EHM The Blue Line

I have a season ticket so last game was on thursday. LHF - MIK 9-5


http://svt.se/svt/road/Classic/shared/m ... 5&a=693077

The last game I went to was a game in Calgary vs. Buffalo in December 2005. The Flames won 4-1, and completely dominated the Sabres up until the third period. The shots were something like 30-9 for the Flames after the second.

Yesterday night, my lovely Bélougas played home against the Nantes Corsaires, one of our biggest rival, who always beat us those last seasons.

The game itself was really good. I've never seen the Bélougas play so well, especially in their defensive zone. In only 15 days, our defense has strongly improve! We were well positionned and well organized, and play as physical as in every game (maybe a bit more, as it was against a rival ). Our goalie, Thomas Picavet, stopped to play the puck behind his net, which resulted in hazardous passes very dangerous for our team in the previous games.

Nantes put a high forecheck all the game, and we had some difficulties to clear the zone, especially in the second half or the first period, when we nearly never get out of our zone But then our solid defense and a great job from our goalie only allows Nantes to tie the game at 1-1.

Then the public starts to push the Bélougas, and we made a lot of noise, like never before, while both teams were giving their best hockey on the ice, for a superb game! It was definetly war on the ice, and the refs had a lot of work to calm everyone's nerves, with two 10 minutes misconduct penalties for both teams and a lot of minor penalties for elbowing, high-sticking, or checking from behind.

That leads to a lot of power-play opportunities for both teams. The Bélougas were still strong on the power-play, scoring 2 of their 4 goals on the man advantage, including, once again, a superb slapshot from #44 Terry Prunier. It seems that he scores one on every home game, which is pretty good for a D-man .

On the other hand, our PK was strong enough, with only 1 goal conceded on 8 or 9 shortanded situations. Thanks to Picavet for that, as he made once again a really good game in the net.

Finally, we won this exciting game by a score of 4-3. So now the Bélougas are tied for 2nd with 10 points, while Lyon is the new leader, with 11 points, after beating Nice 6-4 at home. It's 4 teams in only 1 point! And the 5th are just 3 points behind, so the battle will be hard to get a spot in the top 4 of the division (which brings teams in the upper pool with top 4 teams of the other division for the 2nd stage of the regular season).

Next saturday, the Bélougas will play home against Mont-Blanc, one of the weakest team of our division. We won 7-2 at Mont-Blanc, so there are great hope for a strong win next week!

I'll keep you tuned!

My last game was was when the Detroit Red Wings demolished Phoenix 9-2. That was such a fun game to go to, it was my first in probably 6 years or so.

I could've gone to the Bruins game (played vs the Senators) on Saturday if I had checked my email and hour or two earlier. A guy I know from the Bruins usenet newsgroup had an extra pair of tickets and offerred them up to me for free. Too bad I didn't check my email until about half an hour after the game was over. And the Bruins actually won that night too!

One more Bélougas' game seen

This time we played against Mont-Blanc, one of the worst team of our division.

During the first third, Toulouse's players didn't seemed really concerned by the game, being really average, and sometimes just mediocre, especially just one week after their superb game against Nantes. After 20 minutes, we were trailing 0-1, with only 3 or 4 shots in the period, while none was dangerous.

The second period was really more animated. Back with higher determination, the Bélougas started to play a more serious game. After about 5 minutes in the second, a player from Mont-Blanc puts his fist in the head of Terry Prunier, one of our defensive star and assistant captain, while the puck was 20 meters away from him. The refs didn't see the foul, as they were concentrated on the play, and so there was no call. But Prunier get back to the locker room for around 10 minutes.

When he came back, there has been a huge ovation by the fans. And we've seen in Prunier's eyes that he had a revenge to take. His presence motivated the team and we started to play better and hit harder. Five minutes later, a demolishing and punishing hit from Prunier send a Mont-Blanc player to the locker-room for the rest of the game, K.O. and with a minor injury on his leg. No call, the hit was legal.

