Aeros win first round, advance to play Milwaukee
Posted on April 27th, 2009 – 10:18 PMBy Michael Russo
Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron underwent successful back surgery this morning. It’ll take six to eight weeks for Bergeron to recover.
The Houston Aeros beat the Peoria Rivermen 5-2 tonight in Game 7 to advance to the second round of the AHL playoffs against Milwaukee (or Craig Leipold’s current farm team vs. Craig Leipold’s old farm team). Maxim Noreau broke a 2-2 tie in the third. Here is the link.
If you want to make a road trip — like I may do — the Aeros play Games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee on Thursday and Saturday.
The Aeros’ GM is Tom Lynn. The Admirals’ GM is Paul Fenton.
The winner of the series becomes the Wild’s next GM. 
Lynn vs. Fenton
127 Responses to "Aeros win first round, advance to play Milwaukee"
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
From the looks of the Lynn vs. Fenton pictures, I think it’s already been decided.
Hmmm… The winner becomes our next GM…
Lets go Admirals!!!
Lets go Admirals!!!
LOL RET.
Poor Lynn. He should get a do over on that one. He’s better looking than that in person. Plus he laughed at my jokes, and that’s pretty much all you have to do to get on my good side.
HAHA!!!
that was classic ms. C…..
lol……
……is it working?……
Did you guys know that the Flames have been bounced out of the first round 4 years straight? Makes me feel a little better about the Wild being bounced out twice in a row. Not much but just a teeny bit better.
I didn’t make a joke, but yeah, something just like that would work great.
Okay. Submitted the first article of MANY I have to write now. No rest for the wicked. Except for right now when I’m going to bed.
Is Lynn related to the guy from Reno911?
I’m assuming this is a bad joke?
The Dog likes Button.
Lucky: You hit the nail on the head with that one…don’t we wish that it would come down to that? (Uh, no.)
sunshine: The Flames have got to be asking themselves what they have to do to get past the first round.
And then, there’s the Sharks, who really have to be asking themselves that question now. Who do they sacrifice to the hockey gods to get the curse reversed? They’ve already changed the management and the coaching staff…who’s next to go in SJ?
I think Jumbo Joe needs to fight more, like 3 times a game.
I guess the OJ acquisition didn’t get Calgary to the promised land. Maybe we should be taking Iginla to task same as Jumbo Joe, didn’t hear of him being much of a force in the playoffs.
Here’s hoping for a Bruins-Blackhawks final!
Just another reason why the Twin Cities sports media is a collective joke:
Listening to the KQ morning show on the commute in this AM, Sanny, who does the sports at 6 am, mentions that Backstrom is up for the Vah-Zeee-Nah Trophy as the league’s top goalie. I’m not saying that a sports guy needs to know the correct pronunciation of every single player in every single league, but to not be able to pronounce the name of the trophy for the league’s top goalie was a little disappointing. Not like Sanny just came from Butte, Montana. I’d have to check my records, but I think he’s been in Minn for quite a while as a sports “writer”. Not quite to the level of the dolts on KFAN, but still disappointing.
The Flames have got to be asking themselves what they have to do to get past the first round.
ya, what is it, 4 exits in a row now? but this year is different since they didn’t have phaneuf for game 6…
So. . Calgary trades a 1st and a 2nd round pick and 3 prospects to pick up to UFAs, Jokinen and Leopold. They susequently los the division race they were winning and get ousted in the first round.
I’m not a Reisbrough abologist but I think this shows that the splashy trade deadline moves, while they may make you feel good at the time, aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be.
- It would be hard to pick a winner in a contest to determine who in the Twin Cities sports media knows the least about hockey (excluding Sid).
- The Flames do have Jokinen for next year but will lose Cami - do we still want him? - and I am not sure what the market is going to be for Leopold with all his random injuries - CGY might have put themselves in a good spot to retain him if their cap allows. Still, they would have to have a pretty deep run next year to make up for what they traded I think.
DP-I’ve been thinking the same thing. The Flames didn’t really provide a ringing endorsement for the “Big Pickup”. I remember they played great their first game with the new guys (I think OJ had a trick) and then sucked it up from then on out. It couldn’t happen to a better team!
I’m starting to think we are better off not having traded for OJ at anytime. He doesn’t seem to bring out greatness in teams he’s on.
