Wild vs. Colorado first-round schedule
Posted on April 6th, 2008 – 10:20 PMBy Michael Russo
Monday morning mass email reply: I’ve gotten all your emails complaining about the start times, and trust me, I understand your frustration.
The start times had to be this late because Games 2-4 and 6 are on VERSUS, and the NHL must get its 0.8 rating or whatever.
(I’d love to know why Game 1 is so late).
IF you see a game story in your morning’s paper, you’ll know I understand your frustration after you read it. But you’ll get complete coverage on startribune.com/wild even if it means just writing for the web site.
But please, no more emails on this subject. It’s frustrating, yes, but nothing that can be done. Unfortunately, this is what happens when you’re a Central Time zone team in a conference with mostly Mountain and Pacific time-zoned teams. The league needs second half of double-headers for TV, so it will always affect the Wild’s start time.
What’s most ridiculous is the league is willing to push games back to such inconvenient times, yet most first periods won’t make it on VERSUS if you do the math.
Seems each game will be joined in progress.
Wild vs. Colorado
Game 1 - Wednesday, at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Game 2 - Friday, at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Game 3 - Monday, at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Game 4 - Tuesday, at Colorado, 9 p.m.
*Game 5 - April 17, at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
*Game 6 - April 19, at Colorado, (start time TBD)
*Game 7 - April. 22, at Minnesota, (start time TBD)
* - if necessary
– A local television schedule will be announced early in the week.
– Limited single tickets for all four potential home games still remain.
187 Responses to "Wild vs. Colorado first-round schedule"
Could be worse. Dallas plays Anaheim at home in Game 4 of their series on Thursday, April 17th, then if necessary flies to Anaheim for a game the next night!
hey Russo what about seeing the Wild out of state such as in North Dakota.
Seth,
You guys in ND just got indoor plumbing last year and now you want hockey coverage too???
Are those start times local time?
Why is it that we start our games an hour later for their market, but they can’t start games an hour early for ours? It’s dumb. 7 pm start times all around should be the norm, unless they’re airing games as part of a Versus double-header or something.
yes, local times
These start times are local (Central Time) 4 games will be on Versus
CGY and Sj play Games 1 & 2 back-to-back nights this Wed-Thu.
Holy Crap, I come back after watching Star Wars III and there is troll Dave suckin’ Forsberg d1ck and another “phil” has posted a wussy rick austin video…sorry imposters, people here know if it ain’t Joe Satriani, I won’t be linking to it…
Alan, I thought we were making progress, alas I guess not..
NINY, I made a friendly, general comment on the AV’s board, nothing trollish like Dave here so from him to compare my comments to his is as weak as his explanation for Lapierre going after Gabby..
Oh and Dave’s a killer, Forsberg is hurt because he’s always “standing up” to guys ??? I didn’t know you were a comedian because that is f’ing hilarious! The guy is starting to evolve a shell he turtles so much.
Hey everyone! The game was pretty fun.. Got to see gabbys first ‘fight’ in person woo! I’ll let you know how the trip was when I get home tomorrow. Also, lemmiwinks is a very cool cat. We had a good time and drank for cheap! Later!
Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil. Lapierre plays in Montreal. Maxim had a pretty good season for a young guy but was nowhere near Denver today. Forsberg doesn’t need toprove anything to you personally, but I am looking forward to your venting of frustration over him on this blog. Once again you are a douche. And it’s Astley, not Austin. Dork.
ATX: Looking forward to your comments. Got to give us your account of the fight.
Dave, only you would know the correct name (Astley), which incidentally proves you were the one who posted it under my name..next time when you’re playing goalie, wear a mask..it’ll save what few remaining brain cells you have left
Once Boogie gets through with him, Lapierre won’t know all the letters in his name either. We take you guys 4-1.
Heads-up dave, your mom’s home, better hide the computer.
All things Avs is fresh now. Have at it Wild fans. “Clutch and grab” at the issues, but don’t get “trapped” talking about “non-hockey” issues. You are ALL purists and experts after all. And no Phil, it’s your mom, again.
Ian Laperriere #14 Colorado
Maxim Lapierre #40 Montreal
Your just not bright.
Dave- I posted on all things avs but no avs fans post on it. Whats up with that? were do you guys hang out at?
Apparently you aren’t either Dave, it’s “you’re” not “your.”
Walt, in truth, it’s not a very good blog.
The message boards on the team website get more action. Russo does a much better job keeping it fresh. The Wild have, in my opinion, probably the best beat writer in the league.
That’s cheap wildinseatle. This is between me and phil. And Rick Astley.
Dave-
oops I mean Dave- I’ll have to take my friendly trash talk to the avs board….
Game on Walt!
So is anybody else angry that all the $40 upper level corner tickets got gobbled up and are now selling for $80-100 a piece?
Or maybe thats just me, the poor college student.
Dave you have vanguished me with your redoubtable repartee, I yield the blog floor to your superior intellect.
Walt, don’t bother, nobody is there but Dave, and now he’s here instead…lucky us
The rest is silence.
