I have just engaged Kevin BFLOBLOG in a friendly wager for tonight's game.
Oddly enough, both of us find this "wager" to be against our better judgement, but it's all in good fun.
If the Sabres should happen to win tonight, sweeping the season series with the Canes, I shall have to write a post in tribute to Daniel Briere.
If the Canes should happen to win tonight, avoiding the sweep, Kevin will have to write a post in tribute to Rod Brind'Amour.
I guess I'll have to do some research about "emo boy" in order to prepare myself for what might become.
Normally, tonight (Thursday) would be Scrabble night, but that's being postponed for this. Truthfully, it's being postponed because the other guy is going to a basketball game, but that's just splitting hairs.
Buffalo will be completely healthy, ignoring Tim Connolly, who isn't likely to ever return.
Carolina.... not so much. They will be missing Defensemen Tim Gleason (foot -- four weeks), David Tanabe (lower body, lousy play -- indefinite) and Frantisek Kaberle (shoulder, late January). In addition, they will be missing Andrew Ladd (appendix -- three weeks) and Kevyn Adams (wrist -- two weeks). Kaberle hasn't played all season, and Adams hasn't been 100% all season. That wrist issue is lingering from breaking it in the first period of Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Tanabe would be a scratch anyway, Gleason would be a second pair defenseman and Kaberle is the best dman we have. Adrew Ladd has seen an increase in ice time and responsibilities, and he would be a third line winger while Kevyn Adams is the fourth line center. Missing Adams and Tanabe isn't a problem, and we've been missing Kaberle all season, but it sure stinks to be without Ladd and Gleason.
On a brighter note, the Sabres haven't seen Cory Stillman this season, and the Canes game has improved dramatically since his return from shoulder surgery.
There is no Sabres player with a points streak of more than three games, but Ales Kotalik is on fire of late. He's notched 7 points (4/3) in the last four games. The Canes will need to look out for him. And as always, the Captain, and the other "usuals" -- Maxim Afenogenov, Chris Drury and Jason Pominville.
On the Canes side, Justin Williams is the Canes hottest player. Viva is in the midst of an eight game points streak during which he's notched 9 points (7/2). Ray Whitney is on a five game tear, putting up 8 points (3/5) in that span. Aside from the usual suspects of Brind'Amour, Staal and Cole, the Sabres will have to look out for these two "under the radar" guys plus Stillman.
Expect to see Miller and Ward in the nets for their respective teams.
Puck drop is at 7:00. I'll be posting between periods and I'll leave the thread open for comments.
Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preview. Show all posts
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Canes host a bunch of Canes castoffs Leafs tonight
Tonight at the RBC Center, the Canes will play host to the Leafs, and it will be a homecoming of sorts for many of the Leafs.
This will be the first time that Leafs Coach Paul Maurice has been back to Raleigh since being fired midway through the 2003-04 season. Maurice was the longest tenured coach in the League, and although he led his team to a fluke appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, he wasn't doing well. His non-aggressive style of hoping for a 2-1 game every night landed his team in the League's basement in 2002-03 and they were headed that same way in 2003-04. After being replaced by Peter Laviolette, Maurice went to coach the AHL Toronto Marlies.
It was there that he got re-acquainted with one time Canes winger Bates Battaglia, who had a good season in 2002, but became more known for his clashes with Maurice and also for his party boy lifestyle in 2003. He was traded to Colorado for Radim Vrbata, then traded from Colorado to Washington for Steve Konowalchuk. Then he was let go. I mean really let go. He found himself down at the ECHL level. However, when Maurice was hired to coach the Marlies, he gave Battaglia a try-out, and he did well there. After a 67 (20/47) point season there last year, he has worked his way back up to the NHL level, thanks again to a chance given him by Maurice.
In the off-season, Battaglia still lives in Raleigh where he runs a really crappy bar called "Lucky B's". His father also lives in Raleigh, where he runs a restaurant or two.
Jeff O'Neill, who was once one of the star players for the Canes, fell from grace really quickly. He had a much publicized blow-up with Maurice after a bag skate, and his work ethic really started to go down hill fast in the 2003-04 season. He went from being a steady 60 point scorer to putting up 34 points that season, and he clearly wasn't putting forth any effort on the ice or in the weight room. During the lockout, he didn't play at all, choosing to get fat and drunk. He was arrested for his second DUI, and the team quickly lost their patience with him. Then tragedy struck. His brother was killed in a single car accident, and he expressed an interest in being traded to Toronto. The team obliged, making a draft day trade, essentially "letting him go". It was a perfect resolution to a sticky situation. The team wanted him out due to his poor play and poor conditioning. Aside from that, he wanted out for family reasons.
O'Neill has of course been back a couple of times last season. He was met with the same boos that he received even when he played here. I have no idea how Chairman Mo and Bates Battaglia will be greeted, but I can say that there's not a whole lot of love for either of those guys. We're happy for them that they both landed good jobs, but we still don't like them.
Puck drop at a special time of 7:30 tonight.
