Cincy/Houston 4/8/05

Friday, April 8 Mighty Ducks vs. Houston, 7:35 p.m. ET
Radio: WSAI-AM
Internet: 1360homer.com
Announcer: Don Helbig

Grand Rapids won yesterday 7-4 vs. San Antonio...

updated standings going into Friday's games:

Houston 75 37 27 6 5 85
Cincinnati 74 39 30 1 4 83
Grand Rapids 74 39 31 2 2 82

Obviously this game is huge!!!

pregame show:

Cassivi in net...

JORDAN SMITH SIGNED TO ATO!!!

http://www.theahl.com/AHLStatistics0405/transactions.html

Jordan Smith is in the lineup!!! :yo:

2 Smith, Jordan
4 McAlpine, Chris
5 Foster, Kurtis
6 OBrien, Shane
7 Popovic, Mark
8 Brent, Tim
11 Konopka, Zenon
14 Kunitz, Chris
15 Lupul, Joffrey
16 Stepp, Joel
17 Brookbank, Sheldon
18 Holmqvist, Michael
20 Glencross, Curtis
22 Smirnov, Alexei
23 Chistov, Stanislav
24 Penner, Dustin
25 Parenteau, Pierre
29 Hankinson, Casey
30 Cassivi, Frederic

Starters:

O'Brien-Brookbank

Kunitz-Hankinson-Chistov

scratches: Pohanka, Canzanello, Shannon

injured: Malec, Perrault, Rome

*Smirnov only missed 2 games with that shoulder injury and 1 other game was a healthy scratch. He is back in the lineup tonight.

Joffrey pokes in a rebound...

1-0 Cincy!

assists to Konopka, Foster.

Jordan Smith first AHL fight in first AHL game...

at Center Ice...

vs. Bill Kinkel. (6'5 239)

Jordan isn't scared of anybody.

Held his own there occording to Don Helbig.

Ducks are 17-2 this season when Lupul scores a goal.

Chris Kunitz scores!!

2-0 Cincy.

assists to O'Brien and Chistov.

Konopka has got to continue playing with Lupul this duo is on fire!!

Smith is fearless :handclap:

Way to go Smitty.

2-0 Cincy after 2 periods.

3-0 Cincy.

Foster sent a blast to the net.

tipped in front for the goal.

Hankinson with the goal.

assists to Foster, Chistov.

Chistov is having a go...

sounds like he is throwing punches like crazy....

wild swinging of punches landed some good ones on Marius Holtet.

Holtet a 6'0 from Norway...probably didn't know what he was getting into when he dropped them with the smaller Chistov.

5 minutes each for fighting.

Ducks win 3-0.

shutout for Cassivi: 25 saves.

Cincy and Houston are now tied for 3rd in the west division with Cincy having a game in hand.

Houston 76 games 85 points
Cincy 75 games 85 points

Grand Rapids 74 games 82 points

Grand Rapids is winning 2-1 vs Utah after the first period.

They will likely have 84 points in 75 games.

I'm so glad Smith is playing with Cincy now!!!
I missed the game. Did they say what was wrong with Rome?

I'm so glad Smith is playing with Cincy now!!!
I missed the game. Did they say what was wrong with Rome?

I only heard them say that Perrault, Malec and Rome were out with injuries.

Never heard any details on Rome's injury.

Thank god the youngsters have found a place and a means of learning to win. The culture of losing that surrounds the Pond is hell on development.

I'm extremely pleased with the Smith pick last year, can't wait to see him as our 3-4th d-man in the next years.

Saunders, Smith, O'Brien!

I haven't been this excited about our D since...well, ever.

Saunders, Smith, O'Brien!

I haven't been this excited about our D since...well, ever.

Those guys plus what we already have should make for a pretty good defense corps, but the one thing we're still missing is a dominant #1 guy. And none of our prospects really projects to be that kind of player.

Between that and future scoring line center, we still have two major holes to fill. OTOH, it wasn't that long ago when we needed depth at literally every position, so things are definitely looking up.

Between that and future scoring line center, we still have two major holes to fill.

Ummm Getzlaf...?

mmbt, if you don't consider Getzlaf first line material, Crosby and Brule aside, we have to wait till 2006 then.

My thinking is that even if Getzlaf pans out, you need two scoring line centers to be a really good team. And since Fedorov and Rucchin aren't exactly youngsters, that means that even counting Getzlaf we still need a little more depth up the middle.

