clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Thursday Links - All About Last Names

There's links, only two games yesterday and a video about where last names came from. There's really not much to talk about, though, so meh.

By Donut King
"Yep, you're still good, Vlad."
"Yep, you're still good, Vlad."
Ronald Martinez

I dunno. Is Vladimir Tarasenko still awesome?

BLUES NEWS:

  • The Blues had a late optional skate yesterday, and after it Hitch said there was no update yet on David Backes as he was still being evaluated. He obviously did not take part in the skate. [StL Today / Morning Skate]
  • Scott Burnside can't figure out the Blues either. I would argue there's not much he's figured out either, but hey, I'm trying to be nice today. [ESPN / Cross Checks]
  • Robb took a quick look at the Blues' power play yesterday. I figure I owe him a link to this because he posted this 20 minutes before I posted links yesterday. My bad, Robb! [SLGT]

KNOW YOUR ENEMY--THE ANAHEIM DUCKS:

  • For all your Ducks coverage, head on over to Anaheim Calling. They write good and stuff . . . [Anaheim Calling]
  • And of course, it's a California game, so find Ducks coverage over at Battle of California as well. [Battle of California]
  • Also notable about tonight's opponent . . . Frederik Andersen, the Ducks' number one goalie, just received his new mask for the season, and it's modeled after Reservoir Dogs. "Reservoir Ducks", I guess you could call it. And now Stealers Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You" is playing in my head . . . creepy. Anyway, this mask is fucking brilliant. [CBS Sports Eye on Hockey]

HOCKEY NEWS:

  • Only two games last night, and they ended with finals because hockey games do that. [NHL.com 10/29/14]
  • There's the Blues-Ducks game, and there are nine others this evening. [NHL.com 10/30/14]
  • Rangers defenseman John Moore (I think I mistakenly called him Dominic on Tuesday . . . whoops) was given a five game ban for checking Wild(s) forward Erik Haula in the head Monday. It is noted here that he is, indeed, a repeat offender. [NHL.com]
  • Ryan Lambert takes on "good behavio(u)r", John Scott, the aforementioned John Moore, the Department of Player Safety and so much more in his weekly Puck Daddy Power Rankings. [Puck Daddy]
  • I noted yesterday that Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, had suffered a serious stroke recently. He is showing signs of improvement, according to a family press release. If this DOES foretell the end (and I hope it doesn't), it was quite a good run for him. He's 86 now. [CBS Sports Eye on Hockey]
  • Aside from being one of the most overrated teams in sports, the Avalanche(s) have been really, REALLY bad on the power play so far this season. And for some reason, Nathan MacKinnon is not being used much on it. Well that seems silly. [The Score]
  • In her first Puck Daddy post since being hired on as a hockey analytics columnist, Jen Lute Costella (who also writes for our kindred spirits from up north, The Committed Indian) tells us why Score Effects are the key to all of our #FancyStats. I love the name of this new column, too. [Puck Daddy]
  • Ted Nolan is starting to figure out that the Sabres are SUPPOSED to suck this season, and he doesn't seem to be happy about it, judging from yesterday's practice. The Sabres posted 10 (TEN!) total shots on goal Tuesday night against the Maple Leafs . . . which, well, sucks. [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
  • It will be announced Friday that the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Tournament will be held in Grand Forks, ND in April of that year. That's a step down from the IIHF World Junior Championship. Grand Forks, of course, is home to the University of North Dakota and their powerhouse hockey program. [Grand Forks Herald]
  • Mike Smith has been fuck-awful in net for the Coyotes thus far this season, but Dave Tippett is sticking with him because, well, he's the best they have. [Puck Daddy]

OTHER SHIT:

  • This has to be the most Canadian Maritimes story ever. A Nova Scotia man suspected in a breaking-and-entering case was caught fleeing . . . not by car, not by bike, not by foot . . . but by CANOE. (S/T to Kate) [CBC]
  • The San Francisco Giants are the World Champions of baseball in 2014. They defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-2 and got an astounding performance from World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. Great run for the Royals, though. [Hardball Talk]
  • Will Gordon says that Stella Artois is a disgrace to Belgium. I guess it COULD be. [Deadspin / The Concourse]

VIDEO:

Where do last names/surnames come from? This guy has answers:

And his jokes weren't that funny, actually, but he WAS informative.

Send me links and videos! I'm on one more day this week . . . and I won't flake out on it this time:

And be on the lookout for Beyond Checkerdome Episode 58 later this morning on iTunes and this afternoon here on the mothership. It's another marathon!