GDT: Games 21-23: Ducks vs Coyotes | 3-2-13 - 3-6-13 | The quest for 1000 posts

[MIGs Dog]

Doan needs to follow in DeMo's path and lose 20lbs, he was never that quick, but you can see the regression in his skating just from last season...and a terrible cry from 2008 remember when he scored the winner against San Jose, he was all over them that night.

Anyway, he needs to lose 20lbs to get some of his quickness back. He needs to be reminded that as we get old we need to help the legs out a bit.

Agree. Although the off season was long, I think Doan's CBA negotiating role and all the corresponding travel had an impact on his training.

 

[Kaizen]

Finland isn't part of Scandinavia.

Define and elaborate on what constitutes Scandinavia.

 

[Jakey53]

Just got back. That was the most fun game since last season's playoffs. The crowd was completely into it, and the only lull was the first half of the second period, where it was clear that both teams were told to play more cautiously.

That third period may have been the best I've ever seen the Coyotes play in the offensive zone. Just sustained pressure no matter which line was out there.

I continue not to be impressed by the 2013 Mike Smith. Yes, he made some stunning saves and was great in the shootout, but as Barry Melrose says, "it's the saves you don't make." It seems like he's allowing one or two goals that are not soft, but stoppable by an NHL goalie. Cogliano's second goal that canceled our momentum seconds after Korpi's goal was this game's example.

I love defensive defenseman, so watching Klesla and especially OEL do the little things has been great this season. Morris looked very good tonight, and Yandle, well, he was lucky that some of his dangling attempts didn't burn him.

That PK in the first period in which the entire two minutes were in our zone was amazing. Toward the end of it, Vermette only had to skate a few feet to get to the puck, but he was too gassed to do even that. Really dodged a bullet against some skilled Ducks players there.

Why do we play like crap against crappy teams, but play great against great team? This has been a problem for the last couple years.

OEL-Has had a couple of up and down games this year but, wow, his play last night was fantastic. Do we have a super star in the making? He looks like a mix of Pronger and Lidstrom.

 

[mitch27]

I hate to complain about the refs, but you're telling me the Ducks didn't commit a single infraction all game? Huh? Yah right. No call on the Boedker breakaway, the Chipchura call was bogus, numerous hooks and interference uncalled. Very strange.

Happy the boys fought through it and pulled it out. That third period might be the best period we've played in years. Simply flawless. Sullivan-Chipchura-Boedker line was awesome. I'm still pretty underwhelmed with Sullivan, but he stepped up when it mattered and that is what's important.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

Good to get the win but would have been nicer to not go to OT. Can't always get what you want. Back at it tomorrow.

 

[hbk]

I thought Stone took a step forward last night. His development may make Klesla expendable and clear up some cash for OEL's and Smith's contracts. Should net us at least another 2nd rounder in a very good draft. Likely more.

 

[MP]

Define and elaborate on what constitutes Scandinavia.

Finns are ethnically different from the Germanic Scandinavian peoples; Finnish is a Uralic language, not Germanic, and apparently not even Indo-European. There seem to exist significant cultural differences originating in prehistory. Turning to the formative periods of the first millennium AD, too, you'll note certain important distinctions between the people living on either side of the Gulf of Bothnia.

This is not to say that the Finns developed in isolation or that events in Sweden, Russia, and central Europe didn't affect them, and if you wish to propose a more expansive definition of "Scandinavia" you're free to do so. I don't know of any historians or archaeologists who would argue that Finland is indisputably part of Scandinavia, but then again, I don't know of any who would not.

 

[Redcoyote]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one less than impressed by Smith's performance last night and in general recently. I really hope he can get back on top of his game. If he can do that this team will roll like it did last February. If he doesn't we will run hot and cold.

 

[XX]

I was at the game. Pretty good crowd. The team had every reason in the world to fold like a cheap lawn chair after that ******** powerplay goal in the slot. But they didn't, so kudos. Not sure if you guys saw it on the broadcast but Smith faked another injury and the ref wasn't buying it. His antics are starting to get really old. OEL and Z were pretty fantastic all night.

OEL was a +2 again. If the team doesn't collapse and stays competitive, I think he has a chance to have the best +/- in the league. Only 3 away.

Ducks had played the night before, so let's see how they do on equal rest.

 

[IPreferPi]

Not sure if you guys saw it on the broadcast but Smith faked another injury and the ref wasn't buying it. His antics are starting to get really old.

Not sure if you're talking about OT where Smitty was on the ice and slow to get up, but from the broadcast, it seemed pretty clear that Ryan slashed Smitty on the back of the legs, and the refs missed it.

 

[Deputy Dawg]

Finns are ethnically different from the Germanic Scandinavian peoples; Finnish is a Uralic language, not Germanic, and apparently not even Indo-European. There seem to exist significant cultural differences originating in prehistory. Turning to the formative periods of the first millennium AD, too, you'll note certain important distinctions between the people living on either side of the Gulf of Bothnia.

This is not to say that the Finns developed in isolation or that events in Sweden, Russia, and central Europe didn't affect them, and if you wish to propose a more expansive definition of "Scandinavia" you're free to do so. I don't know of any historians or archaeologists who would argue that Finland is indisputably part of Scandinavia, but then again, I don't know of any who would not.

You are correct. Finnish is not Indo-European, but Uralic. I think this is primarily what sets Finland apart from Scandinavia.

Finland is a "Nordic" country, however. So it is more appropriate to refer to there countries as Nordic when including Finland. In all honesty though, only cultural geographers and a few nerds like us give a **** about the distinction....

 

[Quack Shot]

I was at the game. Pretty good crowd. The team had every reason in the world to fold like a cheap lawn chair after that ******** powerplay goal in the slot. But they didn't, so kudos. Not sure if you guys saw it on the broadcast but Smith faked another injury and the ref wasn't buying it. His antics are starting to get really old. OEL and Z were pretty fantastic all night.

