Pouliot attacked; Wild’s 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose
Posted on March 9th, 2008 – 12:10 PMBy Michael Russo
Benoit Pouliot was viciously attacked Friday night with 12 seconds left in a game against the Hartford Wolfpack.
Wanting no part of a fight with Rangers draft pick Dane Byers, Pouliot turtled to the ice after being punched a number of times. Finally, Byers lifted Pouliot by the neck and slammed him face-first into the ice.
Pouliot’s face was a mess, but he may play against Rochester today with a cage. Amazingly, Byers wasn’t suspended because he played the next night against San Antonio.
But you know who should be suspended? Linesman Sean Finn. Check out the incompetent officiating by Finn as he failed to intervene with Byers over top Pouliot and Pouliot on the ice.
Byers in the Hartford Courant: “It was an emotional game, and I let my emotions gets the best of me. I didn’t mean to slam his head into the ice. I just wanted him to get up.”
Postgame comments: Bizarre, but I updated this pregame with the lineups, but I must not have hit save.
I’m sure you figured out who played by now.
I don’t know what to make of this game. Colorado’s down 3-zilch with 14:44 left in the third to Dallas so by the end of the night, the Wild could be tops again in the Northwest by one point on Calgary and Colorado.
But the Flames have two games in hand. Vancouver, in eighth with 78 points, has two games in hand. Nashville, in ninth with 78 points, lost tonight and has played 70 games like the Wild.
So the Wild may be first at the end of tonight, but where will it be when its next plays, Thursday, against the East’s No. 1 team, New Jersey?
They still have lost 8 of 11 with the 3 wins against bad teams. They have scored two goals or fewer in 9 of their last 11.
San Jose, which has given up the second-fewest goals in the West, is a frustrating team to play against. As I’ve written many times this season, the Sharks often won’t even chase you around their own zone. They just pack the front of the net and block shots with waves of players.
The Wild had 16 shots blocked tonight and had no shots on goal in the first 13 minutes of the third period. But as player after player, and Jacques Lemaire, pointed out after the game, the effort was there. They just couldn’t penetrate.
Ironically, it was another blocked shot by Marc-Edouard Vlasic that ended up in his net for Brian Rolston’s miraculous tying goal with 28.8 seconds left.
Of course, Patrick Marleau covered up for his goalie and saved the day to rob Marian Gaborik of a sure goal late in OT, and then Marleau won it in a shootout for San Jose’s record ninth win in a row.
I’ve never heard this arena quieter than tonight. There was just no energy throughout, and finally the game-ops people had to artificially create life by sparking the crowd with motivational music late.
But it was that dead, thanks the life being sucked out on a fluky, deflected goal 46 ticks in by Milan Michalek. And then there was the questionable penalty shot (in the Wild’s eyes, see Monday’s notebook) awarded to Tomas Plihal late in the period that resulted in a 2-0 Sharks lead.
Lemaire was so incensed, he brought the rule book out at the start of the second to show referee Justin St. Pierre. Carney hooked Plihal from behind, but the rook still got a clean shot off.
The rule book states that the shooter must be “denied a reasonable chance to score,” but leave it to the NHL to throw in this caveat in parentheses to just cloud things up – ”the fact that he got a shot off does not automatically eliminate this play from the penalty shot consideration criteria. If the foul was from behind and he was denied a more reasonable scoring opportunity due to the foul, then the penalty shot should be awarded).
So, in other words, to let itself off the hook always, the league adds a caveat to always make this a judgment call. Makes sense to me.
Couple other things:
Jacques gave Mark Parrish 15:10 of ice time, which is a lot more than 7, 8 and 9 minutes — which were his three ranges before he was scratched in Atlanta for the first time since his rookie year. Still, Lemaire said Parrish’s game tailed off late.
Keith Carney was responsible for the penalty shot, and also put it on another player’s stick in the first period. He’s done that a couple times lately. We asked Jacques about it, and Lemaire jumped to his defense.
Niklas Backstrom again is a shootout disaster. He gave up two goals on three shots and has the NHL’s lowest career shootout save percentage at .489 (23 saves on 47 attempts).
Remember, Manny Fernandez was a shootout master and at one point last season, GM Doug Risebrough said if games were critical, maybe Jacques Lemaire should insert Fernandez from the bench. Could this be something to consider with Josh Harding?
I just got one emailer who felt that way. I think it’s a two-pronged risk — 1) injury to Harding; 2) humiliating Backstrom, and the Wild need a level-headed, confident Backstrom.
Lastly, Eric Belanger has a broken right big toe. No timetable will be given until the swelling goes down, but I wouldn’t expect a timetable at all. The Wild is sour with how often I recycled the “about a week” prognosis on Mikko Koivu’s broken leg.
Wild has an optional off-ice workout tomorrow. They’re not practicing again until Tuesday. Good night.
216 Responses to "Pouliot attacked; Wild’s 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose"
Yeah, that’s pretty nasty by Byers and the linesman. How can you not get in between those two?
I guess I could go either way in regard to a suspension…Lord knows Matt Cooke and other cowards get away with much worse on a routine basis with the NHL looking the other way or being apologists for it…”well that’s just the way they play” And the linesman?..are you joking? With the likes of Mcgoo what are you expecting from them? Under Bettman’s so-called leadership, the NHL is going to become even more irrelevant, unfortunately. And these types of occurences are but one manifestation of his lack of leadership.
When the linesmen take a “wait-and-see” approach to fights, it’s when BOTH players are fighting, not when one guy is in the fetal position on the ice getting his head slammed. That was absolutely shameful work by Finn - 10 out of 10 times, it never should have gotten that far as to where Byers decides to slam Pouliot’s head into the ice.
1. We don’t know what Benny said or did to Byers to send him off, I did notice the shotto the face Benny gave Byers in the initial scrum. My theory is idf you’re gonna do that, you better be ready to back it up.
2. The linesman needed to jump in when he saw that Byers was ripping off Benny’s helmet, then I don’t think the face slam could have happened.
3. I remember an old North Star game when Ron Friest did that to a guy (it may have been an old Blackhawk game in the early 80’s). Of course, I loved seeing that happen then.
4. You think the gal with the comment under the video is Byers girlfriend?
This incident sort of reminds me of Ben Gordon’s “fight” with JP Testwuide last year. Testwuide sat on top of Gordon and threw punches while the linesman stood next to him watching. Finally, Alex Goligoski had to jump in.
An official has to be able to handle the situation before someone gets hurt or other players feel the need to start jumping in and creating even more of a mess.
I think the players of Houston on the ice should be disciplined by the team for not supporting Pouliot. The player should be suspended and warned and should not play until a league head speaks to him. The referee should not be a ref and should ref again until he talks to his Boss and determines if this is the right job for him. Watch Aaron Ward laughing with the player on the other team while this is going on
If those things are going on against them in Houston, why is Kassima playing in the ECHL and not Houston. It makes you wonder what kind of a circus is going on down there
This is another example of how hockey has ruined their product. In a game that is supposed to be about skating (see high school hockey tournament) it far too often is about beating up a member of the opposing team. The effort of the linesman in this case was embarrassing… to watch a player take another player’s helmet off and grab onto him while he’s on the ice is ridiculous. Many argue that fighting is part of the game… the actions of hockey players would get you suspended in any other professional sport. It’s time for the NHL to restore some integrity to their product by eliminating fighting from the game.
