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#41 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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The Game of the Week
The Calgary Flames were our closest geographical rival, so games against them always had some extra zing. Coming in, we were sitting with a record of 5-0-2, while the Flames were also enjoying a good start at 5-2-0. Calgary seemed quite intent on handing us our first loss, so it looked to be a great match-up for the Game of the Week.
To make things even more interesting, the famous 'M' from K-L-M was in the Calgary lineup. It was nice that Iggy and Vladdy got to chat with their old linemate before the game, and even better, the added incentive our guys got to outshine Makarov. - - - - - - - Week: 2 Last edited by jumpSeat; 05-09-2022 at 06:15 PM. Reason: Stat Correction |
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#42 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Baby It's Hot Inside
The Flames came out hot, building up a seven-to-one lead on the shot clock. Despite the pressure, Kirk McLean was solid in goal, stopping everything until we got our legs going. After a scoreless first, our 4th line gave us the boost we needed.
Robert Kron skated across the Calgary blueline and took a shot that drifted hard and wide. Rather than giving up on the play, Kron showed incredible hustle by beating the Flames defense to the puck as it rebounded off the end boards. He then quickly slid a pass back to Garry Valk who just as quickly went cross ice to Shawn Antoski. While all this was happening, Kron had the good sense to move from the far circle to prime shooting territory in the slot. Tough guy Antoski found him there and Kron drilled it home into the back of the net! It was great to see all three 4th line forwards pick up a point, and after their icebreaking effort we never trailed. The Flames did burn us for a couple powerplay goals, but we hung tough and played our way to a crowd-pleasing 4-2 win. Highlight of the Night Player in the Spotlight: Robert Kron | DGR 65 | G 1 | A 0 | +/- 1 | TOT 9:38 |
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#43 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Good News Bad News
The good news was the team was winning, and ultimately that's job one. The extra practice time paid off as well, as our faceoff percentage climbed significantly to a win rate of almost 60% against the Flames. On the other side of the ledger, in our first 8 games, the Courtnall brothers had only one point between the two of them.
We all loved Rusty's speed, but for whatever reason the Speedy Forward role we had him in just wasn't clicking. So we decided to make some tactical adjustments to try and get the Courtnall line going. Russ was far and away the best skater on our second unit, but rather than have him going solo and leading the rush, we thought it best to try him in a playmaking support role. (At the same time, we gave him the green light to play up-tempo in the hope of triggering some offensive production). |
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#44 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Corporate Sponsors
With all the early season success, the fanbase was feeling energized and their good vibes were having a positive effect on the city. Given the current climate, now seemed like the perfect time to cash in some good will by reaching out to new and existing corporate partners. A call from a popular GM can go a long way, and we were hoping to leverage our current popularity to expand advertising revenue.
A few cold calls later and the reception was good, leading us to believe we'd gauged the situation pretty well. It was always satisfying to bring new corporate sponsors on board, as they were bound to help the bottom line, which usually translates into a more competitive club on the ice. |
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#45 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Blockbuster Trade
On October the 4th 1991, the Edmonton Oilers completed a historic trade sending Mark Messier to the New York Rangers in exchange for Bernie Nicholls, Louie DeBrusk and Steven Rice. While Nicholls was an excellent player in his own right, in this deal Messier was the real prize.
A big, powerful skater who played with a mean streak a mile wide. Messier was a unique player who combined the classic attributes of a power forward with the finesse of a playmaker and a goalscorer's touch. But even greater than that, 'the Moose' was widely regarded as perhaps the best leader in any sport. His leadership ability was so legendary that it promised (all by itself) to make him a sure fire Hall-of-Famer. As we prepared to face the Oilers in a back-to-back series, we didn't mind that Messier had left the conference. The truth is, he'd burned us too many times in the past, so New York was almost far enough away. *[House Rule: To maintain accurate rosters, real life transactions will be completed manually for all teams].* - - - - - - - Week: 3 Last edited by jumpSeat; 05-12-2022 at 06:37 PM. Reason: Added Week Three |
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#46 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Oil Town
It boomed over and over like rolling thunder, yet somehow the skies above Edmonton remained oddly clear. No matter how many times you heard it, you couldn't help wincing every time another player crashed into the boards. It was all becoming painfully clear. The Oilers game plan was to finish every check, hit at every opportunity and try to run us out of their building. It was easily the most physical game of the season, and an important test we had to overcome.
