brian Engblom made the comment that Auger had his arm around Burrows before the game and appeared to be having a friendly chat, so her certainly wasn’t making any threats. My wife and I, in unison, said that is exactly how we would do it. Smile while pushing the dagger in deep.
I agree with you that NHL officiating is uneven at best. I believe some referees have teams and players they both love and despise. I’m just saying that the way Burrows handled it, by mouthing off after the fact, doesn’t make him look very good. It boils down to he said-he said; and I’m not sure the NHL could suspend/discipline a ref on hearsay.
Not a good night for the Alberta-based teams last night; as the Flames took a 9-1 spanking at the hands of San Jose, and the Oilers were hammered 6-0 by Colorado. Quinn had the Oilers out for a “bag skate” today (all skating, and not a puck on the ice)
Eric Staal is now the new captain of the Hurricanes. Rod Brind’Amour, the team’s previous captain, will now be an alternate.
Defenceman Ryan O’Byrne has been a healthy scratch the past few games.
The Habs have decided to play him tonight.
As a forward.
W.T.F.?!?!
I guess it worked for Bergeron, but that’s 'cause he can actually shoot.
More size in front of the net, maybe? The Habs aren’t known for their size up front.
Perhaps that’s Martin’s reasoning. I’m not sure I agree with it, but hey, whatever works.
I don’t understand this move at all. Frankly, it’s a slap in the face to one of Carolina’s all-time great players. There’s just no reason to make this change.
I’m not sure that little experiment worked so well, but at least they got a point out of it. All those defencemen on the ice, and their defence sucks.
I think JR’s edging Rod into retirement for next year.
Georges Laraque has been let go. While I can’t say I’m too surprised (he’s always injured, and a terrible skater and stick handler), the fans in this city love BGL and this is going to generate a fair amount of talk!
His salary will still count towards the cap, so likely the Habs will pay him off this summer, which if I understand things will free up a millon+ for next year (1.5M$ ?).
Already 434 comments about it on the Habs’ Facebook page. Innocuous move, I’d say.
I think they have to buy him out at 3/4ths his contract; a little more than a million.
Captain Staal gets a hat trick, and Cam ward sets a record for franchise victories on the same night. They’re still playing no to lose in the third, though.
Rysto, Brind’Amour agreed to the change, so if he’s fine with it, I’m fine with it.
Well, the Sharks are rolling, but we’ve seen that before, now, haven’t we.
Technically, Laraque hasn’t been released, since he has a no movement clause in his contract. He’s still being paid by Montreal; he’s just being told to stay home, and will be officially bought out in the summer.