OEL was a +2 again. If the team doesn't collapse and stays competitive, I think he has a chance to have the best +/- in the league. Only 3 away.

Ducks had played the night before, so let's see how they do on equal rest.

I'm glad you guys agree, I had so much respect for him until I saw his first faked injury where a player barely touched him skating by and he jumped up and fell down, how does someone jump up after being slashed? Last night was clear embellishment from him. Anyways I hope tomorrow's game will be even better! Here's hoping for a great exciting game!

 

[cobra427]

I'm glad you guys agree, I had so much respect for him until I saw his first faked injury where a player barely touched him skating by and he jumped up and fell down, how does someone jump up after being slashed? Last night was clear embellishment from him. Anyways I hope tomorrow's game will be even better! Here's hoping for a great exciting game!

Wait a minute, the ducks got every call last night. Smith was clearly hacked on the back of the leg once, clear slash and no call....I am more concerned with Smith's ability to stop a puck then wondering about embellishments or not...

 

[Naych_PHX]

I wouldn't say he faked an injury. I too was like, "Wtf Smith is flailing around again 'hurt'"? Then I saw the replay and Bobby Ryan did give him a good whack to the back of the leg. I'm sure it hell like hell, but Smith was trying to sell something. Regardless, he was going to react to that slash in some manner.

What makes it sweeter is that dive by Ryan later on in the game. Refs bought that one no problem. Whatever, that's how the Ducks roll, I'm used to it. Bring on game 2!

 

[XX]

Wait a minute, the ducks got every call last night. Smith was clearly hacked on the back of the leg once, clear slash and no call....I am more concerned with Smith's ability to stop a puck then wondering about embellishments or not...

The ref didn't blow the whistle or care because Smith now has a reputation. Normally, a ref will give a goalie the benefit of the doubt and blow the play dead. But Smith was yelling at the ref when he was near the net, and no dice. So he wasn't saying "I'm hurt." He went from writhing around on the ice to stopping pucks in the shootout not 5 minutes later. It's absolutely embarrassing and not something we should condone or try to explain away. He embellishes and plays on the 'edge'. He is that type of player, and his antics have previously made other teams tired of him. So there's that.

It's the polar opposite of Bryzgalov, who was vaguely aware there was a competition going on around him. So you take the good with the bad.

 

[BigGumby]

Didn't get to watch the game last night (stupid weddings), but I'm glad they were able to pull out the W, even if it was in the SO.

 

[Quack Shot]

I wouldn't say he faked an injury. I too was like, "Wtf Smith is flailing around again 'hurt'"? Then I saw the replay and Bobby Ryan did give him a good whack to the back of the leg. I'm sure it hell like hell, but Smith was trying to sell something. Regardless, he was going to react to that slash in some manner.

What makes it sweeter is that dive by Ryan later on in the game. Refs bought that one no problem. Whatever, that's how the Ducks roll, I'm used to it. Bring on game 2!

I don't remember Bobby diving, but that's cuz my family was super loud with a baby in my lap while I was watching the game, but yeah I've noticed Bobby dive quite a few times. He's a pretty good actor though so its hard to tell without a replay. I hate when players dive, its so unnecessary.

 

[Plub]

The ref didn't blow the whistle or care because Smith now has a reputation. Normally, a ref will give a goalie the benefit of the doubt and blow the play dead. But Smith was yelling at the ref when he was near the net, and no dice. So he wasn't saying "I'm hurt." He went from writhing around on the ice to stopping pucks in the shootout not 5 minutes later. It's absolutely embarrassing and not something we should condone or try to explain away. He embellishes and plays on the 'edge'. He is that type of player, and his antics have previously made other teams tired of him. So there's that.

It's the polar opposite of Bryzgalov, who was vaguely aware there was a competition going on around him. So you take the good with the bad.

So true, at least it was here. He has shown quite a bit of emotion in Philli. Not sure why he had to be an apathetic ****** here, though.

 

[KG]

There were games where Bryzgalov showed emotion. Also games where he didn't give a ****. It all depended whether or not he wanted to show up that game.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

There were games where Bryzgalov showed emotion. Also games where he didn't give a ****. It all depended whether or not he wanted to show up that game.

I have a hard time seeing that. Bryz seems more like the player that is meant more to be in the AHL with some call ups here and there for when a real #1 goalie is out.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

2nd game of the series is tonight.

 

[AZviaNJ]

Finland isn't part of Scandinavia.

So when did Finland leave Scandinavia?

http://geography.about.com/od/europemaps/tp/scandinavia.htm

 

[Badger Mayhew*]

Wasn't quite sure where to ask this, but how's Lombardi been for you guys? I see he has 5 points in 9 games, which is way better than the numbers he was putting up on the Leafs.

 

[CC96]

Wasn't quite sure where to ask this, but how's Lombardi been for you guys? I see he has 5 points in 9 games, which is way better than the numbers he was putting up on the Leafs.

Lombo has been excellent for us this year when he's been healthy. He's been skating unbelievably fast and he's had some great assists since he came back. He is honestly playing nearly at the same level as he was in 2010 when he scored 55 points. Considering he is coming off several very weak seasons, he has more than exceeded my expectations so far this year not only in his skating ability, but his playmaking and goal scoring ability too. Basically he's playing the way people in Nashville and Toronto expected him to play after he left Phoenix.

 

[Howler Scores]

"@azc_mclellan: Chris Brown draws into the lineup and will make his NHL debut tonight."

"@icemancometh: Heard earlier that Kyle Palmieri (upper body) might be out tonight. McMillan callup an indication. Got hurt on Raffi Torres hit Saturday."