And overcome we did. Though it was tied 2-2 at one point, the guys dug in and toughed it out for the win... The prettiest goal of the night came on a great rush by Pavel Bure. Streaking down the right side, Bure a made fantastic move, stickhandling around Oiler defenseman Dave Manson like he wasn't even there. Having undressed Manson, Bure sped in on goal, and when he saw the other D-man failed to pick up Krutov, he timed it perfectly before sliding the puck over for an easy tap in! Highlight of the Night Most Improved Player: Russ Courtnall | OGR 69 | G 0 | A 2 | TOT 14:30 | 2nd Star |
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#47 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Power Play Adjustments
After the first Edmonton game, our powerplay was sputtering along at only 16% (ranked 15th in the 21 team league). Not only was this lower than we wanted, but even worse, teams were starting to take physical liberties without fear of paying a price on the scoreboard. Being in the middle of a two-games in two-nights series, changes were extremely difficult to make as there was no practice time available.
What we did do was adjust some key personnel: Cam Neely was one of our most effective penalty killers, but until now, we'd been reluctant to saddle him with even more special teams duty. Much like Krutov, 'Bam-Bam' was a load and extremely tough to move from the edge of the crease. So we thought we'd double up our net front presence by slotting Neely into Bure's spot while shifting Pavel back to the point. (Aiming for an extra screen with more tips and garbage goals to get the PP going). Last edited by jumpSeat; 05-14-2022 at 06:10 PM. |
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#48 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Power Play Results
The outcome was far better than we ever imagined. In the back end of the home-and-home series, our powerplay went a stunning 4 for 7. In a single game our conversion rate skyrocketed from 16% all the way to 23%, (moving from 15th to 9th place in the league). As a result, the Oilers weren't nearly as rambunctious as they were in the opener, and with each powerplay goal they surrendered, you could see a little more wind come out of their sails.
Needless to say, we took full advantage to even the score from the first game, outhitting them by a wide margin of 21 to 12. Final score: 6-1. It was a pasting, a pounding, and a clear statement that no one was going to intimidate us in our own building. |
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#49 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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The Old Spaghetti Factory
Later that week, we were working late in the office when we heard Papa Linden was in town to watch his son play. Already starving, we decided to call the hotel and invite him to the Old Spaghetti Factory. The restaurant was one of Gastown's hottest attractions, with great food, a warm ambience and a historic cable car smack dab in the middle. Nice as it was, we were more interested in hearing stories about Trevor as a kid.
Shortly after we finished ordering, the owner came over and gifted us an expensive bottle of wine. The food was delicious and the conversation even better, but the nicest surprise came when the owner wouldn't let us pay the bill. All he asked in return was a signed photo for his wall, which we happily posed for. |
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#50 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Monthly Review
The first month of the season was in the books, so it was time to gather the staff for our monthly budget meeting...
When we first took over the team, one of our top priorities was to try and have sufficient funds available for arena expansion. So far we'd sold out all of our home games, which is wonderful news, nevertheless, to grow and expand our income base, we'd have to add more seats next year. To accomplish this goal, we'd have to continue running things close to the vest while maintaining a keen eye on the bottom line. That meant keeping expenditures for Scouting Support, Team Morale and Game Promotions on the lower end of the positive scale. After much deliberation, we agreed to set Scouting Support to '+1', Team Morale '+3' and Game Promotions to 'No Change' for a total cost of 6 revenue points. - - - - - - - Week: 4 |
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#51 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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October Analytics
Following the budget meeting, we sat down to review detailed reports from the Analytics department. By studying these reports, we were able to dig deep and gain a better understanding of how the club was running by the numbers. For example, weaknesses that had previously gone undetected were now laid bare to the naked eye. As a result, analytics helped us become more aware of areas where we needed to focus.