Meh, start times are not so great for me while I’m on the east coast. Ahh well, not sure I’ll be able to get games anyway (other than through that link someone through up last post).
PS-Don’t feed the troll. I’m getting tired of having to scroll through drivel.
BoogieNeedsAGoal:
I was just wondering because I am a Wild fan and plus I want to watch the game.
the blog got rick rolled? that’s so last year.
I can understand the hour later start time if the games were to be picked up by versus or CBC but wednesday is not carried nationally. what possible reason is there to push back the start time then?
This isn’t to accomodate the denver market. Games there are starting at 8pm as well.
Green*…
I think the NHL wants the crowd to have an extra hour at McGoverns… 
Seth - I recall from last year that if you have FSN North, the games they get will be there for you as well. However, over the air games on 45 require a local TV station unless (maybe) those games are also Vs. games. Keep the support in ND strong!
How sad is it that the NHL again screws the Wild (and Colorado) for another round of playoffs with the later start times.
I got two boys 5 & 3 that will be lucky to even catch the 1st period. And you wonder why the NHL struggles to catch on national when the midget running the show gives us those start times.
Dear Wild Brass… we are collectively unhappy about the start times. While you’re picking out Northwest Divisional Champ banner material, do you think you could mention that to the higher ups?
I think the NHL wants the crowd to have an extra hour at McGoverns
the NHL could never be that smart but I enjoy the thought. should allow ss6 to join the party.
Schmidty - there will be a game on versus every night at 6pm locally. and they will pick up the late games after the early game is done. plenty of hockey to watch.
So the midget takes care of the east and sh&ts on the west again. Why can’t the east start one hour early and start at 6 instead of 7? No, incenvenience the west.
Looks like we can expect an increase in troll activity during the playoffs.
What the f*@# has happened to Russoville? The Wild are about to beat Colorado in 5 games and all folks seem to want to do is throw personal attacks. Can’t we just agree to the fact that it is a beautiful thing that the Canucks didn’t make the playoffs and leave it at that?
I know why the scheduled that G*, but it still doesn’t allow my boys to watch their favorite team the Wild play until the next day if recorded.
All the more reason the midget needs to get a few more TV deals. One game on Versus with on game on ESPN 2 would have been nice right about now.
Sadly, I guess the childern of the Western Conference will have to go without (or delayed) Playoff Hockey this year.
Go Wild!
i’m not all that crazy about 8pm start times either but the larger picture is dictating things. The NHL believes that washington, pittsburgh and detroit are the teams that will draw an audience so they will get the early billing.
As yet another testament to the painfully low IQ many of the local sports “media” in this town possess: watching the late night local news last night with Mrs. Deep Breath, one of the sports guys, don’t remember which channel we had it on, 4 or 5 I think, was talking about how the Wild have struggled lately in shootouts and how their going to have to improve on that for the pending playoffs. Nice.
was talking about how the Wild have struggled lately in shootouts and how their going to have to improve on that for the pending playoffs
right. it hasn’t been lately it has been all year.
Yep and no shoot outs in the playoffs. Geeze people get a clue.
and how their going to have to improve on that for the pending playoffs
Terrifying. And embarrassing.
Seriously, in Minnesota, the dude that said that and the guy that wrote it should both be fired. That BS may fly in Atlanta where you wouldn’t be surprised by ignorance like that, but they ought to know better in “The State of Hockey”.
the late times stink for me too, but it could be worse - we could be Nux fans.
In terms of the sports anchors in the metro, my theory is just let Janel Klein and Karla Hult (both from KARE-11) do the sports reports for all the stations in tight Wild shirts. No one will give a sh!t what they’re saying 
DB - i like the way you think.
The habs had a sampling of gals I assume from the montreal area, wearing the tight canadiens tee’s selling someting at the game. i bought but i still have no idea what they were selling.
i bought but i still have no idea what they were selling
sure you do, G*: dreams.
never looked at it that way NiNY.
Lot of good looking women in Montreal. almost as many as the cities here.
I was taking a read late last night through some of the Avs fans blogs and for the most part, the Avs fans seem to think it’s all about the trap and clogging the middle and boring, boring, boring with the Wild, while the Avs play this wide-open, free-wheeling style that harkens back to the days of the 80s Grease teams, led by the All-Mighty. My question, though, would be if the Avs are such a dramatically different style of team, with all of this offensive potential, why did they score exactly 1 more goal every 10 games than the Wild. The notion that Wild is a trap, clog, clutch, grab, boring team while the rest of the league is light years ahead of them offensively is a tired, worn out story line. How many players in the West scored more goals than Gabby this year? Wild in 5…..
chuck norris did.
zetterberg and boyes.
I’m thinking that I think this is going to be a longer and more difficult series than some of my fellow Russoville residents.
