Shootouts Suck

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. Hazel - hey.

Just watched the Leafs and Lightening on TSN tonight - Buds went down 3-2 in a shootout. A few observations about the shootout...without being critical:

• Belfour looked weak - I'd say almost overmatched. I know it was Lecavalier and Richards...but Eddie looked like he didn't have a clue.
  
  
• I am the last person to be question Mats Sundin...but he has one of the best backhands in the league, and he shoots right at Burke? I was hoping for a bit more from the man who was probably the best Maple Leafs player on the ice tonight.
  
  
• You need a goal...in a shootout...and Jeff O'Neill is on the bench????? I know O'Neill hasn't had a great year...but he is a natural goal scorer - he's gotta be ahead of Alexei Ponikarovsky (who I think is a good player) on the shootout depth chart.
  

Oh well, in the 2003/04 season 3 of a possible 4 points in Florida would have been considered a good trip...and considering all the injuries they have - I'll take it.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun had an article on the fate of Pat Quinn. Simmons raises the question about whether or not Pat Quinn would still be coaching the Leafs - if he wasn't coaching the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team. Simmons who loves to be provocative (don't all journalists? well, maybe not those covering the Bruins) claims that he has heard a number of well placed sources in the NHL family saying that had this not been an Olympic year - Quinn would have been fired by now. There is a great deal of speculation and many rumours about how happy the dressing room is or isn't with Quinn - but I doubt a coaching change would have any meaningful impact in correcting some of John Ferguson Jr's mistakes.

I think a coaching change would hurt this team - if anyone is going to get the most of out this year's Maple Leafs - it is Pat Quinn. He knows how to rally his troops (and I don't mean the reinforcements from the Marlies) when its crunch time...he will get them to raise their game come playoff time - and yes people the Toronto Maple Leafs WILL make the playoffs. Right Hazel?

Well, not much else to say tonight - had a chuckle or two reading the "On the DL" Blog (someone accused the comments of being from disgruntled Yankees adn Red Sox fans - haha)...not to mention Deadspin.

Well, off to start compiling the list of candidates for this week's edition of Weird and Whacked Wednesdays...off the top of my head:

• Senatards goalie Ray Emery lives up to the 'Tard. Emery donned his new headgear vs. the Bruins last night - a hommage to his idol Mike Tyson. Says a lot about Emery who already has the rep of being a hot head and a loose cannon - Tards GM John Muckler spoke to Emery on Tuesday about not wearing it anymore - "We didn't tell him not to wear it...we talked about what was right and what was wrong." One question Mucks...right and wrong in WHOSE eyes? Its not that I don't agree with not telling him not to to wear it... (how do you like that for a Muckler-ism?) More tomorrow.
  
  
• One defence Redskins' safety Sean Taylor doesn't want to hear about is Buddy Ryan's old 46... Taylor is now facing two additional charges and could face up to 46 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
  
  
• A 3rd member of my NL only roto team named for Hazel Mae is set to join the Red Sox - SS Alex Gonzalez just needs to pass a physical. Coincidence? or is Hazel pulling strings or exerting influence in the Sox front office? things that make you go hmmmm

All this and so much more...so come on back y'all. Have a great one peeps.

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world...

Song of the night on Hazelspeeps - for Ray Emery and John Muckler - chorus only (think anyone would think of Hazel with this song?)

Little Ways - Dwight Yoakum

You've got your little ways
Of hurting me
You know just how to tear me up
Leave me in small pieces, on the ground

You've got your little ways
Of hurting me
They're not too big
But their real tough
Just one cold look from you
Can knock me down
one cold look knock me down

Peesth Out!