Phoenix Coyotes 3, Wild 1; Terhaar doesn’t pass stone on air
Posted on December 11th, 2008 – 7:33 PMBy Michael Russo
First, as an update to the bottom of this blog, which was put up before the game, Dan Terhaar did not pass his kidney stone. But the suspense is killing him! How about that? Two Cozmo Kramer references in one day (see previous blog).
Eight nights ago, the Wild was first in the division. Now, it’s tied with eighth-place Nashville with 31 points.
So much for setting a new Wild record for longest winning streak (10) against one opponent. The Coyotes beat the Wild for the first time since Nov. 14, 2006.
The Wild’s dropped three games in a row. Just looked this up, in the six games prior, the Wild went 13 for 32 on the power play and scored 26 goals. In the three games since, 0 for 11 on the power play and two goals. Minnesota was 0 for 5 tonight. The first two power plays, the Wild did everything but beat Ilya Bryzgalov. He made eight saves on the two disadvantages.
As Antti Miettinen — the lone Wild goal scorer said tonight — it was truly “shocking” the way the second period ended. The Wild was 27 seconds from taking a 0-0 tie into the third against what was supposed to be a tired team that played the night before in Texas.
Instead, Marc-Andre Bergeron dropped his stick behind the net. I said out loud to my colleague, “This … will … not … be … good. Guaranteed.” Boom, goal, by the Michalek brother that’s not the awesome Michalek brother from San Jose.
Then, as I wrote in the gamer, Mikko Koivu should have taken a knee and the 1-0 deficit to the third. Instead, he tried to create something out of zippo. He tried to beat three guys at the Coyotes’ blue line. As Terry Murray — the current Kings coach — once told me in Ottawa after two Dan Boyle turnovers, there’s few worse places to turn a puck over than the offensive blue line.
Ironically, and you’ll know what I mean if you read this morning’s blog and Friday’s game notebook, Phoenix exploded out of the zone on a … THREE-ON-ONE. Well, Niklas Backstrom should have been ready for this considering he exploded after all the 3-on-1’s he faced this morning. But Peter Mueller perfectly set up for the same type of Olli Jokinen one-timer I’ve seen in person a million times.
In fact, one of my biggest heart attacks ever came in this building. I’ve got to look it up, but the Panthers once trailed here 4-2 in the final minute and won 5-4 in overtime on an Olli Jokinen one-timer.
Before Phoenix’s two goals, Eric Belanger missed an open net by waiting too long and getting handcuffed that could have changed the game.
Boy, the D had trouble at the point tonight. Don’t know if it was the ice or what because Phoenix’s point guys had pucks bouncing over and under their sticks, too, but with the Wild pressing for goals in the third, Bergeron — who can be erratic at times — let one go by him, as did Kim Johnsson.
Not much else to say. As somebody joked tonight, this building was so empty tonight, it would have been a bad Swarm crowd.
James Sheppard was certainly motivated for some reason tonight. His ice time was around 18 minutes (I can’t tell you for sure because the Coyotes’ PR guys don’t bring game sheets up to the PRESS BOX!!! and I can’t get into NHL.com for some reason), he won 7 of 11 draws, had three hits and five fights (I know that because I saw it on NHL.com when I filed my first deadline story at the buzzer).
Colton Gillies got first-line duty with Koivu tonight but I can’t tell you his ice time because for some bizarre reason the Coyotes’ PR guys haven’t in the history of me covering games in this building brought game sheets up to the PRESS BOX!!!
Obviously, the Wild is in its first crisis of the season. Minnesota’s sticks have dried up again, but like I mentioned this morning, it appears it’ll have to wait for Marian Gaborik to return until next week.
It’d be foolish — no matter how desperate the team is — to play him in back-to-back games with no morning skates to warm up in. Makes no sense. It’ll have to dig deep and somehow salvage this road trip.
The Wild doesn’t practice until 3:30 CT Friday, so it’ll be another late blog.
———————————————————————————————-
Jacques Lemaire said this morning the scratch was between Colton Gillies and Craig Weller, but both are in warmups and Derek Boogaard is not. Working to find out if Boogaard is a healthy scratch, sick or hurt. There is an illness starting to mess with the team.
Lemaire’s been sick the last two days.
From Risebrough, Boogaard is a healthy scratch.
Speaking of illness, Dan Terhaar is the gutsiest guy in the building tonight. He is pale white but working the game despite a kidney stone. You should see how he’s walking.
Up until an hour ago, Mike Greenlay was set to make his play-by-play debut and sideline reporter Kevin Gorg was going to do color. But Terhaar decided he could go. He just went down to the Phoenix trainers room and the Coyotes’ doctor gave him a shot of something to ease the pain.
So, let’s just say, it could be an interesting show on FSN tonight.
412 Responses to "Phoenix Coyotes 3, Wild 1; Terhaar doesn’t pass stone on air"
Nooooo!!!! My poor Boogie. If he’s sick some one get him some chicken soup and a warm blanky right away. My boss has some sort of viral flu. I’m now on day 12 in a row. Very tired Bandgeek. I hope whatever is going around the team is nothing to serious.
terhaar may pass a stone on air tonight
best title ever
lets go Wild. Can’t wait to see gaby again soon. we need him.
TMI
ATX- I checked my junkmail, yeah…
sorry… is it in your sent file? I hope…
+1 jimlove: probably shouldn’t be that funny….but it is.
I can’t decide if I hope I get the Wild feed or not though.
I wish they both would just go away. After watching the majority of teams around the league, we have the worst tv announcers in the business.
Oh, and umm owwwwwww. I may not always like listening to Dumb and Dumber but I wouldn’t wish kidney stones on anybody. Somebody get that man a big jug of cranberry juice.
gogabygo @ 7:51 was me…
vancouver is worse
detroit is worse
i’m in the minority but i don’t like buffalo. jenorette might be a legend but his partner is blind and his goal calls are way over the top. i like a good goal call but when someone has one bounce in off his arse in the 2nd period when behind by 4, lets not act like buf just scored a cup winning goal in OT of game 7
CI has the Coyotes feed…I’m sort of disappointed now.
man, Strader stopped dying his ‘do
Directv has both…
Wooo PHX announcers tonight! Go Panger!
