"Trying to keep everyone happy is going to be something. I think the thought process [is] if you go far, you need bodies. These are all ...good players. Hopefully, it will work out. It's a bit of a gamble. If everybody's goal is the same, we should be okay."
- Bruce Boudreau on his team's new-found depth
6 months ago
J.P.
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Translated:
" Thanks God we didn’t deal Flash. I’ll have to deal with hurt feelings, long faces, and snide remarks as I cut ice time for the grinders. Thanks God we still have Flash. We’re marked men and people will be running around trying to knock us out early, and someone’s gonna take a cheapshot. But we still have Flash. Thanks God Hopefully, raising the chalice will suffice as everyone’s goal here, particularly Flash."
.
/Thanks God
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 4, 2010 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
I thought it sounded like Skwisgaar Skwigelf.
by Gin and Tonic on Mar 4, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
Did you ever see that “Swedish lessons with Nicklas Backstrom” they’d show on the jumbotron between periods last year or the year before where the one dude just get screaming “SKWISGAAAAAAAR”? Hilarious!
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Mar 4, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know if it’s just me, but Flash’s interviews are g*d*mn hilarious. Last night his intermission interview went something like this: JB & Locker “Flash, what do you guys need to do to open up this game?” Flash, “I LIKE HOCKEY AND WINNING IS GOOD, WE PLAY TO HAVE FUN TIME. THANK YOU” then immediately takes off microphone.
"Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!"
by Tikkanese on Mar 4, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
A little incentive to guys like Stecks, Gordo, Brads, etc. has only positives in my mind.
The only guy who, absent fatigue or injury concerns, should always get a sweater is Chimera, imo. His blend of size, speed and grit is not something replicated by any of the other guys in the mix for bottom six duties.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
by fat_daddyo on Mar 4, 2010 1:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
This. Beast as physical attributes that make him the cream of the bottom of 6. GMGM looks like a winner with that move.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
On most teams, he’s a legit top 6 wing. And even on this team, he’s probably top 9, but Flash can’t play on the fourth line and Chimera probably can.
If Chimera cannot play a 4th line role, then we’ve got problems. But I’m thinking he probably can.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I would have gone with “HER crease is crowded,” but to each his own ;-)
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 4, 2010 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
They’re professionals. They all realize that not all of them can play at the same time, and it’ll make them work that much harder to “earn” their ice time. There can only be good coming out of that.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 4, 2010 1:41 PM EST reply actions
Yo, check it
Anyone whining just needs to give Brent Johnson or Chris Clark a call and ask them, “how do I be the best backup right wing I can possibly be?”
Just check the ego at the door, continue to work hard at practice, and understand ultimately it’s about the team and sometimes YOU playing isn’t the best thing for the team at that moment. This really shouldn’t be a big issue with this group of guys. No one is getting minutes just based on who they are or their contract situation.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
by zephyr on Mar 4, 2010 1:41 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Yah, Laing is all heart, no spleen, and a glass jaw to boot!
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
hey, he’s still got a spleen!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
The Blood Cult of Matt Bradley. Tune in Wednesday when Japers Rink offers their first burnt offering to Matt Bradley to give him an endless supply of the blood for his strident ways.
Didn’t he rupture it? Pretty sure they normally remove it when that happens.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
Torn
is the word they used. I think I’d prefer mine ruptured, if those are the choices.
If you click on Wilbon, the terrorists win.
Fair enough…but the question remains does the man have a spleen anymore or not?!
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
he does. it was torn. they monitored it in the hospital for several days before opting not to do surgery. see here (bottom of post), and here.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
The Blood Cult of Matt Bradley. Tune in Wednesday when Japers Rink offers their first burnt offering to Matt Bradley to give him an endless supply of the blood for his strident ways.
As usual injuries will make at least some of this ‘problem’ go away over time. Precisely why you want to have this issue.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Fleischmann-Belanger-Fehr
Chimera-Gordon-Walker
That could be a matchup nightmare for any opposition. Or it could burn the Caps if the third line doesn’t click. But on balance I’ll take the extreme matchup problems it presents for the other side, for now.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
A ’leet scoring third line and a very sandpapery fourth, either of which can win the major portion of its faceoffs. And kill you in billiards.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I LOL’d when Locker brought up Snooker. I thought for a second he had said “Snooki”
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 4, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yes ma’am. That 4th line is not going to be any fun to play against. At all. And depending on what we get out of Scotty Wals, they might be a beast on the forecheck.
