Saturday, October 08, 2005
SEAHAWKS-RAMS 10/9/05
That's right, I'm posting this earlier than usual.
Do I need to remind anybody how big this game is?
No Darrell Jackson. No Bobby Engram. Those guys will be missed, but the Seahawks should still win this game. IF THIS TEAM WANTS TO BE RESPECTED, THEY HAVE TO WIN THIS GAME. NO QUESTIONS ASKED, FOLKS.
As Chris Berman loves to say, "COME ON, SEATTLE!!!"
F*ck the Rams.
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GAME 2: OILERS 4, CANUCKS 3 (SO)
Oilers 4, Canucks 3 (SO)
[actually posted Sun ~3:56p]
I was away or incapacitated (read: asleep) for most of this game. We got back from Washington, DC, pretty late last night, and I got back here during the first intermission. Since I was busy sloshing through the nation's capital (it rained all damn day; no drizzle, and I was soaked to the bone) and driving for much of the day, I was beat. So, I'm writing this with some second-period notes, some stats, and the free NHL.com highlight reel.
It was special-teams mania in Edmonton as five of the six goals scored in regulation occurred with a man-advantage (or two-man). The Canucks were manhandled in the faceoff circle, losing 41 of 68 faceoffs on the night. The Canucks managed 31 shots on the night, but had 25 shots blocked by various Edmonton skaters, which is insane. But what turned the tide was a highly inopportune gaffe by Mattias Ohlund, who didn't play a single shift in the preseason. In the final minute of regulation with the Canucks up 3-2, Ohlund shoveled the puck over the glass from behind his blueline. In the old NHL, that was fine and dandy. In the new NHL, that's delay of game. Eighteen second after Ohlund went to the box, Raffi Torres tied the game and sent it to overtime, which went scoreless before Edmonton took the shootout.
1st period
The Oilers scored on their first shot of the game. Most (possibly all) of Canada didn't see the Horcoff goal live since the CBC was showing feed of the first game of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader. I didn't see it because I was either driving or eating at a Perkins restaurant somewhere along I-95 in Virginia. The play-by-play sheet says it was a wrister from eleven feet.
»» 1, EDMONTON, Shawn Horcoff 3 (Ryan Smyth, Radek Dvorak) 1:42
»» OILERS 1, CANUCKS 0
On a power play, Naslund made good with a quick shot from the left circle, going top corner on Jussi Markkanen's glove side.
»» 2, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Markus Naslund 3 (Sami Salo, Ed Jovanovski) 17:17
»» OILERS 1, CANUCKS 1
2nd period
The Canucks dug themselves a deep hole early in the period, taking two quick penalties. The penalty kill went to work, killing off the Jarkko Ruutu tripping minor, but there was still 21 seconds left on the Salo tripping minor. Three seconds later, Raffi Torres went short side over Cloutier's shoulder from the right circle.
»» 3, EDMONTON, powerplay, Raffi Torres 1 (Ales Hemsky, Jarret Stoll), 2:43
»» OILERS 2, CANUCKS 1
After he'd put the Oilers on a two-man advantage that helped usher in the Torres goal, Sami Salo took another freakin' penalty (a hold this time) after a pretty good save by Cloutier. Cloutier robbed Stoll on the resulting power play, and the Canucks killed off the penalty. Then Todd Bertuzzi was called for a penalty (hooking), but Raffi Torres held a stick to nullify the last twenty seconds of the penalty. Not long after, Jarkko Ruutu took the Canucks off a power play with a dive (slash). Todd Bertuzzi had Markkanen beat later in the period, but hit the crossbar. The Canucks went 0-for-4 on the power play in the period, making them 1-for-7 on the man-advantage in the first 40 minutes of play.
3rd period
Igor Ulanov went to the box for tripping halfway through a Georges Laraque roughing minor. Ulanov was six seconds from leaving the box when Naslund wristed the puck just inside the far post from the right circle.
»» 4, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Naslund 4 (Salo, Jovanovski) 5:55
»» OILERS 2, CANUCKS 2
The Oilers were six seconds away from killing off a Todd Harvey hooking minor, but Salo blasted a one-timer from the very high slot and past Markkanen.
»» 5, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Salo 1 (Naslund, Nolan Baumgartner) 12:08
»» CANUCKS 3, OILERS 2
Then came the crucial error where Ohlund put the puck over the glass, resulting in Edmonton having the last 40-plus seconds of regulation on the power play. It's been said that Dan Cloutier's rebound control leaves a little to be desired. After a Peca feed from behind the goal line, Torres, from Cloutier's glove side, pounced on his own rebound, lifting it up and over the prone goalie.
»» 6, EDMONTON, powerplay, Torres 2 (Michael Peca, Hemsky) 19:37
»» OILERS 3, CANUCKS 3
Overtime
none
Shootout
VANCOUVER, Naslund - NO
Torres was the first skater on the Edmonton shootout, and he deked to the backhand and shoveled the puck over a sprawled Cloutier.
EDMONTON, Torres - YES
VANCOUVER, Todd Bertuzzi - NO
Hemsky was sent out to finish the game, and finish the game he did, skating straight to Cloutier and wristing one under his glove.
