Random Game Thoughts: Vancouver 1-21-07

[Redwic]

Both teams looked very slow & tired, and the players looked like they were breathing hard after each shift. Probably fatigue, and I'm sure that some players are fighting sickness a little.

McArdle was a non-factor.

Zetariuk looked very good for the Silvertips. So did Ellington.

Strong was not impressive, and looked lost at times.

What was Irving thinking, leaving the net like that in the First Period???

Sexsmith did not seem very fundamentally sound. A lot more goals probably could've/would've been scored on him if we actually kept a player near the net when the puck would ricochet back in front of the net while Sexsmith was out (which happened numerous times). The one time that we had a player in front of the net for that type of opportunity, Fiala bobbled the puck and wasted the easy goal chance.

The Silvertips apparently *did* score a goal which was not counted. Several fans, both Silvertips fans and Giants fans who were sitting near the goal, told me after the game that the puck completely crossed the goal-line and then roll around and back out of the goal.

Give credit where it is due; the Giants played more like a TEAM last night. It was as if Don Hay told Rabbit & McArdle to lay off the intensity a little bit, so that they wouldn't control the game by themselves.

I have a feeling that until somebody shuts Beach up, his taunts are not going to stop. At the pre-game practice, however, he was pretty funny. The Giants staff had spent a few minutes building a small pyramid of pucks for the Giants' players to knock down as they practiced (and doing this still doesn't make sense to me). When Beach came out, before any Giants, he smacked a puck at the pyramid and knocked about half of it down.

It was good to see Sonne, too, for raising the team's morale.

The Sonne shootout goal was awesome! If you see that up-close, you will really appreciate how difficult it must be for an opposing goaltender to anticipate it out correctly. I couldn't figure out which way he was going to shoot it, and I have seen him do it multiple times!

Speaking of shootout goals, Mueller was due sometime.

And speaking of shootouts, I can understand why Vancouver chose Rabbit to go first. But for the second, must-get-in, shot they chose Repik! As soon as I saw that, I had a strong hunch that the Silvertips would win (and we did). Repik is a decent player, but in a must-win shootout situation I would have chosen a different player.

And speaking of different players, it was good to Hamill out there. His game-tying goal with a few minutes left in regulation looked awesome!

When Harty smiled it looked like he was missing a tooth. Was that from Friday night's fight?

That hit to Gutierrez' face tonight looked nasty!

The Giants fans were very quiet most of the game, but as soon as they would take a lead (3-2, 5-4) I would see & hear them boasting about how their team is the greatest, the best, the blah blah blah... Kind of funny how it wouldn't start until then, and how it would quickly end once the lead was relinquished.

On Vancouver's radio show after the game, the Giants PBP guy spoke a little about Mueller getting the #1 Star of the Game. He was praising Mueller's abilities and potential, and said that he is experiencing the best of two worlds: Learning defense from the best (Constantine) in junior hockey, then learning offense from the best (Gretzky) in the NHL. Pretty impressive to hear such a comment from outside of our organization.

Good win for the Silvertips. It should have been won by them in regulation, in my opinion, but it was a win all the same. And with a depleted, sick, and fatigued lineup, the Silvertips will take any win we can get!

The Silvertips still took 5 out of 6 total possible points this weekend, against very tough competition. And that says something.

The fans that I met in Vancouver were very friendly this time. A bunch of them said that we have a great team, and that the Silvertips seem to have the Giants' number this season. Let's hope that attitude and game-play continues in the playoffs, if these teams are to meet.

Speaking of a possible Everett-Vancouver matchup in the playoffs, let's keep the games on Rogers Sportsnet (i.e. national television). We do better & score more often than when it's on SHAW TV. And the viewers got to see an exciting game between the league's top two teams, too.

Lastly, when I got home from the game, I was sickened to read some disgusting comments posted by a Giants fan on another forum website (and then re-posted by other people on other forum websites). Voicing an opinion is one thing, but writing such a scathing post was quite another. Fortunately, much of those comments were deleted and the original poster was banned from the original website. Kudos to the editing/moderating staff at that website for stepping in and handling the situation, deeming that behavior as unacceptable.

