10/27/2005
Conklin Update
Wonder how Ty Conklin's “conditioning” stint is going? In his first game Tuesday nigh he lost as he was only able to stop 25 of 28 shots fired at him. Not exactly inspiring, confidence building stuff is it? It's the AHL, these are players that their respective teams have deemed not yet quite ready for the NHL. They Bulldogs next play on Friday night, here's hoping they play Conklin again, I for one want the Conklin mystery to be solved sooner rather than later.
What a Sad State
What a sad state the Oilers are in now. I think it's time to admit that the wheels have fallen off the wagon and the horse is getting away. With less than 5 min to go and up 3-2 the Oilers let in 3 goals and lost 5-3. What the hell Radek Dvorak was doing in front of the net tipping a shot past his own goaltender is beyond me. What the hell Igor Ulanov is thinking throwing the puck carelessly around in his own end and passing to to players on the other team not once but twice is beyond me. What Ryan Smyth is doing passing the puck back between his legs into the slot infornt of his own goal to, well, no one (luckily) is beyond me. We can't blame bad goaltending for this one – this was another example of a bunch of brain dead players skating around. Luckily they only showed up for the last 5 min of the game.
This is truly a team that has to be shaken up. I don't think we can wait any longer to push the panic button. What would I do if I were the coach? Well, after pulling my self out of the fetal position and I stop crying, I'd cut Igor Ulanov. He's been an unmitigated disaster. In only 7 games he's managed to get his plus minus rating down to -7. He's too slow and the game has passed him by.
The next thing I would do is sit Radek Dvorak out for the next game. You have to send a message to your players that playing like your still in junior hockey isn't going to cut it. What the hell is he thinking standing in front of his own net with his stick on the ice with less than 2 min to go in a tie game.
As far as Ryan Smyth, I'd have him sit out the next game as well. He has a history of doing stupid things like that and again you have to make it clear that you expect your players to actually think and stay focused for 60 minutes.
If I were Kevin Lowe, again I'd get out of the fetal position and try to stop crying for a bit and start looking around for another desperate team that is willing to give you players for almost nothing, and right now all the desperate teams are desperate for a reason – they don't have anyone and I for one don't really see the point, yet, in making a trade for the sake of making a trade.
The next Oiler game is Friday night against Dallas..........I hope they actually play for 60min this time.
This is truly a team that has to be shaken up. I don't think we can wait any longer to push the panic button. What would I do if I were the coach? Well, after pulling my self out of the fetal position and I stop crying, I'd cut Igor Ulanov. He's been an unmitigated disaster. In only 7 games he's managed to get his plus minus rating down to -7. He's too slow and the game has passed him by.
The next thing I would do is sit Radek Dvorak out for the next game. You have to send a message to your players that playing like your still in junior hockey isn't going to cut it. What the hell is he thinking standing in front of his own net with his stick on the ice with less than 2 min to go in a tie game.
As far as Ryan Smyth, I'd have him sit out the next game as well. He has a history of doing stupid things like that and again you have to make it clear that you expect your players to actually think and stay focused for 60 minutes.
If I were Kevin Lowe, again I'd get out of the fetal position and try to stop crying for a bit and start looking around for another desperate team that is willing to give you players for almost nothing, and right now all the desperate teams are desperate for a reason – they don't have anyone and I for one don't really see the point, yet, in making a trade for the sake of making a trade.
The next Oiler game is Friday night against Dallas..........I hope they actually play for 60min this time.
10/25/2005
Cloudy Again :(
Just thought I'd post another little thought or two that's not related to sports. It's cloudy again today and it's really starting to get to me. I don't think I have that lack of sun disorder but I am starting to wonder. I really don't remember the last sunny day that we had here, yesterday it was just cloudy and Sunday it was dark and rained all day. If memory serves me correct it was cloudy on Saturday and it rained on Friday, I really don't remember what Thursday's weather was but rain is what I'd bet on. Don't get me wrong I'm glad I don't live in or around the Gulf of Hurricanes (Gulf of Mexico). Apparently it's supposed to be cloudy with showers again tomorrow only they've thrown in the chance of wet snow so it's doesn't look like they just copied today's forecast and pasted it in to tomorrow spot.
