A little diversion here for me today as I write briefly about Sunday’s Super Bowl victory for the New Orleans Saints.

In what started out as a manhandling of the Saints defense in the first quarter by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, the New Orleans Saints settled down, caught their collective breathe and took control both offensively and defensively, beating the Colts at their own game.  Passing.

Drew Brees had a phenominal day going 32 for 39 for 288 yards and two touchdown passes in a 31-17 victory.  Brees also was awarded the MVP of the Super Bowl in what turned out to be the most watched Super Bowl in the history of the game.

It was a see-saw battle as teams exchanged scoring drives for most of the game and then it happened.  Peyton Manning on one of his usual no-huddle, quick strike offensive drives, threw a pass that I’m sure he’d love to have back.  Saints defender Tracy Porter stepped in front of Colts receiver Reggie Wayne and picked off Manning and went 74 yards for the touchdown.  An aggressive play by the Saints defense, but their style of play and many of their calls had been aggressive all day.  Including an onside kick to start the second half which the Saints recovered.

Have to say as cool and calm as Manning usually is, Saints quarterback Drew Brees was even more so, as he never looked confused, rushed, and always had control of his play.  It was one of the best quarterback duels that we’ll ever see.  Passing was the name of this game that was for sure as the quarterbacks combined for over 600 passing yards on a combined 84 attempts.

A great win for New Orleans, a team and a city that defintely could use the victory, as they won in their first Super Bowl appearance ever.

Congratulations to New Orleans and all the players that made this possible.  Your hard work and determination and passion for excellence is what led you here.  Most importantly, you finished your task.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

This week’s addition of my link’s are going to consist of hockey only, as we are coming up to the Olympic Break and alot of hockey news is around us.  Starting with:

Blue Line Station has a nice post regarding the passing of Brian Burke’s son Brendan.

Down Goes Brown somehow had access to Gary Bettman’s email account?!  This is hilarious, as always.

Sabre Noise wonders if Buffalo can get better at the trade deadline?

Broad Street Buzz isn’t happy about Kovalchuk going to New Jersey.

Tampa Bay is on a bit of a hot streak.  Bolts By The Bay tells you about it.

Blackout Dallas thinks there’s trouble in Texas.

Causway Crowd feels that the Outdoor Classic has cursed the Bruins.

James Mirtle thinks that offensively the Capitals are way ahead of everyone else.  He might be right.

How does the Kovalchuk trade impact the East?  Scott Morrison from the CBC has his thoughts.

Elliotte Friedman has his ideas about the Kovalchuk trade as well.

Ray Ferraro thinks that eventually the Flames and Leafs will be winners in their deal.

Our friends over at Four Habs Fans wonder if Montreal’s season is going down the toilet?

Pension Plan Puppets has a great analysis of the Dion Phanuef trade to Toronto.

Matchsticks and Gasoline examines the process behind what Calgary’s Darryl Sutter might be thinking.

Thanks for reading.

Enjoy the week as this is our last week of NHL action before the Olympic Break.

Cheers

The offensive woes that have plagued the Florida Panthers could have/should have been resolved last night against the Traveling Willburrys Atlanta Thrashers.  Unfortunately no one told the Panthers how to take advantage of a team that was supposedly “up against it” all day.

Atlanta had one of the worst travel days one could have as they spent four hours busing it from D.C. to Richmond, Virgina, that also included a minor accident on I-95  with a truck, to catch a flight home to Atlanta as the middle eastern coast was hammered with a severe snow storm.  The Thrashers landed at 6:00 p.m. and the start time of the game was pushed back to 7:30, then 7: 48 to give them enough time to get to the rink and prepare.

After spending all day traveling under the most unfortunate situations one would think that the Thrashers would basically have no energy, and have no desire to come out and play a 6o minute hockey game.  Wrong.  Apparently they must have used their situation as a rallying cry, or as motivational inspiration and made a totally exhausting day a very gratifying one.  Guess they didn’t read the script either.

Playing their first game at home without star forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who was sent off to New Jersey, the Thrashers nullified a two goal first period deficit, and turned on the afterburners in the second and third period beating the Panthers 4-2.  I’m not sure what was more inspirational, they way the Thrashers played, or the way that there fans were so raucous.  Maybe a combination of the two, but I have to hand it to those players and to head coach John Anderson as he certainly pushed the right buttons.

I was able to catch most of the second and all of the third periods, and almost wish I hadn’t as a two goal Panther lead easily evaporated due to the Florida Panthers lack of killer instinct.  Yes, we have players out with injuries, and you probably want to use that as an excuse.  Well FYI, the Montreal Canadians dressed five players from the AHL yesterday and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, so don’t give me any crap about being short players.  You find a way to make it work.