[Carebear]

Zetariuk looked very good for the Silvertips. So did Ellington.



Very good at standing behind the net with a puck? Definitely..he was AMAZING at that!


As for the puck pyramid, it's just one of those things we do.

[Redwic]

Very good at standing behind the net with a puck? Definitely..he was AMAZING at that!

Nooo... What's *really* amazing is how few teams actually send/have players to drive the Silvertips out from behind the net. Kelowna has done it on occasion, and so has Seattle. Not many others have tried, though. And with overtime being 4-on-4, I guess that opposing teams don't want to send a player in to disrupt the Everett player who has the puck, taking a chance that the Everett player might be able to drive the puck out of the zone and create a 3-on-3, or possibly even a 4-on-3 scoring opportunity.

[old_time_hockey]

Beach needed to man up and fight Watt when he asked if he wanted to go. And then to dive over Watts stick. Then clearly slashes Watt on the back of the legs. What a chicken. Then cried the whole time heading to the box. But I guess he learned from his coach who put on a fine display last night as well. If Beach played minor hockey in the league I did, I don't think he would be playing any more. Everytime he would pull something like that he would either fight or be a target. But then again if someone on my team did that I would cuff them one because we don't want that reputation. But then again that was back before the stupid instigator rule came into effect.

That shot went off 2 bars and out. I sit in Sec. C right on the goal line and saw the whole thing right in front of me.

And Joey Kennward and Bill Willms are the best in the biz. I bring my radio to the game and there was one time (I forget who) climbed the ladder and held the puck at the line. Joey said on air I don't know why that isn't offside. They call it as it is and don't do the old homer shtick. It really drives me nuts when I buy a game online when the Giants are on the road and have to listen to the garbage coming out of the mouth of the home team crew. ESPECIALLY in Portland. A Portland player clearly put his stick on a Giants knee and made a clear pulling action hauling the Giant down. Then he procedes to go on a 6 minute rant about how the refs are garbage and the league is letting it happen blah blah blah.

[rinkrat]

Nooo... What's *really* amazing is how few teams actually send/have players to drive the Silvertips out from behind the net. I guess that opposing teams don't want to send a player in to disrupt the Everett player who has the puck, taking a chance that the Everett player might be able to drive the puck out of the zone and create a 4-on-3 scoring opportunity.

You just answered your own question.Why would the Giants send a man in and hand the Tips a 4 on 3 break.They're not that dumb.
Constantine should have been a basketball coach where that type of delay tactic is used all the time.
BTW,whats with the "HooHaw" chant after a goal? That seems childish,along with the little stickers the players have on the back of their helmuts.Everything seems like a gimmick in Everett,next thing we'll see the flying vee skating down the ice.LOL

[Redwic]

BTW,whats with the "HooHaw" chant after a goal? That seems childish,along with the little stickers the players have on the back of their helmuts.Everything seems like a gimmick in Everett,next thing we'll see the flying vee skating down the ice.LOL

Actually, it's something like:
"1-2-3-HOO-YAH!" (or possibly HOO-RAH!, I'm not exactly sure)

Gutierrez typically leads the chant, when the players gather after a goal. From what I have heard, it is a way to commemorate the Armed Forces.

[Tipped Off]

OTH: I think the announcers in Tri-Cities are worse than Portland. Absolutely brutal. I can't talk too much cause Gerhart here in Everett is pretty Homer-ish as well. I like the Giants announcers too. Very enjoyable to listen/watch a game with them doing the broadcast. There were a few times on Sunday where they would say something like, "well, you just can't do that...it's a penalty and will get called every time." instead of some of the other announcers who would cry over it.

AS for KC, that's just his style. You either love it (if your Tips fans) or hate it (if your not). It's the way the game of hockey has progressed. The stick fouls nowadays keep that play alive. In the old days you just went behind the net hit the guy and there's no way an odd man rush happens because you keep hitting him until you both can get out of there. Now you'd get called for Holding or interference or something ticky tack. I don't particularly like that play. The game is more exciting to see team schange on the fly, but, hey....it seems to work for them. the team that defends that the best...and always sends someine in is Spokane and, no surprise, we have sucked against Spokane. I would think teams would start mimicking the style they use against us, but they don't.