Sure glad we protected Pulliot from all those teams trying to offload a center at the trade deadline.
I mean, you take a guy who turtles like a panzy, and give him a scoring touch that has kept him right in the thick of the race for seventh place on the Aero’s roster, and you will have to beat NHL success away with a stick.
I wouldn’t even trade Skoula for this stiff.
I for one am growing tired of this entire organization’s lack of toughness. This takes the cake. Nobody sticking up for anybody. Just a joke. Any other team would have mobbed that douche, especially going after a non-fighter like that. Just disgusting that this whole system is made up of pansies. WTF?
My god guys, you sure are piling on Benoit. Byers took a swing at Brust. Benoit pulled Byers away. Byers took a swing. Benoit’s not a fighter, Byers is.
Russo, are Lynn or Risebrough asking for a referee or player suspension? Didn’t Byers get ejected with a penalty reviewable by the AHL? Maybe they just aren’t as fast as the NHL looking over things. I have no clue, just throwing that out there.
I read that Pouliot’s nose was hit by the sucker punch that why he went down to protect himself. Byers took a shot at the Houston Goalie and that why Pouliot got involved.
By the way, I just read on the Aeros board that he has a broken nose, had a few bottom teeth knocked out (trip for root canal after game), and a mild concussion. He turtled after getting hit in the face/nose. I don’t know about you, but if I were punched and it broke my nose, I’d probably do the same thing.
Maybe Benny is a cat.
Not to change the subject, but there have been lots of negative remarks about the Wild not holding leads.
Tom Reid had some insightful remarks on WCCO today and later so did Bob Kurtz.
I would not say who to attribute which points to but both were pretty much the same as what I have believed.
I think the goalies are playing pretty consistent and well. Mostly, we are losing one goal games.
It is the scorers who are not able to deliver and it is not JL or DR’s fault, because any NHL player must bring his intensity to the ice every game, and that needs to come from within the player. JL or DR cannot do it for anyone
If a scorer is not scoring, then they need to play D.
Now, the Wild have scored only about 15 goals in the last 7-8 games. If we cannot get more goals than that out of some combination of Gabby, Demitra, Rolston, and PMB there is something wrong. They are not working hard enough to get open.
Now, I realize that there are ups and downs in a season and some days a players A game is not as good as it was the day before, but the effort should always be there.
If those players would make an effort to be as consistent as Koivu or Schultz as an example, the Wild would get out of the doldrums in a hurry.
Ordinarily, San Jose is a big challenge for our guys, but I predict a unified win today.
Not sure about that Jacks but I just looked at the Wild roster and 12 of the 24 skaters (no goalies) are big time cats IMO. 50% of the active roster clean themselves with their own tongue.
Byers broke the code imo, Pouliot is considered a skilled player, an untouchable, and while there are times where an untouchable might have to step up and fight, when there are other guys on the ice that would be more than willing to drop the gloves you take it up with one of them.
And that linesman wussed out, as soon as Pouliot went down on the ice and Byers tore his helmet off, the linesman should have jumped on Byers and tackled him on the ice. It’s his JOB.
No idea what the linesman was doing there. I don’t blame Pouliot for going down and staying down if he broke his nose.
I could not agree with you more Jerry.
What kind of week do you all think we will have? I don’t like the looks of it. My prediction 1. San Jose 3 us 2 in OT of course. Nj 5-us 3. Wild 4- L.A. 3 in OT of course. Sharks best road team in league and NJ has really cranked it up of late and oh yeah, they hit everything in site. Sorry for the pessimistic outlook, but I don’t see the trend changing-especially based on the teams we have this week coming up.
Mo- DR would have traded Pouliot, but nobody wanted him.
Feeling a Wild win 4-2, with 2pp goals..or it’s just gas.
Game on!
nice start boys.
Soooo, Backs is 0-3 against the Sharks. Why not give Harding a chance this afternoon?
perfect example of the dangers of over-playing the butterfly right there.
uh-oh…Voros hurt Nabokov…
What are you talking about Nick? Voros did nothing to him.
Down early,again!
sarcasm dude
Reality,dude.
Carney just Skoula’ed…lucky…I’ve been on the road all week…why is Kelly in the lineup? Call-up or injury?
Injury to Belanger.
Call-up because of an injury to Bella, Nick.
NiNY- Injury, mostly. But the Wild could use another center around anyways.
thanks Austin/band…how’s the mood around here?
Moods like Parrish in the mornings; Grumpy.
what’s the story with these non-wins? (I’m sure this has been hashed and re-hashed to death, so I’m not really looking to open some freshly scabbed wounds)
Lack of goal scoring/killer instinct.
I’d assess the mood as two steps (read: losses) short of full blown clinical depression. Suicide hotline operators are on standby alert.
I think Gaborik is allergic to the ice in between the face-off dots.
We on mountain time here?
Nick in my opinion, no heart, no balls (courage), no drive (brain). All we need now is a yellow brick road and a little girl in a blue checked dress and we could do Wizard of Oz on ice. I’ll even loan them my dog that looks a little like Toto if they want….. Sorry I’m a little bitter at the moment.
brutal.
Same old story…
Carney will be spending the remainder of 2008 in Chateau de Bow Wow!
No Spark for this team.
This sucks…
sounds pretty ugly…might I hazard a guess that the angrys are jumping out of the woodwork around here?
That was bull, I could see a call of some sort but a penalty shot?
Sick of seeing chicken con carney looking like he’s 50. Oh wait………..
Believe Nick that I would post more positively if given the opportunity.
Ugh, lost another one in the first period.
did Simon work his way to the pressbox? I haven’t heard his name yet/seen him out there?
I think he still has the flu.
He got the Parrish drizzlers from last week. I think he’ll probably be back next game.
listen to the boo birds…good for them.
They might be calling for Lou Nanne.
Is Simon going to be a free agent, are they going to keep Fedoruk, Boogard, and Simon?
here’s the litmus test: Austin, how are YOU feeling?
Me thinks Austin’s on 6th St.
I’ll revise the feeling: 5-1 Wild…oh wait
yep, the rink is full of boo birds.
Nick, I guess I’m a little torn about the boys right now. I try to stay positive and have hope, but as you can see I’m rather cranky at the moment.
Not a lot of energy out there from the view in 226.Parish might have seen his last shift for a while there at the end of the period. Not a lot of positives from that as Koivu looks like the only player with energy so far.
WTF has to happen in order for these guys to show any passion at all? I have a bias to liking Boogaard but maybe he IS the spark for this team. They have been lack luster in the balls department for the past few months and maybe it’s carrying over to the rest of their game. fridge, why I think he’s proven to be a great addition, is not Boogard.
so maybe Gaby will peel the paint of the walls in the room, now that he’s captain…??
good one NINY, I thought you were a trader, not a comedian. Whoa! watch out for that flyin’ pig!
Not a lot of energy out there from the view in 226.Parish might have seen his last shift for a while there at the end of the period. Not a lot of positives from that as Koivu looks like the only player with energy so far.
I think JL also brought out the rule book for the refs at the start of the period… oh no…
paper today has a qoute that goes something like “we ain’t just sweeping this under the rug” i think they realize what is happening but it ain’t translating well on the ice.
can’t understand why a penalty shot there. just f’n baffling.
sharks are going to be a hard team to come back against.
