No, I'm not talking about Daylight Savings Time. In case you haven't heard, the Philthy Phlyers game Sunday has been moved to 12:30 EDT (if you're still in the DST mood). I couldn't find any reason for the move other than the fact that we'll all have to put up with NBC's coverage 2 1/2 hours earlier than predicted at the beginning of the season. Last time we got away without having Doc and Edzone in the booth, but I'm not sure we can expect that kind of luck 2 games in a row.... Yes Ed, we know you're still bitter about the Pens firing you. There are plenty of bridges around, why don't you just go deal with your pain that way? Instead of making all the rest of us suffer. We didn't fire you, we just agreed with it.... Sheesh.
Coach Dan will be coaching against the team that gave him his playing start tonight when the Pens meet up with the LA Kinks tonight at 7:30. (Different morons in the booth. But hey, they're OUR morons) Coach Dan played for LA from '95-00 in 220 games, but is not going to let sentimentality to get in the way of gaining two points for the Pens. The Pens didn't skate in line combos so they're taking an even wilder than usual guess about who's skating with whom, but predictions are that The Tower of Flower Power will be protecting the twine tonight.
As usual, more to come as the clouds in my mind dissipate.....
For the 'Short Attention Span Contingent' Sunday 12:30 for the Phylthy Phlyers game
Evidently, Shero was waiting for the first person to request some personal time to immediately trade him to the Anaheim Ducks. So when Ryan Whitney asked for some personal family time he was the lucky target. For those of you that didn't hear (and for those that did, I'm easy) Whits was traded today to the Disney Quackers for a jersey, 2 sticks and a used puck bag. Actually what he was traded for was a 'gritty, speedy winger' Chris Kunitz (pronounced Koon-its), and an interesting prospect, Eric Tangradi. I've never paid much attention to either of them, but they both shoot left handed, which seems to be a requirement for Shero to hire you. Coach Dan has both played with, and coached Kunitz (can we just call him knutz?) and thinks pretty highly of him. He's evidently the kind of player that goes to the net, and camps out which is something that the Pens have needed all year. He was 5th in goals with 16, and led the team in hits with 148, it's kind of a win-win stat sheet. Bylsma says, "You don't score many goals if you don't go to the blue paint. You will see Chris Kunitz in the blue paint." And you will also see him Friday in Chicago. This should create space for the edge players (Croz, Malk, et al) because someone will have to cover him. (or not, actually I prefer not) If they don't cover him, something like this might happen frequently:
I hate to see Whitney go, especially now that he seems to be getting back into stride with the whole new foot thing. But Kunitz, if he pans out, could be a welcome addition to the team. Shero had a bit of the 'deer in the headlights' look to him during his press conference. It could be that he's feeling a bit of the pressure. Hey, Shero... if you're looking for grit, I hear these guys are available:
Croz's Crotch Watch: El Capitan skipped another practice today, and there's no further word about whether or not he'll play Friday against the Chi-town Dark-birds.
Update to the Update: El Capitan will not play tonight against Shy-cago (what is a 'cago' anyway?) it seems that his crotch is still a problem. (uh.... nevermind) Tim Wallace is lurking somewhere around the team, and if he plays be prepared for more 'Grizzly bear eating the baby moose' stories.... (oh Great Spirit, what have we done to offend you that you punish us so?) Speculation is that either Dupuis or Thomas will replace the Croz in that line.... but who knows?
Extra Added Goodness: Didn't mean to leave out the other member of the trade deal. Eric Tangradi (Tan-gray-dee) I was snooping through Youtube for the youngster and found some nice things. But if you type his name and watch the stuff, remember that OHL doesn't have the ban on noise makers that most NHL arenas do.... someone is always blowing some damn plastic noise making thingy and if you hear enough of it it will drive you crazy. But here's some good footage of Chris being a tough guy....
The power of the Flower Stare controls your everymove.
How hard do you have to work to get the Save of the Week when your team loses 6-2? Well, the Tower of Flower Power did just that, on an amazing save on Blake in the third period of Saturday's game. Blake was all alone on the left side of the net and took a pass and Flower launches himself across the crease to snag the puck with his trapper. Don't believe me about it being a great save? Check it out yourself: If you're curious about the other 9 saves of the week, here's a link. I'd swear Lundqvist looks at the puck in his glove after his save (#7) like 'how the hell did you get in there?'. It was not a slow week for good saves in the NHL and Flower made it to the top with a stunner.
Coach Dan had a press conference today he was circumspect about what he said for the most part, but to me he sounded fairly disgusted with the work ethic of the Pens and not pleased at all with what they seemed to expect to go on during a practice. I get the feeling that he's going to do what he can to change that. He did say that he was pleased with the attitude of the individual team members, but I get the impression that doesn't extend to the way MT ran the team. The fact that the picture of Kevin Stevens was peering over his left shoulder didn't hurt when talking about work ethic either. He was talking alot about 'pace' and 'aggressive offense and defense'. I don't know how that's going to translate to the ice, but I like the sound of it. One specific thing I liked to hear was the possibility of Cookie, TK, and Staal getting back on the same line, they caused a lot of trouble for other teams when they got in sinc.
Wow! I was watching the news last night waiting for the weather to come on to see if I needed to wear a hoodie under my Pens jersey when out of the blue: "Therrien was fired today." I went.... 'Did I just hear that right? I mean, they just offered him a big fat contract 8 months ago.' So I waited through the 17 minutes of commercials about erectile dysfunction, two other stories about how someone's dog's butt looks like Elvis, or something and then it was confirmed... HCMT is no longer HC. Some guy I'd probably know a lot more about if I kept better track of the Baby Pens, Dan Bylsma..... What kind of friggin name is that? I don't mean any (much) disrespect, but that sounds like some sort of disease. Actually, I hear good things about Dan, he's done well as an assistant and then Coach of WBS, but it's looking to me like Dan's the season's sacrificial lamb. There's not really enough of a season left to tell if anything good or bad is because of the coaching change. Therrien was evidently absolutely floored by the news. The quote I heard from Shero was :'I haven't liked the direction the team has been taking in the last couple of weeks'. Well, wasn't it just 2 weeks ago that he said that MT's job was secure? If I were a hockey coach, I wouldn't unpack my shit even if I'd been with the same team for 10 years.
First Game Blues: Dan Bylsma's first game as HC was a disappointing OT loss to the Isles. I have no idea what happened to Flower in the shoot out. he let 2 out of 3 by him on some pretty lame looking shots. The one he did block was a stunner, even the guy who shot it was impressed. Then Malk and Croz both had golden chances at basically an open net and missed. Gonch scored his first point this season with an assist on Whits goal. With the game being in the afternoon I ended up listening to Lange and Bourque for the first two periods and I'd swear I heard Bourquie say Le-tank two or three times during the game. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who calls him that... hmmmm. Well, one point is better than none, but two is what we need almost every game.
Michel, it's been a wild ride, and I'm not really happy about you leaving. Thanks for the last two seasons, and I hope you find another job soon. To help you along with this I think you might need to read this:
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