French Collection

I’m now watching Coyotes vs Ducks. Ducks have Luneau and Mintyukov on D, two 19 year olds. Their D is young with Lacombe at 22 and Drysdale at 21. Lyubushkin is partnered with Mintyukov, a high scoring, riverboat gambler style Dman.

Korpisalo has 5 GA on 21 shots. 3 PP goals for the Wings.

5-2 Detroit with 11 minutes to go. Some nasty moments, the DeBrincat issue probably is the spark.

Sens and Wings playing with a sense of urgency in this one. I just hope there are no loser points.

Claude Lemieux was competitive but dirty, he crossed the line there.

The guy had a solid career and helped win some Cups, what a bargain.

I’m watching Ottawa vs Detroit. They showed a shot of Yzerman and Kris Draper watching the game. TSN’s Gord Miller brought up Draper’s debuts in the NHL, AHL and OHL. He scored a goal in his first game in all three leagues, but in that order. NHL, AHL and OHL. He was with the Canadian National team for a couple of years then played a few games in the NHL scoring in his debut. He was sent down to the AHL and scored in that debut. He then finished the season in the OHL where he once again scored in his debut. Can’t see that happening again, but some Euro 18/19 year old might.

Scoring first always helps. Get the lead and force them to open up in order to generate offense, which falls into the Sabres wheelhouse. I just want them to come out with some fire and to attack these guys. The Sabres should have more energy, stamina and desire to win than a team on a B2B + travel.

That is what they did last year. Their team defense wasn’t good but by having the puck for the majority of the time they outscored the opposition. They don’t need a complete 180 to become a defensive machine, just own the puck and battle hard to get it back. I want them to be better defensively by improving their positioning, attention to detail and competing for pucks. I don’t want to see them becoming a trap team.

Recent Cup winners like Vegas, Colorado and St Louis used average goalies to get to the top. I think Levi can get to the upper tier of goaltending but he is having to learn under fire in the NHL. You are right that defense needs to be learned. Most young players come with good fundamentals like skating, shooting and stick handling but need to be taught positioning and the details of defense in order to get to the next level. Teams draft for skill first and then teach defense. You don’t draft grinders, stay at home D and PK specialists in the first round and then try and teach them to score. This team has a ton of scoring power in the lineup and the pipeline. They need to commit to team defense, finding that balance, or move some talent for more experienced two way players.

The kids love wearing the goatheads! I don’t know if the line juggling will be effective but something needed to be done. There is too much talent in this lineup to not turn this around. I want to see Comrie instead of UPL. Mitts will get Tuch going tonight but the Jost line will be dragged down by you know who. He needs to get a PP goal and start a VO streak. Let’s go Buffalo.

I simply said Benson had some of Gretzky’s vision and anticipation.

And give Savoie a shot.

Last place in the East, I would have never thought that was coming. One win will change that but they need to string a few together to not dig a hole. They need a wake up call and this better be enough. It is a tough league and no one is giving you any points. There is way too much talent drifting around, they need to battle for pucks and space. Tuch is my biggest disappointment so far, no speed when he carries the puck and he is not physical on the forecheck. KO is teaching them to be better people but he is not making a difference on the ice. It is way too early to start looking at the ‘24 draft but they better change something soon.

He’s having trouble seeing pucks.

He may even go on a few road trips, to help the goalies prepare in some of these new cities, to chuckle at the chirps and pranks the young guys get into. He may also want the occasional break from the kids.

Yeah, that’s the game I would give to Comrie and have UPL back him up.

Leblanc? Or do you mean Kevin Labanc? Seems like the Sharks couldn’t get anything for him and may waive him after scratching him for the first 3 games. Similar salary to VO, similar age. Best season was 18/19, 17 G & 39 A. UFA after this year. He’s from Staten Island. I watched him play junior for Hawerchuk. Both guys probably need a change of scenery. Labanc would come in as 13th F and have to work his way up vs VO being a 28G man relegated to the press box. I don’t know if Labanc has any defense to his game, he was a Doug Wilson guy that Grier wants to move on from. I doubt it happens but I would give it a shot, I’ve had it with VO.

I guess I have become a pirate of sorts. We cut the cord and returned our set top boxes. My mother lives down the road and still uses cable has an extra box that was in the spare bedroom. The cable company didn’t cut off our service so this box works. My mother loves hockey and has the Sportsnet package so now we do as well.

Kulich is making a statement in the AHL with 4 goals, 2 of them OT winners. He didn’t show much in pre season but he is only 19 and will only get better. He could get a call up at some point.

RJo? Little Johnnie?

Who partners with Dahlin? I would rather Clifton than Bryson. Maybe big Johnson is up for it but that is a lot of minutes. Joker has been there before. I’ve named everyone but Power or RJ, my guess is Cliffy. Let’s go Buffalo! I want one of the Sabres goalies moved but I don’t like their chances of winning without Levi.

Can I use it in Scrabble?

Elliot Friedman was talking about this last night. His perspective is that he loves it because all of the NHL teams are gathered in one place. It’s easier for him to get stories.

I think the first ever NHL goalie goal was scored by Billy Smith on a similar play. He made a save and was the last Islander to touch the puck before the other team (Rockies?) passed to the point where no one was standing and the puck ended up in their own net.