Start Time Changes; Tuesday skate update
Posted on October 16th, 2007 – 10:51 AMBy Michael Russo
Skoula, Skoula, Skoula. Skoula’s the best.
Sunday’s game time against Colorado has been changed to 6 p.m. from 5 p.m.
Also, for some reason, Major League Baseball would not agree to move Game 4 of the World Series to the afternoon despite the fact the Wild and Avs had a night game. Hockey always gets the shaft.
So the Wild and Avs will now play at 2 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Mountain on Oct. 28. I, by the way, will be at Game 3 of the World Series on Oct. 27.
From the skate: Backstrom is starting (he was the first off, so I’m assuming). Jacques says Nummelin is playing. So I’d assume Carney or Foster is out:
Lemaire said, “I don’t think the player knows yet, so …”
In other words, I won’t tell you, although I think he should tell me everything.
Speaking of telling everything, Jacques was in a great mood this morning. He was giving all sorts of insight on how he deploys certain players like Boogaard and Sheppard during games or decides whether a Carney or Nummelin sits.
Just a taste, the Phoenix game. The Wild was dead energy-wise. Normally that would be a time to throw out Boogaard to rev things up, but Jacques said he never did that because he really felt in his gut that the Wild would eventually rally without some artificial move like that. He also said that he hasn’t been able to play Boogaard as much “because they’re all one-goal games.”
Same thing with Sheppard. Lemaire’s limited his ice time late in tight games because “then it’ll be in our net, and I hurt the kid.” But if he feels the games firmly under control, he’ll throw Sheppard a confidence bone and toss him on the ice, like he did with less than two minutes left the other night in Anaheim.
Jacques went on and on in ways he rarely does, and for a hockey geek like myself who often plays coach in the easiest seat in the arena — the press box — I was pretty riveted.
Okie Dokie (sp?), I have to do a podcast, or webcast, or whatever those things are called, now. Talk to you tonight from the game.
Incidentally, and I know this will make you all sad, but the blog will be kind of dormant with Michael Russo entries Wednesday-Saturday as I won’t be around the team, and in fact, won’t be back in the Twin Cities.
But I’m sure Kent Youngblood WILL blog (won’t you Kent?) while I’m gone, and perhaps I’ll blog from my couch during Saturday’s game as I take a rare game off and watch on TV like the rest of you.
94 Responses to "Start Time Changes; Tuesday skate update"
Russo: Just rub it in why don’t you. I get to go to the NLCS, I get to go to World Series, I get paid to watch the Wild and I use to get paid to watch the Panthers. Can I have your job?
And yes, I am very jealous!
Russo, You said they just changed the game from 5PM to 6PM for Sundays game, Sunday (at Anaheim) they announced that the start time was 4:30 for the 10/21 game. What are the rules for changing the start times of games? This is very short notice.
With Bernier being sent down, who’ll start in goal for the Kings tonight? Aubin or LaBarbara?
Was just catching up on all of the Skoula bashing (and some defending) from the previous thread.Here is my take:
A defenseman Like Skoula,or at least how he is being asked to play by JL,is alot like an umpire.When he screws up you know it right away and you tend to remember it.If he’s doing his job you tend to not notice him as much.Skoulas mishaps last Dec. where many and they stuck in our collective heads.He finished quite well last year,and the confidence JL is showing in him is paying off.
My guess is they switched the Sunday game against the Avs because the Vikes game was originally scheduled at noon and was switched to 3pm.
Should be able to catch Sat game while in Aberdeen. Not sure if I will be able to see the 28th though. Hope to be in NoDak.
Russo I’m going out on a limb here, but you really seem to be enjoying yourself right now. Wow goal differential between the good guys and LA is just amazing.
The boys should stomp tonight, LA is that bad.
doogs -
Your kidding, no?
I wouldn’t mind seeing a Burnsie hat trick tonite
not kidding, no. I don’t know if that’s really why they made the change, but I heard they try to avoid being on at the same time.
I’m confused about the whole Wild/Vikings connection? The Wild are 5-0, the Vikings don’t have a clue because I don’t watch football hence the confusion. Never mind answered my own question.
Russo -
Any feel-good stories about Olli Jokinen
on the fringe of breaking the Panthers scoring record?
Too bad he plays in the SE, he is a player.
Russo’s being demure. He’s appearing on Eklund’s buzzcast or whatever it’s called today. 4pm ET, hockeybuzz.com…they chat about stuff and take some live calls.
