Gauthier hit on Gorges

Here is the video of Denis Gauthier's vicious hit on Josh Gorges from earlier today. Gauthier will likely be receiving a call from the NHL offices in the next couple days about a suspension and possible fine. There's no place in the game for hits like this!

Saturday Fantasy #18

Here is our 18th edition of 'Saturday Fantasy'! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I will select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. The score is deadlocked at 4-4-1!!!. Our picks are as follows...
Chris
F- Alexander Ovechkin, WSH*
D- Jay Bouwmeester, FLA
G- Tomas Vokoun, FLA
Ryan
F- Rick Nash, CLB
D- Mike Green, WSH*
G- Roberto Luongo, VAN

*This is the 2nd time we've used these players...

Morning Skate Deluxe: Saturday, 1/31

Today’s Slate:
Red Wings @ Capitals, 12:30 ET
Rangers @ Bruins, 1:00
Kings @ Canadiens, 2:00
Ducks @ Avalanche, 3:00
Penguins @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Panthers @ Islanders, 7:00
Stars @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Thrashers @ Hurricanes, 8:00
Flyers @ Blues, 8:30
Sabres @ Coyotes, 9:00
Wild @ Canucks, 10:00
Blackhawks @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Day:
Game #1: Detroit Red Wings @ Washington Capitals
12:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (31-10-7) … Capitals (30-15-4)
Last Ten: Red Wings (5-3-2) … Capitals (5-4-1)
Away/Home: Red Wings (15-6-5) … Capitals (19-3-1)
Season Series: 1st Meeting

Players to watch:
DET- Marian Hossa
Hossa has been extremely consistent since the New Year, and needs to continue that success if Zetts is out again.
WSH- Alexander Semin
In 31 games played, Semin has not earned a point in just 4 of those games!! And the team is 1-3 in those 4 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 16-6-1, 2.31 GAA)
WSH- Jose Theodore (08-09 stats: 17-9-2, 2.81 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Henrik Zetterberg (back, questionable), Brad Stuart (ribs, out), Darren McCarty (sports hernia, out)
WSH- Brent Johnson (unknown, questionable), Tom Poti (groin, doubtful), Brian Pothier (concussion, out)

Game Thoughts:
This game means more to Washington than Detroit, without a doubt. The Caps aren’t what you’d call on fire, and need a big win over a team like the Wings to get out of their mini-funk. For Detroit, they’re 0-3-1 in the last 4 games… trouble in Motor City?? Nope, just a speed-bump; that could be bad news for Washington. Nonetheless, I think Ovechkin will be enough for the Caps to get the ‘W’ today in what will be a fun game to watch.

Prediction: Capitals 4, Red Wings 3
----
Game #2: New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Rangers (29-17-4) … Bruins (35-8-6)
Last Ten: Rangers (6-3-1) … Bruins (6-2-2)
Away/Home: Rangers (13-9-2) … Bruins (18-3-3)
Season Series: 1-0 Rangers

Players to watch:
NYR- Marc Staal
Staal needs to play a sound defensive game.
BOS- Milan Lucic
Look for ‘Looch’ to bring more of a physical presence in today’s game.

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 24-14-3, 2.61 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 21-5-5, 2.15 GAA)

Injury Report:
NYR- Ryan Callahan (flu, probable)
BOS- Manny Fernandez (back, doubtful), Petteri Nokelainen (undisclosed, questionable), Marco Sturm (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
Boston has to have a bit of a mean streak after losing the way they did against New Jersey on Thursday. I think they’ll be able to rebound after that tough loss. The Rangers were walloped 6-2 in Pittsburgh as they had a disastrous 3rd period. This game will come down to goaltending, and I believe Thomas will play slightly better than Lundqvist.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Rangers 1
----
Game #3: Chicago Blackhawks @ San Jose Sharks
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Blackhawks (27-14-6) … Sharks (36-6-5)
Last Ten: Blackhawks (4-5-1) … Sharks (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Blackhawks (12-9-3) … Sharks (23-1-2)
Season Series: 2-0 Sharks

Players to watch:
CHI- Patrick Sharp
If the ‘Hawks win, Sharp will be a key element to the victory.
SJ- Milan Michalek
He’s starting to heat up with 8 points in the last 5 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 stats: 14-4-5, 2.35 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (Last 2 Games: 2-0, 2 Shutouts, 55 Saves)

Injury Report:
CHI- Kris Versteeg (finger, questionable), Brent Sopel (elbow, out)
SJ- Dan Boyle (upper body, questionable), Brad Lukowich (sports hernia, out), Torrey Mitchell (leg, doubtful), Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out)

Game Thoughts:
San Jose is on a mission like we’ve never seen before. ‘Nabby’ has picked up 2 consecutive shutouts since the ASG, and they’ve extended their lead in the West to 8 points over Detroit. Chicago is coming off a bad loss in LA, but had a good win in Anaheim before that. I believe we’ll see a mixture of those two teams. The ‘Hawks will fall just short against San Jose for the third time this season.

Prediction: Sharks 4, Blackhawks 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Canadiens over Kings
Ducks over Avalanche
Maple Leafs over Penguins
Panthers over Islanders
Stars over Blue Jackets
Hurricanes over Thrashers
Flyers over Blues
Sabres over Coyotes
Canucks over Wild

Updated Playoff Formula Results...

If you're new to the RLD, or happened to miss it, here's the post that explains the playoff formula...
And now on to the updated results through last night's games...
Key: (Up) = Results went up... (Down) = Results went down

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Boston Bruins... 37.61 (Down)
2. New Jersey Devils... 31.12 (Up)
3. Washington Capitals... 17.08 (Down)
4. New York Rangers... 24.81 (Up)
5. Montreal Canadiens... 21.48 (Up)
6. Philadelphia Flyers... 29.60 (Down)
7. Buffalo Sabres... 21.70 (Up)
8. Florida Panthers... 24.54 (Up)
9. Carolina Hurricanes... 9.78 (Down)
10. Pittsburgh Penguins... 13.08 (Down)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. San Jose Sharks... 40.26 (Down)
2. Detroit Red Wings... 33.87 (Down)
3. Calgary Flames... 23.27 (Up)
4. Chicago Blackhawks... 37.57 (Up)
5. Phoenix Coyotes... 9.99 (Down)
6. Anaheim Ducks... 20.58 (Up)
7. Minnesota Wild... 30.84 (Up)
8. Edmonton Oilers... 20.01 (Down)
9. Dallas Stars... 14.73 (1st Calculation)
10. Columbus Blue Jackets... 8.93 (Down)
11. Vancouver Canucks... 20.51 (Up)

Morning Skate: Friday, 1/30

Tonight’s Slate:
Penguins @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Senators @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Flyers @ Lightning, 7:30
Predators @ Flames, 9:00
Wild @ Oilers, 9:00

Game of the Night:
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Penguins (24-21-4) … Devils (31-15-3)
Last Ten: Penguins (5-5-0) … Devils (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Penguins (12-10-2) … Devils (14-8-1)
Season Series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch:
PIT- Malkin & Crosby
These two must carry the Pens if they wish to beat the red-hot Devils.
NJ- Patrik Elias
Elias is riding a 5-game point streak.

Projected Goaltenders:
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (08-09 stats: 16-12-2, 2.78 GAA)
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (Last night @ BOS: 24 Saves, 3 GA)

Injury Report:
PIT- Brooks Orpik (undisclosed, doubtful), Ruslan Fedotenko (hand, out), Mike Zigomanis (shoulder, out), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder, out)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out)

Game Thoughts:
Up 2-0, down 3-2, win 4-3 in OT… that was the tale of New Jersey’s 7th straight win in Boston last night. They’re the hottest team in the NHL, and have leapfrogged Washington for 2nd in the East. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, came up with a big 6-2 win over the Rangers on Wednesday. The Pens seem to have some confidence back… but it won’t be enough to stop these Devils. Fleury may have to play his best game of the year for Pittsburgh to get 2 much-needed points.

Prediction: Devils 4, Penguins 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Blue Jackets over Senators
Flyers over Lightning
Predators over Flames
Oilers over Wild

This week's 'Let's Make a Deal'

Bruins get:
D Mathieu Schneider
RW Colby Armstrong
Thrashers get:
G Manny Fernandez
2nd Round Pick

I really think this could realistically happen. Boston may use Fernandez as trade bait to strengthen their forward and/or defensive corps. Manny may not like the deal, but he’d at least play every night with Atlanta. Plus, if he continues his great play, the Thrashers may be able to sign him for next year. For Boston, Schneider would be a perfect fit as he’s just what that team needs: a veteran, savvy d-man. And then Colby Armstrong, who is starting heat up, would also be a good fit with the Bruins. He’d provide good depth on the 3rd or 4th line.

Morning Skate Deluxe: Thursday, 1/29

Tonight’s Slate:
Devils @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Lightning @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Islanders @ Thrashers, 7:00
Canadiens @ Panthers, 7:00
Stars @ Red Wings, 7:30
Senators @ Blues, 8:30
Maple Leafs @ Avalanche, 9:30
Blackhawks @ Kings, 10:30
Coyotes @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Game #1: New Jersey Devils @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Devils (30-15-3) … Bruins (35-8-5)
Last Ten: Devils (7-3-0) … Bruins (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Devils (16-7-2) … Bruins (18-3-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Bruins

Players to watch:
NJ- Brendan Shanahan
‘Shanny’ has 2 goals in the 3 games since his return.
BOS- Patrice Bergeron
Bergeron looked really good Tuesday night in his first game back from a concussion.