Terhar is in. He’s tough… he’s a hockey… announcer.
Directv has both
one more reason to dump cable and get DTV
Austin: “HOLY JUMPIN’” watch begins…NOW!
I want a car full of something good to drink.
Terhaar looked ghostly pale. He has that white ring around the mouth from grimacing. That poor man, I hope those where some good pain killers they gave him.
Pitt is laying a beating on the islanders. 7-1 in the second period.
Okay Buddha, you should have mail now for real.
long day, Rogue?
Jobs.com arena = unfortunate name.
Not as intimidating as the igloo, shark tank, or the x.
Not too long, they just showed that commercial where the state troopers pull over all the guys who have been drinking and their drinks gush out of the car. One looked kind of tasty :).
These announcers love JL.
Benny with the power move to the net…
I love the power move…
Austin: “HOLY JUMPIN’” watch begins…NOW!
Indeed Nick. How about, we have to drink every time he says it?
Got it ATX… thank you!
The Fans didn’t pick Koivu! I thought that was the only one they ever picked.
ATX, what if i cant wait that long?
8-1 at the end of two in Pitt.
Petr Sykkora with the hat trick and Dupuis has 2.
No problem Buddha!
And jeff, how about you chug a beer if he says it??
BS
PMB for roughing??? That is WEIRD.
ATX, ok i can do that.
good to see them stick up for each other.
Butch for roughing?!?
butch is on my fantasy team. thanks for the PIMs
Did they say on the PHX feed that those are Butch’s first penalty minutes of the season?
they said that on the minny feed
I must not have been paying attention — how on Earth did PMB get a penalty for roughing?
Shepps gonna score tonight.
It sounds like terhar is passing a stone evry time he calls a goal
Yeah, thats what I’m watching…
so apparantly JL roasts shepp in the press yesterday and has him on ice for PP and PK today. interesting
Ice girls? Nice.
Should give them a delay of game penalty
i’m warming to ice girls concept. as long as they ain’t the same gals that ottawa has or green bay uses for cheerleaders
Sorry off the subject here, but the wife is watching the news, has anyone else heard that Dell is gonna start charging poeple 12.95 to talk to tech support in english??
I swear that is what they just said! 12.95 to speak to someone that speaks english.
Note to self, next computer aint a Dell!
do dumb and dumber call the game watching a TV or are they really in the arena?
Is it cheaper in Hindi?
Make up call me thinks.
Odds on when the great one blows up?
You dont have to pay the 12.95 i guess!
Might be a really long phone call though.
Note to self, next computer aint a Dell!
dell’s are not what they used to be. and, if you are calling dell support, it must be something very serious to be worth $13.
i think msft started charging for phone support years ago so it isn’t a ‘new’ concept.
MAB with the awesome play followed by the obligatory bone head give away.
Ya, but to have to pay to talk to someone who speaks English??
So Gilles, Mittens, Pool Boy, and Shep on the PP…. wtf is JL doing?
That was a nice keep in.
Me thinks Stephane has been invisible this year. He’s not even hitting anymore cuz they’re trying to have him do other things and not be a checker. Seems to be taking up a roster spot. JMO.
i’d probably get an HP before a dell. or a mac if they weren’t so effing expensive
dell used to be cool because you could tailor the PC to be exactly what you want. Nowadays, most people can walk into best buy and get a cheap pc off the rack with more options and power than they need.
Ya, but to have to pay to talk to someone who speaks English??
they do speak english in india. just not american 
Expect Stephane to score tonight
I like goals, I think the Wild shot score one.
Whew, that was close.
that was some HOT Finn on Finn action baby!!
LOL NiNY
my weinie is small
Well, Macs aren’t nearly as $$$ as they used to be, usually just a hundred bucks or so more IF features are comparable. And of course, I’ve never had a virus, spyware, etc with no nanny software to speak of…
Is it just me or is Backs struggling to control the rebounds so far?
In a league trying to do everything imaginable to increase offense, why on earth would they still have the rule that the defensive zone team can clear the puck with their hand!??!?!
Backs isn’t feeling very Zen tonight, he’s off from practice.
Dan must have got my log in
Tyler,
For the same reason you can ice the puck on a PK
Dan, will you make man on man love to me?
dan has got his log in you
In a league trying to do everything imaginable to increase offense, why on earth would they still have the rule that the defensive zone team can clear the puck with their hand!??!?!
+1
What was with that video game break on the PHX feed? Weird.
Come on boys!
Delayed penalty, lets dump it in?
Seriously, it’s time to score. This is the third chance… make them pay.
PMB, what was that?
Hahhaa, the PHX announcer just said that PMB was a “tricky little guy that can spin around in a phone booth”. Funny.
Defense can play the puck with their hand, other wise they could get a whistle by doing the same thing.
Suppose they could make it a delay of game…
What?
Well, Macs aren’t nearly as $$$ as they used to be
17 in macbook pro with 4 gigs ram, 320HD = $2799
dell studio 17, same stats = $1099
I have no idea what you just said Buddha
What an uneventful 1st Period…
Faceoff is next!!!
Hmmm.. not a great 1st by the good guys. PP is not effective… hehehehaha, ineffective pp’s.
its hard to type with both hands around my crank!
Does the Dell have a parallel port?
Wife in NY’s mom’s family are those kind of Mac-crazy freaks that A) love Macs above all other Gods and B) have that weird, proprietary protectiveness where they feel it’s their mission in life to talk down about all non-Mac things.
Honestly, I don’t give two squirts of hot piss what kind of ‘puter you like. But I don’t think Stevie Jobs really needs you to pimp his merch in order to stay in biz.
its hard to type with both hands around my crank!
Well, at least it takes you two hands… it only taks Dan a pair of tweezers.
Don’t worry Nick, I’m not one of them…
Did Dan take my tweezers? Dammit Dan, I’ve got a bad uni-brow!
