The Diachronic Barber Pole Observations of a Recovering Hockey Exile

Posts from — February 2009

San Jose Musings, In-Game Scribbles

February 28, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

San Jose can't establish control anymore. And after a lot of mid-ice dithering and some San Jose dump-ins, the period ends, mercifully for Team Teal.

Philadelphia Musings, In-Game Scribbles

February 27, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Hartnell is like a guy who fixes a tv by kicking it. Just on force, he manages to water-buffalo his way through two Canadiens and gets a shot off. High and wide but his single-mindedness is notable.

Hockey Superiority

February 26, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Blindness to other groups’ strengths and innovations. Pay attention.

Ice From Iron

February 25, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Vancouver Musings, In-Game Scribbles

February 24, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Something in the last 12 minutes of Montreal's earlier loss to Vancouver last week told me that Vancouver will diminish as this game continues today.

Enzo’s Blue Blaze Delight

February 23, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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What is Mystique

February 22, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Late

February 21, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Sometimes One Has To Have Dinner

February 20, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Russians, Penguins, Czechs, Frenchmen …. It’s a Goal War

February 19, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

On the second of two games in two nights, the Canadiens let their tongues hang, tails point and went for the flanks-shuddering sprint.

Marginal

February 18, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Do the math. It's the sport that least rewards good play.

Appreciate Your Artist, Alex Kovalev

February 17, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

This is not a hockey cyborg, a one-dimensional, nose-to-the-grindstone personality. He is a great player, a skilled hockey offensive threat who has worked hard to develop his great stick-handling, passing and shooting abilities. These are not the natural gifts of an easy biological inheritance. What nature did give him was great speed and strength (and this 35-year old kid works hard at that, too).

Forget Age, Injuries; Schneider Addition a Boon for Ailing Habs

February 16, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Critics point to Schneider's age and durability. Those same critics were proved wrong with Brisebois' recent 07-08 return to the club.

On Any Given Sunday

February 15, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

What this means for the NHL is that teams must compete every night, every shift and they do. Just to avoid embarrassment. It is the tiniest margins of error that separate the leaders from the followers.

Mais Tu N’es Pas un Vrai Québécois

February 14, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Colorado Musings – Should Darcy Tucker be a Member of Society?

February 13, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Tucker's track record speaks for itself. Entering the 2008-09 season, he collected 1341 penalty minutes to 202 goals. And, I'm sure we can agree, most of those goals were simply long-time Tucker linemate Mats Sundin's gravy.

The Puck as Ingrate

February 12, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Ten Reasons Montreal Will Reach the 2008-09 Stanley Cup Final

February 11, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Yes, Montreal is in the midst of the worst stretch of the season. And this will be the turning point for one of the more dramatic team turnarounds in recent NHL history. Herewith, the ten biggest reasons why we can expect it: 10. Mathieu Dandenault - The most under-appreciated of a significant handful of under-appreciated [...]

Visor and the Donkey – Georges Laraque is Wrong

February 10, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

As the percentages of NHL players shift away from a Canadian majority (from about 90% in 1980 to about 60% today), it is only the flat-earth society members of the NHL media, fans and media that struggle against the shift. And it is Canadians that most defend and want fighting in the culture.

A Guy Like Gump

February 9, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Arena

February 8, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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A speech? Or a trade?

February 7, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Bob walked by with just four minutes remaining in the game. He didn't look happy. He was on his way to the locker-room.

Tired of Criticism?

February 6, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

The saying for both quarterbacks and goaltenders goes something like; Win and you get too much of the credit, lose and shoulder too much of the blame.

Peter Seven Stastny

February 5, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Attacking Kovalev Popular but Misguided

February 4, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

In a city eternally and increasingly slaking its thirst on the printed blood and sintered words of its least venerable sportsmedia personalities, the ritual is complete only when a harried Kovalev is dragged across the moat to explain himself by torchlight.

Music and Hockey

February 3, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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The Goaltender

February 2, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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Saku

February 1, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

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