My thinking is that even if Getzlaf pans out, you need two scoring line centers to be a really good team. And since Fedorov and Rucchin aren't exactly youngsters, that means that even counting Getzlaf we still need a little more depth up the middle.

Well, we do have Pahlsson... :biglaugh:

Well, we do have Pahlsson... :biglaugh:



Dont you remeber that one time 3 yrs ago when Pahlson threw a check?
What about 3 yrs ago when he won a faceoff against Lindros?
1st line center!

Saunders, Smith, O'Brien!

I haven't been this excited about our D since...well, ever.


Its shaping up great the way i see the future D is

Vish/#1 dman
Smith/Rome
O'Brien/Saunders/Popvic Maybe the Ducks should play 7 Dman in games

Its shaping up great the way i see the future D is

Vish/#1 dman
Smith/Rome
O'Brien/Saunders/Popvic Maybe the Ducks should play 7 Dman in games

Screw Rome and put Smid paired up with Vish. Popo and Smith together, then Saunders and O'Brien as third pairing, watch out guys :yo:

Screw Rome and put Smid paired up with Vish. Popo and Smith together, then Saunders and O'Brien as third pairing, watch out guys :yo:


Your right about Smid but i think rome is better then Popo offensively and also more physical

Don't forget about Skoula. He's still only 25 years old, and while he's not the superstar Avs homers said he'd be, he's not chopped liver either.

Its shaping up great the way i see the future D is

Vish/#1 dman
Smith/Rome
O'Brien/Saunders/Popvic Maybe the Ducks should play 7 Dman in games
What about Foster in there too? He's been playing good in Cincinnati this year, 2nd in +/- and 5th in goals.

Your right about Smid but i think rome is better then Popo offensively and also more physical

Rome is for sure more physical than Popo but now way he is better offensively. Popo plays also a more mature game, I think he will become a great second pairing guy.

Dont you remeber that one time 3 yrs ago when Pahlson threw a check?
What about 3 yrs ago when he won a faceoff against Lindros?
1st line center!

Have you guys ever even watched Pahlsson? His PK and defensive skills are awesome. If he improves his offense, he'll be a very scary player.

Also, for the defense, this is what the future looks like:


Smid-Staal(I expect we draft Staal, as he should be available when we pick)
Skoula-Visknevski
Popovic-Smith

Foster, Malec, O'Brien, Rome, Saunders, whoever else we have.


The future looks good.

Your right about Smid but i think rome is better then Popo offensively and also more physical

Popovic is better offensively than Rome. Rome is a stay at home D-Man, Popovic is a two way D-Man.

Rome is more physical and more willing to fight, Popovic initiates contact as well though and started a line brawl at one of the games at the Pond. Popovic also is willing to come to the aid of his teammates like Rome does. Popovic leads Cincy in +/-.

I would say Popovic has a far better chance of playing on a second pairing in the NHL than Rome does.

Have you guys ever even watched Pahlsson? His PK and defensive skills are awesome. If he improves his offense, he'll be a very scary player.

Also, for the defense, this is what the future looks like:


Smid-Staal(I expect we draft Staal, as he should be available when we pick)
Skoula-Visknevski
Popovic-Smith

Foster, Malec, O'Brien, Rome, Saunders, whoever else we have.


The future looks good.

Looks good to me...I'd keep Saunders as the 7th D-man...then if Vish decides to go back to hitting like he used to put Saunders in the lineup and Vish will have a bodyguard with him.

Malec I have no expectations for anymore.

Foster could go either way. Maybe 50-50 at this point as to whether he will make an impact in the NHL.

O'Brien I like a lot, hopefully we can fit him into the third pair in the next couple of years somehow.

Rome seems more like a fill in guy for now, but if he keeps improving who knows.

Lots of defensive depth no matter how you slice it. Id like to see a big time tough powerforward drafted instead of a dman. We have enough scorers Chistov,Lupul,Getz,Perry its time for a Shanny type prospect in the mix. The future looks amazing for this team. Hopefully a name change as well :jump:

Staal to me would be available even in the mid first round. As dirk stated why not go for a power forward type player... like Latendresse? With Ryan and Pouliot already out, I think he will be available at 9th and could be a steal, he was rated third in many lists not long ago.

Staal to me would be available even in the mid first round. As dirk stated why not go for a power forward type player... like Latendresse? With Ryan and Pouliot already out, I think he will be available at 9th and could be a steal, he was rated third in many lists not long ago.

