Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts…
(on Wayne Simmonds’ game…)
MURRAY: “Simmonds had a real good game, when you score two goals, and good goals. Power play, and I really liked the second goal, on the cycle. He was moving his feet, and that’s the reason why he’s been playing, in my opinion, really well in the last dozen games. He’s doing the right things in the offensive zone, in deep. When he gets the puck on his stick, he’s creating some separation, and now everything opens up to make some plays and to get some scoring chances.”
(on scoring goals in different ways…)
MURRAY: “The rush was a really good goal. That’s something you work at hard, all year long, where you get that drive, drive, drive attitude. Stoll drives through to the net, he backs off the defenseman and Brownie comes in late and finds Doughty and executes the play the right way. That’s the way you diagram it. So, nice goal. A huge goal, obviously, to be the game-winner. But I kind of liked the one that went into the empty net too, in a critical situation. [laughs] It relieved a little bit of the pressure that was on us.”
(on the importance of upcoming games…)
MURRAY: “We’ve got some home games. We’re in a tight race to make the playoffs. The opportunity is there for us. We can control our own destiny, I think, with a strong homestand. So Colorado is a game that we’ve got to make sure we’re focused, doing the right things. I talked to the players after the game here tonight. We just have to be a lot better than we were here tonight, in order to win games, as we get going here forward.”
(on getting scoring contributions from defensemen…)
MURRAY: “When you get a guy like Doughty, Jack Johnson, Mitchell jumps into the play and he’s a great skater. You have to get your back end really involved in the offensive part of the game today. The structure of teams playing in front of you, in their checking game, it’s very hard to attack with just three, on a consistent basis, and hope for good things to happen. The only way is secondary attack, and that’s exactly what we saw with Doughty tonight.”
You gotta love being the ones to put the final hurt on the anaheim sux goalie. They traded away McElhinney today. Doh, sux for you
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puck73 Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
@taylorskings, Not having Hiller is just one of their problems. The other is Francois Beauchemin is cleary not the same hockey player he was 3 years ago. Have you gotten a load of his act the last 4 games? HORRIBLE…A PYLON.
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DougS Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:02 am
@puck73,
Frenchie didn’t exactly make a great impression in Toronto. If a struggling team like the Leafs can’t use him, he’s not going to do much for the Ducks defense.
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DougS Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:01 am
@taylorskings,
Actually. I think McElhenny got a fantastic break. He has a ticket out of Hurt-ville, and he’s on his way to a team that might win the East. That’s pretty good for a goalie who is, at best, a second-rate backup.
The one to feel sorry for is Ellis. He goes from from a contender to the Ducks. Which is bad enough by itself, but their defense is porous and I don’t see them making the playoffs.
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I’m just sticking this on this thread because no relevant thread is forseeable.
The new standings system is totally fan-unfriendly. Fans don’t know by heart whos got more regulation wins, so you can’t be sure of the tie-breaker. You can’t even trust the standings listed by “experts.” For example, ESPN has 6, 7, 8 as Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, but NHL.com has it Minnesota, Chicago, Dallas. Repeatedly is there a difference in their respective standings. And when it’s so tight and tie-breakers really matter, it’s important psychologically for the fan to know where things stand. The NHL has got to change this.
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Dominick Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:38 am
@BringBackTheShieldJersey, ESPN.com doesn’t factor them in. NHL.com does.
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BringBackTheShieldJersey Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:49 am
@Dominick, The fact that an explanation is necessary proves my point.
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Dominick Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 1:04 am
@BringBackTheShieldJersey, I agree with you. I had to go back and compare the records with, and with out before I figured it out.
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 1:47 am
@BringBackTheShieldJersey, I’m still waiting for the NHL to wake up and realize that to give away a total of 3 points in some games and 2 in others is totally bogus.
I’m not holding my breath…..
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xhockeywriter Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:21 am
@HockeyNerd, Totally agree. I’d vote to get rid of regular-season OT and the shootout. Second choice, three points for a regulation win. The system is stupid. You are watching a game involving other teams in the West and instead of rooting for one you find yourself hoping there won’t be a tie.
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Stuart Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:30 am
@BringBackTheShieldJersey, on NHL.com they have a column that is the record in SO’s. That helps out a bit…
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Good game tonight TM. You had the guys prepared right from the start. The Wild had some good pressure, but had to bring 3 players down low, and have their D constantly pinch to keep it up. That power play goal was nice, but the next power play the guys went back to passing around the perimeter, and no one was moving. I’ve noticed more power moves to the net lately. Keep the guys going hard to the net with the puck 5 on 5, and taking quick shots with the opposing D in front of them in the slot and we’ll be just fine.
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src Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 2:27 am
@Dominick,
Yes, more movement and net approach. However it was the 2nd unit doing that not the first. Kopi is still hanging out on the half boards with Smyth and Zues standing like pylons.
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Wow, a coach Murray topic, and puck73 has nothing bad to say about the “thick, and heavy” guy known as TM…unbelievable! Thats becuse the captain took TM’s marching orders and went out and kicked the Wild’s ass last nite…great job coach!
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fsd1 Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:02 am
@puck73, lol
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xhockeywriter Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:25 am
@puck73, No goals, but I thought that was Brown’s best game of the season. He was a force. I couldn’t believe he didn’t get a star, but when it goes to a vote it’s almost always going to be the scorers. I thought Stoll and Bernier also had excellent games.
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So, TM thinks its good when someone scores 2 goals in a game. What a revelation. His comments are so terrible.
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