I’m not sure it is fair to impugn the entire TC media on the basis of the KQ mornign show.
Trade deadline moves can be like going to McDonald’s, is that what you’re saying? They taste great at the time, but you could very well find yourself doubled over in pain as you run to the bathroom a little while later…
DP: Sanny’s comments this AM doesn’t paintbrush the entire TC sports “media”, but is yet in another long list of examples about just how little the group as a whole knows about the sport for which the state is famous. Aisde from Russo and maybe Shipley, there really is nobody in the current market who seemingly can have an intelligent conversation, or detailed for that matter, about the sport of hockey at the professional level. Sad, really.
Here’s hoping the Caps and Canes win their 7s tonight.
I think deadline acquisitions can appear not to work. After all, only one team can win the Cup and Detroit seems set every year.
A deadline deal can help without winning it all. It helps by sending a message to the room, the fans and to other players that the management is willing to take a risk to ‘win today’.
Deep, not to mention that after being awake for a full 2.5 hours this morning and having the TV news on for about an hour and the radio on for about an hour, I needed to check the internet to find out that two teams advanced.
I don’t really care that they don’t know much about the sport, but at least report that two teams advanced. It is as if the sport doesn’t even exist.
- DP: Sanny’s comments this AM doesn’t paintbrush the entire TC sports “media”, but is yet in another long list of examples about just how little the group as a whole knows about the sport for which the state is famous.
- Yep - that was what I was trying to say.
- OJ centering Gaby v. Shep/Belanger centering Gaby? Food for thought at least.
Now, if someone can beat those god-forsaken Nucks to a pulp, the world would be nearly perfect.
Oh, the Ducks need to lose too.
kj: I agree about how trades can send a “message” to the room. I recall Schultz’ comments, I belive, at the dealine last year. Obviously every trade is not going to work out, but I’m sure the players in the room appreciate the fact that an Owner/GM is willing to try to get the team to the next step once and a while. And no, that does not mean bringing in Chris Simon.
hmm so Ducks beat the Dead Wings and Hawks beat the ‘Nuks, then Hawks beat the Ducks? Go Hawks!
I watched a good chunk of the Flames series (though I missed most of the first 2) and OJ sure seemed to me to help them. Seemed more to me like JI pulled something of a disappearing act.
Gotta suck to be a Flames fan - I look at that roster and see how that team can play with such a gritty edge, you’d think they’re made for SCP hockey.
Yeah, 4 straight 1st round exits are hard to take. The Flames looked like they would win last night–lots of pressure and at least in the 1st the Bulin Wall was leaving big rebounds but no one could capitalize. They really did neutralize Iginla. Cammalleri got a lot of shots off but no one could put the rebound in. He still looks awfully good to me. Sweet though to have it happen to Keenan. But I too thought that team was built to last through the playoffs and not one and done.
Not to diminish the pain and agony that hopefully all Flames’ fans are feeling this morning, but does anybody else feel a little bit of disappointment in the fact that no Minnesota pro sports franchise has won a post-season series since the Vikings beat the Packers at the end of the 2004-05 season?
Deep, yes - I have a couple of friends who constantly complain about the lack of winning anything around here. They are quick to point out that for a market with as much sports as this one has (with or without the local major college), we’re easily the least accomplished, especially in the last 10+ years.
Bill Guerin is helping the Pens out. He wasn’t the big name pick up like OJ was but he was a still a very good pick up at the trade deadline.
Calgary trades a 1st and a 2nd round pick and 3 prospects to pick up to UFAs, Jokinen and Leopold. They susequently los the division race they were winning and get ousted in the first round.
I think the flamers have cap issues going forward and went all in on this season with their ace queen off suit. Drew a queen at the deadline but it wasn’t good enough.
Nice picture of Lynn. Lose the flavor saver buddy, your not on the softball field anymore.
Lynn looks like he just came from a ‘working lunch’ at Tom Reid’s where he had a few 22 ouncers.
So, I looked at the past 15 champions for MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA men’s football and basketball (D1).
here’s how the championships breakout by state:
AZ 2
CA 9
CO 4
CT 2
FL 12
GA 1
IL 4
IN 1
KS 1
KY 2
LA 1
MA 6
MD 2
MI 7
MO 2
NC 4
NE 2
NJ 3
NY 7
OH 1
OK 1
PA 3
TN 1
TX 9
WI 1
oops…also two from Canada.