EDMONTON, Hemsky - YES
»» OILERS 4, CANUCKS 3
Three stars -- (1) Edmonton's Raffi Torres, (2) Naslund, (3) Edmonton's Marty Reasoner
skater, goals-assists-points
Naslund 2-1-3
Salo 1-2-3
Jovanovski 0-2-2
Baumgartner 0-1-1
It's not too diverse of a scoring distribution, but it's good to see Naslund pouring in five points in the first two games of the season. Salo has four himself. Baumgartner had an assist in the first game as well. Since Vancouver's goals were all score on the power play, all of the Canuck skaters were either even or minus-one. Brendan Morrison won six faceoffs but lost thirteen. Henrik Sedin won five faceoffs but lost twelve. Dan Cloutier stopped 31 of 34 shots and kept the Canucks in the game early, when the Canucks had no business even being in the game.
Yes, I really did go to Washington.
It's the Canucks and Red Wings from Detroit on Monday night, kicking off a week of three road games, with the other two being at Minnesota, where Todd Bertuzzi will undoubtedly be booed mercilessly. I never though I'd be more ecstatic with a road game in Detroit, but it starts at 7:30p on the east coast, so I can actually listen to the game and not have to worry about being a total zombie in the morning.
The Canucks are 1-0-1, good for three points in the standings. In the standings I've seen printed, they aren't distinguishing between overtime losses and shootout losses. They both count as one point anyway.
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Thursday, October 06, 2005
GAME 1: CANUCKS 3, COYOTES 2
Canucks 3, Coyotes 2
Yes, it's a pain to be on the east coast and try to follow your west-coast hockey team. Sure, I'd like to crank out a post right after the game, but to go to bed at 3am and get up at 6 for work just wouldn't be sane.
On the first night of the NHL's new era, this game featured the head-coaching debut of a certain someone by the name of Wayne Gretzky, and it also featured the return of Todd Bertuzzi to competitive hockey, over a year and a half since the suckerpunch seen 'round the world.
The Canucks were looking to get the new season off on the right foot. The West Coast Express line of Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and Bertuzzi can be devastating when they're on their game, but things after that are less certain. For instance, losing Marek Malik and Brent Sopel off the blueline didn't help their defensive depth. Many Canuck faithful cringed at the thought of Bryan Allen ascending in the depth chart and getting top-four minutes. Other questions included how well the Sedins' latest linemate, Anson Carter, would mesh with the twins. Also, Richard Park doesn't just provide depth, but also possesses offensive skills that weren't exactly on display given the system of the Minnesota Wild. Also, the eternal question lingers as to whether Dan Cloutier can prove himself in the playoffs. We would have known the answer to this question back in 2004, but he was injured in the Calgary series.
But how would they do on Opening Night?
Let me say that I have no idea how many of these games I'll be able to post about, or how extensive I'll be posting, or if there'll be any sort of template like with the Seahawks and Mariners or Sonics. I'm just going to wing it from here and see what happens. Heck, that's what we do with a lot of things here at Sports and B's.
Okay, enough of this spiel. Let's get to the game...
1st period
This period was largely a goaltending exhibition by Curtis Joseph of the Coyotes and Dan Cloutier for Vancouver. Joseph stopped two big chances early, and it helped the Coyotes along, as they jumped out to an early 10-3 lead in shots on goal. The Canucks were able to help turn the tide a bit when they were able to keep the pressure on a delayed call, keeping the puck for a long time until Mike Johnson finally went into the box for hooking. I said that this was a goalie exhibition, and Cloutier did go post-to-post to make a toe save to rob Boyd Devereaux. After being down 10-3 on shots, the Canucks fought back, and the period ended with the Coyotes up 16-12 in shots.
2nd period
The Coyotes didn't fare as well in the second twenty minutes. The Canucks didn't wait long to tally their first of the year as Nolan Baumgartner kept a puck in the offensive zone, and the puck found its way to Mattias Ohlund on the left point, whose slapshot went off of Coyote Derek Morris' glove and past Joseph. Phoenix may have had some attention directed toward Jarkko Ruutu on the play, who had been throwing his weight around.
»» 1, VANCOUVER, Mattias Ohlund 1 (Nolan Baumgartner) 2:19
»» CANUCKS 1, COYOTES 0
New Vancouver blueliner Steve McCarthy was whistled for high-sticking right after the Ohlund goal, which isn't timely, though luckily the Coyotes didn't capitalize. A few minutes later, Markus Naslund broke away and deked to the backhand to beat CuJo and finish off a three-way passing play that netted points for the top line.
»» 2, VANCOUVER, Markus Naslund 1 (Todd Bertuzzi, Brendan Morrison) 7:59
»» CANUCKS 2, COYOTES 0
The Coyotes were starting to turn the puck over more frequently. Sami Salo and Richard Park put together a great scoring chance that was stopped. Markus Naslund was hooked late in the period by Tyson Nash, but the Canucks didn't capitalize on the ensuing power play. Vancouver outshot Phoenix 14-7 in the period and were leading 26-23 in that department after forty minutes.
3rd period
The Canucks had to hold off the Coyotes' last gasp. Early on, Sami Salo was nailed by former Seattle Thunderbird Oleg Saprykin and came away clutching his right arm, though he did return for a few more shifts. Anson Carter hit the post with a shot. Just short of the halfway point of the period, Matt Cooke was whistled for a hook, but Saprykin was sent off for diving on the same play. Thus, the result was a couple minutes' worth of 4-on-4 hockey. Midway through the 4-on-4, the Canucks were caught off to one side, and Keith Ballard took a pass from the defenseman Mike Johnson and walked in on Cloutier for his first NHL goal.
