Here is a pretty good post on tennis. Is it just me or are the slavic women starting to dominate the WTA.
Great Tennis Photos: Ivanovic Unmerciful, Jankovic Overcome An Injury
Showing posts with label opinions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opinions. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Detroit plays blanket defense
May 26 2008 Pittsburgh@Detroit (Gm 2)
Detroit got two goals early from Brad Stewart and Thomas Holmstrom, and then played their puck possession game. Then Filppula got the 3rd, due mainly to poor defensive positioning and that was pretty much the game. One thing about the wings is they never beat themselves with poor positioning or bad turnovers.
Kris Draper and Henrik Zetterberg are rated one and two in playoff winning percentage on face-offs and are frustrating the Penguins because they are usually starting with the puck. Pittsburgh is frustrated due to the fact that they usually have the puck and Detroit is not letting them have it. When the Wings do give up the puck they are plugging up the neutral zone, 4 across and making it difficult for the Penguins to generate any speed with their forwards through the neutral zone. The young pens have to adjust and play as patient a game as Detroit does. Fight through the neutral zone and dump the puck deep, then pressure the Wings defense and get it back. It is not the way they usually play but Detroit is not going to let them play their normal game.
Evgeni Malkin has to quit playing like a shadow, and needs to step up and give Crosby some support. Crosby must be thinking he is playing in a phone booth because Detroit is giving him no time or space. That being said Sid the Kid still needs to get more ice time. The rest of the Penguins have to be better at puck support. Take a page out of the Red Wings book, watch closely and you will see that Detroit is playing a great team game. They are always around the puck and can dish it off to each other on a short outlet pass. They use a pack mentality around the puck. Support from team mates is a given, not something to hope for.
So far the Penguins have had no pressure on the Detroit “D”, no crease presents to get a second chance at an Osgood rebound, and if it keeps up, no hope of winning. You heard me speak previously bout the “dirty areas” of the ice, well that is where the pens have to go it they even want a chance at winning a game. Gary Roberts was the only Pen making life difficult for the Red Wings, just ask Johan Franzen LOL. No goals for the Penguins in two games should make them adjust, if not the series will be over quick.
There was some ruff stuff at the end of the game last night, which is a positive for the Penguin’s; they have to start to hate the Red Wings. Roberts will see to that
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Detroit got two goals early from Brad Stewart and Thomas Holmstrom, and then played their puck possession game. Then Filppula got the 3rd, due mainly to poor defensive positioning and that was pretty much the game. One thing about the wings is they never beat themselves with poor positioning or bad turnovers.
Kris Draper and Henrik Zetterberg are rated one and two in playoff winning percentage on face-offs and are frustrating the Penguins because they are usually starting with the puck. Pittsburgh is frustrated due to the fact that they usually have the puck and Detroit is not letting them have it. When the Wings do give up the puck they are plugging up the neutral zone, 4 across and making it difficult for the Penguins to generate any speed with their forwards through the neutral zone. The young pens have to adjust and play as patient a game as Detroit does. Fight through the neutral zone and dump the puck deep, then pressure the Wings defense and get it back. It is not the way they usually play but Detroit is not going to let them play their normal game.
Evgeni Malkin has to quit playing like a shadow, and needs to step up and give Crosby some support. Crosby must be thinking he is playing in a phone booth because Detroit is giving him no time or space. That being said Sid the Kid still needs to get more ice time. The rest of the Penguins have to be better at puck support. Take a page out of the Red Wings book, watch closely and you will see that Detroit is playing a great team game. They are always around the puck and can dish it off to each other on a short outlet pass. They use a pack mentality around the puck. Support from team mates is a given, not something to hope for.
So far the Penguins have had no pressure on the Detroit “D”, no crease presents to get a second chance at an Osgood rebound, and if it keeps up, no hope of winning. You heard me speak previously bout the “dirty areas” of the ice, well that is where the pens have to go it they even want a chance at winning a game. Gary Roberts was the only Pen making life difficult for the Red Wings, just ask Johan Franzen LOL. No goals for the Penguins in two games should make them adjust, if not the series will be over quick.
There was some ruff stuff at the end of the game last night, which is a positive for the Penguin’s; they have to start to hate the Red Wings. Roberts will see to that
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Young Penguins had a bad case of the jitters
, Game 1- Stanley Cup Final May 25 2008
The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final last night with a 4-0 win at Joe Lewis arena. The wings out waited the young penguins and then made their chances count in posting the win. Detroit used patience and veteran poise to frustrate the penguins. Pittsburgh for their part looked nervous for the most part and turned the puck over a couple of times, which cost them the game. Look for Pittsburgh to be better on Monday night. Being so young I think they were still a bit in awe of being in the show. The Penguins will be better but they are also up against a strong Detroit squad that rarely if ever beats itself. Detroit is playing great defense and playing almost mistake free hockey. I still believe that the series will go at least six games. Evgeni Malkin has to wake up and start playing better hockey. He has played fairly tentative since he was hit hard in game four of the Eastern Conference final.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final last night with a 4-0 win at Joe Lewis arena. The wings out waited the young penguins and then made their chances count in posting the win. Detroit used patience and veteran poise to frustrate the penguins. Pittsburgh for their part looked nervous for the most part and turned the puck over a couple of times, which cost them the game. Look for Pittsburgh to be better on Monday night. Being so young I think they were still a bit in awe of being in the show. The Penguins will be better but they are also up against a strong Detroit squad that rarely if ever beats itself. Detroit is playing great defense and playing almost mistake free hockey. I still believe that the series will go at least six games. Evgeni Malkin has to wake up and start playing better hockey. He has played fairly tentative since he was hit hard in game four of the Eastern Conference final.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Friday, May 23, 2008
Detroit gets a date with Pittsburgh
Detroit came out with purpose from the start and built a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Kris Draper (off his face, ouch), Pavel Datsyuk, and Dallas Drake.
Henrik Zetterberg scored short handed, three minutes and eleven seconds into the second period to make it 4-0 and pretty well lights out for Dallas.
Dallas looks totally flat and 0 for 6 on the power play against the “Presidents Trophy” winners. It stayed
4-0 after the second period.
Detroit just came out with the mind set of throwing pucks at the net, then getting in after them and always getting in front for a screen or a rebound. Dallas is one tired hockey team as they are having trouble clearing the front of their net. Detroit is just chipping and chasing. When Dallas did try a surge and pressure Detroit, Chris Osgood was there to shut the door. Detroit finally is through with a pesky Dallas team. Dallas did get one but that was it and the final was 4-1.
Detroit won the “Clarence Campbell Trophy” as the Western Conference Champions. When it was presented to Nick Lidstrom, the Wings captain, you guessed it; he did not want anything to do with touching it either. Those hockey players are a superstitious lot. They should play Stevie Wonders song when they present it lol.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Henrik Zetterberg scored short handed, three minutes and eleven seconds into the second period to make it 4-0 and pretty well lights out for Dallas.
Dallas looks totally flat and 0 for 6 on the power play against the “Presidents Trophy” winners. It stayed
4-0 after the second period.
