Friday Wild update, Avs update added on the bottom
Posted on April 11th, 2008 – 9:30 AMBy Michael Russo
FYI, Martin Skoula, sore leg, is skating and playing.
Aaron Voros says he’s playing, but Chris Simon thinks he’s playing, too. So I assume one is mistaken, unless Sheppard sits and he the Wild goes with three centers.
Jascques Lemaire is home sick, not that we’d know for sure if we had access to him today.
By the way, I asked Voros about what his comfort level would be about playing blue line and he rolled his eyes, and said no way.
That was just a practice thing, folks.
Ian Laperriere was here early and looked like he could barely move. I think he was hit by a Brian Rolston shot. Don’t know if he’s playing.
Assistant coach Mike Ramsey has been cleared to fly to Denver with the team. He hasn’t flown since eye surgery.
Sorry if there are typos.Writing from blackberry.
I was at the arena so late into the evening yesterday, when I was packing up, I looked up and realized the building was pitch black. I didn’t even notice. Press box lights were on dim and the arena was a black hole.
It was one of the coolest sights I’ve ever seen, and kind of powering to be the only person in a dark arena.
I don’t know why I said that, but it was just a cool sight.
Anybody watch the Sharks-Flames game? Miikka Kiprusoff did everything possible to keep the Flames in that game (San Jose won 2-0), especially when Calgary unraveled and took penalty after penalty in the second.
There was an extended 5-on-3 (two in a row), but Kiprusoff kept the Sharks off the board there. You should have seen Mike Keenan go off on referee Tim Peel between the second and thirds.
It was unbelievable he didn’t get an unsportsmanlike. I’ve been on the other end of one of those Iron Mike eruptions, and it’s not fun. The string of penalties came right after Keenan felt Owen Nolan was tripped by the blue line. No call, and Keenan was incensed.
But if you didn’t see the glove save Evgeni Nabokov made on Nolan later in the game, go to NHL.com and watch the highlights. I fell off the couch.
Big news coming out of Florida. Jacques Martin has been told to give up his coaching duties and asked if he wants to stay on as GM.
Joe Nieuwendyk, whom sources say was offered the GM job earlier this season but turned it down, resigned at mid-week. Martin hasn’t decided if he’ll stay on, but if he’s going to hire his coaching replacement and give him a contract longer than his, that’s a recipe for problems.
I’ll be on FSN North tonight at the start of its pregame show around 7.
From Judd Zulgad:
It looks as if Avalance defenseman and former Gophers standout Jordan Leopold will be a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game. Avs coach Joel Quenneville said today that Leopold will skate in warm-ups but then added, “we like the way the [defense] played in the last game.” That means Leopold, coming off a second consecutive injury-filled season, is going to have to remain patient.
In the opening game, the Wild had five power plays and the Avs only had one. Asked about staying out of the penalty box, Quenneville said: “You look at the penalties at the end of the night. We shot one in the stands [Paul Stastny in the first period], so that was a tough one. A couple of them I don’t think they were from the nature of trying to be too physical. I think we want to be smart with the penalties we do take. I still think we want to make sure that we have a physical presence in our game but I think we’d expect to be on the power play hopefully more than once tonight.”
237 Responses to "Friday Wild update, Avs update added on the bottom"
Hey FSN,
More Russo and less Gorg-zilla
Hey FSN,
Ditto BNAG
I’m always in favor of anything to reduce D & D on tv.
I do have an intriguing question for the Don. I get Barry Melrose podcast and his co-host is Joyce Russo. I wonder if there is a connection.
Well the boys need to play better. I heard from one person the Avs played not that well and won and the Wild played great and lost. I think the Wild played great early than ran out of gas where the Avs started slow and then outplayed the Wild when they ran out of gas.
It’s funny these guys have paled 83 games and conditioning is issue this time of year. You would think they would be in top condition except for the guys that just got off IR.
Hey Wild Fans, a little less trash talking, a little more choking like wenesday night. Perfek…
Little off subject, but why did Craig Leipold have to bring up the the Packers thing again. I really want to like this guy but it is hard if he keep talking about Favre.
Now we got another troll in the room
Troll? My team is up 1-0. Just a little healthy trash talk to get your friday started…no harm done yeah?
Russo, did Keenan go off on you because you blackmailed him with this??
I’m not sure where AOW thinks the trash talk is. It’s full-time “Marty watch” this morning.
Big game tonight obviously (wow do I feel stupid for even writing that, that’s Maddenesque). To me the first 5-10 minutes of the game is going to be key for the Wild. If they come out flat…an emotional letdown if you will…I think they could be in for a long night. I can also see them coming out flying and really taking it to the ‘Lanche knowing they outplayed them for most of the night and set the tempo of the game. They just need to capitalize on their chances.
Either way, it’s going to be fun! Go Wild!
Any word on Skoula?? I have a good feeling about tonight, Backs is gonna shut them down!
Coach Denny: “If we score more than the other team, then we will like what we have done.”
I recall hearing many times that effort will often beat talent.
GO WILD!
Someone want a foot of snow? I sure don’t but that is what is sitting outside here in the St. Cloud area. Plus Skoula may be injured (I may not always like him but I know we really need him right now and he has really stepped up since his trip to the Popcorn Palace), I dented my garage door, Schultz and Foster are still out, and the Avs won the first game. I am a little crabby this morning. Hopefully something goes right today to cheer me up. GO WILD!!
Random thoughts.
Reading Charley Waters this morning on Liepold, I think he gets it. His columns are not usually as inflamatory as the likes of other non-hockey types.
