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Ducks 3 Senators 5 (Final) Game 3: Period by Period
2007-06-03 02:17:00
Wow. The Correl Center is just hopping, and the sight of the 1000's of Sens fans outside the building an hour pre game was phenomenal.Last night, I had a dream that the Sens won 6-4 in Game 3. Not sure why.I'd say 4-2 Sens is more like it, and that's my call.1st Peri od-Kunitz is in. He is flying early and will play on the top line.-The Sens come out flying, but the first big chance is for the Duck s: Penner in by himself and is stoned by Emery. A defensive lapse by Ottawa. After that chance the Ducks come alive, forcing the Sens into taking a penalty. McDonald makes the Sens pay for that, at 5:39, all by himself in the slot. 1-0 Ducks. Assisted by Buzz Lightyear.-At one point, early in the period, the Ducks were outshooting the Sens 5-1. But then the Sens gained some composure and stormed back, forechecking hard and pressuring the Ducks. With just under 4 minutes left, proud new papa Chris Neil scores to make it 1-1: a direct result of the Sens' excellent forechecking. Assists fr...
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Ducks / Senators Game 3 Preview
2007-06-03 00:17:00
"The last question we asked the doctor is that if this was your son, would you allow him to play? And the answer, obviously, was yes," Randy Carlyle said. Amazingly, Chris Kunitz (broken right hand) has been cleared to play by doctors. But as Scott Burnside puts it: The issue confronting Carlyle and the coaching staff is whether the seven-game layoff is too long to expect Kunitz to contribute at a crucial juncture of the final. It's not like the Duck s need a boost right now, but the addition of Kunitz wouldn't hurt, perhaps if they bring him in slowly and start him on a lower line.There isn't much more to say about what the Senat or s need to do to turn this series around. It has been said over and over again already. Time will now tell if playing in front of a raucous crowd at home will spark the Sens to push through the Ducks' checking.It's do or die.Allow me to direct you to some great images taken by the Associate and Canadian Press lately:Sidney Crosby receiving the Art Ross...
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Taylor "Ladies' Man" Pyatt signs for 2 years
2007-06-01 23:11:00
(Reported on TSN) Taylor Pyatt is not taking the Anson Carter Express out of Vancouver. He has agreed to a 2-year deal worth $3 million. This is only $300,000 more than what he refused to accept earlier in the season, and 1 year less longer in duration. I think it is fair to say that $1.5 million is a fair price for Pyatt and it is what most people thought he would get or was worth, especially considering his 23-goal season. Even if he doesn't spend as much time with the Sedins he is worth that amount. His play has gotten better the more time he spends on the Vancouver team.Nice work by Nonis, as usual.Elsewhere:The Flames have signed Matt Lombardi to a 3-year deal and Markus Nilson to a 2-year contract. Terms for both were not disclosed. The Hurricanes have signed Glen Wesley to a 1-year contract worth $1.4 million. The wiley vet will probably finish his career in Carolina. Thrasher's GM Don Waddell is "not ruling anything out" but may not offer Keith Tkachuk a deal by July 1, ma...
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Speaking of Ducks...
2007-06-01 09:15:00
A city slicker shoots a duck out in the country. As he’s retrieving it, a farmer walks up and stops him, claiming that since the duck is on his farm, it technically belongs to him. After minutes of arguing, the farmer proposes they settle the matter "country style.""What’s country style?" asks the city boy. "Out here in the country," the farmer says, "when two fellers have a dispute, one feller kicks the other one in the balls as hard as he can. Then that feller, why, he kicks the first one as hard as he can. And so forth. Last man standin’ wins the dispute."Warily the city boy agrees and prepares himself. The farmer hauls off and kicks him in the groin with all his might. The city boy falls to the ground in the most intense pain he’s ever felt, crying like a baby and coughing up blood. Finally he staggers to his feet and says, "All right, n-now it’s–it’s m-my turn."The farmer grins. "Aw, hell, you win. Keep the duck."
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Shotgun!!