»» 3, PHOENIX, Keith Ballard 1 (Mike Johnson) 11:01
»» CANUCKS 2, COYOTES 1
In what seemed like a dagger at the time, the Canucks had a 2-on-1 with Naslund on the right wing, who went stick side just inside the post just nineteen seconds after the Phoenix goal.
»» 4, VANCOUVER, Naslund 2 (Morrison, Sami Salo) 11:20
»» CANUCKS 3, COYOTES 1
So the Canucks just had to hold off the Coyotes for the last half of the period and not blow a two-goal lead. Unfortunately, Daniels Sedin hooked and went to the box with 1:35 remaining in the period. For the last ditch, Gretzky had pulled Joseph and had the 6-on-4 with the empty net. Saprykin made up for his earlier dive by pouncing on a rebound in the slot and burying it inside the final minute, getting the Coyotes within a goal.
»» 5, PHOENIX, powerplay, Oleg Saprykin 1 (Shane Doan, Mike Comrie) 19:16
»» CANUCKS 3, COYOTES 2
The Canucks got a break late when they iced the puck, but the clock ran a couple of seconds too long. Gretzky pleaded for three seconds to be left on the game clock, but he only got one. Of course, the solution here is to send Trevor Linden to the faceoff circle. That's what happened, he won the faceoff, and the game was over. Phoenix outshot the Canucks 9-4 in the period and 32-30 for the game.
Three stars -- (1) Naslund, (2) Cloutier, (3) Phoenix's Shane Doan
skater, goals-assists-points
Naslund 2-0-2
Morrison 0-2-2
Ohlund 1-0-1
Baumgartner 0-1-1
Bertuzzi 0-1-1
Salo 0-1-1
Dan Cloutier stopped 30 of 32 shots, including the Devereaux shot in the first as well as a great stop off of Mike Ricci.
As for the banged-up Canucks, Bertuzzi, who barely played in the preseason due to a bad back, had two shots on goal, delivered five hits, and was a plus-1 in 17:42 of ice time. Ohlund, who didn't play a single shift in the preseason, had one of his three shots hit paydirt, delivered three hits, and was a plus-two in 20:33 minutes on the ice.
Bryan Allen, Ed Jovanovski, and Anson Carter were the only minus players for the Canucks in this game, all with minus-ones. Ohlund, Salo, Morrison, and Naslund were all plus-2.
One thing that helped the Canucks' hopes was when Petr Nedved left in the third period with a groin strain. Sure, he hasn't lived up to expectations, but he did burn the Canucks as an Oiler late last year.
So went the first victory for new Vancouver GM Dave Nonis. The Canucks are 7-2 in their last nine home openers.
The Canucks travel to Edmonton for a Saturday night game against Mike Peca, Chris Pronger, Ryan Smyth, and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers. It's a western Canada battle.
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Wednesday, October 05, 2005
2005-2006 CANUCKS GAME RECAP ARCHIVE
Do I have any idea whether I'll be able to keep up these Canuck posts at the same strength throughout the year? No. I sure hope that I can, though. If I miss a game, I can go back to the goal reel for sure and try to decipher those ten seconds or so before each goal. But if I'm able to listen to the games, the posts have more detail.
Anyway, here's what I have for the 2005-2006 Vancouver Canucks...
2005
OCTOBER
5 Wed: W 3-2 vs. PHX (1-0-0, 2 pts)
8 Sat: L 4-3 (SO) at EDM (1-0-1, 3 pts)
10 Mon: W 4-2 at DET (2-0-1, 5 pts)
12 Wed: L 6-0 at MIN (2-1-1, 5 pts)
14 Fri: W 5-3 at MIN (3-1-1, 7 pts)
16 Sun: W 5-2 vs. DAL (4-1-1, 9 pts)
18 Tue: W 6-2 vs. CHI (5-1-1, 11 pts)
20 Thu: W 3-2 vs. PHX (6-1-1, 13 pts)
22 Sat: W 6-4 vs. COL (7-1-1, 15 pts)
25 Tue: W 3-1 at MIN (8-1-1, 17 pts)
27 Thu: L 6-2 at COL (8-2-1, 17 pts)
29 Sat: L 4-3 (OT) at COL (8-2-2, 18 pts)
MONTH of October: 8-2-2, 18 pts (win pct .667, possible 24 pts)
NOVEMBER
2 Wed: W 2-1 vs. MIN (9-2-2, 20 pts)
4 Fri: W 5-3 vs. CLB (10-2-2, 22 pts)
5 Sat: L 1-0 at CGY (10-3-2, 22 pts)
7 Mon: L 4-3 at CGY (10-4-2, 22 pts)
10 Thu: L 5-3 vs. COL (10-5-2, 22 pts)
13 Sun: W 4-1 vs. DET (11-5-2, 24 pts)
16 Wed: W 3-1 at SJ (12-5-2, 26 pts)
17 Thu: L 5-4 at LA (12-6-2, 26 pts)