OC Transpo
It's looking more and more like there will be some kind of a strike or lockout in the dispute with the city of Ottawa and OC Transpo. The union representing bus drivers is apparently recommending that the bus drivers reject what the city is calling it's final offer. Either side must give 72 hours notice about a strike or lockout so that means the buses could stop rolling as early as the middle of next week. No date has yet been set for the drivers to vote but it is expected to happen in the next few days. I have no idea what I'll do if there is a bus strike, the price of parking downtown is crazy and my office doesn't have enough parking spots for everyone. Even if I do decide to drive down town, the traffic will be crazy and good luck finding a parking space. This has left me with the only option of walking to work which would likely take me an hour to do.
OC Transpo
It's looking more and more like there will be some kind of a strike or lockout in the dispute with the city of Ottawa and OC Transpo. The union representing bus drivers is apparently recommending that the bus drivers reject what the city is calling it's final offer. Either side must give 72 hours notice about a strike or lockout so that means the buses could stop rolling as early as the middle of next week. No date has yet been set for the drivers to vote but it is expected to happen in the next few days. I have no idea what I'll do if there is a bus strike, the price of parking downtown is crazy and my office doesn't have enough parking spots for everyone. Even if I do decide to drive down town, the traffic will be crazy and good luck finding a parking space. This has left me with the only option of walking to work which would likely take me an hour to do.
Oilers Game Tonight
Tonight is a BIG game for the Oilers, they look to show that they can, at the very least, compete in the very competitive Northwest division and are also looking to take out a bit of there frustration on the Colorado Avalanche. Yesterday the Oilers sent a very strong message to the rest of the team by sending Ty Conklin down to the minors and bringing up Mike Morrison. I've said it 1,000 times on this blog and I'm going to say it again – Ty Conklin has been horrible. His play hasn't been the direct result of any of the loses but he hasn't been able to win any game either. With the way he played I wouldn't be surprised if we never see him in and Oiler uniform again, and if we do, it will be 3 games with which he can prove himself. If it was left to me I wouldn't be wasting any more time on him and I'd start looking for a goalie some where eles. One crazy idea I keep thinking of as a band aid solution is to talk to Tommie Salo. Why not? He's still good enough that Sweden has invited him to their Olympic team, I don't think Conklin's going to be on the American Olympic Team. Sign him for one year and add an option for a second year. Any other solution involves trading players away and most likely one of the players leaving won't be Conklin, no one is going to want him, so now your trading away good players to get a good goalie and good goalies don't come cheep.
Having said all that the Oilers don't need to push the panic button yet, lets give Mike Morrison and Jussi Markkanen a chance and hopefully Chris Pronger and Mike Peca, both of whom have been inviable and a big disappointment, will break out and the Oilers can start rolling again. Hopefully the breakout happens tonight.
Having said all that the Oilers don't need to push the panic button yet, lets give Mike Morrison and Jussi Markkanen a chance and hopefully Chris Pronger and Mike Peca, both of whom have been inviable and a big disappointment, will break out and the Oilers can start rolling again. Hopefully the breakout happens tonight.
10/24/2005
Oilers - Morrison up, Conklin down
The Edmonton Oilers have just announced that they have recalled goalie Mike Morrison from Greenville and have sent Ty Conklin down to the Hamilton Bulldogs for “conditioning”. I'm not surprised at all by this move as Conklin has been horrible so far this season. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Morrison actually sees quite a bit of game action and I also wouldn't be surprised if we don't see Conklin back in an Oiler uniform any time soon if ever again. My gut feel is the Oilers are about to make a move in the goal tending department in the way of a trade very soon.
10/22/2005
Man I cheer for some BAD teams
Last night I watched the first half of the Renegades game - it was all I could take. After that Tracy and I watched the movie "The Interpreter", which was entertaining enough. I guess I just expected more out of a movie starring Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman. Don't get me wrong it was a pretty good movie, it just left me feeling "hmm" after it was over.
