Eric Staal Says, "Choose Me!": Hurricanes 6, Caps 3
by Bob Wage on Dec 28, 2009 11:52 PM EST
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PrintWith less than two days before Team Canada announces their roster for the Olympics, Eric Staal put in his best performance of the season as he knocked in two goals and had three assists while helping the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Washington Capitals, 6-3 Monday night at the Verizon Center.
It has been reported that Staal is "on the bubble" regarding making Team Canada, but he certainly did his best in this game to change anyone's mind who felt that he might not be worthy of selection. Most notably, he was able to accomplish these numbers against Russian superstars, Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. Team Russia could very well be Canada's toughest competition in the upcoming tournament.
The Canes came out as a team and out-skated Washington from the drop of the puck as they racked up 10 shots on goal in the opening period while jumping to a 3-0 lead. The Caps only mustered four shots in that period as most of the action was in the home team's end.
Tuomo Ruutu opened the scoring as he knocked in a rebound off of an Eric Staal shot. The clock was winding down, but the team was finally able to take advantage of a 5-on-3 opportunity for their first such goal of the year. There were just four clicks left in the advantage which was originally for a full two minutes because of a four minute high sticking call on Nicklas Backstrom and a hooking call on Mike Green just a minute later.
Halfway through the period, Staal buried his first goal when he knocked a puck out of mid-air past Jose Theodore. Matt Cullen and Jussi Jokinen earned the assists as the new lethal line thrown together at the end of the Philadelphia game continued to do damage.
Jokinen would finish the scoring in the period when he jumped on a loose puck in the slot and roofed it over the Caps goalie, making it 3-0.
But you just had to know that Washington was not going to fade away easily.
Washington opened up the second period with a powerplay goal by Mike Green, but Brandon Sutter answered that goal just two minutes later when he knocked the puck in on a bang bang play after a faceoff in the Washington zone.
Sutter had a great all around game and battled hard in his own zone all night long.
Washington would score again, this time on a fluke play as Andrew Alberts tried to scoop the puck toward his own net. Cam Ward never saw it and the puck went right into the net, making the score 4-2. The Caps would score another powerplay goal opening the third period, making it 4-3 as Ovechkin rifled one home, but Sergei Samsonov battled hard at the end of a powerplay for Carolina and knocked in his own rebound, after receiving a pass from Staal.
Staal would then score on an empty-netter as he matched his career high point total for a single game. He notched six points in a contest against Tampa Bay last season.
The win was just the second of the season on the road for the Hurricanes and it was the first loss to a Southeast Division rival so far this year for Washington.
Game Notes:
- It should be noted that the Caps were probably still in a bit of shock over the recent news of trading captain Chris Clark to Columbus. They did not look like themselves in the first period.
- After blocking just six shots on Saturday night, the Canes blocked 24 shots against the Caps. Tim Gleason led the way with five and Joni Pitkanen had four.
- Pitkanen led the Canes with 29:09 of TOI. He also finished with a +2, even though he did not score any points.
- Carolina had 18 hits led by Andrew Alberts, Aaron Ward, and Eric Staal with three each.
- The team had 26 shots on goal led by Tuomo Ruutu with five. Staal, Sutter, and Samsonov had four each. Alex Ovechkin led both teams with eight.
- Carolina won 56% of faceoffs as Matt Cullen finished at 63%, (15-24) and Brandon Sutter had 59%, (10-17).
- Rod Brind`Amour had a -1 with just over four minutes of ice time. That gives him a season total of -22.
Next up will be the first game of a home and home matchup with the Rangers on New Year's Eve.
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Love the headline, boss. LMAO.
(I was thinking around his 4th point: Who exactly are you and what have you done with Eric Staal?)
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by Carolyn Christians on Dec 29, 2009 12:00 AM EST reply actions
all the headline really needed to say was
“holy shit!”
You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning
not in here much this season.......
Well I got tired of the pessimism so i’m not in here as much this season but I AM HAPPY we got a win and a chance to see a all 3 Staal brothers in the Olympics….. Let’s hope this is a start of something good…………………….
All I have to say is -——-where has THIS team been all season?
60 minutes of solid hockey
All hands on deck
Wardo and Staal looking back to form
Sutter, the Finns, Cully and Gleason continue strong
Top team underestimates the strength of the Hurricane blowing in
We send the message “don’t mess with Timmy and Joe!”
Great game! GO CANES
GO CANES! Go Heels!