On the scoresheet, Toulouse took two other goals, one was really stupid. But the same time, we scored 4 times, including 3 goals on the power-play, with two of them from the Ribanelli's brothers (David Ribanelli, 36yo, is an ancient international)...and 2 assists for Terry Prunier...

In the first 10 minutes of the third period, the Bélougas scored 3 more power-play goals to take a 7-3 lead. Then Mont-Blanc changed their goalie, and Toulouse just let the last 10 minutes pass by being solid in their defensive zone and aggressive everywhere.

Final buzzer at the Jacques Raynaud Arena, and it's 7-3 for the Bélougas, with a spectacular 6/9 on the power-play!

The battle for the top 4 places becomes more and more hot... Just 5 games remaining before the end of the first phase of the championship...

Yesterday, the Bélougas (1st in south division) where playing home against Lyon (2nd).

I missed the first 10 minutes due to traffic issue, and it was already 2-0 for Toulouse when i entered the arena. Two minutes after, Lyon reduced the score on the power-play.

The second period offered a lot of action and some really good saves by the two goalies. The Bélougas played well on their strength: a strong defense and a good goalie, and a good physical play that irritates the opponents, leading them to take penalties, and then we use our terrific power-play, as we're over 31% (while the second best power-play is "only" 20%). In the middle of the period, Lyon took a lot of penalties, playing 3 vs 5 during around 6 or 7 minutes in a row! But their goalie did fantastic saves: no score In the end of the period, an other power-play opportunity for the Bélougas. Lyon's players PK units were tired by those 3 on 5 long plays, while our guys were still in good shape... Defensemen Benoit Pourtanel (ex-international, several times champion in France with Rouen) came close to the slot and delivered a hard and precise shot. 3-1 after 40 minutes.

So Lyon as tired players who had to make the plays for the last period. The Bélougas played defense only, retreiving the puck from tired opponents, and clearing the zone, without even attempting to counter-attack. After 16 minutes of siege on Picavet's net, Lyon succeeded to score, after a costly mistake from a defensman. For the last 4 minutes, the Bélougas were really in good physical shape, contrary to the opposition, and we took advantage of that by putting a lot more defensive pressure, still retrieving the puck and clearing the zone, calmly waiting the final buzzer.

And the buzzer came with a very good 3-2 win against one of our biggest opponents.

Just 3 games left in the first phase of the season. Next week, we'll go at Chambéry, the last team of the division, already eliminated for the race to the promotion. A win would secure us a place in the upper-group (who will fight for promotion). The week after, we'll play at La Roche, one of the two teams (with Nantes) that beat us this year. It will be a hard fight, but everything's possible. Then there will be two weeks off (holidays for christmas and new year) and our last game of the first phase will be january 6th at home against Cholet.

The date of seeing a hockey game live is approaching for me!!!!

Just two weeks more and I will be at home near Zürich and I will be seeing my beloved ZSC!!!!!

HOPP ZSC!!!!

WOW...cant wait for it!!!

A 5-2 massacre by the Carolina Hurricanes over the Boston Bruins.

I saw that on Bruins website this evening. We have been on a good run of late aswell.

Is anyone really cares about what i write about Bélougas' games and read it full?... Because i like to talk about it and share it, but if you don't care about, i should stop... And if some have questions about french hockey, just let me know and i'll do my best to answer you

Well, if I remember correctly I have seen two or three french hockey games in my entire life and I cant recall who was playing, but I for my part read your game reviews!! Nice job Shaddd!!!

What are the best french players right now??? Except of Cristobal Huet, of course, lol!!!

Are there some french players playing around Europe in other leagues??? Correct my if Iam wrong, but I think there are some frenchmen playing in Germany, right??

Greets

Edit: BTW, could u resolve the problem u had with the NHL highlights??? If not...there are other sites where u can see NHL highlights....like TSN for example!!!