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (08-09 stats: 20-9-1, 2.25 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 21-5-4, 2.09 GAA)

Injury Report:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out)
BOS- Michael Ryder (flu, questionable), Manny Fernandez (undisclosed, doubtful), Marco Sturm (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
This one will probably be played like it’s a playoff game. In my opinion, it’s kind of a statement game for both clubs. Boston survived a serious fight from the Caps the other night, and New Jersey will bring a similar approach. I’m going with gut instinct, and think the Devils will escape Beantown with 2 points.

Prediction: Devils 2, Bruins 1
----
Game #2: Montreal Canadiens @ Florida Panthers
7:00 ET… TV: TSN, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canadiens (27-14-6) … Panthers (22-17-8)
Last Ten: Canadiens (6-4-0) … Panthers (6-1-3)
Away/Home: Canadiens (12-10-2) … Panthers (11-6-5)
Season Series: 3-0 Canadiens

Players to watch:
MTL- Robert Lang
Lang is in a bit of a drought after his hot stretch earlier this month.
FLA- Tomas Vokoun
‘Voky’ has to be a brick wall between the pipes tonight against the high-flying Habs.

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (08-09 stats: 16-6-5, 2.44 GAA)
FLA- Tomas Vokoun (08-09 stats: 13-13-3, 2.66 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL- Alex Tanguay (shoulder, out), Georges Laraque (back, out), Mathieu Dandenault (arm, out)
FLA- Rostislav Olesz (sports hernia, out), Bryan Allen (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
Montreal suffered a bad 5-3 loss in Tampa two nights ago, and will be looking to rebound in Florida. They’ve dominated the season series thus far, but needed a shootout to beat the Panthers earlier this month in Montreal. Every game is big for Florida down the stretch. I like the Canadiens to win a close one…

Prediction: Canadiens 4, Panthers 3 (SO)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Lightning over Hurricanes
Thrashers over Islanders
Red Wings over Stars
Blues over Senators
Avalanche over Maple Leafs
Blackhawks over Kings
Sharks over Coyotes

What's Next for Detroit?

The news about Henrik Zetterberg’s massive contract extension (12 years, $72 mil) has left me thinking what the Red Wings will do with a couple other key players. Zetterberg will be making an average of $6 mil a year, which will put Detroit over the salary cap. Forwards Marian Hossa and Johan Franzen are due to become unrestricted free agents this summer, and both will almost assuredly receive a pay raise. And another thing to keep in mind is that GM Ken Holland will likely search for goaltending help this summer, also.

So here’s the question… what should Detroit do come late June/July?? It feels like Hossa is a one-and-done player in the Motor City, even though he loves the experience of playing there. He could rake in over $8 mil a year on his new contract, depending on the re-structuring of the cap. Teams would elect to sign Hossa over Gaborik, in my opinion. Then we head to Franzen, who is currently making $1.15 mil. That will certainly go up to the $4-5 mil range, and maybe more. I can’t see Detroit having enough room to re-sign ‘The Mule’, especially if they want to sign an elite goalie. So if they don’t bring back Franzen or Hossa, are Datsyuk and Zetterberg enough up front to keep the Wings one of the elite teams in the league?? Absolutely… and they’ll find a ‘diamond in the rough’ player that will have instant success (like they always do).

Now between the pipes… is Osgood good enough to be a #1 starter?? Not anymore. He’s a 1B-type at best. They’re lucky they got Ty Conklin for dirt cheap ($750 K). And since ‘Conks’ is a UFA after this season, he may go elsewhere and make bigger bucks. Niklas Backstrom will likely be on the market this year, and I can see Holland making a run at him. Backstrom is currently a favorite to win the Vezina, and he may not want to remain in Minnesota after this year. He’ll be asking for a 3-4 year deal in the $5-6 mil range for sure. Detroit may not be able to fit that type of contract under the cap, but can’t you see Lidstrom and Datsyuk taking pay-cuts to bring in an elite goalie?? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Manny Fernandez, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Dwayne Roloson, all of whom are UFA’s this summer, would probably be cheaper routes for Detroit to go.

None of these decisions will be made until after they’re season is finished, but whatever Detroit does, the organization will make the right decision and stay at the top of the standings for years to come.

Morning Skate: Wednesday, 1/28

Tonight’s Slate:
Rangers @ Penguins, 7:00 ET
Sabres @ Flames, 8:00
Blackhawks @ Ducks, 10:00
Predators @ Canucks, 10:30

Game of the Night:
Buffalo Sabres @ Calgary Flames
8:00 ET… TV: TSN, NHL Net. (US)

Records:
Overall: Sabres (25-18-5) … Flames (28-14-4)
Last Ten: Sabres (7-3-0) … Flames (7-3-0)
Away/Home: Sabres (12-9-3) … Flames (17-5-3)
Season Series: 1st Meeting

Players to watch:
BUF- Drew Stafford
How will he do after netting a hat trick in Edmonton last night??
CGY- Daymond Langkow
I just have a gut feeling Langkow will make an impact on tonight’s game.

Projected Goaltenders:
BUF- Ryan Miller (Last night @ EDM: 36 Saves, 2 GA)
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (08-09 stats: 28-12-3, 2.82 GAA)

Injury Report:
BUF- Henrik Tallinder (upper body, doubtful), Teppo Numminen (face, out), Andrej Sekera (lower body, out), Patrick Kaleta (neck, out), Maxim Afinogenov (groin, out)
CGY- Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)

Game Thoughts:
The Sabres are coming off a historic 10-2 win in Edmonton last night. Do they have enough left in them?? I don’t think so. The Flames are 8-1 in their last 9 home games, and are in complete control of the Northwest Division. I believe the Sabres will ultimately fall into the ring of fire tonight at the Saddledome.

Prediction: Flames 4, Sabres 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Penguins over Rangers
Blackhawks over Ducks
Canucks over Predators

The Week Ahead

Top 5 games I’m looking forward to:
1. Red Wings @ Capitals (Saturday)
2. Capitals @ Bruins (Tonight)
3. Bruins @ Canadiens (Sunday)
4. Blackhawks @ Sharks (Saturday)
5. Devils @ Bruins (Thursday)

Teams with the most on the line:
1. Boston Bruins
The B’s don’t have much on the line, necessarily, but they have some things to prove. They’ll play the Caps, Devils, and Habs… who are all sitting right behind Boston in the standings. I want to see what Boston can do in those 3 games with a shorthanded lineup.
2. Nashville Predators
I won’t go as far as saying their playoff hopes are on the line, but the Preds’ 3 games in Western Canada are extremely important. The games in Vancouver and Edmonton are vital to their hopes of climbing back into the thick of things, and Friday’s game in Calgary will be tough as well.

National TV Schedule (US):
Tuesday-
Capitals @ Bruins… VERSUS
Saturday-
Penguins @ Maple Leafs… NHL Network
Wild @ Canucks… NHL Network

Morning Skate: Tuesday, 1/27

Tonight’s Slate:
Capitals @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Rangers, 7:00
Red Wings @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Devils @ Senators, 7:30
Canadiens @ Lightning, 7:30
Flyers @ Panthers, 7:30
Maple Leafs @ Wild, 8:00
Thrashers @ Stars, 8:30
Sharks @ Avalanche, 9:00
Sabres @ Oilers, 9:00
Ducks @ Coyotes, 9:00

Game of the Night:
Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN

Records:
Overall: Capitals (30-15-3) … Bruins (34-8-5)
Last Ten: Capitals (6-4-0) … Bruins (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Capitals (11-12-2) … Bruins (17-3-2)
Season Series: 2-0 Capitals

Players to watch:
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom
Look for Backstrom to break out of a 3-game pointless streak.
BOS- David Krejci
I believe Krejci will continue his breakout year with another stellar performance tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Jose Theodore (08-09 stats: 17-9-1, 2.81 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 20-5-4, 2.09 GAA)

Injury Report:
WSH- Tom Poti (groin, questionable), Shaone Morrisonn (lower body, questionable), Brent Johnson (unknown, questionable), Brian Pothier (concussion, out)
BOS- Milan Lucic (shoulder, questionable), Phil Kessel (mono, out), Patrice Bergeron (concussion, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Andrew Ference (leg, out)

Game Thoughts:
Washington has Boston’s number so far this season, and I think the B’s will take exception to that tonight. It’s hard to predict games right after the All-Star Break, but I like the Bruins to win a close one.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Capitals 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Rangers over Hurricanes
Red Wings over Blue Jackets
Devils over Senators
Lightning over Canadiens
Panthers over Flyers
Wild over Maple Leafs
Stars over Thrashers
Sharks over Avalanche
Sabres over Oilers
Coyotes over Ducks

April 15 can't come soon enough!