DB @ 7:52: I agree with you on the TC “media”. It is pretty sad indeed. I quit listening to the KQ Morning Show a long time ago, mostly because Tom Bernard is such a total idiot. It’s insulting to listen to him babble about stuff he has absolutely NO clue on whatsoever.
Sanny is only a small step above Ruesse and Souhan in the second-guessing, rip-on-everything, know-very-little-about-anything crowd, especially where hockey is concerned.
As for KFAN… Once Chad Hartman was canned, I find NO reason to listen to that dribble. DB is PAINFUL to the ears, and Cole is….well, Dee-Dee-Dee.
Some great hockey on tap for tonight. I’m pulling for the Caps and Canes to win out. Glad to see the Hawks win last night and douse the Matchsticks. Ya gotta feel for Sharks fans though. And why did it have to be those freakin’ Quackers!!?? Man, I HATE that team.
In the West, I think that the Quackers have virtually no chance against the Wings, that is unless Osgood does what pretty much everyone has predicted, and that is turn into a total sieve at some point. Detroit is really hitting their stride right now and will probably blow right past the Fowl. The Nucks will have their hands full with the young Hawks, and I think that if CHG gets one win in the first two games in Van, they win the series in six.
One other little tidbit…. With the Nucks being the last Canadian team in the playoffs this year, it looks really promising for the Cup to stay right where it’s been for quite some time now…in the USA, USA, USA!!!
“As for KFAN… Once Chad Hartman was canned, I find NO reason to listen to that dribble.”
I usually agree with your posts, but I couldn’t disagree with this statement more.
Little Sid was a talk show host who talked too much. Didn’t think that was possible but he pulled it off.
Geno,
Funny story I read on PuckDaddy, after the Nucks swept the Blues in the first round one of the Vancouver papers put together a contest. Plan the stanley cup parade route. Some Rangers fans went to Map Quest copied the Vancouver streets and used it to spell out “1994″. Nice!
Flames probably would not have sacrificed their future for a playoff run this year, if they had known that they were going to be hit with the injury bug. You make those trades when you are going for it, but sometimes you have bad luck. Since the bad luck was suffered by Kennan, Bertuzzi and Phaneuf I’m fine with it.
Nick in New York says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am
So, I looked at the past 15 champions for MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA men’s football and basketball (D1).
here’s how the championships breakout by state:
AZ 2
CA 9
CO 4
CT 2
FL 12
GA 1
IL 4
IN 1
KS 1
KY 2
LA 1
MA 6
MD 2
MI 7
MO 2
NC 4
NE 2
NJ 3
NY 7
OH 1
OK 1
PA 3
TN 1
TX 9
WI 1
————
No NCAA hockey?
Geno says:
April 28th, 2009 at 11:12 am
DB @ 7:52: I agree with you on the TC “media”. It is pretty sad indeed. I quit listening to the KQ Morning Show a long time ago, mostly because Tom Bernard is such a total idiot. It’s insulting to listen to him babble about stuff he has absolutely NO clue on whatsoever.
Sanny is only a small step above Ruesse and Souhan in the second-guessing, rip-on-everything, know-very-little-about-anything crowd, especially where hockey is concerned.
As for KFAN… Once Chad Hartman was canned, I find NO reason to listen to that dribble. DB is PAINFUL to the ears, and Cole is….well, Dee-Dee-Dee.
Some great hockey on tap for tonight. I’m pulling for the Caps and Canes to win out. Glad to see the Hawks win last night and douse the Matchsticks. Ya gotta feel for Sharks fans though. And why did it have to be those freakin’ Quackers!!?? Man, I HATE that team.
In the West, I think that the Quackers have virtually no chance against the Wings, that is unless Osgood does what pretty much everyone has predicted, and that is turn into a total sieve at some point. Detroit is really hitting their stride right now and will probably blow right past the Fowl. The Nucks will have their hands full with the young Hawks, and I think that if CHG gets one win in the first two games in Van, they win the series in six.
One other little tidbit…. With the Nucks being the last Canadian team in the playoffs this year, it looks really promising for the Cup to stay right where it’s been for quite some time now…in the USA, USA, USA!!!
————
Agree on everything except Sid’s kid. This town has way too many sour old sports guys who don’t do their homework and prefer to rip everything without any first hand knowledge.