20 Sun: W 3-2 at ANA (13-6-2, 28 pts)
22 Tue: W 3-1 vs. CHI (14-6-2, 30 pts)
24 Thu: W 3-2 vs. SJ (15-6-2, 32 pts)
26 Sat: L 2-1 at PHX (15-7-2, 32 pts)
27 Sun: L 6-2 at COL (15-8-2, 32 pts)
30 Wed: W 5-2 vs. COL (16-8-2, 34 pts)
MONTH of November: 8-6-2, 18 pts (win pct .500, possible 32 pts)
DECEMBER
1 Thu: L 5-3 at EDM (16-9-2, 34 pts)
4 Sun: W 5-2 vs. BOS (17-9-2, 36 pts)
9 Fri: W 3-2 (SO) vs. OTT (18-9-2, 38 pts)
13 Tue: W 3-2 at NYR (19-9-2, 40 pts)
15 Thu: W 5-4 at PHI (20-9-2, 42 pts)
17 Sat: L 5-4 (OT) vs. EDM (20-9-3, 43 pts)
19 Mon: L 4-3 (SO) vs. LA (20-9-4, 44 pts)
21 Wed: L 7-6 vs. EDM (20-10-4, 44 pts)
23 Fri: L 6-5 (SO) vs. CGY (20-10-5, 45 pts)
26 Mon: L 2-1 vs. CGY (20-11-5, 45 pts)
28 Wed: W 4-3 vs. NSH (21-11-5, 47 pts)
31 Sat: L 4-3 at MIN (21-12-5, 47 pts)
MONTH of December: 5-4-3, 13 pts (win pct .417, possible 24 pts)
2006
JANUARY
2 Mon: L 4-1 at STL (21-13-5, 47 pts)
4 Wed: L 3-1 at DAL (21-14-5, 47 pts)
5 Thu: W 3-2 at CHI (22-14-5, 49 pts)
7 Sat: W 4-3 (OT) vs. CGY (23-14-5, 51 pts)
10 Tue: W 4-3 vs. TOR (24-14-5, 53 pts)
13 Fri: L 3-0 at NJ (24-15-5, 53 pts)
14 Sat: W 8-1 at NYI (25-15-5, 55 pts)
16 Mon: W 4-2 at PIT (26-15-5, 57 pts)
19 Thu: W 4-1 vs. BUF (27-15-5, 59 pts)
21 Sat: W 6-2 vs. MTL (28-15-5, 61 pts)
23 Mon: L 4-0 at STL (28-16-5, 61 pts)
24 Tue: L 6-5 at CLB (28-17-5, 61 pts)
26 Thu: L 2-1 at DET (28-18-5, 61 pts)
28 Sat: W 4-3 (SO) at COL (29-18-5, 63 pts)
31 Tue: W 7-4 at PHX (30-18-5, 65 pts)
MONTH of January: 9-6-0, 18 pts (win pct .600, possible 30 pts)
FEBRUARY
3 Fri: W 3-1 at CGY (31-18-5, 67 pts)
4 Sat: L 3-1 at EDM (31-19-5, 67 pts)
6 Mon: W 7-4 vs. CLB (32-19-5, 69 pts)
8 Wed: L 4-2 vs. STL (32-20-5, 69 pts)
10 Fri: L 3-1 vs. ANA (32-21-5, 69 pts)
12 Sun: W 3-2 (OT) vs. MIN (33-21-5, 71 pts)
28 Tue: W 2-1 at CGY (34-21-5, 73 pts)
MONTH of February: 4-3-0, 8 pts (win pct .571, possible 14 pts)
MARCH
2 Thu: L 3-1 at NSH (34-22-5, 73 pts)
3 Fri: W 5-4 (SO) at CHI (35-22-5, 75 pts)
5 Sun: L 4-1 vs. STL (35-23-5, 75 pts)
9 Thu: L 3-2 (OT) vs. NSH (35-23-6, 76 pts)
11 Sat: L 2-1 vs. DAL (35-24-6, 76 pts)
13 Mon: L 4-2 at DAL (35-25-6, 76 pts)
14 Tue: L 5-0 at NSH (35-26-6, 76 pts)
17 Fri: W 3-2 at CLB (36-26-6, 78 pts)
19 Sun: L 7-3 vs. DET (36-27-6, 78 pts)
21 Tue: W 4-1 at EDM (37-27-6, 80 pts)
23 Thu: W 4-3 (SO) vs. EDM (38-27-6, 82 pts)
25 Sat: L 3-2 vs. EDM (38-28-6, 82 pts)
27 Mon: W 7-4 vs. LA (39-28-6, 84 pts)
29 Wed: W 2-1 vs. MIN (40-28-6, 86 pts)
31 Fri: L 2-1 (SO) vs. MIN (40-28-7, 87 pts)
MONTH of March: 6-7-2, 14 pts (win pct .400, possible 30 pts)
APRIL
2 Sun: L 6-2 at ANA (40-29-7, 87 pts)
3 Mon: L 1-0 at LA (40-30-7, 87 pts)
8 Sat: W 3-2 (OT) vs. CGY (41-30-7, 89 pts)
10 Mon: L 4-2 vs. ANA (41-31-7, 89 pts)
12 Wed: L 5-4 (OT) vs. SJ (41-31-8, 90 pts)
13 Thu: L 5-3 at SJ (41-32-8, 90 pts)
15 Sat: W 4-3 (OT) vs. COL (42-32-8, 92 pts)
MONTH of April: 2-4-1, 5 pts (win pct .286, possible 14 pts)
Just a weird, odd, unfulfilling, frustrating season. The one thing that was consistent about this team over the course of the season was that they could never play sixty good minutes of hockey. It'd always be less than that with some sort of complete lapse that dug them into a hole. Dave Nonis' mailing to Canucks Inside Edge members let us know about a few positive things that happened this season -- coach Marc Crawford became the third-youngest coach in NHL history to 400 wins (he might not be around next year though), Alexandre Burrows was the fifth rookie in franchise history to net a hat trick (that third goal should have been Ryan Kesler's), and that Trevor Linden played in his 1000th game as a Canuck (they lost in San Jose that night and were eliminated from playoff contention as a result). Other than that, the season was dominated by key injuries that wiped out the starting goaltender and most of the defensive corps, as well as the big line of Markus Naslund/Brendan Morrison/Todd Bertuzzi never really hitting their stride.