If you ask die-hard NFL fans, they’ll say the NFL Playoffs cannot be matched. If you ask any big baseball fan, they’ll say October is the best month of baseball there is. If you ask NBA fans, they’ll say – well, let’s not kid ourselves here!
We hockey fans have something that blows that stuff away: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. From mid-April through mid-June, not one sport can match the excitement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs over such a long period… not one! Here are 3 reasons why:
The Atmosphere
Let me paint you a picture here. You’re the goalie. The clock on the scoreboard in the arena strikes 2:00 before they sing the anthem(s), and seconds later, the players will come running onto the ice. You’re sitting in your locker, staring at the ground in your zone where no one says a word to you. Your knees are shaking in your pads. You reach the door of the locker room, and hear the crowd roaring. You start walking down the runway and you see the light at the end of tunnel where 20,000 screaming, towel-waving fans are awaiting. You reach the ice, and the adrenaline rush is exhilarating. That’s how the Cup changes everything. And as the game goes on, everything is cheered on by your fans… the penalty kills, the checks, the scoring chances… you name it! The anticipation of a goal, especially on the power play, is second to none.

Overtime
Overtime… where do I begin? Every shift has the capability of changing the series. You can be down in the series 3-2. One mistake, one letdown, one bad shift change, one bounce of the puck, and you can either tie it up at three, or go home for the summer. Heroes are born in overtime. It can last until the wee hours of the morning, or end in a blink of an eye.


Game 7 of the finals
Every Game 7 is special… but when it occurs in the Stanley Cup Finals, it’s extremely special. It’s the last game of the season. After 60 minutes, you’ll either be circling the ice in heaven with Lord Stanley in your hands; or you’ll be sitting in a quiet locker room, knowing you were just three periods away from elation. Every kid dreams about it on the pond in their backyard. Hoping someday, they could be a hero in game seven of the Cup Finals. Not to mention, the atmosphere cannot be topped at any sporting event…


And there are so many more reasons why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best any sport can offer! Are you ready yet!?!?

2nd Half Mini-Preview

Dates that I have circled on my calendar:
Sat. January 31st
- Matinee hockey: Wings/Caps, Rangers/Bruins… there’s nothing better than weekend afternoon games after the ASG, and what a lineup we have this Saturday!!
Sat. February 7th
- A great slate of games… starting with Flyers/Bruins at lunchtime, and ending with ‘Hawks/Canucks
Tue. February 10th
- The most important game on this date is Red Wings/Preds, no doubt!! Haha, just kidding… San Jose and Boston will battle it out in a possible preview of the finals!
Sun. February 15th
- Sharks/Devils in the afternoon, Habs/Canucks at night… now that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!
Sat. February 21st
- ‘Hockey Day in Canada’… all 6 Canadian teams will be facing off in a CBC triple-header!!
Wed. March 4th
- Trade Deadline at 3 PM EST… always a big day in the NHL. But will we have a bunch of movement this time around?? Every team (minus the Isles) is still hopeful for the playoffs, and the salary cap seems to be more of a problem than usual. Us hockey die-hards may be disappointed in the action that March 4th delivers…
Tue. March 17th
- ‘Hawks/Devils, Rangers/Habs, Flyers/Wings, Sharks/’Yotes… need I say more!?
Mon. March 30th
- The 4th and final regular season duel between San Jose and Calgary, my favorite matchup to watch (ahead of Bruins/Habs!)
Sun. April 12th
- The last day of regular season… ‘Hawks/Wings and Flyers/Rangers are the only notable games. I love it when the first round matchups are set on this day, and the playoff schedule is released later on at night.
Wed. April 15th
- The madness begins!!!!!

Some storylines I’ll be watching:
- Will the Penguins be able to right the ship and surge into the postseason??
- Can the Canucks secure a playoff berth with Luongo healthy (maybe) and Sundin on board??
- Who will win the President’s Trophy… Sharks, Bruins, or Wings??
- Can Alex Ovechkin win back-to-back Hart, Art Ross, and Rocket Richard trophies??
- What big names, if any, will be moved before the deadline??
- Will Mason & Nash lead the Jackets to their first playoff berth in franchise history??
- How (and when) will Martin Brodeur return from injury??
- Who will emerge as the favorites for the ‘Tavares Sweepstakes’??
- Will the financial situation get any better in Phoenix??
- How long can GM Bryan Murray survive in Ottawa??
- Can Montreal deliver a Stanley Cup in their centennial season??
- Will the Preds rally and qualify for the playoffs for the 5th straight year??

We have 76 days left in the 2008-09 regular season… buckle up & enjoy the ride everyone!!

ASG recap/thoughts

- East won 12-11 in a shootout
- Alexei Kovalev received the MVP, along with a nice car!

This weekend obviously failed to live up to expectations (whats new!), but it had its moments. Ovechkin's antics last night in the SuperSkills were humorous, and the game tonight was some-what exciting in the 3rd and overtime. And hell, we had our first penalty in the ASG since 2000 (I think) when Sandis Ozolinsh committed the penalty. Mike Komisarek hooked Ryan Getzlaf on a breakaway in overtime in tonight's game. And then the NHL had its way as Ovechkin and Kovalev won the shootout for the East. But the game as a whole was pretty boring, and VERSUS provided waaaaay to many interviews while the play was going on. Christine Simpson and Bob Harwood don't need to interview all of those players!
Next year, I'm looking forward to having the 3-week Olympic Break for the Vancouver Games. It's not looking like the All-Star Game will stick around much longer, barring a major change...

Saturday Fantasy #17: Special Edition

Here is our 17th edition of 'Saturday Fantasy', and it's a special edition for the All-Star Game! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I will select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. Chris and I are tied at 4-4-1 after last Saturday. These selections will not count against the max of 3 uses per player.
Chris
F- Marc Savard, BOS
D- Dan Boyle, SJ
G- Roberto Luongo, VAN
Ryan
F- Joe Thornton, SJ
D- Andrei Markov, MTL
G- Henrik Lundqvist, NYR

AO in the Breakaway Challenge

SuperSkills recap/thoughts

Contest Winners:
Fastest Skater... Andrew Cogliano, EDM
Breakaway Challenge... Alex Ovechkin, WSH
Accuracy Shooting... Evgeni Malkin, PIT
Hardest Shot... Zdeno Chara, BOS
Elimination Breakaway... Shane Doan, PHX

Thoughts:
Tonight's festivities were alright, but you could tell the players didn't give a flip. The Breakaway Challenge was a joke, but Ovie provided the moment of the night when he received some props from countryman Evgeni Malkin (pic above). But the other 5 who participated in the challenge lolly-gagged throughout the full 60 seconds they were given to show off their moves. The Fastest Skater was the same way... Cogliano and Mason Raymond were the only ones who skated hard, and they aren't even apart of the ASG (just the YoungStars Game). The Accuracy Shooting & Hardest Shot have always been interesting to watch, and Chara set a record tonight for the hardest shot (105.4 mph!!). I liked the Elimination Breakaway... I thought it was fun and a good way to end the night. Doan really surprised me, and Marc Savard provided good insight as he was mic'd up from ice level. And poor Mark Streit... an Islander would skate into one of the advertisement props and take a fall to the ice!! Haha.

The YoungStars Game was a complete joke, though. And it wasn't just the quality of the game... VERSUS did an awful job covering it. 2 goals and a couple breakaways were missed due to pointless replays. I honestly don't like the Rookies/Sophomores concept, either. They should've combined the two into East/West. Rookies won, by the way, 9-5 (Blake Wheeler - MVP).

And one thing about the players intros... don't you think the crowd was trying to convince Vincent Lecavalier that Montreal is the place to be, not Tampa!?!? The PA announcer let the half-ass ovation go on for a good 30-45 seconds.

All in all, the SuperSkills was only worth watching tonight because it was in Montreal. If it were in a city that didn't care about having the ASG, I probably would have turned it off right away. Let's see what the actual game will bring us tomorrow...

'Let's Make Some Deals'

Trade #1
Penguins get:
RW Nathan Horton
Panthers get:
D Kris Letang
C Dustin Jeffrey
2nd & 4th Round Picks

Although it doesn’t seem likely the Panthers would trade away one of their best players in the midst of a postseason chase, the rumor is gaining some steam. The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Pittsburgh is interested in acquiring Horton. Alright, so let’s make a deal!! Horton goes to the Pens for Letang, Jeffrey, and a couple picks. Letang isn’t reaching his potential in Pittsburgh, and could get lost/forgotten once Gonchar comes back. Jeffrey has some upside, and the picks obviously have value. But I honestly couldn’t see the logic of Florida trading away Horton if they don’t get someone legit in return.

Trade #2
Panthers get:
C Daniel Briere
D Ossi Vaananen
5th Round Pick
Flyers get:
D Jay Bouwmeester
RW Radek Dvorak
2nd Round Pick

There have been whispers that Philly would like to get Briere’s contract off their books. The Flyers need some bulk on defense for a playoff run. They’re proving that they don’t need Briere in the lineup… the emergence of Jeff Carter has put that to bed. So here we go; Paul Holmgren sends Briere and d-man Vaananen to Florida, along with a 5th-rounder. The Panthers would send pending UFA’s Bouwmeester and Dvorak to Philly, along with a 2nd-rounder. The Flyers would love getting two pending UFA’s that wouldn’t count against their salary cap next season. Jay-Bo and Dvorak would be very useful for them down the stretch. On the Panthers’ side of things, they’d get the playoff-savvy Briere and Vaananen, who’d help with the blue line depth. And with Briere, the Panthers would receive a player the franchise & fan base would benefit from. I’d there is less than 2% of this deal actually going down, but does make sense for both sides.

