Daily Cupcakes- November 22nd, 2011

by Sandie Gauthier on Nov 22, 2011 6:00 AM MST in Sandie's Daily Cupcakes

Paul Bissonnette 's mother wishes he would use better grammar and spelling in his Tweets.

Yolande Bissonnette was a college professor for 30 years in Southern Ontario, work she often began following a chilly 5 a.m. drive to a hockey rink for one of her son’s countless practices. Those predawn drives led to a career in the National Hockey League and an unlikely rise to social media stardom through Twitter, where more than 171,000 fans have signed on to read whatever 140-character thoughts pop into her son’s mind.

"For most of the time, I’m OK with what he posts," she said. "The only thing I wish he would get better at is spelling and grammar, because these are the things that I taught when I was at the college. So you can imagine when I see his spelling and grammar and I go, ‘Oooooh! I guess I didn’t teach him these two things.’"

The goalie that Joey Hishon played in front of last year, almost got in a fight due to the bad blood from the playoff series that ended Hishon's hopes of making the club out of training camp this year.

"There was a lot of dirty play and I pride myself on keeping control of my emotions but I didn't do that there," the 19-year-old Houser said. "He (Binnington) came out towards centre and the unwritten rule is you go, too. I didn't think about (the ramifications) and I'm upset at myself now.

"We all remember the playoff series last year and (Stephen) Sanza and (Joey) Hishon, you don't forget stuff like that. The older guys talked about it before the game. We're two different teams now, but yeah (there's still bad blood)."

The last thing the Knights need is Houser, short regular backup Jake Patterson because of mononucleosis, fighting.

A nice article on Gabriel Landeskog.

LIKE MANY PROMISING ROOKIES, Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog is often called "mature beyond his years." But dig deeper into Landeskog's story and you'll find that for him, the description is more than just another cliche.

Take, for example, his methodical approach to reaching the NHL. Three years ago, at age 16, the Stockholm native declined an offer to follow the path of most native phenoms by staying in the Swedish Elite League. Instead, Landeskog left his parents to play in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kitchener Rangers.

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Comments

Oh my goodness, a goalie coach sighting!!

Avalanche goalie coach Kirk McLean has been with the team for the past week, working closely with Varlamov, with lots of work on playing his angles better.

Nice of him to show up…ugh

Aebischer. Nope. Salo? Ha! Sauve? Nah. Theodore. Meh. Kolesnik? Hey bud, nice shootout against the Devils, but no. Budaj? You kidding? Anderson, close, but no cigar. Elliott? GET THE TANK!!! Varlamov and Giguere? To the playoffs...AND BEYOND!!

by chiavsfan on Nov 22, 2011 6:22 AM MST reply actions

oh man, and I already did my cheap bastards rant for the week

I am the most humble blogger of all time

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 22, 2011 7:14 AM MST up reply actions

So he is only around when the Avs are in Denver?

by chiavsfan on Nov 22, 2011 7:18 AM MST up reply actions

Nah, he’s only around when the Canucks are about to show up.

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.

by andidee15 on Nov 22, 2011 8:00 AM MST up reply actions

Makes me wonder if he really works for the Avs at all or does he just hate the Canucks so much that he volunteers his time right before the Avs play them.

by cush52 on Nov 22, 2011 10:54 AM MST up reply actions

Honestly…this is sadly true…he lives in Vancouver. He’s played for them, he had his best years in Vancouver and most of the times I hear it mentioned is when we’re playing Vancouver or we’re on CBC.

Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.

by amit916 on Nov 22, 2011 12:13 PM MST up reply actions

He’s their most-winningest goalie in franchise history. I think Lu has better career stats, but McLean had better with-Vancouver stats. He still lives in the city and has a restaurant there.

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.

by andidee15 on Nov 22, 2011 2:40 PM MST up reply actions

He still lives in the city (Vancouver) and has a restaurant there.

Which makes him the obvious choice to shepherd the Avalanche goaltenders in Denver to greatness. FML

2011-2012 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Vyechnaya Pamyat!
2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: Chances are rapidly diminishing that this will not suck.

by Hopfenkopf on Nov 22, 2011 2:48 PM MST up reply actions

Exactly… I wouldn’t mind if they hired Justin from goalie guild as a consultant…at least the guys in Denver.

Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.

by amit916 on Nov 22, 2011 3:26 PM MST up reply actions

No. He travelled with the team.

Thought food: if Joe Sacco is fired, Sylvain Lefebvre will be the Avs' new head coach. Think about it.

The 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: there will be blood and there will be wins.

"God I'm excited for those two to fail miserably." - SBNation writer Andrew Sharp on Josh McDaniels and Tim Tebow.

The Number Zero, for everything but mathematics. Blood and Thunder Record: 8-10-1 (Total Record: 9-14-1)

by Tempestuous Binary on Nov 22, 2011 10:53 AM MST up reply actions

How do you like the new Kindle?

