Sunday notes

Gotta have faith?

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs, yes THOSE Toronto Maple Leafs, earned their first home win of the season over the Detroit Red Wings, coached by team Twentyten coach, Mike Babcock. The Leafs shellacked the Wings, 5 - 1. It would be premature of me to blame the loss on Babcock, but 5 - 1?? TO THE DAMNED LEAFS?!?

It would seem inappropriate to talk about losing faith in someone on a Sunday, but I can assure you that Jesus would NEVER have allowed a team he coached to lose to the Leafs 5 - 1.

Instead, I will blame this loss on the players of the Red Wings, a bunch of Europeans who, come February, will be going back to their NHL teams without a delicious* looking gold medal around their necks. Also to be blamed for the loss, of course, is Chris Osgood, who is just plain terrible.

The positive notes from the game is that Danny Cleary scored an absolutely beauty goal on "the monster", who appears to be the greatest goalie in the history of hockey now if you are watching any of the syndicated Canadian sports highlight shows as I am this morning. This won't put him on the team, but it was a great goal.

Also, how good did Stevie Y look for the Hall of Fame game? You can't help but love the guy. A great distinguished career, and hopefully this will be the start of a great career on the other side of the game.

* "delicious" because it looks like it's a chocolate medallion wrapped in gold, like that candy money that used to bring children so much joy

Emergency Ward

Cam Ward is currently backstopping the worst team in the NHL, which pretty much eliminates his chances as a backstop for the Olympic team, even as a third option. Even still though, you never want to see a guy get hurt. Unfortunately, Ward was cut by the skate of sure Twentytener, Rick Nash in what looked like a pretty severe injury. We wish Ward a speedy recovery, and hopefully a return to the win column when he does come back!

Jaws theme swimming

Dany Heatley scored again last night, and Joe Thornton had an assist on it. This one-two punch continues to be one of the best in the league right now, and they're looking like a sure fire bet to be two thirds of the second scoring line in Vancouver. Not sure who it is that might play with them, but I'm not sure it's actually going to matter.

WHAMMO!!

Quick Hits

Welcome to the radar: Brent Burns

An interesting twitter post from everyone's favorite SportsCentre anchor, Jay Onrait, I saw this morning on my computer monitor.

"I don’t think there’s five defensemen like him in the league, not even close." Ken Hitchcock on Brent Burns of the Wild.

Not saying I put him on the team, but that's a strong endorsement from one of the coaches of our beloved hockey team in Vancouver.

Luongo struggling

Roberto Luongo allowed 4 goals on 12 shots last night in what became a 5 - 3 for the Canucks at the hands of the mighty Columbus Blue Jackets. This drops Luongo's record to 0 - 3 this year, in 3 games started. His save percentage is .820, with a GAA of 4.55. It may be his defence, it may be the team, but they were nearly perfect in the preseason so I'm having trouble saying there would be THAT much of a fall off.

Hey Bobbo, I know it's early, but you haven't been announced as a member of Team Canada although most figure you to be a lock. You've gotta be the best to be on this team... if we wanted a guy who doesn't win and has a terrible GAA and SV% we could have gone out and easily picked up Chris Osgood (zing!!)

Staal is tough

I have to say I let out a small expletive on Saturday night watching the Bruins - Canes game... not because I had to listen to Matty boast about "his Bruins" incessantly, but because a guy who I figure to be in Vancouver, Eric Staal, took a slapshot to the head during the game.

Thankfully, Staal returned in the 3rd and even notched a goal in a 7-2 loss to the Bruins, all but eliminating Ryan "No one can stand in front of the net like me" Smyth from Twentyten consideration. Also helping to eliminate his chances, his enrollment into the witness protection program... Oh wait, I guess he's in LA, whatever, same difference...

Women are winners

The Canadian Women's hockey team beat the US yesterday, their first win after three consecutive losses to the yanks...

... so yeah... Go Canada!