Thats all the boys have in their belly after 5 days off? Lemaire, you are a master. How about trying something new? Anything.. This aint it.
I use a thimble as a condom!!
No worries, Mr.B…you’re my boy!
What do you mean Knight?? JL instituted the ‘Umbrella’ PP, so eloquently described by Mr Greenlay.
did he just say ball silly
The reason why the defense can play the puck with their hand… it is because the defense used to do it on purpose so the ref would blow it dead for a hand pass.
Jets or Tigers?
I have a funny feeling we might see both within a few years
Wow, someone really likes me tonight.
Thanks for the compliment.
Wow, I think this dude who is interviewing Tylor Nash on the Phoenix feed is trying to make Nash cry.
These Circuit City commercials kind of creep me out.
that was some HOT Finn on Finn action baby!!
Hello!
I didn’t really ask why, I said it doesn’t make sense that they still can, given the league’s appetite for more offense. Give them a delay of game if they do it. Seems like a rule they could get rid of. D-man loses his stick and is on his ass, but he can clear the zone with his hand? Get rid of it.
Me too RG! The TVs with legs. Ick!
If we had gaby tonight, we’d be winning 2-0.
and i’m not a mac hater, i want one but I can’t justify the cost. i don’t see where they are twice as better.
that and they are not compatible with the vpn software i need for work.
The blog is very off tonight… focus people!! There’s a hockey game on!!
G*, use whatever you like, it’s a tool. I just used so say stuff like that when I worked at circuit city in college to the geeks in the computer dept just to rile them up.
And yes, those darn commercials weird me out to.
Thank God I escaped from retail
It is a full moon I guess.
sorry Austin…I had to help fold x-mas cards…you have my full attention now.
Sorry Austin, SLLLLLOOOOWWWWWWW GAME
Don’t worry ATX, I’ve been sending energy waves to Gretzky’s head to try and get him to explode. He looked pretty red in the first and I’m not giving up!
someone is focused on my crank
OH, and the Mrs is making cookie dough
mmmm, cookie dough.
Durden- Yeah, that was breathtaking!
Oops-that was put in under gogabygo. Anyway-Durden-it was a special (PP)-without a doubt!
Nick — you send Christmas cards?
Sorry, hockey talk now. Backs seems slower getting up tonight.
Man, Dupuis has a trick too.
WildinATX: no, my wife sends x-mas cards. I just help fold them. 
Yes we do.
Do you?
That’s what I like to hear people.
We do.
Nick, we do not. Too lazy for that
Backs really is fighting the puck a little tonight.
We send cards, and by we I mean she. To my insanely large family
Yeah Nick, apparently I’m going to have to start sending them for work at some point. Something about it’s necessary in order to make partner… eh, whatever.
Is the Pens game over? What was the final score?
Man, Dupuis has a trick too.
man, we really effed up letting that one get away.
I don’t do cards either for no good reason
Shepp’s got to drive the net in that situation, make something happen.
Come on Shep, the coach called you out, show him
WildinATX: that seems like sort of a weird criterion, eh?
G*, I think that was sarcasm?
perhaps
please note: we send cards…we do not send a letter with them.
Knight, JL’s mantra seems to have always been “If it ain’t broke, FIX IT!”
Splitting up successful lines, changing the #2 power play in the league, you know, stuff like that. {gay smiley}
9-2, Dupuis and Sykora had hat tricks.
I only have a heterosexual smiley on my computer.
What? You don’t send a letter to people once a year to let them know things they already know?
On a scary note, we got cards with letters from two of my aunts yesterday, and they both used identical stationary for the letter.
Nick, I think it may have something to do with client development? Maybe? Effort being made on behalf of the firm?
Cute kid doing the announcing on the Phoenix feed right now.
We just send a photo so people know that my wife’s still hot and I’m still fat.
That was pretty weak…
Is it just my timing or have the Wild been on the PK the whole game? I’m just looking between plays in the Aeros game…
That kid on the PHX game is pretty funny.
Mr.B: Siamese twins?
WildinATX: ehhh…I guess I can understand that.
That kid’s got some moxie.
nice save
The idea that this is a “good road game” just isn’t very appetizing any more.
We just send a photo so people know that my wife’s still hot and I’m still fat.
LMAO!
F’in kid just jinxed Backstrom!! Hey kid: your mom’s an alcoholic!
Nick???
That kid totally stole the Holy Jumpin in.. I think they said it about 4 times… Jeff you should be feeling pretty good right about now.
Dang nabit, I wanna see the PHX feed!
sloppy hospital passes in our zone here
Good draw Clutterbuck, way to move your feet.
Okay… 4th try here fellas… just put the biscut into the basket!
Well, we’re 25% on the PP this year, better score or the math will change
Oh Bela!
ahh!!! Bela waited to long…
Bella is consistently waiting himself out. Just rip it hooknose!
that’s a careless penalty by Cal.
dumb or dumber, can’t remember which, said clutterbuck was down and took a high stick before break. after break the video clearly shows it going the other way.
how do you mess that one up?
That’s the idea Shep. Now put one in!
Dyslexia?
blah… yuk.
D & D just suggested they talk about a player when he’s not meeting expectation. What a novel idea for a television crew.
ummm, poop
damn
I think that hit Gillies’ skate??
Come on MAB!
are you kidding me?
Jeeeezzz!
Double yuk.
WTF?
@#$^%&*!!!!
he didn’t cheat the pass
G*: POTD.
who was it that lost the puck near the blue line, could it be franchise?
This score is actually what the game has felt like to me.
What garbage that was…. way to end the second boys. Effin eff muther effer.
okay, time to start some heavy drinking.
Jebus chrysanthemum…
This score is actually what the game has felt like to me.
+1
This game has not givien me warm fuzzys.
The wife and I were just talking about how everyone on the Wild has been invisible… I have noticed Shep, and … uhhh. that’s about it. Everyone else seems to be coasting or something… jsut not making an impact. Nick I am with you… I think I’ll have a glass of Burbon.
Another sub-par performance against another sub-par team, that played last night, no less. Boring, uninspired, lethargic, etc. Same old sh*t.
is this the worst Wild game this season or what? Would the real Wild please show up?