Radek Dvorak scored both Panthers goals, making the first time a Panther forward has scored in four games, but it was the first time that Dvorak lit the lamp in 15 games.    While the Panthers did manage 26 shots on goal against Thrasher goalie Johan Hedberg, they continued to miss chances and find wasy to  not score, rather than make life easy for themselves and get some goals.  Forget about not getting bounces, these guys just can’t finish.

The PP (piss poor), was a very dissappointing 0-7!  Olesz missed another open net.  Dominic Moore was beaten rather easliy by defenceman Zach Bogosian in a fight that seemed to light a fire under the Thrashers rather than the Panthers.

Atlanta got on the board in the second period with a goal by Maxim Afinogenov, who buried a shot past Vokoun.  From there it was all Atlanta, and all downhill for the Panthers.   Bryan Little tied the game at two shortly after, and you could sort of feel a bit uneasy, yet you had to ask yourself, “there’s  no way Atlanta wins this right”?

Well, the third period was no better as Niclas Bergfors (part of the Kovy Trade) put Atlanta ahead with just under five minutes to go.  Then with Tomas Vokoun pulled for an extra skater, rookie Evander Kane scored due to a rule stating that when the net is empty and the defending team throws their stick at you, you will get credit for a goal, even if your shot misses the net, making it a 4-2 final.  Rookie defenceman Dmitry Kulikov was the guilty party on that one.

So, here’s some numbers to think about while you watch the Super Bowl today.  The Panthers have lost their third straight and fourth in their last five games.  The Panthers have scored twice on their last 23 powerless play chances.  The Panther’s who were in a tie for a playoff spot just last week, are now in the 12th spot, yet only two points from 8th.  Which basically is kind of ridiculous based on their recent record.  But Tampa is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, and oh yea, remember Carolina?  You know those Hurricanes everyone thought were completely out of it?  Well they’re record in their last 10 games is  7-3, and they’re just 8 p0ints behind us!  Not saying they’re playoff bound, but while everyone else is winning, we’re still trying to hold leads in games that we don’t have.

Stephen Weiss (I’m running out of nicknames) was out of last night’s lineup as he is nursing a yeast infection lower body injury that has not gone away.  Another year of Weiss missing time, showing again that he is fragile, and not the player people thinks he is.  He is soft, I’ve been saying that from day one of his existence in the NHL.  He’s not a number one center, and would someone please tell me why he has a NTC clause?

Carolina is up next on Tuesday.  Only the hockey gods know how this goes from here, but I have to, ask, how does this change?  Players, coaches, scouts, management, ownership, you all have some work to do.  We are still for some ungodly reason in a fight for a playoff spot, but don’t blame all the injuries and all the crap that goes along with it.  We have to find some players that have some skill, grit and leadership to get us over the hump.

Otherwise, you can kiss the season goodbye!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

P.S.  One last note and a sad one at that.  Brian Burke’s 21 year old son Brendan died in a car crash Friday night in Indiana.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burke family in this time of grief.

Is there help on the way?

Not much to say about this one as the Calgary Flames got contributions from newcomer Ales Kotalik, who scored, and assists from Niklas Hagman and Ian White.  Mark Giordano scored the other goal for the Flames giving them a 2-1 victory over Florida.

The Flames played an excellent road game.  Tight checking, persistent forechecking, and made the most of the offensive chances that they had.  If not for Panther goaltender Tomas Vokoun, the score certainly would have been worse as the Flames had 40 shots on goal.

Florida was basically “manhandled”.  A term used by head coach Peter DeBoer after the game.  I myself couldn’t agree more as watching this fiasco from my seat was extremely frustrating.  It seemed as though most of the sixty minute contest was played in the Panther’s zone.  The Calgary forecheck was almost impossible to get away from, in addition to the Panthers inability to successfully get the puck out of their zone without chipping it off the glass, made it a long  night.

This would be the third consecutive game that a Panther forward did not score a goal!  The lone Panther goal was scored by defenceman Dennis Seidenberg.  This now makes 10 goals in the Panthers last nine games.  They were only able to muster 13 shots on goal as Mikka Kiprusoff was rarely tested.

Rostislav Olesz had a couple open net opportunities, but since he’s not the shaprshooter everyone thinks he is, of course blew his chances.

The Panthers are playing all thier games now as if they are trying to hold a lead.  They virtually have given up their aggressive forecheck, and are taking absolutely no chances offensively.  With Tomas Vokoun playing as well as is has been of late, you would tink that the Panthers would have the confidence to play with more desire and be willing to be more desperate for scoring goals.

Too logical.

Not sure about you, but it’s time to get some help!

This team and organization is in desperate need of reevaluating their position right now.  They way we’ve been losing games is unconscionable.  The last time we made the playoffs Bill Clinton was president.  That was ten years ago!  Is there any correlation to the fact that we also had a superstar-goalscorer on that team?  Since he has been dealt away, we have not replaced that role and thus have continued to miss out on extra hockey!