Awesome game! Thank you canescountry for the live thread (as always), I didnt post, but enjoyed reading all the comments while listening to Chuck through 99.9 the fan on the internet.
by PittsburghCaniac on Dec 29, 2009 3:16 AM EST reply actions
Haven't checked..but
Didn’t Staal pick up 6 points against tampa last year? 4goals and 2 assists?
by staalgood on Dec 29, 2009 4:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Yep, 3/7/09 in a 9-3 win against the Lightning.
SISU
by Jamie Kellner on Dec 29, 2009 9:12 AM EST up reply actions
Eric Staal Says, "Choose Me!
reminds me of this episode of Grey’s Anatomy, LMAO!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V2NyPVzeBI
But seriously GREAT GAME!!! Glad to see Staaly have a great night!!! and TImmy make it out unsccathed!! I cringed every time he was on the ice with AO!!! And really?? F****king A WARD with 18:29 TOI? WHY?? Had a great night with the CC ladies @ The Backyard Bistro, missed all who weren’t able to join!! Cyn4canes thanks for my new Timmy button, you are awesome!!!
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Glad I watched it.
A couple of those Caps goals were really soft – I think CWard had trouble finding the puck at times.
Brindy with just 4 minutes of TOI? My god, that’s like Jesse Boulerice TOI.
one of those was due to A Wards FAT HEAD in the way, he couldn’t see the darn puck!
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
I was screaming invectives at the tv as A. Ward was on planet zeno again and was seeing butterflies and zebras and ferris wheels rather than thinking about hockey. Meanwhile I think A. Ward might have even kicked the puck through Cam Ward’s pads. I need to go look at the video again.
It is amazing how often A. Ward and Wallin have the puck at their feet directly in front of the net and can’t react in time. Compare their reaction times and stick control to Sutter’s. Sutter is mentally well ahead of the play and sweeps the puck out or takes it and trucks down to the offensive zone. A. Ward and Wallin act like cartoons of elephants seeing a mouse at their feet. Another comic moment graciously provided by A. Ward.
I am still not over his TOI from that game, REALLY?? WTF is MO thinking??
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
A Ward, again I'll defend him, was jobbed.....
the Craps player did a great job at diving and acting.
Can’t blame him for that other than being the victim.
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
you can defend him all you want but he was on the ice for all 3 Caps goals, nuff said.
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Alberts kicked one in.....
and I thought he was in the sin bin on dubious charges for another?
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
one was a power play when Eric was in the sin bin?
so I’d say that only 1 goal he can be blame and I have to see who was guarding whom.
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
NHL On the Fly
It’s Eric Staal love-fest on NHL Network after the game last night. They all want this guy to be great and are loving this story about the game. I was watching the highlights and his steal from his knees off Ovechkin’s stick in the neutral zone which resulted in the ENG showed more chutz-pah than I’ve seen him do ever. EVER! (maybe the winning goal in Game 7 vs Brodeur might beat it.)
And here’s what Wysh just put up;
That’s why Eric Staal(notes) has been slowly inching off the bubble since his return from injury. He doesn’t have Richards’s Olympic experience, but he does have a 6-foot-4 frame that could be valuable up the middle on an NHL-size ice surface. We’d expect he’ll snag one of the three remaining slots.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by Carolyn Christians on Dec 29, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
The problem with Staal
He has moments of absolute brilliance but they nearly all of have been the result of some sort of real adversity, other than the Cup season, though one could argue the teams continued existence in this market was at stake then. He played his best sustained games after Brindy blew up his knee and has always been a playoff beast, the playoffs being the mother of all adversity. As shown last night when he is up against a wall, and has something to prove, he brings it.
Maybe the young master would perform better in a market where the fans were better educated about the game and instead of giving him a free pass and, by any large, love him with few conditions, the fans rode him and called him out for his lack of fulfilling his potential. Maybe Mr Staal responds better to negative feedback and questioning of his ability?
In any case, he is being paid commiserate to his potential, hopefully this half season of sucktitude, injury, and ill performance will give him a permanent chip on his shoulder and motivation to be the guy he is some of the time ALL OF THE TIME going forward.
it always burns within
the downward spiral never ends
when driven into sin
your salvation's found in a sinner's deed
by Douchebag St John on Dec 29, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
Following the System and Keys to Success
The team we saw tonight wasn’t that far removed from the Hurricanes team that arrived on the ice for the first regular season game. The differences have to do more with players understanding the system and putting players where their skill sets and mind sets enhance their success.
