Saturday skate update
Posted on November 15th, 2008 – 1:45 PMBy Michael Russo
Just got back from the skate.
Wild players were unbelievably loose this morning. Lots of laughing and fun on the ice. Maybe it was last night’s Coldplay concert, which many players were raving about.
We’ll see if that continues against a Columbus team that always makes it tough for Minnesota. The Blue Jackets looked great last night in Buffalo and are 5-1-2 in their past eight.
The Wild will dress the same lineup as Thursday against Phoenix. Colton Gillies, Craig Weller and Tomas Mojzis look like they’re scratched.
For Columbus, Rostislav “Rusty” Klesla is out tonight with a lower body injury. Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock called it a slight ankle sprain, but announcing specific locations is against my policy. 
Steve Mason in net.
There was actually plenty of funny stuff down at the rink today, but I’ll save most of it for my notebook tomorrow.
There was Cal Clutterbuck talking about all the text messages he got from buddies, not so much for his fight the other night with Keith Yandle, but with his screaming match with the greatest hockey player in the world, Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky wasn’t happy Clutterbuck fought with a visor, although replays of the fight appear to show Clutterbuck unstrapping his helmet and asked Yandle to take his off. Yandle refused, Clutterbuck said.
There was Hitchcock bemoaning all the home cooking Minnesota gets from the league office. Two years ago, Wes Walz had a puck roll up his pants that counted for a goal in overtime, and last month Rick Nash had a goal overturned because of a controversial high stick.
Also, Columbus rookie phenom Derick Brassard is close friend’s with Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s brother Francois, a Washington Capitals draft pick. Remember I told you in camp, Brassard sat with me in the press box during an exhibition game because Pierre-Marc and Brent Burns were sitting with me.
Brassard said his shootout goal against Montreal on Nov. 7 was because he watched Pierre-Marc practice it during the summers. Maybe this is the new move (here’s Brassard’s goal) Bouchard said he’s been perfecting this summer.
Funniest thing I saw was the two broadcast teams — Columbus’ Jeff Rimer and Danny Gare and Minnesota’s Dan Terhaar and Mike Greenlay — chatting it up in black coats. They were facing each other. Just a funny sight. It looked very much like West Side Story, minus the snapping.
34 Responses to "Saturday skate update"
That high stick was a weird call. But seriously Hitch…
I got pro spec, Nick, but it was a deliberate choice.
So, now Mason knows what to expect from Butch if there’s a shootout? Great.
Didn’t Nash have another goal waved off this week? Not sure how Minneosta’s home cooking caused that. Maybe Nash has bad karma.
which make/model did you get for the leg pads, ms.c?
RBK 6K 34″ white/white/silver (like a goalie angel!)
Cheapos, really, but for the level I’m playing at, I’m okay with that.
Well, at least Backs will know what Brassard will do if there is a SO.
True enough, Sunshine.
and last month Rick Nash had a goal overturned because of a controversial high stick
I must be getting old or am going crazy after being named to the MKIA posse but is it the crossbar in the NHL or the payers shoulder. When you think of the difference between Boogie and PMB, crossbar makes more sense and makes that call probably good.
As for home cooking, did Hitch miss the day after Thanksgiving massacre last year?
sorry Russo, but Wayne was only 3rd best…Bobby Orr and Super Mario were superior players. Both were 2 way players that could also drop the gloves and defend themselves. Wayne got in 1 fight in his career and was weak on defense. Wayne quite possibly is the best playmaker ever, but not the best player.
players have been doing the Brassard thing in shootouts all season and it’s been quite effective.
fragile groin skated quite a while today
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
6GS: It’s the crossbar, and I agreed that it looked like Nash’s stick was above the bar, but man, to decide the outcome of that game on an overturned call was pretty nuts. I thought it was the right call, but I don’t know if it was incontrovertible or whatever… JL’s face after the call was overturned was hilarious.
Scariest part of the post is the last paragraph…D & D’er practicing ‘Face-Off’ against Rimer and Gare? Danny Gare can beat both of ‘em…
Hopefully C-Bus got it all out of themselves last night in Buffalo. OMG what a bad game by the Sabres. How come they can’t play like that against us?