5 games is reasonable as long as we are healthy and stay out of the box
I just read the Don’s feedback on the litany of emails he has received and I’m not sure why so many in Russoville have their G-strings in a twist about the times. Is there really that much of a difference starting the homers at 8 instead of 7? Just gives folks an extra hour downtown to cavort with fellow Russovillians. May get a little late for the roadies, starting at 9 in Av-land, but it’s playoff hockey. We should expect to stay up to the wee hours of the morning watching playoff games. Recall, if you will, that game 7 in Colorado in ‘03 didn’t end until 7 minutes after midnight, but I don’t think folks, at least here, had too many complaints. I understand it may get a little inconvenient, but I have two small kids, a wife, a mortgage and a job as well. Coming to work bleary eyed with a couple bottles of Vault in tow is what makes playoff hockey what it is; the best 2 months in sport.
Boyes…there’s a season that’s begging to NOT be duplicated next year. I mean, hats off to him (Chiarelli has to be on lithium over it) and all, but I’ll put up $5 right now says he doesn’t match it next year.
(I’d love to know why Game 1 is so late).
An attempt to improve bad Avs TV ratings?
Yeah, until we get moved to the Eastern Conference (never) we will have to suffer the delayed start times.
I had hoped that given the Avs were in the MTZ that we would still start homers at 7 but the Versus idiots shot that down.
Look at it on the bright side…that .08 audience on Versus will get an education in Wild hockey. You know, dispel a few misconceptions about all things trappable. Know what I mean Vern???
I swear the Wild could average 5 GF and 3 GA for four rounds of SCP action and you would hear the same tired crap next year.
DB, I agree with you. It was always a challenge to get a 7 PM game anyway and the 6 PM was a killer. I might ahve liked 7:30 but I am fine with 8.
we will hear it as long as JL is coach
NHL PLEASE reset the divisions to where they used to be. Then we would’nt have a problem!
i don’t think divisions are a problem but the time zone we are in. it is too easy to position us for the 2nd half of a double header.
I could care less - as long as we advance, I don’t care what people say or think about our style. Winning is the object, especially now, and style gets you nothing.
BTW, one thing I don’t like about our schedule …. I don’t like the time off in between Games 6 and 7. If it goes to 7 games, I think giving the Avs an extra day’s rest is more an advantage to them given the age of many of their dudes. Of course, general momentum at the time might also play as big a factor.
Well the worst part is that we might miss a good chunk of the first period of Friday’s game. That sucks more than the 8pm start. Why not start at 9pm on Friday…its a weekend night.
I believe that local outlets will also carry the 1st and 2nd round games regardless of if they are on versus. I could be wrong.
I believe that local outlets will also carry the 1st and 2nd round games regardless of if they are on versus. I could be wrong.
You are correct - let’s hope the Vs.-less Wild fans have something to complain about in the Western finals!
I’ll have to check here for updates! It seems as though ths Star Tribune has cut back or made some major changes. I live in the North Metro, and it used to be that there were very few “late” items, but now, more often than not, if it happens after about 9:30pm, the story won’t be in the next day, it will be a day later.
Online seems to be the only answer!
I also don’t think we should count on being re-aligned anytime soon. Given the way teams in the western part of the US are dispersed, there’s just no easy way to set divisions to end up with all MT/PT teams by themselves. Dallas’ situation must be even worse since all of their division opponents are in PT. We need Nsh to move to, say Seattle, so we can switch divisions with them.
Dallas has the worst in time schedule but the Wild has to travel the furthest.
Hey guys, here is youtube video to get you ready for the playoffs. I promise you won’t get Rick Roll’d.
I want Nashville to move to Oakland. That drive home from San Jose is kind of a drag.
sunshine: Furthest travel in first round is Calgary to San Jose, then Dallas-Anaheim, then Minnesota-Colorado…
As for the start times, it doesn’t help my sleep any, but 8 PM I can live with. (I get up at 5 AM to go into work.) My wife and I are both scrambling for 6 PM starts, sometimes (when traffic is heavy or weather is bad) even 7 PM is sometimes a bit of a push. Besides, it’s ‘Old Time Hockey’: North Stars’ games for most of the time they were in Minnesota started at 8 PM…
Hockeydad: Having spent some time in Seattle last month, I can assure you the NHL won’t be going there anytime soon…no one cares about the NHL out there, trust me…we had to really scramble to find one bar that carried NHL Center Ice!
Oh, and MN_AL, try yelp.com for finding a sports bar to accomodate you around SJ/Palo Alto. Won’t be hard finding a place with the Sharks on, but finding a place that will have the out of town game… dunno. But I suspect there’s gotta be something.
WRT, since when has the NHL been concerned with expanding to a market that cared? 
P.S. to my earlier post: Let’s hope the fact that three games are on Versus doesn’t mean we can’t watch the start of the game! Local TV will start at opening face-off (whatever channel that is)…
Anyone else notice from the National TV listings that this series will be the ‘forgotten one’ as to TV viewership? Some series every game is on national TV. What did the Wild do (or not do) to deserve being ignored again?
WRT: I meant in the regular season — traveling. not post season. sorry I was not clear.
What did the Wild do (or not do) to deserve being ignored again?
they play trapping boring hockey. wouldn’t want to subject the masses to this when you are trying to keep your .08 share.
I think part of the “problem” is that the league knows we - as Minnesotans - are going to go to/watch the games no matter what time they start. It’s easy to make us the ‘tweener market, so to speak. So we put ourselves over the barrel on this one.
