28:16 IN ICE TIME... 30 Seconds less than Ohlund and about 4 minutes MORE than Salo. This kid is making 625,000 and playing lights out for us. Here is a quote from the paper this morning that makes you appreciate what we might have in this kid...And keep in mind he is only 23 years old:
Q. You played 90 NHL games for the Panthers before the big June trade to Vancouver. How would you describe living in south Florida?
A. It's like a paradise and I think it would be great if you're an older player so you could retire there. It's beautiful weather all the time, just a great place. But hockey-wise, you don't feel any atmosphere. People don't talk about the game. In Vancouver, the atmosphere is great. I mean, I want to play hockey. I don't want to be on vacation for seven months.
Bieksa's skating is impressive to watch, he has a very smooth stride (though he can get caught waiting too long at time for the play to develop rather than forcing the issue). But he has been great, and even with 7 minutes in the penalty box he still managed to clock in at over 26 minutes.
Bourdon despite his great diving stick check continues to look out of his league. He was beaten cleanly 3 different times wide on that left side. It was very troubling to see that exact same play give him trouble over and over again.
Tant, what do you think...
If Morrison and Cooke play like that every night they will earn their pay cheques? I'd have to think so.
That was the Morrison that lifted us during the 03/04 playoff series against the Flames. Great game from him. The Sedins have proved that they alone are good enough no matter who is on their wing to be a legit scoring threat. If Mo can keep that level of play and Bulis can keep from slipping into 'Bulis-moments', we have a real 1-2 punch.
Kesler with a bad bounce and a bad play. Amazing how things can go bang-bang and all of the sudden the game is tied at 2, after having dominated the entire game. I do have to comment though that it was a very bad penalty by Bourdon which started the snowball effect. Terrible hold on a player he should have contained. Against a better team I don't know if he will be able to hand the 8 minutes a night he is getting fed right now.
I look at our farm system and we don't really have anyone we can call up to send this kid back down to Junior. That is a sad statement of reality...It would have just been too perfect for Kolstov to come over a year earlier...
Luongo without a chance on either goal. I thought he looked good, made a big save here and there, but for the most part wasn't called upon. The team in front of him played a smothering, dominating game.
Final thought, boy we sure are paying Chouinard 1.1 million for not a whole lot. Just 8 minutes of ice time. I like what I see from him in his role on the ice, but coach Vino sure doesn't seem to have much use for him. He was called out early in the pre-season, and he doesn't seem to be getting more ice time. An interesting story to watch.