Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
Just a few updates from the world of hockey (I figured I'd do this once a week)....
With the Flyers off to a horrendous start (1-6-1 for just 3 points- the worst the club has seen in 15 years) GM Bob Clarke resigned and head coach Ken Hitchcock was fired - WOW did not see Hitchcock getting fired that quickly into the season - especially since he signed a 3-year deal during training camp - talk about having little faith in your coach....
Rookie phenom, Evgeni Malkin has scored three goals in just as many games - I think the combo of Malkin and Sidney Crosby is going to be very exciting this year - the question is will Malkin have the same type of season that Ovechkin had last year - Malkin may just break the record for goals scored by a rookie - yes I know it's early in the season, but he has only played in three games - not too shabby....
The Sabres are off to an amazing start at 8-0- Let it be known right now - I PICK THE SABRES TO WIN THE CUP THIS YEAR (see last year I picked the 'Canes to win the Cup, but no one believed I did - so hear I am on record; Buffalo will win the Cup). I said in my fantasy hockey post that I thought Ryan Miller was the reason Buffalo went to the Conference Finals last year - and they came extremely close to making it to the finals - I think this team is for real and I think they can do it this year - JMO....
The Bs won their home opener, but got killed by the outstanding Sabres, Saturday night 6-2; I have said all along that Hannu Toivonen is not a #1 goalie - but hey what do I know? I have also said from the beginning of training camp that the one thing that truly worried me about this club is the goaltending tandem and my worries have not gone away - yes again, I know it's early in the season - but the Bs have two back-up goalies on their roster and until they change that - I'm very skeptical of this team making it to the playoffs. Believe me I still "BLEED BLACK AND GOLD" but I am not delusional. The Bs don't hit the ice again until Thursday when Montreal comes to town- welcome back Sammy....
The Devils split their games this weekend, Portland defeated Lowell 3-2 but the Devils got their revenge on the Sharks after last weekends 6-2 loss. Lowell beat Worster on Sunday 3-2, Dan McGillis scored twice in the Devils' victory. Lowell is now 2-3 on the season....
The baby Bs aren't off to a much better start than the big club; they're 2-2-1 thus far. Brian Finley has started all 5 games for Providence and is posting a 3.17 GAA and .897 Sv%....
Northeastern got their first victory of the season, also their home opener, beating Union 5-0 on Saturday in a non-conference match-up. The Huskies are 1-2-1 on the season this far - and yes, I had to put NU first since well - I WAS A HUSKY lol....
The Riverhawks also got their first victory of the season after they dominated Niagra 7-4 on Friday and are now 1-2-1 on the season. UMass-Lowell has yet to play a Hockey East game, but gets gets the opportunity to get some points this weekend; Friday night they travel to BU and then the 'Hawks host Providence Saturday night for their home opener at the Tsongas.
The Eagles split their weekend games with a 7-1 loss to Notre Dame and a 5-1 victory over Bowling Green. Boston College is off to a 2-1 start thus far; they beat, well, NU for their first Hockey East game of the season with all of their graduated players in the stands cheering them on....
The Terriers are off to a great start in Hockey East beating Merrimack 4-1 this weekend. Boston University is 2-0-1 overall with the 2 victories coming in Hockey East match-ups (yes, they beat my Huskies)....
Hockey East match-ups this week are:
Thurs., Oct. 26 - Massachusetts @ UNH
Fri., Oct. 27 - Merrimack @ Providence and Lowell @ BU
Sat. Oct. 28 - Providence @ Lowell and Massachusetts @ Maine
Northeastern's womens team, just like the men, have got off to rocky start this year (1-5) but they beat Maine 6-5 Sunday for their first Hockey East victory of the season after dropping two to Providence on Wednesday and Saturday. Northeastern over came a 5-1 deficit to secure their first win ....YES, I had to add them...
OH, and for the record - I did watch the Bruins in 2 for both the Calgary and Buffalo games - it's great to hear Dale Arnold again! I may not agree with everything Dale has to say on WEEI - like when he still says that Hal "No Skills" Gill got more booing than he deserved in Boston or that trading Andrew Raycroft was a good thing for the Bs, but again I LOVE the way he calls the Bs' games. Thank God, it's a 6-game home stand- I need a break from the forever dull and well, annoying Jack Edwards...
Once again, THE best picture of Hal Gill ever...LOL
Who's your pick for the Stanley Cup this year? What about Hockey East?