Renegades
You would think when you opponent turns the ball over 5 times in the first half you'd have quite a lead and be able to withstand your usual 3:00 to go to the half let down but not Ottawa. Good teams don't have to worry about giving up a bunch of points just before the half every game. Good team build up huge leads when their opponent turns the ball over 5 times in the first half. Ottawa is not a good team. Ottawa has given up a lot of points with 3 min to go in the first half this year, too many points. I did a bit of digging and found out the Renegades have been out scored in the last three minutes of the first half 64-41 this season. That's a lot of points to be giving up in a 3 min span of a game. The 64 points is 12% of the points they have given up this year. Three minutes of game time is only 5% of the game. I'm actually glad the Renegades are out of it now, maybe they can now get a head start on working things out for next year. They can start by getting rid of coach Poapoa. When a team constantly gives up a lot of points at one point in the game it usually indicates a problem on the coaching side of things. It's about keeping your players focused and Poapoa has demonstrated this year, last year and the year before that they he can't keep his players focused on the task at hand, which is not letting the other team score a bunch of points right before the half. It's like watching a bunch of kids in class right before recess, they can't wait to go out and play, only in Ottawa's case they can't wait to go inside and stop playing. It's not Poapoa fault entirely, it's the culture surrounding the team - they have always sucked in the last 3 min of the first half.
Oilers
I'm starting to think that just maybe, perhaps, that the Oilers should send Mr. Conklin down to the farm team and bring up well, anyone else. Last night, as far as I'm concerned, Ty Conklin just bought is one way ticket out of Edmonton. Not that Jusse Makkanen is much better, Conklin is just that bad right now. You can't trade him, who's gonna want a goalie that right now doesn't look like he could stop a beach ball that's half deflated. He played so bad last night in relief of Markkanen that MacTavish pulled him and put Markkanen back in the game, I don't remember the last time I've seen that.
Last night Markkanen started the game against Colorado by allowing 3 goals on only 13 shots before Conklin came in and allowed 4 goals on 14 shots, not surprisingly Markkanen started the third period and stopped all 5 shots he faced as the Oilers were pounded by Colorado 7-1. Let the trade watching begin.
Renegades
You would think when you opponent turns the ball over 5 times in the first half you'd have quite a lead and be able to withstand your usual 3:00 to go to the half let down but not Ottawa. Good teams don't have to worry about giving up a bunch of points just before the half every game. Good team build up huge leads when their opponent turns the ball over 5 times in the first half. Ottawa is not a good team. Ottawa has given up a lot of points with 3 min to go in the first half this year, too many points. I did a bit of digging and found out the Renegades have been out scored in the last three minutes of the first half 64-41 this season. That's a lot of points to be giving up in a 3 min span of a game. The 64 points is 12% of the points they have given up this year. Three minutes of game time is only 5% of the game. I'm actually glad the Renegades are out of it now, maybe they can now get a head start on working things out for next year. They can start by getting rid of coach Poapoa. When a team constantly gives up a lot of points at one point in the game it usually indicates a problem on the coaching side of things. It's about keeping your players focused and Poapoa has demonstrated this year, last year and the year before that they he can't keep his players focused on the task at hand, which is not letting the other team score a bunch of points right before the half. It's like watching a bunch of kids in class right before recess, they can't wait to go out and play, only in Ottawa's case they can't wait to go inside and stop playing. It's not Poapoa fault entirely, it's the culture surrounding the team - they have always sucked in the last 3 min of the first half.
Oilers
I'm starting to think that just maybe, perhaps, that the Oilers should send Mr. Conklin down to the farm team and bring up well, anyone else. Last night, as far as I'm concerned, Ty Conklin just bought is one way ticket out of Edmonton. Not that Jusse Makkanen is much better, Conklin is just that bad right now. You can't trade him, who's gonna want a goalie that right now doesn't look like he could stop a beach ball that's half deflated. He played so bad last night in relief of Markkanen that MacTavish pulled him and put Markkanen back in the game, I don't remember the last time I've seen that.
Last night Markkanen started the game against Colorado by allowing 3 goals on only 13 shots before Conklin came in and allowed 4 goals on 14 shots, not surprisingly Markkanen started the third period and stopped all 5 shots he faced as the Oilers were pounded by Colorado 7-1. Let the trade watching begin.