Anyone else notice from the National TV listings that this series will be the ‘forgotten one’ as to TV viewership
one could argue that the devils/rangers or dallas/ducks is more forgotten since only 3 games will appear on versus. TSN is canada only.
NiNY - I agree, those occasional 8pm Wednesday home starts vs. Canadian teams I believe are driven by TSN. How many US markets accomodate TV in Canada? Bottom line, its extra sauce for the crowd.
the pens and ottawa only have 2 versus games.
the habs and bruins will not appear on national US TV at all. only CBC or the french channel
take that last comment back. the habs have one versus game
Nick - re: Boyes
I agree with you, kudos to Boyes and a fabulous season, but to repeat that feat will be tough.
I actually work with a Blues fan here in Houston, he is pretty excited about Boyes. He should just be excited about their young talent in general.
GreenStar: Habs-Bruins not on Vs. or NBC may not be all that bad. I’d rather look at Kathryn Hannan of NESN anyhow.
I’m surprised Pens-Sens not on NBC (’Nothing But Crosby’) at least once. Sid the Kid is THE reigning NHL superstar, isn’t he?
Of course, all this will change as the series end, especially if teams get swept 4 straight or get bounced in 5…
He should just be excited about their young talent in general.
agreed, Aaron. One of several really good looking young teams.
WRT: Not to split a hair, but unless she got married (which is a possibility) I *think* her last name is Tappen.
i think she got married. I’ve noticed a blinding sparkle from her left hand recently that I didn’t notice back in november.
then I am mistaken, retract my statement, and offer my sincere apologies to WRT.
I’m surprised Pens-Sens not on NBC (’Nothing But Crosby’) at least once
NBC looks to be all ovie or dead wings in the first round.
oh, and G*: I think it’s up to 5% now.
which makes me wonder who makes decisions at NBC and what criteria they use because I see the dead wings/preds being the very least exciting series in not only the west but the entire league.
montreal/boston should be a good one as they have a rivalry that goes way back.
oh, and G*: I think it’s up to 5% now.
sweet. it should be about 8% by wednesday. no wild games means lots of talk about good looking female tv personalities or a chef daughter of a fellow russotan.
no wild games means lots of talk about good looking female tv personalities or a chef daughter of a fellow russotan.
Let’s see Alan/Dave/Mike comment on THAT!
G*: You would think so, about the Habs and Bruins, but Montreal was 8-rock agianst Boston this season and even without Koivu, they will have this over in 5. It looks like the least interesting series out there in round one, just slightly below Nashville and Detroilet. At least the Preds had a modicom of success this year against the Wings.
I was thinking about dropping the (fDiM) from my name for the playoffs, but now that there’s been a counterfeit Dave running around here recently, I wonder if I should rethink that. I don’t want anyone to get the two of us mixed up.
Hold it. I was wrong. It IS Kathryn Tappen. NiNY is correct. She is, among other things, a former record-holder in the Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Hmmm…
I don’t have a problem with the 8pm start times, gives me extra time to get down to the “X” after work. And I’m more a night owl so the later games appeal to me.
toivo: Thanks for the yelp.com reference earlier for help finding sports bars when out of town. Going to be up in NoCal this weekend away from my NHL Center Ice and need to track down the Wild game on Friday night. THANKS.
former record-holder in the Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
she’s still a record holder in my book.
certainly the habs have handled the bruins this season but the games have been mostly exciting, at least the couple I caught. There is some simmering bad blood and we all know that playoffs magnify things.
she’s still a record holder in my book.
ironic, though, isn’t it, G*…I mean, now YOU’RE the one chasing her steeple.
Like I have said before, I don’t mind the later starts because the rest of the Gato clan will be sleeping and I can watch the game in peace. So who’s going to set up the webcam at McGoverns so NiNY and all the other out of towners can see the pre-game party on Wednesday (I’m an accountant not a web guy)?
Good lookin’ out, El Gato, you’re good people.
You’re an accountant, eh? So one of my funds had to restate its distribution of ordinary income this year (it’s a muni fund). Hopefully that doesn’t cause you too many headaches!
Phil, at least you know what I go through with the fake name postings. How immature!
Generally I try to stay away from the chat on this board about women, but now that WRT has discovered her, I going to break the rule just once, and say that Kathryn Tappen alone is enough to justify the $149 Center Ice expense.
She won six varsity letters in track and cross-country at Rutgers, she was an academic All-American and, most importantly, she plays golf as well. Take all of that, and add the ability to be a studio host for NHL hockey, and you have to believe there is no more desirable woman on the planet, even if she looked like a troll, which she doesn’t.
Okay, groupie-like rant is over. I now return to hockey comments.
Do you guys know Jennifer Hedger? She’s the main news anchor for TSN’s Sportscentre.
Okay, one more….Her web site, http://www.kathryntappen.com, says that she has won awards for her “oratorical skills.”
And yes, I know what that means, but still…..
It’s not causing me any headaches at all.
I think this will be a 6 or 7 game series and I hope the Wild are the team left standing. I don’t think it’s going to be easy, especially if Forsberg playing/diving at his best. Stay physical but stay out of the box. Their PP may have stunk this regular season, but it looks a lot more intimidating with Floppa out there controlling the puck.