Detroit just came out with the mind set of throwing pucks at the net, then getting in after them and always getting in front for a screen or a rebound. Dallas is one tired hockey team as they are having trouble clearing the front of their net. Detroit is just chipping and chasing. When Dallas did try a surge and pressure Detroit, Chris Osgood was there to shut the door. Detroit finally is through with a pesky Dallas team. Dallas did get one but that was it and the final was 4-1.
Detroit won the “Clarence Campbell Trophy” as the Western Conference Champions. When it was presented to Nick Lidstrom, the Wings captain, you guessed it; he did not want anything to do with touching it either. Those hockey players are a superstitious lot. They should play Stevie Wonders song when they present it lol.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Young Penguins focused on the prize
Pittsburgh was up 2-0 after the first. To be honest I had to dash out from the cottage to a local watering hole to see the gold medal game between Russia and Canada. Just got the tail end, as my start time was screwed up. We did not tune into the Pens game until after. Philly won the last one so now the young Pen’s have to refocus and put the flyers away. They don’t want to go back to Philly and give the flyers any more confidence.
The Stars won again yesterday and giving the Red Wings some trouble. Detroit needs the “killer instinct” back and put Dallas away in their own barn, because they don’t want a game 7, where anything can happen.
Anyway back to the Pen’s and Flyers. The penguins scored again to make it 3-0 at the half way point in the game. They have their heel on the flyers throat, now they just have to finish them off. Pittsburgh scored on the power play again. The flyers are now just chasing the penguins around and the result is getting caught out of position and taking penalties. The pens are lethal on the power play and make it 5-0 with about 1 minute left in the second period. Jordan Staal scored on a rebound.
The final score in the game was 6-0. Marc Andrea Fleury was solid in the net making 21 saves. He made a great pad save with about six minutes to go, and then had to kill off a penalty with a buck forty left to preserve the shutout.
Michel Therrien should get some credit here as he kept a young team focused on the job at hand and the result was the Penguins most complete game of the playoffs thus far. It could not have come at a better time.
The Penguins won the “Prince of Wales” trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions. It was presented to Sidney Crosby, the youngest captain in NHL history to lead his team to the Stanley Cup finals. If you watched the presentation you would have noticed that Crosby did not touch the trophy at all. My guess is that if Detroit wins the next game, Nick Lidstrom won’t be touching the “Clarence Campbell” Trophy either.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
The Stars won again yesterday and giving the Red Wings some trouble. Detroit needs the “killer instinct” back and put Dallas away in their own barn, because they don’t want a game 7, where anything can happen.
Anyway back to the Pen’s and Flyers. The penguins scored again to make it 3-0 at the half way point in the game. They have their heel on the flyers throat, now they just have to finish them off. Pittsburgh scored on the power play again. The flyers are now just chasing the penguins around and the result is getting caught out of position and taking penalties. The pens are lethal on the power play and make it 5-0 with about 1 minute left in the second period. Jordan Staal scored on a rebound.
The final score in the game was 6-0. Marc Andrea Fleury was solid in the net making 21 saves. He made a great pad save with about six minutes to go, and then had to kill off a penalty with a buck forty left to preserve the shutout.
Michel Therrien should get some credit here as he kept a young team focused on the job at hand and the result was the Penguins most complete game of the playoffs thus far. It could not have come at a better time.
The Penguins won the “Prince of Wales” trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions. It was presented to Sidney Crosby, the youngest captain in NHL history to lead his team to the Stanley Cup finals. If you watched the presentation you would have noticed that Crosby did not touch the trophy at all. My guess is that if Detroit wins the next game, Nick Lidstrom won’t be touching the “Clarence Campbell” Trophy either.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Canada lets the gold medal slip away
You have to give the Russian’s full marks for their gold medal win. They trailed Canada 4-2 going into the third period. They came out and carried the play, eventually tying the game with about 6 minutes left to play. Both teams traded a couple of scoring chances but regulation time ended with the score knotted at 4 a piece.
Overtime had a new format this year in the World Hockey Championship. The teams play a twenty minute sudden death period, four on four.
The first shift into the overtime, Rick Nash shot the puck over the glass from inside his own blue line and was assessed an automatic two minute penalty for “delay of game”, giving the Russians a 4 on 3 power play. With their firepower that was all they needed. An Ilya Kovalchuk wrist shot from the slot was deflected off a prone Canadian defenseman and over Cam Wards right shoulder into the net.
Game Over
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Overtime had a new format this year in the World Hockey Championship. The teams play a twenty minute sudden death period, four on four.
The first shift into the overtime, Rick Nash shot the puck over the glass from inside his own blue line and was assessed an automatic two minute penalty for “delay of game”, giving the Russians a 4 on 3 power play. With their firepower that was all they needed. An Ilya Kovalchuk wrist shot from the slot was deflected off a prone Canadian defenseman and over Cam Wards right shoulder into the net.
Game Over
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 16, 2008
Dallas pride was at stake
Detroit @ Dallas (game 4)
Dallas came out flying and buzzing the Red Wings net, with a strong start. Chris Osgood was holding the fort and was keeping Detroit in it. The wings looked lethargic; they were not moving their feet. The result was that Detroit was short handed twice within the first ten minutes of the game. They were lucky the stars had no finish and were blowing their chances once again. Dallas finished o-3 on the power play in the first period, but it was still their best period of hockey yet in the series. The stars out shot the wings by a margin of 9-5, with nothing to show for it.
Dallas finally was forcing the Detroit defense into turnovers by getting on them quickly, taking away their time and space. The Dallas caught their first break of the series when Detroit (Datsyuk) scored on the power play. Holmstrom was ruled in the crease and the goal was waved off. Replays showed he was outside of the blue paint and the goal should have counted, but I think this one was called back on Holmstom’s reputation and where he usually sets up his office on the power play. No sooner had Dallas killed off the penalty when Steve Ott took one for elbowing Rafalski and the wings were back on the power play. Detroit had 3 power plays in the second and came up empty as well. Dallas drew first blood when Eriksson scored on a rebound with just 23 seconds left in the second period.
Henrik Zetterberg tied it for Detroit 48 seconds into the third period on another Dallas turnover. Mike Modano put Dallas ahead again on the power play. Just previously Daniel Cleary had broken his stick blocking a shot from the point so it was really five on three and a half when Modano scored. Brendan Morrow made it 3-1 Dallas with just under 6 minutes left. Detroit pulled Osgood and had a six on three for the last half minute due to the fact that Dallas was already down two men before Osgood was pulled. Marty Turco was very strong in the Dallas net making 34 saves. The final was 3-1 Dallas but it seemed like Detroit was just mailing it in for forty minutes of the game.
Hockey World Championship
Canada beat Norway by a score of 8-2, and moves on to face Sweden in the semi-final on May 16. Finland shocked the USA in overtime and will face Russia in the other semi also on Friday May 16.
Norway stayed close at 2-2 for half of the game, then Canada flexed the hockey muscle and turned it into a bit of a laugher.
