Tuesday, March 04, 2008
God Damn Ducks!
by Jes
While Teemu Selanne was contemplating retirement this past off-season, there were rumours that he hadn't been training at all, and was somewhat out of shape. After all, who wouldn't want to just relax, kick back, and drink an a few hundred alcoholic beverages after a long and grueling Stanley Cup run?
It's kind of hard to believe rumors like that when the guy can miss most of an NHL season, and then come back and look like he hasn't missed a beat. In 12 games, the Finnish Flash has 7 goals, 5 assists, and 37 shots on goal.
I wish I could be that out of shape :/
What was once a struggling team is absolutely on fire, as the Ducks have won their past six games and nine of their past ten. You know the Wings, Sharks, and Stars are certainly pooping their hockey pants at that the Ducks have found their groove as the playoffs near.
While Teemu Selanne was contemplating retirement this past off-season, there were rumours that he hadn't been training at all, and was somewhat out of shape. After all, who wouldn't want to just relax, kick back, and drink an a few hundred alcoholic beverages after a long and grueling Stanley Cup run?
It's kind of hard to believe rumors like that when the guy can miss most of an NHL season, and then come back and look like he hasn't missed a beat. In 12 games, the Finnish Flash has 7 goals, 5 assists, and 37 shots on goal.
I wish I could be that out of shape :/
What was once a struggling team is absolutely on fire, as the Ducks have won their past six games and nine of their past ten. You know the Wings, Sharks, and Stars are certainly pooping their hockey pants at that the Ducks have found their groove as the playoffs near.
Anaheim at December 31st: 19-17-5, 8th in the West
Anaheim at March 4th: 38-23-7, 4th in the West
Labels: Anaheim Ducks, Selanne
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday's Wonderings
by Jes
So, Teemu Selanne decided to announce his comeback, after resting up and having enough of speeding along Finnish highways all winter, and his nagging wife.
I know quite a few Canucks fans are a bit panicky that the Ducks are going to be that much better, so to them I say, "What's the big deal?"
Look, we know the Ducks were going to be the team to beat in the Western Conference, and this comeback just cements that point.
(Sorry, Wings fans, but I see too many weaknesses to give you the #1 spot, despite the fancy schmancy W-L record.)
Even if Selanne is just 3/4 as effective as he was last season, that is still .75 points per game on average that the Ducks will be getting. Given how the Ducks are rolling, this is just some very thick icing on the cake.
I expect that Selanne, like Niedermayer, will come into action in fairly good shape, and will give the Ducks a big boost to their offence. Both Selanne and Niedermayer are two of the world's best, so they have a long way to come down to be merely 'average'. Excellent players can miss time and still come back strong, as we've seen with Forsberg, Lemieux, and so on.
What Canucks fans should be worried about is their own team's state of affairs. It ain't pretty ...
Injuries - the Defence is decimated as Mitchell will be out 4-6 weeks with a Fractured Vertebra. Krajicek is day-to-day with a sore shoulder, and Bieksa's recovery time could take longer than originally anticipated.
It doesn't help that Brendan Morrison, the only good source of secondary scoring that Canucks have up front, is also injured.
Scoring - As mentioned, and as everyone knows, the Canucks are essentially a one-line team. Pyatt is the only other forward with a .50 PPG pace. Kesler? He's dried up, as has Burrows (who never really had much to begin with). Far too much filler on the Canucks roster and not enough oomph.
Special Teams - Last season, the Canucks had a supreme penalty killing machine. This season? They are pretty much middle of the road, as is their Power Play. The Canucks need to have better results in these areas if they seriously think they can contend for more than just a first or second round playoff exit.
Honestly, it would take a minor miracle (or more Luongo miracles) to keep the Canucks in the playoffs. There are just too many other contenders who haven't had the bad luck the Canucks have. Whether the Ducks got Selanne or not wasn't going to change the above factors.
So, the Canucks have now sold out 200 straight home games.
Umm ... yippee *twirls finger*
I'm not sure why Canucks fans would be proud or excited about this mark.
1. This means more money in the pockets of our slumlord owners. Is that something to be happy about?
2. This means it is damn hard to get tickets to see the Canucks.
Really, I'd rather the Canucks not sell out every game. It might teach ownership a lesson (ie. Don't take the fans for granted) and might make it easier to get tickets without frequently donating bodily fluids.
So, Teemu Selanne decided to announce his comeback, after resting up and having enough of speeding along Finnish highways all winter, and his nagging wife.