I like the way you think, Goalieguy!
Indeed Alan, that dave is a tool as well as a troll…his postings at the AVs forum are much less vulgar because Adrian Dater would probably delete his posts.
Since you dislike both teams, who do you want to win, the AVs or Wild?
she plays golf as well
oh boy, I wish i didn’t know that.
Green* - did that just drop her a few notches or put her higher on the pedestal?
I saw the Capitals blonde on ‘On The Fly’ at their fan appreciation night. I’m sure Green* has the 411 on her.
If given the choice, would you prefer Kathryn Tappen and her “oratorical skills” or Rosie O’ and her “ass-less chaps”?
DB, you need counseling, seriously!
I thought we left rosie and her chaps a few threads back…I just hurled my lunch, again…thanks
she is clearly ahead of marney now.
would you prefer Kathryn Tappen and her “oratorical skills”
not sure i am looking to debate her…
The NHL season is over but somehow we still talk about the BJ’s!
Proposed playoff rituals for Russovile:
- Deep Breath ends all Rosie comments until the post season
- Troll ignoring is put into high gear
-G* predicts other playoff matchups based on the female commentators
Other ideas?
It’s funny that over half the comments on All Things Avs are by Wild fans.
What a crappy blog…. when you guys/gals get a chance you schould check it out.
denverpost.com
sidenote- the denver post’s counterpart had a byline…well here is the hot link. just posting the other side’s rip on our guys.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2008/04/06/lets-hope-for-the-avalanches-sake-that-derek-boogaard-plays-a-lot-in-this-series/
BJ season never ends
phil this is torture for us…Avs against Wild!! But as much of a problem as I have with the Wild during the regular season, I think I would probably lean towards supporting the Wild over the Avs.
I have a REAL problem with the Avs. Not only did they have our number this year big time, but somehow they have a bit of a swagger with their “superstars” Sakic, Smyth, Forsberg that just annoys me.
So I would probably lean towards the Wild (reluctantly).
Green*, ever watch ‘The Big Break’ on the golf channel? Two words, Stephanie Sparks. Enough said.
If there are games on VS. and presumably in HD, I hope that the local broadcast will be HD as well. Is anyone else bothered by the lack of FSN games in HD? The Twins are finally starting to come around on this but hockey is 10 times more important to have in HD.
ever watch ‘The Big Break’
i watched the first time they had all gals. the one that lost the final match to that whiney blonde did something for me. not sure why because she was ‘ordinary’ and when you are working on fantasy, ordinary usually doesn’t cut it.
i take it the new season has begun.
Adam, I’m gonna work on point #2, and completely, whole-heartedly agree with point #1! Kinda ambivalent on point 3 - the guy DOES have a thing for Marney
Alan, fair enough, though I hated you guys last year [and to a lesser degree (now that Cooke is gone) this year], I was pullin’ for you guys against the Ducks.
Walt, I noticed that too…very weak blog.
You like “agitators”, Alan. Let me ask you this: if Laperriere had done what he did yesterday to one of the Sedins and your team was facing them in an upcoming playoff series, what do you think should happen to him?
That Adrian person is not Russo’s counterpart. I think Terry Frei is because he was on This Week in Hockey and they stated that Frei was the beat writer.
Here is his take on the Wild-Avs matchup and the Gaborik-Lapierre incident.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2008/04/07/playoff-thoughts-and-first-round-prediction/
Stephanie is the strawberry blonde female host.
At least that Terry Frei guy sounds like he has a couple of brain cells to rub together.
Stephanie is the strawberry blonde female host
mmmmmm. i know her but didn’t know what her name was.
Dave, I don’t “like” agitators per say, I just understand and accept unlike you guys that they are part of the game.
I do like Burrows, who was just voted both “Most Exciting Player” and “Unsung Hero” by the Canucks organization in their (fan-voted) year-end team awards yesterday.
Burrows was also listed in the Vancouver Sun as a “must re-sign” for next-year. They did an article where they split the team into “Must Re-Sign”, “On the Bubble” and “Outta Here!”
But if someone goes too far, punishment must be dealt out by the league - without a doubt. You can’t leave it to teammates to get retribution becasue that leads to a Bertuzzi-Moore situation.
Leave it to the NHL to sort out messy situations.
I don’t care much for frei’s contribution to espn.com but he is spot on with this:
Playoff hockey also tends to bring out the “homer” coverage in both markets, especially from those who find themselves tossed into the mix after either rarely or never showing up at the arenas during the regular season. I suppose we’ll see the same thing in this series.
look for a bunch of slover articles in the near future.
BJ season never ends
It did in my house 7 years ago 
Burrows, who was just voted both “Most Exciting Player” and “Unsung Hero” by the Canucks organization in their (fan-voted) year-end team awards yesterday.
no offense to alan but this doesn’t say much about casucks fans
I just understand and accept unlike you guys that they are part of the game.
and you were just starting to do so well too…
It did in my house 7 years ago
another early entrant for Russoville line of the year.