May 15 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Jeffrey Lupul opened the scoring for the flyers when his shot deflected off Hal Gill’s stick and up over Fleury’s left shoulder at about 11:30 of the first period. Daniel Briere scored on the power play to make it 2-0 with about 8 minutes left in the first period. Letang on Pittsburgh took and interference penalty which the announcer called two minutes for flipping, what the hell is flipping, makes you wonder what he was smoking.
Philadelphia was putting much more traffic in front of the Penguins net, for the first time in the series and they were playing their best game of the series. Jeff Carter made it 3-0 before the end of the period.
The flyers were doing a good job in this game of plugging up the neutral zone, making it difficult for the Penguins to generate speed coming into their defensive zone. There was no scoring in the second period.
Jordan Staal scored for the Penguins early in the third period at the 3:16 mark. Chipping a shot off Marty Biron’s pad and into the short side of the net. Staal scored again at 14:11 with a short side wrist shot. The flyers were getting a nervous because they have been known to have a hard time holding a lead this year. Staal was the best player on the ice for the Penguin’s. Lupul got his second of the night into an empty net to seal a 4-2 flyers victory at 19:27 of the third period.
I should have known that both the stars and the flyers would not be swept in their respective series. There was just too much pride in their respective dressing rooms to let that happen. I will still be surprised if both series are not over with identical 4-1 records after the next game.
Speaking of the next games, I don’t think our American cousins get it, the Dallas @ Detroit game is at 1:30 PM Saturday May 17 and The Philly @ Pittsburgh game is at 3PM on Sunday the 18th. You watch hockey AT NIGHT, that way you can enjoy the day outside, at this point I don’t know if I will see them or not as I will be up north at the cottage.
World Hockey Championship
Canada defeated Sweden 5-4 on Friday May 16, 2008, and will face Russia in the gold metal game. You guessed it the game is Sunday afternoon at 3PM. It‘s enough to drive a hockey guy crazy. Can you say picture in picture. Russia got to the goal metal game by defeating Finland 4-0. The Bronze game (who cares) is at 3 PM on Saturday the 17th at 3PM. Sweden will play their arch rivals Finland.
That’s it for now
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Dallas came out flying and buzzing the Red Wings net, with a strong start. Chris Osgood was holding the fort and was keeping Detroit in it. The wings looked lethargic; they were not moving their feet. The result was that Detroit was short handed twice within the first ten minutes of the game. They were lucky the stars had no finish and were blowing their chances once again. Dallas finished o-3 on the power play in the first period, but it was still their best period of hockey yet in the series. The stars out shot the wings by a margin of 9-5, with nothing to show for it.
Dallas finally was forcing the Detroit defense into turnovers by getting on them quickly, taking away their time and space. The Dallas caught their first break of the series when Detroit (Datsyuk) scored on the power play. Holmstrom was ruled in the crease and the goal was waved off. Replays showed he was outside of the blue paint and the goal should have counted, but I think this one was called back on Holmstom’s reputation and where he usually sets up his office on the power play. No sooner had Dallas killed off the penalty when Steve Ott took one for elbowing Rafalski and the wings were back on the power play. Detroit had 3 power plays in the second and came up empty as well. Dallas drew first blood when Eriksson scored on a rebound with just 23 seconds left in the second period.
Henrik Zetterberg tied it for Detroit 48 seconds into the third period on another Dallas turnover. Mike Modano put Dallas ahead again on the power play. Just previously Daniel Cleary had broken his stick blocking a shot from the point so it was really five on three and a half when Modano scored. Brendan Morrow made it 3-1 Dallas with just under 6 minutes left. Detroit pulled Osgood and had a six on three for the last half minute due to the fact that Dallas was already down two men before Osgood was pulled. Marty Turco was very strong in the Dallas net making 34 saves. The final was 3-1 Dallas but it seemed like Detroit was just mailing it in for forty minutes of the game.
Hockey World Championship
Canada beat Norway by a score of 8-2, and moves on to face Sweden in the semi-final on May 16. Finland shocked the USA in overtime and will face Russia in the other semi also on Friday May 16.
Norway stayed close at 2-2 for half of the game, then Canada flexed the hockey muscle and turned it into a bit of a laugher.
May 15 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Jeffrey Lupul opened the scoring for the flyers when his shot deflected off Hal Gill’s stick and up over Fleury’s left shoulder at about 11:30 of the first period. Daniel Briere scored on the power play to make it 2-0 with about 8 minutes left in the first period. Letang on Pittsburgh took and interference penalty which the announcer called two minutes for flipping, what the hell is flipping, makes you wonder what he was smoking.
Philadelphia was putting much more traffic in front of the Penguins net, for the first time in the series and they were playing their best game of the series. Jeff Carter made it 3-0 before the end of the period.
The flyers were doing a good job in this game of plugging up the neutral zone, making it difficult for the Penguins to generate speed coming into their defensive zone. There was no scoring in the second period.
Jordan Staal scored for the Penguins early in the third period at the 3:16 mark. Chipping a shot off Marty Biron’s pad and into the short side of the net. Staal scored again at 14:11 with a short side wrist shot. The flyers were getting a nervous because they have been known to have a hard time holding a lead this year. Staal was the best player on the ice for the Penguin’s. Lupul got his second of the night into an empty net to seal a 4-2 flyers victory at 19:27 of the third period.
I should have known that both the stars and the flyers would not be swept in their respective series. There was just too much pride in their respective dressing rooms to let that happen. I will still be surprised if both series are not over with identical 4-1 records after the next game.
Speaking of the next games, I don’t think our American cousins get it, the Dallas @ Detroit game is at 1:30 PM Saturday May 17 and The Philly @ Pittsburgh game is at 3PM on Sunday the 18th. You watch hockey AT NIGHT, that way you can enjoy the day outside, at this point I don’t know if I will see them or not as I will be up north at the cottage.
World Hockey Championship
Canada defeated Sweden 5-4 on Friday May 16, 2008, and will face Russia in the gold metal game. You guessed it the game is Sunday afternoon at 3PM. It‘s enough to drive a hockey guy crazy. Can you say picture in picture. Russia got to the goal metal game by defeating Finland 4-0. The Bronze game (who cares) is at 3 PM on Saturday the 17th at 3PM. Sweden will play their arch rivals Finland.
That’s it for now
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Dallas at wits end.
May 12 2008 Detroit @ Dallas
Detroit opened the scoring with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, but Dallas tied it up on a goal by Nic Grossman after Dallas had controlled the puck for one minute and 14 seconds in the Detroit end. The Wings problems started when they iced the puck. The line had already been on the ice for a while so Detroit took a time out to try and rest the players stuck on the ice. Needless to say it didn’t work. Detroit did reclaim the lead 37 seconds later though when Datsyuk finished from Thomas Holmstrom for his second of the game.