Injuries to the defense indeed did the Flames in. That also cost them the division. Regehr was out, Sarich and Phaneuf played hurt. Mikka went flat. The Hawks did a great job of shutting down Iginla and nobody else rose to challenge. Jokinen showed brief spurts, but as I mentioned before, I am not disappointed the Wild lost out on him.
That TooL photo come out of police booking?
I can see just the west going just about any way with the 4 left. Hard to stomach success on the west coast however.
Kind of fun watching Thornton pummel Getzlaf.
Sanny’s hardly worth the time of day to read/listen to anymore. He used to have some cred, but he has been mostly a hanger on the last few years.
I hear what you’re saying Pewter. A lot of folks felt that way about CH. I just found him less irritating than guys like DB or Cole. DB is insultingly bad, and his arse-kissing sidekick is even worse, IMHO.
That is pretty good Lucky. LOL.
Here’s one for ya….
In 2006, my lovely gal and I were down at TRHCP to watch game 7 of the Canes-Oil series. We were rooting for and cheering on the Canes that whole series. Most of the rest of the crowd that night was in Oil garb and cheering for EDM. Near the end of the game, some guy dressed in an Oil jersey stops on his way to the bathroom and starts giving us s**t about cheering for the Canes. He said something like…”Just can’t believe you’re cheering for CAR. The Oilers are in your Division and are the team from the West.” We politley had to remind him where the Stanley Cup had resided for the previous 10+ years and told him that that is where we’d like to see it stay. He just gave us a “small man’s look” and walked away mumbling to himself. We still get a kick out of that and talk about it every year when we go out to watch a game somewhere.
As much as I like hockey, Geno, Div. I college hockey is not a major sport.
Sorry - guess that comment was meant for Derek, not Geno.
A couple of things:
One, I don’t think you can look at the Flames as an example of deadline trades not being all they’re cracked up to be and a defense of Risebrough sitting on his butt every year. Pittsburgh, Anaheim and Chicago all made moves that seem to be paying off. Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t. Some moves are better than others. One thing though, is that when you make a move, it at least sends a message to the players that you’re doing what you can to help.
Secondly, Ducks-Wings should be a very interesting series. Say what you will about them, but the Ducks are playing very well right now. Admittedly the Sharks kind of fizzled in the playoffs again, and Detroit looks to be clicking, but it will be interesting to see if Detroit’s firepower can crack the Duck’s tight checking and counter punching, and if Detroit can handle the Getzlaf line. The Sharks could not.
Agree on everything except Sid’s kid. This town has way too many sour old sports guys who don’t do their homework and prefer to rip everything without any first hand knowledge.
+1 except he did seem to know a lot about movies and TV shows - maybe his next job will be on Entertainment Tonight.
—Just another reason why the Twin Cities sports media is a collective joke—
Ahh. Hyperbole. The life raft of amateur journalists.
Great news about the Aeros! Hey they continue their season.
Any thoughts on the eastern conference playoff games? NJ or CAR? NYR or WAS?
Stoned: Having been a sorts reporter in this area for 17 years, I know first hand how lazy reporters/columnists are. Every sports outlet in the metro, whether it be talk shows or TV shows or sports columnists, should be able to hold a discussion on all 4 major professional sports. This area can not boast such a claim.
Any thoughts on the eastern conference playoff games? NJ or CAR? NYR or WAS?
When WAS is up 4-0 after 2 I hope Vs. switches to the Devils game
M O3: Canes and Caps tonight so NBC get’s their wet-dream of a matchup in STK and AO.
The winner of the series becomes the Wild’s next GM.
I sure hope not. Wild are doomed if that happens.
Injuries to the defense indeed did the Flames in
isn’t this excuse grabbing?
excuse grabbing
Main Entry: grab
Pronunciation: \ˈgrab\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): grabbed; grab·bing
Etymology: obsolete DR or TooL grabben
Date: circa 2000
transitive verb
1: to mange expectations lower in a sudden motion or grasp
2: to manage unscrupulously
3: to avoid responsibility hastily
4: to put the GM in a favorably light and deeply blame the players
sgs & db: thanks. sometimes one wonder sif things are rigged esp if stk vs ao matchup happens this year.
Michae covered this on a Russo Radio segment, but darn if I can remember what he said for favorites from each conference. (Michael - I was listening, really.)