Contenders/Pretenders

CONTENDER-
Edmonton Oilers
My pre-season pick to win the Northwest got off to a sluggish start in the fall. But they’ve started to string some wins together and have climbed all the way to 6th in the West. Ales Hemsky, one of my hockey heroes for beating Detroit in the ’06 playoffs, recorded 6 points in the first 2 games back from injury; he’s someone to look out for after the break. Someone else to look at is Sam Gagner. He started the season in a horrible funk, but is slowly turning it around. The fate of this team will ride on the shoulders of 39-year-old Dwayne Roloson. If he can improve his game in the 2nd half just a tad, the Oilers will be playing more than 82 games.

PRETENDER-
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sorry, Jackets fans… it’s the truth. This is an 8-seed at best, and probably wouldn’t give Detroit or San Jose much of a series. But, Ken Hitchcock has done a really good job letting rookie Steve Mason loose and becoming a big-time stud between the pipes. Rick Nash is his usual self, and has more of a supporting cast this time around. The West, though, is jam-packed and I can’t see an inexperienced Columbus team making their first postseason in franchise history.

CONTENDER-
Buffalo Sabres
Lindy Ruff and company are 6-3 since New Year’s and are playing much better hockey. Ryan Miller is playing pretty well between the pipes, boasting a 22-12-4 record with a 2.55 GAA. GM Darcy Regier will need to make a few adjustments at the deadline. Trading Afinogenov for a defenseman should be high on his priority list. If Vanek and Roy can get hot in March and carry the team to a playoff spot, I could see Buffalo making a 'Cinderella'-type playoff run.

PRETENDER-
Carolina Hurricanes
This team is so hard to figure out, so it’s difficult to give ‘em a tag like this so early. But if I were to choose right now, I’d say they are pretenders… and here’s why. Cam Ward is bipolar in net. He’ll go through a dominant 5-game stretch, and then become a sieve for the next couple weeks. This is a team that will need a boost from a trade to propel them into the playoffs (maybe Tkachuk or Guerin?).

CONTENDER-
Minnesota Wild
Jacques Lemaire’s club is a contender, and here’s why. Niklas Backstrom… period. To me, he should be the Vezina favorite at this point. And what if Marian Gaborik comes back healthy in mid-March?? You know he’ll be looking to up his value for July 1. That would be a HUGE boost to the Wild if that happened. Also, they’re starting to get more production from the blue-line (Zidlicky & Burns). So I like this team to give Detroit or San Jose a run for their money if they can make the playoffs.

PRETENDER-
Phoenix Coyotes
You cannot overlook how good it was for this team to beat teams like Calgary, Detroit, and Vancouver recently. But on the same token, you can’t ignore their other road performances this month (and the home debacle against the ‘Hawks). My Playoff Formula doesn’t lie for the ‘Yotes… they’re not built for the playoffs, and don’t gave good intangibles. I expect them to fade down the stretch… prove me wrong, Phoenix!

CONTENDER-
Pittsburgh Penguins
For this team to stay even remotely close to the top 8 in the East, both Malkin and Crosby have to stay healthy… and Fleury needs to wake up! Michel Therrien seems to be safe for now, but one more bad streak could close the deal. I still think they’re a contender to make a run, though, just because they’re the Pens. Sid and ‘Geno are capable of making some magic, and they need to get hot at the right time.

PRETENDER-
Florida Panthers
This team is kind of like Carolina… I want another month to see what they’re all about. Any other year, they’d be flirting with the cellar about this time, and then make an unrealistic run for the postseason in March before falling flat in the final couple weeks. Vokoun has to get really hot, because Craig Anderson can’t be their #1 if Florida wishes to make the playoffs for the first time in forever. I expect to linger around as long as possible, but not make any noise if they sneak in.

The RLD Playoff Formula

Welcome to the next ‘BIG’ thing that is coming to the RLD… the ‘RLD Playoff Formula’. This isn’t a formula telling you who is going to MAKE the playoffs… it simply lets you know who is playoff-ready at the moment. The higher the rating, the better. Without further ado, here it is. It’s pretty complicated, so stay with me.

The 5 Ingredients:
1. Road record vs. playoff teams
2. Regulation wins vs. playoff teams
3. Special teams
4. Home-ice advantage
5. Consistent goaltending

Here's how it goes down:
1. Road record vs. playoff teams… Teams have to prove they can win on the road against the best competition.
- You come up with the team's record on the road against playoff teams. Take the total points accumulated in those games and divide it by the number of games.
- Ex: San Jose is 5-4 in this category (10 pts in 9 gms = 1.11)
2. Regulation wins vs. playoff teams… Teams would like to prove they don’t need more than 60 minutes to beat a playoff team; if you can beat a playoff team in regulation, it looks so much better than doing so in overtime/shootout.
- You take all the wins against playoff teams that occurred in regulation. Just take the points accumulated from those wins.
- Ex: San Jose has 13 wins in this category (26 pts.)
3. Special teams… To win in the playoffs, you must have good special teams, case closed.
- Ex: San Jose has the #4 power play and #5 penalty kill... 4+5=9... the Sharks are tied for 1st in the NHL when you add each team's special teams together like this. They lost the tie-breaker, so they get 29 points. The Flyers (#2 PP, #7 PK) won the tie-breaker (total percentages) with San Jose, so they get 30 points. Minnesota is 3rd in combined special teams, so they get 28 points… yada yada.
4. Home-ice Advantage… This category is in here because you have to defend your own barn, especially in a must-win situation.
- This is the total points accumulated in home games.
- Ex: San Jose is 22-1-2 at home (46 pts.)
5. Consistent Goaltending… Let’s face it, you don’t get a ring if your goalies aren’t clutch and consistent.
- Take the team GAA
- San Jose has a team GAA of 2.38

Here is the actual formula:
Step 2 + Step 3 + Step 4 = b (xStep 1) = c (/Step 5)
Ex: San Jose’s formula…
- 26 + 29 + 46 = 101
- 101 x 1.11 = 112.11
- 112.11 / 2.38 = 47.11 - the rating
Another example: Detroit’s formula…
- 26 + 23 + 34 = 83
- 83 x 1.23 = 102.09
- 102.09 / 2.87 = 35.57

Here are the results for the Western Conference teams (#1-10):
1. San Jose Sharks… 47.11
2. Detroit Red Wings… 35.57
3. Calgary Flames… 20.64
4. Chicago Blackhawks… 36.48
5. Phoenix Coyotes… 13.95
6. Edmonton Oilers… 22.92
7. Vancouver Canucks… 15.57
8. Anaheim Ducks… 14.13
9. Minnesota Wild… 22.43
10. Columbus Blue Jackets… 10.74
- So here what the formula is implying for the West… even though the Coyotes are #5 in the conference, Minnesota at #9 is a better playoff team at the moment, and so on.
- And it’s also saying that the Oilers (#6) have a higher rating than the Flames (#3), and that Calgary would have a tough time beating Edmonton if they happened to play each other in the 1st round. On the flip side, the Sharks and Blackhawks would destroy the Ducks and Coyotes, respectively.

Eastern Conference Results (#1-10):
1. Boston Bruins… 44.39
2. Washington Capitals… 22.26
3. New Jersey Devils… 25.80
4. Montreal Canadiens… 15.82
5. New York Rangers… 23.10
6. Philadelphia Flyers… 34.14
7. Buffalo Sabres… 20.28
8. Carolina Hurricanes… 12.10
9. Florida Panthers… 18.13
10. Pittsburgh Penguins… 14.30
- Now, I know you’re going to say that Montreal is a much better Cup contender than Florida. Ok, you’re right… but the Habs are 3-7-1 on the road against playoff teams this season. And remember, they were 1-4 away from the Bell Centre last spring. Montreal is not a team built for the playoffs.

The formula does not take in account regular season head-to-head matchups, how hot a team is going into the playoffs, or how much playoff experience a team has… it simply states the facts. I understand this system is not perfect, but it's a pretty accurate barometer IMO.

Look for the Playoff Formula right here on the RLD constantly from now ‘til the postseason. I’ll update it as much as possible from here on out, because these numbers will change on a daily basis. Also, I could add a couple extra kinks to it when it’s all said and done.

1st Half Awards

Hart Trophy:
1. Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals (31 G, 28 A, +13)
Ovechkin is proving why he’s so important to the Caps’ lineup. The team has taken off ever since he came back from injury in early November.
2. Jarome Iginla, Flames
3. Zach Parise, Devils

Vezina Trophy:
1. Niklas Backstrom, Wild (22-15-2, 2.22 GAA, .926 SV%)
‘Backs’ is the catalyst for Minnesota, and their playoff hopes ride on his shoulders. He has been tremendous this year, and beats out Thomas for this since he starts almost every night.
2. Tim Thomas, Bruins
3. Steve Mason, Blue Jackets

Norris Trophy:
1. Dan Boyle, Sharks (13 G, 25 A, +12)
Boyle has been an absolute steal for San Jose, as he’s made this team so much better. I think he’s been that missing piece that the Sharks have been missing the last few years. He’s been great on special teams, and is clutch.
2. Zdeno Chara, Bruins
3. Shea Weber, Predators

Calder Trophy:
1. Steve Mason, Blue Jackets (17-11-2, 2.05 GAA, .926 SV%)
Mason is a budding superstar in this league, and is taking Columbus by storm. The Jackets have turned into a playoff contender this year after he was given the #1 job between the pipes.
2. Kris Versteeg, Blackhawks
3. Blake Wheeler, Bruins

Jack Adams Award:
1. Claude Julien, Bruins
What Julien has done this year with all the injuries is truly remarkable. Boston is officially back and better than ever!
2. Todd McLellan, Sharks
3. Joel Quenneville, Blackhawks

Exciting finishes from last night!

