Tale of Two Goalies

I don't have to look far from the goal crease to see my biggest surprise and disappointment. And yes, they are both goalies. Shocking...

Johan Holmqvist


I was scrambling to find out a little bit more info about this kid when he first signed with Tampa. Relatively unknown (I couldn't even keep his name straight for the first few weeks of the season -- too many -qvists in the league) and untested, all I was hoping for was someone who was about the same as Denis, and hoping that the Lightning might be able to score more goals than they let in. But Holmqvist, although he won't win a Vezina trophy for his season, has stepped up and kept the Lightning in a position to make the playoffs and/or go somewhat far. He is a perfect 15/15 in the shootout, and has been relatively solid in goal.


Marc Denis


Only so much can be said about Denis. He was brought in from Columbus to try to upgrade the goalies, with Burke and Grahame disappointing in the playoffs last year. If I was unsure about the deal then, I'm even more unsure why they did it now. He is 11-13-2, and is struggling to keep the pucks out of the net. While he can win sometimes, he hasn't brought the consistency that Tampa was looking for when they got him. I wouldn't mind Tampa trading him for a more solid backup goalie before the trade deadline (although they most likely are not going to do so), something that shouldn't be said about the guy who was supposed to be saving the Lightning goaltending.

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Hank the Tank and the Tiny Terror

I'm going to start with the more negative stuff first so I can end on a happy note 'cause that's how I roll.

Does someone infuriate you every game? If you could trade someone, who would that be?

I'm not sure it's fair to call Andrew Peters a disappointment since I doubt anyone expected him to suddenly become an offensive force, but there was a lot of talk before the season began about how he had really committed himself to working out and improving himself in the off-season. And he does look great. He's lost a noticeable amount of weight - 30 lbs. I think - and he does have an extra spring in his step. That said, he just doesn't have any hockey skills, atleast not enough that he isn't dragging anyone else on our otherwise fast and skilled team down a bit. Yeah, yeah, I know, he's the team enforcer. He brings energy, he drops the gloves, he defends his teammates. Except no, he doesn't! He doesn't get enough ice time to do any of those things. Paul Gaustad is doing all the things Peters is supposed to be doing only he's doing them much, much better while also scoring the occasional goal. Also I hate watching Peters circle around and around and around another guy before finally throwing a punch. Just hit somebody already!

So yeah, Andrew Peters. Seems like a nice guy. Total waste of a roster spot.

Is there someone on your team who isn't getting enough credit from the media, fans or other players?

Henrik Tallinder, Henrik Tallinder, Henrik Tallinder. He's missed a huge amount of time this season because of injuries - first he re-broke the arm he broke during the playoffs last year and then he sprained an ankle - so I suppose it's hard to fault the media for not noticing how much he contributes to the team, but there is no doubt that our defense and our penalty kill are much, much better when he's in the game. I've lost the exact stats, but our goals against average is much lower and our penalty kill is MUCH more effective in game's he's played. I doubt Hank will ever get a ton of attention outside of Buffalo because he's not a very flashy player. He's a defensive defensemen. He has a pretty decent shot and he seems to enjoy using it when he can, but his primary job is shutting down the other team's top line. He's got good size and he's not afraid to play a physical game but he's not skating around and bowling people over. But he makes a difference. His regular partner, Toni Lydman, is noticeably better when playing with Tallinder and somehow all the other defensemen are better when he's there too. And on a side note, the guy is just beautiful to watch on skates - he's tall and lean, he has a long reach, and he's so smooth and graceful. He flies down the ice with what seems to be very little effort. Tim Connolly's injury in the post-season last year was a big hit to the offense and crippled the power play and Jay McKee's injury was the final nail in the coffin. But I really believe it was Tallinder's injury that made the biggest difference. In the off-season he got the longest contract renewal at four years, and I'm thrilled that he's going to be anchoring the defense for all that time because I think he's only going to get better.

Has this player surprised you with his play since the beginning of the season?