I know quite a few Canucks fans are a bit panicky that the Ducks are going to be that much better, so to them I say, "What's the big deal?"
Look, we know the Ducks were going to be the team to beat in the Western Conference, and this comeback just cements that point.
(Sorry, Wings fans, but I see too many weaknesses to give you the #1 spot, despite the fancy schmancy W-L record.)
Even if Selanne is just 3/4 as effective as he was last season, that is still .75 points per game on average that the Ducks will be getting. Given how the Ducks are rolling, this is just some very thick icing on the cake.
I expect that Selanne, like Niedermayer, will come into action in fairly good shape, and will give the Ducks a big boost to their offence. Both Selanne and Niedermayer are two of the world's best, so they have a long way to come down to be merely 'average'. Excellent players can miss time and still come back strong, as we've seen with Forsberg, Lemieux, and so on.
What Canucks fans should be worried about is their own team's state of affairs. It ain't pretty ...
Injuries - the Defence is decimated as Mitchell will be out 4-6 weeks with a Fractured Vertebra. Krajicek is day-to-day with a sore shoulder, and Bieksa's recovery time could take longer than originally anticipated.
It doesn't help that Brendan Morrison, the only good source of secondary scoring that Canucks have up front, is also injured.
Scoring - As mentioned, and as everyone knows, the Canucks are essentially a one-line team. Pyatt is the only other forward with a .50 PPG pace. Kesler? He's dried up, as has Burrows (who never really had much to begin with). Far too much filler on the Canucks roster and not enough oomph.
Special Teams - Last season, the Canucks had a supreme penalty killing machine. This season? They are pretty much middle of the road, as is their Power Play. The Canucks need to have better results in these areas if they seriously think they can contend for more than just a first or second round playoff exit.
Honestly, it would take a minor miracle (or more Luongo miracles) to keep the Canucks in the playoffs. There are just too many other contenders who haven't had the bad luck the Canucks have. Whether the Ducks got Selanne or not wasn't going to change the above factors.
So, the Canucks have now sold out 200 straight home games.
Umm ... yippee *twirls finger*
I'm not sure why Canucks fans would be proud or excited about this mark.
1. This means more money in the pockets of our slumlord owners. Is that something to be happy about?
2. This means it is damn hard to get tickets to see the Canucks.
Really, I'd rather the Canucks not sell out every game. It might teach ownership a lesson (ie. Don't take the fans for granted) and might make it easier to get tickets without frequently donating bodily fluids.
Labels: Canucks, musings, s, Selanne, Wednesday's Wonderings
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Game One Ramblings: Ducks, Wings, and Pigs
by Jes
If Games 2-4 and perhaps 5,6,7 are as good as Game 1, then this series is gonna rock more than the Dschinghis Khan reunion concert in Moscow.
While I don't have a dog, or duck, in this fight, I am still watching the games and was pleased to be well entertained by the action on the ice.
Some random thoughts
1. Does CBC hate hockey fans? It's bad enough that we get the stale Leafs-homer Harry Neale and dinosaur Bob Cole in the booth, but why is Greg Millen(!) the third man in the booth?
Does CBC not listen to the fans? Does CBC not surf the internets? How could they not know that Millen is the most despised colour commentator in this country?
Is this a conscious decision, or are they simply trying to milk their sunken investment in the guy? Ugh. Millen was definitely at his best/worst last night.
2. Note to self: If you have a kid, make sure s/he befriends a super-rich and generous athlete when they are young.
Teemu Selanne kept a promised and flew 16 of his childhood friends to Anaheim to watch him and the Ducks smack around the Sens.
Yeah, what a guy!
I got the full dealio over at The NHL Fanhouse.
3. Red Wings fans are a classy bunch, eh?
If you ever wanted a fine example of male chauvinism and pig-headedness, check out Helene Elliot's article on what happens when a female reporter dares to not pick the Wings to advance.
Here are some of the samples of the fine writing Red Wings fans are capable of ...
Ahh, the anonymity of the internet lets people show their true colours with no fear or retribution.
Helene Elliot has always been a classy, intelligent, award-winning writer who has shown NO inkling of being a 'puck bunny'. Why she has to put up with crap like this is beyond me. Does being female preclude one from having an intelligent perspective on the game of hockey? Of course not!
I'm going to resist calling Wings fans a bunch of spoiled pigs. We know they are spoiled, but these kind of comments could have come from the fans of any hockey club. It's pretty sad that some male fans feel threatened that a female might actually *gasp* know more about the game of hockey than they do.
Anyway, Helene goes on to point out that Wings' fan anger should be rightfully pointed at owner Mike Ilitch, who priced tickets so outrageously that the average commoner could not afford to attend. The Wings have also been notoriously media-unfriendly and fan-unfriendly, for what it's worth.
(hat tip to Wayne for the story pointer)
If Games 2-4 and perhaps 5,6,7 are as good as Game 1, then this series is gonna rock more than the Dschinghis Khan reunion concert in Moscow.
While I don't have a dog, or duck, in this fight, I am still watching the games and was pleased to be well entertained by the action on the ice.
Some random thoughts
1. Does CBC hate hockey fans? It's bad enough that we get the stale Leafs-homer Harry Neale and dinosaur Bob Cole in the booth, but why is Greg Millen(!) the third man in the booth?
Does CBC not listen to the fans? Does CBC not surf the internets? How could they not know that Millen is the most despised colour commentator in this country?
Is this a conscious decision, or are they simply trying to milk their sunken investment in the guy? Ugh. Millen was definitely at his best/worst last night.
2. Note to self: If you have a kid, make sure s/he befriends a super-rich and generous athlete when they are young.
Teemu Selanne kept a promised and flew 16 of his childhood friends to Anaheim to watch him and the Ducks smack around the Sens.
Yeah, what a guy!
I got the full dealio over at The NHL Fanhouse.
3. Red Wings fans are a classy bunch, eh?
If you ever wanted a fine example of male chauvinism and pig-headedness, check out Helene Elliot's article on what happens when a female reporter dares to not pick the Wings to advance.
Here are some of the samples of the fine writing Red Wings fans are capable of ...
"If Detroit wins, your gonna be gettiing a [ton] more emails from me you [prostitute]. Why don't you report on your own teams from now on. Like the Kings, where are they? Or the Lakers? Women should stick to writing articles about cooking and homemaking and NOT sports, cuz its obvious you have no idea what....you are talking about, [Don Imus word]."
"You have no idea what your baby ducks are in for! A woman writing about hockey in southern California! Leave the hockey to us sweetheart!"
"You are one cocky writer. I am going to remember that damn story and if the wings win the series, I'm gonna laugh in your face via e-mail. If there's one kind of writer I have no respect for, it's a writer exactly like you who writes worthless … like that.
"I'm surprised your man let you out of the kitchen long enough to write this article. You don't know much about sports, so you should stick to cleaning the house."
"Of course what do women know about hockey anyway. Go back to the kitchen and make me something to eat."
Ahh, the anonymity of the internet lets people show their true colours with no fear or retribution.
Helene Elliot has always been a classy, intelligent, award-winning writer who has shown NO inkling of being a 'puck bunny'. Why she has to put up with crap like this is beyond me. Does being female preclude one from having an intelligent perspective on the game of hockey? Of course not!
I'm going to resist calling Wings fans a bunch of spoiled pigs. We know they are spoiled, but these kind of comments could have come from the fans of any hockey club. It's pretty sad that some male fans feel threatened that a female might actually *gasp* know more about the game of hockey than they do.
Anyway, Helene goes on to point out that Wings' fan anger should be rightfully pointed at owner Mike Ilitch, who priced tickets so outrageously that the average commoner could not afford to attend. The Wings have also been notoriously media-unfriendly and fan-unfriendly, for what it's worth.
(hat tip to Wayne for the story pointer)
Labels: ducks, Females in hockey, musings, Red Wings, Selanne, stanley cup
Friday, January 12, 2007
Selanne's Special Hat Trick
Here's today's feel-good story, snark free.
Story Link:
Story Link:
It had been nearly six years since Teemu Selanne had a hat trick. None have been more special than the one he had in the Anaheim Ducks' 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Earlier on Thursday, Selanne had a phone conversation with a close friend in Finland. The friend has terminal cancer and asked Selanne to send him the puck if he had three goals.
Selanne promised to oblige but warned the friend that he hadn't had a hat trick since March 29, 2001, in a game against the Ducks when Selanne played for the San Jose Sharks.
"Today he found out that the cancer has spread to his brain," said Selanne, who has 19 career hat tricks. "I don't think he has much time to live. So I told him if I scored a hat trick I'd keep the puck. I told him the odds weren't very good that it would happen. Obviously it was really a sad day today, but what are you going to do? Life is not fair sometimes."
Labels: ducks, human interest, Selanne