It's hard to follow french hockey... We have only two magazines about hockey in France, and one is every month while the other is every two monthes, and they mainly deal with the NHL.

No hockey on TV. I mailed the FFHG (Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace / French Hockey Federation) to talk to them about free broadcasts on the net. They seem interested and are having a look on it, but the federation is independant only since june 1st, so they need time.

I don't follow that much french hockey, as there is actually no visibility (even for the national team! ) in the medias. So i just follow and support my local team, but i have a better knowledge of the players in the NHL or in the Q (thanks to the broadcasts).

I know that you can find some french players in Germany and Swiss We also have goalie Fabrice Lhenry in Denmark at EfB Ishockey, after winning the Magnus Cup (the french title) two years ago. If i remember well, he plays along with forward Olivier Coqueux, who is (was?) international, at EfB.

Best teams in France are Rouen Dragons (only french team who won a european cup; it was in the 90's; and they are always in the top 4 of the Elite championship), Grenoble Brûleurs De Loups (Grenoble Wolf Burners if we translate), and Amiens Gothiques (as there is a superb gothic cathedral in Amiens).

Next saturday, i'm gonna see the second team of the Bélougas, where we have our juniors and some experienced players. They'll have an important battle for a place in the playoffs, while our top team will play away and will get their qualification for the second phase if they come back with a win.

I'll keep ya all tuned guys

I knew about Rouen because I always remembered the name when watching the EuroCups!! They seemed to be always there, lol, who probably means they are the strongest team in France, right, lol!!!

When I saw french hockey on TV I think (not sure, but I think) it was on Eurosport. I saw a game from the french league and also a game from Rouen in the EuroCup. I remember that because it was pretty unusual to see it on TV!!!
But as I tell u...I still was living in Switzerland, so it has to be at least 11 years ago (and probably a lots more).

As u can imagine, Iam pretty jelous because at least u can see some hockey live!!!LOL!!!

Greets

Are you sure there is absolutely no hockey team in Valencia? Firstly i thought there was none here in Toulouse, and with a search on the net i found there was a team here

And yes, Rouen is a very very strong team here in France In their worse seasons, they reach the semi-finals ^^

Here in Toulouse we have an ancient Rouen player, Benoit Pourtanel, who was fed up with the Elite rythm and wanted something more soft for the end of his carreer. So he came here in Toulouse to help our young team (26 yo average) to be promoted. And even if he's a Dman, he's actually third in points in the division He and forward David Ribanelli are ancient internationals who bring their huge experience to our youngs and help devellopement of some players like Terry Prunier, who is only 22 but already one of our best players.

Shadd666 wrote: Are you sure there is absolutely no hockey team in Valencia? Firstly i thought there was none here in Toulouse, and with a search on the net i found there was a team here

Sadly, yes!!! Absolutely sure!! The only ice surface we have here is something like an ice-disco and the only hockey teams u can find in Spain are in the northern part...also in Barcelona (actually its a section of the soccer club) and in Madrid there are first league hockey clubs, but not here...sadly!!!

But well, never mind....in about two weeks I will see my beloved ZSC!!!!

Yesterday i've been to the Bélougas2 game (our farm team) as they were playing against Montpellier for a playoff spot, while the top team was playing away, also battling for their playoff spot.

And that was a really great night for the Bélougas! The D3 team (aka farm team) won 4-3 with an empty net goal while a tied game would have been enough for a playoff spot. And later on in the night, our top team defeated Chambéry 5-3 on their ice, even if Prunier wasn't there, due to professional reason (keep in mind we're only an amateur team ). So we reach the playoffs too, and are actually still 1st of our division

Not a lot of things about the D3 game, as i was mainly talking with the president of the club and watching which players should make the top team in the near future. According to the president, we have 3 players who will be able to do a good job with the top team in some year. I especially noticed the goalie, who is only 17-18 years old, and is already playing a really good game, with many huge saves! He still needs he better read of plays and a bit more speed on his lateral movements, but he has clearly the talent to go upper And the good new is that he will live in Toulouse for at least 5 years for university, so he'll have at least 5 years with us

Last game I went to was last Friday - Columbus vs. the Flames - not the most entertaining, but heck, my team won so I left a happy man I have tickets for Tuesday's game against the Wild though...