Michael aka the Don, not Michae (yeesh)
Did you guys know that the Flames have been bounced out of the first round 4 years straight?
Interesting how Sunshine didn’t get the same snarky reminder from Six Finger Slut about how we are not supposed to post “obvious” data like scores or results on here.
I find it even more interesting how you didn’t show up to “alert” us to the end of the Wings, Hawks, Pens or Ducks series. For me, the end of a series is “breaking news” while a 4 year trend is analysis. Anyway Alan, your break from the SC parade committee must be up, see ya soon.
I think no snarky reminders when we are enjoying Keenan’s pain.
SGS @ 3:05…
That one NEEDS to go into the Russoville HoF!!!
Alan…begone, just like your so called hockey team in round 2.
When I am asked whom I would like to see raise the Cup in victory, I say ABV.
—Every sports outlet in the metro, whether it be talk shows or TV shows or sports columnists, should be able to hold a discussion on all 4 major professional sports. This area can not boast such a claim.—
Like Henry Ford said, “I don’t need to know all the answers. I just need to know where to find them.”
The fact that every sports person is not an expert on each of the four major sports much less all of the others at the various levels means nothing. Barreiro doesn’t need to be a hockey expert when he can bring in Louie, ie. I agree that Sanny not being able to pronounce Vezina correctly damages his credibility, but it doesn’t mean the entire MN sports media community is inept. Its not. It is one of the top 20 markets in the country and the level of talent is on par with that.
—Stoned: Having been a sorts reporter in this area for 17 years……—-
You don’t have to convince me. I was impressed the minute I saw you deftly and poetically weave terms like “wet phart” & “turd” into your hockey dissertations. Nothing lazy about that.
For me, the end of a series is “breaking news” while a 4 year trend is analysis.
So you make up the rules as you go along, then?
Hey, if I want to post the Qualifying Round Results of the Burmese Women’s Lawn Darts Championships, in real time, as they happen, I will, because I don’t think there are any rules against it.
Bye!
Rangoon 1
Mandalay 0
Crud, I’m on the hockey blog while listening to the baseball game…
Still can’t believe that the Rangers inmploded so badly. Now… someone do something about those pesky Nucks.
Michael - any updates on the upper body, lower body rehab on the surgical “B” ward?
score updates on the two game 7s?
ATX: how is the week? Do you have buddies that already work there?
score updates on the two game 7s?
canes just tied it at 3 with 1:31 left in reg
update:
canes just score to go up by 1 with 31.7 left in reg
Anyone know why the hell the Devils/Canes game isn’t on anywhere!?!?!
would have though that vs would have picked up the end of that game
Yeah M 03, I lke it a lot so far. I have a nice desk setup and everything. I do know a few guys there. About 5 dudes from the last place I worked. I can’t talk about what I am working on because I am under a NDA… but I can say I think it will be a really cool game when it’s all said and done.
Looks like Caps and Canes moved on from the 7’s.
Wow - Canes win, 4-3 - we didn’t need Olli Jokinen, we needed Jussi Jokinen
G*, Versus said due to contractual obligations they couldn’t air the game…only problem was it wasn’t on CI, not on NHLN, nowhere. The ending of that game must have been unbelievable to watch. MF’er
I beat Alan with this scoop - Canes win their series, Capitals win their series.
Oh, and JL to coach NJ next year
Lemmi - I had it on CI…it was on one of the MLB package channels.
Unreal finish. The Devils were absolutely cruising.
Greenstar: thank you for the updates. This afternoon, the two NHL game 7s were even mentioned on espn’s around the horn; yeah it was quick, but the guys discussed it. Woody Paige cracks me up. His sign board said “Brunette is the new blond” of course my brain was thinking Andrew Brunette….
I had it on CI all night, carolina HD feed
I had the Devils feed, and I thought Emerick and Chico did an outstanding job of being impartial and professional.
wonder what contract obligations…i hope it wasn’t to show sports soup
last night they showed the csn feed of the sharks game.
carolina was the only one in HD, hence my choice. was given both SD feeds
it was weird because I get the MSG-HD channel as part of my local programming, but it wasn’t on it. Instead, I had it on CI, but it was the SD feed. Oh well.
Rolston’s shot to put the Devs up 32 was pretty sick. That man can shoot the puck.
thanks all = go figure. the canes were limping along towards the end of the regular season.
