Abel to Yzerman
Anyone For A “Pummeling”?
by IwoCPO on 09/23/10 at 08:04 AM ET
Comments (62)
Well, well…for an exhibition, more than a few people proved they’re in February form last night.
Chris Osgood looked (I mean sounded….thanks Gary. ass) exactly the way we remembered him: hapless.
Brooks Orpik played precisely the way we remembered him: like a piece of garbage coward.
And Thid Rosby ducked out with cramps when rumors surfaced that he might get hit.
Let’s start with the most serious. Johan Franzen left with a “charley horse” after Orpik attempted to injure him with a knee-on-knee in the first period.
Coach Mike Babcock talked Wednesday morning about the Red Wings-Penguins rivalry.
Well, it just got ratcheted up a few rungs.
That’s Kulfan and I suppose he’s right. Orpik went after Franzen and attempted to seriously injure him. And yes he did. He stuck his knee out, according to reports. He’s a professional hockey player, an Olympian, wears an “A”...he knew what he was doing. It wasn’t “reflex”, it was intent. Orpik’s a scumbag and he went after Franzen’s knee.
JJ from Kansas/Winging it in Motown
Preseason or not, there’s absolutely no reason for the that play. I’ve yet to see video, but I’ve heard it described as one of those last-second bad decisions. That’s all well and good to write it off as an “oops”, but it’s a serious problem. For a player like Orpik who plays with an edge, the mindset needs to change. I hope he loses regular season time for this. For anybody who wishes to tell me to reserve judgment until after I’ve seen video, I’d like to answer that I trust Ken Kal’s description and I trust that it was a dirty hit based on the five-minute kneeing major and the game misconduct Orpik received. I do want to see the video, but I’m going to have to see evidence that the play was not dirty to change the opinion I have based on the current information. Orpik does not get the benefit of the doubt here.
Concur. So, Todd Bertuzzi followed that with what Khan(!) immediately called a “pummeling.”
Let’s all climb on our unicorns and gallop to our happy place, the one with midget hookers fanning Jiri Hudler with pint-sized rolled up posters of Phoebe Cates in all her “Fast Times” glory, fire trucks sit idly by waiting for the puppies and the kids all have Charleston Chews because it’s still frigging hot in Tawas even though it’s mid-September. Get there now and let’s pretend that Franzen’s ok, that it is actually just a charley horse. There? Great. Because even if that’s the case we’re still looking at troublesome news for the Wings.
Forget the exhibition game (except for Osgood giving up 5 on 27 over two periods…don’t forget that shit), and let’s focus on what George told us on his way out of TC: the Franzen, Bert, Wally line needs all the time together they can get because they’re not really on the same page yet.
Clearly Bertuzzi was thinking the same thing when he went after Orpik. In my imagination, the one Little Gary forced me to use because he wouldn’t let me watch this game on tv, Bertuzzi saw Orpik try to end Franzen’s career with a knee-on-knee and went bat-shit frigging Bundy on him. Frothing, pounding his fists into Orpik’s ears and forehead. Ten, thirty punches, maybe more. Khan(!), that master of prose, said Bertuzzi “pummeled” him so that’s what must have happened. Stu Nahan, like he did in II, might have referred to it as “plain old butchering”. Did it happen that way? We’ll never know, only the fifty thousand Pens “fans” filling the House That Gary Built on the banks of the Kansas City/Hamilton reservoir know for sure.
But, at the least we know this: in his first opportunity to prove that some sociopathic tendencies still reside in that blackened soul of his? Todd Bertuzzi went after a guy who needed his ass kicked. That’s a good thing. We need that and hopefully Bert’s reached a place in his life where he feels comfortable enough to be mean to people who deserve it.
Holland and all the diggers are telling us Franzen wasn’t seriously hurt. Strong chance that everyone’s lying to us? Absolutely. We could easily find out today that Orpik’s dirty maneuver results in months of rehab for 93. We’re used to it, so just do it. Violate us quickly with that news so that the anticipation of it isn’t worse than the actual thing. We’ll find out today, according to Tick Tock in Khan(!)‘s “pummeling” story. TT says they’ll be looking for swelling, etc.
Meanwhile, I’m sure there will be no suspension for Orpik (or Malkin, in case you were still waiting). Obvious attempts to destroy another player’s knee just don’t carry the same weight these days, eh Gary? No, I didn’t think so.
And so I have a few questions, since the Troll Commissioner wouldn’t let me watch the game:
Salei played 22 minutes. Modano played 17. I’d like to know how each of them looked. I want to know if Willa looked fast or lethargic.
Ericsson played 25 minutes last night, the most of any Wing. That’s by design and you know it is. Uncle Mike is gonna test that kid this season and the pressure’s on. You don’t show glimpses of brilliance like he did two years ago, then expect people like Babcock to forget about them. Kindl played 24. He’s clearly going to have plenty of time to prove himself the next few weeks too.
A few more: how’d McCollum look, and little Filppula? I guess we’ll find out more tomorrow night against Chicago, another “meaningless” exhibition game between two teams that hate each other. Hate like Pens/Wings hate? Nope. Not yet, but getting there, especially with a home/home this Friday and Saturday.
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Sorry wrong quote in my original comment.
This is from last year (LEFT knee):
October 9 (2009), DetroitRedWings.com: “Red Wings forward Johan Franzen has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and expected to be out of the lineup a minimum of four months.”
via GJMalik.
