So Who's going to the Pirates Opener tonight?

I'll be there right behind the P's bench, section w, row 8.

I'll be there right behind the P's bench, section w, row 8.

I won't be there, but if they don't play hard, you bark at the bench Beez for those of us not there :handclap:

Make sure to give us some feedback on the team...Yonkman, Cutta and Fussey especially.

I won't be there, but if they don't play hard, you bark at the bench Beez for those of us not there :handclap:


that's the guy in JR's section's job....last year during one of those deafening silences, someone across the ice gave some clear and conicise "feedback" to the coach and his players....laughed my butt off after that one.

I think that was JR. Could be wrong.

I think that was JR. Could be wrong.

Sorry you missed my email KB. Let me know if you are around next weekend.

And yes SportJunkie I take the credit for the "show some heart" article Steve Salloway wrote at the end of last season. Get me fired up and I can be loud. ;) It was the playoffs too.

I thought that Portland finally played as a team last night but it’s scary after going 3-1 in preseason it took five games to get 2 points. There's way too much talent both upfront and on the D to go 1-4.

Here are the basic lines:

Ciernik-Whitfield (c)-Forbes (a)
Pellerin-Parsons-Verot
Fussey (Tvrdon)-Ulmer-Mink (a)
Stroshein dressed but saw maybe 2-3 shifts

Cutta-Fortin
Berry-Hajt
Zinger-Pudlick

Angelstad, Libby, Methot, and Podkonicky were all scratched;

I feel bad for Angelstad that Pellerin Parsons and Verot started to clique. Verot played much better and I think really needs a good two way forward like Pellerin to balance out that line instead of Mel. Verot had a great breakaway in the 1st set up by Pellerin but he couldn't quite convert.

And it was nice to see Army is letting Zinger and Mink drop the gloves. Berry while not the great overall D-man played a very gritty game and if he stays in Portland will be an instant fan favorite. I don’t see a big need to have Mel or Garrett in the line up but Stroshein is the only other non-vet that Army can dress. Where are all the prospects? ;) (rhetorical ;) )

I do wish that the P's/Caps could've found a college/overage junior to fill Stroshein's shoes. Especially if Army is letting “regulars” drop the gloves. If these guys are fighting while Garrett is getting 1-2 mines a night it would be nice to see Army/Simpson move Garrett to get him some real ice time and get the P’s a kid into the lineup.

Ciernik-Whitfield-Forbes played well together but Ciernik needs to take a hit and play a little D. Ciernik is so soft and he will drag down the great two way efforts of Whitfield and Forbes. To watch Ciernik you'd think checking/getting checked was a mortal sin.

Fortin while he set up the winning goal needs to keep his feet moving and stop yelling to Cutta to “wheel”. I know by the second period I got tired of watching Cutta cover his ass while he yelled at Cutta to move it. Kind of ironic. ;) He did play a better game and maybe with him it's just ice time. Army used him a lot more in offensive spots tonight.

Cutta played well and held back to cover the odd man rushes that resulted from Fortin's roaming a little too far into the O-end. Gotta give Cutta some credit he’s played all five games and while the P’s were out scored 13-6 in those five games he comes away even on the +/-. Mink is the only other player to get into all 5 and have an even +/-. Yonkman was +1 in his three (not bad when you consider the P’s lost all of them ;) ).

Well enough for tonight...

Add Yonkman back to the line up. I have no idea who sits on D. The six already listed make a solid AHL defense. Maybe Army dresses 7 D and sits Stroshein.