Latendresse, Ryan, Pouliot, and the big two will be gone by #9. Heck, they could all be gone by 7th overall. Unless we get in the top 5, where we could get Ryan, Pouliot or Jack Johnson, or even Latendresse, Staal is likely the best pick available IMO.

Latendresse, Ryan, Pouliot, and the big two will be gone by #9. Heck, they could all be gone by 7th overall. Unless we get in the top 5, where we could get Ryan, Pouliot or Jack Johnson, or even Latendresse, Staal is likely the best pick available IMO.

agreed.

Latendresse, Ryan, Pouliot, and the big two will be gone by #9. Heck, they could all be gone by 7th overall. Unless we get in the top 5, where we could get Ryan, Pouliot or Jack Johnson, or even Latendresse, Staal is likely the best pick available IMO.


Staal imo is highly overated. Latendresse should be available. Also another thing to look at is trading Neids to NJ for Voros or one of their powerforward prospects.its clear that this team is missing that gritty tough aspect up front. The D is set, The scorers and goaltending is complete. This would be an awesome lineup in 2-3 yrs.
Chistov/Getzlaf/Perry
Lupul/Konopka/powerforward
Penner/Holmquist/veteran
Enforcer/Pahlson or equivlent/Veteran

Stop putting Chistov as first line. I also say that if Pahlsson had offensive skills, he'd be #1 material easy.

Staal imo is highly overated. Latendresse should be available. Also another thing to look at is trading Neids to NJ for Voros or one of their powerforward prospects.its clear that this team is missing that gritty tough aspect up front. The D is set, The scorers and goaltending is complete. This would be an awesome lineup in 2-3 yrs.
Chistov/Getzlaf/Perry
Lupul/Konopka/powerforward
Penner/Holmquist/veteran
Enforcer/Pahlson or equivlent/Veteran

Why put two playmakers on line 1? Lupul is also better than either. Konopka is also not 2nd line material, and you forgot Brent.

On Staal/Latendresse, Latendresse should easily go early(maybe before Pouliot), and regarding Staal, he ain't overrated. Scouts say he'll be better than Eric, and I'd give my eye teeth for Eric Staal. Also considering we could use a future top d-man, Staal makes sense.

He was barely regarded as a first round before the draft. He really reminds me of another d-man last year, who wasn't highly regarded, but was picked pretty high, and the team that took him looks real good for doing so. I'm talking about our #2 prospect, Ladislav Smid.

Why put two playmakers on line 1? Lupul is also better than either. Konopka is also not 2nd line material, and you forgot Brent.

On Staal/Latendresse, Latendresse should easily go early(maybe before Pouliot), and regarding Staal, he ain't overrated. Scouts say he'll be better than Eric, and I'd give my eye teeth for Eric Staal. Also considering we could use a future top d-man, Staal makes sense.

He was barely regarded as a first round before the draft. He really reminds me of another d-man last year, who wasn't highly regarded, but was picked pretty high, and the team that took him looks real good for doing so. I'm talking about our #2 prospect, Ladislav Smid.


Because both are scorers and have a sniper like Chistov. Also Getz and Perry are very different players
As for Konopka him and Lupul have chemistry and you dont need all superstars on line 2 Konopka is similar to Tucker and dont underestimate him as 4th line material he is Cincys 2nd best player.
Brent= Pahlson or equivelant

Stop putting Chistov as first line. I also say that if Pahlsson had offensive skills, he'd be #1 material easy.



:biglaugh: wtf Pahlsonn hahahahaha
Chistov easily could become a 1st liner

Because both are scorers and have a sniper like Chistov. Also Getz and Perry are very different players
As for Konopka him and Lupul have chemistry and you dont need all superstars on line 2 Konopka is similar to Tucker and dont underestimate him as 4th line material he is Cincys 2nd best player.
Brent= Pahlson or equivelant

Chistov=playmaker
Perry=playmaker


What's the point of putting two playmakers on the same line? I'd much rather have Perry, Getzlaf and Lupul on one line, and then put Chistov with two others on another line. Hopefully we just tank the 2006 season and get Kessell, to go with the 2005 second rounder or Kunitz or someone like that and Kessell with Chistov. Those would be two amazing future scoring lines.

Stop putting Chistov as first line. I also say that if Pahlsson had offensive skills, he'd be #1 material easy.

Well the fact is that his offensive skills are close to zero and the chances of him developing offensive skills at 28y is also practically zero.

He's 4th line material.

I know... :cry: