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NHL Sports News | November 5, 2008
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Predators' head coach prepares for 750th NHL game
By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun
November 4, 2008
VANCOUVER - For Nashville head coach Barry Trotz, the storyline Tuesday was simple. In his milestone 750th game behind the Predators' bench, his team couldn't get him a win. Couldn't even get him a goal.
It wasn't mathematical playoff elimination - now that would really hurt - but it was disappointment nonetheless. Canucks 4, Predators 0. Maybe game 251 will treat him better.
"I wasn't disappointed with the first period," Trotz said. "We knew we would have to weather a storm in the first 10 minutes and I thought we did. What really killed us was their second power-play goal and then the quick third one right after that.
"That was basically game, set and match. We didn't hit the net enough, we didn't get enough traffic."
Predators netminder Dan Ellis was downright disgusted that he and his mates didn't dig deep enough to reward Trotz with a win.
"Yeah, absolutely it's disappointing," said Ellis. "He sets a milestone like that and you want to honour that commitment and that success and we did nothing for him tonight."
The Predators, who are 5-1-0 at home, fell to 1-4-1 on the road. Ellis couldn't fathom the marked difference.
"It's the same game of hockey, the same puck, same sticks and you play it on ice," he grunted."
Earlier Tuesday, Trotz admitted he was a little amazed to have lasted 750 games. He's in his 10th season and only Buffalo"s Lindy Ruff has been around longer with the same team.
"I didn't even think I was going to make it through the first year," said Trotz. "I used to have dark hair, now I have grey hair. I look at how blessed I've been to be with a good organization and to have a GM [David Poile] who believes in what we're doing as a coaching staff, and myself in particular.
"In this business, we don't maybe allow some people to get through the hard times. But I'll tell you what... when you do get through the hard times and you come out the other side, you're a lot tougher and lot more galvanized. I think maybe that's sometimes lacking in pro sports. I feel very fortunate to be in the position I'm in."
Trotz's Predators missed the playoffs for five consecutive years after entering the league in 1998-99 but they've made them the last four despite all kinds of player turnover and turmoil at the ownership level.
(Bullet) Former Predator and current Canuck Darcy Hordichuk is of Ukrainian descent and so is Trotz. Naturally, they enjoy debating about whose family matriarch makes the best cabbage rolls and perogies. Hordichuk claims it is his grandmother.
"That's bull," responded Trotz. "My mother makes the best. He's lying."
(bullet) Vancouver Giants captain Jon Blum, the Predators' first round pick in 2007, needs more strength and explosiveness before he is ready for the big leagues, according to Trotz.
"I think Blummer is going to play in the NHL, no question," Trotz said. "He can think the game and react to the NHL game right now but he needs to get stronger and a little quicker."
Blum, 19, was named WHL player of the month for September/October after collecting 14 points and going plus-20. He watched Tuesday's contest from the press box.
(bullet) With Michel Ouellet clearing re-entry waivers on Tuesday, the Canucks returned Jason Krog to the Manitoba farm. Krog had one goal in four games during his callup.
(bullet) The Canucks announced Tuesday that their official team calendar for the 2008-09 season is now available at all Pharmasave stores in the province. The calendar sells for $4.99 with partial proceeds going to Canuck Place, the children's hospice.
The calendar has raised an estimated $675,000 for the hospice in seven years, according to Canuck officials
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Oilers Souray, Hemsky and Horcoff make the cut
By The Canadian Press
NEW YORK — The ballot for online voting by fans for the NHL all-star teams will be heavy on players from the host Montreal Canadiens and the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.
The Canadiens and Red Wings each have six players on the ballot — the most among the 30 NHL clubs. The Canadiens will play host to the all-star game Jan. 25 at the Bell Centre as part of their 100th anniversary celebrations.
Voting begins Nov. 12 for the starting lineups of the Eastern and Western Conferences teams. Fans can vote in English or French from anywhere in the world at Vote.NHL.com.
The Canadiens are represented by goaltender Carey Price, defencemen Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek and forwards Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay.
The Red Wings have goalie Chris Osgood, defencemen Nik Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski and forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Hossa.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars all have five players apiece on the 104-player ballot.
Among Canadian teams, the Ottawa Senators have defenceman Chris Phillips and forwards Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley, while the Calgary Flames have goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, defencemen Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf and forward Jarome Iginla.
The Edmonton Oilers have defenceman Sheldon Souray and forwards Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff; the Vancouver Canucks have goalie Roberto Luongo and twin forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin; and the Toronto Maple Leafs have goalie Vesa Toskala and defenceman Tomas Kaberle.
Newcomers to the XM NHL All-Star Fan Balloting ticket include Price, Chicago Blackhawks phenoms Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, Philadelphia’s Mike Richards, Nashville’s Shea Weber, Washington’s Alexander Semin and Minnesota’s Brent Burns.
While Anaheim centre Ryan Getzlaf is on the ballot, his linemates Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry are not. Neither are three players off to the hottest starts this season — Chicago’s Patrick Sharp, Nashville’s J.P. Dumont and Calgary’s Mike Cammalleri.
The NHL says it will be the first league to provide updated results at nhl.com through the voting period, which ends Jan. 2. Fans in North America will also be able to vote by text messaging.
Fans can vote as often as they like. They are asked to select one goalie, two defencemen and three forwards from each conference, but can vote for as few as one player if they wish.
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