2007-06-01 03:51:00
James, a WFS reader and new blogger, politely requested a Photoshop image of the Ducks, both Niedermayers and Chris Pronger carpooling to games. I missed the segment about it, so I used my imagination on what it could look like if the brothers from the same mother and Pronger packed in to a Toyota Pria (click image to enlarge).The carpooling story was posted at Maple Leafs.com a few days ago. Apparently Giguere rides with them as well. He had this to say about it:"It's fun driving with Pronger and Scotty and Robby," he said. "They're real leaders. For me, it's kind of sitting and listening to them and try to get some good advice."The article raised the question if Carlyle and Burke will be "resting easy" when all of their top players are cruising in one vehicle, and Giguere joked:"Not when Robby is driving, that's for sure!" In regards to Selanne's driving Giguere said:"Teemu (Selanne) is a speed car driver," the netminder said. "I don't want to go with Teemu."Read more of the...
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Sens images after Game 2
2007-05-31 06:11:00
So the collapse of the Sens has begun. The Sens look like they were just happy to get to the dance and the Ducks mean business. Being the sarcastic ass that I am, I thought I'd do up a few Photoshop images to celebrate the occasion.T Tags: Senators Losers Humor Pictures
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Senators 0 Ducks 1 (FINAL) Period by period
2007-05-31 02:04:00
I see ESPN posted a piece about how few Americans watched Game 1 of the Fina l s: 523,000 households. That's down 18% from how many watched Game 1 in last years' Game 1 of the Finals. Was there an Opera Winfrey Special on the tube on Monday night? I kid.It's amazing how many people on both sides of the border stop watching hockey after their team gets eliminated.It seems that the later the playoffs go into the spring, the more people would rather be outside enjoying the warm weather.Bryan Murray has split up the top line already. Alfredsson will play with Fisher and Schaeffer. Perhaps Chris Neil will play on the top line.Drew Miller played so well with McDonald and Selanne, yet he gets replaced by Marchant on the top line. Hmm. Matchups.Peri od 1 -Who was that Canadian Anthem singer? Holly Cole? Absolutely terrible!-Emery has not lost 2 games in a row in these playoffs.-the game starts at a high pace with massive hits all over the ice.-I have a real problem with players that turn th...
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Terrace Slide
2007-05-30 21:03:00
An enormous landslide occured this past Monday on Highway 16 East of Terrace and perhaps 160 km west of my hometown of Smithers. It is reported that the slide is 40 feet deep and about 150 feet wide. The highway will be closed for several days as geologists survey the area before workers can frantically work to clear the debris.A forestry road in the Nass Valley may be used as an alternate.This slide is the first of perhaps a few more to come. There still must be about 13-15 feet or more of snow in the mountains here. With the forecast calling for 25 degrees celsius and higher for the weekend, the threat of flooding will rear it's ugly head by next week. It could be a massive problem here. If it is, I'll be sure to snap a lot of pics of it and post them here.Info on the slide is from the Vancouver Sun.Slide Image was graciously stolen by me from a co-worker. Thanks, Jay!Aerial shot is from CTV.ca.T Tags: Smithers Land+Slide Highway+16 Image Closure Floods

Ducks / Sens Game 2 Preview
2007-05-30 17:42:00
From the Ottawa Sun:The Senators coach doesn't want to instruct his players to do anything stupid, but Bryan Murray indicated if the Anaheim Duck s are going to get away with hooking, holding and obstruction, he's going to tell Ottawa players to try to do the same. Murray hinted at the officials not doing a good enough job: "They got their physical play from good dump-ins and us not holding anybody up," Murray said. "Their first man in, got the hits. That was the main part. The other part is when people are standing around in front of the net trying to defend and they're hammering away at our defencemen, as well as our goaltender. Those are two areas that concern me. And, I guess, we'll have to adjust our style and get back to holding up their forechecker better with our man, because it's obvious that it's not being called. We have to encourage our guys to do it. Those are areas that help or hurt aggressive play. When they got in time after time and got a chance to run a defenc...