The third line could be the much-discussed third scoring line that BB has spoken of so often. Either way those guys will be playing against third-tier defense pairings all night, which is nice.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
The only question I have, and it’s not a bad one, is can the other two keep up with Chimera? That guy has one hell of a set of wheels.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Best fifth-line in the League.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 4, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs
I’m rec’ing it for the wit, but Stecks and Brads as injury replacements beats the hell out of what we’ve seen out of the AHL corps.
Which I know is the whole point of the depth – just feels awesome to say it again.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I don’t s’pose we can roll five lines.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
The 3 defensemen would probably be pretty tuckered out by the end of regulation, you’d have to think. Unless you just scrapped the goalie and went with two D pairs.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I vote for scrapping the goalie.
"We take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor." - Bobby Clarke
Or pull the goalie, get an extra D when needed.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 4, 2010 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
We can sit here doling out advice on how players who have started almost every game for 80% should handle someone telling them “sorry, the new guy is in town and you’re not playing tonight.” It has to be tough. At face value the benefit of added depth outweighs the risk of disrupting chemistry, but we should at least acknowledge that the risk exists.
There’s a new kid in town?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 4, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I think BB’s quote is acknowledging that the risk exists.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
To that end, in hindsight, might it not have been better for Bruce to talk to his heart-and-soul fourth-liners and give ’em a heads up that they might be riding some pine before they chatted with the media? The two paragraphs immediately prior to that quote:
“All I can say is I wish the team well tonight and I hope they win,” Bradley said. “That’s all I have to say. Walker and Belanger are good players and I wish them luck in their first game and, like I said, I want a win for our team.”
As of 11:45, Coach Bruce Boudreau hadn’t talked to the scratches.
Not a huge deal. But sometimes the team’s management seems it could do a better job in communicating.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Everyone putting on their game faces, starting with the coaches.
Related: this is a good place for the Captain to do a little captaining.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I’m with JP here. I don’t like the idea here that Brads basically walked into the dressing and heard from a reporter or saw on the dry-erase board that he’s out tonight and hadn’t even been addressed by Bruce Boudreau. That would bother me too.
On the other side, it might be calculated on the coach’s part. Maybe he wanted to remove any vestiges of complacency from the scratchees. We don’t know.
I do think Bradley is trying to be a team guy and suck it up, so I applaud that.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Ehhh. I don’t know that his comments deserve all that much praise. It’s not like he’s tossing gatorade buckets around the locker room, but he also didn’t have to thrown in the “that’s all I have to say” part.
Oh for crissakes, I love Brads and all but the guy has 8 goals. I know he is a penalty killer, sticks up for his teammates and all that, but the guy isn’t exactly Cam Neely. I don’t think Boudreau, what with all that was going on this morning, can be faulted for not having had time to sit down and talk to the scratches. Brads gets paid whether he plays or not.
"We take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor." - Bobby Clarke
Had the same thoughts when I read the post. Could’ve been handled a little more smoothly.
From the extreme outside looking in, it seems like Erskine and Brads will toe the team-first line; suspect the same thing with Stecks.
Anything that results in Erskine being the 7th D is dandy with me, btw.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I think Stecks is on more solid footing than Gordon.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
With a shiny new two-year contract in hand? I vote yes.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Drop the latter in favor of “not missing large chunks of time to a wonky back.”
"First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp slapped you into that china cabinet."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 4, 2010 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, he DID light it up in Hershey…
"First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp slapped you into that china cabinet."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 4, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He wins faceoffs at a better rate and has size going for him, so I’d have to agree with you.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Dunno, seems Gordo can make a lot more happen with the puck than Steckel, who is like a dead offensive weight on any line.
I’d rather have Stecks out there killing it on faceoffs and playing like he does tiring the other team down while cycling than worrying about the extra point Gordo might generate. I guess it really doesn’t matter much which one centers the 4th line though.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
I agree, but I think they’re sharing the same cliff.
Neither one is a physical presence. Case in point, last night Steckel got to the guy he was forechecking just as he got rid of the puck. Instead of giving him a bump or shove, he just leaned into him. That guys gonna feel Walker and Belanger; he doesn’t feel Steckel or Gordon. However, Gordon and Steckel, being interchangeable is one thing. Leaving Bradley out is another, and something I dont see happening all that much. Bradley is a key conduit of team chemistry, and on the ice he’s noticed. In the playoffs, it gives you +2 gritty guys a game, where Gordon and Steckel offer no grit, but Gordon can play the PK, while Steckel can over produce in a playoff atmosphere. In short, Steckel wins you a game each or every other series. Bradley and Walker give you a lot of reliable sandpaper
by The Jade Donkey on Mar 4, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Belanger is clearly staying in the lineup. He’s faster and better than the other guys. He’ll be on the 3C until BMo slumps then he’ll take a shot at 2C. Walker is going to be like Brads, but meaner and older. Belanger also means we don’t have to worry about the PK loss if we sit Boyd or Steckel. Either way we have two solid PK guys who can win face offs. I’d say Gordon ends up sitting in the playoffs, and Walker/Bradley battle for the last spot. Until Fehr moves back to the dog house.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 4, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
I’d love to see Belanger get a shot at playing with Semin and Laich. On paper he’s the perfect guy for that line with approximately the offense of Flash but with a lot better % on the dot and good defensive prowess.