Comments (5)
Firstly, I am disgusted with the effort the Bruins put in Saturday night. Toivonen IS NOT A NUMBER ONE GOALIE, END OF STORY. The only reason Andrew Raycroft is no longer in Boston is the fact he made it quite clear (read: publicly) he was upset when Joe got traded last year. If you notice, 2 of the 3 people who were most vocal when Joe was sent to San Jose are no longer with the team. Now Raycroft is having a good start to the year, and making the Bruins wonder. As much as I think Thomas is more of a technically sound goaltender, he is not a number one either. He is just a can on stop leak on a bad fuel line in the jolopy that is the Bruins organization. He will steal you a few games, but that is about it. If the Bruins are serious about winning a Stanley Cup, they need to go out and get a premiere goalie.
Also, I am not sure if you heard this yet, there is a story floating around hockey circles that the Penguins have inquired about Glen Murray. They have offered Ryan Malone and a prospect. From what the story I saw said, the Bruins are insisting that Kris Letang, their rookie defenseman who is off to a great start, be included in the deal. The same story also said that Brad Boyes almost ended up with the other black and gold uniform this summer for a similar package. In my eyes, this trade would tell me that they are mailing it in on the season and planning for the future. Isnt that a great way to put butts in the seats?
The next 4 home games will be a good indication of where this team is headed. I hope I am not as disgusted next Saturday as I am right now.
Posted by GWBruinsfan | October 24, 2006 10:41 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 22:41
The key word is patience. Rebuilding does not occur overnight, especially when you've sunk to the depths this team has.
Trades with and eye toward the future can be tolerated as long as you prove you're getting something valuable in return. I don't think the world will stop spinning if Glen Murray is traded. He's not Joe Thornton.
Which brings us back to Raycroft. When the Patriots released Lawyer Milloy, Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi were livid and publicly spoke out about the move. Granted, Andrew Raycroft is not Tom Brady or Tedy Brusch, but rather than dump them over the edge, the Patriots and Bill Belichick spoke with them, reeled them back aboard the ship, and moved on in a positive direction.
The old Bruins didn't know enough to do this. I had hoped the new regime would, but they were the ones who traded Raycroft, which I find kind of troubling. If you think The Razor isn't your future because of ability (something that' still up in the air) then there's nothing wrong with trading him. If a young player was dumped strictly because he was unhappy, that's a different ballgame, and a bad start for the guys in charge of restoring pride to the Black and Gold.
Posted by Teddy Panos | October 25, 2006 11:07 AM
Posted on October 25, 2006 11:07
Good points. Granted, last night he got choked, he has been consistant so far. Jeff Gorton all but admitted over the summer that the reasons Boynton and Raycroft were traded was their displeasure over the Joe Thronton deal.
As a die hard Bruins fan, they have been "rebuilding" for an awful long time. They have had spot playoff appearances, but its been subpar performances. Post lockout we were told "this will be a new team" then they go out and spend money on veterans who are past their prime (Zhamnov, Leetch, signing Murray to a 4.1/yr deal). Now they have loaded up on young, but experienced talent, and are sinking fast. You have to find a balance. I guess I am thinking like the Jacobs now, where if the team sucks, no one will show up, adn they wont make money. Oh well.
Hopefully they can do something against the Habs
Posted by GWBruinsfan | October 25, 2006 6:16 PM
Posted on October 25, 2006 18:16
See, now GW, I was agreeing with everything you were saying until the Muzz comment - I can't believe you lumped him with Leetch and Zhamnov...
As far as giving Toivonen a shot Teddy, I think you're right - but I still think he's not going to bring the Bs far this season.
BTW, I heard Dale Arnold say today that Dave Lewis said (to Dale)Toivonen needs to move out 12-14 inches more in the crease and then he would be making more saves and that right now Hannu is giving the shooters too much of a look at the net - OK so if they know the problem how do they get him to change his ways??? Is it that easy for a goalie to change his entire game?
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | October 25, 2006 10:04 PM
Posted on October 25, 2006 22:04
Gayle, my bad on that one. I didnt mean to lump Murray into that group. I guess what I meant is that it was pathetic that they gave him the deal they gave him, I think 4.1mil/yr for what I believe was 4 years, was a bit much, considering his age.
Toivonen is yet another goalie in the history of Bruins goalie mistakes. I give it another season before he is lumped in with the likes of Scott Bailey, Evgeni Ryabchikov, Cleon Daskalakis and Blaiine Lacher...the goalies who were drafted with all this promise and never did a thing in black and gold.
Posted by GWBruinsfan | October 25, 2006 10:17 PM
Posted on October 25, 2006 22:17