I don’t want to hear anything else about Martin-can’t-skoul-ya for the rest of the season Russo. The topic is cashed!
I have no idea if there’s a connection between this Sunday’s change and the Vikings game or not, but the Wild does seem to try to avoid conflicts with the Vikings. I have had Vikings season tickets since before the Wild and have noticed that it is very rare for a Wild game to conflict with Vikes game, particularly a home Vikings game (which this weekend is not). I assume that’s not an accident, though I can’t recall any stated policy or intent from the Wild.
Wow does that mean hockeybuzz is going legit?!? Or is it just Ek that spews stuff he knows nothing about?
OK folks…the fact that Downtown Denver will be in absolute chaos a week from Sunday forced the Avs to change the start time of the game. They were probably asked to by the City of Denver, since LoDo (the part of downtown Denver where Coors Field and Pepsi Center are both located) will be swamped that day. (What will they do the next day, when the Broncos are scheduled to play the Packers at Invesco Field?)
As for this week’s time change for the home game, I think it has something to do with the fact that the NHL Network has not started in the USA yet. If you take a look at your Wild pocket schedules, you will see a number of 5 PM starts on Sundays. That was the time set for the NHL Network’s ‘Game of the Week’. If the network would ever start. (I sincerely hope it does…and soon!)
Yes, the Vikings game vs. the ‘Boys in Dallas was changed by Fox to a 3:15 start (it will be their primary doubleheader game) but since this is an away game for the Vikes, it’s not as necessary to change the start time as it would be if they played in the Dome.
Mike Russo: Perhaps, in this format, you may explain yourself — for the record — as to your ‘Mission’ which you ‘accomplished’ this morning?
Remember, G.W. Bush flew onto an aircraft carrier and pronounced the same exact thing. We’re still there, accomplishing the same thing, aren’t we?
(And for the rest of you: This is directed at Mike Russo only. You may comment also, but I really want to hear HIS side of it. In this format, no e-mail message.)
Russo: How is Shepard playing? He seems like he is in plays and is not completely lost out there, but I don’t have any perspective except the little TV screen…
With all the fight talk earlier, I have to ask: Which Wild player will be the first to get a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, assist, fight)?
My money is on Burns.
Gotta agree Wafer, my vote goes to Burns. Although I would like to say Boogie. Russo tell Boogie he needs to score a goal this season (and up-date his blog).
Right there with ya Bandgeek/Wafer. Burns will do it before Boogie, but it would be great if Boogie would do it.
Can you imagine the X if that were to happen? I’d pay extra to see that ;P
The thing about Boogie is if he’s able to get the goal and the assist, the fight will be easy.
For a Gorgie Howe hat trick do you actually have to win the fight or does just simply dropding the gloves do the trick?
smuggla: that’s a good question, although I’m sure you weren’t besmirching the career of Mr. Hockey - who, as we all know, never lost a fight.
Do I look like someone who’d besmitch anyone?
Yes, but we like you anyway. And I’m pretty sure he’d have to win the fight.
If Boogie were to score a goal the roof would come off the X.
NiNy,
Have always enjoyed reading your intelligent, thought provoking posts. However, if you keep using big words like demure and besmirch, I may have to find my dictionary.
Put Boogie on the PP tonight and he will get his goal. LA is terrible, what a great time to put him out there!
I don’t think Boogie could get the GHHT tonight because there is no one worth fighting in LA. He might get the goal and assist though….
Did anyone watch the Leafs/Sabres last night? Wow, what a game!
Who’s gonan start in goal tonight for us- any guesses?
Sorry DJ missed it. Wasn’t able to wrap things up last night until 9:00 so I was out of luck. I’d like to catch a Flyers game so see what all the hubbub is all about.
sawhockey - hubbub wasn’t too much for ya, was it? ;P
BoogieNeedsAGoal - love your handle, long but love it.
Backstrom will get the start tonight, unless JL wants to give him a full week off before Saturday, but I don’t think that will be the case.
ss6 - The handle is long, but it is staying until he gets one…
I heard it’s going to be Harding because he’s 1-0 against the Kings and Backstrom has never faced the Kings… Who here plays fantasy hockey?
Is there anyone weeping over the Swarm season being called off today?
It’s probably a good thing- keep the ice at the X in better condition that way
Who?