Carney and Hill are just going to need to figure out how to be productive and force JL to give them minutes. If they are not getting the job done JL cannot extend their minutes and that will hurt long-term.
As an earlier debate about how the Wild could retain both Demitra and Rolston has been quiet for awhile, it is becoming fairly obvious which one can still get things done for us.
A theoretical question is: if you have one big star to sign (maybe a forty goal scorer) who will eat up so much of the cap space you cannot afford a supporting cast, is the team
better off spending that same money on two (20) goal scorers? I would think it is more difficult for an opponent to shut down two players than one.
UND did not do so well againts BC last night and ND upset Michigan in OT. So, in retrospect, the Gophs looked pretty good in their BC loss.
Wild win tonight.
Thanks for getting my back NiNY.
I think Reitz is just insurance if Much-Maligned Modernly Magnificent Marty (how’s that for positive) can’t go. I agree with Russo that they would have talked about it if it wan’t serious, but if they had an extra D stashed in the Popcorn Palace, we wouldn’t have heard a word.
Russo -
What are the odds we will see Pouliot tonight? I think his playmaking ability would better serve the Wild than Sheppards size and physicality.
I just read Russo’s lead story today. As I was reading it I had the same feeling that JL did in his quote at the end - we’re only down 1-0 and, mounting injuries notwithstanding, I sense a little (too much) panic in some of the comments from the players.
Skoula wouldn’t be so bad,but hjs stupid turnovers in the d-zone kill this team. Just as frustrating is the fact that Kimmy is afraid of giving his opponent a glass facial when playing the boards, ultimately always losing the against the boards,seen it happen too many times.
I think tonight it is imperative that the boys get the first goal and keep the crowd in it and build up their own good feelings as well.
i am not a big Benny fan yet but I don’t have anything against the kid. with that said, i think he would get run over if he played.
if you think about it, we have a playmaker in PMB and many here are very critical of his game being too soft or not aggressive enough for playoffs. something i agree with to a point. i don’t see where benny would be any different than PMB in that respect.
I agree with you green ,Sheppards size is efective deep in the offensive zone ,he seems to win the battles behind the nets
benny just needs to grow a little more. even though he isn’t playing, beeing around the team for playoffs is very good for his development.
Sheppard should play tonight.
I only suggested spot D duty for Rolston as I believe (given the way he has been playing) he’s the only one that could get extra minutes at D. I didn’t infer that he should stop playing forward…sheesh.
If you’re JL, what would you trust more?
Eric Reitz (who he has not seen in a long time) or Brian Rolston (who he knows has the defensive ability).
I am against suiting up Reitz if he’s only going to play sparingly. We have enough players that get limited minutes. Why have him in the lineup if you aren’t going to use him?
Oh…and AoW…how would your squad be hodling up without 2 of your top 4 defensemen out - and #5 gimpy? Granted, you had your share of injuries this year but I’d trade Schultz and Foster missing 40 games from Nov to March than to be out the first playoff series.
3 things.
1: I can imagine what an empty dark X might look like. I agree, it would be cool to see. It’d also be cool IMO to see in fast forward it go from that to game and back again.
2: Big D, I don’t think it is a conditioning thing. It wasn’t that they were winded, it was that their bodies ran out of fuel. A car that can run for 5000 miles on a single tank of gas is still gonna strand you if you try to go 5001 without a fill up.
3: Av’s own Wild, typically the term “choke” is used in sports when a team that is supposed to be competitive loses in a big way (see UND’s loss to BC yesterday). The Wild did not choke. In fact, they came back from a 2 goal defecit and had a pretty good chance of winning the game. Being an Avs fan and seeing them lose in 7 games to the Wild in ‘03 after going up 3 games to 1 I would have thought you would be able to recognize a choke. If you’re going to troll, at least do it intelligently.
Reitz at least has played the position all year. Even if he can spell Burns and Johnsson and get 5-8 minutes of ice time against the Avs 3rd or 4th line I’d be happy. That should be doable given that we’ve got last change.
kj, the thing I don’t like about Rolston playing D:
We’ve seen (except for Wed) pretty poor ability on the PP to hold the puck in the O zone.
I can’t really see him being physical with an opposing forward in front of our net.
I can’t see him being too physical in the corners or behind the net either.
I think we’d be better of with Reitz and strict instruction from JL that he doesn’t pinch, he plays strictly a D game and doesn’t take risks, he stays between the puck and the net, doesn’t chase to the corners and clears the garbage in front.
Given that, if he screws up early, bench him and send Rolston back for a few shifts if you have to.
doogs, spell? What does his abilility to spell B-u-r-n-s and J-o-h-n-s-s-o-n have to do with anything?:)
I know what you meant.
I am not trying to make Rolston into a D man. I’m just wondering what the point is when you put someone in the lineup and give him 5 minutes - when you already have 2 other guys playing limited time.
Give those 5 minutes of D time to Rolston, dress Foy or Voros and give them more ice time to bang on the forecheck.
Also, if Skoula thinks he can give you 5 minutes (the same you’re expecting from Reitz) then put him in.
Goody, I thought you would have used the Notre Dame/Michigan analysis (since Notre Dame was the last at large bid and a 4 seed and Mich was the top seed in the tourney), but agreed on all points.
How about the all Catholic NCAA hockey final? Guess we’ll see who God loves more! (unless BC hockey takes after it’s football and basketball brethern and makes huge bets against themselves) 
Thanks for the update Russo! Good to know he is skating at the very least. Maybe he just got a bad bruise?