G* you sitting this one out or blogging from the X?
Not such a good 24th birthday for Burns is it?
not yet, Band!
FOSTER!!! He needs to tee those up more often.
remember that post/save…
PG Version of what I said a moment ago… Gosh darn it Roli!!! Keep your goll darn stick on the mother loving ice!!!!
They interviewed Koivu on the Sid and Dave show this morning.
He sounded like he had one hell of a head cold, he was coughing and voice stuffy.
I wonder whether he can be the usual force or if others having the same problems.
Hey Gaborik, go to the net once in a while! It won’t kill you.
support for work so i am sitting this one out.
I am a regular lurker here and never miss a Wild game. I finally have the need to get something off my chest: Rolston is very frustrating to watch, and has been for quite some time. He is horrible with the puck, both handling and passing. Usually his shot and defensive abilities make up for this, but it has been more and more apparent lately. That’s it, I feel better. Go Wild!
I my opinion, it takes Rolston ten minutes to wind up his slapper. Great for a PP, but worthless otherwise.
this is a five-point attack, the vaunted “U” around the offensive zone. Waaay too easy for a team like SJ to defend. In the absence of anyone at all willing to go to the net this will be a very difficult comeback.
Down by a goal and not even a shot? Come on!
they all need a potty break, i think
About bloody time!!! So now can we please have a good overtime oh Great Hockey Gods? Finish this out with two points not just one? Please oh please oh please Great Hockey Gods.
I’m feeling to old for this kind of anxiety.
i wouldnt blame our not getting a lot of shots in 3rd on us completely. san jose plays hardcore defense and wasn’t allowing us anything.
boy i backstrom not good at this
Backstrom looks almost comical in the shootout. Seems the only way he doesn’t get scored on is when the guy misses.
Well, 1 point is more than I expected they’d get.
I guess it’s good they got a point (on a Flames-like goal too, IMO) but that was a pretty passive game by a team fighting for a division title.
Backstrom is freakin’ terrible in shootout situations. He was beaten on all three of those shots, and the kid that got the penalty shot scored his SECOND NHL goal.
he must leave a lot of net for them to look at because 90% of people shoot on him and 95% of time he doesn’t stop it.
probably hard to work on this in practice because our skaters aren’t that great at scoring.
Pisser!! You notice the only one of ours that went in was Butch’s and he was the only one that got creative. Maybe there is something to learn from that. I’m out. Got to go make dinner and feed the dogs.
Backstrom is bad enough in shootouts that I bet no one, including him, would complain about putting Harding in just for the shootout.
that replay from behind marleau looked like the whole net was open for him to shoot at.
passive? maybe. I think san jose had a lot to do with that. spot them 2 goals and they are content with dumping and letting you try to bring it in on them. if it wasn’t for their guy missing by inches and icing the puck, then a double bank shot to score or and someone swatting it out of the air on it’s way in, it would have worked for them.
special teams not a factor today.
They have been playing,or sleepskating, through the schedule for weeks. No sense of urgency. They are still playing not to lose, instead of trying to win. They have lost their (what used to be) substantial home ice advantage. Other teams have a lot of confidence when they come to the X now. I would, too. Backstrom is a mess, to add to the negativity of this floundering, sinking ship. I hate to be so negative but what is there to be excited about with this squad right now? The “at least we got one point out of it” doesn’t cut it anymore.
I hate to be so negative but what is there to be excited about with this squad right now?
Next year - but seriously, I plan to fill my glass half full with Kool Aid and remember the game-tying and point-getting goal. Might as well enjoy 3 off nights and hope for division Ls!
G* - I agree the Sharks play a great brand of team defense. But they’re not undefeated (though they are lately I see…) this season.
The Wild either can’t or won’t impose their will on a game.
NiNY, sorry I was watching on DVR delay (we had a friend come over for a few). I feel frustrated. I still feel optimistic about the playoffs, but I really am getting a little bit worried. I liked the drive to come back from 2 - 0 to go to a shootout today no doubt. Of course my boy PMB with the spin-o-rama goal was great. I am hoping they can continue to play like they did for the last two period of this game. But as the rest of this season has proven, there is not much to support that hope. I guess all I can do is cheer as usual and hope for the best. Oh and one last thing… giving the Sharks a penalty shot on that breakaway was absolutely absurd.
Just got home from the ‘X’ afetr the game…need to say something about the Pouliot thing now, then wait for Russo to come in with his thoughts about the game, then I’ll post mine.
About Pouliot: I hope those of you who criticize the officials realize they were short one linesman when this occurred. You mean to tell me in all of east Texas they can’t find one guy who’d be willing to fill in as linesman for one night?
Reasoning behind what I said: The linesman (Ron Finn’s son??) can’t be everywhere at once. Granted, he should have been pulling Byers off Pouliot muy pronto after b-b-b-Benny turtled (where’d he learn that from? We didn’t play the Canucks in pre-season!) but if Finn was alone, other fights would have possibly ensued. There was a LOT of pushing and shoving after Byers ran into Barry Brust. One official short, the two remaining officials cannot be everywhere.
Byers needs to be suspended. He must have had too many games vs. the Philly Phantoms and Steve Downie laterly…
Wild will be out in Round 1 if they make it, Wow get a point out of a fluke goal, We’re not physical enough to win a series in the West. Can’t win faceoffs. Jacques has to have Rolston on the ice at all times and he won’t finish a check. Our defense outside of Burns can’t hold up n front of our net. Point being, Lot’s of work to do in the offseason,
I see we don’t have any Toughness in Houston either? Why do we have such an issue, sticking up for our teammates in this organization. Maybe we need to bring back Jason Marshall and matt Johnson as roving instructors for this particular part of the game. Like the Twins do with Carew and Molitor for hitting ect.
The fact that they came back on what is a really good team (with Calgary) is so difficult for them to play, I think the glass (of KoolAaid) is way more than half full.
Wild got 2 points out of the last six.
The real problem game is Atlanta, and to a lesser degree Carolina.
Being optimistic, we probably could not expect to get more than four out of those games the way the NHL is so grid locked this year.
Though we gave up a point late in the game in Atlanta, we stole one point back today.
No TV here, so all I have is the raw numbers, but looking statistics it appears the guys the Wild count on to score were all pretty much involved in the game (mostly across the board with multiple shots, hits, blocked shots, missed shots, etc).
That is a bit of something to build on. I can’t believe the Devils will be a more difficult opponent than the Sharks. So, maybe we will eke out some more points.
There is such a logjam in the league, it will be a fight all the way to the end. Any team that does no play tight defense will be lost along the way.
For some of you people, if the only way you people can enjoy the team is is if we win, I don’t think the rest of the season will be much fun.
But, for the fans who like good hockey and the suspense that will be part of the rest of this season, we are in for a fun ride.
Looking at the schedule, they have a tough assignment. Mostly, I think they will finish among the playoff teams.
Another lackluster effort. Some key points I noticed:
1. Consistently beaten to the puck, both in the open ice, and along the boards. Radio was the only one making a 110% effort to get to loose pucks.
2. Slapping at the puck, instead of passing it. Too many wacks at it just to move it along the boards, to no one. Why wack at it where there’s no one in that direction to get it?