There are a few good candidates here. Paul Gaustad has made himself a versatile and valuable member of the team, willing and able to play on any line with any player. He brings a lot of grit and physical play to a group that's fairly small and a little soft. (They can play tough when awakened but overall it's not the team's first instinct, I don't think.) Thomas Vanek had a very solid rookie year last season but has still managed to look like a totally different player this year, skating hard in both zones and taking a lot of banging and bruising in front of the net. However, the player I've been the most surprised by this season is Derek Roy.

Derek Roy clearly had talent coming into this season. He made himself so valuable to the team after being called up from Rochester halfway through the season last year that he was never sent back down. Anyone who watched the Ottawa series last season, particularly game one, knew he had the ability to dominate a game. But while he did play some on Chris Drury's wing in the playoffs, I just didn't expect Derek to be the complete two-way player he's been so far this season. He works his ass off and plays hard at both ends of the ice. He's small and sneaky and is able to swoop in and swipe a puck before the other guy has realized what's happening. He's been our best penalty killer, especially valuable while Tallinder was out. I can't even tell you how many times this season I've seen him steal a puck and then skate around and around and around with it, single-handedly killing 20 or 30 seconds off a penalty. For someone who's so small - and in person he looks very, very small out there - he doesn't shy away from physical play. He'll take a hit, he'll give a hit. A couple weeks ago he charged into a scrum against Boston and went straight for Chara. After Derek got in a swing, Chara knocked him on his butt with one hand but you gotta love that heart. He's not afraid to be a rat and get under people's skins - I think he loves it actually. Although he has fewer goals than Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov, I think Derek deserves a ton of credit for their success this year. Both guys are talented but very creative and hard to click with and Vanek in particular, wasn't really happy being on a line with them at first. Derek managed to play to both of their strengths and set up beautiful goal after beautiful goal while bringing some grit and defense to what would otherwise be a very offensive line. I know some fans in Buffalo are frustrated that he hasn't had the offensive output that he's shown he's capable of but I think he's brought much, much more than just offense to the team so far.

Derek's not perfect. While he has really curbed his tendency to dive, he can lose focus when he doesn't get a call he wants and he's been hit with a couple of unsportsmanlike conducts for yapping at refs and throwing little hissy fits. He also sometimes take stupid penalties when he's frustrated with the game or the team. But he's very young, still pretty inexperienced, and plays for a coach who will knock some of that stuff out of him. (When asked in his post-game conference about Derek taking a game misconduct for slamming his stick into and breaking the glass because of a call he didn't get in a 7-1 game, Lindy Ruff said simply and unhappily, "Unacceptable. It'll be dealt with. I'll leave it at that.") But all those little imperfections add up to a guy who plays with a lot of passion and drive and I have, quite simply, loved watching him play so far this season and can't wait to see what lies ahead for him and the team.

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Surprises and Disappointments

(I know, you're loving the creativity of the title, right? What can I say...when the genius strikes, you go with it.)

I'm going with a tie for the player who has surprised me most - one you've all probably heard of by now and one you may not have...

- Alexander Semin (That's Seh-min, ladies - no gutterminds!): I think the word is out that we now have two guys named Alex here in the District that can light the lamp.

When the Caps first drafted him, the word was that he had some of the best hands in the league. So why is he a surprise? Because when he finally arrived in DC back in 2003-04, he was nothing less than a complete disappointment. He racked up just 10 goals and 12 assists in 52 games that first year, and was rumored to be moody and standoffish in the locker room.