Caps @ Sens

Jackets @ Oilers

Canucks @ Sharks

Morning Skate: Wednesday, 1/21

Tonight’s Slate:
Canadiens @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Ducks @ Islanders, 7:00
Thrashers @ Flyers, 7:00
Bruins @ Maple Leafs, 7:30
Sabres @ Lightning, 7:30
Stars @ Panthers, 7:30
Blues @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Kings @ Avalanche, 9:00
Blue Jackets @ Flames, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ New Jersey Devils
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canadiens (27-12-6) … Devils (28-15-3)
Last Ten: Canadiens (7-3-0) … Devils (7-3-0)
Away/Home: Canadiens (12-8-2) … Devils (13-8-1)
Season Series: 2-0 Devils

Players to watch:
MTL- The Kostitsyns
The brothers were both a -2 last night in Atlanta, and are key components to the Habs’ offense.
NJ- Zach Parise
He continues to be their best offensive threat, and the Devils may need him to pitch in tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (Last night vs. ATL: 9 Saves, 1 GA in 35+ min.)
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (08-09 stats: 18-9-1, 2.30 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL- Alex Tanguay (shoulder, out), Mathieu Dandenault (arm, out), Saku Koivu (ankle, out), Christopher Higgins (shoulder, out), Georges Laraque (back, out)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out)

Game Thoughts:
This is a big game for both teams as tonight could be a preview of a playoff matchup this spring. Brendan Shanahan made his return Monday in Nashville, and was active with a goal on 6 shots. Montreal suffered a disheartening loss in Atlanta last night, and must put that behind ‘em to have any chance tonight. But I still like New Jersey at home with an extra day of rest.

Prediction: Devils 4, Canadiens 3
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Islanders over Ducks
Flyers over Thrashers
Bruins over Maple Leafs
Sabres over Lightning
Panthers over Stars
Blackhawks over Blues
Avalanche over Kings
Flames over Blue Jackets

This week's 'Let's Make a Deal'

Oilers get:
RW Bill Guerin
C Doug Weight
Islanders get:
D Ladislav Smid
RW Rob Schremp
2009 4th Round Pick

Edmonton could get a big boost from the Islanders and acquire ex-Oilers Guerin and Weight; both are free agents this summer. Weight has rejuvenated his game this year on the Island, scoring 32 points in 37 games… and Guerin would bring veteran leadership to the team. I think the Oilers will have to make a couple additions to propel into the playoffs. On New York’s side of things, they’d get an under-achieving d-man in Ladislav Smid. He has been a bust as one of the centerpieces in the Pronger deal in the summer of 2006. They could also trade away Schremp, who seems to be more of a YouTube sensation than an NHL prospect. Edmonton could throw in a draft pick to spice up the deal for Isles GM Garth Snow. These two teams have a history of making deals, and this seems logical for both sides.

Morning Skate: Tuesday, 1/20

Tonight’s Slate:
Ducks @ Rangers, 7:00 ET
Canadiens @ Thrashers, 7:00
Capitals @ Senators, 7:30
Hurricanes @ Penguins, 7:30
Kings @ Wild, 8:00
Blue Jackets @ Oilers, 9:00
Red Wings @ Coyotes, 9:00
Canucks @ Sharks, 10:30

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Phoenix Coyotes
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (31-8-6) … Coyotes (23-19-5)
Last Ten: Red Wings (8-1-1) … Coyotes (6-4-0)
Away/Home: Red Wings (15-5-4) … Coyotes (15-6-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Red Wings

Players to watch:
DET- Pavel Datsyuk
Datsyuk has 35 points in 23 career games vs. Phoenix.
PHX- Shane Doan
The heart & soul of the ‘Yotes has to the man to lead ‘em to victory tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 16-5-1, 2.21 GAA)
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (08-09 stats: 17-15-4, 2.76 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Johan Franzen (hip, questionable), Derek Meech (thigh, doubtful), Darren McCarty (sports hernia, out)
PHX- Kurt Sauer (lower body, out), Viktor Tikhonov (hand, out)

Game Thoughts:
This is a big measuring stick game for Phoenix before the All-Star Break. They recently 2-1 on the Western Canada swing, and are currently in 6th place in the West. Detroit is coming off a very emotional 6-5 loss in San Jose; by far the game of the year thus far. Something to keep in mind… the Red Wings have not lost in Phoenix since January 2004. I think they’ll be too much for the young ‘Yotes.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Coyotes 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Rangers over Ducks
Canadiens over Thrashers
Senators over Capitals
Penguins over Hurricanes
Wild over Kings
Oilers over Blue Jackets
Sharks over Canucks

The Week Ahead

Top 3 games/events I’m looking forward to:
1. Canadiens @ Devils (Wednesday)
2. Red Wings @ Coyotes (Tuesday)
3. Super-skills Challenge (Saturday)

The non-games I’d rather not watch… but will anyway:
1. The All-Star Game (Sunday)
2. Young Stars Game (Saturday)

Team with the most on the line:
Columbus Blue Jackets
I wanna see if this team continues to live up to the challenge when they go to Edmonton on Tuesday and Calgary on Wednesday.

National TV Schedule (US):
Monday-
Wild @ Blackhawks… VERSUS
Tuesday-
Capitals @ Senators… VERSUS
Saturday-
Young Stars Game & Skills Challenge… VERSUS
Sunday-
All-Star Game… VERSUS

Morning Skate: Monday, 1/19

Today’s Slate:
Blues @ Bruins, 1:00 ET
Capitals @ Islanders, 2:00
Hurricanes @ Maple Leafs, 7:30
Stars @ Lightning, 7:30
Sabres @ Panthers, 7:30
Wild @ Blackhawks, 8:00
Devils @ Predators, 8:00

Game of the Day:
Buffalo Sabres @ Florida Panthers
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Sabres (23-17-5) … Panthers (21-16-7)
Last Ten: Sabres (7-3-0) … Panthers (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Sabres (10-8-3) … Panthers (10-5-4)
Season Series: 1-0 Panthers

Players to watch:
BUF- Derek Roy
Roy has been on fire since the beginning of December with 25 points in 22 games.
FLA- Nathan Horton
Horton is starting to heat up with 9 points in 7 games in January.

Projected Goaltenders:
BUF- Ryan Miller (08-09 stats: 21-11-4, 2.50 GAA)
FLA- Tomas Vokoun (08-09 stats: 12-12-2, 2.70 GAA)

Injury Report:
BUF- Teppo Numminen (face, out), Andrej Sekera (lower body, out), Patrick Kaleta (neck, out), Maxim Afinogenov (groin, out)
FLA- Kamil Kreps (shoulder, probable), Bryan Allen (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
With no marquee game on the slate tonight, we set our sights on South Florida for a key conference battle. The Panthers are playing patty-cake with Pittsburgh and Carolina for the 8th seed in the East. A big part of their recent success is the play of Vokoun; he saved the Panthers Saturday night with a great relief effort in Tampa. Buffalo, on the other hand, is in 7th and has been playing much better in the new calendar year, going 6-2. This is a big game that the other teams in the East hope doesn’t go past 60 minutes… I like Florida.

Prediction: Panthers 3, Sabres 1
The rest of today’s predictions:
Bruins over Blues
Capitals over Islanders
Maple Leafs over Hurricanes
Lightning over Stars
Blackhawks over Wild
Devils over Predators
Upset Alert: Boston vs. St. Louis
The Blues have been playing much better hockey of late, while Boston isn’t in a groove. The early afternoon face-off gives me a feeling that the B’s could struggle with St. Louis today.

If the season ended today...

… These would be my predictions:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1) Bruins over 8) Panthers in 5
2) Capitals over 7) Sabres in 6
6) Flyers over 3) Rangers in 6
5) Devils over 4) Canadiens in 7

1) Bruins over 6) Flyers in 7
5) Devils over 2) Capitals in 6

1) Bruins over 5) Devils in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1) Sharks over 8) Wild in 4
2) Red Wings over 7) Canucks in 5
3) Flames over 6) Ducks in 7
4) Blackhawks over 5) Coyotes in 5

1) Sharks over 4) Blackhawks in 5
3) Flames over 2) Red Wings in 6

3) Flames over 1) Sharks in 7

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Flames over Bruins in 6
Conn Smythe: Jarome Iginla

Morning Skate: Sunday, 1/18

Today’s Slate:
Rangers @ Penguins, 12:30 ET
Blue Jackets @ Canucks, 8:00
Flames @ Avalanche, 8:00
Coyotes @ Oilers, 9:00

Game of the Day:
New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
12:30 ET… TV: NBC, TSN

Records:
Overall: Rangers (27-15-4) … Penguins (22-20-4)
Last Ten: Rangers (5-3-2) … Penguins (3-7-0)
Away/Home: Rangers (13-7-2) … Penguins (10-10-2)
Season Series: 3-0 Rangers

Players to watch:
NYR- Chris Drury
The Captain scored twice in Chicago, including the OT winner.
PIT- Evgeni Malkin
If Sid can’t go, ‘Geno has to be on top of his game today.