3. Standing around. Way too many times they’re hemmed in the D-zone, and you’ve got 3 forwards standing around waiting for the D to move the puck to them, but they can’t because they either lack the skill to control it on the boards (Skoula, Johnsson, Foster, Carney, Schultz), or lack the ability to make a good clean outlet pass (Skoula, Foster, Carney, Schultz). Because of this we spend way too much time in our own zone, and that increases the chance that a small mistake will turn into a scoring chance, or shot against.
4. Gaborik. What a waste of potential. He gets my “Alexi Kovalev” award, for the most talented person on the ice to skate in circles and always be 2 steps behind. Out of the 20 mins he logged tonight, he worked for about 4 of them. The rest was his usual ineffective play, primarily in the neutral and defensive zones. If this guy worked like Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, or even Hossa… He’d be right up there with those guys. Instead, he sits around waiting for a breakaway that seldom comes.
5. Lack of any decent forecheck. The 1-2-2 and 1-3-1 the wild play doesn’t put any pressure on opponents. If you watch the game, or any game for that matter, you will see teams generally move the puck up ice at will, and easily cross into the zone without much resistance. We don’t hit, we don’t force the play. Oh, maybe for a few minutes, but then it’s back to sitting on their heels trying to poke-check or slap at the puck.
6. D-First. It’s true, good D wins games, and championships. However, when you lack the ability to play good D, why play that way? A limited, or non-existent forecheck, and attempting to clog the middle only go so far, and Wild have been pretty good at giving up scoring chances. Backstrom and Harding are both above average goalies, during a game situation. Imagine if we had to make do with an average guy with the D we have. Like Lundqvist does in NY, our G’s are the only thing holding the ship up now.
By Tuesday night, we’ll be out of the playoff picture, sitting in 9th or 10th. The only thing that’s going to save this is winning 3 of 4 against the division opponents coming up, and a new attitude toward games. I think that last, really decent effort put forth was the first 40 minutes against Detroit. Play that way for a whole game and you will win games. Play like we have, and you might as well get the clubs dusted off. It’s going to be an early summer.
JL sounded upbeat after the game. I was there and they didn’t seem to deserve a point. JL was pretty funny though talking about the penalty shot call.
Iceman: I can take a loss if I see a solid effort throughout the game. I don’t remember that last time I saw a solid effort out of this team. That’s what is frustrating. I know they are not going to win every game but to be as inconsistent as this team has been this season is maddening.
In my dreams I picture a team that has struggled all season with inconsistency then finally gets it together, and goes on magical playoff run. I think it may be too much to hope for but who knows.
Wild RoadTripper, you say the linesman can’t be expected to be everywhere at once, but did you watch the youtube clip? he was standing right there, watching! he was practically on top of Pouliot himself!
this is just disgusting, and that Byers goat sucker needs to be fined and suspended for a very long time. grabbing a player’s head and smashing his face into the ice is inexcusable, much worse than stomping on frickin’ Jarkko Ruutu’s ankle.
I am absolutely appalled that this sort of thing can happen, especially with a linesman standing right there, watching and allowing it to happen. just watching! what on Earth was that incompetent jerk thinking?
Iceman: I can’t imagine anyone here expects them to win every game. This team has shown zero ability/willingness to play at a high, 60-minute level this season. That wasn’t such a big deal in December. Some might think it’s not such a big deal now since we’re still right at the top of the division.
But sooner or later you are what you are. We’ve had 70 games of this. That’s ample time to prove to us that they were just in a slump or had some injuries to key players, or needed time to gel, or time to adapt to a new system/style of play…I think WYSIWYG with the Wild this season.
After 70 games it’s a little late to be thinking that they’re going to turn the corner or just “get it” come playoff time.
I’ve only seen one of the last four games (including today) but today’s “effort” was close enough to the majority of the rest of them this season that I would be suprised if it can be considered an outlier based on recent play.
Wise- You are correct. You can’t win a game playing 20 or 30 minutes of playoff-type puck. And unless they get Physical in a hurry (something they have not done all year) they have zero chance if they somehow even get into the playoffs. On a positive note- Stars up on Avs 2-rip in the 2nd period… I still think these guys have tuned Lemaire out. They are playing or trying to play his way, but don’t endorse or believe in it anymore. I don’t either.
I still think these guys have tuned Lemaire out. They are playing or trying to play his way, but don’t endorse or believe in it anymore. I don’t either.
see i don’t think they are all trying to play his way. when they do they have been successful, when they are not supporting each other and playing sound position hockey, they suffer.
its not all but some on occasion.
Stars up 3-0 now after 2. Did you guys see Belanger has a broken toe? No timeline on how long he’s out. I guess they are waiting for the swelling to go down.
Chewly: yes, I watched the entire YouTube clip three times, start to finish. It made me ill every time B-b-b-Benny was turned into a human basketball. The only thing (and it’s not much) is that the linesman (why, who knows) was waiting for help with Byers. The ref can’t, he has to observe in order to call penalties (supposedly). Agree with you, tho — Byers deserves a suspension. He WILL become busier the rest of the season, as he has just ‘marked’ himself for every goon wanna-be in the AHL.
Wow.
1 point when none was deserved.
Constantly beaten to the puck. It is appropriate that Rolston get the tying goal. I suspect now he will say all is well and that they’ve turned the corner.
I hope all of you Gaborik apologists have been watching this week. IMHO we cannot trade him fast enough.
I was able to watch this game with a clear head and not get emotional (since the little ones were on either side of me). So many ‘battles’ lost. Lazy and ineffective passes. 12+ minutes in the 3rd period WITHOUT A SHOT.
Put a fork in ‘em.
NiNY: Have you seen or heard Rolston’s comments after the Canes, and Trashers games?
This one is in print, and the other was a sounder I heard on KFAN but it basically said the same thing. This just typifies why the alarm bells are going off for me about this team.
“All in all, it was a good effort. We can build off this,” Rolston said. “Sure, it’s a tough one to take. We feel good about the way we played, but we just have to come together as a team. We’re still not there. We’re not there yet, where we had been early. If we don’t get back to that, …”
Regarding the physicality of the team… Did anyone notice SRV today? He was finishing all of his checks from what I saw. Radio was another guy that seemed to work his but off all game. He really goes into the corners and digs. Now, all we need is for that type of play to rub off on Gabby/Koivu/Demo/etc.
This was the other from Russo’s article today that just dumbfounded me. Why does it take until the last 13 games of the season to realize this?
“These last two games were a wake-up call for us,” Brian Rolston said of the Wild’s two-game road trip to Carolina (regulation loss) and Atlanta (shootout loss). “It is imperative we start winning our home games.”
Tonight was the first time that I started to think that maybe JL is the problem.
Not that he is a bad coach, or that he has a bad system, but the players he is using have apparently tuned him out, and there is no one in Houston with comparable abilities to come up and take over for the players who are not listening.
Tonights game was brutal to watch. So little effort, for the first time, I was embarrassed to be a fan of the boys in red. We either need wholesale changes on the ice, or we need to find a guy for the bench who can light a fire under the guys we’ve got.
Announcers on the Stars/Avs game said that Belanger is out with a broken leg. There goes the playoffs.
IMO Radio, and SRV have really been the only players that have shown consistency this season. I love the effort. They are not highly skilled guys but more often than not they work hard.
ATX…
SRV, Radio, Voros, Fedoruk, et al are not the problem.
Adding tough players doesn’t change the makeup of the players that you want to play tougher.
They have been very inconsistent until recently. Now they cannot generate enough offense to win.