Shadd, recently TV5 or i cant recall what french channel covered a habs game( probably because of Huet!) but it was like 1:00-2:00 in France! Did you watch it?

Habslife wrote:Shadd, recently TV5 or i cant recall what french channel covered a habs game( probably because of Huet!) but it was like 1:00-2:00 in France! Did you watch it?

Damned! I didn't know that! So i didn't see the game I'll have a closer look on the TV programs now...
And if you hear about some NHL action on french channel, feel free to indicate it (in a topic or with a private message)
Thanks

At least hockey again! After away games and 2 weeks of holidays in the league, the Bélougas came back home to play their last game of the first phase against Cholet. Bélougas are already qualified for the upper-group in the 2nd phase, while Cholet is already eliminated and will play the play-down, so there's no stress, just a game to play.

Toulouse started badly, with bad passes and a cruel lack of discipline (10 PIM in the 1st period, 2 times on 3vs5 situations), resulting in two power-play goals from Cholet. As usual, Bélougas' power-play worked well to and allow us to end the first period on a 1-2 score.

In the first 3 minutes of the second period, we scored twice, to take our first lead of the game... But soon, the undiscipline came back, with again other 3vs5 situations, and Cholet gets back in the game. On a powerplay for Toulouse, a big mistake allowed a breakaway for a Cholet's forward and didn't miss to make it 4-3 for the visitors. We conceded an other goal on a beauty collective move well concluded by Cholet's forwards, so it was 3-5 after 40 minutes.

Nothing really exciting during the first 15 minutes of the 3rd period, except big hits and stupid penalties on both sides. Two minutes before the final buzzer, Cholet took 2 penalties, and Toulouse put their goalie out to benefit from a 6vs3 situation, easily transformed to make it a one-goal-game. But then Cholet scored an empty netter that closed the game at 4-6.

After the game, #64 Escuder, Bélougas' captain, took the micro to wish a happy new year to everyone, and apologized for the poor performance of the team, promising far better results and higher determination in the second phase.

Nice to hear it... But now, do the job!

Go Bélougas! Go!

Just got back from the 4-2 Hurricanes win over the Islanders.

Military Appreciation Night.

Finally!!!!

I just returned from my hometown in Switzerland and I was able to see some live hockey 9 years after the last time!!!!

I was in the rebuilt Hallenstadion of Zürich to see ZSC Lions against Servette Geneve!!

That was great!!!

Unlucky for me Serge Aubin and Dale McTavish were injured and Reto Berra was engaged in the Sub 20 World Cup, but I still could see some interesting players like Radoslav Suchy, Robert Petrovicky, Kirby Law, Adrian Wichser, Goran Bezina, Ari Sulander and Shadds666 compatriotes Yorick Traille and Laurent Meunier.

Servette soon got the 2-0 lead in a awful first ZSC period, where they only shot on goal about 3 times, but in the next two periods they came back to tie the game on 2 and both teams had chances to put it away.
At the end we had overtime but it was still tied so we went to the shootout: there Robert Petrovicky scored the only goal and ZSC came away with a narrow win!!

I enjoyed watching a live hockey game again and I hope it doesnt take the same time to repeat the experience!!!

Greets

flea: man, i'm really happy for you being able to watch live hockey I hope too you won't have to wait 9 other years before repeating it

If you want, come to Toulouse and we'll go cheering for the Bélougas together!

Did Traille and Meunier had a good game?

Yes Sir, that would be really great, buddy!!!
Who knows?? Maybe one day I will surprise u and come by when the hockey bug bites me again

I really, really enjoyed the game!!! It was awesome!!!

Both had a good game, specially defensevely. Traille played a real good game on both ends.

Greets