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Fugg! I shink my jaw ish brogen!: Darwin Award 2
2007-05-30 02:58:00
Warning: a tad graphic with course language. This is still my favorite clip of a crash on a bike. A real Darwin Award winner!Thats Using Your Head - Watch more free videosT Tags: bike crash pain broken+jaw loss+of+teeth
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Canucks make Pyatt an offer
2007-05-30 01:39:00
From TSN:According to CKNW radio in Vancouver, the Canucks have offered Pyatt a two-year deal with Pyatt's agent saying it's a "legitimate offer". That 'legitimate offer' was in the $1.2 million per season range when they talked earlier in the season, about doubling his former deal. At that time it was reported that Pyatt and his agent were targeting $1.5 million for 3 seasons. That really isn't all that far off. Pyatt had 23 goals and 14 assists in 76 games this season. He had 2 goals and 6 points in 12 playoff games. Is Andrei Markov worth $5.75 million per year? ''We consider Andrei an elite player in the NHL,'' said general manager Bob Gainey. ''His experience, his statistics. . . he's an important part of our team and he's an important part of the Russian national team, which is always an indication of an elite player.'' Markov is an anchor back there and did put up 43 points this season. But doesn't this make you think that the Canucks got a steal signing Samm...
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Who is knocking Brad May now?
2007-05-29 22:12:00
We are all wrong from time to time. And when Brad May sucker punched Kim Johnsson on April 17 during the Ducks-Wild series, it may or may not have been right, but it seems to me now that the biggest wrong was the press jumping all over May, calling him mindless, untalented, and having no place in hockey. I wasn't having any part of that and defended May on a site I won't name, and I received flack for it. Well who's right now? It was the likes of Brad May and Travis Moen who began crunching the Sens last night, hitting them at every turn, and like Getzlaf said, changing the momentum of the game. Thats right, Brad May. He may only be getting just over 6 minutes of icetime per game but really, his line could be used more. They also generate a lot of quality chances with their tenacious forecheck.May was potentially wrong for his actions with Johnsson, and maybe he wasn't. I still say Johnsson was skating around the rough stuff and could have done something to antagonize an easily...
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Senators 2 Ducks 3 (FINAL) Game 1: Period-by-period
2007-05-29 02:07:00
Hilarious to see Arnold Schwarenegger open the show with Ron and Don. Arnie almost sounded like he knew what he was talking about in regards to hockey. He is heading to Canada to talk environment, trade relations, etc, with PM Stephen Harper. Don Cherry pipes up: "Well if Harper gives you a hard time, tell him you know me." Schwarz says: "OK then, give me yo phone numbah!"At the end, he put a Hockey Night in Canada cap on and gave the "thumbs up". He then ceremoniously dropped the puck at center pre game.I'm thinking this game could be high scoring, with the Sens winning 5-4.Peri od 1Not even 2 minutes in, Scott Niedermayer takes a high-sticking penalty, and the Sens capitalize immediately with a PP goal by Mike Fisher.The Duck s are hitting the Sens all over the ice, but the Sens respond.At 10:55, Drew Miller pays dividends by hitting a Sens player, causing a turnover. The puck goes right to Selanne who passes it to Andy McDonald and bingo, 1-1. Looks like the Ducks have a new top l...
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Who the heck is Drew Miller?
2007-05-28 23:22:00
It appears that a kid named Drew Miller (or Miller Lite, as Sleek calls him) will spend time on the top line with Selanne and McDonald tonight. Somebody has to play with those guys, as it won't be Getzlaf anymore, as he is clicking well with Penner and Perry. I'm not sure why Randy Carlyle didn't like Todd Marchant with those 2. So, to give you a bit of a heads up on this Miller kid:- the 23-year-old was selected by the Ducks in the 6th round (183rd overall) in 2003.- born in Dover, New Jersey.- the brother of Ryan Miller.- tall and skinny: 6'2" 170 pounds.- played his first full season with the Portland Pirates this year, playing 79 games, scoring 16 goals, 20 assists. In 3 seasons with the NCAA with Michigan State he played 125 games, scored 39 goals, 47 assists, and 86 points.- has played 1 game with the Ducks, ever, and that was in Round 1 of this year's playoffs on April 19 in a 4-1 win over Minnesota to clinch that series. He was only on the ice for 2:19 of that game. - t...