The keys have been there; and it took Maurice/Francis/Rowe some time to accept the reality on the ice and it took time for the players to accept their roles. The keys from the start were:
1. Get Brind’Amour off the ice as much as possible. (reasons long discussed and I won’t repeat);
2. Have three lines with power forwards on wings (Staal, Ruutu, Kostopoulos on wings);
3. Get Sutter up to Carolina and give him top line minutes (the results speak for themselves). Sutter is wired to win games and to give 100% and has an encyclopedic understanding of hockey.
4. Get forwards who want to crash the net and have the hands to finish in a position where they can do that: (1) Ruutu, (2) Sutter, (3) Jokinen
5. Give the Albany Rats time on ice on defense: (Carson plays intelligent hockey positionally and is comfortable with the Maurice system — watch his play in front of the net);
6. Reduce Aaron Ward’s time to a minimum (enough said);
7. Don’t play Aaron Ward and Wallin on the same line ever, for any reason, it is death to the defense to do so.
8. Put Sutter on the power play and put Jokinen, Ruutu, and Pitkanen on the power play as much as possible
9. Put Staal on the wing and turn him loose to be a scoring winger — look at the results and his ability to dominate a game from right wing under Maurice’s system (even when hurt).
it wasn’t hard to fathom from a hockey point of view, but the internal/team politics obviously were difficult and required diplomacy and tact. I would have steam-rolled ahead if it were me and made those changes sooner; but then again I have no consequences if I am proved dead wrong; whereas Maurice/Franics/Rowe/Rutherford could ruin the team’s locker room for several seasons to come if they mishandled the situation. Carolina has earned a reputation as being player friendly and that helps players want to come to Carolina to play hockey.
It has been very, very frustrating for me to watch the flop because the solutions seemed relatively painless and feasible. I hope the coaches, players, and management will stick with the plan. I hope as well that the fans can forgive and forget the first half of this season and enjoy great hockey when we see it.
Taylor Hall can’t come here soon enough and next season’s training camp is not that far away.
I agree with A Ward and Wallin not on the same lines.
They are stay at home defensemen. They work best with a fast attack style d-man.
A Ward has been playing much better as of late.
To me the main things for the Canes to do are:
1: Attack the net
2: Attack the net
3: Attack the net
If there’s a 4th thing then it’s for Mo not to play “prevent winning Mo-defense” but to have the players Attack the net
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
Attacking the Net
Maurice is all but begging the players not to back off their attack. I am convinced the push back was from some of the Laviolette-days veterans who were not buying in to Maurice’s system. Players who want to attack the net don’t need to be coerced into doing so.
I think it was a matter of putting players in their natural positions for the Maurice/Francis/Rowe system. They seem to be attacking the net more because players like Ruutu, Sutter, and Jokinen who not only want to attack the net, but know what to do with the puck around the net, are in position to score. Whitney is awesome, but this season he can’t put a puck in the back of the net on a rebound to save his life. Cullen, too, has missed perhaps twenty shots in close where he couldn’t lift the puck. Cullen is playing his best hockey in years; but the inside game isn’t his strength. Staal is immeasurably better when he can get the angles and when he isn’t expected to be a net presence.
It has taken time for the players and the coaches to get on the same page. It has also taken this long for the coaches and players to figure out how to configure the lines to get the most out of each player’s abilities. Maurice said it succinctly almost a month a half ago: It’s going to be a painful learning experience if the players won’t accept and follow the system." They didn’t and it was.
Wasn’t that Rod’s job in 06? Even with Lavi. Seems like that’s where he got some awesome clutch goals. He’s not there now at all….How could he end up -1 in 5 minutes. Really hard to watch such greatness go out like this.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by Carolyn Christians on Dec 29, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
It was Brind’Amour’s job in 2005-2006 and he was awesome. It is worth watching the videos of Brind’Amour in 2005-2006. He was as intense and fierce as Ruutu then. Now when he tries to go to the net, he falls over his own shadow. He has zero strength on his skates these days. He also has trouble tracking the puck with his eyes and his reaction time if off. He hasn’t converted a rebound since at least October 10th. Remember that Brind’Amour had only 3:39 seconds of equal strength time to earn his +/- -1. Deduct time when the puck was in the Washington defensive zone or the neutral zone during that 3:39 minutes; and realistically, it took Washington about 90 seconds to score when Brind’Amour was in the game.
I do understand the Brind’Amour hate, but this particular minus had absolutely nothing to do with his own performance.
