Archive for November, 2006

28
Nov

Haha

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

That was entertaining, the fans at least. The game was pretty lop sided, but just like the playoffs, Dwayne Roloson keeps his team in the game. That must have been absolutely heartbreaking for everyone in Rexall to watch Kunitz rip the soul out of the building. It makes me laugh inside a little. I am happy it happened this way, hopefully the Oilers can go on a losing streak. I don’t like that team at all, especially the fans. They were the darlings of hockey last year, they sang during the Canadian national anthem, they exploded after they beat Detroit. Now they want to burn Pronger jerseys and string the man up.

You guys deserved this loss because you simply did, as asshole fans. Paul Kariya back stabbed Anaheim, oh well, we moved on and got better. The Oilers got some great talent in the trade, Ladislav Smid held his own on the ice, he even pushed around Dustin Penner, in a fashion you don’t see Penner handled too often. Lupul will come around and so will your fucking draft picks. This trade completed the Ducks, last year the Oilers just got lucky. The Ducks will win now and if you draft right, you will win when his deal is over. I am too upset and too laughed out to keep going, Edmonton showed its classlessness, especially when Pronger was leaving the ice and had to duck because people were throwing shit at him. He should have pulled a Ron Artest and climbed into the stands, low class move Edmonton.

Now I can’t wait until January 18th, 2007, the Ducks get to stroll into Edmonton again, to pretty much kick the Oilers around again. Ugh, hooligans…

26
Nov

Coming Back Around

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

I found this picture while browsing around (provided by the LA Times), it is Chris Kunitz getting a good lick on one of the Devils players, I want to say Scott Gomez, but I am not sure. Chris Kunitz is a wonderful player, Todd Marchant with more touch and a little less bite. He stood up for McDonald last game, he scores goals, he makes things happen. What another brilliant steal by the Ducks scouts, our forwards come cheap, play hard and put up great numbers.

 

This team sure did bounce back from it mini struggle. Dominating the Sharks, beating the Devils and playing well in front of a green goalie in a win over the Flames. Calgary was nice enough to not throw in Mikka Kiprusoff, apparently playing almost the entire season makes you tired. So it was the battle of some fresh meat, both Michael Wall and Jamie McLennan looked small in net, but Wall really did have more composer and better sense of the game.

Give Calgary credit though, they didn’t back down, they didn’t let Anaheim intimidate them. The Parros vs McCarty fight was another joke though, why is this guy still on the roster? Seeing Perry scrap with Chuck Kobasew was more entertaining, until Perry got caught by that short jab, I hope to find a picture of that, his facial expression was priceless. Calgary played very physical though, they stepped it up, just didn’t score enough. If they had Kiprusoff in net, it would have been an easy win for Calgary, he is lights out.

How about the game in New Jersey? That was a good hockey game, a very tactical but up tempo game, it was entertaining to watch. I wish I had a huge TV and HD quality picture for games like that. I hope the league played like that, strategic yet open, what an awesome game flow.

But who really cares about all those other games that have already been played, everyone has circled this Tuesday as the biggest game on the Ducks schedule thus far. We already embarrassed the Oilers in Anaheim, lets see if the overzealous crowd at Rexall Place can push the Oilers over the hill. I honestly do not think that the Oilers will have much of a chance, every single player on the Ducks will be up for this one, the hatred fueled booing will not dent their determination one bit, it will only help it grow. Edmonton will have this problem all year against the Ducks, they will be a thorn to Edmonton.

23
Nov

Neglecting the Blog…Upcomming

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Blog

I have been quite lazy lately, in everything I do, but especially here. I am going to do some style changing soon, to make things a little more readable, not the layout. I love the way the structure of this blog, the colors contrast very well and the reading is easy, except for the actual literature, that could use some work. Some of the navigation will change a little, like adding the RSS feed, who forgets to have that?

Anyways, I have something that I am still working on in another form, but very Ducks related. No one else has this, I can guarentee you that. A Ducks fan-centric base of people is who it will serve, with the community being the driving force. It looks visually appealing already, matching the look of my blog perfectly. I have to learn how to use it a little more and then document how to do this and that so everyone else can add to it. It is gonna be bitchin…

One of my biggest hurrddles is to integrate the 2 or maybe 3 different products together with one authentication method. So you sign up once and you can have access to interact on all three platforms, I think I have the medicine…

While looking for an update to WordPress, I found this. Similar to how all the blogging services work, but it could be handled by individuals, without advertising. I would love to create an online Ducks community.