Maybe he just got a bad bruise?
“Doc told me I can’t play.”
“Yeah yeah, I know, you’ve got a bad bruise. … You know what, put your street clothes on because I’ve got no time for quitters.”
“C’mon Herb, that’s not fair.”
“You worry about your own game. Plenty to keep you busy there. A leg bruise is a hell of a long way from the heart, you candy a$$.”
“Wha’d you call me?!”
“You heard me.”
“You want me to play on one leg huh! Is that what you want?!”
“I want you to be a hockey player!”
“I am a hockey player! I’ll play on one leg! Does that make you happy, huh Herb?!”
“That oughta get ‘em going.”
Marty will be playing? Please please please Good Marty show up tonight!
I also think I know why that Dater blog is so empty…the guy is a tool. To wit, I posted about Skoula(he already had something on it) and mentioned that he was the only 6′5″ wuss I know. And that censor/tyrant Dater deleted the post! For something as benign as that! No wonder no one posts there..I’m not going back.
Well done KiPA!
We’ve seen (except for Wed) pretty poor ability on the PP to hold the puck in the O zone.
kuba played for how many years with this same inability to hold in the puck.
if you are looking for an existing forward type player to spend 5 to 8 minutes on the blue line, i still don’t see why shepard is a bad choice. Centers for JL are like 3rd defencemen. he is one of the bigger guys on the team. but, if he really was out of position on the game winner, then there is no chance of that happening.
Thank you thank you, Austin.
Please please please Good Marty show up tonight!
I’d settle for Healthy Marty…
outstanding KiPA!
We need everyone in the room to see that about 2 minutes before they take the ice.
[…] to Mike Russo, Skoula is skating this morning. This means two things to me - he’s got a good chance at […]
Avs own wild, are you british?
kj, healthy Marty won’t be enough..we need Good marty too…I have forseen it! 
KJ, Believe me, I would not want the Av’s to have the kind of injuries you guys do. It’s not fun man. I’ve had to watch all year with injuries to Sakic, Smyth, Stastny, Brett CLark and Svatos (both out for the year) and pleany more. It sucks man I know.
It’s quite a scene, eh?
Nah Phil, Colorado, born and raised mate.
KiPA,
Probably my favorite scene in that movie!!
Forever classic, nice pull!
Funny thing with that movie now …. since the movie came out shortly after Herb’s death, when I think of Herb I first think of Russell playing him in the movie. As if that’s the real guy.
KiPA mentioned the other day about the Sens taking a shot at Sid’s ankle to “see how it holds up”. I think we would be obligated to take an extra whack at Foppa to see how that wonky ankle holds up. No outright headhunting, just test him a bit.
ATX, thanks for offering to DVR this but I think I will pass. I’ll catch the score when I land. I have this odd feeling if I do ask you to DVR it, that will be bad luck.
BNAG, we’d then be stooping to Canuck levels, I’d rather not just in case we ‘awaken a sleeping giant’ and he goes 1990’s Foppa on us.
Hockeydad, remember the TV movie with Karl Malden as Herbie? Crikey, let’s get an old, fat, ugly guy to play Herb Brooks, no one will notice!
Anyone else watch the Fowl-Stars last night and think of what might have been last year if the Wild could have gotten anything from its PP? The Fowl was marching to the box all night and the Stars kept makin’ ‘em pay, something the Wild could do only in Game 4. They mentioned on Vs during an intermission that the Wild was only 2-for-27 on the PP in last year’s series.
Any chance Vorros and Simon play abd Boogie sits?
My cable lineup says Wild game starts on Versus at 6:30 (West Coast time)but puck actually drops at 6pm right?
BNAG, I think the less you “test” Foppa, the better off you’ll be. I’ve watched him for a very long time, the more you piss him off, the more dangerous he gets. I think you guys were lucky to get away from game 1 unscathed from that line.
Yeah, it’s a great movie. I watch it routinely.
It’s also one of the only movies I’ve seen in a theater the day it came out. A bunch of my friends and I went out to see it. What was funny is that whenever the US scored against the Soviets, a bunch of other people in the audience cheered.
Yorbington: I think it’s an 8 pm local start and that they’re joining the Wild game in progress after the Caps game. No idea what happens if the Caps go to OT (maybe in local markets they’ll switch.)
HD - so that’s how the Stars got it done - I gave my attention to the college ranks last night. Although toughness was a factor last year, the Wild’s PP was perhaps the most painful thing I have seen at the X in Game 3 last year coming off Games 1 and 2.
KiPA,
Same here. Couldn’t wait for that to come out. The hockey scenes in that movie were so incredible imho, that when I left the theater, I felt as if I had just been to a hockey game at which they showed a movie! Unreal.
Russoville, don’t forget to change your calendars for game #7. Game has been moved up a day, to Monday the 21st.
So if JL can’t make it behind the bench tonight, do we get to see ‘the bionic blueberry’ take the reins!
Gato, I’m not talking ‘Nuk type attacks, just play him a little more physical. I din’t think you’ll see the ’90’s Foppa because even if Boogie hits him, you aren’t going to knock 10+ years of age off him.
Avs, I don’t worry about Foppa as much as I do Sakic for just the reason he showed in game 1. I think we contain Foppa much easier than Sakic.
I got bad news.
The NHL’s head office met with the GMs and coaching personnel of the teams and said that fighting in the third period will not be tolerated. Players who break that rule might get suspended.
Click on “Watch More Videos” in the video box on the right. Scroll down until you find the one called “Hot Spots” with Darren Dreger.