Dallas started the second period on the power play and came up empty. They had about 3 chances and missed them all. Detroit would make them pay again for their lack of finish. You don’t get that many so you had best be burying the ones you get as Dallas is no doubt painfully aware of by now. The Dallas got a bounce their way as Brad Richards tied it with a bank shot off the knee of Brad Stewart on the Detroit defense. Hudler restored the Detroit lead with a brake away goal at 11:54 of the period. Then Henrik Zetterberg made it a two goal bulge scoring short handed and taking advantage of Brad Richards (a forward) playing defense for the power play. Detroit then went into the shut down mode, sitting back and waiting for Dallas to get too aggressive and make a mistake on a bad pinch. Chris Osgood was very steady again in the Detroit net. He has not been spectacular but he has not had to be.
This was the best game Dallas has played in the series. They tried to get physical, out hitting Detroit by more than 2-1, but it still was not enough to get the “W”. Detroit bent on occasion but never did break. Zetterberg did his Houdini impression, taking the puck through 3 stars players and fed Datsyuk for his 3rd goal of the game in the 3rd period. The final was 5-2 and a 3-0 series lead. You have to admire the likes of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, not only are they great offensive players but they don’t hurt you on defense either. They back check hard all the time and more often than not regain control of the puck.
My gut tells me that Dallas won’t win a game and that goes double for Philadelphia.
May 13 2008 Penguins @ Flyers
To be honest I missed almost the whole game as I had my two girls out for their first lacrosse game of the season. I saw the last five minutes and I think the final score was 4-1 Pittsburgh. It looked like just more of the same. Philly is finding it pretty tough sledding without their top two defensemen for moving the puck.
On a side note Canada beat Finland 6-3 in the Hockey World Championship Tournament and with the win will face Norway in the quarter finals. There you have it, you are up to date.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Detroit opened the scoring with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, but Dallas tied it up on a goal by Nic Grossman after Dallas had controlled the puck for one minute and 14 seconds in the Detroit end. The Wings problems started when they iced the puck. The line had already been on the ice for a while so Detroit took a time out to try and rest the players stuck on the ice. Needless to say it didn’t work. Detroit did reclaim the lead 37 seconds later though when Datsyuk finished from Thomas Holmstrom for his second of the game.
Dallas started the second period on the power play and came up empty. They had about 3 chances and missed them all. Detroit would make them pay again for their lack of finish. You don’t get that many so you had best be burying the ones you get as Dallas is no doubt painfully aware of by now. The Dallas got a bounce their way as Brad Richards tied it with a bank shot off the knee of Brad Stewart on the Detroit defense. Hudler restored the Detroit lead with a brake away goal at 11:54 of the period. Then Henrik Zetterberg made it a two goal bulge scoring short handed and taking advantage of Brad Richards (a forward) playing defense for the power play. Detroit then went into the shut down mode, sitting back and waiting for Dallas to get too aggressive and make a mistake on a bad pinch. Chris Osgood was very steady again in the Detroit net. He has not been spectacular but he has not had to be.
This was the best game Dallas has played in the series. They tried to get physical, out hitting Detroit by more than 2-1, but it still was not enough to get the “W”. Detroit bent on occasion but never did break. Zetterberg did his Houdini impression, taking the puck through 3 stars players and fed Datsyuk for his 3rd goal of the game in the 3rd period. The final was 5-2 and a 3-0 series lead. You have to admire the likes of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, not only are they great offensive players but they don’t hurt you on defense either. They back check hard all the time and more often than not regain control of the puck.
My gut tells me that Dallas won’t win a game and that goes double for Philadelphia.
May 13 2008 Penguins @ Flyers
To be honest I missed almost the whole game as I had my two girls out for their first lacrosse game of the season. I saw the last five minutes and I think the final score was 4-1 Pittsburgh. It looked like just more of the same. Philly is finding it pretty tough sledding without their top two defensemen for moving the puck.
On a side note Canada beat Finland 6-3 in the Hockey World Championship Tournament and with the win will face Norway in the quarter finals. There you have it, you are up to date.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Flyer’s backs against the wall
Well the second game in this series between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia was anything but a classic. In fact it was not really a very good game.
Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead on the power play with 9:10 remaining in the 1st period, when his centering pass went of a flyer’s defenseman’s skate and caromed into the flyers net on the short side. The Penguins thought they had another with about 3 minutes left in the first period, but a video review was ruled inconclusive and the goal was not allowed. Personally I thought the flyer’s dodged a bullet here as the puck looked like it went over the goal line from my perspective on the replays.
Jeff Carter tied it up on the power play for Philly at 5:46 of the second period, but Marion Hossa put the Pens back into the lead with another power play goal with just over 6 minutes left in the middle period. This goal was scored just 9 seconds into the power play.
Mike Richards got Philly even again with a short handed marker with 24 seconds left in the second period. Evgeni Malkin, who was hearing foot steps, threw the puck blindly into the middle of the ice where Richards received the gift, went in alone and beat Biron with a beauty of a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
Pittsburgh went up 3-2 at 8:51 of the 3rd period when Maxim Talbot took a no look backhand feed from Gary Roberts and planted it into the back of the net. Late in the period Pittsburgh got away with a couple of non calls that would have been penalties in the 1st period. Jordan Staal, iced the win with an empty net goal at 19:31 of the 3rd, making the final score 4-2 for Pittsburgh. The Pens now take a 2-0 series lead into Philadelphia.
At this time I would like to elaborate on why I am picking the Red Wings and the Penguins to meet in the cup final. The Stanley Cup playoffs are the toughest grind in professional sport, and thus it makes the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to capture. Just ask some of the players that had distinguished and long careers without ever getting even a sniff of the cup. That being said it almost boils down to this. In order for a team to have a legitimate chance at winning the cup, they need at least one playoff round where they can finish a team early, say in 4 games or 5 max. Chances are if you have to fight through two or three 7 games series to get there. There won’t be enough left in the tank to finish the trip. Just look at the Dallas Stars now against Detroit, They have no legs left and are running on vapor. Where Detroit finished a depleted Colorado team in four straight. Pittsburgh did the same in the east, beating Ottawa 4 straight and then toasting the Rangers in five games. That is why they will meet in the cup final and it should be a great series. Both teams are loaded with talent and have a very quick and decisive counter attack. Should be fun to watch.
Everyone remember you heard it here first.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com/
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead on the power play with 9:10 remaining in the 1st period, when his centering pass went of a flyer’s defenseman’s skate and caromed into the flyers net on the short side. The Penguins thought they had another with about 3 minutes left in the first period, but a video review was ruled inconclusive and the goal was not allowed. Personally I thought the flyer’s dodged a bullet here as the puck looked like it went over the goal line from my perspective on the replays.
Jeff Carter tied it up on the power play for Philly at 5:46 of the second period, but Marion Hossa put the Pens back into the lead with another power play goal with just over 6 minutes left in the middle period. This goal was scored just 9 seconds into the power play.