Definitely not the worst Wild game this season. I think one recently against Vancouver was worse. And way more boring.
agreed WildinATX: that canucks game was worse for me because of the additional anticipation of the division game and all.
the sad truth is unless they sign gaborik or get at least another prolific scorer for him the wild might as well change their name to Minnesota Ambien.
Yeah, that vancouver game was brutal.
This one just hurts
the aves game was worse
Cue Dan in 5, 4, 3,….
you just hate offense, G*…
Maybe rather than throw a tantrum about practicing 3-on-1s in practice Backstrom should have actually practiced it.
Not saying it’s his fault for letting that goal in, but the timing is hilarious!
So now that McFail has had his wings clipped can we now focus on the unclothed emperors that are Smug and “No Doubt”?
There are times where a stay in a job runs it’s course and it is pretty obvious that, like the Wolves, the stays of Smug, JL and Tom Lynn (like what has this clown done to be so self-righteous?) have run their course. The team of 18k needs to give its front office and on-ice staff an enema and start over.
Jacques sounds bored, the players sound like they’re bored with him and Risebrough sounds like his “plan” is stuck back in year three.
Time to clean house Mr. Husband of Johnson Wax.
This team is dead men skating.
This really is pathetic. No one can put the puck in the damn net.
I don’t understand the criticism of JL. He consistently does more with what he has than he should be able to. I can understand frustration with DR, but I just don’t think JL shares much blame.
Let’s see, fire JL? Because firing Saunders worked so well for the timberpuppies
I think Shep has played a pretty good game tonight. Maybe JL just needs to call the rest of the team out in the press…
I don’t think this game has been boring either. It’s had a pretty good pace IMO. I just don’t like that we haven’t scored…
Yeah, shep has responded but there’s not much passion in the game lately.
“The team, you know, they play not good”
that’s a goal
Damn.
Really, “My Sex Is On Fire”?? Nice family song there.
Ahhhh sheet. This is just garbage. Looks like Backs will get his first loss here. Wake up fellas!! WTF is wrong with the team tonight!??
this game is an example of why the wild need gaby back.
That ref just wanted face time. He could have just pointed to the center. Mom must be watching at home.
who cares gogabygo, he is NOT in this game now is he?
Oh My F’ing Lord…
Down 3-0 to the Coyotes? Arg.
OMG, there’s fifteen minutes left?
Maybe the players need to read Russo’s article after the 2nd period:
“Lemaire wants more goals — and soon”
RG- I was thinking “This isn’t the NFL, I don’t need to you to explain it to me.”
Wow, the Lightning beat the Habs??? Dear Jesus, I hope I have Smitty in goal tonight…
Please yank Backs now before my fantasy team suffers anymore of this crap.
How is that not a penalty?
Cheap shot by Jokinen. Good embellishment by Clutterbuck. No penalty though, dang.
Oh, these b!tches are messing with my Cal!!!
No penalty?? Someone needs a beating.
exactly Buddha.
I see Harding coming in soon.
Lemaire says, “Get’r plane ready, we need to get to L.A. and soon.”
this looks like the traditional november swoon except that it is december
I was a little worried about this coming in. That kind of winning streak for Backs is just bad news.
HAHA…maybe Gabby was just too much of a distraction during there days off…what a joke…Gabby at 80% is just as good as anyone on this team, except maybe Koivu…JL is an idiot…Let Gabby play so we can trade is ass and get some real offensive going consistently every game! I almost think JL would rather win a game 2-1 rather than 4-1…its pathetic
Benoit Pouliot will hereby be known as “Polio.”
Be fair, G* - we don’t always do that well in December either.
Hmmm, the Daily Show is on…
Until next year when he starts producing playing left wing instead of center.
I don’t think it’s JL that isn’t “letting” Gaby play, Backs 32.
Woohoo!!!
Mittens scores!
Mittens!
Wow… there’s one. *muted* Yea…
that wasn’t me @ the first 10:07, the polio one
Okay.. get two more of those ugly ones.
(Not that I think he’s playing badly, but he’s not producing.) (Next year when we have a stronger core of centers and he can play wing, his talent will be realized.) (Until that day comes.. POLIO!)
win a game 2-1 rather than 4-1
ah, what is the difference here?
Let Gabby play
read the last blog entry and then revise your remarks
I almost fell asleep. Now I feel like they could pull out a win. Hmmm…
Umm, WHO THE $#@$%#@ is posting as me?
Now I feel like they could pull out a win
as i said sitting thru a lot of losses at the X in the first 3 years…if they can just get one more before the 15 minute mark, they got a chance.
Panger’s saying Burns is on the blueline
Mister Know it all knew this game would be bad to watch and I certainly was right. This game is horrible ! Bruenette is one slow guy
And the Saints just scored the touchdown…
Are u kidding me…did u read anything lately…he pretty such he is not ready as if he has not been in the league for 7 years…”ah he needs da practise and uh get in da game shape before he can ahhhh play wit dis team”….get out of town…it really cannot get any worse
Since it again falls on us to entertain ourselves:
http://thetwolinepass.com/2008/12/nhl-legends-are-clumsy-around-the-house/
Apparently ATX and I are no longer allowed to watch Wild games together.
I’d be happy to see #8 on the blueline again!
Can you trolls leave for about twenty minutes and then you can have the blog.
Ummm…2-1 or 4-1…JL likes things tight that is the difference there GREEN STAR…i know what ur trying to say about a W is a W either way but seriously
MKIA, are you and Dan related? Dan is your real name, isn’t it?
Backs — I don’t think it’s JL’s decision when Gaby plays. That’s up to the trainers, the doctors, and Gaby himself. If he’s sore, he’s not going to want to play.
I think Shep and PMB have played well tonight. As a silver lining.
Head shot there.
Lets get something going on this pp.
Bad, bad penalty. Make ‘em pay.
Jokinen needs a beating.
if MAB can still see straight, I’d like to see him Belanger the Coyotes by scoring here.