It's all about Winnik

by Sandie Gauthier on Nov 22, 2011 8:01 AM MST up reply actions

so far so good. definitely liking it. and I’ve been able to keep it away from my kids

I am the most humble blogger of all time

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 22, 2011 9:08 AM MST up reply actions

The last WEEK???? What, does he think he’s full time now?

At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?

by SteveHouse on Nov 22, 2011 8:19 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

Full time….one week a month!

Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.

Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.

by Americanario on Nov 22, 2011 8:22 AM MST up reply actions

Hey, that’s about all my brain works…full time indeed

by chiavsfan on Nov 22, 2011 8:27 AM MST up reply actions

I really liked that article. Probably because it had a lot of Varly quotes I didn’t have to decipher through Google translate. And yah!! for Kirk McLean helping Varly work on his angles, he needs it.

Nobody is more aware of how much it cost the Avalanche to obtain Semyon Varlamov via trade than the Russian goalie himself. Which is why the last few days have been tough for him, with Avs coach Joe Sacco choosing to play veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere the past three games.

“I didn’t play good the last two weeks, for sure,” said Varlamov, acquired from Washington for the Avs’ first- and second-round draft picks in 2012. “I didn’t help the team win the last few games. It’s been tough for me.”

“Right now, my head is clear and I’ve had a break for the last six or seven days,” he said. “I think right now I’m ready to go, ready to play well. Every year, I try to learn something new, pick up something new. I have to learn from this last thing.”

“I have to always work hard, because if you don’t it’s easy to fall (into a rut),” he said.

by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 22, 2011 8:45 AM MST up reply actions

Good for Binnington

Joey is still out, which for all we know, could be hurting the Avs, let alone the Monsters but most importantly, his development. Sure, Crosby came back and put up 4, but look at Mueller, this just severely worries me. The night of the 28th I’ll be going to a Bears and Monsters game and I’ll be focusing on our lovely prospects. Can’t wait to see Barrie, Bordello, Elliot, Gaunce and Cedrick (he better start).

by ProfessorOak on Nov 22, 2011 11:53 AM MST reply actions

my bad

I misread, Binnington wasn’t fighting for Joey, but still, props to him.

by ProfessorOak on Nov 22, 2011 11:54 AM MST up reply actions

The Avs have played looser defensively in front of Varlamov than Giguere, with Varlamov facing an average of 32.5 shots in his 14 appearances, to 24.9 for Giguere

This is alarming….

Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.

by amit916 on Nov 22, 2011 12:12 PM MST reply actions

Varly in net tomorrow

Probably many reasons for the shot differentials, but I wonder if a reason Varly faces more shots is because he gives opposing teams more opportunities for follow-up shots.

4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.

by Dixomatic on Nov 22, 2011 12:18 PM MST up reply actions

Wait, what? Weren’t we discussing Varly’s proclivity for getting whistles so that the Avs could take more faceoffs and play to the team’s strength just a couple of weeks ago? Now he’s putting the puck back into play more often?

WHICH IS IT PEOPLE?!!?!??!

If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!

by Mike @ MHH on Nov 22, 2011 2:51 PM MST up reply actions

Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.

Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.

by Americanario on Nov 22, 2011 5:32 PM MST up reply actions

I see a unicorn, but I don’t see pissing rainbows. FAIL.

"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi

I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink
to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
sticks when they've invented the lighter?

by TheRed on Nov 22, 2011 5:55 PM MST up reply actions

I see what the government uses to decide how to budget and fix the economy.

I love it
2 Wing fans disagreeing about a potential deal for Shea Weber in the comments section of a post about the Avalanche.

Winging It In Motown
by Amerinadian on Sep 12, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply 1 recs

by Randy Time on Nov 23, 2011 5:38 AM MST up reply actions

After they wake up from their long paid nap?

We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.

by Bob in Boulder on Nov 23, 2011 9:08 AM MST up reply actions

I don’t think it’s that black and white, just compare the rebounds the two do give up. This is totally confirmation-biased and based on no research whatsoever but my memory is telling me Giguere’s rebounds are close in, where he can remain fairly square while a defenseman clears the puck, while Varlamov kicks shit out like he’s got a peanut allergy and the puck’s covered in Jif.

At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?

by SteveHouse on Nov 22, 2011 5:43 PM MST up reply actions

For the record, Jiggy has flubber on his pads at times. The entirety of the NHL generates rebounds off of his pads as a matter of course. That’s because he has a propensity for a blocking style more than an active save. The opposite is true for Varly. His positioning has been suspect and he’s therefore been make more reactive, desperation saves. Those tend to come off the boot of the pad a lot which flippers pucks back into danger zones. Part of the “calm” positionalness you point to for Giggy is a result of him not recovering as quickly as Varly.

If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!

by Mike @ MHH on Nov 22, 2011 6:18 PM MST up reply actions

I didn’t say he’s calm, and I know all about his Francois Allaire-tending given that I watched him suck up the Leafs’ crease last year until it became clear which goalie was Rebecca Black-endorsed. He was so bad at times last year, man, this year has been a very pleasant surprise. Interesting perspective on the reasons for Varly’s Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me rebounds though, I’ll have to watch for it.

