Blue Line Patrol Podcast: Episode 3

Welcome to our last podcast of the 2013 preseason! Kevin and I are ready for preseason to be over and some real hockey to start. As we get ready to bid farewell to the preseason, we take a look back at...

• Saturday's game that Kevin was able to attend (and the rest of us could only listen to on the radio)
• The ever growing list of injuries, their implication for the team, the start of the season, and groins...so, many, groins.
• Good things and players so far
• Not so good things and players so far
• A quick preview of the remaining preseason games
• Damien "Oh god why didn't I sign the offer the Wings made me in the Summer" Brunner.

Also, Kevin says dirty things.

The podcast is available for your listening pleasure here ---> Episode 3

We hope you enjoy the podcast and always welcome suggestions. If you'd like to hit us up on Twitter, we can be found here Kevin and here Michelle. You can send us an e-mail to Bluelinepatrol@gmail.com.
You can also follow the Blue Line Patrol Twitter feed @BlueLinePatrol 

Let's Go Red Wings!!! Let's Go Griffins!!! 

Preseason Game Report - Bruins 2 - Wings 0

There was none of this tonight :((((((((  Source: mlive.com

This was a game that happened and I (Kevin) attended.  Thankfully, it didn't count.

The Wings didn't really have anything tonight.  They weren't horrible defensively, but only created a few decent chances in the offensive zone with a couple of really craptastic power plays.  Let's review some of the players:

• SPROUL - Played really well at the start.  Fell of a little at the end, but not too much.  It was my first time seeing him play in a game, and I was impressed.  Also, he can shoot the puck.
• OUELLET - Started not well and improved to just "meh".  Fell down out of nowhere and had a couple of bad giveaways.  Did have a nice hip check on a guy behind the net, so there's that.
• SMITH - He creates a lot of chances, sometimes for both teams.
• QUINCEY - Not too noticeable in a good or bad way.  Few smart plays, few "oh shit" moments. Also, had to help cover for Smithicles.
• DeKEYSER - Outside of one bad giveaway, impressive.  Needs bigger legs.
• LASHOFF - Pretty solid defensively, which is all we ask from him.
• NYQUIST - (bias alert) Did play well on the second line and got moved with Mule/Weiss in the third. Created a few nice chances. He needs to start converting on some and he'd be even more amazing. Lord, give me strength if he is sent to the AHL for more than a week...
• JURCO - Didn't impress me. Made a couple of decent plays, but needs to make more if he wants to earn a call up this year.
• WEISS - Played good for the most part.  Is definitely more of a "north/south" guy than Fil, which is the most obvious analysis ever.  Water is wet.
• FERRARO - Didn't get a whole lot of playing time, especially in the third.  Didn't look out of place, but didn't make an impact.
• IRON HOOK - (okay fine Jarnkrok) - Looked nervous at times, but had some good moments.  Played the point on the power play.  He didn't cause the power play to suck, but didn't help it either.  Wanted to see more out of him.
• GUSTAVSSON - Looked good until his groin broke.  The goal was a fustercluk and nothing he could do on it.
• MRAZEK - Came in to start the third.  Only goal was when Bergeron was left open in front during a Bruins power play.  Looked good.  Also, played well.

It was a fun time even thought the Wings stunk and the overall hockey wasn't good.  Yay preseason.  Is it October 2nd yet?

Twitter @KevinN37
             @SlapshotG0al
             @BlueLinePatrol
        

Blue Line Patrol Podcast: Episode 2

Hockey is back! Frk Yeah!

There's a lot happening in the hockey world already, so there's a lot to cover this week, including...

•  Training camp: Kevin and I both attended camp and we'll let you know who looked good, who looked great, and who didn't blow our skirts up.
• The first two preseason games: Who looked good, who didn't impress, hey PK practice!, and look forward to the Bruins game Thursday night.

You can listen to or download the podcast here. ---> Episode 2

There was one thing that both Kevin and I forgot to mention on the podcast that we want to rectify.  Justin Abdelkader looked very, very good in training camp. He played with Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and that line was on fire (in a good way, not a dumpster fire). I'm sure we all remember when Abby first got moved up to the first line because we had approximately 6.75 healthy players left on the team. It was painful to watch at times because Abby was in way over his head. As the season progressed, he got more comfortable and competent in the new role he was assigned. Abby is essentially filling the Homer role, but he has more skating and puck handling skills than Homer did. There were times in training camp, and in the first preseason game where Abby reminded us a lot of Homer. He's was really good at digging pucks out of the corner, screening the goalie, creating chaos in the crease, but he also has decent puck handling skills and while his skating isn't mind blowing, it doesn't hold him back. Abby improved a ton last year in this role, and he looks even better now, than he did at the end of the playoffs. Both Datsyuk and Zetterberg have said they like playing with him, and Z even said that hopefully they can keep playing together.

When we re-signed Cleary, Babcock said he originally planned to put buckets up on the top line in Abdelkader's place, but Abby played so well that Babs didn't do it. I am 100% in favor of keeping Abby on the top line, and Kevin is 95% in favor of it. Abby is younger, stronger, and has more future potential than Cleary (or Bertuzzi) and keeping him on the top line so he can continue to get better at the role, is better for the future of the team. 



Here's the link to George Malik's post with the "highlights" from the game against Chicago.

Here's the awesomely awkward picture of Ouellet and Sproul (the article is worth a read as well).


We hope you enjoy the podcast and always welcome suggestions. If you'd like to hit us up on Twitter, we can be found here Kevin and here Michelle.
You can also follow the Blue Line Patrol Twitter feed @BlueLinePatrol 

Let's Go Red Wings!!! Let's Go Griffins!!! 

Our Official Position Of SPROUELLET:

Ryan Sproul and Xavier Ouellet are making their (preseason) NHL debut tonight at Chicago.  Having watched them patrol the blue line (see what I did there?) at training camp (and Michelle watching them at both training and development camp), it's safe to say we're pumped for the awesomeness that is sure to be SPROUELLET!

We'll be podcasting tomorrow (Wednesday) evening and will have plenty of talk about this fantastic set of defensemen.  If you have any topics or suggestions for the 2nd episode of the Blue Line Patrol podcast, let us know via email (bluelinepatrol@gmail.com) or twitter:

Michelle:  @slapshotg0al
Kevin:       @KevinN37
BLP:         @BlueLinePatrol