This time last year the FSN broadcast team of Dumbest and Dumberer were calling the Wild the Comeback Kids. This was due to the team's last ditch efforts, in the waning moments of the third period, to skate with the puck and finally apply some pressure in the offensive zone which resulted in a winning goal. Have you noticed the trend to continue this means of play this season? Sure, we're winning: second straight overtime win and the sixth win in the last eight games. But we're being outshot by ridiculous amounts and making our goalies work far too hard night in and night out. Holy Gumper - 44 shots Jose faced in Detroit, which is a season high for the team. And am I reading this right? - we've been outshot in all but one of our games this season? And we have the league's lowest shot on goal average to boot? Add that to the team refusing to play 60 minutes of hockey, turning over the puck again and again, taking penalties because of slow skating (see lallygagging from previous post) and you've got a team living on the edge folks. Sooner or later it's going to bite them in the ass.
Koivu, Miettinen and Cullen better get their games back ASAP. Havlat and Madden better be well on the way to making themselves pay off as well. Of course, it would help if Latendresse would get healthy and then find the back of the net immediately upon hitting the ice. Don't even bother to bring up Bouchard.
Studs of the Game:
- Our defense, if you can believe it - and still Jose Theodore faced 44 shots.
- Jose Theodore - who deserved this win more than any other goalie in the league.
Pat Burns Passes
He was a police officer in Quebec prior to his NHL coaching career. He battled colon and liver cancer five years ago and believed he had beaten it. Unfortunately the cancer spread to his lungs in 2009. Pat left this world on Friday, November 19 at the very young age of 58. He will be remembered personally and professionally by many a player and management team across the league. Pat's resume is long and decorated. His most recent coaching post was with the Devils until his health forced him from the job in order to fight the cancer full time. New Jersey is where he won the Stanley Cup in 2003. He also spent time coaching in Montreal, Toronto and Boston - receiving the Jack Adams award (coach of the year) in all three cities - the only coach in history to win the award three times. But the most impressive thing, to me, is everything I've ever read or heard or seen regarding Pat Burns is that he was the working man's hockey coach. When you talk about the lunch pailers or the grinders in terms of players - that's what Pat was as a coach. An honest day's work for your pay. Get in there and battle 100% or don't bother coming to work at all. He wasn't a player's BFF, he was their coach. Hockey's loss, God's gain.
How To Scare Yourself Silly
Spend time researching a disease on the Internet. Especially after your vet tells you that your dog may have Addison's Disease. Thankfully, all the blood work shows that is not the case with Buster. But he was exhibiting 8/10 typical symptoms for the disease which made for a very tense 24 hour span and had the vet very concerned during the examination. I could barely make myself answer the phone when the office called with the final results. How good is my vet team and how well do they know me? The phone conversation went like this:
Dr. Melbo: "Step Away From The Internet, Dee."
Me: "He's good to go? I don't have to start selling my plasma in order to pay for his drugs?"
Dr. Melbo: "Turn the Internet off and take a deep breath, it's not Addison's Disease."
Me: "I don't have to find a Compounding Pharmacist?"
Dr. Melbo: "No. Buster's got an infection in one of the folds of his lower jaw - very treatable with antibiotics."
Me: "Pyoderma - I know what that is, had to deal with it for Casey too."
Dr. Melbo: "That's right, you know the drill then. Nothing too serious but he'll need antibiotics and lots of rest.
Me: "Whew, that's a relief!"
Dr. Melbo: "Here's the total amount charged to your account for today's exam... $$$$$$$."
Me: "And let me just say what a pleasure it is to contribute to your retirement fund with my unemployment check."
Okay - that last exchange really didn't happen, but it might as well have. Buster is dosed up on meds and sleeping the afternoon away in a patch of sun in the living room. I had to cancel the open house for this afternoon, but anyone with kids or pets understands the situation - right, Dave?
Chicks With Sticks
Kudos to Coach Dave's daughter, Alex, for making the JV squad this year! Perseverance always pays off so keep at it. And to Paula - you go, hockey mom ;)
I'll post after tonight's Wild game against the Rangers. In another goofball move by the Wild's PR department, IMO, they'll be giving away Marian Gaborik bobbleheads tonight. The jerk basically told the Wild to shove it up their ass on his way out of town. And I find it amusing that he's not granted interviews for this trip back - given that he's actually playing this time around. Still, we welcome him back with bobbleheads. I'm surprised the Wild isn't doing a ten minute dedication ceremony prior to dropping the puck. Oh wait, we already did that for Mike 'Hockey-Will-Never-Make-It-In-Minnesota-After-The-North Stars-Leave' Modano.
Not Bitter. At. All.
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