Finals Preview
2007-05-27 20:32:00
I've mentioned a lot about these Fina ls already, but I'll lump everything into one post now.I don't like Anaheim's chances for various reasons.1. The Ducks didn't have their "A" game going on in the final 3 games against Detroit. Sure, they still closed out the series with Giguere's terrific play, but I don't see them getting away with anything lackluster against a team like Ottawa. The Sens have buried all 3 teams they have faced this post season, all in 5 games. They are more composed than Anaheim is. Who knows. Perhaps the Ducks will now step it up in the Finals.2. In the playoffs (forget about the regular season), the Sens' power play is ranked 2nd at 20% efficiency. The Ducks' PP is 7th overall at a 15.3% efficiency. (Thanks, TSN!) Where is the output from a team that boasts 2 of the best defencemen in the NHL?3. The Sens' penalty killing is ranked 4th at 88.6% efficiency. The Ducks: 6th at 87.5%. The PP and PK stats are crucial.4. Depth advantage: Ottawa, easily. Up ...
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Finals Tidbits: EA Sports Simulates Finals / Giguere is an oaf
2007-05-27 07:41:00
It must be a slow hockey news day when TSN puts out a story that EA Spor ts simulated the upcoming Finals on their NHL 07 game! The Sens took the series in 6 games. Bah, this is what happens when you make us wait so damned long in between series', ya buggers! People get bored and start becoming stupid! Hey, I wonder how high the injuries were turned on for that simulation. One big knock I have on that game is that if you bump up the injury bar in options and then simulate games, there are way too many injuries. At the same setting, you can actually play the games and hardly any injuries occur. I can't believe I'm even talking about this. NEXT!Damn it, Bob McKenzie wrote a piece about JS Giguere that I was going to tap into tomorrow. The Sens will need to exploit Giguere's immobility by making him move side-to-side. That is absolutely true! It's strange to be saying this stuff about a goalie that has gotten his team to the Finals twice now. On most nights it seems that Jiggy drop...
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New Metallica songs
2007-05-26 21:57:00
Metallica has been playing these tunes at their live shows for quite a while now. They call them "The New Song" and "The Other New Song" for now anyways. The tunes are apparently getting a positive response from the crowds, and they really should. They are basically a cross between everything they have ever written, and that is a good thing, because for the most part I have liked everything they have ever put out, except for Reload I suppose!They began recording the new album in March and the album (their ninth) is scheduled to be released late summer/early fall. Apparently Rick Rubin is producing this one. Rubin has done a lot of work with Slayer, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, etc.Kirk Hammett's shredding solos have returned! He must be happy about that. If any of you watched the documentary DVD "Some Kind of Monster", you could see the look of disdain on Hammett's face when they informed him that solos were not to be included on their previous mediocre effort...
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Remembering Leetch
2007-05-25 22:12:00
After (in a sense) bidding adieu to Brian Leet ch yesterday, I had a few flashbacks. My biggest memories of Brian Leetch were:1. When the Leafs acquired him at the deadline in 2004. Leetch made an immediate impact and clicked well with Bryan McCabe. He must have tought McCabe something about offence. Ever since that signing, McCabe's offensive output soared.2. More importantly: the 1994 Playoffs. Canuck fans will eternally hate Leetch for his efforts against Vancouver in the Finals. That is a testament to just how great Leetch was. Sure, he was surrounded by players like Messier, Kovalev, Graves, etc. But Leetch made players around him better. That was the case in point in the 1994 playoffs. Leetch dominated all over the ice with his crisp passing, quarterbacking the power play, rushing out of his own zone, and laying nasty hip checks. Just ask Marty Gelinas.Every time Leetch started out of his own zone with the puck, you knew that the opposing team was in trouble. It earned him a C...