ATX: wooh! You sound happy and a whole bunch of well deserved sunshine as brightened up your world. now if some team could take care of the nuks for you…
i had heard that msg had a contract dispute with NHL on HD feeds and CI.
Thanks M 03. It does feel good.
Unbelievable! Just unbelievable series all around there. I was absolutely shocked though.
Is that the sound of millions of TV’s being turned off in the NY/NJ markets? And one Canadian team left. Not that it won’t be good hockey.
Tough way for the Devils to hit the links. There’s a minute 31 and 2 tenths that will dog them the rest of their careers. A whole team of Billy Buckners. Including those near and dear to us: Parise, Zajac, Martin, Langenbrunner and Huggy Bear. Kind of takes the bloom of Brodeur’s rose too.
“off Brodeur’s” would work there also.
Just reading McKenzie on tsn.ca. Did you know that since winning the Cup in ‘89, the Flames have only advanced out of the first round ONCE - in 20 years!
Trade deadline deals don’t work? By gollie, I guess the Pens shouldn’t have traded for Hossa last year or the Wings shouldn’t have traded for one of their defensemen at the deadline
Sorry all, I looked through the MLB channels and nada…maybe if the game was mislabeled as a MLB game I easily missed it.
Is anyone going to scream that the playoffs are fixed since the Canes came back and now we have a AO/STK series?
How about the last 2 cup winners going against each other in a series? Wings/Ducks?
Myself, I’d like to see a Hawks/Bruins or Hawks/Caps Final.
Yes, the Devils game was on CI…The Rock sounded like a tomb when Staal scored.
Sorry I’m a little late to the Flames discussion. Jokinen was supposed to be the big missing piece, but they finished the regular season 8-11 with him, losing the division title, then 2-4 in the playoffs.
Granted, the Regher injury was huge, but the Jokinen deal was made because this was THE year they were supposed to make a run. They have $37.4 million* tied up in their top six skaters and Kipper next year, and have UFAs in Cammalleri, Aucoin and Warrener. They are hamstrung by the cap and are likely to lose their 39-goal scorer. This was their window, and they didn’t even win three games.
(*For comparison, the Wild’s top six skater salaries plus goalie total $29 million next year.)
Hockeydad says:
April 28th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Just reading McKenzie on tsn.ca. Did you know that since winning the Cup in ‘89, the Flames have only advanced out of the first round ONCE - in 20 years!
Umm… that’s not quite right. Didn’t they lose in the finals to TBL in ‘04?
Wait, no, I get it now - once in 20 years, not counting ‘89 - so shouldn’t it be once in 19 years?
Yesterday there was discussion here about the twin cities sports media treating hockey like a second-class citizen. Now, Russo’s very own Strib is doing the same. If you will take your hard copy of today’s edition out you will notice it has a photo of Jokinen scoring a goal against the Devils. The caption even states that it is from last night: The Hurricanes’ Jussi Jokinen, right, snapped a shot past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur as defenseman Colin White looked on in Carolina’s come-from-behind 4-3 victory Tuesday night.
Uh, if you’re gonna use a stock photo for the sports page that’s fine, but to pass it off as though it was from the actual game is bad journalism. Unless, of course, you could explain how the Canes had their home red jerseys on when Jokinen scored, but the white road jerseys for the rest of the game.
I know this is picking nits, but do you think the paper would use a stock photo of an NFL playoff game? Or, game 7 of a Red Sox/Yankees playoff series?
I guess the Pens shouldn’t have traded for Hossa last year
they didn’t win the cup so one could argue that it was a failure.
i think the only thing that can be deduced from the exits this year is one must exercise caution with deadline deals. they are a gamble and one that will not produce the desired results far more that they will. doesn’t make them wrong just makes them risky.
doesn’t make them wrong just makes them risky.
damn, you mean there’s a whole risk/reward thing in hockey too?
I agree with the risk/reward sentiment, but taking the “risk” once and a while doesn’t have to mean the 10-year death of the franchise, unless of course Mike Lynn has taken over as GM of some pro hockey team.
What was riskier when trying to do something in the playoffs - paying more than the Capitals second round college prospect (I believe) for Fedorov last year or replacing Walz by waiving Dominic Moore and using a grumpy Demo at center?
McPhee’s move to get the cradle robber was brilliant. With their stable of young Russians, and with the relative lack of downside, just a great move.