Basically,this means more chopping in the third.
No problem woodcock. Just thought I would offer.
I don’t know BNAG, we’ll see. It seems like it’s just a matter of time. Stastny’s line with Foppa and Hejduk hit a couple posts, so they could be on the verge of a big game. I think they are. Eric Belanger, Veilleux, and Radivojevic played solid against them, but I don’t think they can contain that line the whole series. But we’ll see.
Gord - That is a good point that I did not think of.
Now who is going to prep the meatballs, goat and chicken for lunch?
Forget the sacrifices. Scare them into playing a tight team defense by making the players watch a DVD on infinite loop of Kuba’s Greatest Hits™, forcing them to watch, a la Alex DeLarge if necessary.
I must be a plauge on the blog
Every time i have a minuet to write something no one responds for a while.
While I realize the Wild are short D-men right now, the idea of putting Shep back on the blueline is not smart IMHO.
Too many people/fans/Russotans seem to under-estimate the skills needed to play defense. You can’t just take a rookie forward who has been a forward for most of his life, to just swap positions in a playoff game.
I would much rather have Reitz (a minor league D-man) play 5-10 minutes a game spelling Burns and Kimmy, than risk putting a forward back there.
Playing defense while on the PP is different than even strength, so I think people see Rolston and think “oh anyone can play D”.
The Wild’s loss of Nick Schultz for the playoffs, is a MUCH bigger factor than many people seem to realize.
If the Wild HAD NO OTHER CHOICE, but to move a forward back to the blueline, I would pick Rolston, because he is the most seasoned vet (forward) on the team, has previously played in JL’s system in NJ, and because of his extensive PP ice time, and he has picked up some of the nuances of the position.
The bottom line is that Nummy, Hill and Carney need to step up BIG time.
Good luck tonight Wild!
VoR, shouldn’t that be Kuba’s Greatest Hit?
We wanted Boogie, Simon or Fridge to knock the chiclets out of Laderriere. Who’d thunk it would be Huggy Bear that would take him out?
Not only are we losing players, we are also losing a coach to the injury bug.
JL didn’t sound too good on the podcast yesterday. I was thinking he was coming down with something.
I hope they played Sheppard. He played a strong game and the winning goal wasn’t his fault even though JL through him under the bus. I hope JL does not make Shep lose confidence in himself.
BNAG- LMAO
I just read the east side fish wrap that Skouba says he is good to go tonight. Quote “”I feel good, so I’m ready to go,”
“It happened in Game 1. I don’t want to get specific,” Skoula said. “It just happened, but it’s nothing I should worry about it.”
Hopefully we can get 15 min of good Marty tonight and 0 min of bad marty.
We need to keep the game in hand and score 1st. It seams we play so much better when we get that 1st goal.
Mark it down, I’m scooping Russo on Florida news…
Jacques Martin out as coach in Florida, may remain on as GM.
Big D, I’ll take 10 minutes of Good Marty, 10 minutes of Mistake Free Average Marty and no Bad Marty and be thrilled. The more Marty is able to play, the less we’ll have to lean on Yoda and Hill to eat more minutes.
Anybody seen that movie “In the Crease”?
BNAG: huh…interesting…did he “out” himself?
BNAG - Nice work! Way to wake up our fearless leader.
[…] who blocked a 375 MPH by Brian Rolston on Wednesday. Michael Russo from the Star-Tribune says that Lappy “looked like he could barely move” while Adrian Dater says that “it […]
OK, who’s in for the Russotan pre game meeting at McGoverns? There will plenty of adult beverages for anyone.
I’ll arrive after 6PM. I know, way later then I would want to but need to feed the babysitter and kids first. Who can get there early and take up a table by the back bar on the 2nd level? We need some step up, Iceman?
Sorry, that should read, We need someone to step up…..
Does Kuba even know it’s a checking league?
It’s obviously a *good thing* that Skoula can go tonight. Wait, really? Oh… right, it is! Tonight is where Marty’s Miracle begins.
Seriously though, if he couldn’t, I think they’d have to either have Burns and Johnsson go 35+ each and roll 5 D or throw Reitz to the wolves and hope he’s a wolverine.
Not just JL, but me, too. Woke up with a sore throat and general crappy feeling today.
So, just saying how I think of Kurt Russell when thinking of Herbie and who do I just walk past in the skyway today. Danny Brooks coming back from a lunch hour workout. Looks a lot like his old man, that guy.
For those at the game, try to create a diversion so that the game starts late. With this whole joining the game in progress thing, I don’t want to start watching with three pucks already in the net (like what happened to Sharks fans here on Wed night).
Hockeydad: I’ve had the same reaction to the movie. For me, Kurt Russell IS Herb now. (And I knew Herb fairly well.)
But still, if I’m flipping through the channels and see “Overboard,” my first reaction is “Why is Herb on a boat?” or “Why is Herb a fireman?” or “When was Herb a detective?” Russell was just that good.
And I still get chills thinking about the All-Star game at the X, when Russell appeared on the ice and dedicated the game to Herb’s memory. What a moment!
Danny?
How about this for a pre-game thing to get the boys going? Danny comes in to the locker acting a bit strange, starts shreiking “Redrum!” Then Jacques, chops through the door with an axe and says “Heeeeeere’s Johnny!”
Go get ‘em!
Russell was so good in that movie that they placed a statue of him out front of the Xcel on the side that faces Rice Park ;-p
Don’t forget Herb was Elvis!