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 23-12-3, 2.53 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (08-09 stats: 14-11-2, 2.94 GAA)

Injury Report:
NYR- None
PIT- Sidney Crosby (leg, questionable), Maxime Talbot (upper body, questionable), Rob Scuderi (head, questionable), Kris Letang (lower body, questionable), Pascal Dupuis (knee, doubtful), Ruslan Fedotenko (hand, out), Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed, out), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder, out)

Game Thoughts:
Pittsburgh is desperate for 2 points, even after Friday’s win over Anaheim. They’re 0-3 against these Rangers in this campaign, and will definitely have redemption on their minds. New York won 3-2 in OT in Chicago on Friday night. Drury scored a pair, and Lundqvist was outstanding. Now this rivalry is renewed. The ‘Terrible Towels’ will be visible in the Igloo because of the Steelers game later today. I think the Pens will feed off the energy of the crowd to a victory, with or without Crosby.

Prediction: Penguins 3, Rangers 2
The rest of today’s predictions:
Blue Jackets over Canucks
Flames over Avalanche
Oilers over Coyotes

Saturday Fantasy #16

Here is our 16th edition of 'Saturday Fantasy'! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I will select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. I'm slowly closing in on Chris... the score is now 5-2-2 after last Saturday. Our picks are as follows...
Chris
F- Zach Parise, NJ*
D- Dennis Wideman, BOS
G- Scott Clemmensen, NJ
Ryan
F- Jarome Iginla, CGY*
D- Brian Rafalski, DET
G- Dan Ellis, NSH*

*This is the 2nd time we've used these players...

Morning Skate Deluxe: Saturday, 1/17

Tonight’s Slate:
Kings @ Stars, 2:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Sabres, 7:00
Canadiens @ Senators, 7:00
Devils @ Islanders, 7:00
Bruins @ Capitals, 7:00
Panthers @ Lightning, 7:30
Thrashers @ Predators, 8:00
Blackhawks @ Blues, 8:30
Ducks @ Wild, 9:00
Coyotes @ Flames, 10:00
Red Wings @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Boston Bruins @ Washington Capitals
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Bruins (33-7-4) … Capitals (28-14-3)
Last Ten: Bruins (8-2-0) … Capitals (7-3-0)
Away/Home: Bruins (16-4-3) … Capitals (18-3-1)
Season Series: 1-0 Capitals

Players to watch:
BOS- David Krejci
Krejci’s hot, and I expect him to be a big part of Boston’s win tonight.
WSH- Mike Green
Like Krejci, Green is blazin’… the Caps need him to have a big night to pull out a win.

Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 19-4-3, 2.00 GAA)
WSH- Jose Theodore (08-09 stats: 15-8-1, 2.94 GAA)

Injury Report:
BOS- Aaron Ward (lower body, out), Milan Lucic (undisclosed, out), Patrice Bergeron (concussion, out), Andrew Ference (leg, out), Phil Kessel (mono, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out)
WSH- Tom Poti (groin, doubtful), Boyd Gordon (back, doubtful), Shaone Morrisonn (lower body, doubtful), Brian Pothier (concussion, out)

Game Thoughts:
The B’s may have a bunch of injuries, but they are just chugging along. Tim Thomas has let up 3 goals in the last 3 games, and has taken the full-time load with Fernandez ailing. Meanwhile in Washington, they turned things around with a big 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Ovechkin & Green will have to carry the Caps tonight for them to pick up the ‘W’. But I think they’ll fall just short as Boston will prove why they’re the Beasts of the East.

Prediction: Bruins 4, Capitals 2
----
Game #2: Detroit Red Wings @ San Jose Sharks
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (31-7-6) … Sharks (32-6-5)
Last Ten: Red Wings (8-0-2) … Sharks (6-2-2)
Away/Home: Red Wings (15-4-4) … Sharks (20-1-2)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
DET- Johan Franzen
‘The Mule’ is starting to get hot again.
SJ- Devin Setoguchi
He is San Jose’s x-factor tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 16-5-1, 2.21 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (08-09 stats: 23-5-4, 2.46 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Darren McCarty (sports hernia, out)
SJ- Rob Blake (face, questionable), Brad Lukowich (sports hernia, out), Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)

Game Thoughts:
In tonight’s nightcap of the heavyweight bouts, the Wings travel to The Tank to take on the Sharks. I’m expecting Detroit to be on their A-game… they are 8-0-1 in the last 9. On Thursday, San Jose lost their first game in regulation at home in 11 months. This is definitely a statement game for the Sharks, as they lost 6-0 in Detroit last month. The game means more to the Sharks, but the Red Wings play their best hockey in these situations.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Sharks 3 (OT)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Stars over Kings
Sabres over Hurricanes
Canadiens over Senators
Devils over Islanders
Panthers over Lightning
Predators over Thrashers
Blues over Blackhawks
Wild over Ducks
Flames over Coyotes

Around the NHL

Vancouver is screwin’ the pooch!
4 home games… 4 losses… 0 points. If you’re going to be a playoff team in this league, you gotta take advantage of home-stands. I know the goaltending situation has been goofy in Vancouver. But losses to the Blues, Sharks, and Coyotes are critical when it comes to the playoff picture. The team is 1-4 since Sundin stepped on the ice, and lost in Luongo’s much-anticipated return last night. 5 of the next 6 games are at GM Place; 4 of which are against Western foes. It’s critical for Alain Vigneault’s bunch to turn it around quickly before their chunk of road games in February.

Flames do the unthinkable in San Jose
Tonight was a true Sharks-Flames battle, with the Flames coming out on top 3-2. If you did not have the luxury of watching it on Center Ice or online, you missed a great one. Calgary’s win gave San Jose their first regulation home loss of the season. They played a mere perfect game against their rivals from NoCal. Kipper was big when he needed to be, and the special teams were solid.
You knew at some point San Jose would lose a home game in regulation, and I’m not surprised it happened tonight. On top of that, I expect Detroit to roll into The Tank on Saturday and show ‘em who’s boss.
But back to the game… it was played at a really high level by two top 5 teams in the league. I really think these two will meet up once again in the postseason.

The Atlantic is overrated
You can’t sit there and tell me that the Atlantic Division is the best of the 6 divisions at this point. There is no such thing as a ‘best division’ so far. All 6 divisions have their good/bad teams.
NYR: 1/3 of the Rangers’ wins have come via the shootout. Nikolai Zherdev has been their only consistent forward, let alone player. ‘King Henrik’ has seen his fair share of good and bad times. Those 3 things are the reason why the Rangers are overachieving. Also, they just don’t impress you like a division leader should.
PHI: Don’t get me wrong… the Flyers are a very good team. But they bank on streaks. Last year, they needed a streak in March/April to push them into the postseason, and luckily for them it took them to the conference finals. Focusing on this year, lets look at this tidbit. Completely take out their hot stretch from Nov. 11 to Dec. 16 when they went 13-1-3. It makes the Flyers a 10-11-6 team in the other 27 games. This team is not consistent enough, but I still like their chances come playoff time.
NJ: This could very well be the division champ when it’s all said and done. The Devils have played beyond my expectations in Brodeur’s absence, and are in a perfect position. Sweet Lou & company will be gaining the services of savvy veteran Brendan Shanahan this weekend. And in February or early March, will be getting their future HOF goalie back. If he comes back strong, look out for this bunch! They could emerge as the ‘sexy’ team heading into the playoffs.
PIT: The Pens are outta whack, and have had some bad losses since the middle of December. Some people will say it’s the losses of Gonchar (injury), Hossa, Malone, and Roberts. Some say it’s the coach, Michel Therrien… and I agree with the latter. Depending on how long Crosby is out of the lineup, I think GM Ray Shero needs to have an extremely short leash on Therrien. They won a big game Tuesday in Philly, but couldn’t carry it over a night later at home against the Caps. If they go 1-2 or 0-3 in these last 3 home games before the All-Star Break, I think Shero has to do something… like fire Therrien.
NYI: C’mon… no wins in the New Year!!!
As you can see, it’s not all about the record and points when you look at the ‘best division’. The Atlantic just doesn’t bring it to the table like they should, and the 6 divisions are pretty close to being balanced.

Morning Skate: Friday, 1/16

Tonight’s Slate:
Devils @ Blue Jackets, 7:00 ET
Ducks @ Penguins, 7:30
Maple Leafs @ Thrashers, 7:30
Flyers @ Panthers, 7:30
Rangers @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Oilers @ Avalanche, 9:30

Game of the Night:
New York Rangers @ Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Rangers (26-15-4) … Blackhawks (24-10-7)
Last Ten: Rangers (4-4-2) … Blackhawks (6-4-0)
Away/Home: Rangers (12-7-2) … Blackhawks (14-2-4)
Season Series: 1-0 Rangers

Players to watch:
NYR- Chris Drury
The Captain has picked up points more consistently since mid-December.
CHI- Martin Havlat
Just going off gut instinct, I think Havlat will have a good game.

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 22-12-3, 2.55 GAA)
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 home stats: 7-0-3, 1.85 GAA)

Injury Report:
NYR- None
CHI- Brent Sopel (undisclosed, out)

Game Thoughts:
These two Original Six teams will do battle for the 2nd time this season tonight. I expect Chicago to come out flying, looking for a big win at home. I’m predicting a ‘Bulin shutout against these helter-skelter Rangers.