Mike Richards got Philly even again with a short handed marker with 24 seconds left in the second period. Evgeni Malkin, who was hearing foot steps, threw the puck blindly into the middle of the ice where Richards received the gift, went in alone and beat Biron with a beauty of a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
Pittsburgh went up 3-2 at 8:51 of the 3rd period when Maxim Talbot took a no look backhand feed from Gary Roberts and planted it into the back of the net. Late in the period Pittsburgh got away with a couple of non calls that would have been penalties in the 1st period. Jordan Staal, iced the win with an empty net goal at 19:31 of the 3rd, making the final score 4-2 for Pittsburgh. The Pens now take a 2-0 series lead into Philadelphia.
At this time I would like to elaborate on why I am picking the Red Wings and the Penguins to meet in the cup final. The Stanley Cup playoffs are the toughest grind in professional sport, and thus it makes the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to capture. Just ask some of the players that had distinguished and long careers without ever getting even a sniff of the cup. That being said it almost boils down to this. In order for a team to have a legitimate chance at winning the cup, they need at least one playoff round where they can finish a team early, say in 4 games or 5 max. Chances are if you have to fight through two or three 7 games series to get there. There won’t be enough left in the tank to finish the trip. Just look at the Dallas Stars now against Detroit, They have no legs left and are running on vapor. Where Detroit finished a depleted Colorado team in four straight. Pittsburgh did the same in the east, beating Ottawa 4 straight and then toasting the Rangers in five games. That is why they will meet in the cup final and it should be a great series. Both teams are loaded with talent and have a very quick and decisive counter attack. Should be fun to watch.
Everyone remember you heard it here first.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com/
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 25, 2008
Does hockey stick shatter matter?
Since the second round of the playoffs has just started, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about one of my pet peeves in the game today.
I thought that the best way to start this article would be with the question. How many scoring chances have you seen either caused or negated due to a hockey stick breaking. This must drive coach’s nuts especially in the playoffs, when the games are so close. One missed scoring chance could be the difference between moving on and playing golf. I just don’t get it, I know the new sticks let the players shoot the puck a little harder but in the bigger scheme of things, what’s the difference between a 100 mile per hour slap shot and a 97 mile per hour one. The puck would arrive at pretty close to the same time.
One of the problems with the new sticks is there is no indication that it is fatigued and ready to explode. The old wooden sticks would sound differently when they were cracked or chipped. With the new ones everything seems fine until you’re shooting the puck or making a defensive play , all of a sudden you have a piece of stick in each hand and the chance is missed.
Back in the early 90’2 I was involved with testing the Sherwood prototype composite stick. They were doing so to get NHL approval. Well the ones we tested would not break at all and therefore would be considered a weapon in some hands and approval did not go through. Now they have gone to far the other way and it seems that if you look at them the wrong way they will break. Hair line cracks develop just through regular use, that can’t be seen and the next thing you know they break, usually at the most in opportunistic of times.
Why not take a page out of Major League Baseballs rule book. In the MLB wooden bats have to be used, no aluminum or anything else is legal just wood plain and simple. Do you not think major league batters could hit the ball further with an aluminum bat, of course they could, the sweet spot is twice as big as the one on a wooden bat.
So in closing I would recommend that the best hockey league in the world, the NHL, make a rule dictating that only wooden sticks be used in the league. There will be so bitching to begin with but the playing field will be level and coaches around the league will be keeping more hair. That’s the way I see it and I know there is lots of money involved but what price do you pay for the integrity of the game.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://successblognet.com/sportsontheweb
I thought that the best way to start this article would be with the question. How many scoring chances have you seen either caused or negated due to a hockey stick breaking. This must drive coach’s nuts especially in the playoffs, when the games are so close. One missed scoring chance could be the difference between moving on and playing golf. I just don’t get it, I know the new sticks let the players shoot the puck a little harder but in the bigger scheme of things, what’s the difference between a 100 mile per hour slap shot and a 97 mile per hour one. The puck would arrive at pretty close to the same time.
One of the problems with the new sticks is there is no indication that it is fatigued and ready to explode. The old wooden sticks would sound differently when they were cracked or chipped. With the new ones everything seems fine until you’re shooting the puck or making a defensive play , all of a sudden you have a piece of stick in each hand and the chance is missed.
Back in the early 90’2 I was involved with testing the Sherwood prototype composite stick. They were doing so to get NHL approval. Well the ones we tested would not break at all and therefore would be considered a weapon in some hands and approval did not go through. Now they have gone to far the other way and it seems that if you look at them the wrong way they will break. Hair line cracks develop just through regular use, that can’t be seen and the next thing you know they break, usually at the most in opportunistic of times.
Why not take a page out of Major League Baseballs rule book. In the MLB wooden bats have to be used, no aluminum or anything else is legal just wood plain and simple. Do you not think major league batters could hit the ball further with an aluminum bat, of course they could, the sweet spot is twice as big as the one on a wooden bat.
So in closing I would recommend that the best hockey league in the world, the NHL, make a rule dictating that only wooden sticks be used in the league. There will be so bitching to begin with but the playing field will be level and coaches around the league will be keeping more hair. That’s the way I see it and I know there is lots of money involved but what price do you pay for the integrity of the game.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://successblognet.com/sportsontheweb
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Washington’s future looks bright
It took overtime in game 7 of the series between Washington and Philadelphia to decide who would move on. The flyers ended up prevailing but Washington should a lot of pen ash in loosing the series. Cristobal Huet was outstanding in the Washington net and the young guns on Washington showed they will be a strong force in the near future. The problem the caps will have is keeping them all and staying under the cap.
Philadelphia will start their series in Montreal on Thursday night. It is my opinion that Philly will be in tough against Montreal, but that is why the games are played.
The refereeing in game 7 was a little sketchy as the stuff they let go in the third period would have been called in the first period. Then in overtime they called a penalty which was questionable and would have been let go in the third. Philly got the winning goal on the power play. This series was one of the best so far in the playoffs. Mike Richards was a force for philly. It was my opinion that the flyers first goal should not have counted and should have been goaltender interference.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Philadelphia will start their series in Montreal on Thursday night. It is my opinion that Philly will be in tough against Montreal, but that is why the games are played.
The refereeing in game 7 was a little sketchy as the stuff they let go in the third period would have been called in the first period. Then in overtime they called a penalty which was questionable and would have been let go in the third. Philly got the winning goal on the power play. This series was one of the best so far in the playoffs. Mike Richards was a force for philly. It was my opinion that the flyers first goal should not have counted and should have been goaltender interference.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Monday, April 21, 2008
Canadians save their best for last
The Canadians started game 7 a little tentatively and were being outplayed by Boston in the first period. Only some very solid goaltending from Carey Price had the Canadians enjoying a 1-0 lead after the first period.
In the second the Canadians started to skate and use their speed to create more chances. They were successful at getting the puck deep on the Boston defense and then forcing turn over’s. Mark Streit scored Montreal’s second goal and it was a beauty. It was a combination of quick passing, speed and skill.
Carey Price remained strong and focused in the net and proved to his detractors that he could over come the rookie jitters from the previous games and play in a pressure packed game at the level of a seasoned veteran. He was very solid in shutting out the Bruins.
The final score was 5-0 but it almost seemed that after the first period the Bruins had very little left in the tank to compete for the rest of the game.