ATX, thanks I appreciate it. I am just a superstitious person.
So Hockeydad, does Danny share his father’s taste in pants?
Yes, it was incredible the job Russell did in that role.
BDS: I might be at McGoverns tonight but I’m not sure how early I can get there. Maybe 5:30pm.
I’m taking my dad to the game. This afternoon is going to CRAWL.
NiNY, not sure if he fired himself or not. Caught it at the tail end of NHL Live this afternoon.
Pretty funny, Goalieguy. I know just what you’re saying.
One of the best things about owning Miracle on DVD is the extras that include the interviews with Herb.
I am glad! Yes, glad that Skoula will be on the ice tonight. I dont like the idea of Reitz spending too much time on the ice, but if we go deep we will need him. At least until Shultzie is back if we are lucky enough. I was upset to see he would possibly be out and there wasn’t a report that the leg was broken. This is playoff hockey!! F’n ‘a’ rub some dirt on it, tape it, whatever….
Gobble a handful of Advil and suck it up!
Nope, no plaid pants, Goody.
It’s just a flesh wound.
Goody, I heard Danny works out in those same plaid pants 
Here’s the info on Reitz. Was fourth in points and played 20 fewer games than the the top three.
ATX, Why did he miss so many games? Is he still injured? I seem to remember an ankle sprain. So we are back to the tape and dirt triage.
5 Erik Reitz 49 8 26 34 11 99 5 1 150 0.053
BNAG - By Kuba’s Greatest Hits™, I meant all his Skouba-esque plays.
But, you know what I meant
As much as I can’t stand Pronger, how great of a hockey moment was it when during his interview after they won the cup when asked about his injury he says “Yeah. I seperated my shoulder but we popped it back into place, and I came back out to play”. Not sure if that’s the exact quote but that was the jist of it.
Hockey players are a different breed of athlete. Fight through the pain Marty!!
“F’n a rub some dirt in it”. So funny.
I know Skoula has some confidence issues and having met him IMHO some self image issues. Maybe he felt that GWG was his fault, but he was in position and didnt have any help with Sakic. Not your fault. So the pseudo leg injury can go away and get on with game 2.
Skouba missed practice to head down to the Mayo for a quick visit to the GTRCMBSHP for a shot from Dr. Rosenrosen to get him ready for tonight. While there he swung by the WWIFITF so that if the shot wears off, he has the testicular fortitude to just suck it up and keep going. Magnificent Marty will be just fine tonight.
“Hockey players are a different breed of athlete. Fight through the pain Marty!!”
KW,
If there was EVER ANY doubt about this, this pretty much sums it up. Legendary. (2nd “tidbit”)
Here is a good question
Skouba or Kuba?
Sorry, this is a much better link to that epic hockey story, for the uninitiated:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11937
C’mon Big D, Kuba was the second best player in franchise history to wear #17
bfw, gotta love ‘MP and the Holy Grail!’
So, did the Wild trainer use the ‘Mr. Miyagi’ healing touch on Skoula? Will JQ tell Lapper to ’sweep the leg’? Will Sauer be on the back of the bench yelling ‘Get him a body bag, yeeaahh!’ And when Skoula is the hero and defeats the evil Cobra Avs, will his mom and Elisabeth Shue scurry onto the ice.
If Marty has Betsy Shue in his corner then I just became his #1 fan.
Maybe they used some of that speical Uranium Demo had last fall on Skoula’s leg. Thinking of that I think they should try it on Fozzie and the Hammer as well.
HockeyDad - from your 11:something post. I had to work late so I didn’t see the whole game but how nice to watch the Ducks get their a$$e$ handed to them. They sucked. No disipline. Randy “What’s on top of his head?” Carlyle looked a little miffed. hee hee
Gato, if Donny Fuller has the Miyagi healing touch, I think the order of healing would not result in Marty going first. I think Schultzie and Fozzie would come before Marvelous Marty.
i don’t want to go there too much cuz he’s not around, but here’s some inspiration for #41
Minnesota’s Willie Mitchell played in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2003, a 25-year-old defenseman that quickly emerged as the defensive bedrock of his team. Growing up in British Columbia, Mitchell was reared on tales of playoff heroism. He innately understood and, more importantly, respected the fine, and often blurry, line that has to be traversed during the postseason between playing hurt and playing injured.
In the end, he decided to do both.
In the first round, an epic upset of Colorado, Mitchell suffered a broken cheekbone during Minnesota’s Game 7 triumph. Yet, he never missed a shift, never mind a game. In the next round, he donned an awkward shield to protect the injury and willingly laid his body on the line against the favored Vancouver Canucks.
Unfortunately, the protective shield broadcast to all involved in that series that Mitchell was vulnerable. The Canucks processed that knowledge, targeting him for an extra dose of punishment in order to exploit whatever edge was offered. As a result, Mitchell suffered a wrist injury.
Again, Mitchell did not miss any games, playing despite the fact that he was so hampered by the wrist that he had trouble dressing himself before and after each game. It wasn’t so much stubbornness on Mitchell’s part, as much as it was a sense of duty.
Mitchell wanted to be there for his teammates as they struggled along the playoff route. It is a sentiment shared by most, if not all, players in the postseason.
“I wanted to be in there, so (defensemen) Filip (Kuba) and Andrei (Zyuzin) and Nick (Schultz) didn’t have to play 30 minutes apiece,” he said at the time.
ss6, I’m with you. I flipped in to the Fowl/Stars game and it was 2-0. Flipped back later and it was 3-0. Within minutes it was 4-0 and I couldn’t have been happier.
whoops - that was a lot of text. should have just attached the link…sorry ’bout that
I was a beautiful thing to behold, especially after the horrid ride home last night. I usually takes me about 40 mins. last night it took me 1.5 hours to get home. Not happy.