He did happen to be on the ice when Washington’s only even strength goal (and therefore the only one eligible for minuses to be awarded) was scored. But, that was the goal that happened when Andrew Alberts inadvertently cleared the puck back to the goalie, but it went beneath Cam’s legs and into the net without him ever seeing it.
Fehr was the last Cap to have touched the puck, so was awarded the goal.
Brind’Amour was way out on the left side of the ice when this occurred. In addition to Alberts, this is also how Yelle, Dwyer, and A. Ward earned their minus.
True. It’s bad luck for Brind’Amour. I do think Aaron Ward lost track of the puck at his feet; but I’d have to go back and view the video to see where the puck was before it went to Alberts. I put that goal on Aaron Ward’s back more than Alberts. I was surprised Cam Ward lost sight of the puck, but it was a bizarre play and Aaron Ward was screening Cam Ward. I’ll be interested in seeing what was going on immediately before Alberts got the puck.
Secret minuses
Yes, Aaron was much closer to the play than any of the forwards, with both D-men packed back in on Cam.
Biggest “minuses” in my book, although not officially recorded as so on the scoresheets, are Aaron Ward and Eric Staal, each for personal penalties that led to power play goals while they sat in the box. So, Eric has the empty-netter zeroed out in my mind, for a still impressive +4. Aaron gets a -2 for not only being peripherally involved with the Alberts kick-in, but also for grabbing the stick that led to Ovechkin’s powerplay goal.
Eric, if we have not been clear enough from the Canes coaching staff, I’m sure the Canadian Olympic coaching staff will emphatically make this point to you. That stick off the ice reaching parallel into places it should not go has got to stop.
Two very personal fouls, two Washington Caps powerplay goals. Secret minuses.
Whoops! Guess Staal was a plus 4 instead of a plus 5, so my demerit system lowers him to a plus 3 (still not bad). Let’s also give some props to Jokinen for his untarnished plus 4.
By the way, my next favorite stat of the night belongs to Semin, with his team-leading minus 3 from last night. Nice work, contract boy! LOL!
Rewatched Fehr Goal
I watched the Fehr goal (or Alberts own goal) again several times. Brind’Amour is entirely innocent with regard to the goal. The forwards were in positioned properly. Alberts hit the puck with his hand. Aaron Ward screened Cam Ward and Aaron Ward swung and missed going for the puck and then skated away. It looks quite strange on replay with regard to A. Ward acting as if he hadn’t swung and missed. Perhaps he never saw the puck and was swinging at the Capitals player’s hockey stick. Brind’Amour gets a bad break on that goal.
Not really surprised by Staals performance, its always there waiting to come out. And to think he did that injuried, if he was 100% could’ve been a 10 pt night.
Complete team game, awesome to watch, but let’s not waste our draft pick. Seriously its to late save this kind of play for next season.
Staals' mini me = Sutter
by canescup on Dec 29, 2009 9:31 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I guess my question at this point would be, when is Staal not injured? Or is it everytime he’s not putting up numbers, we assume he must be hurt.
by Killswitch on Dec 29, 2009 11:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Hurricanes hockey community is quite small overall and word gets around. It is dangerous for the players for anybody to say too much because the NHL is brutal about taking advantage of a player’s injuries — much like high school or college wrestling. It leads to this weird situation where many people have a clear idea about Hurricanes’ injuries but err on the side of caution in being too definite about the source of the knowledge or the extent of the injury. As a result, it all sounds like double-speak out of the novel 1984.
Not meaning at all to be sounding snide, but if people review specific plays by Staal this season, and then watch his facial reactions, the existence of nagging injuries is pretty clear, I think. The extent of the injuries are less clear; but Staal has a high threshold of pain and it takes significant injuries to get him off the ice.
ok, so he’s been injured this whole season, I guess we can scratch him playing in the olympics then. Actually I’m not sure what facial expressions you are referring to, the only ones I remember seeing are a puss when the other team gains possession and he has to get back on D.
The majority of NHL players play through nagging injuries throughout an 82 game season and the majority dont make facial expressions to let it be known that they may have a nagging injury. Maybe he wants us to know he’s playing through an injury so he has an excuse for only turning on the gas when on offense.
There is not a player on the Hurricanes who isn’t banged up and who doesn’t have some nagging injury. I think it is a matter upon which reasonable minds differ as to the degree of Staal’s injury. It is also true that one factor which the selection committee has to consider is the relative degree of health for any player chosen to play for Canada.
