[Open Thread] Happy Hockey Day in Canada!

by PPP on Feb 9, 2008 10:12 AM EST in News

Today's oddly timed game will be the first of a trio of NHL games that will highlight the Hockey Day in Canada celebrations. The CBC will be broadcasting from Winkler, Manitoba and will feature stories on Joe Juneau and Matt Stairs.

The Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings in what is almost a worst versus first game. How good are these Wings? Here are Matt's baseball standings or you can check out David Johnson's alternate standings. Either way, the Red Wings are the class of the league by a mile. IwoCPO is your source for Red Wings' news since Christy at Winging It In Motown is out of town but we'll check in with her after the slaughter.

Here's something to consider while you're watching the game and wondering who will replace Cliff Fletcher on a full-time basis: Stanley Cup winners do not guarantee success. In fact, only 3 GMs have ever won a Stanley Cup with more than one team according to a study done by Glenn Rowe. He even pointed out that teams perform worse after coaching and GM changes which kind of goes against the accepted wisdom in the NHL or the reality of teams like Columbus and Washington and Atlanta. Then again, this line basically explains the value of the study:

a professor at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business.

Looks like the study lost it's value right there.

Anyway, remember to put your SPG guesses in the comments and let me know what you're planning to do to celebrate our country's game today.

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SPG

Shot - Tlusty
Penalty - Antropov
Goal - Antropov

Oh yeah, Antro will be back today after serving his suspension.

And I'll be having a F*ck Winter lunch with Coronas and barbecued burgers while I wonder what number Stamkos will wear for the Leafs.

by PPP on Feb 9, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions

f*ck winter

that sounds like an awesome way to spend the day.

by loser domi on Feb 9, 2008 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

It Was

I can't believe how much food and coronas we had. uhhhh a deep fryer is the greatest investment a person can make.

by PPP on Feb 10, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

SPG

Shot - Earl
Penalty - Stralman
Goal - Tlusty

It's the All-Rookie SPG.

I am going to sit in front of a 60" TV and watch all three games with a steady stream of brews and food. I love HDiC.

by David Danforth on Feb 9, 2008 11:12 AM EST reply actions

rant and SPG

The thing that tcks me off about the Red wings is they're always bragging about how they're on top al the time. This is REALLY EASY when you're in the same division as teams like Columbus, Chicago, etc. and other less than great teams. Then they wonder why they get knocked out of the playoffs.

/rant

and oh yeah:
shot:Tlusty
penalty:Kubina
goal:MATT STAJAN!

I have no idea what I'm doing. probably researching Warsaw pact and Soviet agression like I was during the last Leafs game (without actually accomplishing anything)

by loser domi on Feb 9, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions

SPG

Shot - Antropov
Penalty - McCabe
Goal - Kaberle (he's due)

I'll either be playing road hockey with calls updating the score or watching it with my curling team and getting trashed before our big tournament tonight.

by The Phillips Perspective on Feb 9, 2008 12:45 PM EST reply actions

SPG - Sure Thing Addition

Since the longshot worked last time, ill go with the sure thing tonight.

Shot - Blake
Penalty - Gill
Goal - Mats.

I'll be at the Oarhouse (say that real fast when you're telling people were you are going and you get odd looks) to watch said game with some smug Redwings fans and dejected Leaf fans, good times for all.

by jaredolondon on Feb 9, 2008 1:47 PM EST reply actions

SPG

Shot - Devereaux
Penalty - McCabe
Goal - Tucker

I'm watching the first 2 periods with my 4 yr old daughter, who likes to wear her pink Leafs jersey and cheer on her favourite player, Max Sundin. Then, her mom is picking her up and I'll watch the 3rd period with a steady stream of tallboy Tiger beers. Tomorrow, it's skating at the Harbourfront outdoor rink. HDIC!

by clark4calder on Feb 9, 2008 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Slight correction

...before I get corrected, I meant to put quotation marks around "Max Sundin". That's how she says his name...;)

by clark4calder on Feb 9, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

Max

that sounds adorable, clark4calder.

by loser domi on Feb 9, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks :)

Thanks LD...she is pretty darned cute if I may say so...she also refuses to boycott the Leafs even though they stink.

by clark4calder on Feb 9, 2008 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Max Sundin

My daugther thinks his name is "Matsundin" - all one word - she asked what his last name was the other day.

They read Roch Carrier's The Hockey Sweater in her kindergarten class this week and she came home all excited about Maurice The Chard.

Not sure if that means #9 is a Chardonnay or a leafy vegetable...

And as much as I want the Leafs to win the draft lottery, man I was pumped when Mats tied it and Antro tipped home the winner. What a great way to end the afternoon.

by mf37 on Feb 9, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

Same

I was in sarcastic cheer mode for the Wings until Mats tied it and Antro won it. Both generated big jumps and cheers.

by David Danforth on Feb 9, 2008 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

nice

I was watching with my buddy Mike, a Red Wings fan. Then I made potato skins filled with bacon and cheddar, cooked filet mignon, and washed it down with one of the bottles of wine that showed up on my front porch one day with a delivery address that doesn't exist.

Victory never tasted better.

by Chemmy on Feb 10, 2008 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

Can't Help Myself

Damn this devoted fan-ship! First thing I did this morning was check the standings...still 6 out but slowly catching up to the peleton.

by PPP on Feb 10, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

SPG

First game back from a three game suspension calls for an Antro hat-trick:

Shot - Antro
Goal - Antro
Penatlty - Antro

by mf37 on Feb 9, 2008 2:50 PM EST reply actions

typical

wins over ottawa, montreal and detroit...
and an 8-0 whitewash from florida...

gotta love our leafs

by eyebleaf on Feb 9, 2008 6:53 PM EST reply actions

by PPP on Feb 10, 2008 1:39 PM EST reply actions

dangit

looks like I missed a good amount of fun yesterday (one of my friends was having...let's call it "personal issues" but I think we're ok now.) But oh well

by loser domi on Feb 10, 2008 2:31 PM EST reply actions