Anywho, I’ll be at McGoverns with Mr.SS6 in tow about 6:45. Hope to see several of you there. With or without your Foppa shoes on.
Wow, Finn, that fat contract he signed after 2003 must have turned him into a wuss, according to Vancouver’s coaching staff!
NiNY…I am with you. Betsy Shue is about as good as it gets.
Good Marty will be patrolling the blue line.
No OT tonight…the Wild stomp the complacent, satisfied-with-a-split Agedlanche.
The only body bag required for tonight will be the one worn by our friend Peter. I have forseen it.
I know I know I know I should have known better but I don’t like either one of them. Both show you signs of being arelly good d man then poof. Its like they have a masive brain cramp and play like myself in the day.
I do think the Wild pull an Anaheim and continue to stay very physical with this more mature CO team. Dare I say the Floppa is fragile, but keep on him. I forgot he was even in the game until he logged something like 10 minutes of the third period. Can he continue that pace if they are concerned about him on back to back nights?
I know nothing of the Aeros. AiH is the man.
Hey Skoula,every time sakic comes near you ,give him a facial,you know , aglass facial , a net facial, an ice facial ,ya know what I mean dammit?!
Sorry ATX. Where is AiH when you need him?
I think if we could get the officials to call the Foppa for just half of the infractions he commits that will take care of haveing to watch him.
Did anyone read Russo’s lead story this morning? I LOVE TODD FEDORUK!! I love him for the man he wants to be and the man he almost is whoops, sorry. Too many movie quotes on this blog….
no mcgovern’s for me. we lost last time so best not tempt that fate again.
Just in case the fact police are on patrol. He logged 6:40 in the Third. It just seemed like more.
Any idea’s on how those of us at McGovern’s tonight will Know each other. I don’t relish wandering around for hours asking people if they know what Fedoruked means. People think I’m odd enough as is.
But G* I want to see your now infamous blue Croc’s. Al though I would feel weird looking for a guy in gardening shoes.
You wore the Crocs after knowing about the Ad for Crocs on the Pepsi Center boards and them being called Foppa-sandels?
Shame. On. You.
no blue crocs tonight. they don’t do well in the slop.
Shame. On. You.
maybe. i did say i think i owned them before both of those things happened.
AiH, What do you have on Reitz? We may see him tonight. Is he going to soil himself and then get benched.
I’m with AiH G*, it’s the Crocs not the pregame pow-wow.
Maybe a change of venue would do Russoville a lot of good.
We left enough of NiNY’s dough there.
Good call G*. You’d think you’d have found some in Iron Range Red with a Wild logo at least instead of blue…
How about we all just run throught the second level screaming “Russotans, Russotans……!” when we arrive?
Better not tell the better half about that one before we get there thu. I have hard enough time to convince her it will be a good time anyway.
Seriusly, I’ll wear the White away jersey with the 8 on the back, green Wild hat on my head. I’m 6-2″ and look like a Big Dumb Swede. I’ll have my 5-8″ wife in tow. She will probably look a bit annoyed for being there. I should be easy to spot.
Go Wild!
Idea’s people!!! If I tell the Mr we are just going to wander around the second floor of McGovern’s looking for random group of people he might plotz. He’s a planner my Mr. Likes to know whats what.
How about we all just run throught the second level screaming “Russotans, Russotans……!” when we arrive?
its too hard to get back down to my seat if i go all they way up to level 200.
Good point kj, the game 5 gathering may have to move to Reid’s…
Why doesn’t somebody make a sign?
“Russoville” or something like that.
Voodoo and Karma are on high right now. If you have a winning ritual as a fan you must put it into full swing. Whatever ‘you’ did last game and you know who ‘you’ are! Change it. Go Wild!
To easy Goody, way to easy.
Goody, just look for the big pitcher of Kool-aid on the table…
Talk amongst your selves for possibilities. I need to shower quick, moved files and stuff all day at work and got very sweaty and dusty.
I have Wild Crocs that are green. But I’m yet to actually wear them out in public.
No McGoverns for me. I got to go to the last game, haven’t convinced my brother yet that I should go to every game so I don’t have a ticket tonight. Doesn’t sound like most people will get there until 6 or later. Place will be a frickin zoo by then anyways.
Another movie quote to capture the spirit of the thing.
Reggie Dunlop: Goddamn lard-ass Barkley Donaldson, I’m tellin’ you he jumped us!
Steve Hanson: [nodding head] Mm huh.
Reggie Dunlop: Gloves off, stick down, no warning, he challenged the Chiefs!
Steve Hanson: Called us names!
Reggie Dunlop: Called us names! But Dave was there.
Steve Hanson: Dave’s a killer!
Johnny Upton: Dave’s a mess.
Reggie Dunlop: But Dave’s out. Who’s gonna take his place?
Ned Braden: Is the answer Jesus?
Reggie Dunlop: [looks at the Hanson brothers] Ok guys. Show us what you got.
someone else needs to make a lineup, I have not done well. Just make sure I am in the game or I will re-do it
moved files and stuff all day
so that is what the kids are calling it these days
There has to be a way that McGovern’s will reserve a table for the group. Just call ahead 651-224-8521. Tell them to make a sign for you also.
I know SS6 will be later, but BDS when will you arrive?