I’m happy the rule worked in our favor that game, even though I’m not so sure it was the right call.
However, that rule needs to be changed. Players should be able to hit the puck out of the air no matter how high the puck is when they deflect it. As long as the player isn’t committing any penalty, swing away.
I can’t imagine letting players swing away with a high stick would really add much to the game. Not enough to justify all the lost teeth.
This should be an interesting game tonight with the least penalized team in the league, the Wild with 155 PIM over 14 games versus the 3rd worst team in PIM, the CBJ with 328 PIM in 17 games.
Since Zidlicky is hot on the PP, the Blue Jackets better stay out of the box to keep this one close.
I see a total domination by the Wild winning 5-1 with 3 PP goals tonight.
Hitch was just workin the stripes.
Dumber and Quasimoto should rename their segment ‘Sound Off’ as in mute.
Or, ‘I want you to rise up now…get up out of your chair. Go over to the refrigerator. Open it and yell “I am mad as hell, and I am going to DRINK”‘
“It looked very much like West Side Story, minus the snapping.”
Thanks Russo, now I have the songs from West Side in my head… I was in that one in High School, I can’t see Dumb and Dumber being good enough dancers to be in West Side.
Virtual Prize for the first person to tell me what movie this is from, or finish the quote… “Wanna know how I know your gay?” “How”…… (There are several possibilities but I’m looking for a specific one, there is a hint in the Dons post.)
The fans in Vancouver are chanting Leaf Suck over and over again.
Thanks Jordan - I now remember that Russo also posted this about the call - http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=387687 - which had this:
The ruling on a high stick goal or non-goal is the only play on the ice where, if deemed inconclusive here in Toronto, actually goes back to the referees and linesmen officiating that particular game. In the Minnesota-Columbus contest, the one referee who initially ruled goal was overruled by the other three officials on the ice - thus his call was reversed and Nash’ attempt was ruled “No Goal.”
Speaking of the Leafs, I was stunned how many fans they had in EDM the other night.
I can’t believe you guys watch them during the intermissions. I rather watch the news than watch the Faceoff.
Tonight with HNIC on NHL Network, I can watch other hockey. Yeah!
They have a good number in Vancouver also 6GS. Every time Canucks fans chant Leafs suck, a large contingent chant Go Leafs Go. The Mr says they’re like the Yankee’s, they have fans all over the place.
Just flipped to it - the Nuks fans here have been pretty brutal but I have to admit that it is good they are standing up to Leafs Nation.
Bandgeek,
The movie is The 40 Year Old Virgin. The answer would be:
“You listen to Coldplay.”
or “You like Coldplay” I believe is the exact quote.
I have Josh Harding on my fantasy hockey team.
Will he ever play again this year?
DIng Ding Ding!!!! We have a winner!!! OCwildfan, you get this lovely pretend pet rock, don’t forget to feed him!!
You know if Kesler wasn’t such a pri-ck, I would have added him to my Fantasy Hockey team. Have to have some principles.
You really want a PR-ICK, take Kesslers line mate Burrows. Ranked 87th YTD in Yahoo pool.
But back to my question.
Other then early season injury, how come Harding has only 1 start?
Cool - somebody else was me. I hope you have Backs and Harding as I do Duff although you have to wonder if Harding is worth the roster spot at this point. For the most part, the Wild’s schedule to date has not required a rotation of any kind - thta should change at some point as it seems the Wild is down 2-3 games compared to most teams.
DINNER!!! From the Don.
Thanks Goalie System.
Actually watching the Leaf/Canuck game right now. Schen can’t fight for his life, Burrows gets points, Leafs outshoot and outplay the Canucks but still loosing 3-0.
Go figuer, thank god I hate the Leafs more then the Nucks. Good game though.
Canucks now 4-0 and Van only has 9 shots, that sucks bigtime.
Time to watch the Bruins game!
Milan Lucic the next Cam Neely?
Looking like it.