As for Beach: eh, give him a year or two. He's young and immature. Maybe once he turns 18 and is in his third year in the league he'll learn not to do those things. I've been a big Beach critic, so Ican't really defend his antics very much. The only thing I will say is, he certainly makes things exciting...lol.

as for the shot. I don't like when fans say they "saw the whole thing" either from the stands or on the live broadcast. Until/if we get super slo-mo frame by frame instant replay, goal judges, referees and fans will make questionable calls. It's just part of the game. I hate complaining about that sort of thing. By the end of the season it evens out for all teams. If your a good team you suck it up and come back from it.

[Carebear]

I was hoping they'd send Hunt and Cunningham down there and sandwich the kid. Sure it's a tactic, but do you have to do it again and again and again? Is that the only way you can win a game!?

[Redwic]

I was hoping they'd send Hunt and Cunningham down there and sandwich the kid. Sure it's a tactic, but do you have to do it again and again and again? Is that the only way you can win a game!?

I never realized until last night how small Hunt and Cunningham are, at least in comparison to the rest of the Giants. They might not be the best to take on Beach, unless it's a two-on-one situation.

Hunt had a total babyface, and looked like Dailey's size.

[Carebear]

I never realized until last night how small Hunt and Cunningham are, at least in comparison to the rest of the Giants. They might not be the best to take on Beach, unless it's a two-on-one situation.


They may be small, but they are tough! And I meant for them to go down and sandwich your man standing behind the net.

[Soundy]

OTH: I think the announcers in Tri-Cities are worse than Portland. Absolutely brutal. I can't talk too much cause Gerhart here in Everett is pretty Homer-ish as well. I like the Giants announcers too. Very enjoyable to listen/watch a game with them doing the broadcast. There were a few times on Sunday where they would say something like, "well, you just can't do that...it's a penalty and will get called every time." instead of some of the other announcers who would cry over it.

Be glad you don't have Dan Russell (local radio sports-talk-show host and wannabe play-by-play guy for the Shaw TV broadcasts)... or worse... <shudder> Bob Cole and Harry Neale. Anyone who's watched Hockey Night In Canada lately will know where I'm comin' from...

Addendum: I will say, it was a pretty good game for the most part. Brought a friend for her first-ever Giants game and she quite enjoyed it. Good energy through most of the game, despite how tired everyone obviously was.

By the way, I have a few dozen pics posted from the game... a number of 'Tips in there as well. http://picasaweb.google.com/soundy106/21Jan07GiantsVsSilvertips if you're interested.

http://lh3.google.com/image/soundy106/RbRw_IMaxVI/AAAAAAAAAUA/vpzXwCoanes/s288/IMG_3890.JPG http://lh6.google.com/image/soundy106/RbRxC4MaxdI/AAAAAAAAAVA/p6320X3Qk80/s288/IMG_3937.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/image/soundy106/RbRxJIMaxpI/AAAAAAAAAWg/JmT_AkGi64g/s288/IMG_4011.JPG http://lh3.google.com/image/soundy106/RbRxMIMaxwI/AAAAAAAAAXY/-LEaT8aJvbQ/s288/IMG_4058.JPG

[Tipped Off]

Sure it's a tactic, but do you have to do it again and again and again? Is that the only way you can win a game!?

It's one of those Age old debates across all of sports. In basball you have a team that loads up on pitching and Defense. they play games 1-0, 2-1, etc...Other teams load up on the power hitters trying to win slugfests 7-5. Many call the former boring and latter exciting.

In Basketball you have teams like the Pistons that win championships holding teams to scoring in the 80's while teams like Phoenix and Utah never seem to make its scoring 110+.

And, two Sundays from now, you'll have the Defensive minded Chcago Bears with that play D first and worry about scoring later attitude versus the Colts and their "high-powered" offense.