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Former Rangers cheerleader sues Madison Square Garden
2007-05-25 18:41:00
From TSN: A former New York Range rs skating cheerleader who sued Madison Square Garden for sexual discrimination has filed hundreds of pages of documents to support her claims and answer the arguments by her former employer that her claims are baseless.In her suit, Courtney Prince claimed: 1. that her MSG bosses asked her to deliver messages to other cheerleaders that included stuffing their bras, losing weight and looking more presentable. This aparently also icludes them demanding the cheerleaders wear fake eyelashes and hair pieces.2. that MSG failed to properly protect the cheerleaders from being touched inappropriately when they went into the crowd at Rangers games.3. that MSG management turned her friends against her by 'pumping' them for information.4. that she was fired that January after warning fellow cheerleaders that at least one member of management was a sexual predator. Price is seeking $800,000 in damages, as these events led to health problems such as hyperactivit...
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European Leadership
2007-05-25 04:27:00
We Canadians are fueled by icons like Don Cherry, who says that Canadian hockey players are the best and have the most heart. But now especially we are seeing more widespread hunger and desire from European players to win the Stanley Cup. I never used to give teams with a European captain a chance in the playoffs until now.The emergence of Daniel Alfredsson is bringing to the forefront a European's ability to lead a team to the Holy Grail. But let's face it, the whole concept of Canadian greatness in team leadership, and especially wearing the "C", to a large degree is tainted to begin with. Gloating that only one non-Canadian captain in NHL history has raised the Cup is pointless(Derian Hatcher with the Stars in 1999). It comes down to percentages. There has always been a larger amount of Canadian players in the NHL. The Canadian content in the NHL was massively abundant pre-1990, and that number has significantly decreased since then. Especially now, you can see the playing fiel...
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Canucks sign Kesler
2007-05-24 22:03:00
According to TSN, the Canucks have signed Ryan Kesler to a 3-year deal that will pay him a total of $5.25 million. That is less per year than the $1.9 million salary caused by Booby Clarke's underhanded bid on Kesler's services last summer. The current averages out to about $1.75 million per season.When Kesler came back and played one game in the playoffs he looked good out there. Then he re-injured himself. Kesler's value will be as a checker that needs to chip in between 15-20 goals per season. If he plays with the Sedins, all bets are off!T Tags: Canucks+sign+Kesler
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Another Ultimate Canucks Fan
2007-05-24 20:52:00
This guy is definitely the most excellent Canucks fan in the contest recently, from what I've seen. He turned his Jetta into a Canucksmobile and did one hell of a job. Of course, he will have to wait another year for a Canucks Cup Drive.To see more video, art, and photo entries of the on-going Ultimate Canucks Fan Search, click the link.T Tags: Ultimate+Canucks+Fan Canucks+Car

Dave Nonis thanks you
2007-05-24 20:50:00
Dave Nonis released a letter thanking the Canucks fans yesterday. Click on the image below to enlarge it and read it, or go to Canucks.com. T Tags: Canucks Dave+Nonis thank+you+letter
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The Wait for the Finals is too long
2007-05-23 23:32:00
The first game of the Stanely Cup Fina ls starts next Monday?? What the hell am I supposed to do until then? Answer: mow the lawn, weed the garden, spend more quality time with my wife, and play NHL '07! Yeah, I really am that addicted to hockey. Ever since the Canucks were eliminated, I never quit watching. I almost should be taking the next 5 days off from this site while awaiting the Finals, but...NAH! F**K IT!Early thoughts about the FinalsIt may take a great team to reach the final series, but I am not very impressed with the play of the Ducks. Detroit was within a goal of putting Game 6 into OT, and the Ducks were definitely not the better team in Game 5 in a win. In my opinion, the Ducks are starting to remind me of the Sabres. They have all that talent and depth but are not kicking it into high gear at this stage of the post season and are inconsistent.The Senators are the opposite. They have defeated every opponent in 5 games and looked pretty damned good doing it. They are...