The most positive things were that Alex Auld proved to be a solid NHL goalie and stood on his head certain nights. He's the reason the Canucks were still in playoff contention with two games left in the season. Also, the Canucks finally found the right guy to skate with the Sedin twins, and though no one knew in training camp just how it'd turn out, the addition of Anson Carter to skate with Daniel and Henrik Sedin proved to be a very great thing. They were the big line this year, no doubt about it.
Here comes the offseason, and here come the changes...
Anyway, here's what I have for the 2005-2006 Vancouver Canucks...
2005
OCTOBER
5 Wed: W 3-2 vs. PHX (1-0-0, 2 pts)
8 Sat: L 4-3 (SO) at EDM (1-0-1, 3 pts)
10 Mon: W 4-2 at DET (2-0-1, 5 pts)
12 Wed: L 6-0 at MIN (2-1-1, 5 pts)
14 Fri: W 5-3 at MIN (3-1-1, 7 pts)
16 Sun: W 5-2 vs. DAL (4-1-1, 9 pts)
18 Tue: W 6-2 vs. CHI (5-1-1, 11 pts)
20 Thu: W 3-2 vs. PHX (6-1-1, 13 pts)
22 Sat: W 6-4 vs. COL (7-1-1, 15 pts)
25 Tue: W 3-1 at MIN (8-1-1, 17 pts)
27 Thu: L 6-2 at COL (8-2-1, 17 pts)
29 Sat: L 4-3 (OT) at COL (8-2-2, 18 pts)
MONTH of October: 8-2-2, 18 pts (win pct .667, possible 24 pts)
NOVEMBER
2 Wed: W 2-1 vs. MIN (9-2-2, 20 pts)
4 Fri: W 5-3 vs. CLB (10-2-2, 22 pts)
5 Sat: L 1-0 at CGY (10-3-2, 22 pts)
7 Mon: L 4-3 at CGY (10-4-2, 22 pts)
10 Thu: L 5-3 vs. COL (10-5-2, 22 pts)
13 Sun: W 4-1 vs. DET (11-5-2, 24 pts)
16 Wed: W 3-1 at SJ (12-5-2, 26 pts)
17 Thu: L 5-4 at LA (12-6-2, 26 pts)
20 Sun: W 3-2 at ANA (13-6-2, 28 pts)
22 Tue: W 3-1 vs. CHI (14-6-2, 30 pts)
24 Thu: W 3-2 vs. SJ (15-6-2, 32 pts)
26 Sat: L 2-1 at PHX (15-7-2, 32 pts)
27 Sun: L 6-2 at COL (15-8-2, 32 pts)
30 Wed: W 5-2 vs. COL (16-8-2, 34 pts)
MONTH of November: 8-6-2, 18 pts (win pct .500, possible 32 pts)
DECEMBER
1 Thu: L 5-3 at EDM (16-9-2, 34 pts)
4 Sun: W 5-2 vs. BOS (17-9-2, 36 pts)
9 Fri: W 3-2 (SO) vs. OTT (18-9-2, 38 pts)
13 Tue: W 3-2 at NYR (19-9-2, 40 pts)
15 Thu: W 5-4 at PHI (20-9-2, 42 pts)
17 Sat: L 5-4 (OT) vs. EDM (20-9-3, 43 pts)
19 Mon: L 4-3 (SO) vs. LA (20-9-4, 44 pts)
21 Wed: L 7-6 vs. EDM (20-10-4, 44 pts)
23 Fri: L 6-5 (SO) vs. CGY (20-10-5, 45 pts)
26 Mon: L 2-1 vs. CGY (20-11-5, 45 pts)
28 Wed: W 4-3 vs. NSH (21-11-5, 47 pts)
31 Sat: L 4-3 at MIN (21-12-5, 47 pts)
MONTH of December: 5-4-3, 13 pts (win pct .417, possible 24 pts)
2006
JANUARY
2 Mon: L 4-1 at STL (21-13-5, 47 pts)
4 Wed: L 3-1 at DAL (21-14-5, 47 pts)
5 Thu: W 3-2 at CHI (22-14-5, 49 pts)
7 Sat: W 4-3 (OT) vs. CGY (23-14-5, 51 pts)
10 Tue: W 4-3 vs. TOR (24-14-5, 53 pts)
13 Fri: L 3-0 at NJ (24-15-5, 53 pts)
14 Sat: W 8-1 at NYI (25-15-5, 55 pts)
16 Mon: W 4-2 at PIT (26-15-5, 57 pts)
19 Thu: W 4-1 vs. BUF (27-15-5, 59 pts)
21 Sat: W 6-2 vs. MTL (28-15-5, 61 pts)
23 Mon: L 4-0 at STL (28-16-5, 61 pts)
24 Tue: L 6-5 at CLB (28-17-5, 61 pts)
26 Thu: L 2-1 at DET (28-18-5, 61 pts)
28 Sat: W 4-3 (SO) at COL (29-18-5, 63 pts)
31 Tue: W 7-4 at PHX (30-18-5, 65 pts)
MONTH of January: 9-6-0, 18 pts (win pct .600, possible 30 pts)
FEBRUARY
3 Fri: W 3-1 at CGY (31-18-5, 67 pts)
4 Sat: L 3-1 at EDM (31-19-5, 67 pts)
6 Mon: W 7-4 vs. CLB (32-19-5, 69 pts)
8 Wed: L 4-2 vs. STL (32-20-5, 69 pts)
10 Fri: L 3-1 vs. ANA (32-21-5, 69 pts)
12 Sun: W 3-2 (OT) vs. MIN (33-21-5, 71 pts)
28 Tue: W 2-1 at CGY (34-21-5, 73 pts)
MONTH of February: 4-3-0, 8 pts (win pct .571, possible 14 pts)
MARCH
2 Thu: L 3-1 at NSH (34-22-5, 73 pts)
3 Fri: W 5-4 (SO) at CHI (35-22-5, 75 pts)
5 Sun: L 4-1 vs. STL (35-23-5, 75 pts)
9 Thu: L 3-2 (OT) vs. NSH (35-23-6, 76 pts)
11 Sat: L 2-1 vs. DAL (35-24-6, 76 pts)
13 Mon: L 4-2 at DAL (35-25-6, 76 pts)
14 Tue: L 5-0 at NSH (35-26-6, 76 pts)
17 Fri: W 3-2 at CLB (36-26-6, 78 pts)
19 Sun: L 7-3 vs. DET (36-27-6, 78 pts)
21 Tue: W 4-1 at EDM (37-27-6, 80 pts)
23 Thu: W 4-3 (SO) vs. EDM (38-27-6, 82 pts)