*[House Rule: To ensure every team ices their best roster, and to avoid some teams being randomly penalized more than others, injuries are disabled].* - - - - - - - Month: 1 |
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#52 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Speed Kills
Brendan Shanahan must have thought he had time and space. As he lugged the puck toward clearing his own zone, Pavel Bure stood stationary on the faceoff dot, watching intently like a cat waiting to pounce. Suddenly Bure darted straight at his prey, arriving quicker than a hiccup, and a startled Shanahan coughed up the puck.
Bure kept the play onside and several moments later, Krutov took a shot from the left circle. The defenseman blocked it, but Krutov showed great quickness to hop on his own rebound before passing it back to Wesley at the point. Without hesitation, Wesley fired a shot to the far side and Larionov was in perfect position to tip it home! Highlight of the Night Player in the Spotlight: Igor Larionov | OGR 82 | G 1 | A 2 | TOT 23:07 | 2nd Star |
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#53 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Down Turn
After a great start to the season, week 5 saw a sudden down turn as we struggled to go 1-1-1. Our unbeaten streak was finally snapped at 15, and more concerning, the Winnipeg Jets seemed to have our number. In two games against the Jets we only managed one out of a possible four points, and we were definitely hurting after they beat us on home ice.
Intensity is a funny thing, it's almost impossible to maintain long term as it tends to ebb and flow much like energy. If you could put it in a bottle, you'd be a Greek god, but for us mere mortals, we have to try manufacturing it as often as we can. All the while realizing it can never be perfect. - - - - - - - Week: 5 |
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#54 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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La La Land
Our one game road trip to L.A. came at an interesting time. After the struggles of Week 5, we needed to bounce back with a win, but we were heading into a very tough building. The Kings were led by none other than Wayne Gretzky, with his league leading 18 goals and 29 points. As we all knew only too well, keeping the 'Great One' off the score-sheet was a very difficult task, nevertheless, it was our job to contain him as much as possible.
During the flight down south, we decided to share a few thoughts with the team... GM/HC: "We all know ups and downs are a normal part of this game. And on this team, we believe adversity doesn't hurt us, it helps us. As we go through hard times, we learn and grow and become better players and better people. Always remember, what happens to us isn't what matters most. What matters most is how we react to it." |
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#55 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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A Date With Gretzky
The showdown with the Kings was a good game featuring lots of flow, and two goals that outshined the rest...
The first saw Pavel Bure dump the puck in, forcing Charlie Huddy behind his goal line to pick it up. Bure pursued to the bottom of the circle, then peeled off back toward the blue line where he intercepted Huddy's pass to Mike Donnelly. With the Kings headed up ice, Bure sped the other way, using Jyrki Lumme as a decoy in the slot, (to freeze the Kings Goalie), then he feathered a pass to Krutov all alone at the far post. Easy tap in! Bure Intercepts Pass The second witnessed a passing clinic by Wayne Gretzky and Tomas Sandstrom. As the two King forwards drove toward our goal, they exchanged a series of quick, pinpoint passes that hypnotized our rearguards. With each successive pass our defenders became a little less steady until Gretzky was finally able to step around Jeff Brown. It was all the opening Wayne needed as he picked the far corner from the edge of the crease. (Some may say Brownie made the mistake of letting him go, but if anyone's to blame, it's us coaches for telling the guys to play a +1 Pressure game). Sandstrom to Gretzky Player in the Spotlight: Cam Neely | DGR 88 | G 1 | SOG 6 | HT 2 | TOT 13:56 |
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#56 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Team Photos
The stands were deathly quiet, but deep inside the bowels of the Pacific Coliseum there was a beehive of activity. A horde of photographers was filing in to take individual player and team photos, so rather than practice we decided to call a maintenance day. A few players were in with the trainers working on stiff joints and sore muscles, while others were just relaxing in hot tubs or clowning around in the dressing room.