Ha ha G* we are switching around some offices and I spent the day moving research files. And yes I’m already done in the shower I just needed to rinse the layer of grime off.
“Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It’s over. I’m sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Avs have. Screw ‘em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it.”
Talking to G* about showering Band?? You deserve whatever response you are bound to get in return.
Anyone hear Pierre McGuire on Hartman’s show at 3? He praised the fans and said we’re the best he’s ever seen and on par with Montreal as a fan base. Also said tonight on TSN he’d give him a “kick in the pants”. Him being Gabby. Said he needs to show more but that even if we’re down 2-0 going to Denver he thinks it’s going to be a long series.
Great pull HD!
So I like to play with fire Dickie. The Mr keeps me from getting burned.
So for those going to McGovern’s, and I’ll look for BDS who looks like a Big Dumb Swede, and wears a white Burns jersey. I on the other hand am average height (5′7 or 8 depending on the shoes), and will be wearing my Green Walz jersey, I also wear glasses. The Mr is about the same height as me dark hair, red jersey (old style without the white shoulder pinstripe) and a dark green hat. He might be wearing glasses, he doesn’t need them for everyday use just to see clearer far away so he likes to wear them to games and movies and stuff like that. I would like to be there between 5 and 5:30 depending on traffic, and how long it takes the Mr to get cleaned up when he gets home from work.
I still think that JL should take NiNY’s suggestion from yesterday and see if we can suit up Leopold. Maybe just put him in Shultz’s jersey?
Mrs. Wise called McGoverns, and they are not taking reservations this close to game time. I hope to be down there by about 5:30pm. All three levels are currently open.
Figured as much Kirk. If you see two confused people wandering around the second floor, one in a blank red jersey and one in a green Walz jersey take pitty and ask them if they like kool-aid.
Well let’s see you can all show up wearing your jersey backwards. “You cheer for the team on the back and not the name on the front,” kind of thing. May get some stares but would be effective.
Loud ‘n’ Proud tonight, all!
Let ‘em know your there!!!!!
Bandgeek and the rest of you @ McGoverns- We should be there later around 6:15 or so. You guys are in charge of getting us a spot on the 2nd Level preferably by the back bar. I like the Idea of asking for Kool-aid. Someone could even tell the bartender that the Kool-aid drinkers are.
Rally word of the day: Kool-aid!!!!
I’m not sure if it has been mentioned but I just realized #3 have updated the info above.
I wonder where #2 is?
I wonder if #2 is down at one of the 2 clinics checking on Skouba
Everyone have fun at McGoverns, I hope to make it go game #5. After reading theblog all season it would be fun to put a name to face….as long as their is no chaps involved
I dont make it down to the X unless there is a game 7 against the AV’s. Have fun at McGovern’s and dito BFW’s comments. Keep it loud all night in there.
Big D - going to the game?
Yeah amazing what happend when the SCP rolls around we have to do with mostly #1 all year and maybe #2 once in awhile and now it’s hard to keep track of them all.
If Judd is #3, what does that make Sid and Pat, #4 and 5?
I’ve never been to McGovern’s so hopefully I’ll be able to find you all. I’ll just think “2nd Floor” and go from there.
Maybe we should all have a sign with the name of a fellow poster on it. You know like at the airport.
“Bandgeek”, “BDS”, “GreenStar”, “HockeyDad”. That won’t look weird or anything….
BDS, Fatrick and Grandfather Sports don’t know enough about hockey to earn a number.
Oh yeah, it will be loud alright!!
Go Wild, Let’s crush the lanche…!
Ok second floor, as close to the back bar (thats the one by the stairs right?) as possible. The Mr just got home. we should be there 5:30-ish. He just informed me he cares not were he sits as long as he gets food.
BNAG with the shot to the Don’s contemperaries…..
No chaps people, thats just sick and wrong.
BNAG - Yeap, and that won’t happen until monkies come flying out of DB’s favorites chap clad a$$.
Sorry Band
Big D: Skoula OR Kuba??
There is only one true, correct answer. And that is…
NEITHER!
I better not wee a roof on the X tonight. It should be completely blown off by the time I tune in!
Hmm.. That would be “see”… not “wee”.
Wild need this game BIG time tonight. Let’s hope the fans bring it like they did on Wednesday, and that Gaborik brings it like he did against the Rangers on Dec. 20th…
Time to go to work, gentlemen!
On the Don Shelby Show - hosted by Darby H. and Mike Max, Pierre called out PMB and Gaborik. He said that good players find ways of to create space. He was disappointed in PMB. He thought Burns did really well.
Philosophical Question:
If an a$$less chapped a$$ claps in the forest and noone is there to hear it….Never mind.
Thank you for that correction ATX. You had me worried there for a minute…:/
Ash - Only Deep Breath can answer such question….
PMB is what he is, a skilled player that maybe doesnt have the toughness to thrive in the post season. No different than Ronning getting benched in the 03 playoffs. Solid contributing player that just didnt have the toughness and size in his case. Love PMB though.
Austin…ewwww even my 3 year old nephew knows you wee in the potty. Not on the roof. I plan not to have a voice tomorrow so I hope I wasn’t supposed to talk at the training meeting happening in the morning.
ss6 - just read the descriptions of ourselves above and remember Kool-aid is the word. See you at McGoverns.
BDS I wish I could attend the game tonight however I need to be home tonight. My wife works at the X next week and she has game 5. So i’ll hitch a ride up then. Hopefully i’ll meet you all then.
I was hoping some would respond skuba or kuba since I hate both.
