Hockey

[shadows]

Here are the scores from Jan 27th's games:

1. Buffalo beat New Jersey 2-1 in the shootout. Not a good start for hockey fans of this forum. The second game in a row that the Devils did not have any offense. It seems to be a trend this year. Perhaps it would be better for them if Brodeur did not get any more shutouts this season as they seem to taper off after he gets one. New Jersey outshot Buffalo 40-32 so at least there were chances.

2. Carolina beat the Rangers 5-1. Talk about no offense. The Rangers could only get 1 puck in the net yet again. They are horrible! Gaborik was pointless yet again since volunteering to donate his teeth to science a few games ago!

3. Washington beat Anaheim 5-1. This was tied up 1-1 at one point, I went to do something real quick, and then it was 4-1 for Washington! One thing you have to say about Washington is that they are an offensive threat no matter what. If you give them a chance, the floodgates can open up and then it's curtains for you!

4. Another bad night for the hockey fans of this forum. Tampa Bay beat Montreal 3-0. Montreal outshot Tampa Bay 33-30 but they just couldn't seem to get anything going. The first and third period were relatively quiet but a lot of shenanigans happened in the second. Lots of penalties(including two 10minute misconducts) happened at 9:51.

5. Minnesota beat Detroit 5-2. This game was tied 2-2 at one point, and then it all came crashing down for the Red Wings. The main reason Minnesota won this game is that Chris Osgood was in net(first time in quite a few games...now you know why!) and he sucked a lemon yet again. I cannot determine who is worse out of the two, Toskala or Osgood. Yuck!

6. Dallas beat Calgary 4-3 in the shootout. While it should be noted that this was Calgary's 8th loss in a row(and Iginla finally scored a goal in 12 games), the main story is that Calgary blew a 3-1 lead that led to the loss. They are playing some pretty bad hockey right now.

7. Vancouver beat St. Louis 3-2. While Calgary has lost 8 in a row, Vancouver has won 6 in a row. They have now vaulted into 3rd place in the Western Conference with 68 points(only Chicago with 76 and San Jose with 78 are ahead of them)! They are playing some great hockey! I remember at the start of the season they kept winning a game or two, then losing a game or two. How the season can change as it wears on!

[dauls]

Originally Posted by shadows

Here is a post I have to make. Believe it or not, Patrice Cormier is appealing his suspension rather than taking it like a man. Gutless. He (and his team) are calling it too "excessive". Excessive? What the are they talking about? The only thing excessive about all this was his elbow! I hope they turn around and give him a longer suspension now!

The article is below and it is from tsn.ca.

HUSKIES PLAN TO APPEAL CORMIER'S SEASON-LONG SUSPENSION

Patrice Cormier will not accept his suspension by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after all.
/~/
No date for a hearing has been set and Cormier will remain suspended during the appeal process.

A few aspects of this story stand out for me.

"It is not yet known when or even if Tam will return to play."

"The decision to appeal was greeted with loud applause from Huskies fans present at the event."

Andr? Tourigny, the coach & GM of the Huskies said, "...we were fully conscious that this act deserved a severe sanction. From our point of view, the sanction the QMJHL imposed yesterday is not severe, it is excessive."

Up to a 48 games suspension is nothing compared to Tam potentially never playing hockey again. How excessive a 'punishment' is that for Tam just for being a victim of a cowardly assault?

Perhaps Cormier's suspension should have been for twice the length of time Tam was kept out of the game by his injuries.

The attitude of the Huskies fans to applaud the decision to appeal the suspension is bad for the reputation of hockey. A bunch of fg aholes.

Since Cormier will remain suspended during the appeal process, maybe the QMJHL can make his appeal last for at least a couple of years.

Originally Posted by ila

This is true bull. It was a deliberate premeditated hit. Cormier is lucky that I don't have a say in his punishment or he would be sitting in a jail cell right now for assault. His intent was to injure Tam and he used a weapon that he knew would accomplish long lasting effects. He is a coward and his team management are cowards. I have no respect whatsoever for him nor for his team. I hope the QPP investigation results in charges of assault against Cormier.

Play hockey dammit. Don't assault players and quit whining!!!!!!

Yes, I'm pissed. I'm more than pissed really. It's goons like Cormier and the gutless management of his team that are ruining hockey.

I agree Cormier must face criminal charges for this assault. Players get away with violence inside the game too often.


Clampdown on violence in Rugby Union

Recently an independent judicial officer handed David Attoub (of Stade Francais, a French Rugby Union Club) a 70-week ban for eye gouging in a Heikeken Cup defeat by Ulster.

The ban means Attoub will not be available to play again until April 22, 2011.

His team-mate Julien Dupuy was handed a 24-week ban, reduced to 23 on appeal, for his role in the incident.

Attoub's 70-week suspension is the second heaviest eye gouging ban ever handed out. And falls in line with an increasingly tough stance against gouging within Rugby Union, following the outrage over the 8-week ban handed to South Africa flanker Schalk Burger for his gouging of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald during 2009's second Test in Pretoria.

As expected Attoub has made an appeal against this ban.

The independent judicial officer who imposed the suspension, described it as "the worst act of contact with the eyes I have had to deal with".

[dauls]

Originally Posted by shadows

Here are the scores from Jan 26th's games:

6. Ottawa beat New Jersey 3-0. What is with the Devils not being able to score lately? Not a good night for anyone on the team, Brodeur included. New Jersey outshot Ottawa 24-18 which would make for quite a boring game to watch. Plus, Ottawa scored 3 goals off 18 shots which shows that Brodeur was not overly sharp. Lately, it seems that the Devils are either getting shutout victories or losing by getting shutout. It is puzzling to say the least.

Originally Posted by shadows

Here are the scores from Jan 27th's games:

1. Buffalo beat New Jersey 2-1 in the shootout. Not a good start for hockey fans of this forum. The second game in a row that the Devils did not have any offense. It seems to be a trend this year. Perhaps it would be better for them if Brodeur did not get any more shutouts this season as they seem to taper off after he gets one. New Jersey outshot Buffalo 40-32 so at least there were chances.

aaarg.gifMore Devils blowing hot and cold.

Conceding 3 goals from 18 shots against Ottawa is typical of their recent form. Followed by conceding just 1 from 32 against the Sabres.

I suppose this must have been what Lemaire was referring to when he said, "he was a little concerned," and "could see the team slipping a bit," following the Devils disastrous 4-0 shutout by the Islanders earlier in January.

ranting2.gifThe Devils just aren't scoring enough. They've scored 33 fewer than the Penguins, 16 fewer than the Flyers and the Caps have out scored the Devils by 68 goals. Even the Leafs are outscoring the Devils (142 to 139).eek_animated.gif

This offensive form won't see the Devils go far in the postseason.