KC is just a coach who preaches Defense and no mistakes. He'd rather take his chances in a S/O than go fo rthe OT win and cough up the puck with a severely depleted/tired team (I know the Giants were tired too). As long as they keep the ticky tack fouls in plce and the shoot out going, teams like the Tips will play for that. It's how the coach adapts to the systems in place. the coach's who are slow to adapt eventually lose touch with the "current" version of the game and go away.

I'm not going to say one is right vs wrong. You can call it boring if you want. That's up to you. I still enjoy the games and consider the end result for what it was. A regular season meeting that, in the end, probably won't matter too much if/when these two teams are playing a 7 game playoff series.

[Redwic]

Sitting in the row directly in front of my row there was a group of 4-5 middle-aged women, all wearing Giants clothing/ colors while holding those inflatable red Grainger-sponsored hands. When the Silvertips scored their first goal... which, by the way, our section had a great sideview of it... my wife & I stood up, clapped, and rang our cowbells. The woman who was sitting directly in front of me turned around and saw us briefly celebrating, so she stood up, waving her big red inflatable hand and cheering *loudly*. Her friends on each side of her yelled something like, "Don't cheer for THEIR team!", and yanked the woman back into her chair. Hehehe... funny stuff.

[Carebear]

Sitting in the row directly in front of my row there was a group of 4-5 middle-aged women, all wearing Giants clothing/ colors while holding those inflatable red Grainger-sponsored hands. When the Silvertips scored their first goal... which, by the way, our section had a great sideview of it... my wife & I stood up, clapped, and rang our cowbells. The woman who was sitting directly in front of me turned around and saw us briefly celebrating, so she stood up, waving her big red inflatable hand and cheering *loudly*. Her friends on each side of her yelled something like, "Don't cheer for THEIR team!", and yanked the woman back into her chair. Hehehe... funny stuff.

HAHAHHA...I wonder if she was gooned.
I told the guy when I was walking in that we need NOISE makers to be handed out when you guys come up so we can drown out those bloody cowbells.

You know what we need? NOT more cowbell!

[Soundy]

HAHAHHA...I wonder if she was gooned.
I told the guy when I was walking in that we need NOISE makers to be handed out when you guys come up so we can drown out those bloody cowbells.

You know what we need? NOT more cowbell!

There's always those MOOO-horns :)

There seemed to be a good number of 'Tips fans up behind us in Sec. 8 at well. Lotta weekend road-trippers, I'm thinking... all in all, 10,000+ attendance is pretty sweet. Props to the Everett fans who made the journey - yeah, it's not that far, but still, it's a good six hours total driving, plus the border lineup for a three-hour game :)

[old_time_hockey]

as for the shot. I don't like when fans say they "saw the whole thing" either from the stands or on the live broadcast. Until/if we get super slo-mo frame by frame instant replay, goal judges, referees and fans will make questionable calls. It's just part of the game. I hate complaining about that sort of thing. By the end of the season it evens out for all teams. If your a good team you suck it up and come back from it.

I have a better seat than the goal judge had. When I say I sit right on the goal line, I am. I have a beautiful angle on it. I usually am cheering before the goal light comes on.

Probably the only better seat would be Dondo and Scrunt since they are row 1.

And the way that the puck hit the post, if it was all the way over the goal line, it would have ended up in the back of the net.

[old_time_hockey]

HAHAHHA...I wonder if she was gooned.
I told the guy when I was walking in that we need NOISE makers to be handed out when you guys come up so we can drown out those bloody cowbells.

You know what we need? NOT more cowbell!

Here is what I don't get. Why cow bells?

They aren't the Everett Jersey Cows, they are the Silvertips...A BEAR!! Bring bear bells.

I have never got why people enjoy ringing a cowbell. What do you get out of it other than noise. I'd rather listen to people using their voices to cheer. Cowbell to me says "I don't know what to say but need to make noise".

The only sports that cowbells are good are speed skating and bobsled.

[ihlemic10]

Here is what I don't get. Why cow bells?

They aren't the Everett Jersey Cows, they are the Silvertips...A BEAR!! Bring bear bells.