The AP article says broken toe. Let’s put up the Bat Signal for Russo. Help us out!!
kj, I never implied they were a problem. I like the way they are playing lately. I wish they would rub off on the “skilled” guys.
Hey A broken leg is nothing - remember when Koivu got his leg broken? It would only take 1-2 weeks to heal.
“Playoffs? Don’t talk about — playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!”
- Jim Mora
ATX…if you think that will happen I have a nice bridge in Manhattan I will sell you cheap!!!
Again, I am thinking that DR did nothing to improve this team because he knows it isn’t going anywhere.
I fully expect him to blow it up this summer. Which isn’t so bad - if they bring in some UFAs and spend to the cap. If they do another ‘gotta evaluate the kids’ season, we should get season ticket rebates!
BTW…someone should tell Burnsie he cannot do it all by himself. His ‘I am going to do it all’ attitude is great but he is starting to take too many chances. Although…man…in 2-3 years he is going to be a dominant, dominant player.
Does Rolston ever finish a check?
5Minute…
That is soooo last month… 
Worst case scenario leading up to Thursdays games. Point totals if everyone wins their games after tonight.
3:Flames - BLUES, @ Caps. 84 pts
6:Avs - @ Stars (L), @ Thrashers. 82 pts.
7:Canucks - @ Kings, @ Ducks. 82 pts.
8: Wild - 81 pts
9:Preds - @ Wings (L), SHARKS. 80 pts.
The Preds already lost to the Wings, and it appears the Avs will lose to the Stars.
Looks like that crack Strib IT staff forgot to spring forward.
I waited for Russo. Now, my two cents’ worth:
Anyone else think Johnsson was in way-y-y over his head today? He was so out in the field, Kevin Costner couldn’t have helped him. Sad, pitiful performance…
Now that we’ve ‘found’ Rolston, where’s the other UFA top six’er, Demitra? Is he just out there to impress us with his passing? His skating? Or will he ever shoot the puck? Again, with him it’s all about the ‘pretty goal’…
Don’t even get me STARTED with Gaborik.
He’s not even trying out there at times. He’s just going for a skate every so often…
Burns is trying to put the team on his back. Unfortunately, an 800-pound gorilla will generally go where he wants to. You oughta know that, Burnsie. You’re a zookeeper in that house of yours…
Backstrom’s first shot faced brings up the old drag racing adage:
“You snooze, you lose.”
That’s about it.
WRT…did the 1st one deflect in or did Backstrom get out on the ice late from warm ups???
DP: no. I have never seen Rolston finish a check.
Mo: funny that this is the first you have thought that it’s Jacques Lemaire. a lot of people I know, including myself, have been of this opinion for a very long time, even though it’s not a very popular one.
Lemaire’s system worked when the team was full of muckers of grinders. but with skill players, the system needs to change. Lemaire is trying to force skill players to play like grinders, and that’s just insane. why squash the talent instead of using it? I mean, really, he’s got Mikko Koivu toiling on a checking line most of the time, for crying out loud! the way I see it, Lemaire won’t change the system to accommodate the skill of the team he’s dealing with.
this team is giving me gray hair. seriously. I just found one the other day.
Pouliot got the game winner in O.T. Best of luck Benny.
kj: You know damn well where Backstrom was! (next to your 4-year-old eating a hot dog)
chewly: Rolston = ‘Huggy Bear’. He hugs his opponent off the puck…
A little different thing between a broken toe (Russo) and a broken leg (Altitude broadcast of Avs-Stars)…
I’m beyond frustrated with this team. I fell asleep for nearly half the 3rd period today. I might as well be watching golf.
Last year they were not a very good offensive team either, but their defense was sound and the goaltending was excellent. Now their offense is rancid–despite the size of their paychecks this group couldn’t score in a whorehouse–defense is average and goaltending is mediocre.
So if you’re not a good offensive of team and you’re not a good defensive team - what does that make you exactly…?
It equals a team circling the drain…
he’s got Mikko Koivu toiling on a checking line most of the time, for crying out loud!
this just isn’t true
the way I see it, Lemaire won’t change the system to accommodate the skill of the team he’s dealing with
and if this were true, then Jl lies in is pressers. how many times has he said he wants them to go offense? he says it all the time. the problem is a few people only want to go offense and that just doesn’t work, anywhere.
if JL is the problem, why would schultz resign here? why would burns extend? koivu? if they have tuned out the coach, why would schutlz taken less than market value for a long term deal?
JL may be a problem for a couple of players but i don’t believe he has lost the whole team.
Other than 4th line, I think he has.
Yeah KJ, you notice the gaborik apologists are strangely silent. You need your skill guys to always “bring it” whether or not they score, effort/dedication needs to be there. Gaborik is a primma donna, pure and simple..He hovers out in center ice when the play is in our d zone waiting for that special pass from demo to get his breakaway..truly I don’t know why teams are even worried or waste defensive capital on his break aways, I wouldn’t, the guy can’t make a SO attempt to save his life…he’s a paper tiger this year, nothing more. His 5 goaler was against a team from the east..I’ll take any comers that he can’t do that against the Ducks, Canucks, or Flames…you know the real NHL teams where he’d have to work and get checked. Yet the team thought it was the 2nd coming in that NY game, where was he in most of the following games?
Back to today, Yes yes, but for that great save from Marleau, gabby would have won it for us…where was he for the 1st 60 minutes?
How many of you think the refs should have awarded a penalty shot? These games hinge on mighty small events such as the waived off goal against Calgary that cost the team a W or a tie.
Lose a few? Now, everyone thinks the solution is fire everyone in charge and start all over? It seems as if everyone has his own favorite goat.
I recognize, the team might finish out of the playoffs but I would not bet against them. I still enjoy the game and the team. Mostly, they are working just fine.
This ain’t that easy. Small mistakes show up on the scoreboard and translate to a loss of points.
They are still right up there even though they have zero margain.
If the team is not more resilient than the fans then we are in trouble.
There is a good chance that San Jose could be drinking out of the cup in a couple months. Think about it, they came back and tied a upper echelon team and without a questionable call and a fantastic play by Marleau would have won.
They have not quit at all. They are in every single game. If the rest of the division was not having their own troubles, we would be falling way behind.
I really don’t see much negative in that.
Gabby is not my favorite player and defense is not his strong suit, but I don’t think it is fair to say he just hovers out by the blue line to wait for a breakaway pass.
I think the team needs to count on a couple goals a game from the combination of Gabby, Demitra, Rolston and Bouchard.
Then, if the other players can chip in what they have to offer, we will start winning again.
Want to beat Backstrom? High stick side all the time. Nanne was on tonight with Rosen and he pointed that out. It’s where they beat him on the penalty shot and it’s where Marleau beat him in the shootout I believe.
This was a dull game to watch, but to little fault of the Wild. It was more the way San Jose plays on the road. They’re boring. Very boring.
That’s why I pass on tickets to the two Sharks games at the X every season. The home team is expected to put on a show and that’s a tough thing to do against this Sharks team.
Look, it’s clear that without a 180-degree turnaround and a string of luck, this team isn’t going anywhere in the post season, providing they even make it. You have to expect a team to step up their game in the playoffs, and a step up for this one would be to play 40 mins.. at the AHL level.