23
Nov

Google Video Update

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Hockey and Misc

Google is doing a lot better with its NHL games, it is actually posting games in a Teemu Selanne - 500th Goalrelatively good time after the game was played. On Tuesday they posted the game against Phoenix, much faster then the week or two it took when they first started posting. The video quality is not too bad either, but should never be watched on anything other then a computer monitor.

 

YouTube has also joined the fray, but since Google owns them, I just say Google. This page is basically filled with game highlights, player/coach interviews, weekly league highlight packages (goals, hits, saves). I haven’t seen any interviews or locker room stuff, but I am sure it is comming.

Really what it looks like is going on is the NHL has taken its video highlights that it posts on every game and also gives it to YouTube. YouTube throws advertisements via Google AdSense, surfers randomly click on links and Google gets a check, then Google gives the NHL as cut. Pretty smart, the NHL doesn’t have to do much, YouTube even takes the bandwidth costs.

Next is the streaming of live games in decent quality, I would actually pay for that. Plus I would want the game to be downloadable as well, within an hour or two after the final whistle blew. It should also be streamable to mobile devices, like my phone. If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, this would be so cool to do. But I would love to be able to download it for later viewing if I wont be home. I bought a Zune the day it came out and I put the Fedoruk - Boogard fight on it, it looked good. As a last ditch effort, I wouldn’t mind watching the game on it.

Keep up the good work Google, you guys fucking rock the boat. So check out full NHL games on Google Video, even have some classics…The official YouTube page for the NHL partnership is here.

22
Nov

Game 1…

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

Just like this game should have been treated, game one of eight during the regular season. They thoroughly showed the depth they had on the defensive side of the puck could match and exceed San Jose’s much touted team. I think San Jose might need to make some adjustments, small roster move, maybe. Maybe Cheechoo not being in the lineup hurt, but not that much. It would have been a lower score, that is about it. My favorite part of the game was probably the fight between “The Sherrif” Scott Parker and Scott “Sabbath” Parros, it was so epic for the good Ducks fans, the ones who know who Parros hasn’t fought yet. That was corny…

The two teams basically felt themselves out and tried to not make the first mistake. Nabakov was great in the beginning of the game, then the goals just came in a little faster, the Ducks were getting the bounces. Giguere played well, but didn’t really have too many great saves, that slight tip on the 5-on-3 was good though. But a relatively easy game for the Ducks goalie, should have started David McKee, total insult. I bet the Sharks would have kicked our ass if we did that, haha.

I am glad that the Ducks made the statement they needed to make, they really silenced doubters with a pretty bad beating. It was a great game for the Ducks, the Sharks will simply go back and retool, they need some more defense. Then I read something on ESPN.com about the Sharks trying to grab Jovanovski from Phoenix. That would hurt, they could for sure hang with us then, that would be a great 7 game series. Phoenix said no of course, calling him a plan for the future. I would entertain that deal, that is what they needed, that and Cheechoo.

21
Nov

Enforcers on the Way Out?

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

 …So says George Laraque in this headline over at TSN.ca. I think he is right, but also believe that what Derek Boogard and Chris Simon say are dead on. Enforcers need to step and play hockey too, not just be a spot on the bechn taking up valuable point possibilities.

See Uncle Rico to the left…Bring back Shawn Thornton, that guy added a great energy! We could add Travis Green to the lineup or add a player like Stanislov Chistov back. Think he would play better with Getzlaf and Perry? This guy is a goon, I hope he is a healthy scratch for most of the games. He is only in his second season, I am not sure that is long enough to be an elite enforcer in this league, especially the ones that can’t “go both ways”.

20
Nov

Whew…

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

Well that was a little too close for comfort. Accolades to Phoenix for playing a good game, they kept the pressure on the Ducks and forced a lot of bad plays on Anaheim’s part. I was pulling for McDonald to get that hat trick and Kunitz storms in and stole the show. It sure is a far cry from being sent down, picked up, released and picked up again by the Ducks. Shows you what an oppotunity can lead to I guess.