I tend to differentiate myself between facial expressions of frustration by an athlete who loses the moment and reacts with hand gestures and moping versus expressions that tell me the guy is hurt. I totally agree that Staal needs to develop more emotional maturity and give up any trace of moping or sulking. I’ve seen those expressions from Staal and think he is far too talented a player to lose self-discipline that way.
I don’t fault him for having trouble getting onto the bench when he is hurting; and it is a rare athlete who is so stoic he never shows pain. Jim Brown was the last athlete I remember being that way at the moment. In any event, Staal showed last night why he has the ability to be an inarguable superstar in the NHL.
Yes! Assume when he is not putting up numbers he’s injuried. The truth hurts I know for all the Staal haters. Also when you are as talented as he is you have a target on your back, so who really knows what the man plays through……A true ‘Iron Man’.
Staals' mini me = Sutter
by canescup on Dec 29, 2009 12:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I dont hate Staal, I hate his contract. 5 points last night and then a 3 game drought which will result in a 1-3 record through that stretch of games. That type of play with the money they are paying him isnt enough for me purely for the fact that the nights he seems invisible seem more due to a lack of effort than anything else.
I know youve been harping on the point per game aspect but last nights game gives him a pass for the next 4, he needs to show up and play like he did last night every game, if he does and the points dont come then fine, but thats not the case.
No one's a Staal *hater*...
…just many think he’s not living up to the mantle that’s been placed upon him.
I like him, but up until very recently, he hasn’t been worth the sheer amount of work being done to jury-rig the team around him (how many times have we heard about looking for “just the right player” to be his wing-man, even sometimes when Cole’s been here?), much less worth the salary.
If it’s just that he’s hurt all the time, that doesn’t make it any better. His fault, or his body’s, if he’s so injury prone he takes half of every season off, it’s a long way to climb back up to being an all-star for the other half.
I want nothing more than for him to play like we know he can, but nagging injuries are not an excuse in the end. Perhaps it means he needs a different regimen, different conditioning, or needs to learn to adapt his play to keeping the things that are damaging him most at a minimum. Otherwise, he’s just a great but injury-prone player that will keep him from ever being his best.
by Raccoon Fink on Dec 30, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
And just to expand on that… If he can keep up what he did against Washington, he will be a thing to fear. When he’s on, he’s ON.
I just know we’ve been through this “oh, finally, he’s a star again!” cycle enough times that I fear it won’t last. :P
by Raccoon Fink on Dec 30, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
Man....
In actuality, the Canes scored 7 goals last night, admittedly, Alberts putting one past Ward counts for the Caps, but…
Anyway, once in awhile there is a game when a great player takes over. We get to see this about 15-20 times a year in DC with Ovechkin, but last night it was Staal’s night. The Caps gave him a bunch of opportunities and he jumped on them. If he’s not on Canada’s roster for the Olympics, then Canada will be missing out.
I have a hunch though that when the Canes come back to DC in March, both teams will be playing better….
Let's go Caps!
Ovechkin is perhaps the best player NHL hockey has ever seen
I think people will look back at Ovechkin and conclude he is the best player hockey has ever seen. That is a huge statement and there other superheroes who have played in the NHL.
I can’t think of any other player who combined the size, speed, quickness, hand skill, charisma, desire, phyiscality and hunger to score. If he is not the NHL’s best player, he surely must be among the top five. I hope the Capitals run the table this year and get their deserved Stanley Cup ring. I watch Ovechkin play whenever possible and find myself thinking that athletes like Ovechkin, Michael Jordan, and Peyton Manning are just better than their peers and are so rare they are almost miracles of nature and training.
But the guy needs to have penalties called a lot more on him
when he leaves his feet and slams into people.
That guy will kill someone on the ice, and soon if he’s not taken down a few pegs.
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
Gotta say.........Gretzky
In his era, Wayne Gretzky was the most dominating professional athelete I have ever seen in any sport. That includes Tiger Woods and all the guys you named. He was like a man among boys. Seriously….go back and look at some of those great Oiler runs. Dominant does not capture the reality.
Was about to say.
When Ovechkin puts up 215 pts in a season, then you can call him the greatest player of all time.
by Iggy Reilly on Dec 29, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
Not doubt 215 points is just impossible. I can’t imagine that record falling; or if it does the talent it would take to do so. Gretzky truly was beyond amazing.
