I was oddly surprised over the Flyers’ victory consisting of really early goals against the Ducks, the team most of the hockey pundits predicted to win the West. Seemed like a flashback of what they were at times last season. I fell asleep during the Kings game the day after figuring they’d lose due to them being behind, nope, they won at the end too. It definitely made losing to the Sharks hurt less because they went 2-1 on the California Triangle trip. Now the Pens whipping their sorry asses, for the fourth time smarted. The trade rumors are still flying around with all the denials of Forsberg being passed on to another team. I’m all in favor of getting him to drop his no-trade clause which isn’t impossible in the past, ask Roenick, LeClair and numerous other players over the last 10 years. The Flyers have been losing with or without him. I’d rather save what remains of his $5.5 million salary to give the younger players more ice time and experience. Maybe Richards will no longer be snakebit.
I spoke way too soon about Phoenix getting out of their slump with their spectacular comeback last week. They dropped two games in California (Ducks and Kings) and there are rumors of a trade centered around Jovanovski, the big-deal defenseman they landed from Vancouver. Other than the penalties he’s taking, I don’t think his performance has been any more disappointing than the other dozen players who can’t seem to get the chemistry right. The sillier part of the trade rumors involve dumping him for a goalie, namely Nabokov of the Sharks. CuJo has his off days and a lack of a Stanley Cup but they traded Boucher off to Calgary to let him know he’ll always be the number one goalie. I doubt they have room under the cap take on another multi-million dollar, moody, goalie. With the unpredictability of the Pacific Division, I would say the ‘Yotes’ season will be determined by New Year’s, Valentines Day at the latest, but the Flyers are certainly over this year.
Austin blew another lead, this one was much larger (3-0) when I took in their Saturday game versus the Odessa Jackelopes. It still developed into an exciting defeat in a shootout, namely when they scored the tying goal with less than two minutes remaining. I managed to get the first goal on camera pretty adequately. I only wish I had better luck on the second one the Icebats nailed quickly from a faceoff. I haven’t much time to edit the footage. Apple’s iLife software makes it easier, Apple just needs to invent something to create more free time. I promise to have it posted before I leave for Vegas.
Finally, thumbs up to Jaromir Jagr on this 600th goal this week. He can be a crybaby yet he’s the best thing the Rangers have going and his time in Europe definitely improved his game during the lockout.