This will be the first time that Leafs Coach Paul Maurice has been back to Raleigh since being fired midway through the 2003-04 season. Maurice was the longest tenured coach in the League, and although he led his team to a fluke appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, he wasn't doing well. His non-aggressive style of hoping for a 2-1 game every night landed his team in the League's basement in 2002-03 and they were headed that same way in 2003-04. After being replaced by Peter Laviolette, Maurice went to coach the AHL Toronto Marlies.
It was there that he got re-acquainted with one time Canes winger Bates Battaglia, who had a good season in 2002, but became more known for his clashes with Maurice and also for his party boy lifestyle in 2003. He was traded to Colorado for Radim Vrbata, then traded from Colorado to Washington for Steve Konowalchuk. Then he was let go. I mean really let go. He found himself down at the ECHL level. However, when Maurice was hired to coach the Marlies, he gave Battaglia a try-out, and he did well there. After a 67 (20/47) point season there last year, he has worked his way back up to the NHL level, thanks again to a chance given him by Maurice.
In the off-season, Battaglia still lives in Raleigh where he runs a really crappy bar called "Lucky B's". His father also lives in Raleigh, where he runs a restaurant or two.
Jeff O'Neill, who was once one of the star players for the Canes, fell from grace really quickly. He had a much publicized blow-up with Maurice after a bag skate, and his work ethic really started to go down hill fast in the 2003-04 season. He went from being a steady 60 point scorer to putting up 34 points that season, and he clearly wasn't putting forth any effort on the ice or in the weight room. During the lockout, he didn't play at all, choosing to get fat and drunk. He was arrested for his second DUI, and the team quickly lost their patience with him. Then tragedy struck. His brother was killed in a single car accident, and he expressed an interest in being traded to Toronto. The team obliged, making a draft day trade, essentially "letting him go". It was a perfect resolution to a sticky situation. The team wanted him out due to his poor play and poor conditioning. Aside from that, he wanted out for family reasons.
O'Neill has of course been back a couple of times last season. He was met with the same boos that he received even when he played here. I have no idea how Chairman Mo and Bates Battaglia will be greeted, but I can say that there's not a whole lot of love for either of those guys. We're happy for them that they both landed good jobs, but we still don't like them.
Puck drop at a special time of 7:30 tonight.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Canes host Slugs
Tonight, the Hurricanes will host the Sabres for the second time this season. The opening night thriller resulted in a shootout loss for the Canes, and the Sabres have been on fire since then. They have lost just one regulation game and one shootout.
The Sabres are 9-0 on the road, but will be without the services of Maxim Afinogenov (upper body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder, who re-broke his arm earlier this season. Of course Tim Connolly is still out, and has been placed on the long-term-injured list with concussion issues.
Carolina will still be without Cory Stillman and defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, who are both recovering from shoulder surgery. Defensemen Nic Wallin and Tim Gleason are also expected to sit this one out. With three top defensemen on the shelf, Carolina will be forced to start "Avi" Tanabe again. We don't expect any sympathy from the Sabres in that department, though.
The Canes, who have been drawing really well this season, averaging 95% capacity, face a challenge tonight. The game is not included in the wildly popular 24-game ticket package, so there will be significantly fewer season ticket holders there tonight. Add to that, the'll be competing with the Monday Night Football (Carolina Panthers hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) game in Charlotte. The stadiums (stadii?) are three hours apart, but both teams draw fans from all over the state.
Anyway, I'll make a ballsy prediction for tonight's game. Bear in mind, I'm 0-1 so far on those.
Ballsy prediction #2 of the season: Daniel Briere shut down.
Ballsy prediction #3 of the season: Scott Walker 2 goals, 1 assist
Oh. I'll be DVRing the hell out of this game, and will watch it in its entirety when I get home from work. So ix-nay on the exting-tay.
The Sabres are 9-0 on the road, but will be without the services of Maxim Afinogenov (upper body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder, who re-broke his arm earlier this season. Of course Tim Connolly is still out, and has been placed on the long-term-injured list with concussion issues.
Carolina will still be without Cory Stillman and defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, who are both recovering from shoulder surgery. Defensemen Nic Wallin and Tim Gleason are also expected to sit this one out. With three top defensemen on the shelf, Carolina will be forced to start "Avi" Tanabe again. We don't expect any sympathy from the Sabres in that department, though.
The Canes, who have been drawing really well this season, averaging 95% capacity, face a challenge tonight. The game is not included in the wildly popular 24-game ticket package, so there will be significantly fewer season ticket holders there tonight. Add to that, the'll be competing with the Monday Night Football (Carolina Panthers hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) game in Charlotte. The stadiums (stadii?) are three hours apart, but both teams draw fans from all over the state.
Anyway, I'll make a ballsy prediction for tonight's game. Bear in mind, I'm 0-1 so far on those.
Ballsy prediction #2 of the season: Daniel Briere shut down.
Ballsy prediction #3 of the season: Scott Walker 2 goals, 1 assist
Oh. I'll be DVRing the hell out of this game, and will watch it in its entirety when I get home from work. So ix-nay on the exting-tay.
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