Now that I've watched the game, let me say:
• Despite the blanking, Kipper lost the game for Calgary, not the short bench.
• Pelech looked good, Negrin looked green
• Jokinen and Iginla are now officially terribly linemates, and need to be broken up immediately and permanently. If it was up to me, these would be the combos:
Iginla-Langkow-Moss
Bertuzzi-Jokinen-Glencross
Cammalleri-Conroy-Lundmark
Van Der Gulik-Boyd-Nystrom
It's a wee bit sad that you have to protect Jokinen, Bertuzzi and Cammalleri with responsible players, but that's the story. Langkow's the only centre who can work with Iginla at this point, and he needs a guy like Moss on his line to create the space he needs. Need to hold a lead at the end of the game? Reunite Conroy/Moss/Glencross.
(Of course, that fourth line is assuming some defencemen get healthy at some point, which I suppose is being optimistic.)
The joke that has been the last five games calls for drastic measures on your lines, no? Since when did the Keenan blender lose power in the worst of times?
• Bertuzzi has to get hurt for the Flames to win a playoff series
When the Flames played the Wings a couple of years ago, I called the series for Calgary with my top reason being "Detroit has Bertuzzi." Dude is unbelievably bad, and fans are unbelievably blind to be so fooled by a one-in-10 success rate for ill-advised passes.
But hey, what the hell do I know.
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Dude is unbelievably bad, and fans are unbelievably blind to be so fooled by a one-in-10 success rate for ill-advised passes.
not just fans, apparently *cough*Keenan*cough*.
Keenan's such a weird cat. I mean, there's obviously a big brain in there, but there's also clearly a screw loose. Although I have to say, that thing last night where he gestured towards QMac to get in there after the second goal, delayed for a second, then pushed his index and middle fingers towards the ice briefly — that cracked me up.
His idea that Bertuzzi's big-body presence somehow makes up for his dictionary full of bad passes? That doesn't crack me up so much.
why is it that us three, plus a handful of other posters (shep, Rcleave, ngthagg etc) can see this team for what it is (ie: terrible) and everyone else seems so G**D*** BLIND to it ??!?!?
it's truly outrageously frustrating.
why is it that us three, plus a handful of other posters (shep, Rcleave, ngthagg etc) can see this team for what it is (ie: terrible) and everyone else seems so G**D*** BLIND to it ??!?!?
it's truly outrageously frustrating.
I was a Jets fan until they abandoned me for the desert, WI. I know suckitude when it's staring me in the face. This team has been carried by its foot soldiers for the entire season, and except for Keenan's laments after Bourque was hurt, all we've heard is how Bertuzzi is under-appreciated, how Kiprusoff is Vezina worthy, how Phaneuf and Iginla and Jokinen are great players who only infrequently struggle. The blaming of Giordano for his injury really pissed me off. He's what, about the 8th or 9th highest paid defenceman counting Warrener and Eriksson? You're ripping him when Phaneuf and Sarich and Vandermeer walk free? I know a lot of what comes from the organization is just meant to distract the rubes, particularly when it's from Sutter. It doesn't mean anyone needs to buy it.
Y'know, I don't even think they're terrible. I mean, they are going to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season, as Darryl helpfully pointed out yesterday. But that's what's so frustrating — it's like Sutter and Keenan know 7/8ths of what it takes to succeed, but without that other 12.5% you're totally fucked.
But of course, said rubes are so blindly supportive that they believe the bullshit stories that Bertuzzi is REALLY GOOD and Kiprusoff is having a GREAT SEASON.
And yeah, that blaming Gio for his own injury thing really pissed me off too. Almost as much as Dion's "the Leafs are a really talented club" soliloquy.
Keenan is smart for sure. Unfortunately, it's made him arrogant. Which is why he takes his impressions of players to be absolute truth, even when there's ample competing evidence to the contrary.
On that note, is there anything more mythical on a player evaluation level in the NHL than "big body presence"? It's neither necessary nor sufficient to make a guy effective, but coaches, scouts and even a large portion of the fanship just slobber over it. Has Jokinen's "being big" done anything at all for this club since he was acquired? Anyone?
Stupid.
On that note, is there anything more mythical on a player evaluation level in the NHL than "big body presence"?
Only if it's "down the middle", Kent.
On that note, is there anything more mythical on a player evaluation level in the NHL than "big body presence"?
I think Lowetide uses the phrase "Coke Machines". Jokinen might as well be 5' 7" for all the use he gets out of his size. Can you play or not? Does the puck end up at the right end of the ice or not? That's all that counts. Hockey people can be very hidebound. Cowbells, right?
As for Keenan, if Bourque and the veteran D get healthy for the playoffs, he'll have a lot of talent at his disposal. I'm curious to see what he gets out of it.
i've said it once and i'll say it again: i don't see rene bourque being the last puzzle piece that will bring home a cup... this team is far too flawed...
i mean, we're talking about a second/third liner up until about xmastime...
i've said it once and i'll say it again: i don't see rene bourque being the last puzzle piece that will bring home a cup... this team is far too flawed...
i mean, we're talking about a second/third liner up until about xmastime...
This is the Canucks' dilemma - third liners carrying them.
In our case - it's the poor play of our top players that has impeded us this year. It's disappointing, but given the choice between hoping for your elite players to regain their form, and hopint for your average players to suddenly find it within themselves to play at an elite level, which would you rather have?
given the choice between hoping for your elite players to regain their form, and hopint for your average players to suddenly find it within themselves to play at an elite level, which would you rather have?
both, please !!!
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