Ducking my question, Alan? Agitators are part of the game. I get that. I have no problem with rough, legal tactics employed to get under the other guy’s skin. Facewash after the whistle? No biggie. Pushing and shoving around the crease if a guy’s hacking your goalie? Expected. What Laperriere did yesterday, and some of the things that Burrows and Cooke and players of that character have done that is on par with what Laperrie did yesterday and that is excused by fans of their teams as mere “agitating” is just plain bush league.
“The Avalanche was out of line at the end of overtime against the Wild Sunday. That might seem to cut against the grain around here, but I also think most intelligent Colorado fans will concede that if the skate had been on the other foot, they would have found it objectionable and that they weren’t particularly thrilled with what they did see”.
The difference between the Wild, and other teams is that a Wild player would not have done what Laperriere did. Call it arrogant or whatever but the facts is the facts. This teams doesn’t have a history of conducting itself that way.
Agitators are part of the game for other teams. Not the Wild.
If Alex Burrows was just voted as the Nux’ “Most Exciting” player, I would say it’s going to be about 2013 before that team returns to the playoffs.
Hey Kirk, I sent you an email yesterday afternoon about your playoff fantasy hockey league and you never responded. Can I still join?
Shorter Frei on the ESPN.com:
Canadians really like hockey!
Greenstar…..Sorry but Burrows is exciting to watch. You guys see him only 8 times a year, we see him 82 times a year.
He brings a level of excitement and energy to the team that few others bring. He’s had a long and tough road to get to the NHL and sometimes when the entire team looks asleep on the ice, he’s the only one to show he has energy and loves to play.
Maybe not in your league Green*….
So Dave and Kirk,etc…I didn’t see the incident, what exactly did Laperriere do?
Here’s the clip, Alan:
Maybe not in your league Green*….
who you? i already know you are out of my league. that isn’t hard to figure out.
Sorry but Burrows is exciting to watch. You guys see him only 8 times a year, we see him 82 times a year.
i see him more than 8 times thru the magic of CI. He usually lights a fire because he is dangerously checking someone, sticking them and then scurrying away when it comes time to pay the piper. if that is what you like, so be it.
It’d be nice if he learned a little respect.
You call that playing? Give me a break. He’s just a younger version of Cooke and Rutuu…..
You make excuses for him because he had a long, tough road to get to the NHL. If it was easy, we’d all be doing it. Get over yourself and Burrows, Alan
No, Greenstar, I was just trying to be clever. And the key word in that sentence is trying
Alan, you really see Burrows 82 times a year? My condolences for having to pay for Canucks PPV.
I think ss6 really loves those italic tags.
Saw the video clip. You guys are going to have a nasty playoff series…the bad blood is already boiling. But Gaborik is your superstar, you know other teams will target him. That’s why you have Boogard and Simon to stop them.
I don’t think you guys understand how I feel about “pests”. I like the annoying kid-brother tactics, like the chirping and yapping, face washing, bumping around the goalie - I find it funny because it’s supposed to annoy the other team and take them off their game and make them take a penalty. I don’t support agressive and dangerous tactics like dirty late hits, boarding and slashing!
From the Wikipedia article on pests:
“In ice hockey, a pest is a type of player who attempts to annoy, anger, or distract opposing players in order to reduce their effectiveness or cause them to take a penalty.”
PS: how do you make italics on here?
I was a huge Keith Acton fan when he came to the Stars. He was an agitator (rat as we used to refer to those types in the 70’s-80’s). He was like an edgier version of Wes Walz, more in your face, trash talking but had solid enough offensive skills to paired with Bellows for most of his tenure. If Burrows played more like that I think he would be more respected around the league, instead he uses his stick to spear/hack/jab and then hides behind his shield/enforcers. Maybe his game will evolve to that style in a few years, but it might have to come from a major beating at the hands of an enforcer or a star player on his team getting hurt as retribution for his actions for that to happen.
PS: how do you make italics on here?
you flip the italic switch on the keyboard
I was going to say Ctrl-Alt-Del at the same time, I like your answer better Green*!
Gee I’m in stiches.
I can empathize with Alan on this - it is odd finding yourself pulling for a divisional rival. I remember pulling for the Nux big time in Round 2 last spring vs the Fowl. I suppose that was a much greater reflection of my disdain for the Fowl, but it was weird to get used to.
lighten up alan, it all in good fun. someone around here had a link to a wesite that had basic HTML tags that work here. you could always go to the google and search the interweb.
Like Denny said, take the high road:
Basic HTML commands
All I’m saying here, Alan, is that I don’t find any difference between what Laperriere did yesterday and Burrows spearing the smallest guy on the ice (a non-pugilist) and then picking a fight with him. Bullshite like that is just not done by players who have respect for other players and for the game and the way it should be played. You’ll never see a Wild player do stuff like that. If you want to say Burrows just gets under the skin of the other players, fine. I haven’t heard you condemn what he did to Bouchard, though, so your argument about liking pests when they do “kid- brother tactics” (?) and not dirty stuff loses a lot of steam and credibility.
I thought Denny said, ‘I sure do like bacon!’