25 Sat: L 3-2 vs. EDM (38-28-6, 82 pts)
27 Mon: W 7-4 vs. LA (39-28-6, 84 pts)
29 Wed: W 2-1 vs. MIN (40-28-6, 86 pts)
31 Fri: L 2-1 (SO) vs. MIN (40-28-7, 87 pts)
MONTH of March: 6-7-2, 14 pts (win pct .400, possible 30 pts)
APRIL
2 Sun: L 6-2 at ANA (40-29-7, 87 pts)
3 Mon: L 1-0 at LA (40-30-7, 87 pts)
8 Sat: W 3-2 (OT) vs. CGY (41-30-7, 89 pts)
10 Mon: L 4-2 vs. ANA (41-31-7, 89 pts)
12 Wed: L 5-4 (OT) vs. SJ (41-31-8, 90 pts)
13 Thu: L 5-3 at SJ (41-32-8, 90 pts)
15 Sat: W 4-3 (OT) vs. COL (42-32-8, 92 pts)
MONTH of April: 2-4-1, 5 pts (win pct .286, possible 14 pts)
Just a weird, odd, unfulfilling, frustrating season. The one thing that was consistent about this team over the course of the season was that they could never play sixty good minutes of hockey. It'd always be less than that with some sort of complete lapse that dug them into a hole. Dave Nonis' mailing to Canucks Inside Edge members let us know about a few positive things that happened this season -- coach Marc Crawford became the third-youngest coach in NHL history to 400 wins (he might not be around next year though), Alexandre Burrows was the fifth rookie in franchise history to net a hat trick (that third goal should have been Ryan Kesler's), and that Trevor Linden played in his 1000th game as a Canuck (they lost in San Jose that night and were eliminated from playoff contention as a result). Other than that, the season was dominated by key injuries that wiped out the starting goaltender and most of the defensive corps, as well as the big line of Markus Naslund/Brendan Morrison/Todd Bertuzzi never really hitting their stride.
The most positive things were that Alex Auld proved to be a solid NHL goalie and stood on his head certain nights. He's the reason the Canucks were still in playoff contention with two games left in the season. Also, the Canucks finally found the right guy to skate with the Sedin twins, and though no one knew in training camp just how it'd turn out, the addition of Anson Carter to skate with Daniel and Henrik Sedin proved to be a very great thing. They were the big line this year, no doubt about it.
Here comes the offseason, and here come the changes...
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Tuesday, October 04, 2005
WASH YOUR FACE
Some people don't care, but I do.
Hockey's here. This is a big reason why I was so anxious for the Mariners' season to end.
If you get the Outdoor Life Network (i.e., pretty much a certainty for a big part of the Puget Sound region under Comcast), you'll be able to watch the New York Rangers (ugh) against the Philadelphia Flyers at 4p. Our friends north of the border that aren't in Alberta will be able to watch Wayne Gretzky's regular-season coaching debut as the Phoenix Coyotes visit the Garage to face the Vancouver Canucks at 7:30p (one of only a couple non-7pm home starts for the Canucks). I'll be paying attention to that game by listening live here.
If there's any chance in hell you want to join a fantasy pucks league, go here, then sign up for league number 65411, and type in the password "facewash," except without the punctuation. We welcome your participation.
Thirty teams. Fifteen games. Wednesday night.
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APATHY
A year or so ago, I would have been more livid after reading a Howard Lincoln interview in one of the Seattle dailies.
Here in October 2005? I'm not as livid. Maybe I'm too soft now. Or maybe it's because there's no point getting worked up over what Lincoln has to say. Of course, I can only speak for myself when I say that.
Hey Howard, you're right. Safeco Field is not Yankee Stadium. At least there will be postseason baseball at the Stadium this weekend. Ouch.
Oh yeah, the interview.