At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?

by SteveHouse on Nov 22, 2011 11:13 PM MST up reply actions

He also was basically geriatric last year with injuries to hips, groin and yada yada

by chiavsfan on Nov 23, 2011 5:47 AM MST up reply actions

Varlamov kicks shit out like he’s got a peanut allergy and the puck’s covered in Jif.

A simile to make me blow beer out my nose

My Eno$ itches

by Busted Twigg on Nov 22, 2011 7:25 PM MST up reply actions

I liked that.

I love it
2 Wing fans disagreeing about a potential deal for Shea Weber in the comments section of a post about the Avalanche.

Winging It In Motown
by Amerinadian on Sep 12, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply 1 recs

by Randy Time on Nov 23, 2011 5:38 AM MST up reply actions

It can’t be the way he plays…he’s better at rebounds than Giguere…might be a communication thing, or the team hates him because he took the last Starburst from the vending machine.

Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.

by amit916 on Nov 22, 2011 3:27 PM MST up reply actions

My bet is that it has something to do with goalie/defensemen communication. I would be willing to bet Giggy talks to the defenders more during the play and that’s the reason for the difference.

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.

by andidee15 on Nov 22, 2011 2:42 PM MST up reply actions

IMO

Varlamov’s starts have come against better team, against Chicago x2, Detroit x2, Montreal, Boston, Pittsburgh etc, (until Giguere got the start against the Sharks) , while Giguere was getting the backup starts . That’s probably the biggest reason.

Maybe
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Nov 22, 2011 12:26 PM MST reply actions

Damnit, Jibble’d

Maybe
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Nov 22, 2011 12:26 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Jibble jibbled! Hasn’t happened much for a long, long time.

Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120

by Cheryl Bradley on Nov 22, 2011 12:34 PM MST up reply actions

Pretty rec worthy IMO.

I love it
2 Wing fans disagreeing about a potential deal for Shea Weber in the comments section of a post about the Avalanche.

Winging It In Motown
by Amerinadian on Sep 12, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply 1 recs

by Randy Time on Nov 23, 2011 5:39 AM MST up reply actions

From my experience, quality of team and number of shots have no bearing on each other.

4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.

by Dixomatic on Nov 22, 2011 1:12 PM MST up reply actions

The Avs gave up a lot more shots against good teams than they have against bad teams (unless you really think teams liek Minnesota and Dallas are good teams). Granted, not against the Sharks, but in general this season they have given up more shots against good teams.

Maybe
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Nov 22, 2011 2:06 PM MST up reply actions

That was my initial thought as well.

If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!

by Mike @ MHH on Nov 22, 2011 2:50 PM MST up reply actions

Montreal and Boston were playing quite poorly at that point in the season.

At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?

by SteveHouse on Nov 22, 2011 5:26 PM MST up reply actions

Binners!

by some white guy on Nov 22, 2011 3:55 PM MST reply actions

Damnit, Blacker!

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.

by andidee15 on Nov 22, 2011 6:31 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Everytime I think about the Avs, I just see this:

Landeskog - O'Reilly - Jones. When.

by BraxtanFILM on Nov 22, 2011 4:21 PM MST reply actions

Funny

That’s what Eno$ sees too.

We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.

by Bob in Boulder on Nov 22, 2011 4:44 PM MST up reply actions

Jog his memory.

My Eno$ itches

by Busted Twigg on Nov 22, 2011 7:26 PM MST up reply actions

As long as he doesn't employ the Brute Squad.

I love it
2 Wing fans disagreeing about a potential deal for Shea Weber in the comments section of a post about the Avalanche.

Winging It In Motown
by Amerinadian on Sep 12, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply 1 recs

by Randy Time on Nov 23, 2011 5:39 AM MST up reply actions

O’Byrne is the brute squad

Maybe
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Nov 23, 2011 7:23 AM MST up reply actions

Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120

by Cheryl Bradley on Nov 23, 2011 2:47 PM MST up reply actions

Ok small update on the Semin trade watch front: according to Slava Malamud, Varly would hate Semin being traded to the Avs and Varly isn’t a fan of Semin. This makes sense in light of some other things I had read. Varly changed his phone number during the summer after he came back to the US right before he got traded and he apparently didn’t speak to Semin or Ovi after the trade. Slava has said before that Varly and Ovi weren’t close, I guess that extends to Semin as well, but Semin and Ovie are BFFs. Slava has also said that Varly liked a quieter lifestyle compare to those two. Varly was always careful to say how helpful Ovi and Semin were to him after the trade but it was odd that he apparently hadn’t talked to them at all last time he was asked. Ovi has been quoted a few times about the trade and he always included something like he hoped they would remain friends which I thought was a little strange, but makes more sense now.

Semin practiced today during the optional practice (not something he normally does) and he was apparently in a good mood, after being down in the dumps at the game last night. So much so that Boudreau didn’t want him to skate in warmups and bring down the other players when they were trying hard for a win after 4 straight losses. Boudreau also wouldn’t say if Semin will play the next game Wed night against the Jets.

by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 22, 2011 4:22 PM MST reply actions