10/21/2005
More Ramblings
Ottawa tid bits
The Ottawa police announced that they had arrested a 25 year old man, Chris Myers of Ottawa Ontario in the Ardeth Wood case. He was in jail in North Bay on a sexual assault charge there, he sounds like an outstanding citizen and a prime candidate to argue for gene pool skimming program of some kind. The police sketch played the key role in his arrest as the Det. Const. Noel Coulas of the North Bay police department recognized him from the police sketch. Here's hoping they can solve the Jennifer Teague as fast or faster.
On another interesting tid bit of Ottawa news a Lebanese family claims that they were assaulted by Ottawa police as they beat family members with batons and pepper sprayed them. They also claim 20 police officers descended on there house to back up the original police officers. I don't know who to believe 100% in this case but I have a hard time believing the 20 police officers descended on a house and pepper sprayed the crap out of everyone in one house.
Hurricane Wilma
Right now it's a category 4 storm pounding the crap out of Mexico. Here's hoping that it weakens quite a bit by the time it gets to Florida.
The Ottawa police announced that they had arrested a 25 year old man, Chris Myers of Ottawa Ontario in the Ardeth Wood case. He was in jail in North Bay on a sexual assault charge there, he sounds like an outstanding citizen and a prime candidate to argue for gene pool skimming program of some kind. The police sketch played the key role in his arrest as the Det. Const. Noel Coulas of the North Bay police department recognized him from the police sketch. Here's hoping they can solve the Jennifer Teague as fast or faster.
On another interesting tid bit of Ottawa news a Lebanese family claims that they were assaulted by Ottawa police as they beat family members with batons and pepper sprayed them. They also claim 20 police officers descended on there house to back up the original police officers. I don't know who to believe 100% in this case but I have a hard time believing the 20 police officers descended on a house and pepper sprayed the crap out of everyone in one house.
Hurricane Wilma
Right now it's a category 4 storm pounding the crap out of Mexico. Here's hoping that it weakens quite a bit by the time it gets to Florida.
Oilers
The Oilers have now dropped 5 in a row as last night they lost to the Flames 3-1. The Oilers outshot Calgary 14-4 in the first period and broke with tradition by actually scoring first. That first goal would be the only goal they would score on the night. It now looks as if Markkanen has pretty much won the starting goaltending position as Conklin hasn't seen any game action since allowing 2 goals on the first 7 shots in the Dallas game. Having said all that, I still expect Conklin to start tonight against Colorado since this is the second game in 2 nights. Shawn Horrcoff did make his return last night leaving just Ryan Smyth and Todd Harvey on the injury list.
Renegades
The Renegades play "must win" game number 4,882,457,889 tonight against the Tiger-cats in Hamilton. Ottawa will likely win extending all the "hopeful" talk that they will make the playoffs. If Ottawa loses tonight they are out of the playoff chase and who ever wins the Saskatchewan / Calgary get a playoff birth. The game is on TSN and since I like punishing my self I'll likely be watching it.
The Oilers have now dropped 5 in a row as last night they lost to the Flames 3-1. The Oilers outshot Calgary 14-4 in the first period and broke with tradition by actually scoring first. That first goal would be the only goal they would score on the night. It now looks as if Markkanen has pretty much won the starting goaltending position as Conklin hasn't seen any game action since allowing 2 goals on the first 7 shots in the Dallas game. Having said all that, I still expect Conklin to start tonight against Colorado since this is the second game in 2 nights. Shawn Horrcoff did make his return last night leaving just Ryan Smyth and Todd Harvey on the injury list.
Renegades
The Renegades play "must win" game number 4,882,457,889 tonight against the Tiger-cats in Hamilton. Ottawa will likely win extending all the "hopeful" talk that they will make the playoffs. If Ottawa loses tonight they are out of the playoff chase and who ever wins the Saskatchewan / Calgary get a playoff birth. The game is on TSN and since I like punishing my self I'll likely be watching it.
10/20/2005
Just thinking - and it kinda hurts
Oilers
The Oilers take their 4 game losing streak in to tonight's game against the Calgary Flames. I haven't heard yet who will start in goal but I have a sinking feeling that it will be Ty Conklin since he hasn't seen any game action since getting pulled a couple of games ago, here's hoping that Marrkannen gets the start. Conklin has been horrible so far and that's putting a positive spin on it. The last time Edmonton played Calgary the Flames were outshot, outhit and outplayed for 2 of the 3 periods but the Oilers couldn't put the puck past Kiprusoff. The Oilers penalty kill doesn't look all that great either, it's ranked 20th according to the NHL website, however there are media stories (TSN etc.) that indicate the Oilers power play is last and has allowed 14 goals in only 44 short handed situations. I'm thinking some one at TSN has their numbers wrong since from my memory and looking back at the NHL's official score sheets the Oilers have only allowed 9 goals on 48 chances. It's not much better but there is no reason to make the penalty kill look worse than it is.