As for the entire game, the Ducks were absolutly hopeless and are lucky to come out  with points. I was sitting at a perfect angle for the Coyotes first goal, no screen, no over powering shot, J.S. simply let it in. All the goals the Ducks let in were breakdowns in the defensive end, except that one. I have noticed that even with Pronger and Niedermayer, the team is still not as good as it should be defending its net. O’Donnell has played 100% better the last month then he did in the early part of the season. O’Brien and DiPenta are playing great together, they don’t give up bad chances. Beauchemin takes some risks when he pinches to keep a puck alive or deliver a hit, similar to Vitaly Vishnevski, but he brings the offense so it’s ok.

The Ducks have San Jose comming to town on Tuesday, have they been looking on the calendar for the last three games, circling this game? They left three points on the table, against teams they had to beat, from a superior point of view. I hope they step it up for San Jose and show them who they really are.

Also, George Parros, ugh. He looks like a member of Black Sabbath and plays hockey like I suspect they would too. His second penalty was kind of crap, whoever he tripped stepped on the blade of his stick. But his 7 shifts for a total of 3:53 was a waste of bench space. Travis Green was skating during warm up and was scratched at game time, he should have played. Phoenix has no big enforcers, the rest of the Ducks lineup was up to the task of handling whoever. I can’t believe we gave up anything for this guy, he is such a vintage 70’s goon…

19
Nov

Reverse Roles

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Ducks and Hockey

Reading the articles in the LA Times and OC Register the last couple days, I notice a little less confidence in the team, they are talking all the talk anymore. Rightfully so, they have sucked. When they played Philly, they had them by the balls in the 2nd period, I honestly thought they were going to come back in that game. The Flyers looked just as shocked as the Ducks did that they scored that many goals, a kind of ‘Oh my god, what do we do now?’ attitude. They just let the Ducks take shots, poor goalie. They collected themselves in the 3rd and managed to put the nail in the coffen.

Then the other night against Chicago…

That was a sad game, they pretty much dominated and figured that Chicago would go away. They obviously didn’t and once you get Anahaim to a shootout, you know they wont beat you. I bet that is the philosiphy of teams now, get them to over time and shut them down, get to the shootout. Need more goals on 11 power plays though, that is a no brainer.

I got club seats for tonights game against Phoenix, can’t wait. This game is just in time, we need to dominate someone quick and no one better then Phoenix. I know Gretzky hates seeing this team, since we kick their teeth in every time. Then San Jose, our real rival this year. Pronger and O’Donnel with our checking line against Thornton and Cheecho. Pronger nullifies Thornton and Sammy takes care of Cheecho. It should be a slide for the Ducks…lets hope so.

16
Nov

Got Me a Zune!

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Misc

So I became a Microsoft fanboy on Tuesday and bought myself a Zune. Amongst all the criticism, all the bashing from people in the media and the trolls on the internet. I wanted an MP3 player plain and simple. I have never owned an iPod, my girlfriend has and I was unimpressed. It was a 2G Mini for all those that have to know which version, so you can defend Apple. I didn’t want what everyone else had, I saw some of the videos from the Zune team and it looked good. I walked my ass over to Target at lunch, picked one up and even got a $25 gift card.

I am just going to be honest throughout this whole thing, because that is all I can be. I am not biased towards Microsoft, though I do enjoy its operating systems, its network management tools and this is even being posted via LiveWriter. I will just run down some good and bad points. Here we go…