We can get a ton for Gaborik in the off season, or at the deadline, and we should be able to dump Rolston and Demitra in june and fix the D, and bring in some players that will work.
yeah it could be worse, i could be a kings or leafs fan, but man this is getting old…again, jacques, if this is what a good effort gets us, what’s that say? not much…this team sucks. period. jl may be one of the greatest hockey minds ever, but i’m getting pretty tired of him, and dr is pretty much a joke…
help! if i see another souhan hockey piece i may have to go postal! it was not bad enough the other nite when souhan and lapanta were on the post-game show? was the trib to cheap to send you down to florida? now your a hockey guy? sorry for calling you fraud the other nite russo; compared to the other f sticks at your paper your edward r murrow. why does the trib eds allow people that have no clue or passion for the game to write about it and get paid? could mr hockey guy souhan
name three sharks b4 today’s game? hey: but now he is our don cherry. i pray that next year the t-wolves get better so these trib morons will leave us alone. next up the devils; if on the spot; how many could hockey guru souhan name? im guessing under three.
i can’t believe we did not land foppa! he’s out with a groin!
i should read the comments b4 i go off;
if marleau dosn’t whack the ot puck away gabby is the ot hero again. that being said; no comment on his shoot-out attempt. speaking of shoot-outs; why no demo?
ok; one last ? for russo. when the teams submit the shoot-out roster do they have to include the goalie? thought being if not;you have hards warming up in the hallway and bring in the lefty after sj picks its’ shooters knowing which ones would school backstrom. can you switch goalies on a shot by shot basis also
Re: Penalty shot. did not see it but from your description it sounds like another weak call by refs. i see so many “are you kidding me?” penalty shots called the last couple of years that it make me wonder if the nhl is soparnoid about how many goals are scored per game that the feel there is a need to artifically(sp) try to inflate score by calling these weak penalty shots and/or penalties period to create more pp chances.
IMO the penalty shot call was legitimate. Both Foster and Carney got caught cheating on the play, when Tomas Plihal was in the clear Carney hooked his right elbow and right side to slow him down instead of going for the puck with a sweep check. If they had worked harder for it for about one full second Plihal would have been out of luck.
Again, it’s just my opinion…
kjr, exactly how I feel about Souhan. What the hell are those people paid to write about something they have no passion or understanding about?
Not saying that penalty shot could not have been called, but then why not give the Wild a penalty shot in a similar situation when the are hauled down and get off some weak shot.
A solid effort every night will get W’s against most teams.
YOur right, kjr. From TSN: “”Peter Forsberg missed Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Stars with a groin injury. He was listed by the club as day-to-day. Forsberg sustained the injury in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Dallas. Defenceman Adam Foote was also scratched by the Avs due to a sore hip.”"
Guys, I have a question regarding Bouchard´s spinorama. I´m from Europe and we just had a huge case when a guy did the same thing in the shootout and the goal was allowed to stand although the rules supposedly say that the puck has to stay in forward motion the whole time which obviously isn´t the case during the spin when the shooter kind of pulls it back. The refs were suspended and a lot of other nonsense is going on. Are there any such rules in the NHL or were there even discussions after the first time PMB did that whether it is legal or not? Thanks
I bet Forsberg’s recovery time from his ‘groiner’ is significantly less than either of the Wonder Groin Twins.
SJ had a lead and didn’t have to do anything except protect it. And, without the lucky goal at the end, the Wild wouldn’t have gained a point.
Up to that point, they had generated 3 shots in the 3rd period. 3 shots. At home.
Martin - Yes, the puck has to stay in forward motion, that’s how the rule reads in the NHL, but the first time Butch pulled that move out against Chicago last year, they said something to the effect that the play was still in motion and that the effort was there to score, so it was allowed.
Martin, maybe somebody else has a better memory, but the NHL offered a clarification that allows it.
Voice - Thanks a lot. That´s how most people here view it too. Why disallow it when it brings more goals and excitement? The only problem here was that it was scored in the playoffs against a powerful team with a lot of media support (sort of like if a controversial call went against the Yankees in the playoffs) so the news is full of it and the move will probably never be allowed to stand in the future.
MartinP,
I think the first goalie PMB beat with that spinorama (Khabibulin, if memory serves) questioned the legality of the move. After some debate, it was allowed to stand. The rules state (to paraphrase) that the spinorama is legal on penalty shots as long as it involves CONTINUOUS motion. I assume the same rules apply in shootout situations. It doesn’t matter if the shooter pulls the puck back as long as he keeps it moving.
There are people who post here who are much more well-versed on the rules than I am, so perhaps one of them will also chime in.
Again, the spinorama is only specifically addressed (by exactly that term) in the penalty shot section. There is nothing in the section of the rulebook that covers shootouts that mentions it.
JL may be a problem for a couple of players but i don’t believe he has lost the whole team.
I am getting sick of this meme that JL has lost the team. If he thought he couldn’t motivate his players, he’d quit like he did in NJ.
I am with JL on this one. I saw some good effort by the team (although not so much in the first period). I dunno what you guys are talking about with Rolston lately. I see him skating hard out there almost every shift. Sure he doesn’t really check anyone, but he is constantly chasing the puck. Radio and SRV also work their arses off. Butch played well I thought… he took a few checks and scored the only SO Goal. Gabby definitely looked better v the Sharks than he did in the previous game. He is AWFUL on the SO though, I groan every time they put him out there (SO should be Demo, Koivu, and Burns/PMB/Nummy/Rolston). All is not lost guys. Sure it’s frustrating. But we are still in the NW division title race and there is nothing to say that they difinitively can’t win it. Oh, and for those who b!tch about Rolston’s “Fluke” goal… that is the EXACT type of thing that people here constantly b!tch about NOT happening to the Wild… We need more of those kinds of goals and maybe that one by Rolston is the start of some good luck.
Martin,
We’ve discussed this before here as well. I believe the intent of the rule is to prevent players from attempting to score off of rebounds from the goalie or from the backwall or wraparound type goals. If indeed that is the intent of the rule, Bouchard’s spin-o-rama moves are legal goals. If indeed that is the intent of the rule, it is poorly written.
I see nothing wrong with the spin-o-rama but if you read the rules literally and don’t try to guess intent, then it is illegal.
Hmmm, I reviewed Bouchard’s spin-o-rama from yesterday.
In my opinion, yesterday’s spin-o-rama (SOR) should have been disallowed. The first time he did it, it was one smooth puck motion. It was a spin-shoot with the puck on his backhand. Yesterday’s SOR was more like he skated in, stopped and turned, he moved it from backhand to forehand and then took a backhand shot. In my opinion, that violates the rules. But, in the end, it didn’t matter if it was counted or not.
Something else to keep in mind is that JL is only 7 wins away from 500 career wins. That should be a motivating factor for the team.
Something else to remember is that the last 8 games and 9 of the last 10 of the season are divisional games. That’s where the Wild will sink or swim and win or lose the division.
Goody - But then if you take the rules literally and say that the puck has to stay in forward motion the whole time then each move forehand to backhand or the other way would be illegal because the puck moves a few inches back on the player´s stick. The question is then where to draw the line and I think our commish got it all wrong. I agree that yesterday´s spin by PMB was quite untidy and I wonder if SJ would have complained if they lost the game.
the team can take any type of motivation right now because there’s a hole in their boat and they’re sinking fast and they’re going to continue to stay there if they don’t get scoring from the players…right now i really wish i had some kool-aid, but i really can’t find any here
It is ridiculous to criticize the team toughness in Houston, especially coming from Wild fans.