I have never got why people enjoy ringing a cowbell. What do you get out of it other than noise. I'd rather listen to people using their voices to cheer. Cowbell to me says "I don't know what to say but need to make noise".

The only sports that cowbells are good are speed skating and bobsled.

Its cowbells because if you havn't noticed anywhere north of Everett is farm country, heck go east of Everett its the same thing. Anything that is not in King County (Seattle, Bellevue area) is farming in Washington. I would suppose that is the reasoning for the bells. I personally hate them though...

[old_time_hockey]

Its cowbells because if you havn't noticed anywhere north of Everett is farm country, heck go east of Everett its the same thing. Anything that is not in King County (Seattle, Bellevue area) is farming in Washington. I would suppose that is the reasoning for the bells. I personally hate them though...

Yeah, but Boeing is in the Everett area too. Why not have something airline related.

Cowbells are like crack. JUST SAY NO!!

I commend you for taking a stand against the dreaded bells.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I will buy you a beer if you wish next time you happen to be at the PC for a game for the amazing courage you show to just say no to Bell.

[Swando]

Cow bells started as a prairie thing imo. When I was growing up in Alberta in the 50's/60's most farmers(as we did) also had a few cows that they milked for the cream they'd sell in town. Also they had bells on thier cows so when you went to get them from the field you'd know where they were. Now, in saying this , the older people (especailly the women) would bring cowbells to the local arena and cheer for their local teams. Hek If I could yell louder at Savage and Smith I would ,,,but my voice is going. I think Everett has a great thing going with the cowbells.....however having been there and watched numerous feeds on the net from there I think that the fans need to know when too use them properly I heard a couple of interviews from the former Tips that were recently traded away at the deadline. Both Thoring and Calla commented that they missed the big crowds compared to MJ but it was nicer to have "very knowledgable fans" and be in arena with many memeories and character.

[IceMan]

Some of the Tips back in Season 1 were doing a radio interview on our local station, and made mention of the fact that their favorite Saturday Night Live skit was that one where they were Blue Oyster Cult doing Don't Fear the Reaper --- the big line in that skit is "I gotta fever, and the only thing that can cure it is MORE COWBELL. Gotta have MORE COWBELL BABY". Anyway, the guys were cracking up at that on the radio, and by the end of the month, everyone in the EEC had a cowbell and rang them at every opportunity.

Here's the skit -- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5036509521817349879&q=gotta+have+more+cowbell&hl=en

[Tipped Off]

Nathe and someone else, I can't remember who, were frequent guests on 3-6 with the fish on KRKO radio. They always came on and said, "we need more cowbell." Ever since then, the Fish says it all the time.

[Kristi]

Nathe and someone else, I can't remember who, were frequent guests on 3-6 with the fish on KRKO radio. They always came on and said, "we need more cowbell." Ever since then, the Fish says it all the time.


Barry Horman

[ihlemic10]

I forgot to mention that I will buy you a beer if you wish next time you happen to be at the PC for a game for the amazing courage you show to just say no to Bell.

I'll take you up on that offer on Feb 23rd.

[B4dotcom]

I have always found the cowbell's fun for the fans, and it makes me upset when you go to a stadium that does not allow noise makers, such as tri-cities when they stopped allowing drums 4 years ago. I believe IMO that anything that brings the fans closer to the game is good for the game.

[HAF]

I have always found the cowbell's fun for the fans, and it makes me upset when you go to a stadium that does not allow noise makers, such as tri-cities when they stopped allowing drums 4 years ago. I believe IMO that anything that brings the fans closer to the game is good for the game.


Theres no rules against bells in TC. Heck, they gave them out as a promotion earlier in the year. You cannot have drums or air horns but just about anything else goes. Theres a few guys that bring trumpets every game.

[Kristi]

I'll take you up on that offer on Feb 23rd.

you are not old enough to drink in Canada yet!!!

[Kristi]

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I will buy you a beer if you wish next time you happen to be at the PC for a game for the amazing courage you show to just say no to Bell.


He is not old enough to drink in Canada!! so it will have to be root beer! :)

[Redwic]

Due to his young age, he's just not old enough to know better! haha