Alan, We don’t mind pests either but Burrows is not a pest he is someone who hits from behind, spears, etc. It seems to be a Canucks tradition to have a couple of those–Ruutu and Cooke were notorious for that (Ruutu even did it in the World Games on Jagr). I thought it would die when Burke left the team but Burrows seem to be carrying the tradition on. But for that, we might actually kind of like you guys–after all Vancouver is a beautiful city and the fans are hockey fans.
I do resent, however, when Canadians make accusations that Americans don’t know hockey and therefore can’t criticize. That might be true in Nashville but Minnesota fans have been watching, playing hockey just as long as Canadians.
Alan, We don’t mind pests either but Burrows is not a pest he is someone who hits from behind, spears, etc. It seems to be a Canucks tradition to have a couple of those–Ruutu and Cooke were notorious for that (Ruutu even did it in the World Games on Jagr). I thought it would die when Burke left the team but Burrows seem to be carrying the tradition on. But for that, we might actually kind of like you guys–after all Vancouver is a beautiful city and the fans are hockey fans.
I do resent, however, when Canadians make accusations that Americans don’t know hockey and therefore can’t criticize. That might be true in Nashville but Minnesota fans have been watching, playing hockey just as long as Canadians.
PUFFY
No, Denny said HEY HEY! HEY! HEY! It’s the Sheriff!
The only “positive” I can think of to pests in the style of Cooke and Burrows is it gets me pumped for the game and a chance that maybe Boogie would smash them really hard.
Did that HTML commands website work for you Alan?
First of all to Dave (fDiM):
People are always going to find things unacceptable if they go against your own team. As much as I like Burrows, I hate Cheechoo, Tootoo, Carcillo, etc. And you can get on your high horse all you want about no Wild guys doing that stuff, but if Ruutu or Avery get traded to the Wild next season, you will change your thinking. Look at what happened wtih Chris Simon! You guys hated him for 5 minutes and now he’s “one of you” so you love him. Pest tactics are always going to be borderline - - it’s always a fine line on what’s acceptable to you or me or not.
Secondly to woodcock:
Our current GM Nonis spent about 15 years as Brian Burke’s protogee, so of course the Burke legacy remains. However, one thing Canadians really respect about Minnesota is that you do have a good healthy hockey culture.
Let’s me honest here guys. If our team had an Ovechkin or a Gaborik or an Iginla, there would probably be less need for us to employ tactics like Burrows or Cowan employ. I’ll admit that.
Dave (fDiM): You should have mail. Not sure why it didn’t go through the first time. Let me know if you don’t see it.
There’s still room for those interested in Playoff Fantasy Hockey. It’s free.
I’m testing it now, phil
Alan-Chris Simon is NOT an agitator. He’s a goon, in every sense of the word and I’ve never hated him. He did things to guys that were dispicable, yes, but only to these agitators, never to a skilled guy.
Agitators turtle up and won’t fight, unless it’s against a guy like Butch. Those are the people that we’re talking about here, not fighters.
I didn’t hate simon
crap
Simon wasn’t initially accepted here and for some he still isn’t, (I think I said this on a different thread)but I didn’t like Simon either until I found out who he “took out”. And when I saw they were those pest cheap shot artists, I didn’t have a problem with what he had done.
I hated Bertuzzi, but never saw him as cheap like Cooke or Burrows, even with what he did to Moore.
Jim, I know that….I was just using Simon as an example to point out that people always hate guys until they join their team.
well it worked, congrats..I just started using them myself about a week ago
If Cooke or Ruutu were to ever wind up on the Wild (which I doubt would ever happen), I would still hate those guys and yell crap at them (even in the Wild jersey). They simply shouldn’t be playing in the NHL.
Let’s me honest here guys. If our team had an Ovechkin or a Gaborik or an Iginla, there would probably be less need for us to employ tactics like Burrows or Cowan employ.
Solid comment - reminds me of the pre-lock out Wild. Those teams trapped like crazy because they had almost no goal scroring. Doing what you have to do to win in the strict salary cap NHL is acceptable (within the rules and customs of the game, of course)
Alan @ 3:31pm
Secondly to woodcock:
Our current GM Nonis spent about 15 years as Brian Burke’s protogee, so of course the Burke legacy remains. However, one thing Canadians really respect about Minnesota is that you do have a good healthy hockey culture.
Let’s me honest here guys. If our team had an Ovechkin or a Gaborik or an Iginla, there would probably be less need for us to employ tactics like Burrows or Cowan employ. I’ll admit that.
Well said.
Good points, and you didn’t have to turn in your Nux Fan Club card either, did you?
food
Ok, what did I miss today?
Sounds like:
1) BJ’s/BJ season.
2) Katharyn Tappen.
3) Headers.
4) Oratorical skills.
5) Rosie (aGAIN!)
6) Trolls
…in no particular order.
Am I missing anything else?
Believe me, you don’t think (most) Vancouver fans would rather we had guys who could score 40 or 50 goals a year? Yeah, I’d trade in every Cooke, Burrows and Cowan for just one of them.