Aradeth Wood
If you live in Ottawa you'll no doubt remember the case of the young woman going for a bike ride on a sunny afternoon and not coming back. Apparently according to CBC the Ottawa police are about to announce they have made an arrest and will hold a 2:30 press conference.
The Oilers take their 4 game losing streak in to tonight's game against the Calgary Flames. I haven't heard yet who will start in goal but I have a sinking feeling that it will be Ty Conklin since he hasn't seen any game action since getting pulled a couple of games ago, here's hoping that Marrkannen gets the start. Conklin has been horrible so far and that's putting a positive spin on it. The last time Edmonton played Calgary the Flames were outshot, outhit and outplayed for 2 of the 3 periods but the Oilers couldn't put the puck past Kiprusoff. The Oilers penalty kill doesn't look all that great either, it's ranked 20th according to the NHL website, however there are media stories (TSN etc.) that indicate the Oilers power play is last and has allowed 14 goals in only 44 short handed situations. I'm thinking some one at TSN has their numbers wrong since from my memory and looking back at the NHL's official score sheets the Oilers have only allowed 9 goals on 48 chances. It's not much better but there is no reason to make the penalty kill look worse than it is.
Aradeth Wood
If you live in Ottawa you'll no doubt remember the case of the young woman going for a bike ride on a sunny afternoon and not coming back. Apparently according to CBC the Ottawa police are about to announce they have made an arrest and will hold a 2:30 press conference.
10/11/2005
Can't Help But Laugh!
Well apparently according to CNN the person that gave the US government it's big tip that the NY Subway was about to be attacked has admitted he was lying. I can only laugh and be relieved that this joke is now over. Only in America can one lone idiot say something false and send the whole country running for cover and panicking. Doesn't any one bother to check to make sure these allegations are even remotely based on fact before jumping up and down and yelling the "sky is falling!". How many millions of dollars were wasted only because one nut case told the Americans that the NY subway system would be attacked. No one bothered to check to see if the allegations were true because no one wanted to, it fit. It fit in George Bush's new world where "the evil doers" are everywhere and want all of us dead. It fit in George Bush's agenda of scaring the hell out of Americans. It fit in Bush's hopes to get his popularity up by "winning another battle" against the "evil doers". It almost makes me sad and laugh at the same time. There is only so many times that you can yell "The sky is falling" Mr. Bush before most people just ignore you and then when the sky really is falling no one will believe you! Maybe you should read that little book about "Chicken Little".
10/07/2005
Just some Stuff
I don't know why but I decided to throw this little pic up, it of a Python in the Everglades that figured it could swallow a gator hole!
Tonight the Renegades play the Tiger-cats, I'm almost sick of watching this yearly collapse of the Gades and I'm hoping a bit that the Ticats win and put an end to all this "Ottawa could still make the playoffs" crap I keep hearing. Even if Ottawa make the playoffs all that's going to happen is Montreal will pound the hell out of them.
On another topic, the NY subway system is being threatened. I've done a bit of reading and as usual I'm a bit suspect of these "creditable" threats. Hopefully nothing happens but my paranoid little mind can't help but wonder who the creditable source is, and once this threat passes of course the US right wing will declare victory and say it was the war on terrorism that saved the subway system. It's almost like keeping a rock around to scare away tigers in downtown Ottawa. There are no tigers around so the rock must be working.
10/06/2005
Oilers 4, Avalanche 3
Oilers beat Avs 4-3
The Edmonton Oilers won their season opener against the Colorado Avalanche and it didn't take overtime or a shootout, and get this, they never trailed in the game! Yea, yea I know, the Avalanche aren't exactly as good as they were at the end of the last season and they don't have Oiler killer Forestburg and this is only the first game of the season.
