Getting ready to listen to the Royals-Chiefs game tonight. Great game last night as the Royals won a big one over Wheeling, 3-1. Good team defense and Ouzas made top-notch saves when they were needed. If they play like that tonight, they could break that 10-game losing streak against Johnstown.
I'll have one ear on that game while I watch the NHL Center Ice channels. Checked out several games this afternoon, including the Kings tough loss to Montreal. The Kings were winning late in the third, only to give up two goals with the game-winner coming with less than 30 seconds to play.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Cup is here
Yep, the Holy Grail of hockey is here again in Reading for the All-Star Skills Competition.
The NHL staffer with the cup says he travels with it about 250 days a year and it's insured for more than $1 million.
That's a lot of frequent flyer miles and I'll bet he has stories to tell.
Hockey fans know that each member of the Cup-winning team gets to take the Cup for a day.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Mini streak is over
The three-game win streak is over as the Royals dropped a tough one to Elmira, 3-2. A bad turnover while on the PP led to a breakaway game winner. Generally, a tough, physical game that seemed to stir some of the bad blood between these teams from last year.
Royals got off to a quick 1-0 lead before falling behind 2-1. Kirk MacDonald tied it at 2 in the second, but the turnover about three minutes later proved to be the game winner. The Royals pulled Michael Ouzas with about a minute to play, but failed to tie it up, including on a last-second shot off the faceoff in the Jackals' zone.
Next up: All Star skills competition Tuesday and the All Star game Wednesday. The Royals are off until Saturday, when Wheeling returns to town.
Royals got off to a quick 1-0 lead before falling behind 2-1. Kirk MacDonald tied it at 2 in the second, but the turnover about three minutes later proved to be the game winner. The Royals pulled Michael Ouzas with about a minute to play, but failed to tie it up, including on a last-second shot off the faceoff in the Jackals' zone.
Next up: All Star skills competition Tuesday and the All Star game Wednesday. The Royals are off until Saturday, when Wheeling returns to town.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Same team?
Has anyone checked the passports of the Royals since they returned from the western trip?
I mean, are these the same guys who were here three weeks ago? What an amazing change. We all know it won't last forever, but finally these guys are competing. Friday's game was probably the best game they played at home all season. Saturday night was right up there, too.
Strange how they got down early in both games, but didn't fold like they have all season. There seems to be some confidence brewing here and I'm not sure where it's coming from. Larry?
You can feel that in the stands, too. The crowd is more into the game because, for once, the fans think this team has a real chance to win.
The aggressive play has returned, too. And I'm not talking just about the fighting. They are looking more like a true North Division team than they did earlier in the season. It's almost as if the reins have been taken off this team. I've always thought this team plays better with a bit of a snarl.
The forecheck has been good, and, generally, so has the defense. Although the PP connected Saturday, it still needs some work, but hey, a win streak is a win streak.
I mean, are these the same guys who were here three weeks ago? What an amazing change. We all know it won't last forever, but finally these guys are competing. Friday's game was probably the best game they played at home all season. Saturday night was right up there, too.
Strange how they got down early in both games, but didn't fold like they have all season. There seems to be some confidence brewing here and I'm not sure where it's coming from. Larry?
You can feel that in the stands, too. The crowd is more into the game because, for once, the fans think this team has a real chance to win.
The aggressive play has returned, too. And I'm not talking just about the fighting. They are looking more like a true North Division team than they did earlier in the season. It's almost as if the reins have been taken off this team. I've always thought this team plays better with a bit of a snarl.
The forecheck has been good, and, generally, so has the defense. Although the PP connected Saturday, it still needs some work, but hey, a win streak is a win streak.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The boys are back
Home after a road trip that included a coaching change and a split of the four games, the Royals face a tough three-game-in-four-day stretch. Friday night brings the Nailers to town, followed by the Devils Saturday night. A day off Sunday, but back on the ice at 11 a.m. Monday to take on the Jackals on MLK Day.
The Purple Gang, no doubt, will warmly welcome Larry Courville in his home-coaching debut. A fan favorite as a player, Courville likely will get some slack from the home crowd even if the team doesn't play well.
The All Star activities kick off Tuesday night with the skills competition with the game Wednesday night. The Royals send two players to that game -- Tyler Doig and Steve Ward.
The Purple Gang, no doubt, will warmly welcome Larry Courville in his home-coaching debut. A fan favorite as a player, Courville likely will get some slack from the home crowd even if the team doesn't play well.
The All Star activities kick off Tuesday night with the skills competition with the game Wednesday night. The Royals send two players to that game -- Tyler Doig and Steve Ward.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Small step
If you stayed up and hung in through the technical problems, you heard the Royals win over Utah last night, 3-0.
After a first period in which they were horribly outshot, the Royals built a two-goal lead. The team had been up by two the night before against the Grizzlies before losing. The Royals seemed to play better last night. Hopefully, it's one small step in the right direction under Larry Courville, who picks up his first win as coach.
The team made some roster moves today: LaLonde is loaned for a second time to Iowa; Miller and Reimer are back from the IR; and Taylor moves to the IR.
Next up: back-to-back games against Idaho, starting Friday.
After a first period in which they were horribly outshot, the Royals built a two-goal lead. The team had been up by two the night before against the Grizzlies before losing. The Royals seemed to play better last night. Hopefully, it's one small step in the right direction under Larry Courville, who picks up his first win as coach.
The team made some roster moves today: LaLonde is loaned for a second time to Iowa; Miller and Reimer are back from the IR; and Taylor moves to the IR.
Next up: back-to-back games against Idaho, starting Friday.
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