Here’s hoping the Don has a chance to toss a new snack up there…that picture of Lynn is starting to creep me out. I swear the eyes are following me….
I haven’t seen the TV schedule yet, but does anybody know if Versus or NBC is going to televise any of the Wash/Pitt series?
(no need to respond, as I assume the level of sarcasm was evident)
Myself, I’d like to see a Hawks/Bruins or Hawks/Caps Final.
+1
If the Ducks somehow make it to the finals, or the Nucks for that matter, I think I might throwup all over my nice tv. I am pretty much okay with anyone else going. If the Wings make it to the finals again I hope the East wins.
Rangoon 1
Mandalay 0
I knew Rangoon would give Mandalay a beat down.
I don’t get the issues with Pittsburgh being on national TV all the time.
First, isn’t it better than the Rangers?
Second, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that’s paying attention that the networks try to figure out which team locks in the most viewers and then promotes the heck outta them - especially with a sport like hockey that gets crappy ratings to begin with.
Third, the Pens are a good, young, exciting team with marketable stars.
Fourth, their games are in “prime time.”
Fifth, it smacks, frankly, of jealousy and an inferiority complex to be worried about it at all, but particularly when your own team can’t find it’s butt with both hands and a flashlight.
Seriously, isn’t there something more interesting to kvetch about?
I knew Rangoon would give Mandalay a beat down.
Can that really be classified as a ‘beat down’? Rangoon only had a single scoring chance. Granted, Mandalay had no scoring chances, but the dreaded ‘left handed toss circle trap’ will do that.
I bet that score would have been 17-13 before Lemaire started coaching.
NiNY…I posted some mp3 clips on the band’s new site. First gig and we did a little recording. Quality isn’t the best, but you get an idea of our new singer’s pipes.
I like to kid about NBC but anyone that can help with promoting the NHL to the masses is ok with me.
Besides, I REALLY want to see Pens v Caps.
‘left handed toss circle trap’
which i’d like to add is a remarkable feat in a ladies game.
isn’t there something more interesting to kvetch about?
swine flu
GDP down 6%
the justification for brashears 6 game suspension
pending stress test results
the set lists from a month of springsteen concerts
in the end i don’t think it is that STK is on the networks but it appears, according to the networks, that STK is the NHL. No player is bigger than the game.
Second Round schedule released!
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420555&intcmpid=tckr
No player is bigger than the game.
I think that is where the animosity lies. Alex O is better in every way than STK and he deserves the attention. Of course there is the fact that he looks like Lurch, and STK looks like one of the Brady Bunch.
in the end i don’t think it is that STK is on the networks but it appears, according to the networks, that STK is the NHL. No player is bigger than the game.
I think this is probably true. But, really, WGAS? if the Wild, for example, had a player that was more marketable and at least in the discussion of comparably talented to STK, EM or AO, and we were getting the shaft (vis-a-vis national TV) then that might be one thing. But, considering we A) don’t and B) still managed to appear on “national TV” 7 times this season, I’m not sure Wild fans are in a position to complain about this.
NiNY has it correctly summarized. Just like the NBA promoted the heck out of the Magic-Bird rivalry, the TV networks and the NHL have a marketable commodity in STK and also in Alex O and so they will market that because it will draw more viewers. They are in a business after all. And, no question the casual viewer will be more likely to watch that match-up or any STK game. That could end up building more interest in hockey whihc would benefit all of us.
The fact that the Wild was on “national TV” 7 times this year has nothing to do with the fact that many have grown weary with the League force-feeding viewers that STK is the League itself. It’s got nothing to do with jealousy, or any kind of an insecurity. Just the fact that the League is promoting a player as the top in the League when he isn’t even the top player on his own team.
Geez, you type that you have grown tired of STK commercials and TV spots and people think you have compared him to Matt Cooke or Sean Avery.
Speaking of television, does anyone know if there is any TV coverage anywhere of the AHL playoffs?
Deep: the sooner you get it through your head that it is not you to whom the league is marketing/force feeding anyone or anything, the happier you’ll be.
Or, in your case, the happier you’ll have the chance to be.
Is it safe to come out of hiding? I don’t like the picture of Lynn at the top, I feel like I did something wrong and am now answering to the overly stern principle. Boss Ladies out of town so I may be able to visit more often (the Mr’s been hogging the laptop at home so my computer time is limited).