Top 10 - Things never heard in the Twentyten house

I thought it would be fun to come up with something a little different for this post. Matty and I talk. We talk a lot. We discuss a wide range of subjects with an tone that can only be described as cynical sarcastic. It would be too difficult to write all of the great lines we come up with, and there are some dandies, but it would just be too hard to choose the best. So instead, in true David Letterman style, I present you with the top 10 things NOT heard in the Twentyten household...

10. Let's not BBQ this week...

9. I wish Hal Gill was on our side for the games

8. "The Quiz" is so much better without Torts

7. Sweet! "Friday Night Football" is on!

6. Chris Osgood wasn't nominated for the Vezina?! WTF?!

5. Come quick!! Sportsnet Connected is starting!!

4. What a stellar defensive play from Wade Redden!

3. Let's not watch sports tonight...

2. I'm sick of Onrait and O'Toole...

... and the number 1 thing you'll never hear in the Twentyten house is...

1. Nice one! McGuire and Miller in '1-Up, 1-Down' tonight!

WHAMMO!

At a stand Staal

Friday night I witnessed one of the best games I've ever watched on TV. This can be for one of two reasons. The first of course is my unabated hatred for the Red Wings of Detroit, and second is because maybe it was actually just a great game. In fact, the whole series was great, and a pleasure to watch aside from game 5 and the Osgood interviews.

While watching the games though there was a player who stood out in my mind. In fact, he stood out to me in just about every game I watched the Penguins play this post-season. With camp quickly coming up I believe that Jordan is a no-brainer to go to camp. That being said, I can truthfully say that I did NOT have Jordan Staal joining his brother Eric in Vancouver in some 9 months time, however, his play in the playoffs, especially in the final round, has changed my mind.

During the final round with the Kid being just squeezed to death by the Red Wings defensive superstars, Jordan really stepped up. He may have only had 2 goals and an assist in the final round, but he played such a big role for the Pens. He was out there for the big draws (his success rate wasn't great, but the coach trusted him in those situations, and really, the Wings may be the best faceoff team in the league), he was out there chequing opponents, shutting down their offensive stars, and of course killing penalties, perhaps the catalyst for turning the series around with a beautiful shorthanded goal in game 3 in Pittsburgh.

The debate arose Friday night during the game watching him play, Matty and I both agreed that Jordan HAS to be on the team and I guarantee that after seeing that series first hand Stevie Y definitely has to be thinking along the same lines.

Orientate this!!!

So...as Stevie Y and Super Mario look on upon the teams they once lead to greatness, Dewey and I figured it would be a good time to put our money where our mouth is, and post who we think is going to be at this summer's orientation camp. Hockey Canada has announced the camp will be held in Calgary from August 24-28 and we think it is high-time to let our masses in on who will be there.

We've whittled down the contenders to 25 forwards, 12 defencemen (wanted 10, but Dewey started crying when I suggested cutting certain guys out), and 5 goalies...ambitious, I know.

Here goes:

Forwards:

1. Crosby
2. Lecavilier
3. Gagne
4. Iginla
5. Doan
6. Richards, Mike
   
7. St. Louis
8. Perry
9. Getzlaf
10. Thornton, Joe
    
11. Marleau
12. Carter, Jeff
    
13. Lucic
14. Staal, Eric
    
15. Stamkos
    
16. Nash
17. Heatley
18. Spezza
19. Toews
20. Savard, Marc
    
21. Morrow
22. Roy, Derek
    
23. Briere
24. Smyth, Ryan
    
25. Staal, Jordan

Last three out: Richards, Brad; Sakic and Boyes.

Defensemen:

1. Seabrook
2. Green, Mike
   
3. Pronger
4. Neidermayer, Scott
   
5. Phaneuf
6. Regehr
7. Burns, Brent
8. Doughty
   
9. Weber, Shea
   
10. Bouwmeester
11. Boyle, Dan
    
12. Keith, Duncan

Last three left out: Campbell, Brian and Bieksa.
Redden... as if!!

Goaltenders:

1. Brodeur
2. Luongo
3. Mason, Steve
   
4. Ward, Cam
   
5. Fleury

Last two left out: Turco and Price.
Osgood... you were never even a fleeting thought!!

Let the blog fodder take flight!