As far as 3C/4C goes, the team has versatility now. There are 3 guys now who can center a PK, 3 guys now who can help out on set plays on the faceoff, 3 guys now who can come in and center an energy line. I’m part of the Steckel lobby but there are certainly teams/times that he’s best off the ice. Boudreau has to know that or else we wouldn’t be sitting here with so much conjecture over what happens to the bottom lines. GMGM obviously was addressing what Boudreau told him.
I agree – it has to be hard knowing for the guys that are scratched, as well as for a guy like Chimera who probably doesn’t consider himself 4th line.
Hopefully the benefit is that players on the bottom lines will play hard every shift resulting in increased energy and production.
Let’s hope no one takes their nameplate home with them tonight. Then we’ll really know we’ve got a problem.
It is hard for me to get over that with Olie. I think he really tarnished his legacy, the way he left and where he ended up signing.
Eh, let’s give Olie a break. His ultra competitive ways made him great, when he was great. He just didn’t know when he was done. It happens.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Yeah I’m not about to turn on the best goalie in franchise history because he got angry about playing time then went to our bitter, bitter rivals – the Tampa Bay Lightning – to be a backup.
And it would make your name selection look really lame if you did that.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
by zephyr on Mar 4, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh I’d be screwed. I can’t think of a clever nickname involving a player pun. If this were a Pens board “My Little Poni” would be awesome.
as much as the rest of the season is proving ground for the "bottom 6"
it’s that much more so for BB…the onus is really on him to make it work. We all know about his propensity for changing lines, so this is almost like giving a mad chef another page of ingredients. Hopefully he figures it out.
To extend the metaphor a little further, almost all those ingredients he knows how to use (and has in the past), so this is about as perfect an opportunity as he’s had.
"First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp slapped you into that china cabinet."
I was hungry yesterday for a Ham sandwich. I got some Crow instead, but I washed it down with some Juice and it actually turned out OK.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I’m glad, I didn’t know if it was too soon and the Crow name hadn’t spread yet.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
What happened? You didn’t like your side of knuckle sammidge?
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 4, 2010 5:41 PM EST up reply actions
Oh I liked it just fine…not so sure Aaron Walker did.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Mar 4, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
Fleischmann-Belanger-Fehr
Chimera-Gordon-Walker
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Mixing and matching personnel to make 3rd and 4th lines with this bunch seems like a good problem to have.
We have the best top line in the league, a second line that could be another teams first line, and mix of skill, speed, and grit to make the 3rd and 4th lines.
by Gin and Tonic on Mar 4, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
It sure is better than the days when it was Ov and three 4th lines. Cassels. Yikes. and Sutherby.
Motzko. Clymer. man, times have changed.
Frankly, i used to yawn everytime Yake, Eagles and Black took the ice.
by The Jade Donkey on Mar 4, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
Belanger isn’t a second line center but I agree with the rest of your post.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
I think he’s listed the 3rd, 4th and “5th” lines, there?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I think both are 2/3 guys. But they are also both responsible defensively and can skate, so with the Ws they’ll have that should be enough. It’s pretty clear now, but I’m just not that concerned about our size down the middle. Once the face off is over it’s a team battle. Our D will be more responsible for controlling Malkin/Sid than our C will, and if all 5 work together to make sure we have the puck or force them to start 200 feet from our net I think it’ll be ok.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 4, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, and as far as that face off thing. We’ve now got 2 of the top 7, so even if the PIT Cs are bigger and better, they are much less likely to start with the puck every shift. Anyone else notice how SUI dominating Team Canada was a huge key to staying close in that game?
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 4, 2010 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
Still undersized down the middle, still have two third line centers for the second and third lines…but it’s pretty damn good.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Why is everyone putting Gordon over Steckel!? I would stick with Steckel and Bradley! Love their chemistry on that line…
Gordon probably gets it because he played well last night. Steckel will get a lot of playing time there going forward.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 4, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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