In other games, the young guns in Washington went into Philadelphia and beat the Flyers 4-2, to force a game 7 in Washington tomorrow night.
In other hockey developments, I would keep my eye on the Colorado Avalanche. Adding Adam Foot and Peter Forsberg at the trade deadline gives them some solid leadership to help out Joe Sakic. I think if Forsberg and Foot can stay healthy, the Aves could be the Dark horse in the West. Forsberg seems to be playing some inspired hockey right now and looks like the” Peter the Great” of a few years back. That could be trouble for the rest of the west.
Dallas is also showing great promise after finally getting the monkey off their back and advancing to the second round for the first time in 5 years. It came at the expense of the Anaheim Ducks the current title holders. There will be a new cup champion again this year.
Sincerely Walt Webb
In the second the Canadians started to skate and use their speed to create more chances. They were successful at getting the puck deep on the Boston defense and then forcing turn over’s. Mark Streit scored Montreal’s second goal and it was a beauty. It was a combination of quick passing, speed and skill.
Carey Price remained strong and focused in the net and proved to his detractors that he could over come the rookie jitters from the previous games and play in a pressure packed game at the level of a seasoned veteran. He was very solid in shutting out the Bruins.
The final score was 5-0 but it almost seemed that after the first period the Bruins had very little left in the tank to compete for the rest of the game.
In other games, the young guns in Washington went into Philadelphia and beat the Flyers 4-2, to force a game 7 in Washington tomorrow night.
In other hockey developments, I would keep my eye on the Colorado Avalanche. Adding Adam Foot and Peter Forsberg at the trade deadline gives them some solid leadership to help out Joe Sakic. I think if Forsberg and Foot can stay healthy, the Aves could be the Dark horse in the West. Forsberg seems to be playing some inspired hockey right now and looks like the” Peter the Great” of a few years back. That could be trouble for the rest of the west.
Dallas is also showing great promise after finally getting the monkey off their back and advancing to the second round for the first time in 5 years. It came at the expense of the Anaheim Ducks the current title holders. There will be a new cup champion again this year.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Ottawa needs their fans at home.
Ottawa is in trouble against the penguins after loosing 4-3 last night. They need Alfredsson and Fisher in the line up or this series could be over pretty quick. These two guys are key because you can’t replace what they bring to the game and without them all of Ottawa’s lines become much weaker.
Martin Gerber has played great for Ottawa in both losses and has given them enough goaltending to win. It is just that the rest of the team has not played well. The next game will decide if Ottawa makes a series of in or is golfing by this time next week.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Martin Gerber has played great for Ottawa in both losses and has given them enough goaltending to win. It is just that the rest of the team has not played well. The next game will decide if Ottawa makes a series of in or is golfing by this time next week.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Is touch icing obsolete?
It has been debated for years as to the merit of having touch icing in NHL hockey. People who want touch icing out of the game such as Don Cherry, have a good point in stating that the game is so fast now that many injures occur from the touch icing rule. This does happen because the players are so fast and coming full speed to the end of the rink to either get or negate the icing call. Collisions occur and the board’s then stop the player cold, something has to give and it is usually the defenseman’s bones. Owners are thus losing valuable assets (the players).
Others state that taking touch icing out of the game would take the excitement of the race out as well and the fans would ultimately find that part of the game boring. The NHL does not want to take any part of the excitement out of the
game because they are trying to grow the fan base around the world. They are not concerned with the die hard Canadian
fans, but the new ones in regions they have just expanded into or are hoping to expand to in the near future.I would hope that my proposition would have elements that would satisfy both parties, keeping the excitement of the race and also making it safer for the players as well.
My proposal is that the players will still race for the puck on a touch icing but the area after the goal line becomes a “NO CONTACT” zone. The players can jockey for position until they hit the line but once in that area only stick position is allowed to either get or negate the icing. That way the race can continue but the players are still afforded the time and space to protect themselves from the boards and injury.Any contact behind the goal line could be dealt with by the ref’s and reinforced by the league.
The penalty for contact behind the line on an icing call could be a five minute penalty and a game misconduct. It would not take the playerslong to fall in line and I am sure they would appreciate the rule. Repeat offenders would get longer suspensions
Just to clarify, the no contact behind the goal line would only come into play when the linesman has his hand up meaning an icing charge is in play. The linesman could even be the one in charge of calling contact on the icing play as they would have the best view of the incident.
Anyway that’s my view on the dilemma and I believe there is merit too the proposal
Sincerely Walt Webb
Others state that taking touch icing out of the game would take the excitement of the race out as well and the fans would ultimately find that part of the game boring. The NHL does not want to take any part of the excitement out of the
game because they are trying to grow the fan base around the world. They are not concerned with the die hard Canadian
fans, but the new ones in regions they have just expanded into or are hoping to expand to in the near future.I would hope that my proposition would have elements that would satisfy both parties, keeping the excitement of the race and also making it safer for the players as well.
My proposal is that the players will still race for the puck on a touch icing but the area after the goal line becomes a “NO CONTACT” zone. The players can jockey for position until they hit the line but once in that area only stick position is allowed to either get or negate the icing. That way the race can continue but the players are still afforded the time and space to protect themselves from the boards and injury.Any contact behind the goal line could be dealt with by the ref’s and reinforced by the league.
The penalty for contact behind the line on an icing call could be a five minute penalty and a game misconduct. It would not take the playerslong to fall in line and I am sure they would appreciate the rule. Repeat offenders would get longer suspensions
Just to clarify, the no contact behind the goal line would only come into play when the linesman has his hand up meaning an icing charge is in play. The linesman could even be the one in charge of calling contact on the icing play as they would have the best view of the incident.
Anyway that’s my view on the dilemma and I believe there is merit too the proposal
Sincerely Walt Webb
Monday, April 7, 2008
Philly to much at home for the Pen’s
Montreal became the number one seed in the east yesterday by virtue of the Pittsburgh Penguin’s loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia. The flyers beat the penguin’s 2-0.
This will ensure a first round match-up with the Ottawa Senator’s for the penguins. They met in the first round last
year. Ottawa took that series and if they get Fisher and Alfredson back from injury, I think Ottawa will win the series again this year.
The other match-ups in the east will be, Boston at Montreal, Boston has not beaten Montreal all year and I don’t expect them to start now. Montreal has to much team speed and depth for the bean towners.
The New York Rangers face off against the New Jersey Devils; this will be the longest series in my view with the out come determined by Martin Brodeur. The Rangers have more skill players than New Jersey but with Brodeur anything can happen. I think the Rangers will come through in 7 games.
Philadelphia at Washington. Washington has played great hockey down the stretch and I don’t see them quitting now.
Bruce Boudreau has had them playing solid hockey since he took over behind the bench and is my pick for coach of the year. Washington should win this series in 6-7 games.
Tomorrow I will preview the western conference.
Sincerely Walt Webb
This will ensure a first round match-up with the Ottawa Senator’s for the penguins. They met in the first round last
year. Ottawa took that series and if they get Fisher and Alfredson back from injury, I think Ottawa will win the series again this year.