Lemieux > Ovenchicken … let’s not forget Gordie Howe, or Mark Messier or many others …
Dazzling plays and all, the dude needs to validate his greatness over a long period of time and win a cup or two along the way. Kid’s still in his early years, much like Crosby. Can’t say he’s the best … or even in the top 10. He’s great now, top 2 or 3, but that’s infintitely different than saying he’s the greatest ever. Easy on the hyperbole there …
You are right. It would take Ovechkin to validate his greatness over a huge time span. It was hyperbole. I was mistaken and you are correct.
No worries … it’s a really fun debate. The game of hockey, during Gretzky’s prime years to the mid-90s and the post-lockout year has changed dramatically and can be factored in as well. If Gretzky played in this era, or an earlier era such as the 50s and 60s when the game was more rough and tumble, would he have put the numbers he has? If Lemieux didn’t battle back problems and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and play in the beginning of the trap era, would he have put up better numbers? Will anyone have the longevity of Howe? Bobby Orr often gets consideration as one of the greatest of all time as the original puck-moving defenseman in an era where d-men didn’t even put up close to those numbers.
18 points to lose and holding.
That’s 9 regulation, 18 OT or any combination of games that equal 18 points squandered to be most likely out of the playoffs.
Good news though as they are only 14 points out of the playoffs!
A 14 game winning streak and they’re back in it! A 20 came winning streak and they are most likely in the middle of the pack for playoffs!
Now, if I didn’t spend my playoff ticket money already…..
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
It’s nice for a change to have the game in hand before the last minute and a half. :) Great game by the guys-when Washington scored, they pushed back which has to be a first this season. I though that except for the Albe/A.Ward/Whoever they gave it to on the Caps goal, Cam did a much better job last night than he’s done in past games.
Loved hanging out with all the CC ladies-y’all are hilarious! We may have to do it again if the guys respond that way!
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I have to get one of those light/sirens things for my house!!! That was so cool!
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Hey Jen – good to finally meet you!! Hope we get to do it again – thanks for making the trip and bringing a couple extras along. Good times! With that kind of good luck I can see the need to make this a tradition.
And yes – the goal light/siren really was the perfect bar-room accessory for a 6-goal game. Very festive – really amped up the celebration.
Y’know my boys would have no problem whatsoever with my putting one on top of the TV cabinet. Of course my daughter (who considers herself the family’s elevator operator) would want be the one to man the button. I’m off to ebay now!
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by Carolyn Christians on Dec 29, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
You may have to unplug it during non-game times. I know that when my brother was your boys’ age it would get set off when no one was expecting it just for laughs.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Aw, it's like you know us.....
still, when the ladies from CC get together, I’ll be happy to do a pant…..er…..join you all for serious hockey discussions!
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
No “hoping” or “mays.” I thought I told everyone last night that we HAVE to do this from now on for the away games. ;) Kidding, sort of.
And are you willing to supplement my income when I don’t graduate from college? Or maybe the team would be willing to make up the difference…
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
we can have the team fly you to and fro on U2’s jet!
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Oh that would be cool. :D
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
this can be a great hockey team
it’s amazing how they can play when they really want to win….i mean staal being aggressive, persistent, shooting great, not giving up, fast, fighting anyone for the puck on the other team….this is the staal given that huge contract….cam looked good except for him and our D getting nutmeged….this is how we can play.
if we played this way every night, we’d be at the top. but for some reason, we just don’t. at least other coaches of other teams do say about us they cannot understand our ranking considering how good our team is capable of being when we have our act together. and obviously staal likes wing so who cares what the owners say. he doesn’t like center. keep him on the freaking wing!
OTHER GMS STARTING TO REALIZE BIG BODIED FORWARDS ARE ESSENTIAL
Increasingly, I am seeing articles where commentators, coaches and GMs acknowledge they need some jumbo-sized power forwards. Here is an interesting article on the subject related to the Rangers. It’s the second article this week on that subject:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/slats_smurfs_gotta_muscle_up_8Lb4lbBAKxeml0cOUKvIwJ
I copied the article but it will read more easily on the internet.
Sather needs to acquire big bodies for Rangers
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Last Updated: 11:49 AM, December 28, 2009
Posted: 2:47 AM, December 28, 2009
When was it exactly that the people making the personnel decisions for the Rangers came to the conclusion that size and strength are not necessary attributes for a team to thrive over the course of an 82-game season?
The contrast is striking every night, when the Blueshirt smurfs try to get to the front of the net against (much) larger defensemen while enemy attackers flood Henrik Lundqvist’s crease without meaningful opposition from players who are either too small to make a statement or too meek to matter.
