Darcy Tucker is NUTS
Nov 7, 2008 NHL
And I’m glad he’s out of the Eastern Conference…check this out from the Avs/Wild game:
Late in the second period, Tucker and defenseman Nick Schultz clashed deep in the Wild’s zone. After the pushing match, the two lined up next to each other on a faceoff and Tucker began screaming at him as the Wild was on a penalty kill. Schultz was called off the ice on a line change and as he skated by, Tucker continued barking at him.
Then, 6:33 into the third, in a despicable act but one he’s done often in his career, Tucker came in way late on Schultz, bent down and went right for the knees. He was called for clipping.
First, an aside: clipping? I thought that was only called in the NFL? If you think Russo is a bit thick with the hyperbole, here’s a comment from Schultz himself after the game:
“My concern is at the end of the second, he tells me he’s going to come and take out my knees, and then he actually does it. It says everything you need to know about that guy.”
Emphasis mine. So according to Nick Schultz, this was an intentional attack at his knees (which Tucker has a reputation for). What happened in the game to take care of this, by the way? MATCHING MINORS. That’s right, since Schultz took exception to the hit (as he should!) he got a roughing penalty. But hey, we have to let the officials police the game, right? UGH. Thanks to Mike Russo at the Star-Tribune.
Tags: avalanche, colorado, minnesota, Nick Schultz, tucker, wild
NOBODY PANIC
The Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins yesterday, but to hear some people talk about it, you’d think the season were over after that game. I rechecked the standings just to be safe, but yep, that’s two losses now in 7 games. I realize things didn’t look great today, but they seldom do for every game of the year. Remember the Giants last year…early in the season they wanted Coughlin’s head on a platter and the other Manning out on a rail. Now there are people who think Eli is better than Peyton.
Switching to hockey, yesterday, every team in the league played. I only caught the OT and shootout of the Sabres loss to the Avalanche, but it was still a solid game. Tallinder suffered a bad cut on his leg, however, and his status for the Monday night game against the Sens is in question. Ross McKeon at Yahoo! Sports has some stats from Saturday’s games, everything from attendance (go away Islanders) to this bit on Andrej Sekera:
The biggest minute-muncher on Saturday was Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom with 32:01 of ice time. Buffalo’s young defenseman Andrej Sekera was the only other skater in the league to log more than 30 minutes (30:44).
In part due to Hank’s injury, but still. They trust him, and it (for the most part) has paid off. I’ll have an abbreviated Gameday thread up tomorrow, until then, get well Sabres!
Tags: avalanche, bills, buffalo, colorado, dolphins, football, Hockey, injury, manning, miami, NFL, NHL, sabres, sekera, tallinder
It’s Finally Here!
Oct 9, 2008 NHL
The ‘North American portion’ of the NHL schedule gets underway tonight, with four games. Your only 7pm option is the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Detroit Red Wings, a game which will be seen on Versus or CBC depending on where you are. The Wings are raising their Stanley Cup banner, but I doubt Versus viewers will see it, as there is a special 3 hour Sidney Crosby interview they need to get through (I kid, I kid!). The schedule is rounded out with three late games: Boston at Colorado (VS), Calgary at Vancouver (CBC) and Anaheim at San Jose (local coverage as far as I can tell). I wish all teams a good season, and may no superstars get Tom Brady’d on the opening weekend, unless it’s Sean Avery.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, canucks, colorado, crosby, detroit, ducks, flames, Hockey, maple leafs, NHL, red wings, san jose, sharks, stanley cup, toronto, vancouver
2008-2009 NHL Schedule Out
Jul 17, 2008 NHL
NHL.com has the schedule for this season out, and this article highlights some of the interesting games (like the ones being played in Europe). Here is the link to the full schedule. First thing that jumps out, Buffalo plays a day game at the Islanders on October 13th. There’s an early western trip Oct 23-25, visiting the Wild and Avalanche. I’ll look at it more and post more later.
edit: Here is the Sabres’s schedule specifically.
Tags: avalanche, buffalo, colorado, Hockey, islanders, minnesota, new york, NHL, sabres, schedule, wild
Pre-UFA Player Movement
Jun 30, 2008 NHL
Free Agency starts tomorrow, but several names are already off the market. The rights to Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone were traded from the Pens to the Lightning, with both players signing new deals (Malone 7 years, $31.5 million, Roberts 1 year, $1.2 million). The Lightning also acquired the rights to negotiate with Brian Rolston of the Wild. Colorado re-signed Adam Foote and Jean-Michael Liles, taking away two more D-men for the Sabres to pursue. Lubomir Visnovsky was also traded to the Oilers, in exchange for Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene. I know there are still plenty of possibilities, but there are times I wish the Sabres were in the mix for some of this.