You watch one 2 minute clip and you think you know what the team in Houston is all about?
Did you also know that the coaches were pulling players off the boards that were trying to get on the ice for a little justice?
I didn’t see JL pulling anyone back after Johnsson got sucker punched in the PLAYOFFS.
Pouliot scored a beauty to win it in OT yesterday.
Thanks for setting us straight AiH. Even if other people don’t say it, I appreciate your updates 
The rules are contradictory, IMO. The NHL leaves itself an “out”, just as in the rules for when a penalty shot should be awarded to which Russo alludes in his original blog entry.
The rules state:
“The puck must be kept in motion toward the opponent’s goal line….”
Then later, it says this:
“The spin-o-rama type move where the player completes a 360-degree turn as he approaches the goal, shall be permitted as this involves continuous motion.”
I think SJ would have grounds to contest whether or not PMB did the 360 “as he approached the goal.”
Fair point AiH. I happen to think that everyone here that thinks they know about Houston needs to stop talking trash about them. Just because you are unhappy with the Wild, that doesn’t mean everyone in Houston is garbage. If you watch the Aeros every game (like AiH apparently does) then you can talk, but until then don’t try and criticize something you know very little about. I don’t know jack squat about Houston, save for a few names on the roster, so I let AiH be my guide. AiH, you are the most reliable source of info on the Aeros… especially since the FSN broadcast would rather have a segment dedicated to the awesomeness that is the “Face-Off”, instead of talking about things that relate to the hockey club as a whole.
AiH, I agree. From what I can see on the clip, all the other players on the ice were tied up anyway.
The linesman certainly should have jumped in sooner. It’s one thing to give them space if they’re both on their feet and swinging but if one guy’s down and not moving to get up, they’ve gotta jump in.
Dave - I just found in IIHF rulebook that the spinorama is allowed here as well. I just don´t understand why the refs got suspended for allowing it. Here is the video - let me know your take on this - you just have to live through the 15sec commercial first - http://hokejzive.ct24.cz/video.asp?video_id=1691&streamType=WH
Aaron in Houston: That’s another point that you bring up about the mayhem at the end of teh Hartford game Friday night. The coaches were occupied keeping the other Aeros players from leaving the bench to exact retribution on Byers.
Whatever the outcome (Byers should be suspended, IMO) good to see B-b-b-Benny scoring the game winner the next night.
Looks like one continuous motion to me, Martin.
Oh, and watching a commercial in Czech (?) was entertaining.
That looked a lot like PMB’s shot, Martin. That guy kept the puck in continuous motion, too, but what are these goalies supposed to do? What if the shooter does more than one spin? As long as he keeps the puck moving the whole time, would that also be technically legal? I think the league really needs to clarify this somehow.
I think these kinds of moves violate the “spirit of the rule”, which is always an area of discussion with a lot of grey areas. If the skate was on the other foot (so to speak), I think many of us would be crying foul. As it stands, the opposing shooters don’t need to do anything nearly as fancy to beat Backs.
“The spin-o-rama type move where the player completes a 360-degree turn as he approaches the goal, shall be permitted as this involves continuous motion.”
Dave, the rule says that the move is allowed because it’s a continuous motion, not if it’s a continuous motion. Your point is valid though that SJ could claim it wasn’t a spin-o-rama if it wasn’t a continuous motion.
I hear what you’re saying, VoR, but that seems like splitting hairs to me. It’s the puck that has to keep moving, not the shooter. The word “a” is never used. We’re getting hung up between “continuous motion” and “A continuous motion.” Nowhere does it seem to me that it says that the shooter has to shoot “in one continuous motion.” Do you see my point?
Dave, I see your point, and you raise a valid one about the player spinning more than once. I think that the rule could be clarified if it read
“The shooter is not permitted to touch the puck after the puck crosses the goal line or after being touched by the goalie.”
Dave if that is indeed the interpretation, the shooter could technically just stand in front of the net and move the puck from forehand to backhand and attempt to get the goalie out of position. I am certain that is not allowed. I believe the continuous motion refers to the shooter, and not as much the puck. Although, I always thought that the puck had to stay in continuous FORWARD motion.. but I guess that is not the case.
Voice - That was Czech, you are right. Unfortunately, everybody here knows that the controversy was sparked by the behind-the-scenes power of the opposing team because if the commish office really wanted to be fair they would have checked how the situation was handled elsewhere - and they would have gotten to the first PMB spin that was allowed to stand. I agree that the rules should be clarified on this. Especially here where, believe it or not, even playoff games are decided in shootouts.
Oh and by the way, with me being Czech, it is funny to read all the Skoula bashing on the blog.
Agreed, VoR. I just watched it again at NHL.com. The SJ broadcasters seemed to have no problem with it. They were calling it a great move.
They’d have to word it very carefully if they tried to re-write that portion of the rules. Lots of guys pull the puck back (a la Burnsies move) at some point and to varying degrees, so it couldn’t be said as simply as “the puck cannot move backwards at any time.” Someone would probably find a loophole in the rule no matter how it reads.
On paper, it seems simple. They’re trying to prevent guys from skating in, stopping, waiting for the goalie to commit, and shooting. The goalie would be helpless. What if someone skated in and stopped, but kept moving the puck back and forth while they stood there? The puck’s still moving. Would that be legal, then?
To me, the rule clearly states that the puck has to be kept in motion “towards the opponent’s goal line.” I’ve watched it about ten times now. To me, as soon as he turns his back to the goalie to spin to his backhand, he can’t be moving the puck towards the opponent’s goal line. The shot should be over at that point, I think.
I don’t know what the answer is. Isn’t NiNY a goalie? What does he say about the spinorama?
Going back to the Rolston comments — that’s just sports-speak that you hear all the time from players. No real punch behind those words — just what they think we want to hear.
I don’t think they have solved the problem yet. They are hanging by the hope that the other teams vying for the playoffs lose their games. Not a good strategy.
I specifically remember prior to PMB’s first spin-a-rama goal against Chicago, that he was interviewed about 1 week PRIOR to that game, and asked about the shoot out. PMB stated in that interview, that he had a fancy shot he wanted to use in the shoot outs, but he was awaiting NHL League approval before he used it in a game.
So it certainly appears to me, that he was given the green light by Bettman and friends.
i remember listening to one of the broadcasts the nhl does on xm(i believe this was after shannon did a spin-o-rama in a shootout), and one of the nhl higher uppers said that they saw bouchard doing the spin-o-rama during practice and they reviewed the rule book and he was given the thumbs up
After the Aeros game Friday night they had the annual post game skate for the season ticket holders. Even though they brought the Zambonis out to clean the ice there was still blood where Pouliot had his face smashed in.
Four players skated with us, John Awe, Paul Albers, Anton Khudobin and Cal Clutterbuck. I talked to Clutterbuck for a little bit, really great guy, he was really excited about his call up.
Pouliot played Sunday with a face guard.
Trust me, Houston is a tough team, they play a very physical style of hockey. I think I’ve seen every one of them in a fight this year or last. Even Pouliot has been in a couple fights because he got tossed for fighting without having the jeresey tied down.
7 straight wins for the Aeros. They are tied for 4th in the West with 3 games in hand.
The playoff seeding in the AHL is different than the NHL, if anyone is interested I will get into it.