The Oilers carried most of the play, outshooting Colorado 31-17 and Ty Conkin played well enough (stopping 14 of 17) to get the win. Sean Horrcof played really well, and was the first star of the game, and hopefully it's a sign of thing to come from him, as he netted the first goal of the night and got the game winning goal. Horcoff's opening goal set a team record for fastest first goal of a season at 24 seconds. Ryan Smyth, who earned a second star, also played well notching a goal and adding 2 assists as he finished the night with a +2 rating. Stoll also played well and earned a 3rd star for his performance.
Ty Conklin's performance, wile good enough to win, wasn't exactly a game breaking performance, and hopefully with Jussi Markkannen being activated some time either today or tomorrow, it will give both of them the push they need to start performing better. If the Oilers have a weakness, and they have enough really, it the big, BIG, question is around goaltending. I really don't think the goal scoring one that everyone keeps bringing up is a really valid question mark. The Oilers have always been able to finish in the top 12 in goal scoring in the league, and the last season the finished 10th, so if the Oilers have a goal scoring problem, most of the teams in the NHL have a goal scoring problem.
You can't really ask for a better way to open the season then beating one of the best teams in your division. The Oiler's next game is this Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks, which should provide another clue as to how the Oilers stack up against the rest of their division.
The Edmonton Oilers won their season opener against the Colorado Avalanche and it didn't take overtime or a shootout, and get this, they never trailed in the game! Yea, yea I know, the Avalanche aren't exactly as good as they were at the end of the last season and they don't have Oiler killer Forestburg and this is only the first game of the season.
The Oilers carried most of the play, outshooting Colorado 31-17 and Ty Conkin played well enough (stopping 14 of 17) to get the win. Sean Horrcof played really well, and was the first star of the game, and hopefully it's a sign of thing to come from him, as he netted the first goal of the night and got the game winning goal. Horcoff's opening goal set a team record for fastest first goal of a season at 24 seconds. Ryan Smyth, who earned a second star, also played well notching a goal and adding 2 assists as he finished the night with a +2 rating. Stoll also played well and earned a 3rd star for his performance.
Ty Conklin's performance, wile good enough to win, wasn't exactly a game breaking performance, and hopefully with Jussi Markkannen being activated some time either today or tomorrow, it will give both of them the push they need to start performing better. If the Oilers have a weakness, and they have enough really, it the big, BIG, question is around goaltending. I really don't think the goal scoring one that everyone keeps bringing up is a really valid question mark. The Oilers have always been able to finish in the top 12 in goal scoring in the league, and the last season the finished 10th, so if the Oilers have a goal scoring problem, most of the teams in the NHL have a goal scoring problem.
You can't really ask for a better way to open the season then beating one of the best teams in your division. The Oiler's next game is this Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks, which should provide another clue as to how the Oilers stack up against the rest of their division.
10/05/2005
Hockey Night in Canada is Back!
Only in Canada would this be even considered news but the CBC and it's union have an agreement in place to ensure that there will be a Hockey Night in Canada for this Saturday night. I'm excited now but wait a few weeks and I'll be back to complaining that it's just Leaf games that they show.
Hockey is Back!
The NHL is back and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to see how the new rules work out and how long the NHL sticks to it's zero tolerance policy. The zero tolerance thing will likely only stick until January, don't get me wrong I really hope it sticks but it likely won't, it never does. I'll be glued to TSN tonight all happy the game is back, I figure this will last until December when I get sick of watching the Sens for the 4,000th time and wonder why I don't see more Oiler games. GO OILERS GO!!!!
That's it from me today, kind of a slow one.
That's it from me today, kind of a slow one.
10/04/2005
Weekend at Home
Tracy and I actually got to spend a relaxing weekend at home. On Friday night we celebrated getting out of debt by putting ourselves back in debt and going shopping, LOL. Saturday afternoon we headed up to the Gatineau Hills and toured the Mackenzie King Estates. Later that evening we went to the Keg Manor Restaurant and had a really good meal, they all seem to be really good meals at the Keg Manor. Sunday was another quiet day in which I decided to upgrade my current 1 gallon fish tank into a 5 gallon fish tank. I still have to return the water filter, it's too noisy. Sunday night Tracy and I headed over to Brent and Joyce's for a few drinks. Just a nice relaxing weekend.
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