I have been to arenas where I swear someone did ‘wee’ on the roof though ATX!
Fun to watch PMB but hard to watch when he disappears.
So you’ve been to Grahm (sp?) arena in Rochester Ash? Unless it’s changed since I left town it’s kinds icky.
Ash, was that Joe Louis by chance?
I’ve been to arenas were I swear they wee in the corners…..yikes
I’ll be wearing the old school Iron Range Red and the better half will have on the away White.
Any predictions on who’s going to get the war cry tonite? The only way to top Walzie would be with Fozzie…imho
Big D! I’ll bite. The playoffs are a time heros are born. With that said, I will pick Skoula (Skuba is no more) since he has the chance to play through his current boo boo and be written into the rich unfolding history of this franchise. Tonight Skoula will skate as if he is the warrior poet of Hockey.
Was in attendance at the X on the glorius December night. Here’s to Gabby showing us it can be done in the SCP as well.
Gluggg…gluugg ahh…that Kool-aid sure taste great tonight.
Rumor i heard is the new owner
Bandgeek.
Just last year they totally remodeled the Grahm arena. I was there last week for a pool tournament. 100 times nicer than you remember now.
ss6 - my guess is Fozzie with an outside chance it’s CL.
I feel really good about tonites game. I think the boys just need to settle down a bit, take control of the game and play the way WE know they can and all will be right with the world. They just had the first game jitters. Their maturity(sp) will come thru and they’ll beat the crap out of the Avs. How’s that?!?!?!?
Bandgeek - my wife is from Roch as well.
I shall offer my prayer for the evening, please bow your heads…. Oh great Hockey Gods! Please bestow upon our boys in Iron Range Red strong goal tending, fast legs and wonderous puck handling. We beg you oh Gods of Hockey, make all their goals count, and make them happen often. In the name of Gordie, Herbie, and the Great One, drop the puck!!
Fozzie is the only way to go! Wheel him in and see the place go nuts. Would have been a much better choice than Walz. I love Walz but the timing and reasoning (???) for his exit from the team left me feeling a little indifferent. Just me. Was cool to see the crowd loving him though.
The Mr says it’s time to go!!! Good I’m getting hungry.
I off to get ready.
Go WILD, YEAH!
Thanks Bandgeek. I will have a moment at home with the little ones and recite your prayer. If my wife wasnt such a big hockey fan she might find it a little blasphemous.
This is it, gang…I’m sitting in the Dunn Bros. on 5th and Wabasha, just ready to pack up the laptop and head over to the X….Biggest game of the season tonight, and I hope the crowd and team both bring their “A” games…Let’s call it 4-1 Wild right now, with two Gabbys, a Burns and a B-Roll.
Bring home a winner kids. I am stuck in St. Cloud…at least I have FSN.
Go Wild!
Bandgeek - amen…
Thanks Bandgeek for this evenings prayers!!!
GO Wild !!!!
I’m out. See you at McGoverns…..
GO WILD!!!!!!
OK, this is the point in the afternoon where I start to get restless.
I’m with you toivo, 40 min to pre game and hour more after till the drop of the puck.
At least the game is in HD tonight so I got that going for me
Does anyone have an idea of how VS is going to do this? Just join the game in progress or what?
Game in progress for us out of towners on VS TV coverage. And pray for no OT in the Caps-Philly game.
Yeah, thats what I figured. No good. Where out of town are you?
Berkeley, CA
Yeah I’m up going college in the UP of MI
Yooper! I’ll be you’ve heard of me and my brother Eino then.
The Yoopers are in the house
O man, not gloating here, but just an awesome stroke of luck I thought I’d share..my buddy with the season tickets backed out of the game about a 2 hours ago because of some wedding he evidently forgot about and so…I’m leaving in 15 minutes for the game! I can’t believe it.
Wild 4-2, with an empty netter. Maybe I’m still giddy, I don’t know.
Good for you Phil, I will hate you all evening as is required by my non-ticket holder status.
Haha well hey I am from MN, I’m only a temp Yooper
Phil
Enjoy the game and may your prediction is right
a little less than 40 to go so you better be on your way
Ok, Wild fans. Wherever you are, RIGHT NOW, let’s hear it:
LET’S GO WI-LD! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP CLAP CLAP*
LET’S GO WI-LD! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP CLAP CLAP*
LET’S GO WI-LD! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP CLAP CLAP*
What I don’t get is why can’t Center Ice show the game from the start? I’ve got it listed as join in progress after Rangers/Devils. Why? Ugh… it’s gonna be a long couple of 3rd periods and hopefully no OTs.
No idea on that one. I would think they would show it. It must have something to do with VS having national coverage of it
Yeah I dunno, because the Caps are on both locally (I’m in VA), *and* on Vs. And if the Wild are gonna be both on CI joined in progress *and* on Vs joined in progress, why can’t CI use one of their 14 channels to just show all the games. Guess I’m headed to the internet radio. Bah.
http://www.channelsurfing.net everyone, click the 2nd Col/Min option
av’s are coming out strong
another injury for the wild
it would be nice to be able to see whats going on
go to channelsurfing .net dude
you can watch the game online there
All right, Caps score. Now they just need to ride it out for five minutes so I can get to the Wild game.
ok down to 1 minute finally
All right. Now where’s my Kool-Aid?
There is no need to go back to “hockey central” the game is in progress, just put it on!!
thanks koivu for pissing foppa off. GOOOOOOAL!!
well its not hard to beat hill and skoula
nope it sure isn’t. they are awful.
