I mean, the last time Philly played in our building, I hadn’t even graduated high school! 2003! Ridiculous!

That’s the year I graduated college… ouch

I think something clicked for Hannan last night. By that I mean, this is only the second game I can remember where Hannan played on the right side. The time before, I would guess would be last game but just can’t remember if Liles switched to the right side for that pairing or he stayed on his usual left. Hannan has played on the left side all season. He looked really solid on the right side and I’m thrilled he’s such a vocal communicator on the ice after he was mic’d by Altitude. I mean, Skrastins, Clark, Brisebois, and Sauer might have said ten words total last year as a group. Hannan is communicating constantly with his goalie and linemates. Despite his deficiencies, I think that bodes well for the team. I think he looked a million times better on that side of the ice, his clears looked better and his positioning looked better. It may not seem like a big deal to most, but changing the side of the ice you play on is a huge change for a defenseman. Then again, Finger and Liles used to play behind the Stastny line and the forwards might just be making Hannan look better. It is something to watch. Finger and Cumiskey were good, that could be a real solid defensive pairing if Sauer bumps KC. However, that leaves the unholy alliance of Clark and Skrastins yet again. Skrastins is just plain bad. I know he’s regained some faith in some of the last games but his decision making on chasing players and getting out of position is horrendous. Clark looks like a fool when he plays on that line. There is hope that Sauer actually bumps Skrastins and Clark/Sauer will reunite for another solid stretch run like last year.

Theo was fantastic. I hope he starts, wins again. Then I hope he starts a third and loses and THEN see if coach Q will start him a fourth game. At this point I don’t care what goalie it is but we won’t know if Q is rehabilitated until he starts a goalie back to back off a loss.

Stastny was very good last night even though he doesn’t have the uber stats to show for it or a star from Mike Hanes. He was controlling the ice, intercepting passes and making huge defensive plays. Hensiick is kind of dissapearing in these games, ala Arnason and Svatos. I hoped he would be a little more fiesty on the puck, in the corners etc… Right now he’s looking like a break away forward, ala Svatos. Richardson is a waste on the fourth. I said it all last year and I’m just tossing it in again this year. Coach Q has done the same thing to Hlinka this year as well.

But, on the positive side, the Pepsi center was actually loud last night and the Avs looked really good on the PK.

lol, so true.

Strong game by Hlinka and the Smyth / Stastny / Hejduk line still looks great. I just hope they stay together the rest of the season, even when Sakic is back.

yes, this.

He’s just inconsistent. He’ll play like this tonight, and you’ll think he’s turning the corner. But next game, two games from now, three games from now, he’ll play like shit again. Then the idiots will be coming out of the woodwork again, calling for his head. Then he’ll play another game like tonight and they’ll shut up again.