AiH, i am interested. What’s different about it?
Good points, Dampland and JSmith. Now that you say that, I guess I remember those conversations, too.
I still don’t like it if I’m a goalie, and I still think the rules, as written, are vague and just begging for controversy.
We have been losing these games by 1 goal. Gabby is 0 for about a bagillion now on his suck hole break aways. Even him and his BBF couldn’t convert on a 2 on 0. he had 2-3 break aways yesterday, and got nothing on any of them. If the kid could start finishing his shots, we would be singing a new tune. I think this team can play with anyone in the league, but the need to pull on the same rope and pull in the same direction. That is something they can not and have not done for 60 minutes this season.
So what is Gabby REALLY worth??
In the AHL there are two divisions (North and West) that make up the Western Conference. The top four teams in each division make the playoffs. Each division holds its own playoffs so the champion from the North divison faces the champion of the West division with the winner representing the Western Conference in the Calder Cup finals.
Because there are 7 teams in the North compared to 8 teams in the West there is a stipulation that will allow the 5th place finisher in the West to take the 4th seed in the North if they have more points than the 4th place team in the North. Does that make sense?
It looks like this season the West division is going to take that 4th seed from the North division. The West is extremely competitive right now: http://stats.theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings
PMB’s shootout goal last year. Brodeur made a complaint to the NHLPA about that move because PMB’s skates touched the goalie.
Russ: Alot more than what you are thinking. Yes, Gabby is in a scoring funk but so has the whole team. We haven’t put up more than 2 goals in regulation since the Nashville game. That was almost 4 weeks ago. Two goals isn’t really going to cut it when our defense and goalie haven’t been consistent.
Didn’t Gaborik hit five targets in five attempts at the all star game a few years ago? Shouldn’t he then be able to put the puck wherever he wants to? Maybe he’s got a tell and all the opposing goalies have shared.
The rules need to be clarified on the spin-o-rama. Even though the NHL has ruled it is permissable. For that matter, a lot of the rules should be clarified (penalty shot, goal review, etc.)
Russ, maybe Gabby + Demo = OJ + Mike Van Ryn?? I would say OJ + Bow Mister, but that is not likely at all given how young Bow Mister is compared to Demo.
Thanks AiH. It seems like the biggest difference is that each Division holds their own playoffs. That would be a tough way to go about it in the NHL IMO.
Austin - having only four divisions makes it pratical.
I believe FSN North is replaying the Aeros game from Friday night tonight at 7pm? Pouliot got his face smashed at the end of that game.
Watch for #12 Ryan Hamilton, I am really starting to like that guy.
it’s known that gaby doesn’t have a great record with breakaways and shootout, though he does get lucky from time to time, he just doesn’t have the greatest moves for those types of situations
Well, I am not saying Gabby is our only problem, but when we are missing the win by a goal, those break aways kinda stick out. On his last one yesterday, he slowed down and was trying so hard to NOT miss, that his tongue was almost on the ice. You could see it in his face that he was struggling (we sit on that end of the rink). But for him to be the superstar and get paid superstar money, he needs to finish. I don’t even get excited anymore when he does get a break away.
I also don’t think that JL has lost the team. I think the team has lost its self. You could see by the 3rd period that they noticed that they can hang with the sharks. They started to get a little jump in their step. I think if they would have pulled off the win, that would have really helped the team get rolling.
I would be more worried about Gaborik if he wasn’t getting any chances at all. It is hard to score in the NHL. The fact that he keeps getting his share of good scoring chances is a big positive. The goals will come.
Gabby seems to me like a classic sniper in the Mike Bossy/Brett Hull mold. I wonder how those players would have done in the shootout.
Gabby needs to take a few lessons from Nummy before he leaves. Give Gabby the shoulder shake, or even the back hander a la Koivu and he would be a beast on the break. His super quick release gets him the goals sometimes, but he definitely needs a few new moves.
Nice video montage of Gabby here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=sqdEovQ9dwQ
He has a few nice breakaway moves in there… it seems all we see this year is the quick release snapshot though.
So I guess no update from Russo today since there is no practice.
What does a reporter do when there is no practice or game to cover? I wonder if teams hire sports psychologists to help their players get out of a funk.
Not hockey related but ice-related. After the 1992 Olympics, Nancy Kerrigan hired a sports psychologist to help her help her cope with the stress and pressure of the Olympics and she almost won the gold but lost to Baiul by tenths of a point.
A little bored and mind is wandering today…..
Russ, I think what you are describing is loss of team confidence from having a string of things that go bad.
They need a little building block to turn things around, hopefully yesterday’s rally was the start needed.
Gabby has become a little predictable and so his production has dwindled. That is partly what JL refers to when he says the team is not working hard.
They are still a very young team, and so I think more subject to mood swings of streaks.
I really think we ought to appreciate what they did yesterday, and that was to tie, and could have won against a team on an 8 game win string. San Jose is no slouch or they would not be the NHL’s best road team. IF there is something like a nice point, that was it.
sunshine, did Nancy hire the guy back before the 1994 Olympics, or did she just worry more about Harding’s henchmen?
IF there is something like a nice point, that was it.
The hockey Gods giveth (1 point).
The hockey Gods taketh away (Marleau save).
Man…was I the only one that noticed the home team didn’t create any offense until the lucky tying goal???
In the third period…
Before the 1994 Olympics, prior to the Harding incident. I think her problem in 1992 was that she let the pressure get to her and she was falling on her jumps.
Iceman: I totally agree with you that Gabby has become predictable. How many times have we seen go across the offensive blueline and make that little cut move. Everytime he does it, they take the puck away. He always go five-hole. I don’t think he has shot over the shoulder in the last 4 weeks (not counting all the missed shots).
kj - San Jose doesn’t give you much to work with.
I’m sure it has been discussed already, but how bad is Backstrom in the shootout? Yikes. Toss in the penalty shot goal and he was 0-4 in the save department (was it Cheechoo that missed the open net after his deke? I’m not giving Backstrom credit for that).
It is almost to the point that a shoulder fake at the blue line will send Backstrom down into the crappie flop.
Good thing there isn’t a shootout in the playoffs.
kj - I also saw the Wild pass up some shooting oppurtunties for an extra pass.
I keep forgetting to bring it up until now, but I thought Radio played very well last night. He was absolutely attacking the loose puck and winning battles for the puck as well.
Thanks for the additional info about Friday, Aaron… Some fans are coming uncorked that Scott didn’t “do something” about the chippy play earlier or come to Benny’s defense, and I’m watching the game via Slingbox (read: bad video) thinking, “There’s gotta be more to this story.”
Seemed to me he tried to go several times with those guys and nobody would drop the gloves. Just nice to find someone else who interpreted the actions of the team the same way I did…. not being soft or failing to protect their teammates but basically being more disciplined and not getting baited into a huge ruckus.
“Good thing there isn’t a shootout in the playoffs.”
Amen to that.
Hey Russo, I think it is time for Gabby to watch his 5 goal outburst again!!!
Lunch is served…
Not only Gabby but how about compiling every players’ goals and make them watch it.
Lunch has been served.
Speaking of what’s Gaborik worth… Here’s the upcoming free agent list for this summer: http://www.nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.php?team=none&pos=none&status=none&type=capnumber
Given this list, start dreaming - it could be Christmas by July!
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