ATX-
Only JL’s decison once everyone else clears him.
SOB MAB!
Nobody is ever 100 percent 27 games into the season…ur always going to be sore…think about it
apparently he can not see straight…
becasuse i feel in a giving mood B 32, from previous blog that you fail to look at:
Jacques Lemaire said he knows there will come a time when Gaborik will walk into his office and exclaim, “I’m ready.” That’s when he’ll play. Gaborik said it’s coming, but he’s definitely not there yet.
not sure where the confusion is on who it’s on.
Thanks for the confirmation Buddha. Does that include Gaby clearing himself?
COME ON!!!
DR, Craig, and gaby on the trip. i smell something brewing.
Let’s see, start the season hot, flounder around in Nov and Dec, then buckle down in Jan to make the playoffs.
It will be alright people
The Wild seem to be pulling their best “Plaxico Burress” impression by shooting themselves… well I was going to say in the foot, but still. Same theory.
And Burns is on D now, so that’s at least good.
You said in Mr. Bandgeek, but level-headedness isn’t welcome in these parts when we’re losing.
No problem ATX… I would say he needs to clear himself, maybe call Oscar Meyer and get a permission slip?
Oh, and I vote MAB for Skooba 2008-09
Whatever…he basically said that he wants to play on the trip…simple as that and oh by the way…JL is retarded
JL likes things tight that is the difference
ok now i get it. hell yes, let’s fire the coach because he doesn’t win by enough goals. I could get on that bandwagon.
I’ll write DR’s press release.
Because here in minnesota, we hold our team to a higher standard than the rest of the league, we are terminating the contract of our coach today. Sure we are winning games but only by 1 or 2 goals. That isn’t good enough around here. We need a coach that will lead us to winning games by 3 to 5 goals. Until we find that coach and achieve that goal, we will not be satisfied.
sorry RG, just trying to talk people off the ledge
Mikko looks to having an off night… anyone else see that?
That last power play was EMBARASSING. Truly Awful. This is definitely the 3rd worst game of the season… even if the Wild end up winning.
Well done, Mikko.
That’s probably the game. At least Mikko gives me 2 min for FH.
Mikko looks to having an off night… anyone else see that?
+1,000,000 He looks AWFUL IMO.
The PP was just Horrid.
I was agreeing with you, MR BG, no worries.
Mikko looks to having an off night
Mikko has looked very ordinary since i’d say the middle of november.
Arg. Today sucks.
Koivu is allowed an awful game since he now has 30 points in 27 games. Everyone else is not.
that was not satisfying.
Yeah, Mr. ATX is on the ledge. Anyone care to let him sleep at their house tonight?
So… on to Anahiem and SJ…
greeeaaaattt….
That was rough. I’d like to think DR is working hard to add some offense but he has “worked hard” the last two deadlines and not produced. You’re only allowed so many of those.
I kind of missed fedoruk…much better than weller…another mishap in Wild management…maybe we will get him back in like a year
Backs - Gaby also said that this trip was not the time to make his comeback. So let him and the doctors and trainers work it out. JL isn’t part of the decision at this point.
I should be more upset by this loss, but honestly, I’ve got more serious things on my mind. I’m just happy I got to watch them play tonight.
RG- I agree. Just don’t see them very often.
We’ve got a spare bed for ya Austin. It might be a long drive though
Cue Dan in 5…4…3…
I am done for the night.. I don’tknow why I am takingthis win especially hard. It’s just they looked soooo bad. Even teh Panger couldn’t make it better. Maybe it’s the burbon… I dunno.
Was it the Don that brought up MAB making fans more nervous than Skoula?
He does. I agree. I’m in 100% now.
Drops his stick on one goal, puck hops his stick, what twice on a PP? Arg.
Strangely the PHO farm team beat the best team in the AHL tonight in a 3-0 shutout tonight. Good night for that organization.
I would argue that Koivu has been solid since mid-november. He has 10 points in his last 7 games coming into tonight. He just has no supporting cast.
MAB is bad. He’ll be replaced with Max Noreau next year. I’m growing more convinced every game.
Did Dan pass his stone?
Wow, Shep got BIG minutes!
No guys, you’re getting this all wrong. MAB is an amazing puck handling defenseman. Exactly like what all other teams are looking for. Especially Ottawa… with Gaby… for Spezza and a pick…
How many minutes ms.conduct?
Thats good news ms. conduct. I’m all for the young guys but that means that the veterans they keep around need to do more than they have.
Buddha: I’ve been on the “MAB is the new Skoula” kick for a while now too.
Jock is PO’d.
19 something, WATX
Did you get to see the press conference ms.conduct?
This really hurts to say, but I’m afraid I’m off the bandwagon, gang. I’ve seen enough in the past two weeks to convince me that not only is this team not going to repeat as division champs, it’s not even going to make the playoffs.
There simply aren’t enough skill players here to get the job done. It’s a team of too many journeymen - Veilleux, Belanger, Weller, Nolan - and too many kids - Pouliot, Gillies, Sheppard, Clutterbuck - that aren’t ready yet. On any given night, if Koivu and Backstrom aren’t the two best players on the ice, the team can’t compete.
I think they’re going to lose the rest of this trip, then come home and get spanked by Calgary, at which point it will be a six-game losing streak, with the easiest part of their schedule behind them. Let’s hope the inevitable Gabby deal and another year of experience for the kids gives us something to root for next season.
Wait — there’s a bandwagon?
I don’t blame JL for being PO’d after that half-effort tonight. ‘Da Boys’ mailed it in. Too much winter Arizona sunshine, not enough hard work.
MAB IS INDEED the new Skouba. You can’t honestly say he worked hard tonight (but, thanks to Jokinen, you might have said he almost got worked over).
And, did anyone else notice how many times one-handed sticks were touching the puck tonight for the Wild? Shep and B-b-b-Benny (-2) were two of the primary culprits…and that’s laziness, that’s all it is.
If they come out this weekend like they did tonight, they will be 0-fer on the road trip. And, since I’ve already committed to going out there, I won’t be happy if they don’t play well.