From the article:
“Yet, conversely, few players are more applauded on a daily basis by coach Jacques Lemaire than Skoula, who averages more than 20 minutes a night and is an enormous reason why the Wild gave up the fewest goals in the NHL last season and has yielded only four goals in five games this season and remain the NHL’s only undefeated team (5-0) heading into tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.”
If I sent you a box full of periods, do you think you could use a couple of them in your articles? Holy run-on sentences, Batman! Don’t you have an editor?
Boogie-
Boogaard can fight Ivanans. They’ve already fought twice before.
I’d say it’s Backs for us, Labarbera for them. Aubin does come off the IR today, though.
Who are the Swarm?
I kid, I kid.
SS6: I don’t know if you heard about the Leafs/Sabres game at all but it was 2-0 Leafs going into the third and the final was 5-4 Sabres in OT…the winner was scored with 3.7 seconds left. The Sabres hit 7 posts during the game. It was some serious fire wagon hockey during the third. I was in heaven.
Seems like a “News of the Weird” gig, but kind of an interesting read:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-heated-blades&prov=ap&type=lgns
Smuggla I do
play fantasy hockey that is
interesting article Eddie.
I have 1 question, is it 41 degrees farenheit or celsius?
when I think 41 F I usually don’t think heated, but relatively speaking I suppose…
that is interesting…it would certainly motivate one to keep ones feet moving, lest one melt oneself into a rut right where one was standing.
I’m trying to get into hear Russo on Eklund’s deal, and I’m not having any luck. Seems my work network firewall blahblahgeekblah isn’t allowing me in.
I continue to wonder what these people expect me to do with my time here.
I wonder if one would have to recharge the batteries after each game?
Is there some super protected battery compartment that prevents hockey players from becoming ice dancers?
Composite sticks were supposed to be the next best thing and from the amount of broken sticks in games lately, I’m thinkin’ not so much.
So image Gaborik with the breakaway and he has a blow out, no heat, to much resistance aaaaand the groin goes snap…I don’t know maybe we should think about this ;P
DJ - sounds like I missed a good one. Story of my life. This is the first season with CenterIce so I’m not quite used to it yet. Don’t know which games to pick and choose. So far I’ve been playing it safe with Vancover, Detroit, Anaheim, Colorado but I need to broaden my horizons and get some more Eastern Conference games in.
ss6: with Center Ice I try to find a handful of teams that I enjoy watching and more or less just follow them. Then I’ll jump around during intermissions or something.
But there’s almost too much to watch to try to watch it all.
Nice problem to have, though, no? ;P
SS6: If you can, definitely check out a Carolina, Buffalo or Ottawa game. You won’t be disappointed. All three play a fun end-to-end up-tempo game.
NiNY- I picture you on game nights sitting in a living room / NHL command center. a couch with 8 TVs facing you, that way you can sorta keep one eye on all the games…
DJ: I saw most of the Leafs-Sabres last night, including the third period and overtime. How fun! What an atmosphere in Buffalo, with half of the Sabres’ season ticket holders (who are really Leafs fans-in-waiting) coming out in their true colors, only to see Bryan McCabe clear the puck…into his own net!
Finally, some revenge for Buffalo!
I don’t like the idea of having an electronic device be a part of the game like this. I just doesn’t seem natural.
I’ve had Center Ice for two years….TSN and Hockey Night coverage is worth the whole package all by itself!
I wish TSN was available via DirecTV..but hope the NHL Network fills this vois as I believe TSn is involved in this network.
I don’t know how much stock everyone takes in the “Power Rankings” some web sites put out but I thought this one might interest everyone…it concerns the positioning our favorite local NHL club.
DJ: I look at a few of them for something to do at work, and I usually take a gander at SI’s page:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/scott_wraight/10/16/power.rankings3/index.html
And after looking at it and looking at some stats, I e-mailed the guy about the Wild being #2 because so far, based on stats (GAA, save %, SO, and win %) Ottawa looks like a clear #2 aside from they’ve scored more goals than the Wild, but big suprise on that on, eh?
There is a really neat article on Wild.com about the mother son trip.
Almost time for my nightly call to Charter to see if they have Centerice yet. I asked last night if the price was gonna be prorated!
Lemmiwinks, I saw si’s as well and kind of laughed at the Wild being #2. I personally don’t take much stock in these things, but like you said it is something fun to look at while at work.
