Quick Takes From The NHL’s Opening Night; N&O Makes Travel Plans
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 2, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
10 comments
The results from hockey's opening night are in, and the popular topic is how good the Capitals looked in their win over the Bruins, who didn't look so good.
But let's consider last night's game for a moment. Yes, Washington took control early and walked away with an easy 4-1 win, but I thought the opening moments of the game leaned toward the B's. At the same time, I was surprised to see Boston basically close up shop after Brooks Laich scored the opening goal, deflating both the Bruins and the hometown crowd. The final assessment? It's one game out of 82. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.
- The Montreal-Toronto game was the best of the night, with the Habs coming out on top in overtime courtesy a Josh Gorges goal. It was a two-point night for Gorges, who had only two such night last season and 23 points for the year. Good thing, too, because Montreal will need him to step up his play. No. 1 defensemen Andrei Markov is out three to four months after surgery was performed following a tendon injury in last night's game (no one seems to specifying it it's a knee or ankle tendon). It's a huge blow to the Habs, specifically because they have struggled on the power play since letting Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit leave via free agency in consecutive seasons.
- How about them Avs? Either the youngsters in Colorado don't know they're supposed to lose, or the jersey retirement ceremony for Joe Sakic inspired them to victory. Regardless, not many people expected the Sharks — debuting their latest acquisition, Dany Heatley — to get punked by the expected NHL doormats in Colorado. One good thing out of San Jose: stripped captain Patrick Marleau had both of the Sharks' goals and looked good. From this seat, Marleau has gotten a bum rap from the higher-ups in San Jose, so it's good to see him playing well to start the year. Heatley, on the other hand, looked out of sorts and finished with a minus-3 with three shots on net.
- The Brent Sutter era got off to a good start in Calgary with the Flames knocking off Vancouver 5-3. While Miika Kiprusoff did outplay Roberto Luongo head to head, don't pin this loss on the Canucks' goalie. The Flames got an early lead on two power play goals and the Canucks never could settle into their game.
- The puck drops soon in Scandinavia, with Florida and Chicago facing off at noon in Helsinki, Finland, and St. Louis and Detroit dropping the puck at 3 p.m. in Stockholm, Sweden. You couldn't pick a better team than Detroit to play in Stockholm, given all the Swedes on the Wings' roster, but who picked the Blackhawks and Panthers to go to Finland? Panthers defenseman Ville Koistinen is the only Finn set to play in the game. Surely there was a better choice (hint, Carolina, hint).
- News & Observer assistant sports editor Steve Ruinsky got back to me after I e-mailed him about the newspaper's planned coverage of the Canes this season. He confirmed that tomorrow's Hurricanes game in Boston would be staffed (presumably by beat writer Chip Alexander), but that they're "still working on how many games we'll go to overall." In February the N&O stopped traveling with the Canes for road games, but resumed with the regular season finale at Boston leading up to the postseason. They then covered the team both at home and on the road throughout their run to the Eastern Conference finals. We'll have to take a wait-and-see approach to the N&O's long-term plan for hockey coverage.
0 recs |
10 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Cross-the-pond-hockey
I’m glad Carolina isn’t playing in Europe this year. I hope they never do.
Mainly for the jet-lag and physical effects that traveling like that have on a body.
I’d just rather not start off a step behind.
Absolutely.
There is no possible way that’s a positive for overall play and flow.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I wish AO was a Caniac. He was on fire last night, again.
If he keeps playing like he did last night (I think we all know he will), then I think we’re a shoo in for 2nd in the SE. I have a love/hate for AO, but he is fun to watch play most of the time. I hate him when he tries to injure players and gets away with it, otherwise he is what hockey is all about today. I love it more when we show him something like we did in our last game against the Caps last season. Hopefully we will repeat that again.
Now is this the same AO that our AHL’s are going to be ready to play against next season and show him something? If they can concur him, they can concur any player.
C
Concur?
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Montreal vs Toronto
Hands down the best game of opening night. I just kept wondering throughout…is this a really great game between two really good teams? Or its this a really good game between two evenly matched also-rans. Only time will tell, But regardless, I always love watching the Leafs and the Habs play one another.
Tough blow to the Habs in losing Markov.
Stalberg looks like the real deal for Toronto.
Komisarek had 5 penalties against his former club.
And the tying goal was scored with him in the box.
I’m all about passion, but c’mon.
The Calgary/Vancouver game, while sloppy at times was played at an incredible pace. New CBC commentator Kevin Weekes (Shady 80) even mentioned early on that he was shocked at the playoff-like intensity for an opening game. I think it’s a safe bet, both of these teams will have a strong say in how the West is won.
The Caps and Bruins also went at it pretty hard from the puck drop, with, I agree, Boston seemingly dictating play early on. But after Washington’s first goal at the end of the 1st period, the Bruins just came out flat for most of the next two periods. Offensively, Washington is a beast, but for most of that game the Bruins did not seem to put up much of a fight.
San Jose was flat throughout. Completely uninspired. An awful debut for Heatley. Anderson looked stout in goal for the Avs. And he is going to have to be.
It sure is great to have hockey back.
-m
I was surprised to see Boston basically close up shop after Brooks Laich scored the opening goal, deflating both the Bruins and the hometown crowd. The final assessment? It’s one game out of 82. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Calling a spade a spade is not getting far ahead of oneself. Say what you want through your hurricanes tinted glasses, last night the caps were rolling. And i have a feeling they are going to the entire season. So let’s worry about what’s more important and that’s the canes winning games and not getting too far behind in the standing – statarting with game one out of 82..
I wasn’t talking about just the Caps, I was talking about both teams. The Caps won’t play that well every night, the B’s won’t play that poorly. This hurricane-tinted vision picked the Caps to win the division. So …… ?
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 2, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Christ, shut up and go away.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