P.S. For Dan Terhaar: Things you need to obtain from somewhere, and soon:
1. Cranberry Juice Cocktail
2. Furosemide (generic for Lasix) pills
3. Lots and Lots of water
4. Strainer
5. Really good muscle relaxant
And, since you lost your day job:
6. Health Insurance
Get well soon, Dan. I don’t want to see you carried out of STAPLES Center on a stretcher on Saturday…
goalie guy…well said…except for the bandwagon part…u might as well jump off…thick and thin my friend…could be worse…could be the cubs!
Tripper…actually gatorade is the best…water just does not stay down…my old man has had 6 of the things
Pens score 9 tonight…haha and we lose to the yotes
Backs, I didn’t know you were a “thick and thin’r”! Gotta say, I like that about you.
Aside from that, I’m not sure the Wild has ever had a bandwagon. But that’s a separate debate.
hey something has to get me through the winter
Backs32: 6 Kidney Stones? Surprised your old man has a kidney left after all that scarring. I dunno about the Gatorade, though…cranberry juice cocktail is supposed to be better, and well, water to wash it down. gatorade is OK, I guess, in small doses, but I wouldn’t try to chug 64 oz. in a sitting. The outcome might really hurt. Ooooh.
Yeah, WATX, they were showing it on my channel after the game. It was brief and grumpy. Not a moral victory, let’s say.
My season tickets are paid for - for the eighth straight year - so I’m invested from a financial standpoint. But I just can’t see investing any emotional energy in this team, because I don’t think there’s going to be any payback. As I said, it hurts to say that, because I love this team, but it’s clear that something is broken, and I think the fix is a long ways away.
Actually, if your trying to pass it (if ya know what i mean) gatorade is the best from he has told me…i guess he just puked the water straight up…ol danny boy has nothing to worry about…im sure he will get some good medical attention
PS kidney stones arent actually stones…more like small pebbles
anybody c carter hit legacy in the head…i know carter…grew up in my town…pretty funny how goalies are such babies…even backstrom threw a fit today in practice…maybe he should have cheated on the yotes second goal…probably would have saved it…how ironic
I’m seeing an opportunity here GG. We’re going to be in town from the 17th to the 29th…
Backs — is it so much harder to type “see” in place of “c”? Seriously, are the two extra keystrokes going to kill you? It’s hard to read.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Crack that whip WATX.
Yeah, I saw that hit on Legace. Whacked him pretty good. Manny is always hurt though. Bless him. I adore that guy. But at least it means my giant Ben Bishop gets another cuppa.
Unfortunately ( or fortunately? ) I was unable to watch the game. Can someone give me a quick recap…was it Backs letting some slide by or was the defense nonexistent again??
MMMmmmmmmmm… burbon……
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
I can’t believe I read through all of this without getting my rum first.
I’ll be right back!
Wife drank all the eggnog, so I had to bust out the good stuff.
Tough stretch here. Tough to watch, too.
Wife is full of eggnog and you’re on the computer???
Glad I missed the game. Delete from Tivo.
Sunshine cuts to the heart of things yet again. Which reminds me, I should do the same.
I also don’t care to read about Terhaar’s bodily functions.
YUCK! That’s inside info I don’t care to know about.
Sorry for being a little childish with that yuck reference.
OMG, is Steve Mason like 16 years old??
FIRE LEMAIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing like someone else’s bodily functions on a hockey blog.
Ugh. Glad I didn’t see much of this one.
When the 1st goal went in, I thought it was going to be a good 3rd period. When the 2nd one went in I knew it was over and went back to work.
This is going to be a long year.
but I’m afraid I’m off the bandwagon
should I care?
Two of the four guys who got hat tricks last night are on my Russoville FH team. Such incredible luck and yet it only helps in one category.
Meanwhile, next season, my team’s name will be “IHateMyGoalies”…
Er. Good morning!
Anyone else think it’s time for Lemaire to go?
Nope. Just you and Dan.
JL can stay.
DR can stay.
Dan must go…(insert gay smiley here)
kj: It took you this long to figure out it’s going to be a long year? I dunno about you, man…
Who’s all coming up from Texas for the holidays? If you are, pack warmer than you would have for Wednesday in Hosuton…
It’s -1 here this morning…Br-r-r-r…
Uh..that’s ‘Houston’, that is…
And if we’re talking people that can ‘go,’ can we throw MKiA under that bus too?
Sweet fancy moses. That’s cold. At what point do you have to plug in your car?
WRT…it’s my new way of venting.
Instead of railing on and on about how DR has built this offensive offence, I’ll just resign myself to acknowledging that I follow this team of my own free will and can stop at any time.
Isn’t that the first step?
Do we need to schedule a Russoville post-game Wild Fan Anonymous meeting?
ms.conduct says:
December 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Nope. Just you and Dan.
I don’t care if anybody agrees with me or not. Bottom line is I’m right and it’s past time for Lemaire to go. He should’ve been let go coming out of the lockout and Risebrough and all his incompetence should’ve never been hired in the first place.
ms.conduct says:
December 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Sweet fancy moses. That’s cold. At what point do you have to plug in your car?
I never plug mine in. I’ve only had it not start once. It was something like -25ºF that morning. I was more than happy to call in sick and stay home.
Does plug-in mean jump start? Plug-ins mean electric car to me, though I did hear that some American cars in the past - not the electric ones - had outlets to jump start the car.
I don’t care if anybody agrees with me or not. Bottom line is I’m right and it’s past time for Lemaire to go.
Did you try stomping your feet and holding your breath?
Does plug-in mean jump start?
Some cars have optional ‘tank heaters’ that you plug in. It warms the coolant in the engine and makes it easier to start in brutal weather.
kj’s on it. They also make heaters for the oil and for the battery.
Hmm…interesting. Haven’t owned a car like that yet.
My dad did request a stand alone car jumper for Christmas one to use it on his old 89 Corolla. Didn’t want to use his new truck.
Congrats to Marc-Andre Bergeron on taking the title away from Martin Skoula as the mayor of Sucktown. This guy is painful to watch…
On a positive note it was nice to see Sheppard respond to the coaches and go out and play an inspired game.
