Saturday, May 06, 2006
A Punch to the Moose Jaw
Yikes! Perhaps Ottawa does want Dominik Hasek back, after all! I've been many a blue moon since the Senators got a goaltending performance that bad and had that many defensive miscues in a single game. As for the Ducks?
*QUACK*
Now, one of the stories lost on too many hockey fans around here is the Vancouver Giants "March to Moncton".
I was at Game 1 of the WHL Finals between the Giants and the Moose Jaw Warriors which took place last night, and they place didn't even sell out :(. C'mon, yuppies, you can't tell me you'd rather watch Anaheim and Colorado than support your Giants?
Just over 13,000+ showed up and were treated to a great 5-1 victory for the G-men, giving them the 1-0 lead with Game 2 tonight.
The Giants have just been rolling throughout these playoffs, having lost only 2 out of their 15 games thus far. Coach Don Hay has done an excellent job turning the Giants into a lean, mean, forechecking machine that cycles the puck as well as the Sedin twins and defends as well as Jere Lehtinen. We also noticed Canucks scout Ron Delorme sitting in the row in front of us (until we 'upgraded' to better seats), though he refused to reveal state secrets.
Keep an eye out for these players, coming soon to an NHL arena near you
- Gilbert Brule - The one thing the BJs have done right was drafting this guy (who fell into their laps). Brule leads the WHL with 13 goals and 21 points in 15 games, and he's on an obvious mission to win a Memorial Cup before he begins his NHL career for good. He had 2 goals and an assist last night and he just looks far more physically adept than any other player in the WHL.
- Dustin Slade - He's put his troubles and injuries behind him and provided the Giants with exceptional goaltending. How exceptional? How about a WHL record 6 playoff shutouts with a 13-2 racord, a 0.98GAA and a 95.3SV%. Slade is undrafted, so call your GM and tell him to pick him up.
- Cody Franson - The 6'5" Nashville draft pick has turned into one of the most productive defensemen in the WHL and has 4 goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games. Like Shea Weber, expect this WHL defenseman to make an impact fairly soon in the WHL. He's not as mean as Weber, but has a greater offensive edge.
- Marc Fistric - The Dallas 1st rounder has 8 assists in 15 games, but he's out there for his incredible defense and toughness. Again, I'll compare him to Murray Baron in his overall game, although Marc's skating seems a tad better.
While the Giants are hosting the Memorial Cup next year, this year is really THEIR year to win it all as the Giants will be severly depleted by the departures of Fistric, Brule, Slade, et all next season.
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Interesting about the Canucks scout. I hope he was taking a good look at Slade.
Someone on Canucks.com also reported seeing Keenan in the stands as well.
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Someone on Canucks.com also reported seeing Keenan in the stands as well.
# posted by 
: 8:45 am
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