Too Many Men on the Site - A NHL blog

Feb. 4, 2012; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald (47) controls the puck during overtime against the Buffalo Sabres at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Sabres won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

The New York Islanders started the season in 29th place, just above the Columbus Blue Jackets, an now they are 23rd, which is a big jump. In their last 10 games, they went 6-2-2. That is amazing. The team who holds their season-opening spot is Edmonton, with 47 points, and Columbus is dead last still with 36 points. The Isles currently have 52 points. And what is the reason for this sudden success? Let’s find out.

Continue reading this post »

NHL.com’s Top 10 Saves of the Week for the week ending 2/3/12

Jun 12, 2008; Toronto, ON, Canada; Detroit Red WIngs hall of fame member and legend (9) Gordie Howe receives his Lifetime Achievement Award during the NHL Awards at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, ON. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

We all know Gordie Howe from his record-seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and the Hartford Whalers. He scored 801 regular season NHL goals, which is still unbroken to this day, has 1,049 regular NHL season assists, and has starred in a record 23 All-Star Games. But why are they arguing about the illness upon their father? Continue reading this post »

JAN 31, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nashville Predators celebrate a tie breaking goal scored by forward Nick Spaling (13) with 21 seconds left in the game at Xcel Energy Center. The Predators defeated the Wild 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-US PRESSWIRE

On Tuesday night, the Nashville Predators, who are a strong defensive team, took almost what seemed to be a good lashing from Dany Heatley of the Minnesota Wild and turned around in what I consider is a phenominal game and one that could not be reproduced.  Continue reading this post »

Top 10 Saves of the Week for the week ending 1/27/12, from NHL.com

Jan 17, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (5) readies for the faceoff against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Red Wings defeated the Stars 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

At the All-Star break, the Detroit Red Wings were in the lead of the NHL with a great record of 33-16-1., just leading the New York Rangers by one point. The Red Wings have been on fire this whole year, having started the season 5-0 before a spanking from Washington, they have set the franchise record with an ongoing 17 straight home wins, and they just recently had a 7 game win streak. Continue reading this post »

December 5, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) on the ice against the Boston Bruins during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Bruins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

“Not [feeling] bad. I’m not happy about watching. But I have to make sure with these sort of things that I’m careful and making sure I’m 100 percent before coming back. No timetable [for a return].” The question everyone has been asking is when will Sidney Crosby get back into the game? He has had problems since last seasons double-whammy hits in back-to-back games that sent him out with a concussion. When he returned for a few games in the early parts of the season, he left the ice for concussion symptoms. But, the doctor’s haven’t set a time table for when he will come back, until now. Continue reading this post »

In preparation for the week’s All-Star festivities, we’re going to take your pick-by-pick through the 2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Player Draft.

First we’ll introduce the Captains, as Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson, the leading vote-getter amongst all players represents the host city and his Senators. The opposing captain is a man familiar to Senators fans and is the captain of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, Zdeno Chara.

Now both captains already have selected assistant captains as well. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers joins Team Alfredsson, and Joffrey Lupul, a player who many dismissed because of a long-term back injury but is having a breakout season, is part of Team Chara.

The first selection of the draft went to Zdeno Chara and Team Chara and it was a bit of a surprise as Pavel Datsyuk went first overall.

The first selection for Daniel Alfredsson and Team Alfredsson was, not surprisingly, Alfie’s teammate and countryman Erik Karlsson. When asked if Jason Spezza might be angry about not going first, Karlsson responded with ‘Look at Spezza…he’s pissed.’

Second Round: Team Chara goes with teammate Tim Thomas. Team Alfie, looking to make amends with Spezza, takes Jason Spezza with their second pick.

Third Round: Can’t go wrong with talent. Team Chara takes another high-flier in Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin. Meanwhile, Team Alfie goes with a stopper in Jonathan Quick from L.A. Continue reading this post »

The Night that Was:

The only game in the NHL last night featured the best team in the NHL in the Detroit Red Wings visiting their Original Six foe, the Montreal Canadiens. It was not only a surprising start to the game, but a finish as well. Rene Bourque opened the scoring five minutes in with his second as a Canadien (15^th of the year), and that was followed up by Alexei Emelin’s first NHL goal five minutes later. David Desharnais (8) and Tomas Plekanec (10) also added goals for a 4-0 lead after one. Ty Conklin came out in the second to relieve Jimmy Howard (four goals on 12 shots), and it barely got better. Max Pacioretty scored his 17^th 1:52 into the second and David Desharnais added his ninth to make it 6-0 after two. Jiri Hudler would score two third period goals for the Wings but Erik Cole would add his 19^th to close out the 7-2 Canadiens win. Carey Price made 26 saves for his 17^th win, moving him to .500. Desharnais (2g/1a) and Cole (1g/2a) each had three points while Bourque, Pacioretty, and Tomas Kaberle (2 assists) each had two points. Nik Lidstrom didn’t play in the game, sitting it out with the flu, snapping his streak of 213 consecutive games played. It was just the 35^th game of his career he’s missed.

Despite the loss, Detroit retains first overall in the NHL at the All Star break with 67 points, one point ahead of the New York Rangers. The win meanwhile, gives Montreal 47 points and leaves them eight points out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Continue reading this post »

The one division that looks to be the best in NHL betting is the NHL Central Division as the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Chicago Blackhawks were separated by 3 points top to bottom in what looks to be a race of thoroughbreds all the way to the wire.

Detroit was the first place team at the All-Star break as the Red Wings continue their NHL status as the ultimate traditional power. Detroit is nearing two decades of dominance in the NHL and their success is as reliable as a Rolex Watch. Detroit was 33-16-1 and won 8 of their last ten games heading into the All-Star Break. The Red Wings were one of the better balanced teams in the league ranking 5th for goal scoring and 6th for goals against. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has shown considerable improvement as he had a tidy 2.04 goals against average.

The St. Louis Blues have been completely revitalized with new coach Ken Hitchcock, who took over early in the season after the team got off to a lethargic start. St. Louis was 29-13-1-6 for their best record at this point in the season in well over a decade. The Blues are playing Hitchcock’s old defensive oriented system that won him a Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. St. Louis lacks a great goal scorer or offensive depth and ranked just 20th for goals scored but was number one in the NHL for goals against. Goaltender Brian Elliott has an eye popping 1.64 goals against average.

Nashville was 30-16-3-1 and was also more of a balanced team as they ranked 12th in goal scoring and 9th for goals against. The Predators are no longer a surprise team but instead a regular contender and were also among the hottest teams in the league winning 9 of 10 games from January 7 through January 24.

Chicago was 29-15-3-3 and just two years removed from their Stanley Cup championship. The Blackhawks have what the other teams lack in a bona fide goal scoring threat with Jonathan Toews, who had 27 goals and Marian Hossa, who added 20. Patrick Sharp also had 20 goals for the Hawks. Chicago had the 4th ranked offense in the NHL but their defense is a worry and question mark as it ranked 20th for goals against.

In the new-look Central Division, the race to the top is just the first step towards the Stanley’s Cup!