Off The Iron: Tuuka Rask Loses His Temper After Shootout Loss

March 21, 2009: Anger management is likely in the future for Tuuka, the Bruins goalie of the future. After a 2-1 Providence Bruins loss in a shootout to the Albany River Rats (AHL), the 22 year-old Rask put on a John McEnroe-esque tantrum display. The River Rats scored 2 controversial shootout goals to clinch the victory and Tuuka proceeded to lose his mind.

He displayed outstanding samurai-like control of his goalie stick as he slashed and hacked at the goal multiple times. He followed that up with slamming his stick against the glass and when the glass didn't fight back (and a somewhat embarrassing falling to the ice - if the rest wasn't embarrassing enough), he flung his stick across the ice. Sometime after that he had time to heave a milk carton across the ice as well. All in all, an impressive display of intensity by the young netminder.

A somewhat clearer video can be seen by clicking here - from ABC Channel 6 in Providence.

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Off The Iron: Hockey Spy's Fav Quotes (Top 10 "Hit" and "Shot Block" Leaders)

Courtesy of Chris McDonell's "Shooting From The Lip" book:

Hall of Fame goalie Jaques Plante, asked if wearing a mask proved that he was afraid:

"If you jumped out of a plane without a parachute, would that prove that you were brave?"

On the theme of bravery, let's take a look at this season's current Top 10 Hit Leaders and Top 10 Shot Block Leaders as of today:

The Top 10 "Hit-men":
1. Cal Clutterbuck - 258
2. Brooks Orpik - 246
3, Dustin Brown - 228 (pictured upper right)
4. Matt Cooke - 220
5. Milan Lucic - 210
6. Ryan Callahan - 209
7. Alexander Ovechkin - 206
8. Evgeny Artyukin - 204
9. Brandon Dubinsky - 188
10. Stephane Robidas - 184

Top 10 Shot Blockers:
1. Zybnek Michelak - 217
2. Brett Clark - 205
3. Greg Zanon - 193
4. Niclas Havelid - 164
5. Mike Komisarek - 163
6. Roman Hamrlik - 151
7. Jason Smith - 148
8. Anton Volchenkow - 141
9. Toni Lydman - 139
10. Matt Greene - 138

For previous "Off The Iron: Hockey Spy's Fav Quotes" posts, click here.

Feel free to email me your favourite hockey quotes (address - click "The Hockey Spy" below).

Keep your stick on the ice!
Chris,
aka
The Hockey Spy

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Off The Iron: Hockey Spy's Fav Quotes (Coaches)

In this edition of Off The Iron, the theme of the quotes are "Coaches". given the recent dismissal of Michel Therrien in Pittsburgh and Craig Hartsburg just a short while ago.

"You can't keep on trading foot soldiers. Sooner or later the general has got to go!"

Pat Burns, after being fired by Toronto Maple Leafs

"This is my third time. They say you're not a good coach 'til you've been fired. I must be getting pretty good!"

Terry Simpson, after being fired by the former Winnipeg Jets.


Now that Therrien and Hartsburg have been given the axe, what other current NHL coaches are one step away from the firing squad. Let's take a quick glimpse:

• Tom Renney (NY Rangers): Rangers have lost 3 in a row and are 2-6-2 in their last 10.
• Guy Carbonneau (Montreal): The Canadiens are 3-7 in their last 10, Carey Price sees the puck as a marble these day, Alexei Kovalev was more interested in impressing at the All-Star game than the meaningful games...BUT would the Habs ever really fire Carbonneau? I seriously doubt it; he would have to resign or there would have to be a "re-structuring" within the organization.
• Wayne Gretzky (Phoenix Coyotes): Yes...I said it! Similar to Carbonneau, Gretz would never be flatout fired since he is a minority owner as well. However, he might soon want to consider taking a step back as his Coyotes are a disasterous 1-9 in their last 10. I thought Olli Jokinen would thrive with Coyotes, but Olli has somehow found a way to drown in the desert!

Vote now in the latest poll on who you think has the highest chance of being "replaced" before season's end.

Keep your stick on the ice!

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Off The Iron: Hockey Spy's Fav Quotes

With the impending trade deadline, here are a few great quotes from trade deadlines gone by:

"I don't care if we lose every game for the next five years and the team goes broke and moves to Moose Jaw, I will not trade Pavel Bure!

Canucks GM Brian Burke, several weeks before trading Pavel Bure to the Panthers.

"We've got no-trade clauses. Nobody wants us!"

Former Flyer now broadcaster Keith Jones, describing himself and Craig Berube.

"Really, there are none. We traded him for a 10th round draft pick in a nine-round draft."

Former Flyers GM, current Flyers Senior Vice President GM Bobby Clarke, on what "future considerations" he received from the Nashville Predators for Sergei Klimentiev.

Keep your stick on the ice!

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Off The Iron: Hockey Spy's Fav Quotes

In light of all the discussions concerning concussions in hockey (click title above for TSN article on concussion and fighting), I am reminded of the following light-hearted quote:

"Tell him he's Wayne Gretzky."

Oilers Coach Ted Green, after Oiler forward Shaun Van Allen suffered a concussion and couldn't remember who he was.

The much anticipated start of The Hockey Spy's trade deadline coverage will soon begin starting with coverage of the Canadian teams, followed by the remaining 4 Original Six teams, with the rest to follow.

Stay tuned to The Hockey Spy...

Keep your stick on the ice!

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Off the Iron: The Hockey Spy's Fav Hockey Quotes

This is the first installment of my favourite hockey quotes.

"I always tell Bobby he was up in the air for so long that I had time to shower and change before he hit the ice." Hall of Fame St. Louis Blues goalie Glenn Hall, on Bobby Orr's famous goal to win the Stanley Cup - right up amongst hockey's most famous goal. The accompanying picture to the left, of course, is one of the most famous and recognizable images in sports history. If you're looking for an interesting read and haven't yet done so, check out Stephen Brunt's "Searching For Bobby Orr". It is an unauthorized biography on Bobby Orr and gives a different perspective on the hockey legend.

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