It is something fun to see at work- I took it a step further and noticed the Wild’s recent opponents (CBJ, CHI, PHX, EDM, LA) are all 25-30th in the rankings…
Wild can’t win indefinitely. They will lose if they do not take LA seriously.
Hopefully, they will take the game seriously.
smuggla…
They haven’t beaten LA quite yet and the Waddlers were 14th in SI’s rankings.
Their opponents have not been quite as strong thus far, but they can only play the schedule they have.
I still laugh to myself over the East Coast Bias from the gents at the 4 letter complex.
I look at this stuff (asked Mr. SoCal a question about it for next Sunday) for entertainment value only. ‘Cuz the guys doing the rankings are morons…:P
Heated blades? I’m envisioning ruts in the ice and pulled muscles. Doesn’t sound like a good idea
Oh, I finally got around to reading the article on Good Marty.
What I took out of it is that you cannot coach ‘big’. Either you are or you are not.
They aren’t so much heated as not allowed to freeze. Think of it more like a bun warmer rather than a deep frier…:P
Thanks for all the advice. I’m kinda like a kid in a candy store, everything looks good but to choose.
If this is a tough as it gets, I’ll take it. I just wish I could hear Hayseed go on and on will the Dorks are playing the Wild. I would love that. But to be able to see Hockey night in Canada again……sorry,chocking up, faklempt
…..I’m ok, I’m ok.
One thing I have noticed is that when the game is over that’s it no post game interviews, nothing. I get the blue/white DirectTV screen. Does everybody have that happen?
i like my bum to be warm…….
ss6: yeah, they cut the feed pretty quick.
BTW: Russo, nice job with Eklund and Robynhymer (sp?)! You had some great lines. I love the comparisons of Nik to Manny.
I’m not really a fan of these heated blades. As far as performance, they sound all well and good while gliding along, but how is that going to effect the bite of the blade. It seems like that’s something which could make pushing off and turning a little more difficult.
Aside from performance, does the addition of such a device on the rink strike anyone else as too much? Microprocessors and batteries seem like things that belong outside the boards. When are we going to see radios in the helmets, skate blades which can angle to help with turning, and controller in the stick to add that little extra whip on a slapshot.
Some advancements are good things, is this too much?
i’ve watched montreal, ottawa and anything put on by TSN. stay away from florida, TB, new jersey and the isle. I go to bed watching vancouver.
This year games broadcast in HD will definately win over a non-HD game. just too much of a difference.
Hey, if they are good enough for “The Great One”, then why not.
When is HNinC on? Is that a Friday or Saturday night gig?
Typically Saturdays.
well at least philly vs hotlanta is on versus, so i have something to pass the time until 930
I think Philly might rebound from last season’s disaster sooner than anticipated.
Briere is a stud. He and Gagne could feasibly be scary together.
Also, I think Mike Richards is going to be a solid player (and leader) for a long time. He’s a very complete player - fun to watch.
Hotlanta is a joke.
Uugghhh… I hate when we play on the West Coast. I can never seem to stay up late enough to see more than the first period. And I just have to say this..”You are the hamster King Lemmiwinks!”
Check out the story on Chelios on TSN.CA:
Shots from the Point:
Chris Chelios has some choice words for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and player agent Don Meehan.
I can’t quite figure out what Philly uses as their goal song, anyone know?
How about Big Foster against Anaheim, I bet Rob Neidermeyer never tries him again. What a physical presence at 6′5 230.
Fosters been playing more like he did 2 seasons ago. Last year after his injuries and stuff he played safe and that really hurt his game. He needs to find balance in his playing style and he could be a big asset.
TSN.CA during Leafs highlights:
“Pope John Pohl”
Not a bad nickname! My favorite is probably Shawn “Turn Your Head and” Horcoff.
Bulldog,
You’re being sarcastic, right?
Foster will probably (with Nummelin) be the two ‘odd men out’ come Nov. 18th when Sean Hill enters the lineup following his suspension. He’d better take advantage of this opportunity and get his game in order…
ss6: DirecTV’s CI is for the game broadcast only. Nothing else. That is why they are so quick to pull the plug after the final horn on non-nationally-televised games. You will also never see a pre-game show on any of those games. You are there for the game only and that’s all.
Now if they’d only get going with the NHL network, I’d be really happy…
personally I’d rather see Foster stay than Carney in the lineup.
Martin Biron shutout, Nice!
Well I should say as long as its the good Foster
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