So I'm watching the BC Lions lose quarter back after quarter back to injury this year...
It gets so bad in the game yesterday against the RoughRiders that I have to laugh as I watch a defensive back for the Lions go down with injury after returning a pick for a touchdown while untouched....
Then I tune into the Nucks game against the Leafs to watch a team decimated with injuries play rope a dope against an inspired Leafs team trying like heck to get a win potentially lose another 2 players as Edler misses shifts because of a shoulder problem and Wellwood takes one on the toe and is waiting to learn if it is broken...
So I ask, do the Hockey Gods and the CFL Gods get together and pick a team to pick on?...
How else do you explain so many injuries on these 2 teams?...
The Canucks haven't even travelled yet, I can't wait to see how many more the Gods will take out while they are on that crazy 14 game road trip...
Take care Lions and Canucks, please take care....
Posted on 10/25 6:14 AM | IP: 99.199.174.104
From the Leafs perspective I see them loose a game against Vancouver when they could have just as easily of won. I have to give the team an "A" for effort in that game. I believe 10 minutes in a row of penalities being called against the Leafs in the first period was a little offside but that is hockey.
The hockey god is frowning on the Leafs right now as the team is now winless in 8 games. Funny thing is they could have easily won 3-4 games inspite of bad goaltending. You know it is bad when I have to take solice in the fact that Toronto at least was in the game until the very end and there third string goalie played decent. I thought that Raymond played a great game for Vancouver as did Luongo. I thought that Henrik was pretty invisible for the most part and looks to be missing his brother.
It used to be I wonder if the Leafs will win a cup in my lifetime. Now it is whether or not they will another game!
The funny thing with the Hockey God is that things do turn around. Maybe not next week but sometime in the future. Sometimes you notice when you are catching all the lucky breaks but sometimes you dont. You always notice when all the breaks are going against you and there in lies the difference
Posted on 10/25 9:28 AM | IP: 76.75.95.232
...an Argo fan Rikster!! They have NO excuses for sucking like they do. Do you think the Lions keep Printers in, or do they put a banged up Pierce back in?
Posted on 10/25 9:56 PM | IP: 67.220.40.140
I'm thinking they go with Printers....
Pierce is at the point where even a harmless looking hit causes injury, and I think the Lions have seen this movie once too often with the Dickenson years and the troubles he had staying healthy...
The Lions have two good, young quarter backs in their system to play behind Printers, so I would expect both Jackson and Pierce to be gone ...
Take care...
Posted on 10/26 8:43 AM | IP: 99.199.174.104
Seems to be that struggling teams have to have a string of a few games where they deserved a better fate before the wins come...
I was optimistic about the Leafs forwards from what I saw in the pre season, but since the games have been played for points they have done a 180...
They look like a team who will get its points from teams who fall into that trap of looking beyond the Leafs, fail to show up, and get seriously outworked...
Might have been Sedins worst hockey game in a very long time, he played much better against the Oilers last night..
Take care...
Posted on 10/26 8:56 AM | IP: 99.199.174.104
I agree about the pre-season.....
Pre-season Leafs had better goaltending. Monster has been hurt except for one game and let in 2 goals. He is back tonight will help.
Pre-season Leafs had Bozak, Stalberg, Hanson, Kadri, Garnersson (sp?) in the line up pretty regularly. At the start of the season they went with Stalberg only as making the team and he got injured a little while ago. To me this was a big mistake they at the very least should have let the rookies start for the first 9 games as they earned a spot based on there camp. Sends a horrible message to the veterans that you can be out played but your job is still safe......and then to start the season with the team after a so so camp is disgraceful and Im still in shock over it.
Posted on 10/26 9:57 AM | IP: 76.75.95.232
If I'm Wilson I give Monster the ball and let him run with it - there will be growing pains with a young goalie but you need to find out what you have.
You already know you have a below average tender in Toskala, and a career AHler/backup in MacDonald. Give Monster a bunch of starts in a row and see how he responds.
Against the Nucks the Leafs seemed to get back to the way they need to play - be a hard team to play against and outwork the opposition. They played better than Vancouver except for Luongo (and Mason Raymond) but that's why Luongo is Vancouver's highest paid player.
I fully agree that it's a big problem to guarantee guys spots on the roster with average training camps - Gillis is doing the exact opposite in Vancouver and it seems to be working. Wellwood was much better than Hodgson in camp so he got the 3rd line center spot, Grabner had a bad camp so he was sent down, Shirokov had a good one so he was kept up. Raycroft also beat out Schneider for the backup job. You have to keep your players honest and hungry - keep those who deserve to be there based on their play.
Posted on 10/26 1:23 PM | IP: 203.18.176.243
Much as I agree with your assessment Rikster, I think Buono has shown that if a player is healthy, he doesn't lose his roster spot or position in the pecking order through an injury. If Pierce is healthy, he will get the start. I am concerned about Angus Reid being out for the rest of the season. Replacing a centre this late in the season doesn't sound like much but if the defensive linemen get free access, it won't matter who is playing quarterback. Printers' mobility and Reid's loss could very well negate my prediction.
Next year will be interesting. The other thing Buono has shown is that he isn't hesitant to cut a veteran when he feels their time has come. That leads me to believe that the three young quarterbacks will be the trio he keeps rather than both Pierce and Jackson, the former through his injury history and the latter through his age. It is sad that neither Pierce nor Jackson got much respect from the fans in Vancouver. They've served The Lions well but they didn't meet expectations and that will cost them in the Spring.
It is also going to be interesting to see what the conditions are like in the new temporary stadium The Lions will be playing in for the next two seasons while B.C. Place undergoes that major renovation. I am most concerned about field conditions as something that is thrown together like that could result in more injuries than usual.
Posted on 10/26 6:59 PM | IP: 24.71.45.246
Hi again Rikster,
Buono confirmed that Printers would start. The Lions were concerned about having a date on Halloween that they couldn't change and they felt they needed Printers to try and build as big a crowd as possible. He will get First Team Reps at practice again which should help.
Posted on 10/26 9:10 PM | IP: 24.71.45.246
to many GM's get wrapped up into the thoughts of "what the want" vs. "what the have" I think that the Leafs brass played the crap out of the youngsters in the preason and they performed quite well which is good for the future. However the hear and now sucks. I thought that the decision between Wellwood and Hodgson was an easy one with Hodgson hurt. Bozak on the other hand should have had Mitchell's job but Mitchell is a coach favourite.
Posted on 10/27 6:56 AM | IP: 76.75.95.232
Hi Sir ...
I think Lulay and Printers are the quarter backs of the future in BC so not surprising...
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