But if we can’t score, we have to at least put the other team in the penalty box so that we can get a power play and score that way. And how do you put a guy in the penalty box? You do the stuff Burrows does.
I mean, we have to do something to get the 2 points, right?
No, Alan, you missed the absolutely crucial point, just as I knew you would. I knew you’d come back with Simon. It’s like I’m inside your head and I’m walking around in there, and I have to say - it’s a very scary place. Focus like a laser beam on this and really try and get it: Wild players respect the game. Simon has never done anything to any other team’s skill players, as Burrows did and as Laperriere did. Boogaard has never jumped another team’s star. If anyone on the Wild did cheap crap like Burrows and Laperriere did, you’d come in here and all of us would be the first ones calling it what it is.
Simon has kept his nose clean so far, and we’ve valued his contributions (such as they are). If he pulled anything like what Burrows or Laperriere pulled or if he has another rage blackout and hacks somebody’s eye out, we’d all be disgusted. Even people who reacted positively to the deal have said that, and I think it’s true.
That’s what distinguishes us from you, Alan, as you make your own point about “hating guys until they join their team”. We would not excuse abhorrent behavior just because a guy is “one of us.” You apparently would and do.
I really tried hard with you, Alan, because you’ve seemed like a decent guy at times. If you’re going to honestly sit there and say that Wild fans are “on our high horses” and that we’d be applauding tactics like that, I don’t know why I bothered wasting my time. You’re dead to me now.
alan, food means there’s an update to russo’s rants from the Don (russo) himself, or sometimes its Youngblood
Oh that hurts, Dave, it really does.
Let’s just agree to disagree, but mark my words: If a Toootoo or a Ruutuu or a Cheechoo or an Avery or a Carcillo or a Cooke or a Barnaby or a Laperriere or a Hinote EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER get traded to the Wild at any time….I will be on you like cheap cologne on a pimp - - watching your guys’ every single word with my hypcrisy detector on “high”.
hypcrisy=hypocrisy
Hey everyone! I made it home safely! Denver was pretty fun for sure. It’s a nice town, although the dry air killed my sinuses and chapped my lips real bad.
We spent the first day drinking beer at Coors Field while some people played a strange game with sticks and a ball in the park. Then we met up with Lemmiwinks at this place called the Falling Rock Tap House. Great place to drink beer (they have like 80 beers on tap!) and we had great company. Lemmiwinks is real is a real cool guy… thanks for meeting up with us Lemmi!
The day of the game we went up to the Pepsi Center and caught a bit of warmups and walked around the arena a bit. The arena was pretty col, but it seemed a bit old and the concourses seemed reall closed off and a bit closterphobic. Oh, and WRT, you were right, the seats are really skinny! I kept thinking I was going to knock over my beer!
The game was good, we had seats in the first row of the upper deck on the end that the Wild shot on twice. We got an excellent view of Parrish’s goal. We also had a pretty good look at the Gabby altercation. It looked like both Gabby and Lappy were jawing at each other and then Lappy just started throwing punches. I think after the second or third punch Gabby snapped and threw a few haymakers to Lappy’s helmet. The punches looked good from where we were, but I couldn’t tell if he landed anything. It was still awesome to see Gabby’s first ever fight in person! We also saw a scoreboard proposal for the first time too.
Thanks for all the advice and helpful hints for the trip for those who offered their wisdom (WRT alsong with others). It’s good to be back!
P.S. Woodcok, if you are coming to Austin and you need a place to watch the game, drop me a line! We can go out to watch, or you can come to our house and watch. Let me know if you are interested. (my email is: ahmug@hotmail.com)
BJ season never ends
It did in my house 7 years ago
I’ll bet there is a very sad story in there somewhere.
Lappy was just doing his job trying to get inside the fragile psyche that Gabby is known for. This year’s playoffs are his chance to focus and put that reputation to bed. While it is nice to have Fedoruk and Simon on board for toughness (Gabby’s numbers are up with Fridge on the ice) their real value is clogging up the front of the net. Parrish sits because those two do the same job carrying an extra 25-30 pounds and also represent a nuclear threat. Boogaard may not get Lappy directly but he will take a few laps around the rink and find somebody. Just ask Stephane Yelle of Calgary as Boogey sent him effortlessly floating horizontally through the air on trajectory for a full body slam with the base of the corner boards after that Phaneuf/Veilleux incident in Calgary. If the Wild play the way they did against Calgary, this is over in 5. Of course that sends them to SJ and I don’t think they could last more than 6 with them.
I think the series with Colorado is entirely in the Wilds hands.
If the Wild continue to play like they have in the last ten games or so for sixty minutes, they will win in six or less.
If they do not play that way, who knows because Colorado won’t be easy.
Alan, JL runs a tight ship. That does not mean that individual players might not go beyond his rules but our boys are expected to show respect for opponents.
Who is on Vancouver’s 1) Must sign list, 2) on the bubble list, and 3) Outta here list?
Iceman, here’s the link
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2e83b5dd-b21b-47c6-a450-4e19d26176eb
Actually I stand corrected, the correct phrase was was “Worth Keeping” not “Must Sign”.