Tags: avalanche, buffalo, colorado, foote, greene, Hockey, lightning, liles, malone, minnesota, NHL, penguins, pittsburgh, roberts, rolston, sabres, signing, stoll, tampa bay, trade, visnovsky, wild
NHL Playoff Picture
Apr 21, 2008 NHL
A few more team advanced to the next round of the playoffs over the weekend, but not the defending champs. The Dallas Stars took out the Ducks in 6 games, and join the Avalanche and the Red Wings coming out of the West. Kipper forced game 7 for Calgary as the Flames shut out the Sharks 2-0.
The Rangers took out the Devils in 5, joining the Pens in the next round. Boston has won 2 straight games to force game 7 up in Montreal, and Washington staved off elimination on Saturday but play in Philly tonight. No late game tonight, which sucks as that’s the one I’m more likely to see.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, ducks, flames, Hockey, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, sharks, stars
Playoff Update
Apr 11, 2008 NHL
Three series are underway in the East, with Montreal, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers all holding a 1-0 lead. Montreal scored twice in the first two minutes (one each from the Kostitsyns) and took the body on the supposedly more physical Bruins. I’d vote the Bruins most likely team to get swept if the Sens didn’t look so terrible right now. The Rangers took advantage of an off-his-game Brodeur, and Devils fans are hoping that was a one game let down or they have no shot. Washington and Philly get started tonight.
All four Western Conference series are underway, with Detroit, Colorado and Dallas holding 1-0 leads. Calagary/San Jose is 1-1. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve been able to stay up and see of the Flames and Sharks (especially Iginla ripping it from Campbell and scoring). A little shocked that Anaheim got shut out. Should be some fun stuff tonight.
Tags: avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, campbell, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, flames, Hockey, iginla, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, ottawa, penguins, pittsburgh, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, senators, sharks, stars
Deadline Day - Part 2
Feb 26, 2008 NHL
This day has seen the end of Campbell, but will it soon see the end of any other Sabres?
1:01pm: D Adam Foote to the Avalanche, Jackets get a Conditional pick (and another if Foote resigns?).
1:11pm: F Sergei Fedorov to Washington for Blue Jackets D Theo Ruth.
1:30pm: D Rob Davison goes to the Isles for a Sharks 7th round pick.
1:36pm: Canucks get F Matt Pettinger from the Capitals for F Matt Cooke. Caps are the big movers so far today.
2:45pm: So…is this it then?
2:50pm: D Christian Backman of the Blues to the Rangers for a 4th round pick.
2:51pm: D Hal Gill to the Penguins, Leafs get a 2nd and a 5th.
2:56pm: Here’s the boom: F Marian Hossa and F Pascal Dupuis (great name to say) to the Penguins, with the Thrash getting F Colby Armstrong, F Erik Christensen, F Angelo Esposito and a 1st rounder in return.
Deals can still go through after the deadline, sort of like sending mail that has to be postmarked by a certain time: as long as the deal is at the league office now, you are good.
3:11pm: Islanders send jerkwad F Chris Simon to the Wild for a 6th round pick.
3:20ish: Red Wings get D Brad Stuart for the Kings 2nd and 4th rounders.
3:25pm: Rangers get F Fredrik Sjostrom, G David Leneveu and F Josh Gratton, Coyotes get the other Hossa (Marcel, a forward) and goalie superprospect Al Montoya.
3:26pm: Leafs trade F Chad Kilger to the Panthers for a 3rd rounder.
3:30pm: Two deals by the Ducks, trading for Kings G JS Aubin (Miller’s opponent in those AMP commercials), giving up a 7th round pick, and getting D Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Isles for a 3rd.
Cleaning up the late deals…Washington gets F Alexandre Giroux from the Thrash for F Joe Motzko. Nashville gets F Jan Hlavac from the Lightning for a 7th round pick.
Tags: atlanta, avalanche, blue jackets, campbell, Colby Armstrong, colorado, columbus, davison, detroit, fedorov, foote, Hockey, hossa, islanders, kings, los angeles, new york, NHL, penguins, pittsburgh, ruth, sabres, san jose, sharks, simon, stuart, thrashers, trade, trade deadline, wings