The other match-ups in the east will be, Boston at Montreal, Boston has not beaten Montreal all year and I don’t expect them to start now. Montreal has to much team speed and depth for the bean towners.
The New York Rangers face off against the New Jersey Devils; this will be the longest series in my view with the out come determined by Martin Brodeur. The Rangers have more skill players than New Jersey but with Brodeur anything can happen. I think the Rangers will come through in 7 games.
Philadelphia at Washington. Washington has played great hockey down the stretch and I don’t see them quitting now.
Bruce Boudreau has had them playing solid hockey since he took over behind the bench and is my pick for coach of the year. Washington should win this series in 6-7 games.
Tomorrow I will preview the western conference.
Sincerely Walt Webb
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Toronto Maple Leafs- Feb 15 2008
Hi everyone well the leafs were back to their old ways last night at the ACC. They played a very lethargic game and seemed totally disinterested in taking two points from the New York Islanders. They started the game one point behind New York and needed the win to move ahead of one team in the pack. With the loss Toronto is now dead last in the east, which could be good for the lottery on the Steve Stamkos, who by the way has always dreamed of playing for the ‘Blue and White”. He is a home grown product (Unionville) and as far as I am concerned is something the leafs lack which is more Canadian talent. The two teams that played for the prize last year, namely Anaheim and Ottawa had one thing in common, a very high percentage of Canadian’s who know how to play in the tuff sledding, something a lot of Europeans just don’t understand. The Stanley Cup playoffs are the toughest grind in professional sport, so you better have game every second night if you want to go anywhere.
This is the leafs biggest problem, they have no team toughness and although they have one of the biggest teams in the league, they play like a bunch of figure skaters with an egg in each pocket that they don’t want to break. Look at the likes of Alexi Ponickerofski (sp). Here is a guy who is six feet 4 inches and over 200 pounds but plays like he is 5’ 4” and 130lb soaking wet. Get rid of the guy as you will never win anything with the likes of that patrolling your wing. He sure does not instill any fear into opposing defensemen that are clearing the puck. Last night was a prime example of him doing his invisible man routine. Hell if I played on Mats Sundin’s wing I could score 20 goals a year. Just a note here, guys like Sundin, Forsberg, and Lidstrom are great players in any league and do play with a Canadian take no prisoners attitude.
Anyway enough for now and these are purely my opinions
This is the leafs biggest problem, they have no team toughness and although they have one of the biggest teams in the league, they play like a bunch of figure skaters with an egg in each pocket that they don’t want to break. Look at the likes of Alexi Ponickerofski (sp). Here is a guy who is six feet 4 inches and over 200 pounds but plays like he is 5’ 4” and 130lb soaking wet. Get rid of the guy as you will never win anything with the likes of that patrolling your wing. He sure does not instill any fear into opposing defensemen that are clearing the puck. Last night was a prime example of him doing his invisible man routine. Hell if I played on Mats Sundin’s wing I could score 20 goals a year. Just a note here, guys like Sundin, Forsberg, and Lidstrom are great players in any league and do play with a Canadian take no prisoners attitude.
Anyway enough for now and these are purely my opinions
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Toronto Maple Leafs- Feb 10 2008
Feb 10 2008
Who would have thought it, the leafs actually playing to good games in a row, (be still my beating heart). I have to give the boy’s in blue and white credit; they played a very disciplined game against the number one team in the league last night with Vessa (their goalie) leading the way. He was great and the two goals Detroit did score were both deflections that he had no chance on. The leafs never quit and scored a come from behind 3-2 win.
So let’s recap, they beat the #1 team in the east (Ottawa), then loose 8-0 to Florida who is in the same position they are, then go into Montreal and beat the 2nd place team in the east. Then to top it off beat Detroit on home ice which is the best team statistically in the league. So they have proved they can play some really good hockey at times. That in a nut shell is the problem. The league is so competitive with the most parity of any of the professional sports teams that you can never take a night off or even for that matter a couple of shifts off. The leafs know this all to well as they have likely let 15 points get away from them this year just by having a brain fart for 1-2 minutes during a game. We would not be talking about any playoffs if they had held onto leads they have generated over the season schedule. Even now with all the bad games they have played they are only 6 points out of the last playoff spot. The trouble is there are about 5 teams they would have to leap frog in order to get in which is very doubtful. A math professor at the university of Waterloo who’s name escapes me at the moment did a probability study on the leafs playoff hopes. His findings were ugly and painted the picture of the leafs playoff hopes at a measly 3%. That has likely gone up a bit after the two resent wins. Anyway hold onto your hats as the last 20 games or so could be a bit of a wild ride. My heart says I would like to see them make it in no matter how lean those hopes appear to be but my brain is saying for the long term good of the franchise they should go into the toilet and get a very good lottery position this year. The draft year this year is quite strong with the top five players all worthy of being a player of which you could build a franchise around in the future, Stamkos or Tavares would look really good in a leaf uniform.
Well that’s it for today and these opinions are purely my own
Sincerely Walter Webb.
Who would have thought it, the leafs actually playing to good games in a row, (be still my beating heart). I have to give the boy’s in blue and white credit; they played a very disciplined game against the number one team in the league last night with Vessa (their goalie) leading the way. He was great and the two goals Detroit did score were both deflections that he had no chance on. The leafs never quit and scored a come from behind 3-2 win.
So let’s recap, they beat the #1 team in the east (Ottawa), then loose 8-0 to Florida who is in the same position they are, then go into Montreal and beat the 2nd place team in the east. Then to top it off beat Detroit on home ice which is the best team statistically in the league. So they have proved they can play some really good hockey at times. That in a nut shell is the problem. The league is so competitive with the most parity of any of the professional sports teams that you can never take a night off or even for that matter a couple of shifts off. The leafs know this all to well as they have likely let 15 points get away from them this year just by having a brain fart for 1-2 minutes during a game. We would not be talking about any playoffs if they had held onto leads they have generated over the season schedule. Even now with all the bad games they have played they are only 6 points out of the last playoff spot. The trouble is there are about 5 teams they would have to leap frog in order to get in which is very doubtful. A math professor at the university of Waterloo who’s name escapes me at the moment did a probability study on the leafs playoff hopes. His findings were ugly and painted the picture of the leafs playoff hopes at a measly 3%. That has likely gone up a bit after the two resent wins. Anyway hold onto your hats as the last 20 games or so could be a bit of a wild ride. My heart says I would like to see them make it in no matter how lean those hopes appear to be but my brain is saying for the long term good of the franchise they should go into the toilet and get a very good lottery position this year. The draft year this year is quite strong with the top five players all worthy of being a player of which you could build a franchise around in the future, Stamkos or Tavares would look really good in a leaf uniform.
Well that’s it for today and these opinions are purely my own
Sincerely Walter Webb.