Ok so of the series that are starting… don’t care who wins the Canes/Bruins (although like Timmy so go Bruins I guess). But soooo want the Caps to just crush the Pens. Detroilet should have no problem getting rid of the Fowl. And For the first time as a hockey fan I’m going to say go Blackhawks (the tiny itsy bitsy vestige of N* fan I had just ran screaming).
Oh and ATX congrats on the new jobage, now find me one.
Oh and ATX congrats on the new jobage, now find me one.
Thanks! I’ll get right on that!
NiNY: As long as I am watching TV, it is, in fact, me they are force feeding. Just as it is everyone else whom happens to watch any of the commercials, promos. I have always beleived that the NHL will never be a “national” sport for variouis reasons, but it could be a great “regional” sport. If there is some potential/fringe hockey fans in say Detroit, do you think they would be more apt to watch if they saw a commercial with Zetterberg in it, or STK? The League needs to do a better job of marketing itself regionally because it just isn’t going to have the draw power nationally as the other sports.
“Can that really be classified as a ‘beat down’? Rangoon only had a single scoring chance. Granted, Mandalay had no scoring chances, but the dreaded ‘left handed toss circle trap’ will do that.”
The score doesn’t reflect the true nature of the match. Rangoon dominated the play from beginning to end.
Re: 6.1% GDP drop. The second largest GDP drop in it’s 26 year history (6.3% Q4 2008 the only quarter with a bigger drop) and the Dow is up ~2%. WTF? I’ve got a better chance of understanding Mandalay’s defensive scheme than figuring out this market.
Depp, the problem is that you are in the distinct minority of the TV audience. STK is marketable and both TV and the NHL know it. It is smart of them to market the heck out of him and the matchup between the Pens and Caps is a dream match up for them. And whatever you think of STK, he is a heckuva player.
NiNY: As long as I am watching TV, it is, in fact, me they are force feeding. Just as it is everyone else whom happens to watch any of the commercials, promos. I have always beleived that the NHL will never be a “national” sport for variouis reasons, but it could be a great “regional” sport. If there is some potential/fringe hockey fans in say Detroit, do you think they would be more apt to watch if they saw a commercial with Zetterberg in it, or STK? The League needs to do a better job of marketing itself regionally because it just isn’t going to have the draw power nationally as the other sports.
Ok, force feeding, fine. I’ll give you that.
But the league doesn’t need to do any marketing regionally because that’s where it’s strongest already. The league already exists as an almost-exlusively regional sport (ex-Canada.)
To that potential/fringe hockey fan in Detroit, I think a much more powerful marketing tool than whether or not STK is on every week on NBC is the potential/fringe hockey fan in Detroit’s buddies who are already Red Wings fans and the commercials with Datsyuk shilling for the local fast food borscht joint on TV and all the Red Wings gear for sale in the sporting goods stores.
Now, I happen to agree with you that the league would be much happier if it just accepts that it will never be a national league on par with the NFL and MLB.
But Bettman can’t go to his bosses (the owners) and, in effect, tell them “Sorry, you’ll never make the kind of money with this that your brothers that own baseball or football franchises will make….” until he no longer wishes to remain employed as the Commish.
Good catch DB on the Strib photo from today’s hard edition. It got past me as well until reading your post. Also, when you look at the TV replys on ESPN it sure looks like JJ was between the faceoff dot and the bottom of the circle when he took the shot, not in-close like the Strib photo shows. Hummmm……
The second round sure looks to be some good hockey in the making both in the East and the West. Personally, from the East I really don’t care who advances to the Finals now, I just want to watch some exciting games the rest of the way. I guess I may lean a little towards CAR, or maybe Boston.
In the West, it’s the Blackhawks all the way, baby!! As I’ve said already, there is NO way I can dislike two teams more than I do the Quackers or the Nucks, and I’m just sick of seeing the Wings win over and over, so it’s CHG for me.
I still am chuckling over Lucky’s mention of that “plan the parade route” thing in VAN. I sure hope all this down time has taken any steam the Nucks may have had in the 1st Round right out of them. With a little luck the Hawks will skate right on past them. If that happens it’ll be time to turn out the lights north of the border and go “sleepy time” until next October. 
Why am I craving chicken fingers from the BK down the street? Perhaps it was the smell of french fries in the air when I went to the other building a little while ago…
Food from the Don!