It is imperative that GM Glen Sather acquire big bodies who will use them, even if it means sacrificing some of the skill level that coach John Tortorella covets in his athletes.
BROOKS ON TWITTER
But then, there is no point in Sather acquiring these people if Tortorella won’t give them the chance to establish something, and, no, four-to-six minutes of ice time a game does not qualify as getting an opportunity.
Nearly halfway through the season, it is impossible to tell whether Donald Brashear can play at all. This much, however, is certain: Brashear, who is just over a week away from his 38th birthday, cannot possibly contribute by getting five or six brief turns a game.
No 38-year-old, let alone one at 6-foot-3, 235, can be expected to sit for eight, 10, 12, 15 minutes at a time and then be able to find his legs when called upon.
The Rangers don’t so much owe it to Brashear to find out whether he has anything left in his repertoire of villainy — he was not hired to dangle — but to themselves, given that No. 87 is on an over-35 contract that means that his $1.4M for next year will be applied against the cap even if he is waived to the minors, bought out, or retires.
Fourth-line players cannot be afterthoughts. Jaromir Jagr knew that when, during the magical sleigh ride through the winter of 2005-06, he consistently cited the Dominic Moore-Jed Ortmeyer-Ryan Hollweg unit as, “the best fourth line in the league and that I ever played with,” as a key to the Blueshirts’ success.
Tortorella is zealous in his belief that you score and win by riding your top players. It worked with the Lightning. Of course at Tampa Bay, he could construct a Brad Richards-Vincent Lecavalier-Martin St. Louis top unit that could just as easily have been the NHL’s first all-star team.
It is essential for Tortorella to establish a structure and construct defined lines with identities and roles, rather than switch combinations every six minutes. Tortorella likes to label himself a “spontaneous” coach, but the Rangers need more definition and less impulse.
Marian Gaborik does not need Brandon Dubinsky as his center. Vinny Prospal is just fine there if accompanied by a left wing who stays out of the way, much as Brad Isbister did for Jagr and Michael Nylander.
But the Rangers need Dubinsky between Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery on a forechecking, crash-the-net second line. Chris Drury and Christopher Higgins could then form a third-line combination. The Rangers would at least present a pretense of depth under this scenario.
Tortorella’s method of creating offense isn’t working. The Rangers cannot consistently score more than two goals a game with the coach’s over-dependence on the cream that rises to the top of a bottle that is half empty — the half that on any given night doesn’t have a role and doesn’t get the chance to contribute.
larry.brooks@nypost.com
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Blog: Slapshots
When was it exactly that the people making the personnel decisions for the Rangers came to the conclusion that size and strength are not necessary attributes for a team to thrive over the course of an 82-game season?
The contrast is striking every night, when the Blueshirt smurfs try to get to the front of the net against (much) larger defensemen while enemy attackers flood Henrik Lundqvist’s crease without meaningful opposition from players who are either too small to make a statement or too meek to matter.
It is imperative that GM Glen Sather acquire big bodies who will use them, even if it means sacrificing some of the skill level that coach John Tortorella covets in his athletes.
WANT SOME PUNCH? Donald Brashear, exchanging jabs with Atlanta’s Eric Boulton (left) earlier this season, hasn’t received enough ice time to give the Rangers more scoring punch.
Anthony J. Causi
WANT SOME PUNCH? Donald Brashear, exchanging jabs with Atlanta’s Eric Boulton (left) earlier this season, hasn’t received enough ice time to give the Rangers more scoring punch.
BROOKS ON TWITTER
But then, there is no point in Sather acquiring these people if Tortorella won’t give them the chance to establish something, and, no, four-to-six minutes of ice time a game does not qualify as getting an opportunity.
Nearly halfway through the season, it is impossible to tell whether Donald Brashear can play at all. This much, however, is certain: Brashear, who is just over a week away from his 38th birthday, cannot possibly contribute by getting five or six brief turns a game.
No 38-year-old, let alone one at 6-foot-3, 235, can be expected to sit for eight, 10, 12, 15 minutes at a time and then be able to find his legs when called upon.
The Rangers don’t so much owe it to Brashear to find out whether he has anything left in his repertoire of villainy — he was not hired to dangle — but to themselves, given that No. 87 is on an over-35 contract that means that his $1.4M for next year will be applied against the cap even if he is waived to the minors, bought out, or retires.
