Stormin Norman Rumack

The Atlanta Thrashers Associate General Manager discussed the Team Canada roster exclusively with latenightvampire.com, just after it was announced this afternoon. He thought the toughest decisions for Steve Yzerman and the hierarchy were the omissions of Martin St.Louis,  Brad Richards, and Steve Stamkos. There are several players who Dudley is as familiar with, as anyone working in the National Hockey league.  Dudley was with the Lightning when Dan Boyle was on their blue line as a Stanley Cup winner, and recalled how assistant coach Craig Ramsey, now in the same role with the Boston Bruins, worked with him in developing Boyle’s defensive game. Dudley, the former Sabres power forward, is particularly keen on Dan Boyle’s character attributes. Specifically, he admires the Ottawa native’s desire to be “the guy” in pressure situations. He says the Sharks defenseman wants to have the puck when everything is on the line, and responds very well when the heat is on.  Dudley says that Boyle always had the “jam” in his...

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It’s tremendous for hockey in this country, that Canada has been a gold medal contender since the inception of the World Junior Tournament.  Even though there are some years when the color may change to silver or bronze, the point is that Canada always has the potential to be considered a gold medal favorite. This is a credit to the elite coaching and development in this country, that begins right at the grass roots of the sport, in communities across this great country.

Having said that, what is not a credit to hockey, or the World Junior Tournament, is having teams getting destroyed on the scoreboard, as we’ve already seen in this year’s version of the annual holiday event.  I am aware of the argument that countries trying to develop the sport need a stage for their youngsters, and exposing them to the best might help them progress. If this tournament is ever going to grow to the point where it ever becomes popular outside of Canada, which is not the case now,then the organizers will have to re-think...

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It doesn’t get much stranger than the Saturday night Toronto- Montreal game, at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs dominated the second and third  periods. They got off to their usual slow start, falling behind 2-0 in the first 5 minutes. On the first goal, Gustavsson failed to grab a rebound on a man advantage for the Habs. Scott Gomez took advantage of the opportunity. Very shortly after that, Tomas Plekanec beat “The Monster” on a breakaway, with a high shot over the shoulder, after Gustavsson went down early on the play.

Once the second period began, Montreal stopped working.  The Habs were outshot by 17-5 in the second period, and 16-8 in the third period. It must be painful for any of the Canadiens greats from decades ago to watch this current edition of the NHL’s most decorated franchise. It’s hard to believe any professional team can just punch the clock and fill time ,like the Canadiens did for two periods on Saturday night. I’ve seen some bad Montreal hockey, as we all have,the last few years,...

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CHARGERS AT TITANS; The Tennessee turnaround is one of the best stories this season. Having said that, the Chargers are, for the most part, playing as well as anyone. San Diego is an eye popping 6-1 on the road, and the Titans are a very respectable 5-2 at home. I think this game will go right down to the wire, with the Chargers winning by a field goal, 33-30.

BILLS AT FALCONS; Another disappointing Buffalo season is winding down, and although Atlanta isn’t perfect at home, they are pretty tough in their dome, at 5-2. The Bills are 3-4 on the road. I like the Falcons to win 28-17.

CHIEFS AT BENGALS;  With the tragedy the Bengals have gone through, I’m certain they will be as focused as can be on winning this game, against a vastly inferior opponent. Cincinnati is 5-2 at home, while the Chiefs are 2-4 on the road.  Cincinnati 38- Kansas City 10

RAIDERS AT BROWNS; Oakland has shown a little bit of grit and character on the field recently. They are 3-4  away from home, while Cleveland is 1-5...

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It’s amazing how well Dwayne Roloson is playing goal ( 12 wins, 7 losses, 5 OT losses, 2.87 G.A.A., SV% .908 in 24 games).  I don’t get to see all of his games, but when he plays against the Leafs, at times he looks like a one man show. To be fair, that sounds like a shot at the rest of the Islanders, and it’s not meant to be. There’s a lot to like about that team. Their young players hustle and John Tavares, ( 16 goals, 12 assists, 38 games) as promised, has been showing super star potential.  Matt Moulson’s ( 15 goals, 11assists, 38 games) well documented story is an inspiring one of never giving up on your dream, and Kyle Okposo ( 5 goals, 18 assists, 37 games) appears to be a hard working type, based on what I’ve seen in their games with Toronto. The big learning curve for this team, will be much smaller,  when they can start playing with poise in the third period, especially when they have a lead or are involved in a close game. Their lack of confidence was painfully evident in their game at Toronto, when...