2 years and 180 degrees later, we have a different Alex altogether. He's noticeably happier here than he was a few years ago and is slowly but surely learning English (I think...). It can't hurt that he has struck up a friendship with Ovechkin, one of the happiest guys you will meet, and the two are constantly together. More importantly, he's proving to be a true scoring threat, scoring 29 goals and 22 assists through only 46 games. In January alone he already has 5 multi-goal games...and we've still got one match left. Anyone who has seen him at all knows he has some sick moves and an absolutely wicked shot, and honestly I never get tired of watching him...even when he's diving. :)

Check out the skillz...and against Atlanta, too.
That makes it a million times better :)

- Boyd Gordon: I'm going out on a limb here and am going to assume that very few people have actually heard of Gordon. He's not a flashy goal-scorer or a big hitter - he's a quiet defensive forward who has developed into a great penalty killer and second or third line center. When the official roster came out to start the season, I'll admit I was surprised to see Gordo's name on the list. He'd played parts of a few seasons with the Caps over the past few years but had never stood out. This year, however, he's really turned himself into someone worth watching, if only for the little things he does every night. He's always in great position and can create the odd-man shorthanded rush better than anyone I've seen in a while. Gordo may not be exciting in the truest sense of the word, but he's yet to have a bad night and that in itself is rare.

I have a few disappointments this year, but I don't want to trade anyone - at least not yet. For the first time in a very long time, or possibly the first time ever, I genuinely love every single one of my guys. It's not a puck bunny thing, I don't just think they're cute - I love the chemistry in the room and the work ethic that each and every one of them brings to the ice. It's a young group of guys and I'd like to see them grow for another year before we start shipping them out, playoffs or no playoffs.

That being said, I have found myself disappointed in my Benny - Ben Clymer to the rest of you. Last year Clymer had a career year and was rewarded with a contract extension in the offseason. However, at the beginning of the year the coaching staff tried an experiment putting Clymer back on the blue line. He was originally drafted as a defenseman but was moved up to forward when he arrived in Tampa. The experiment, needless to say, was unsuccessful and he was returned to the wing; but Clymer has yet to regain his form from last year with only 6 goals, and has the worst +/- on the team. He tends to follow up a good play with a horrific one and vice versa (like so many others on my team).

Still, I'm not giving up on Clymer just yet. He's great at standing up for his teammates and plays much bigger than he actually is, and he's clearly a great locker room guy. Let's just say he's got 30+ games to make me change my mind...after that, we'll see what happens.

As promised, here's video of Olie being his badass self (different weekly topic, but since I finally got YouTube working I figured I should take advantage of it!):

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I don't want to get in trouble

I see that Jordi is back. Afraid of getting my ass kicked, I figured I better post.

Which player has impressed you so far? And which player has disappointed you (not restricted to your team only).

I have been impressed by Jamie Lundmark - He played 12 games with the Flames last year netting 4 goals and 6 assists. On the ice this year, he seems to always give it his all. I think that he is going to have a good year, playing on the fourth line with Marcus Nilson and Byron Ritchie will give him more experience.

I am disappointed in the rest of the team for only having 9 goals in 5 games. Some players almost have that many points, like Havlat and Jagr.

Take a photo (or draw with your mouse) the biggest dedication to something hockey related you have/own.

Now for the fun stuff!

I don’t know really where to start. We have some McFarlane sports figures hanging on our bedroom wall with a sign that says Flames Blvd. We have Miikka (one in the box, one not in the living room), three versions of Iginla and about 7 other goalies because they look the coolest.

I don’t have much else right now due to being a renter but my resident Flames fan and I talk about our sports basement in our imaginary house. It will be painted in Flames colours and decorated with Flames memoribilia, a bar and a big screen TV. You are all welcome to come to said basement for a game.

Well, I don't know anything about making pictures to put on a post. Who said Macs are easy? Sheesh. I did the best I could.

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No YOU STFU! We have great PK!

I've concluded I'm a bit of a sadist. I always like feeling sorry for poor hurt creatures. Except for stray puppies, you don't know where they've been. But it seems that I've concluded on my vermin of the day. I couldn't bring myself to say it. But after the recent performance, I'd like to say that not only am I biased, I can turn on you just like that. By the way, this is totally just messing around. I love Sammy and always will. I'm just fustrated easily.