MAB needs a nickname along the lines of “Skouba”
See? I may not know what a snowblower looks like but I know about engine block heaters! Many trips to Canada in the winter to thank for that. Though apparently it has to get QUITE cold to need it. We were up at a hotel about to cross into the NWT and asked if it was cold enough that we needed to plug the car in. They laughed at us. Stupid Texans. But it was cold! Our locks didn’t work!
Mayor of Sucktown. I love it.
I’ll make y’all a deal. We’ll take MAB in exchange for you taking Mojzis off our hands. Deal? Deal.
Has Moses been that bad?
A few more games and I will be willing to switch the mayor for John Scott.
I cringe every time the puck gets near him. I’m trying to be patient… maybe he’s still learning the system. Apparently it can be a struggle to pick up for some guys. But he’s our worst d-man for sure, right now.
Actually, Lucky, Scotty’s playing really well. It would only be a bad swap in terms of the two being polar opposities in nearly every way (SAH vs. puck-moving, big vs. little, zippy vs. lumbering).
But he’s making great plays left and right, passing better, in position, skating better, getting fewer penalties, confident. He’s a different guy. Even got the GWG last night. It’s been a pleasure to watch him the last month or so.
Ms. C.- kj is right… but only partially… most cars now days have a block heater in them. Plug it in and it heats the engine block up, warming the collant, and the oil. In the olden days (kj’s hay-day) it only warmed the coolant.
Sorry kj… wasn’t being rude, just trying to give our southern friend a full picture…
Oh, and most cars that have them, son’t need them. Anything made past 2000 /2001 should start without it, as long as you take care of them. Cost a fortune to run too…
Goody is right… battery ones too, but they are seperate, and probably more important, except in the brutal cold.
Nickname for MAB… hmmm… something to ponder
what, because “Queen MAB” isn’t funny enough?
or, we could just call him “Skoula”….
from the “Queen Mab” entry on wikipedia:
Queen Mab is a fairy referred to in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. She also appears in other 17th century literature, and in various guises in later poetry, drama and cinema. In the play her activity is described in a famous comic speech by Mercutio, in which she is described as a miniature creature who drives her chariot across the faces of sleeping people and compels them to experience dreams of wish-fulfillment. She would also bring the plague in some occasions.
She is supposedly a tiny fairy who comes to people when they sleep. Then she haunts their dreams by making the person dream of what they want and cannot have.
yeah…like a defenseman that can hold the zone on a power play, or, you know, pick up the back door guy in front of his own net…
MAB was called ‘Queen MAB’ in Edmonton, but he’s even regressed from that, so-o-o..how about ‘Lil’ Bergie’? Or, the “Princess’??
Ms. C: the engine block heater was invented by an engineer with a Rural Electric Cooperative in Grand Forks, ND about 1961. He decided to not patent the invention on purpose, so that it would be available in the public domain.
He retired about 20 years ago and still lives — very warmly — in Grand Forks.
Anyone else see the bit by Shipley in this morning’s PP about the Coyotes’ lack of attendance? I wrote about it in the HTP blog today…you may access it from the blog list on the right side of this screen…
Queen Mab it is.
Boula?
Skougeron?
Scourgeron?
I’d offer French Dip but it’s spoken for.
Thanks for all the engine block/plugging in info, BTW. I hope I never have to know more about that than I do at this very moment.
Bergewrong
Marc Andre Suck
Skoula 2
Sir Stinks-a-Lot
Bad Bad Bergeron
and still lives — very warmly — in Grand Forks.
well played, WRT
I found Shipley’s bit about going back to Winnipeg a lot more interesting.
How about ‘Skouby-II’ for MAB?
Thanks sunshine for the enlightening comments…
We could use Skouby-Deux. We could call his D partner Reitz Shaggy to complete the Scooby-Doo reference.
Scrappy
(as in, not Scooby, but…)
Wasn’t there another dog that they drew into the Scooby-Doo series later on?
I went back and read Russo and Shipley’s pieces and how weird is it that the Gaborik quotes aren’t quite the same in both articles.
WRT: that was Scrappy.
NiNY: OK, I thought so but couldn’t remember that name…
sunshine, Gaby and Russo are BFFs, so he gets the real scoop.
Reitz as Shaggy isn’t a huge stretch actually. I can see that.
It happens Sunshine, especially on a deadline, in a noisy locker room, etc. I wouldn’t read anything into it.
Well, wasn’t Scrappy uh… scrappy? Didn’t MAB have a problem with violently throwing himself at opponent’s fists early in the season? Kinda scrappy, they there is the fact that Scrappy was much smaller than Scooby…
How about sCrappy? Yes, the capitalization of the C and not the s is intentional.
S’Crappy? Nah. Too much precise punctuation and capitalization for the average person.
MA Faileron.
Scooby Doesn’t.
I’m sleepy.
I had totally forgotten about his fight binge in pre-season, Goody!
How out of character does that seem now?! wow.
I still say give MAB a shot at wing and move IJ back to D. If he’s the offensive defenseman he was made out to be, he should do OK. Sure, IJ probably brings more O, but his D play is so much better than sCrappy’s that I’d risk it. Not like IJ’s exactly lighting the lamp at a goal a game pace…
It seemed out of character before we even knew his character. The guy’s a hobbit!
Is this blog fixed yet?
sorry about the unrelated comments last night. i hope most of you realized most of those were not from me.
So I’m starting to look early and before going to craislist, does anyone have extra tix for the Dec. 23rd game vs. the ‘Canes so I can join Mr./Mrs. Austin?
I might start calling MAB Skoula Lite, but its still a work in progress.
If he’s a hobbit…
Perhaps we call him Mary?
does anyone besides me notice, that this i a lot like 2 years ago… we were doing great in our division until right before Gaborik was supposed to come back… and then we he does we magically start winning ….hopefully we can improve…
current points on MAB 15, marty 2 just saying…So are we gonna beat LA tomorrow or is this team stuck in the funky stuff?