Fourth-line players cannot be afterthoughts. Jaromir Jagr knew that when, during the magical sleigh ride through the winter of 2005-06, he consistently cited the Dominic Moore-Jed Ortmeyer-Ryan Hollweg unit as, “the best fourth line in the league and that I ever played with,” as a key to the Blueshirts’ success.
Tortorella is zealous in his belief that you score and win by riding your top players. It worked with the Lightning. Of course at Tampa Bay, he could construct a Brad Richards-Vincent Lecavalier-Martin St. Louis top unit that could just as easily have been the NHL’s first all-star team.
It is essential for Tortorella to establish a structure and construct defined lines with identities and roles, rather than switch combinations every six minutes. Tortorella likes to label himself a “spontaneous” coach, but the Rangers need more definition and less impulse.
Marian Gaborik does not need Brandon Dubinsky as his center. Vinny Prospal is just fine there if accompanied by a left wing who stays out of the way, much as Brad Isbister did for Jagr and Michael Nylander.
But the Rangers need Dubinsky between Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery on a forechecking, crash-the-net second line. Chris Drury and Christopher Higgins could then form a third-line combination. The Rangers would at least present a pretense of depth under this scenario.
Tortorella’s method of creating offense isn’t working. The Rangers cannot consistently score more than two goals a game with the coach’s over-dependence on the cream that rises to the top of a bottle that is half empty — the half that on any given night doesn’t have a role and doesn’t get the chance to contribute.
Hey AD
many coaches as GM’s really do think the same way…some are more conservitive. but the bottom line is wins and the Cup! But as we both know, the business side verses the reality side of a team are 2 very different things…Be Safe
Go Canes !!
If you think you can't, you won't !
by CaniacSteve on Dec 29, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
was glad
The canes Played as one unit and team. It is funny that Mo finally got around to tweaking the lines to where there is movement,action in from of the net and those ugly goals that The Juice talked about the otherday are showing up at the right time. was happy for the win and was even happier to hear that joe Corvo is working while rehabing to stay in shape for when he can return to the ice & play. Gee Tripp Tracey does say something worth while once in a while huh ? Now maybe the canes can find him a rock solid GF that loves hockey, maybe the guy will be smoother than he is !
Go Canes !
If you think you can't, you won't !
+1
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by Carolyn Christians on Dec 29, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
Slotting Staal
Bob’s opening sentence…
With less than two days before Team Canada announces their roster for the Olympics, Eric Staal put in his best performance of the season as he knocked in two goals and had three assists while helping the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Washington Capitals, 6-3 Monday night at the Verizon Center.
…says it all for me. Glad to see the Staal we all know you can be finally show up, even if with questionable motivation. But, this, Eric, is what frustrates us to no end. Knowing that you could be a bit more like this anytime you choose to do so. So, how about choosing to do so a bit more often?
Still, glad to see the org make the decision to do as I suggested earlier. Don’t keep jamming a square peg in a round hole, hoping he’ll change. Instead, maximize his strengths, and minimize his weaknesses.
Playing right wing within the Canes system delivers more instinctual opportunities (strength), more forechecking responsibilities (strength), more breakout chances (strength), less defensive responsibilites (weakness), less thinking (weakness?). Plus, it puts him on his off-wing (left shot), so in the rare chance that he feels like walking it off the wall and/or cutting to the center, he’s on his forehand for the shot.
I am optimistically crediting this organizational success to rational thinking, instead of “blind squirrel” luck. Plus, the added benefit of confusing enemy defenses by now having two very dangerous line for them to try and cover…well.
I’m looking forward to the next game already. Last one was fun.
By the way, want to acknowledge that this plan would have seemed improbable earlier in the season, since we knew of no alternatives to having Staal as our #1 center. Who could fathom that a kid we had slotted for third-line defensive checking duties when we drafted him, hoping that he might rise to second-line offensive duties in his career, would be comfortably centering what is arguably our top line at age 20?
Honestly, there’s a Selke award or two somewhere in this kid’s future. A little more weight on that frame and he’s really going to be a handful.
Canadian Olympic Team
Here is what my 2010 Canadian Olympic Team would be, not what it will be though.
Nash-Crosby-Iginla
Heatley-Getzlaf-E.Staal
Marleau-Thornton-Perry
Morrow-Toews-M.Richards
J.Staal
Weber-Boyle
Keith-Seabrook
Neidermayer-Doughty
Phaneuf
Brodeur-Fleury-Luongo
The top two lines would be dynamite. I would love seeing Heatley and Staal getting feed the puck by Getzlaf.
by PackPride17 on Dec 29, 2009 10:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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