Prediction: Blackhawks 3, Rangers 0
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Blue Jackets over Devils
Ducks over Penguins
Maple Leafs over Thrashers
Panthers over Flyers
Avalanche over Oilers

Morning Skate: Thursday, 1/15

Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Islanders, 7:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Hurricanes, 7:30
Predators @ Canadiens, 7:30
Flyers @ Lightning, 7:30
Oilers @ Wild, 8:00
Avalanche @ Blues, 8:30
Sabres @ Stars, 8:30
Coyotes @ Canucks, 10:00
Red Wings @ Kings, 10:30
Flames @ Sharks, 10:30

Game of the Night:
Calgary Flames @ San Jose Sharks
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Flames (26-12-4) … Sharks (32-5-5)
Last Ten: Flames (8-1-1) … Sharks (7-1-2)
Away/Home: Flames (10-8-1) … Sharks (20-0-2)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
CGY- Daymond Langkow
Langkow scored twice the last time these two hooked up.
SJ- Patrick Marleau
The Captain currently has a 5-game point streak, and is a beast at home.

Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (08-09 stats: 26-11-3, 2.79 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (08-09 stats: 23-4-4, 2.44 GAA)

Injury Report:
CGY- Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)
SJ- Jody Shelley (upper body, doubtful), Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Brad Lukowich (sports hernia, out), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)

Game Thoughts:
The Flames are hot (no pun intended), and so are the Sharks. This is going to be a great game… no doubt. This matchup usually brings out the best in both teams. Can the Flames prove that their among the NHL’s elite?? Can the Sharks prove that this isn’t a trap game before Saturday’s duel vs. Detroit?? Those questions will be answered tonight. Kiprusoff must be on his A-game in hostile territory. On the other side, San Jose’s defense can’t give the Flames good scoring chances. The home team has won convincingly in the first 2 games of the season series. I like the Sharks in a very tight one.

Prediction: Sharks 4, Flames 3
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Bruins over Islanders
Hurricanes over Maple Leafs
Canadiens over Predators
Flyers over Lightning
Oilers over Wild
Blues over Avalanche
Stars over Sabres
Canucks over Coyotes
Red Wings over Kings

Predicted Standings at the ASB

Here is my prediction for what the standings will look like at the All-Star Break at the end of next week. I did not predict OT losses. This is a preview of what you'll see after the ASG on the right side of this page...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Bruins (47 GP, 36-7-4, 76 pts)
2. Rangers (48 GP, 28-16-4, 60 pts)
3. Capitals (48 GP, 28-17-3, 59 pts)
4. Canadiens (46 GP, 28-12-6, 62 pts)
5. Flyers (46 GP, 25-12-9, 59 pts)
6. Devils (47 GP, 28-16-3, 59 pts)
7. Panthers (46 GP, 23-17-6, 52 pts)
8. Penguins (48 GP, 24-20-4, 52 pts)
--
9. Sabres (47 GP, 23-19-5, 51 pts)
10. Hurricanes (48 GP, 22-21-5, 49 pts)
11. Maple Leafs (47 GP, 18-23-6, 42 pts)
12. Lightning (47 GP, 14-23-10, 38 pts)
13. Thrashers (48 GP, 15-28-5, 35 pts)
14. Senators (44 GP, 14-24-6, 34 pts)
15. Islanders (47 GP, 13-30-4, 30 pts)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Sharks (45 GP, 34-6-5, 73 pts)
2. Red Wings (46 GP, 33-7-6, 72 pts)
3. Flames (46 GP, 29-13-4, 62 pts)
4. Blackhawks (45 GP, 28-10-7, 63 pts)
5. Canucks (48 GP, 23-20-5, 51 pts)
6. Ducks (49 GP, 23-21-5, 51 pts)
7. Oilers (46 GP, 23-20-3, 49 pts)
8. Wild (46 GP, 23-20-3, 49 pts)
--
9. Avalanche (47 GP, 24-22-1, 49 pts)
10. Coyotes (48 GP, 22-21-5, 49 pts)
11. Stars (45 GP, 21-18-6, 48 pts)
12. Blue Jackets (47 GP, 22-21-4, 48 pts)
13. Predators (46 GP, 22-21-3, 47 pts)
14. Kings (46 GP, 17-23-6, 40 pts)
15. Blues (46 GP, 17-26-3, 37 pts)

Morning Skate: Wednesday, 1/14

Tonight’s Slate:
Capitals @ Penguins, 7:30 ET
Senators @ Thrashers, 7:30
Sabres @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Red Wings @ Ducks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Anaheim Ducks
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (29-7-6) … Ducks (22-17-5)
Last Ten: Red Wings (7-1-2) … Ducks (4-4-2)
Away/Home: Red Wings (13-4-4) … Ducks (13-9-3)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
DET- Pavel Datsyuk
Datsyuk has 25 points in the last 14 games.
ANA- Corey Perry
Perry had 2 assists Sunday in his return from a 5-game suspension.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 15-5-1, 2.32 GAA)
ANA- Jean-Sebastien Giguere (08-09 stats: 12-9-4, 3.00 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Darren McCarty (sports hernia, out)
ANA- Teemu Selanne (thigh, out), Kent Huskins (foot, out), Todd Marchant (upper body, doubtful)

Game Thoughts:
Detroit will be mad after their crazy 5-4 OT loss in Dallas on Monday night. Anaheim is looking to pick up a second straight win after a big win over the Devils on Sunday. This game will come down to the goaltending. The Ducks seem to have the Wings’ number at home; but if Giguere starts, I think Detroit will win because he’s been inconsistent this year.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Ducks 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Penguins over Capitals
Thrashers over Senators
Blackhawks over Sabres

Morning Skate Deluxe: Tuesday, 1/13

Tonight’s Slate:
Canadiens @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Rangers @ Islanders, 7:00
Penguins @ Flyers, 7:00
Oilers @ Capitals, 7:00
Avalanche @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Predators @ Maple Leafs, 7:30
Hurricanes @ Senators, 7:30
Coyotes @ Wild, 8:00
Blues @ Flames, 9:30
Devils @ Canucks, 10:00
Lightning @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, RDS

Records:
Overall: Canadiens (25-10-6) … Bruins (31-7-4)
Last Ten: Canadiens (8-1-1) … Bruins (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Canadiens (11-6-2) … Bruins (16-3-1)
Season Series: 2-1 Bruins

Players to watch:
MTL- Tomas Plekanec
Can Plekanec get the ball rolling after a 2-goal outing against Washington?
BOS- Marc Savard
With Kessel out, Savard needs to carry the offense.

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Jaroslav Halak (08-09 stats: 9-6-1, 2.77 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 17-4-3, 2.08 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL- Carey Price (ankle, out), Saku Koivu (ankle, probable), Alex Tanguay (shoulder, out), Christopher Higgins (shoulder, out), Georges Laraque (groin, out), Mathieu Dandenault (arm, out)
BOS- Phil Kessel (mono, out), Patrice Bergeron (concussion, out), Milan Lucic (undisclosed, questionable), Andrew Ference (leg, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Shane Hnidy (eye, doubtful), Manny Fernandez (undisclosed, doubtful)

Game Thoughts:
The best rivalry in sports is renewed tonight in Beantown. Both are suffering from key injuries, but the Habs should be getting Koivu back tonight. Montreal has scored 5+ goals in the last 4 games and is due for a ‘W’ against the B’s. The Bruins need to be sound on defense to pull out the win.

Prediction: Canadiens 4, Bruins 3
----
Game #2: New Jersey Devils @ Vancouver Canucks
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Devils (24-15-3) … Canucks (22-17-5)
Last Ten: Devils (5-5-0) … Canucks (3-5-2)
Away/Home: Devils (11-7-2) … Canucks (11-8-2)
Season Series: 1st Meeting

Players to watch:
NJ- Patrik Elias
Elias was a -3 in Anaheim on Sunday, and has to have a better game tonight.
VAN- Mats Sundin
Sundin hasn’t been too impressive so far.

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Kevin Weekes (08-09 stats: 3-4-0, 2.79 GAA)
VAN- Jason LaBarbera (08-09 stats: 7-9-6, 2.81 GAA)

Injury Report:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (groin, out), Taylor Pyatt (foot, out), Sami Salo (ribs, out), Rick Rypien (sports hernia, out)

Game Thoughts:
Vancouver and New Jersey aren’t exactly what you call hot, and are in dire need of a win. The Canucks have lost 2 home games in a row, and the Devils have lost 3 of 4. The Canucks would like to get a win before Luongo comes back Thursday, and I believe they will.

Prediction: Canucks 3, Devils 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Rangers over Islanders
Flyers over Penguins
Capitals over Oilers
Blue Jackets over Avalanche
Maple Leafs over Predators
Hurricanes over Senators
Wild over Coyotes
Flames over Blues
Sharks over Lightning

This week's 'Let's Make a Deal'

Montreal gets:
C Vincent Lecavalier
D Paul Ranger
Tampa Bay gets:
C Tomas Plekanec
C Christopher Higgins
D P.K. Subban
2010 1st Round Pick
2009 3rd Round Pick

TSN’s Darren Dreger is reporting that there’s “constant dialogue” between the Lightning and Habs. And when Dreger comes out and says this, there has to be some truth to it. The big questions surrounding a potential deal like this are:
1. Does Vinny really want to play in Montreal?? (he’s French-Canadian)
2. Do the Canadiens want to take on Vinny’s hefty contract?? (11 yrs, $85 mil remaining)
Lecavalier is a premier talent in a bad situation down in Tampa. And, with Ilya Kovalchuk off the block in the ATL, the Bolts’ management could put Vinny out there to see what they can get. And first in line would be Montreal. I think, on paper, he’d be great there, and make the team an instant favorite to win the Cup, alongside Boston, Detroit, and San Jose. The package that the Lightning receives would have to be extravagant. Plekanec and Higgins give them good depth up front, and Subban is a premier prospect on the blue line. Then the Habs would include a 1st rounder in 2010, along with a 3rd rounder for this summer. If this trade goes down, I see it more likely happening at the draft in June, rather than the trade deadline. Lecavalier’s no trade clause doesn’t go into effect until July 1… so there’s time for the Bolts to unload him if they want to. I just don’t see GM Bob Gainey making such a blockbuster during the season, especially if the Habs are doing well around the deadline.
So… is Lecavalier leaving Tampa or not??