Here in October 2005? I'm not as livid. Maybe I'm too soft now. Or maybe it's because there's no point getting worked up over what Lincoln has to say. Of course, I can only speak for myself when I say that.
Hey Howard, you're right. Safeco Field is not Yankee Stadium. At least there will be postseason baseball at the Stadium this weekend. Ouch.
Oh yeah, the interview.
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Monday, October 03, 2005
SPEARMINT
I'm still getting settled in here in Virginia Beach. We're about 10-20 minutes from the ocean, but if ever there was a place where the Interstate isn't scenic, it's here. All you see is road and nothing to the sides. Of course, the number one thing about which you'll hear me bitching is the eastern time zone. I just saw the Monday Night Football kickoff. At 9pm. For me, that's not cool. In Hawaii, the cool thing about football on Sunday was that it was all over by about 6pm (though getting up for 7am early games sucked). Here, you'd get to sleep in Sunday morning, but if your team is playing on Sunday or Monday night, you're screwed. Cue me up for "screwed" when the Eagles face the Seahawks later this season.
So, I don't have really anything to coherent to post about, though I was the only guy in the area rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday (too many 'Skins loyalists here). My next meaningful post will be some time in the next couple days, dealing with the Canucks and the opening of their season as well as the rest of the league, with every team playing on Wednesday night. But the most bunk thing about the Outdoor Life Network television deal is that the two nights of the week they televise hockey will be Monday and Tuesday night. I guess Monday is good because they avoid a bunch of NBA conflicts, and those two days won't run into the NCAA tournament in March (it'll run into the title game in April though).
But the real reason I made this post was to answer a question for myself. Using Picasa, does Felix Hernandez still look awesome in sepia tones?
Of course he does. He's Felix.
More to come from me, y'all. Enjoy yourselves.
So, I don't have really anything to coherent to post about, though I was the only guy in the area rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday (too many 'Skins loyalists here). My next meaningful post will be some time in the next couple days, dealing with the Canucks and the opening of their season as well as the rest of the league, with every team playing on Wednesday night. But the most bunk thing about the Outdoor Life Network television deal is that the two nights of the week they televise hockey will be Monday and Tuesday night. I guess Monday is good because they avoid a bunch of NBA conflicts, and those two days won't run into the NCAA tournament in March (it'll run into the title game in April though).
But the real reason I made this post was to answer a question for myself. Using Picasa, does Felix Hernandez still look awesome in sepia tones?
Of course he does. He's Felix.
More to come from me, y'all. Enjoy yourselves.
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GET CHECKED!
It's time for another PSA here at Sports And Bremertonians.
We're now in October and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although in reality, every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Here at Arkansas State University, some of us are wearing t-shirts that say "I Love Boobies". On the back of the shirt, it says "If you don't, I will!". The shirt is a fun way to promote breast cancer awareness, but the message is a serious one.
Ladies, please get checked. No, I'm not saying "get checked" just because hockey season starts on Wednesday night. Guys, spread the message to the ladies in your lives. Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends, etc. (Yes, I'm aware of the fact that men can get breast cancer as well. But as we all know, women are significantly more affected by breast cancer. I'm not a doctor, but it's the truth.)
One day, I hope to see breast cancer listed under the category "cured diseases".
Here at Sports And Bremertonians, we love the ladies.
We don't love breast cancer, however.
Please get checked. And as the shirt says, I love boobies. Heh.
We're now in October and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although in reality, every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Here at Arkansas State University, some of us are wearing t-shirts that say "I Love Boobies". On the back of the shirt, it says "If you don't, I will!". The shirt is a fun way to promote breast cancer awareness, but the message is a serious one.
Ladies, please get checked. No, I'm not saying "get checked" just because hockey season starts on Wednesday night. Guys, spread the message to the ladies in your lives. Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends, etc. (Yes, I'm aware of the fact that men can get breast cancer as well. But as we all know, women are significantly more affected by breast cancer. I'm not a doctor, but it's the truth.)
One day, I hope to see breast cancer listed under the category "cured diseases".
Here at Sports And Bremertonians, we love the ladies.
We don't love breast cancer, however.
Please get checked. And as the shirt says, I love boobies. Heh.
/ Click for main page
FORTY SEVEN AND THREE
There are times when it sucks to be a Seattle sports fan. We know this to be true.
Yesterday was one of those days.
Only this time, there was hope, even though in all honesty, there shouldn't have been.
I can sit here and blame Josh Brown for missing two 47-yard field goals in yesterday's Seahawks 20-17 overtime loss to the Redskins. But I'm not going to.
This loss falls on the defense, plain and simple.
Does anybody realize how pathetic the Redskins offense is? No, I'm not convinced this is a 3-0 team. That team being the Redskins, of course. Not the Seahawks.
But hey, I'm used to this. The Redskins were able to convert on 3rd down 13 out of 18 tries. One of these years, the Seahawks may stop somebody on 3rd down. You want the ugly details? Here you go...(courtesy of NFL.com)
1ST QUARTER
3-9-WAS30 (14:12) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to J.Thrash to WAS 44 for 14 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA47 (12:10) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss pushed ob at SEA 39 for 8 yards (K.Herndon)
3-13-WAS17 (5:11) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to J.Thrash to WAS 33 for 16 yards (M.Boulware)
3-13-WAS30 (3:39) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to WAS 45 for 15 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA46 (1:42) M.Brunell pass incomplete to S.Moss.