(Geez, three years in a row for Mule with leg ailments in early season ‘incidents’.
Good news this time? - ‘charlie horse’?)
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 09/23/10 at 12:25 PM ET
Yes, fuching really, and I have no problem doing so. His last two regular seasons have earned it, not to mention the last two postseason goals he gave up.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 09/23/10 at 12:09 PM ET
Ah, Chief. C’mon, I’d expect better. Dumping on the 09 finals goals? We wouldn’t have been there but for Ozzie’s tremendous play throughout those playoffs. You know as well as I that the reason we lost what is rightfully ours has everything to do with injuries, fatigue, and bullshit fuching Hossa deciding it was time to stop playing hockey, and little to do with the Wizzard.
Yeah, he’s had some tough regular seasons recently, but that’s been his career. He sounds like he’s done his work. He sounds like he’s got his head on right. The quotes we’ve been given from the diggers from him are all positive - looking forward to helping Jimmah and totally OK with the backup role. He had a great camp by all accounts.
I’m just saying maybe we wait to pile on him. You know, until we can actually SEE (Thanks, Gary. Ass) what’s going on. Or until he’s got legit D men in front of him, and not absurdly inbalanced lineups.
Why trash the guy for an effort where he was at a tremendous disadvantage and the result means nothing because it’s preseason. Ozzie’s earned more over his career.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 09/23/10 at 12:25 PM ET
If ozzie IS under the bus, what do you recommend tick tock does? Sign a free agent goalie with money we don’t have, or call up McCollum?
Posted by pomthillips from Ann Arbor, Michigan on 09/23/10 at 12:25 PM ET
I’m just sorry I can’t see Bert unleash on Orpik, I’ve been waiting since day 1 for him to really react and draw the line in the sand as far as taking liberties on our key guys. That’s freaki’n outstanding.
Posted by HockeytownOverhaul on 09/23/10 at 12:27 PM ET
You’re right. I forgot to mention his whining to the media about his coach last season. Now it’s not horseshit.
Whatever. Are you going to ride Hudler all year about his leaving? Or will Osgood need to be seen with whores to get a pass? I don’t see you getting on Helm for his whining about being in Grand Rapids when he got sent down or on any number of guys who failed to seal the deal in Game 7 the way you hold it against Osgood for his role in that.
This is a new season. The only reference there needs to be to the past is that he needs to be better than that. At least wait until you’ve actually seen him play.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 09/23/10 at 12:28 PM ET
This is a new season. The only reference there needs to be to the past is that he needs to be better than that. At least wait until you’ve actually seen him play.
So, every new season is a clean slate for every player? Are those the rules now Matt? I know you’re an Ozzie defender and I have no problem with that. But why should I forget about the way he played last year, the year before and in Game 7?
And they were “hookers” Matt , not whores. Working women, probably medical students paying their way through college for god’s sake.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 09/23/10 at 12:38 PM ET
So, every new season is a clean slate for every player? Are those the rules now Matt? I know you’re an Ozzie defender and I have no problem with that. But why should I forget about the way he played last year, the year before and in Game 7?
Sure seems to be that way for everybody else, so why not Osgood?
I didn’t say forget. In Game 7’s case, there were other guys who didn’t get the job done. It still shocks me that they didn’t win in front of a home crowd. I mean, how could they let that happen? Thinking about it now pisses me off. But that’s over—-it has no bearing on this season, other than a potential source of motivation for the players who failed then.
As for last year, fine. That’s the stick he’s being measured with now. But how can you possibly take a measurement on a game you didn’t see? How is that possible? If he craps the bed going forward, even I’ll stop defending him, but my issue here is specifically this idea that Osgood can be evaluated on a single game none of us (with one exception I’ve seen) even saw. No one else would get that kind of treatment.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 09/23/10 at 12:53 PM ET
Got a point there, JJ. There’s NO defense of the hit coming from any trolls, so that’s got to mean something. Honestly speaking, knowing as much as you know, I actually agree with you in that it was probably dirty—just wanted to point out that the refs thinking something’s dirty hardly makes it so.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 09/23/10 at 11:56 AM ET
That and the fact that most everyone here hasn’t seen the hit. I, for one, know for a fact that I can’t defend something I didn’t see.
Probably just a case of Orpik getting beaten and subsequently making a less-than-good decision to try and stop Franzen by any means necessary.
Good to hear the guy is gonna be alright, though.
Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 09/23/10 at 01:39 PM ET
May not have been a troll in here defending that Orpik hit, but go check out the Pensblog. Plenty of it going on in there. Man, I don’t know how they can work up such hate for such awesome fans like us, but they manage to do so every year.
None so blind as those who will not see.
Posted by wedge56 on 09/23/10 at 02:24 PM ET
Probably just a case of Orpik getting beaten
and subsequently making a less-than-good
decision to try and stop Franzen by any means
necessary.
-by Flashtastick56 fr
That’s what it sounds like, and looks like from the picture. It’s a George Laraque ” I can’t skate and just got beat so I’ll stick out my leg” kneeing rather than a classic Ulf Samuelson/Alex Ovechkin kneeing. It’s still a dangerous play that should result in a suspension, thankfully it doesn’t look like Franzen got as badly hurt as Kronwall did from the same play last year.
Posted by Chris in A^2 from Nyquist Puck Control on 09/23/10 at 02:26 PM ET
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I’m not throwing Osgood under the bus for the first pre-season game. He crawled under the bus long before last night.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 09/23/10 at 12:21 PM ET