Next up, the Atlanta Thrasher’s tonight in Atlanta.  Only good thing about this is no Ilya Kovalcuk.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

Phoenix a band from Versailles, France has been getting a ton of airtime lately and rightfully so. Known for their current hits, Lisztomania and 1901, here’s a song called Fences that I heard the other day and I think you should too.

Here’s Phoenix performing Fences live at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Thanks for listening.

Cheers

28-21-8

VS.

24-23-9

I have had this game circled on the calender ever since I knew it was there!  The homecoming of Jay Bouwmeester, and prior to being traded to the New York Rangers, Olli Jokinen.  Because of that trade, only half of that tandem will be here, and with the recent bodies that have been shipped in an out of Calgary, the Flames will certainly have a new look to them tonight.

The Flames will have former Panther Niklas Hagman in their lineup as he was part of the blockbuster Dion Phanuef trade with Toronto last Sunday.  Also new players Ales Kotalik, Chris Higgins, Matt Stajan, and Jamal Mayers will be in the lineup for Calgary.

The Flames have been going through a terrible time lately which has prompted general manager Darryl Sutter to make sweeping changes to the roster.  The Flames are 2-6-2 in their last ten games and currently sit in the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.  The entire game plan and style of play may be changing for the Flames as the loss of Phanuef and Brandon Prust makes them a little less aggressive, and softer.  I have been a casual fan of theirs for years and feel that captain Jarome Iginla and goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff are a couple of the top players in the NHL.  Also, I like their logo.

The return of Jay Bouwmeester presents the biggest attraction tonight as the graceful, yet soft spoken defenceman returns to South Florida for the first time since being traded last summer.  From a points standpoint, Jay is having an off year.  Two goals and nineteen assists are a far cry form the numbers we’re used to seeing, and there are a number of factors involved.  He still however plays over 26 minutes a night which is on par for his ice time.  That being said, I am not looking for Jay to receive a warm welcome.  Remember, he did not want to be here, and it wasn’t like we traded him to get equal or better players in return.  Combined between Uncle Jack’s refusal to deal him eighteen months prior and Randy Sexton’s inability to work a better deal, Bouwmeester was virtually given away.  No offense Jordan Leopold, but not the return I was looking for.

The Panthers who have been struggling to score goals are in the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference with a battle among 3-4 teams for the final playoff spot.  With the recent acquisition by New Jersey of Ilya Kovalchuk, I would think that that move will make other teams do some wealing and dealing as well.  Except of course the Panthers, who I firmly believe will do nothing.

The Panthers are 6-3-1 in their last ten games and have been off since Monday after losing 3-0 to Anaheim in a game where they showed little hunger.  These are desperate times my fellow readers (both of you ), and Florida needs some players to find their scoring touch and pick up their pace.

I commend and congratulate Tomas Vokoun for his stellar play in goal, but as we have seen, as good as he has been, we cannot keep pace with teams like Washington, New Jersey, and even Ottawa for that matter who has been playing some spectacular hockey.  Hmmm, wonder if DeBoer would be having the same success with them that Cory Clouston is.  That’s another conversation.

Tonight will be interesting.  Will the Panthers come out with some energy from their few days off?  Will they be all soft and cuddly because Jay is back in town?  How will the crowd react to Jay?

I say Boo him every time he touches the puck! 

I’ll be there, and I will!

Also, tonight before the game, the Panthers will be holding another Town Hall Meeting.  Can’t wait to tell you how that goes!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

P.S.  thought you might enjoy this photo of Don Cherry with his Calgary headress on:

Is the above message a motto for the Panthers?

The Florida Panthers while still in the playoff race for now, have some decisions to make I would think before the Olympic Break.  Depending on how the next few games go will probably determine if they are buyers or sellers prior to the trade deadline.  Are there opportunities present to make a move to improve?  Have they already passed them by?

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford was quoted as saying, “It’s better to trade before the break, rather than after”.  My guess would be it would give the newly acquired player(s) the off time to learn the new system and be ready to go once we resume play.  Can’t say that I don’t agree.  In light of that, what are the Panthers going to do, and what needs to happen over the next week or so to vault them further into playoff contention?

Or will they just sit on their hands and let things happen with what they have?

Think about these items:

Not suggesting a coaching change at this point, but St. Louis and Columbus two teams that made the playoffs last year have let their respective coaches go, as did the Flyers earlier this season.  While I am not saying that DeBoer should be fired, but what if the Panthers don’t make it again.  Is he a goner?

