No sack is right.  It’s frustrating to hear Babcock SAY you have to work hard and play well to get minutes...and then give minutes to guys who skip optional skates and haven’t done anything in the series so far.

BTW, I see many in Calgary are complaining that Cleary’s check on Phaneuf was a “hit to the head”.  Well sure it was.  Of course the guy is going to get hit in the head when he is skating backwards, reaching out trying to get the puck, and his head is only about four feet off the ice.  Duh.  Don’t want to get it in the head when a check is coming?  Don’t put yourself in that position.

An objective eye sees it clearly:

http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=$NHLDirectLink_2&page=GameHighlights&service=direct&sp=S/20062007/03/0153/IH_NHL_2006_P_153_DET@CGY_700k_0006_CGY1221221_goal.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=153&sp=3&sp=SGoals

Posted by Paul on 04/19/07 at 02:28 PM ET

Maybe Lang’s line is going to be getting fourth line minutes? I think Bertuzzi still needs a couple of more games to get going, and playing him with fourth line minutes would be easing him back into the game. Lang, he deserves to be on the fourth line.

Posted by Aaron from PHX on 04/19/07 at 02:53 PM ET

Unreal.

I am rapidly losing faith in Babblecock, despite being up 2-1. For all the poop he talks he sure doesn’t back it up.

Wow.

Posted by TeamDub from Toledo on 04/19/07 at 02:59 PM ET

Babcock’s legacy so far this year:  taking three players (Filpulla, Franzen, Hudler) who were producing and helping us win games, and either benching them or putting them with players who haven’t done jack.

Nice job.

Posted by Paul on 04/19/07 at 03:07 PM ET

Once again, agreed Paul.

And, sticking with the pseudo-theme…

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills! I invented the piano key necktie, I invented it! What have you done, Sammy? You’ve done nothing! NOTHIIIING! And I will be a monkey’s uncle if I let you ruin this for me, because if you can’t get the job done, then Huds will!

Time to start the PBR train.

Posted by TeamDub from NW Ohio on 04/19/07 at 03:13 PM ET

Oh for Peetes sake!!!  Good Freaking Grief!!!  There are only two rational matters that I can think of which might explain this insanity:

(1) Huddles is hurt and cannot play.  This makes a lot of sense and would be the only logical reason he is not playing.  Did anyone see him skate the past few days?

(2) The Wing Organization is totally freaking stupid and doesn’t know their arse from a hole in the ground.  They spend alot of money finding great talent to --- sit it on the bench—well aint that smart.

Franzen/Lansidaisical/Bert is not a bad idea so long as Lang doesnt use the teflon stick tonite, their size and span could be a plus.  Hoping Lang has more enthusiasm for the game is a longshot though.  I have a better chance of staying sober tonite than that happening.

Fill and Calder could be a presence tonite too.  At least while Calder is working his nuts off digging out the puck he wont have to think it all for naught since it wont be rolling off Lang’s stick.  Maybe Slammy will be a little more inspired playing with a Finn huh?

All I can say is that I am already exasperated and its only game four.  RANT!!!!

Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from America's HeartLand on 04/19/07 at 04:17 PM ET

Samuelsson has shown an ability to get the puck into the zone.  That’s great.  He is also willing to shoot the puck.  Problem is, he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with it.  If he can do one of the following tonight, he’ll have a good game:

- dump the puck around the boards instead of shooting it into the backboards
- drop the puck to a teammate after gaining the zone
- PUT IT ON NET!!

geez.

Posted by Paul on 04/19/07 at 04:23 PM ET

BTW, Hasek not practicing bothers me.  A lot.  Draper slammed into him in the last game.  IIRC, so did a Flames player.  Now he skipped a practice.  When does Hasek skip a chance to practice?  Usually he’s the last one out there, making the rookies stay and shoot on him - until somebody comes and drags him off the ice.

Anybody want to bet Osgood starts tonight?

Posted by Paul on 04/19/07 at 04:24 PM ET

I’ve been thinking about this some more.  Of course, at this point I can’t really think about anything else.  I can already feel I’m going to be a wreck by about 8:30 tonight.

“Robert Lang will have two new wingers in Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen.”

This might just work.  Bertuzzi should be better than he was last game, and Franzen has been great.  Hopefully Lang can do his puck control thing while Bert and Franzen drive the net.

“Valtteri Filppula will be out with Kyle Calder and Mikael Samuelsson. “

Calder is probably thinking “YES!  FINALLY somebody other than Lang to play with!” Could just fire up Sammy, too.

Posted by Paul on 04/19/07 at 04:39 PM ET

Honest to Peete I cant tell if I am more juiced about the game or more pissed about how the Organization is handling line-ups.  Babs really needs to put his money where his mouth is—which makes me think Huddles is hurting.  I am already a basket case.  Another cervaza please!!!!

Paul—hoping your wickedly insightful mind is wrong about Hasek!!!

Bert will be better—I hope.  He had glimmers of unearthly power in game 3.  Ad after seeing Cleary’s work—Hell that should pump the whole team.

Bert and Mule together—I bet the (F)lame D dread going over the boards for that shift!!!!!

Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from America's HeartLand on 04/19/07 at 04:50 PM ET

Let’s review this:
Break up a roster that has just won 2 playoff games and outshot the opponents 1200 to 40.

Lose Game 3, don’t make any changes, just throw them all in a bag and shake it up and hope they win Game 4.

Looking like Mr I won’t have to return any tickey money for G#7 either.

Posted by Gramps (hockeytowntodd) from HockeyTown on 04/19/07 at 04:59 PM ET

Love you Gramps!!!!

Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from America's HeartLand on 04/19/07 at 05:16 PM ET