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What a waste it is, for the Minnesota Vikings to be completing their regular season, with a rediculous public confrontation between Brett Favre and Brad Childress. Their are reasons to side with both the coach and quarterback in this situation. If Childress wants to protect Favre because Julius Peppers is abusing the Vikings with his domination, as he did in their recent game, then that is a smart thing to do. The Vikings have at least one playoff game to prepare for, so with Favre being 40,and having a very good season, why risk injury ,even with the Vikings being ahead by one point in a game. It’s just not worth losing a quarterback like him to injury, if he’s not being adequately protected by his linemen. It is surprising that Favre doesn’t understand that, or at the very least, he doesn’t accept it. If if he vehemently disagrees with the coach, this is the sort of dispute that should remain behind closed doors. What is accomplished by making this more public than it already is ?

I’m not saying that...

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This was a game of extremes in some ways. Jonas Gustavsson can play extremely well and look as  good as any other goalkeeper at times in any game. Conversely, he sometimes can be baffling , as he was on tonight’s first goal of the game, by Buffalo’s Nathan Paetsch, at 6;11 of the first period. This goal was a real softy that “The Monster” should have stopped; a fairly easy shot between the legs. Other extremes would include the two Leafs goals. They were perfectly executed plays that created the only possibilities for beating Ryan Miller, who is rarely, if ever, ( at least this year )  beaten because he fails to cover the corners his net. The Toronto goals by Victor Stalberg, at 3;41 of the second period and Ian White at 17:20 , were both perfectly executed drive to and crash the net plays, where Toronto got tip in goals. As usual, Miller made saves where it was humanly possible to do so. The best save of the night was the Sabres goalkeeper stopping Lee Stempniak on a short-handed breakaway in the first period....

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The first quarter of the Bills –Patriots game couldn’t have been more boring,as the score was 3-0 for Buffalo.  The rest of the game was nothing special, unless you’re a devoted follower of either Randy Moss, or the Patriots. The best investment in  professional  sports tickets in western New York,  is definitely the Buffalo Sabres. They are an exciting team, with a super star caliber goalkeeper in Ryan Miller. I’ve had Sabres season tickets since the end of the lockout, and they still only cost me around $20 each. It’s the best investment I’ve ever made, outside of a few stock market moves that my broker has made for me over the years. Buffalo is partly a Canadian hockey market franchise.  I know from the several games I’ve attended there with my friend Jim Devellano, Executive V.P. of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, that there is a long line of vehicles at the border after the game, going back to Canada. In fact, it can take about a half hour or more to get through the line of cars at...

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1ST PERIOD NOTES

Simon Gagne is back in the line up for the first time since abdominal surgery, which caused him to miss 24 games. The Rangers press into the Flyers end right from the opening faceoff.  There are a noticeable number of empty seats in the lower level, not something you see very often at the Wachovia Center, probably indicative of the Flyers losing and the 1pm start to today’s game or more likely, is the nasty weather outside, probably being the biggest factor.  Chris Drury scores after a Flyer turnover by Claude Giroux in the Flyers end at 5;16, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.  At this stage, the Rangers have outshot the Flyers 6-1,early in the period.  Peter Laviolette took a time out after the goal to address his players on the bench.Sean Avery gets clobbered by Chris Pronger in a shoving match and Pronger’s stick accidentally struck Avery.Chris Pronger scores on a shot from the point at 8;13, on the power play, with Enver Lisin in the penalty box after getting called for boarding at 7;45,...

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IST PERIOD NOTES

Tim Kennedy gets the first good scoring chance of the game, in the Leafs zone.  Victor Stalberg scores on a high glove shot Ryan Miller may not have seen at 3;06, to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.  Miller makes great save on Lee Stempniak.  Through the first 9 minutes, Toronto has been carrying the play and been much more dominant territorially. The Sabres Steve Montador gets penalized  for hooking at 9;43, and Toronto didn’t get any good scoring chances during the power play.  The Leafs get penalized, as Tomas Kaberle gets called for slashing at 12;44.   Buffalo maintains good puck control and the Sabres get one excellent chance at the front of the net before the penalty expires. Garnet Exelby is penalized for delay of game at 15;55.  The Sabres control the puck and the zone, but are on the perimeter for most of the power play.Matt Stajan and Phil  Kessel buzz the Leafs net. Miller makes a great save on a Niklas Hagman shot. The period ends with Toronto having been dominant through most of it.Toronto...

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