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Toronto Maple Leafs
Hi Everyone, well I was going to write something on Mr. Betman today but my frustrations on my team, the Toronto Maple Leafs ( I know hold the snickers, you can’t say I ‘m a band wagon jumper) have put a burr in my saddle so to speak. You talk about a Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hide as far team play is concerned. Last Saturday they play the 1st place Ottawa Senators at home and take the game 4-2, then just a mire 48 hours later they come out and get their butts kicked by the lowly Florida Panthers to the tune of 8-0. Last night again 48 hours later they go into Montreal where the Canadians have been playing great lately and right on Ottawa’s back for 1st place in the East and hand them a 4-2 loss on home ice. Who would have thought that would happen. These guys have more ups and downs than the “Top Gun “ride at Canada’s wonderland. I feel sorry for Paul Maurice, the guy must be beside himself and I am surprised he still has his hair and has not pulled it all out. The leafs have the Detroit Red Wings (the best team record wise in the league) in Toronto on Saturday. It will be interesting to see which team shows up. Based on their up and down play all season long, the red wings will hand them their butt’s in a basket. The leafs have shown flashes of being a very good team but in the end a couple of bone head mistakes that a midget hockey player would get benched for happen and the game is lost. They are the epitome of what happens when you play 55 minutes of hockey when the game is 60 minutes long.
Toronto’s problems go much deeper than the on ice product. John Ferguson Jr. had no idea how to manage the salary cap for one and signed guys that were ok players but not worth near what he paid them (are you listening Pavel Kabina). So he had no cap room to improve the team and could not bring in anyone even if he wanted too. The board hired Ferguson because he came cheap and would be a yes man for Petty. Then when things get dicey, Petty jumps ship and stabs him in the back, saying maybe he should not have hired him. Wow what a stand up guy you are Richard. No real hockey man will work under Petty without total autonomy on all hockey decisions. That won’t happen with Petty as the CEO. Hopefully Cliff Fletcher can sort things out but here again he does not have much wiggle room. The front office is a mess; you have a board of directors headed by Richard Petty that think they are hockey men. I have news for you guys, just stick to being a fan and let the real hockey guy’s like Cliff Fletcher run the hockey end of things. The first thing petty talks about when asked is what a great job he has done for the share holders (read the teachers union) well big deal there Rick anyone could make money with the leafs, it is right up there with taxes as a sure thing. It would be nice if the teachers union got out of the sports business because their #1 objective is to make the pension money, putting a product on the ice is secondary.
The bottom line here is that Cliff needs to clean house even if it means that he has to pay part of some of the player’s salaries to play somewhere else.
Well that’s enough venting for now and the opinion’s expressed here are just my own.
Walter Webb
http://sportingnews.ning.com/
Toronto’s problems go much deeper than the on ice product. John Ferguson Jr. had no idea how to manage the salary cap for one and signed guys that were ok players but not worth near what he paid them (are you listening Pavel Kabina). So he had no cap room to improve the team and could not bring in anyone even if he wanted too. The board hired Ferguson because he came cheap and would be a yes man for Petty. Then when things get dicey, Petty jumps ship and stabs him in the back, saying maybe he should not have hired him. Wow what a stand up guy you are Richard. No real hockey man will work under Petty without total autonomy on all hockey decisions. That won’t happen with Petty as the CEO. Hopefully Cliff Fletcher can sort things out but here again he does not have much wiggle room. The front office is a mess; you have a board of directors headed by Richard Petty that think they are hockey men. I have news for you guys, just stick to being a fan and let the real hockey guy’s like Cliff Fletcher run the hockey end of things. The first thing petty talks about when asked is what a great job he has done for the share holders (read the teachers union) well big deal there Rick anyone could make money with the leafs, it is right up there with taxes as a sure thing. It would be nice if the teachers union got out of the sports business because their #1 objective is to make the pension money, putting a product on the ice is secondary.
The bottom line here is that Cliff needs to clean house even if it means that he has to pay part of some of the player’s salaries to play somewhere else.
Well that’s enough venting for now and the opinion’s expressed here are just my own.
Walter Webb
http://sportingnews.ning.com/
Monday, February 4, 2008
Super Bowl 42 (aftermath)
Feb 4 2008
Well everyone I blew the call, lol, not even close in the score of the game. Who would have thought that the game would have been such a defencive struggle for 3 quarters of the game. The only consolation I have is that the giants pretty well did what I said they had to do to keep the game close. They did that and actually won the game 17-14.
The game was Eli Manning’s coming out party for sure because he played one hell of a game and was totally deserving of MVP honors. Dad and big brother were there for him and he sure didn’t disappoint. He did have two turnovers but they were not his fault, he got the ball into his receiver and running backs hands but they could not hold onto it. The giants defence gets full marks for shutting down the high powdered New England offence, and the two turnovers for New York did not come back to bite them in the behind. If someone would have bet in Vegas that the giants would have held the patriots to 14 points they would be a wealth person today. I kind of feel sorry for Tom Brady though, it was to bad he pick the biggest game of the year to become mortal and he and his whole offence played rather ordinary. Honerable mention should go to Wes Welker WR, who I thought was the best player for the patiots.
On a side note you speaking of Vegas, where you can bet on anything to do with the game. There was an over under bet of 6 as to how many times Peyton Manning’s face would appear on camera. I think the camera man and the producer bet the over because I counted about 10 times that his mug was on the screen.
So there you have it, my prediction was way off and I think everone was surprised by the out come. But hey that’s why they have to actually play the game. So the New England Patriots, the best team ever to not have won the super bowl. That’s it for now.
Walter Webb
P.S. Next up will be hockey and maybe something on Garry Betman, is he doing a good job or not? Give me your opinions
Well everyone I blew the call, lol, not even close in the score of the game. Who would have thought that the game would have been such a defencive struggle for 3 quarters of the game. The only consolation I have is that the giants pretty well did what I said they had to do to keep the game close. They did that and actually won the game 17-14.
The game was Eli Manning’s coming out party for sure because he played one hell of a game and was totally deserving of MVP honors. Dad and big brother were there for him and he sure didn’t disappoint. He did have two turnovers but they were not his fault, he got the ball into his receiver and running backs hands but they could not hold onto it. The giants defence gets full marks for shutting down the high powdered New England offence, and the two turnovers for New York did not come back to bite them in the behind. If someone would have bet in Vegas that the giants would have held the patriots to 14 points they would be a wealth person today. I kind of feel sorry for Tom Brady though, it was to bad he pick the biggest game of the year to become mortal and he and his whole offence played rather ordinary. Honerable mention should go to Wes Welker WR, who I thought was the best player for the patiots.
On a side note you speaking of Vegas, where you can bet on anything to do with the game. There was an over under bet of 6 as to how many times Peyton Manning’s face would appear on camera. I think the camera man and the producer bet the over because I counted about 10 times that his mug was on the screen.
So there you have it, my prediction was way off and I think everone was surprised by the out come. But hey that’s why they have to actually play the game. So the New England Patriots, the best team ever to not have won the super bowl. That’s it for now.
Walter Webb
P.S. Next up will be hockey and maybe something on Garry Betman, is he doing a good job or not? Give me your opinions
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