Let’s hope LA goes into a scoring slump after scoring 6 last night and we find inspiration to score more than one goal.
Heh, I should have hit refresh one more time before giving up last night, Ms C. I would have had a witty reply for sure, but alas the moment is past.
Bergeron played pretty well early, but is now more along the lines of what I was expecting based on his past.
But it’s certainly not just him. I’d make an off-color metaphor to best describe their performance lately, but let’s just say, they could use the hockey equivalent of a Viagra prescription.
They muddle around the wall in the offensive zone, nobody aside from maybe Burnzie seems willing to even try to bring the play into the scoring areas, and most of the forwards just aren’t that good along the wall. They’re not creating any turnover to generate good transition opportunities and they’re far too dependent upon their power play for offense, and it hasn’t been that great lately, thus they haven’t been that great lately.
I don’t know if this has been posted or not, but I just received this e-mail and though it was worth sharing. At this day in age it is so refreshing to hear positive stories about pro athletes. Gotta love hockey players.
In the middle of a grueling six game road trip where a very young hockey
team is away from home, the third game of the trip ends late on a cold
Canadian Saturday night. This is the only break on the trip and the
three days between games allow them the only break to get back home in
their own beds for a couple of days before going back on the road. A
scheduled commercial flight waits for them at Toronto ’s International
Airport for the short flight home; they could be home by midnight. This
plane departs on schedule, but without a single member of the hockey
team. Back in the locker room a vote is taken after the game was
complete, and a unanimous decision is made by this young
team to skip this flight and stay one more day. They make arrangements
to check back in the hotel and on a frozen Sunday morning charter two
buses that have no heat and begin a journey two hours straight north
into a sparsely inhabited Canada , but where hockey is its passion. They
arrive at their destination to the surprise of the teams general manager
who is there attending his fathers wake.
After a few emotional hours, this team boards the buses and heads back
for a two-hour trip back to Toronto . On the way they ask the drivers to
stop in a tiny Canadian town because they are hungry. To the shock of
the patrons and workers at this small hockey town McDonald’s, a
professional team walks out of two rickety buses and into the
restaurant, which just happens to have pictures of two members of this
team on its wall. The patrons know every single one of these players by
sight being Fanatic fans of hockey in these parts. One can only imagine
their amazement of the locals seeing and the entire professional hockey
team sit down and have a meal in their tiny little town
in the middle of a hockey season. After a while they board the buses and
catch their same flight 24 hours later, giving one day to their general
manager.
Have I made this up, is this an excerpt from some fictional book? No.
This a true story of the Blackhawks last Saturday night and they decided
to attend Dale Tallon’s father’s funeral. It’s amazing that such a good
story cannot be found on the internet, and not even mentioned in
the Chicago papers. Had one of the Blackhawks got into a fight and
punched some drunken loser in a Toronto bar, it would be plastered all
over papers and the television. This being said, its hard to imagine any
professional football, basketball or baseball team doing this, but the
members of the Blackhawks claim any “hockey” team would have done this.
This is one reason I continue to be a big hockey fan, and another reason
I am excited about this Chicago team. I thought I would share as this
story appears to have gone unnoticed.
-unknown author
Apparently, this happened the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Thanks for sharing Dangles, great story.
There is an article in Chicago Sun Times about it today too.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1327646,CST-SPT-hside12.article
Had to chime in, why don’t we just call MAB “Dopey”… because….. he is. Every time I see someone walk around him in our zone I hear faint sounds of Chris Beerman doing the ESPN highlights going “whoop whoop, whoop whoop”…
it would be seriously ballzy for the crowd to chant something like “WE WANT SKOO-LA” every time Queen MAB comes on the ice at the X. Particularly after applauding the announcement of The Artist Formerly Known As Bad Marty’s healthy scratching that game last season.
Won’t happen, and it might not even be warrated.
But it would still be ballzy.
dang…”warrated” should be “warranted”
MAB is obviously a liability on defense, but he’s getting points. Not as many 5 v. 5 points as we would like, but at this point isn’t any offense a good thing? I think if he is paired with a stay-at-home d-man who is aware of the MAB’s propensity to get caught out of position we could benefit from his ability to put a hard shot on net.
He’s a liability on offense when he can’t friggin hold the zone. But then I’m probably unreasonably fussy about that particular defensive role. I love a good keep almost as much as a good save. Maybe because both my teams seem to always be desperate for goals and you don’t get many of those from the friggin neutral zone. When you’re in, you better stay in.
He made a nice diving stop to hold the zone last night on the power play. A shot missed the net and nearly made it out of the zone. I see your point, but when I reflect back on last season and the complete lack of offensive output from our blue liners (i.e. Hill, Skoula, Nummelin, Carney) I am thankful that we have a little punch from back there. None of the aforementioned d-men had as many points all season as MAB does so far. I am not handing him the Norris Trophy, but we could do alot worse. And have.
After watching last nights game in disgust, I told myself I would not go on here today. Hey, it’s 2:14PM and I needed my fix, OK
I agree that MAB was terrible but to pin the lose on him is not fair. They all have had three sub par games and it doesn’t get any easier with back to back games in LA.
Good to see that DR at least made a play at Sundin but disapointing that he never is able to close any of these deals.
Fair enough, Dangles. I didn’t watch but the third period last night, blessedly. And I’m not saying everything he does is wrong. I just find myself almost terminally exasperated watching him play. Much like I used to feel about Bad Marty. Head in hands kinda thing. Probably just an emotional fan reaction. I’d miss his points if we didn’t have ‘em, I’m sure.
Did he tell Sundin this is the place to be? That always worked in the past.
I don’t think he cost us the game. I just think it’s fun to make fun of his name, is all.
Did he tell Sundin this is the place to be? That always worked in the past.
Well played.
ms.conduct says:
December 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
When you’re in, you better stay in.
NOT going to comment…
I think you just did, Goody.
Wow, nice one, Goody. And that after I’ve been reading this was just a little bit of lovely synchronicity.
And in other news, Maggie made a pretty funny new nhLOL.
Goody - Uhmmm…that could be used in soo many different situations….