As we waited for the photographers to set up, a handful of players suddenly broke into laughter and ran out the far dressing room door. Expecting them to return, a couple of guys (who shall go nameless), laid in wait with a tall bucket of ice water. They waited patiently for revenge until they heard voices and footsteps approaching, and just as the targets were rounding the corner to enter, they unloaded full blast!... What we didn't know was the Owners Father, Frank Griffiths Sr. had decided to attend and pose in some of the team photos. After apologizing and toweling Mr. Griffiths off, we did our best to explain being a Canuck is a high pressure job and the players were just blowing off a little steam. Funny thing, but after that F.G. never showed up unannounced ever again. |
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#57 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Eight Player Deal
We were grading players in the War Room when we heard the news: Pat LaFontaine to Buffalo as part of a whopping eight player trade... The Islanders had called a few weeks back to let us know they were shopping LaFontaine, so we followed up with his agent to see if it was worth putting a package together. The agent told us Pat didn't want to move to the West Coast, so we bowed out gracefully.
LaFontaine was easily one of the greatest American-born players ever, racking up 566 points in 530 games before the trade. Known as a prolific scorer with great vision and an innate ability to break a game open, Pat could add an air of excitement to any team. In addition to Pattie, Buffalo picked up Randy Hillier, Randy Wood and a 1992 4th round pick. The Islanders acquired Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp, Dave McLlwain and 1990 All-Star Pierre Turgeon. On paper, it looked like a good trade for both clubs. |
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#58 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Week Six
Week six saw us back on the winning track as we posted a record of two and one. Obviously the effort was there in the two wins, but even in defeat, we were only down a goal with less than a minute remaining. As a head coach, you ask your players to compete hard, and when they do, you're almost always in the game, and you absolutely know your players have done their job.
In other news of the week, Mark Messier reached a career milestone of 400 goals, while Mario Lemieux topped 900 points at the tender young age of 26. - - - - - - - Week: 6 Last edited by jumpSeat; 05-25-2022 at 06:12 PM. Reason: Format Correction |
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#59 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Cow Town
The next day we flew to Calgary for a game in the Olympic Saddledome. Along for the ride, was our Advance Scout (Brian Burke), who shared a few stories about life on the road that would peel the paint off a hotel ceiling. Once we got down to business, Brian told us the Flames like to play a strong positional game while limiting their offensive risks. 'Deliberate' was the way he summed them up with one word.
What that said to us was we'd have to be patient and carry the puck more, rather than try to pass behind their defense. Calgary played a fairly smothering style, so we might have a hard time finding openings and breaking them down. |
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#60 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 862
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Two Seconds
The game was chippy and Gary Suter was assessed a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. The crowd went wild with disapproval and many remarks were uttered disputing the referee's family lineage. The only happy Calgarian it seemed, was the concessions guy, who's eyes lit up as all the drinks and popcorn hit the ice. Once they cleared the debris, Suter skated over to the penalty box and his butt came to rest on the bench. Little did he know it would only be there for two seconds.
Meanwhile, Igor Larionov lined up against Paul Ranheim for the draw in the Calgary zone. Ranheim won it cleanly and drew the puck back to Jamie Macoun. But before Macoun had a chance to blink, Cam Neely used his size and strength to knock him off the puck. Then, in another split-second move, Neely fired it home past a startled Mike Vernon (who didn't have time to get set). The sad part is, the penalty bench never got a chance to warm up. VIDEO: Two Second Powerplay Player in the Spotlight: Pavel Bure | OGR 100 | G 1 | A 2 | SOG 7 | TK 2 | TOT 22:08 | 2nd Star |
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