What's wrong Sammy? I mean, what's really wrong? Do you miss Joey? Has he not called lately? Well they got thrashed by Edmonton recently, maybe he has problems of his own. Sit down, lay your head on my shoulder. Tell me your fears. Let it be a legendary catharsis, because by the end of this season - someone will be crying. I know the real reason why you couldn't stay with Edmonton was because of the big buff men who intimidated you. I know you tried to grow a beard but ended up going overboard, turning into a freakish man-wolf hybrid. And having such a sexy coach musn't have helped either. At least at Montreal, Bonk looks like a homeless man all the time.

The new guy, by the way, is Saku Koivu who failed to get into Maxim's toughest bastards list. He's bounced back from a near career ending injury and Non-Hodgkin Lymphonia. And he seems to be outstanding in this pile of losers. (that's it. I called them losers).

By the way he did a last minute tying goal when all was thought to be lost. I think that's proof enough that I still love him. Why he never got a shot at shootouts makes no freaking sense. That makes it the third SO this season and he freaking deserved one just then.

Other things I hate:

• Someone get Eric Staal off the screen, his lips are making my room ugly. It does not feel good.
  
• Your name is Jocelyn. My mother's name is Jocelyn. GET A REAL NAME.
  
• Kipper made some crazy acrobatics in that game against Toronto.
• Boston lost against the non expensive goalie. Isn't that nice?

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Sherry's Awesome Wall of Sens Awesomeness

Because I’ve learned that when Jordi makes a threat, she makes good, here I am taking time out of my studying to make a post. Really, I would totally rather be studying Finance and Statistics.

After tonight’s blow-out performance against the Flames, Ray Emery has given Martin Gerber a real run for his money [$3.5 million dollars a year to be exact] for the number one puck-stopper position. Now I have to admit, last season I wasn’t particularly convinced that he was going to be able to take this team to the Promised Land, and really, he shouldn’t have been saddled with that responsibility. But after the surprisingly great results he had in the latter half of the season, it’s great to see that he’s still striving for more. He had a great preseason and training camp and considering the fact that Gerber wasn’t having an ideal start to his Senators career, it’s comforting to know that Emery’s good to keep around for more than eating cockroaches in the dressing room. By the way, I really hope they’ve cleaned up the room since then. That can’t be healthy. Of course now that I'm saying this I've probably inadvertently jinxed Emery. Dang it!

As far as a player that has disappointed me, I’m going to have to go with my ex-crush, Wade Redden. Yes, I, like AQuietGirl am on my way to going on a break with Mr. Redden. I really don’t know what’s going on with him but the last couple of games have been less than stellar for our $6.5 million defenseman. The season has just begun and there’s time to turn it around. But the man is not only the highest paid man on the team, but he also has an “A”. While I like the fact that he acknowledges his lack of great play [and lack of points which is KILLING me in my pool right now], I’m hoping he’s doing a lot more in that dressing room to motivate the boys because, somehow I don’t think “I know I suck” is particularly helpful to anyone.

And to answer the second part of this week’s topic, here is an artist’s rendition of the extent of my hockey fanaticism short of painting my house Sens colours and naming my kids after players. Because I hate children. Really.

We've talked about putting a Sens mural in our house to keep track of their progress over the season but the idea was shot down by the overwhelming number of Leafs fans in the house. It’s not exactly Sleek caliber cartooning, but it’s as good as I’m capable of mustering up with my limited artistic talents. It’s particularly shaky because of years of caffeine addiction and using a laptop touchpad. Sherry’s Awesome Wall of Sens Awesomeness includes:

- Sens poster with Wins tallies which greatly outnumbers the Loss tallies
- Sens ticket of Sens awesomeness
- Picture of Sherry with awesome hair and awesome Sens player [to be named later]

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I am going to make you torture kittens!

Uh. Yeah. I'll keep it simple. New theme guys, write about it. I wanted to try some zany new off the wall themes but I was afraid it'd make us look bad and a tad creepy.

Uh. So. General things. Yeah.

Which player has impressed you so far? And which player has disappointed you (not restricted to your team only).

And here's a creative challenge, can't guarantee anyone will get around to this though: Take a photo (or draw with your mouse) the biggest dedication to something hockey related you have/own.

I'm out of things to think up of. Creativity was never my thing.

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