Electric Boogaloo

The softies are where we run into trouble, sometimes. I do wonder how we’d match up against the Wings this time around— it’s not quite the same with their lineup the way it is, but they’d only be missing Kronwall and Franzen since they beat us in their home opener last October. Also looks like the Pens team we’ll be facing will be dressing a more complete lineup now that their d-men are coming back from injuries.

The only good thing about meeting the Preds thrice this month (again) is that this will be the last month we ever have to pretend they exist.

I really want to see the Devils— got tickets and all— but with family things coming up I don’t think I’ll be able to, since family comes first. I guess.

I thought Q gave Versteeg a LOT of leeway last year, especially in the playoffs where he seemed to make a lot of bad decisions (like not dumping the puck in deep as Edzo told us a hundred times) and just trying to handle the puck too much on his own. I attributed it to Q letting the rookie learn on the ice rather than benching him for a couple shifts and having a good chat with him.

But with Q putting Versteeg at center again, I have to wonder what he sees that others don’t. It’s like he doesn’t want to take him off the ice for anything. Or he wants to give him every advantage, every chance to succeed. Or perhaps he’s trying to force him into the position to be ready when a trade is made in a few weeks (cue the rumors!).

Versteeg is a dynamic player and always a threat to score. But Q seems to have a really high opinion of him. Higher than maybe is warranted? Maybe Q’s trying to “showcase” the players he hopes won’t be traded? (I’m guessing Q has very little say in trade talks with Team Bowman and McD.) It does seem an odd choice to put Versteeg in that position on that line.

(And did anyone notice how Versteeg was getting knocked to the ice a number of times in the LA game? It seemed like he was put on his can on almost every shift in the first 2 periods.)

i Hate the counting crows!

and we gotta take your balls.

Looks like every game is going to be exciting this month, except for the 3 against Nashville. Ugh. Got to love the NHL scheduling that has the ‘Hawks done with one divisional opponent before the new year.
Great stretch of games before Christmas with the Bruins, Wings, and Sharks at home followed with a game at the Joe. Wow! But most looking forward to Saturday’s tilt against the Champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have what we want.

Not to upset about the home and home with the Predators due to the fact that it’s after Christmas and I’ll be too full from the turkey, opening presents, and drinking lots of alcoholic beverages to absolutely give a fuck. So the scheduling with the Predators couldn’t have come at a better time.

…to the Montréal Alouettes on capturing the Grey Cup in the most thrilling fashion 28-27 on a last play of the game FG by David Duvall (not the golfer).
Cavillo was awesome with 314 yds. passing with 2TD’s as the Als’ pulled one out finally after losing 5 straight Cup games during this decade.
One of the best Grey Cup games in recent memory. I was shocked that it was that well played for a CFL game that’s for sure.

just skip ESPN when you guys do the power rankings recap this week. The stupidity of it will mindfuck you.

Also, can we put a moratorium on “this feels like a trap game” comments this month? I’m pretty sure some variation of that comment made it into every game thread outside of SJ last month. And with the Predators back on the schedule things are liable to get out of hand.