The Bad

  • The Zune Software - Why do I need to install more software? WMP 11 was just released, why not make that the Zune software interface? The Zune software isn’t all that bad, but I hate having more crap to install. It is visually pleasing to look at and simple to get around. I wish it managed the Zune a little better though, it seems like it only syncs files to it. I wanted it to let me configure other aspects of the Zune, maybe not available in the players interface.
  • Album Art - I have too many god damn MP3’s, though they are organized very well and tagged properly, I don’t have the album art for about 95% of the albums. I was hoping it would be easier to import that from within the Zune software. I tried it on a few albums and it seemed like it was hit or miss. Sometimes it wanted to re-tag every file in the album, other times it would just update the album art. I was hoping for an option to just grab the cover, doesn’t work like that.
  • Lack of Options - The device lacks options. That was my very first thought after I turned it on. I wanted some more cinfiguration options on it. I figure they can add more stuff to it when updated firmware releases come out.
  • Size - Though it doesn’t really bother me, it is kind of big. The person I went to Target with to grab thie Zune said it looked like a brick. This comming from someone who had a picture iPod. Now if I am not mistaken, the Zune is 0.2 ounces heavier and just slightly taller and thicker then the iPod. So, is it really that much bigger? No. I put this here because I am having trouble thinking of bad things to say about it.
  • The Packaging - The giveaway carrying case and headphones are absolutely useless. I couldn’t put my Zune in the case without working at it. The headphones…are still in the little sleve they came in. I knew they were useless right away, like all headphones that come with music devices. The manual was absurd, might as well been in Spanish.

The Good

  • The Interface - This thing looks very pretty. I will admit it isn’t perfect, but compared to any of the similar devices, it wins in my book. The screen is crisp, the pictures look nice and big, the videos look great and the album art adds a nice touch. For the iPod lovers, the lack of the turn-wheel will be a shock, but I think it is just as intuitive.
  • Wifi - While I think it is rather stupid how Microsoft is touting to use the wifi, looking beyond that makes it a wonderful addition. So when someone mods the firmware and strips the 3 day/3 use limit, everyone will love this thing. Hopefully someone can add some Divx support as well, people are just to blind to see the usefulness of this.
  • Personalization - Really what I mean is the ability to designate your own background picture. I know it really isn’t that amazing, but I absolutely love when I turn my Zune on and see a picture of the Anaheim Ducks’ ice surface, mid game. When I showed my friend the Zune after I played with it for a while, his first reaction was ‘Whoa’. He was talking about the picture.
  • The Look and Feel - The screen is nice and big, the picture looks crisp and the colors are awesome. The anti-glare actually works too. My hands feel good around it, the buttons are placed well. The top layer of smoked plastic looks good too. It also feels really solid, you aren’t scared to be too careful with it, like it would brea or anything.
  • It Works! - I haven’t had a single problem with this thing yet. The worst experience I have had is the album art and I will figure that out in do time so I don’t have to work too much at it.
13
Nov

No One is Safe

By Daniel Closed
Categories: Articles and Hockey

According to this article, the Ducks have traded away Stanislov Chistov and Todd Fedoruk. Chistov to Boston for a third round draft pick in 2008 and Fedoruk to Philadelphia for a fourth round pick in the 2007 draft. On the side of actually acquiring a flesh and blood player, they picked up George Parros from Colorado. That article has all three stories in it, so click it if you want to see the details.

Parros obviously replaces Fedoruk, he is 6′5″, 232lbs. You can see his resume here and here (he fights Fedoruk…), he looks like he can handle the job. He is about 3″ taller then Fedoruk, but a little lighter, hopefully it works out. Travis Moen, Sean O’Donnell, Shawn Thornton and Shane O’Brien are probably happy, it is the big guy the team has been missing since Fedoruk was injured.

I for one will miss Todd, he had an offensive drive this year, creating some chances, banging pucks loose, standing up for his teammates. He was a good personality and I am sad he is gone, one of the people I enjoyed watching on the ice. Same with Stan, I liked him, he has some definite skills that were untapped in Anaheim, except that whole 2003 playoff run.

I think it goes to show that no one is safe and Brian Burke doesn’t really fuck around, he holds no favorites. If he sees a deficiency, he plugs it up. This team has good depth up front, Travis Green and Chistov sat forever. It took an injury to Kunitz before Green could break into the lineup. You really can’t sit anyone else when he is able to return to the lineup either. Thornton is playing his ass off, Moen found his niche on that awesome checking line. The only player I can think of that might be able to move down is Ryan Shannon, I bet he is sweating in his boots while Kunitz is out. Green can for sure beat 2-2=4 and a +/- -3.

Then again, I think you would have to scratch him, no doubt someone picks him up on waivers if they try to ship him to Portland. Good thing we don’t have to face Fedoruk on Wednesday, that would break my heart.

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