Checkers III: The Age of Ulf

[Joe McGrath]

So what you're saying is that I can take credit for saying he looked like he was finding a bit more of his offensive game in the last couple of Hurricanes games.

The first goal he scored was a carbon copy of one of the plays you were referencing when he was asserting himself more offensively. It’s just that this time when he centered it out front it bounced off the goalie.

 

[WreckingCrew]

To be even *more* fair to him, basing his NHL potential on overall numbers and refusing to acknowledge that he's been lights-out since Jan. 1 this year is also problematic. This team is not the hottest in the AHL *in spite* of Nedeljkovic. He's been a very big part of their season turning around, and may very well have turned a corner in his own development as a goalie.

While he has certainly gotten better overall since the start of the season, I'd have to argue against him being "lights-out since Jan. 1" In reality, since Jan 1, he has 14 games <.900, 15 games > .900. Now, from what I've seen this season, he's kept us in a few games that could have been blowouts, and a lot of goals he let in were nights where the rest of the team was just terrible and he was hung out to dry (the Checkers don't have the strongest defense). He's improving, better than last year, less shaky/rattled, but he has a LONG road to the NHL still.

 

[Canes]

While he has certainly gotten better overall since the start of the season, I'd have to argue against him being "lights-out since Jan. 1" In reality, since Jan 1, he has 14 games <.900, 15 games > .900. Now, from what I've seen this season, he's kept us in a few games that could have been blowouts, and a lot of goals he let in were nights where the rest of the team was just terrible and he was hung out to dry (the Checkers don't have the strongest defense). He's improving, better than last year, less shaky/rattled, but he has a LONG road to the NHL still.

Yep. I realize he has played better to close out the season. I mean he was at a sub .900 save percentage for awhile to start the season, so obviously he has been better. That still doesn't change the fact that with his numbers he's still a longshot to become a starting goaltender in the NHL. It's nothing personal, just statistics.

 

[My Special Purpose]

So, imagine you're a Canes fan, stuck in Hershey, PA for the time being. Do you make the 1-hour, 35-minute trek to Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night and pay $25 to watch the Checkers try to close this out? I guess that's better than Raleigh-to-Charlotte, but I'm willing to wager I'll be the only person in red in the arena. As you can imagine, not many folks are fans of non-PA teams around here.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Sure, why not?

 

[geehaad]

So, imagine you're a Canes fan, stuck in Hershey, PA for the time being. Do you make the 1-hour, 35-minute trek to Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night and pay $25 to watch the Checkers try to close this out?

You will if you're truly upset that you haven't had a team to root for in the playoffs for 9 years.

 

[Joe McGrath]

So, imagine you're a Canes fan, stuck in Hershey, PA for the time being. Do you make the 1-hour, 35-minute trek to Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night and pay $25 to watch the Checkers try to close this out? I guess that's better than Raleigh-to-Charlotte, but I'm willing to wager I'll be the only person in red in the arena. As you can imagine, not many folks are fans of non-PA teams around here.

Wiles-Barre is a small arena, I had trouble getting tickets (albeit years ago) for a random regular season game. I would make sure you had a ticket in hand before getting there. If they give you shit tell them you’re a huge Dennis Bonvie fan and you’ll be fine.

 

[geehaad]

It sure would be fun to be able to watch the Checkers game going on right now.

Status: went down by 2 goals, scored 2 quick answer goals.

 

[HisIceness]

Finish them tonight!

 

[Unsustainable]

3-2 Checkers after 2

 

[Unsustainable]

5-2 Checkers up

 

[Hulkacaniac]

5-2 Checkers up

 

[Unsustainable]

5-3, 6 mins to go

 

[Unsustainable]

7-3 final

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Greg McKegg (I will never get tired of typing that name) with a three point game.

 

[HisIceness]

♪ ♩Sweep sweep sweep the (baby) Pens, sweep them out the door....
...Merrily merrily merrily merrily Chex have won by 4 (goals) ♪ ♩

 

[DaveG]

 

[emptyNedder]

Let's hope what is happening in Charlotte becomes contagious in the organization. Three games the Checkers were behind--twice by 2-0 and three victories. Just based on his ability to keep the team focused when behind I am becoming more a Vellucci for head coach supporter.

 

[CandyCanes]

Damn they are red hot. Exciting stuff

 

[Tryamw]

Damn they are red hot. Exciting stuff

You could set them on fire but I'm afraid that would cool them down.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Let's hope what is happening in Charlotte becomes contagious in the organization. Three games the Checkers were behind--twice by 2-0 and three victories. Just based on his ability to keep the team focused when behind I am becoming more a Vellucci for head coach supporter.

Don’t worry, we’ll beat that winning spirit of ‘em before the end of training camp.

Happy for them, though. Hoping for a long run.

 

[tarheelhockey]

BTW, should we start a new Checkers thread? “Age of Ulf” is a head coach and 8 marvel movies ago.

 

[NotOpie]

BTW, should we start a new Checkers thread? “Age of Ulf” is a head coach and 8 marvel movies ago.

There's something so "Canes" about it though....

 

[tarheelhockey]

There's something so "Canes" about it though....

20 years later, our kids will wonder when this started and what the hell an Ulf is.

 

[CandyCanes]

BTW, should we start a new Checkers thread? “Age of Ulf” is a head coach and 8 marvel movies ago.

This thread had created two straight playoff teams for Charlotte, don't ruin something that's working. Personally I think we should probably have all our Canes game day talks in this one thread as well, our GDT are just not good enough.