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Ducks / Red Wings Game 6 Preview / Game Updates
2007-05-23 01:50:00
**UPDATES**6:50 PMThe Duck s have come out and played their best 1st period of the series. Chris Pronger's point shot went off Robb Niedermayer's skate and into the net, shorthanded, to make it 1-0. The Ducks outshot the Wings 14-7! Too bad it wasn't 2-0, because you know the Wings are thinking they are fortunate to only be down by 1 after that lop-sided frame. The Penner-Perry-Getzlaf line is on fire but can't capitalize yet. The Wings look unorganized, but seem to be slowly getting it together. Pre gameThis game is massive. A win by the Wings tonight and I say they take this series in 7. That is not allowed to happen. Anaheim, you had better shape up. Game 5 was grand larceny performed by the Ducks. The Wings had them right where they wanted them: down 1-0 with 2 minutes to go, until the late goal on the powerplay by Scott Niedermayer. The Wings had outshot the Ducks 37-26 in that one and controlled them all over the ice.It is going to take a massive effort from JS Giguere agai...
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Briere to take a discount?
2007-05-22 21:05:00
Briere has stated that he wants a long term deal with the Sabres and is willing to be flexible with his salary.“It’s worth some money to stay here,” Briere said. “But what’s fair?” “I don’t feel like I have to max out. It’s not what I’m looking for. I’d like to stay here. This is a place that I’d like to play. It’s a place that I’d like to finish my career. There’s more important things than just money, but at the same time you want to be treated fairly.I’m open to whatever they’re willing to do and discuss. I think it can work for both sides. The Sabres, if they’re interested, they’re going to have the first chance, and they’re going to have the best chance,” Briere said. “If that doesn’t work out, then we’ll start looking at the different options."Disc ussions have not yet begun."To be honest with you, I have no clue what’s going to happen. There hasn’t been any discussions as far as contracts go with the Sabres, and I didn’t ev...
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Top 10 Rick Jeanerette calls
2007-05-22 20:24:00
I thought of searching for something like this a while back and had forgotten about it. Then I came across it at Japer's Rink, so full kudos to him! Jean erette is the best play-by-play in Hockey no doubt and this clip shows the highlights of his broadcasting career.My fave is: "Tis the season to be Jolly. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-Lafontaine!" I never heard that one before!T Tags: Sabres Rick +Jeanerette Broadcast
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A few quirky Canucks stories to crack you up
2007-05-21 22:27:00
It was during that same stretch of futility that Neale came up with arguably his greatest gem. During that nine-game winless skid, the team had played six games at the Pacific Coliseum and three away from Vancouver. Province columnist Tony Gallagher sat down with Neale to discuss the plight of the Canucks . “What do you think the biggest problem is, Harry,” Gallagher asked. “Well,” sighed Neale, “we keep losing on the road and we can’t seem to win at home. I guess my greatest failing as a coach is that I can’t think of any place else to play.” For this and a few more great humorous Canucks stories, go to Canucks.com.T Tags: Canucks Humor Harry+Neal
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Belfour wants a raise
2007-05-21 20:51:00
Courtesy of the Miami Herald: Eddie Belfour has addressed the media for the first time since his drunken roughing incident last April in South Beach where he resisted arrest for being drunk and disorderly with teammate Ville Peltonen. Belfour talked business and was completely to-the-point saying that the base salary that Florida paid him for 1 year at $750,000 plus incentives is no longer enough to retain his services for another year. "I'm definitely a No 1 goalie,'' Belfour said. ``I'm motivated to come back and be the No. 1 guy. I think my health is there. My base was low because I had back surgery,'' Belfour said. ``Throughout my career, my base was a lot higher. . . . I proved that I was durable and I'm not going to play for that kind of money this year, that's for sure. I'll be ready to play and if [coach and general manager] Jacques [Martin] decides he wants to move forward with me -- if we can come to an agreement -- we'll move forward,'' Belfour said. ``If we c...
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2 hours in the life of Andreas Lilja
2007-05-21 04:59:00
T Tags: Red+Wings Andrea s +Lilja
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