Shall all the quaintence ...
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Alright. After an injection of chicken soup, about two dozen NyQuil and DayQuil combined, and buckets of lozenges later, I'm back! Still have a bit of a cough, but I'll survive. I'll definitely survive.
I should have tried to dredge up the energy to post about the game on New Years' Eve, in which we saw our first hat trick at Nationwide Arena -- in favor of the Jackets, at least -- in forever and a day, all thanks to Rick Nash and the many faces his goals wore. First on the short-hand on a juicy Dwayne Roloson rebound, then on the power play also on the rebound after a little bit of patience, and then lastly from half-ice in to an empty net, after a pass through traffic by none other than Nikolai Zherdev.
But it isn't just the hat trick that impressed me about that game, as I watched it, curled up under my blankets and staying cozy and warm. No, what impressed me is that the Jackets bent but never broke. Although the Jackets played well throughout most of the game, the Edmonton Oilers were just as feisty throughout. Their speed is what had given Jackets fits during the first meeting of the season back in November, and they were still flittering all about. But this time, they kept their composure. Even when the Oilers tied it the first time, and even when they tied it yet again the second time.
And in the end, all that patience and sticking with the game plan -- as cliche as that sounds -- paid off with a power play opportunity that led to the game-winning-goal.
So, a win to ring in the New Year! Now let's move on to 2008.
(And yes, Matt, I've also noticed how the Jackets seem to win whenever I am sick. So let's hope I keep this cough of mine for just a little while longer.)
Tonight's game -- which I thankfully have Center Ice for since FSN Ohio will not be sending anyone out for it, nor for the next two games -- will be in Orange County, against those pesky Ducks. The last game against them, just a couple of weeks ago at Nationwide, infuriated me due to the way in which it ended, on a ... let's say 'curious' penalty in overtime against Duvie Westcott.
With the OTL, the Jackets fell to 1-0-2 against the Ducks this season, their only win coming against the Ducks on opening night, when they whooped their feathery butts 4-0. This being their fourth game, it'll be their last of the season. I'd like to see a series "split", if only because a split would actually be a series win for the Jackets, who by way of their losses coming in OT or the shootout, would ultimately get 6 points out of the season series, while the Ducks would get just 4, or 5 with an OTL and SOL.
It's worth mentioning -- knock on wood -- that the Jackets actually have not yet lost in regulation to any team in the Pacific Division. Just a random bit of information to throw out there.
In terms of team activity, the biggest news that came out of the past couple of days was the demotion of Gilbert Brule to Syracuse. I got to tell you, after all of 1 1/2 seasons of him being up with the Jackets, I still don't know what to think of Brule. Like has been mentioned by other bloggers over the time he's been up here, this definitely was a touchy situation, in which a demotion could mentally jar the young player, who was supposed to have brought instant dividends for the Jackets last season. Instead, he got very little in terms of ice time, and never really gelled with any other players when shuffled through the various line matchings that both Gerard Gallant and Ken Hitchcock tried him with.
Reading between the lines, where it's been said that both Hitch and Scott Howson want to bring Brule back up after several games and seeing how he does, I think that ultimately, unless we see some sort of great output of points -- and I don't see it happening -- he may be down there for a good while. And that's okay, you know? This is for the best.
So good luck, Brule. Go down to Syracuse, and become a better player. Hopefully we'll see you back up with the big show soon.
The only other thing worth mentioning before I go down to Best Buy and use my gift cards from Christmas is that center Manny Malhotra will be back tonight, after sitting out several games due to injury. All that is left to worry about is Mike Peca and any possible concussion he has, Fredrik Modin who, I admit, I feel like I may never see play this season ... and David Vyborny who tweaked his groin just a little during the game against Edmonton.
Seacrest ... out.
I should have tried to dredge up the energy to post about the game on New Years' Eve, in which we saw our first hat trick at Nationwide Arena -- in favor of the Jackets, at least -- in forever and a day, all thanks to Rick Nash and the many faces his goals wore. First on the short-hand on a juicy Dwayne Roloson rebound, then on the power play also on the rebound after a little bit of patience, and then lastly from half-ice in to an empty net, after a pass through traffic by none other than Nikolai Zherdev.
But it isn't just the hat trick that impressed me about that game, as I watched it, curled up under my blankets and staying cozy and warm. No, what impressed me is that the Jackets bent but never broke. Although the Jackets played well throughout most of the game, the Edmonton Oilers were just as feisty throughout. Their speed is what had given Jackets fits during the first meeting of the season back in November, and they were still flittering all about. But this time, they kept their composure. Even when the Oilers tied it the first time, and even when they tied it yet again the second time.
And in the end, all that patience and sticking with the game plan -- as cliche as that sounds -- paid off with a power play opportunity that led to the game-winning-goal.
So, a win to ring in the New Year! Now let's move on to 2008.
(And yes, Matt, I've also noticed how the Jackets seem to win whenever I am sick. So let's hope I keep this cough of mine for just a little while longer.)
Tonight's game -- which I thankfully have Center Ice for since FSN Ohio will not be sending anyone out for it, nor for the next two games -- will be in Orange County, against those pesky Ducks. The last game against them, just a couple of weeks ago at Nationwide, infuriated me due to the way in which it ended, on a ... let's say 'curious' penalty in overtime against Duvie Westcott.
With the OTL, the Jackets fell to 1-0-2 against the Ducks this season, their only win coming against the Ducks on opening night, when they whooped their feathery butts 4-0. This being their fourth game, it'll be their last of the season. I'd like to see a series "split", if only because a split would actually be a series win for the Jackets, who by way of their losses coming in OT or the shootout, would ultimately get 6 points out of the season series, while the Ducks would get just 4, or 5 with an OTL and SOL.
It's worth mentioning -- knock on wood -- that the Jackets actually have not yet lost in regulation to any team in the Pacific Division. Just a random bit of information to throw out there.
In terms of team activity, the biggest news that came out of the past couple of days was the demotion of Gilbert Brule to Syracuse. I got to tell you, after all of 1 1/2 seasons of him being up with the Jackets, I still don't know what to think of Brule. Like has been mentioned by other bloggers over the time he's been up here, this definitely was a touchy situation, in which a demotion could mentally jar the young player, who was supposed to have brought instant dividends for the Jackets last season. Instead, he got very little in terms of ice time, and never really gelled with any other players when shuffled through the various line matchings that both Gerard Gallant and Ken Hitchcock tried him with.
Reading between the lines, where it's been said that both Hitch and Scott Howson want to bring Brule back up after several games and seeing how he does, I think that ultimately, unless we see some sort of great output of points -- and I don't see it happening -- he may be down there for a good while. And that's okay, you know? This is for the best.
So good luck, Brule. Go down to Syracuse, and become a better player. Hopefully we'll see you back up with the big show soon.
The only other thing worth mentioning before I go down to Best Buy and use my gift cards from Christmas is that center Manny Malhotra will be back tonight, after sitting out several games due to injury. All that is left to worry about is Mike Peca and any possible concussion he has, Fredrik Modin who, I admit, I feel like I may never see play this season ... and David Vyborny who tweaked his groin just a little during the game against Edmonton.
Seacrest ... out.
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At 12:50 PM,
Two Sentence Horrors said…
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At 2:04 AM,
said…
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Adee
Glad you're feeling better. Wish you could have made it to the game on New Years!! The Brule decision was for the best, poor kid though, spending your 21st birthday realizing you just took a gigantic pay cut. Can't wait to have him back up here. When does school start back for you?