PENALTY on SEA-D.Lewis, Defensive Pass Interference, 6 yards, enforced at SEA 46 - No Play.
2ND QUARTER
3-2-WAS49 (7:42) M.Brunell pass to C.Cooley pushed ob at SEA 40 for 11 yards (D.Lewis)
3-10-SEA23 (5:39) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to R.Royal to SEA 13 for 10 yards (B.Fisher, K.Bentley)
3-7-SEA10 (4:33) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to SEA 2 for 8 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA1 (2:44) M.Brunell pass to R.Royal for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN
3RD QUARTER
3-10-SEA33 (7:31) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass incomplete to D.Patten.
PENALTY on SEA-M.Boulware, Defensive Pass Interference, 29 yards, enforced at SEA 33 - No Play. (BULLSH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!)
3-9-WAS30 (3:23) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to C.Portis to WAS 42 for 12 yards (D.Lewis)
OVERTIME
3-10-WAS23 (14:12) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to WAS 36 for 13 yards (M.Trufant)
3-9-WAS37 (12:47) (Shotgun) M.Brunell up the middle to SEA 45 for 18 yards (K.Hamlin)
3-10-SEA45 (11:15) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to SEA 15 for 30 yards (K.Herndon)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Yesterday's loss was more painful for me because I actually went out in public and watched the game. I watched the game at Wings-To-Go, a local restaurant here in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Great wings, great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back later in the season when the Seahawks aren't on local television.
The next three weeks, however, the Seahawks will be on local TV here. You know who is this Sunday. The battle for the NFC West lead, folks. Maybe this Sunday, the Seahawks defense will get a stop on 3rd down...
Yesterday was one of those days.
Only this time, there was hope, even though in all honesty, there shouldn't have been.
I can sit here and blame Josh Brown for missing two 47-yard field goals in yesterday's Seahawks 20-17 overtime loss to the Redskins. But I'm not going to.
This loss falls on the defense, plain and simple.
Does anybody realize how pathetic the Redskins offense is? No, I'm not convinced this is a 3-0 team. That team being the Redskins, of course. Not the Seahawks.
But hey, I'm used to this. The Redskins were able to convert on 3rd down 13 out of 18 tries. One of these years, the Seahawks may stop somebody on 3rd down. You want the ugly details? Here you go...(courtesy of NFL.com)
1ST QUARTER
3-9-WAS30 (14:12) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to J.Thrash to WAS 44 for 14 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA47 (12:10) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss pushed ob at SEA 39 for 8 yards (K.Herndon)
3-13-WAS17 (5:11) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to J.Thrash to WAS 33 for 16 yards (M.Boulware)
3-13-WAS30 (3:39) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to WAS 45 for 15 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA46 (1:42) M.Brunell pass incomplete to S.Moss.
PENALTY on SEA-D.Lewis, Defensive Pass Interference, 6 yards, enforced at SEA 46 - No Play.
2ND QUARTER
3-2-WAS49 (7:42) M.Brunell pass to C.Cooley pushed ob at SEA 40 for 11 yards (D.Lewis)
3-10-SEA23 (5:39) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to R.Royal to SEA 13 for 10 yards (B.Fisher, K.Bentley)
3-7-SEA10 (4:33) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to SEA 2 for 8 yards (A.Dyson)
3-1-SEA1 (2:44) M.Brunell pass to R.Royal for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN
3RD QUARTER
3-10-SEA33 (7:31) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass incomplete to D.Patten.
PENALTY on SEA-M.Boulware, Defensive Pass Interference, 29 yards, enforced at SEA 33 - No Play. (BULLSH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!)
3-9-WAS30 (3:23) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to C.Portis to WAS 42 for 12 yards (D.Lewis)
OVERTIME
3-10-WAS23 (14:12) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to WAS 36 for 13 yards (M.Trufant)
3-9-WAS37 (12:47) (Shotgun) M.Brunell up the middle to SEA 45 for 18 yards (K.Hamlin)
3-10-SEA45 (11:15) (Shotgun) M.Brunell pass to S.Moss to SEA 15 for 30 yards (K.Herndon)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Yesterday's loss was more painful for me because I actually went out in public and watched the game. I watched the game at Wings-To-Go, a local restaurant here in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Great wings, great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back later in the season when the Seahawks aren't on local television.
The next three weeks, however, the Seahawks will be on local TV here. You know who is this Sunday. The battle for the NFC West lead, folks. Maybe this Sunday, the Seahawks defense will get a stop on 3rd down...
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Sunday, October 02, 2005
WEEK 4: SEAHAWKS/REDSKINS 10/2/05
I'm surprised I can type this post at this point.
But here's all you need to know about the Seahawks-Redskins tilt...
Mike Holmgren is winless against the Redskins as Seahawks head coach.
What better time than here? What better time than now?
By the way, this game thread may be lighter than usual. David is flying cross-country and I'll be watching the game in a local restaurant. God bless the college town life, baby.
Hooray, Beale Street. Hooray, Southern girls. Hooray, beer.
Hooray, Luis Sojo.
But here's all you need to know about the Seahawks-Redskins tilt...
Mike Holmgren is winless against the Redskins as Seahawks head coach.
What better time than here? What better time than now?
By the way, this game thread may be lighter than usual. David is flying cross-country and I'll be watching the game in a local restaurant. God bless the college town life, baby.
Hooray, Beale Street. Hooray, Southern girls. Hooray, beer.
Hooray, Luis Sojo.
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