Calgary in the middle of a terrible slump as they come into the Bank Friday night, just inherited 6 players, 4 from one of the worst team in the NHL, for a young defenceman with a ton of promise, Dion Phanuef.  Why?  Brian Burke the GM for the Leafs mentioned that while Dion was not on the block a few months ago, he heard from another GM just before making the trade that Dion was offered elsewhere.  I would hate to think that we may have had a chance to get this kid, wouldn’t you?

The scoring slump that the Panthers are in could be detrimental to their playoff hopes if not resolved.  Rhino, Weiss, Frolik, Stillman, Moore, and a rusty David Booth must start to find the net soon.  Not to mention grunts like Kreps and Campbell.  Who is the guy to get us out of this?

Are we finally at the point where we realize that we need an offensive weapon?  Or are we going to wait for Horton to come back, and then when we still have trouble scoring and winning, tell everyone that injuries hurt our chances of making the playoffs for TEN CONSECUTIVE years?

Tomas Vokoun is playing the best hockey he has played since coming to South Florida.  Does he keep it up, and how much longer are we going to continue to try and win 1-0?

Ilya Kovalchuk.  If you are the Florida Panthers do you make a run for him, or do you pass?  It’s evident that The Thrashers will be dealing him in the next few days.  Want him or not?  And for who?

If the season was over right now, the Panthers would once again miss the playoffs by one point.  Has Randy Sexton done his job?  My opinion no.

So the lack of pressure to win here makes the Panthers organization seem as though they don’t put enough emphasis on winning, and more on adverstising.  That being said, what’s it going to take to realize that we cannot continue putting a team on the ice that’s not competitive enough?

I love this game.  I want to love this team.  However I can’t understand why things never change.  Except the suits.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

Doesn’t that picture give you the creeps everytime you see it?

Friday night the Calgary Flames come to the Bank Atlantic Center amid controversy and having lost ten of their last eleven games at the time of this post.  A bit of a Florida Panther reunion was expected as the Flames roster (until Monday night) had former Panther’s Jay Bouwmeester,  Olli Jokinen (who was traded to the New York Rangers), and Niklas Hagman, whose most recent play was for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

So my question to you is this:  Will you cheer for Jay, or will you Boo for Jay?  What’s the general feeling about his return to South Florida?

Remember, if you will that he was offered contract upon contract for loads of money and for lengthy terms, yet did not want to stay because he wanted to play for a team that was playoff bound.  A team that was going in a positive direction.  A team that wasn’t in turmoil.  A team that was in a city where hockey was a main focus of the town.  He wanted to play on and for a winning organEYEzation.

Well Jay, tell me.  How’s that working for ya?

As of today, and before tonight’s games, neither the Florida Panthers, nor the Calgary Flames are in a playoff spot.  While both teams are competing for one, one can’t say right now that either one will make it.  Although if the Flames can turn things around, they probably have a better chance, but that’s a longer story.

As for me, I will be attending Friday’s game and was more looking forward to seeing the Calgary Flames with Olli Jokinen, Jerome Iginla and Dion Phanuef.  However with the recent trades by Calgary, I won’t get that enjoyment other than for Iginla.  As for Jay, I could care less about him, as he could care less about us here in Florida.  I have always been of the opinion that if a player doesn’t want to commit, or be in a city and play for a team that I follow, then I have no use for you.  As a fan that’s my option.

I watch alot of Calgary Flames games, and always have.  I like their sweaters, I like their style, and I like how rowdy their crowd is, and all the RED that you see at their home games.  A true city that loves their team.  While last year the Flames felt they had an excellent chance to do some damage in the playoffs, injuries, salary cap woes and some defensive issues led to a first round exit at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.  Also, the lack of a backup goalie that the coaching staff could trust.  The general manager Darryl Sutter was faced with alot of issues.

Speaking of their coaching staff, even though former Panther head coach, and general manager Mike Keenan led the Flames to two consecutive playoff appearances, he was relieved of his duties with one year remaining on his term.   (RE: Pressure to win, which doesn’t exist here) Flames General manager Darryl Sutter brought in his brother Brent to straighten things out and get them further along.  Well, that hasn’t worked out so well either so far as the Flames are struggling.  Another one of those, we can’t trade everyone, so let’s fire the coach.  Which also let’s the players off the hook a bit.

Anyway, in most of the Flames games that I have seen, Jay has been a non-factor.  He has only two goals, and 18 assists.  Certainly not the point production that Calgary had expected, but is that related to the Flames not scoring enough in general, or that Jay just isn’t as good as he was billed?  You make your own assestment of that.  For me, having him didn’t get us anywhere, and not having him hasn’t done anything either.  I feel that the Flames have way overpaid, and better them than us.

So if you’re asking if I’ll have the welcome mat out for him with open arms, I think you should know by now that I won’t.  

I’d rather bring along the youngster below to the game with me so he can pass along this message to Jay:

Thanks for reading.

Cheers