The Week Ahead

Top 5 games I’m looking forward to:
1. Red Wings @ Sharks (Saturday)
2. Bruins @ Capitals (Saturday)
3. Canadiens @ Bruins (Tuesday)
4. Flames @ Sharks (Thursday)
5. Rangers @ Blackhawks (Friday)

Teams with the most on the line:
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Tough week ahead; playing 4 playoff teams.
2. San Jose Sharks
Can they play like the #1 team in West against Calgary and Detroit this week??

National TV Schedule (US):
Monday-
Red Wings @ Stars… VERSUS
Tuesday-
Canadiens @ Bruins… VERSUS
Saturday-
Canadiens @ Senators… NHL Network
Coyotes @ Flames… NHL Network
Sunday-
Rangers @ Penguins… NBC

Power Rankings: Week of 1/12

1. Detroit Red Wings
Last Week: 2
Overall: 29-7-5
Last Ten: 8-1-1
Week Record: 3-0
The Wings are kickin’ it into high gear, and gave up just 2 goals in their 3 games this week. Look for Detroit to eventually surpass San Jose for the top spot in the Western Conference.

2. Boston Bruins
Last Week: 1
Overall: 31-7-4
Last Ten: 8-2
Week Record: 2-1
Boston’s drop from the top spot is not anything against ‘em… Detroit is just the best right now. The B’s have responded from their hiccup at home by scoring 11 goals in the last 2 games.

3. San Jose Sharks
Last Week: 3
Overall: 31-5-5
Last Ten: 6-2-2
Week Record: 2-1
After a disappointing 5-2 loss in Calgary, the Sharks answered well by taking the last 2 of their Western Canada trip. A big statement game is approaching when they host Detroit this Saturday!

4. Montreal Canadiens
Last Week: 9
Overall: 25-10-6
Last Ten: 8-1-1
Week Record: 3-0
The Canadiens are starting to get really hot, and that’s not good news for the Eastern Conference; plus they’re about to get Saku Koivu back from injury. Andrei Kostitsyn has stepped up with 8 points in the last 4 games.

5. Calgary Flames
Last Week: 8
Overall: 25-12-4
Last Ten: 8-1-1
Week Record: 2-0
Just two games this week for Calgary, but two 5-2 wins for Mike Keenan’s bunch… and one of those victories came against San Jose. I like the direction the Flames are going.

6. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 5
Overall: 23-10-7
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-2
It’s safe to say that the Blackhawks aren’t playing their best hockey right now. But they’ve played just 40 games, tied for the fewest in the NHL. And 4 of the next 5 are at home, so I expect them to get back on track quickly.

7. Washington Capitals
Last Week: 4
Overall: 27-13-3
Last Ten: 7-3
Week Record: 1-2
The Caps were shutout at home by Columbus on Friday, then turned around and lost a heartbreaker in Montreal a day later. Like San Jose, Washington has a big measuring-stick game this Saturday when they host Boston.

8. Philadelphia Flyers
Last Week: 6
Overall: 23-10-9
Last Ten: 5-2-3
Week Record: 2-0-1
They probably shouldn’t have dropped any in these rankings, but I’ll still say that they are a legit Cup contender. Mike Richards needs to get going, though, as he has struggled since December 18.

9. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: 10
Overall: 22-17-5
Last Ten: 4-4-2
Week Record: 2-2
We are finally seeing why Anaheim drafted Bobby Ryan #2 behind ‘Sid the Kid’ in the 2005 entry draft. Ryan has been electric since Selanne went down, including a hat trick in LA this week.

10. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 7
Overall: 24-15-3
Last Ten: 5-5
Week Record: 1-3
I’m not too worried about this team, and that’s why they didn’t fall further. They’ll get a boost in the near future from Brendan Shanahan. It’d be nice to see Clemmensen turn it around, though.

11. New York Rangers
Last Week: 11
Overall: 25-15-4
Last Ten: 4-4-2
Week Record: 2-1-1
Every time I watch this team, the less I’m impressed with them. I believe the Blueshirts are hanging by a thread and flirting with disaster. We’ll know more about ‘em once they play a tough stretch of games.

12. Florida Panthers
Last Week: 16
Overall: 20-16-6
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 3-0
Since a 3-game skid to end December, the Cats are 4-0-1 and are playing very well. They scored 8 goals on Saturday, and beat division foe Carolina earlier in the week. Watch for these Panthers!!

13. Buffalo Sabres
Last Week: 14
Overall: 21-16-5
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 2-1
Buffalo has put together a pretty good stretch, winning 4 of 6… but its gut-check time for Lindy Ruff’s squad. They play 8 of the next 9 on the road, including a week on the west coast.

14. Phoenix Coyotes
Last Week: 15
Overall: 21-17-5
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 2-1
The ‘Yotes were shutout in consecutive games by the Ducks and ‘Hawks, but responded with two important home wins. Let’s see if Phoenix can string together some wins and extend themselves from the rest of the mediocre pack in the West.

15. Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week: 13
Overall: 21-17-5
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 1-2
The ‘Canes are in a similar position as Buffalo with a lot of road games coming up. Their road stretch has not started pretty, with losses to Florida and Boston to start it off.

16. Vancouver Canucks
Last Week: 12
Overall: 22-17-5
Last Ten: 3-5-2
Week Record: 1-2
How’s the Sundin signing workin’ out!? Well after a win in his debut, they’ve dropped 2 straight decisions at home. The Canucks are starting to wonder when Luongo will be coming back, because LaBarbera and Sanford just aren’t getting it done.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 20
Overall: 20-18-4
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-1
OK… if you totally disregard the Jackets’ 2-game slump earlier this month, goalie Steve Mason is 6-0 with 4, count ‘em, 4 shutouts. He leads the NHL in that category, save percentage, and goals against. Wow!

18. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 18
Overall: 20-18-3
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-2
The Oilers had 4 home games this week, and it would’ve been good for them to win 3. They settled for 2, and have a key back-to-back later this week in Minnesota and Colorado.

19. Colorado Avalanche
Last Week: 22
Overall: 22-19-1
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 3-0
The MVP of Colorado’s 3-game winning streak is… Andrew Raycroft!? You bet. Raycroft has a 1.67 GAA in the streak, and has emerged as the current #1 goalie in the Rockies.

20. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: 17
Overall: 20-18-3
Last Ten: 4-5-1
Week Record: 1-2
This is honestly the hardest team to figure in the league. Niklas Backstrom is the catalyst of this team, and will basically have to win the Vezina in the 2nd half for Minnesota to be a threat to the rest of the conference.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 19
Overall: 20-19-4
Last Ten: 2-8
Week Record: 1-3
Pittsburgh is fading… fast. So fast that coach Michel Therrien is trying every line combination he can to turn it around, and it still isn’t clicking in the Steel City. Therrien’s seat should be boiling right now, and a firing could go down if things don’t get better quickly.

22. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 23
Overall: 19-20-3
Last Ten: 3-7
Week Record: 2-2
Down 3-0 to Pittsburgh at home, the Preds had their backs against the wall. 30 minutes later, Nashville had their biggest win of the season, scoring 5 unanswered. Put that along with the return of Sullivan and a home-and-home split with Chicago, I’d say things are looking better in the Music City!

23. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 21
Overall: 17-17-6
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 0-1-1
Dallas has taken a step back after getting things going a week or two ago. They got crushed 6-1 in Detroit, and lost 1-0 in a shootout at Phoenix. I still think Dave Tippett’s group will ultimately make a push for the postseason.

24. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 26
Overall: 12-19-10
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 2-1
It’s hard to figure that the Bolts are tied for the least amount of wins with all the 1-goal games that they’ve played. But it is what it is, and Rick Tocchet has a lot of work to do to get Tampa into the playoff picture.

25. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 24
Overall: 17-18-6
Last Ten: 4-6
Week Record: 1-2
LA played really well in their home-and-home split with Anaheim, but everything blew up in an awful loss to New Jersey. The Kings are showing some potential that the playoffs may not be out of the question in the ’09-10 season.

26. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 27
Overall: 16-22-3
Last Ten: 4-6
Week Record: 1-1
I think the Blues have played pretty well in the last few weeks, but a couple bad breaks have them at 4-9 in that span. No where to go but up for Andy Murray and company.

27. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 25
Overall: 16-20-6
Last Ten: 3-7
Week Record: 0-3
The Leafs suffered two very frustrating losses this week to the Habs and Flyers. Just when things are looking in bleak in Toronto, though, I’m predicting they’ll go 2-1 this week and avoid joining the bottom four of the East.

28. Atlanta Thrashers
Last Week: 29
Overall: 14-24-5
Last Ten: 3-6-1
Week Record: 1-2
Last night, GM Don Waddell gave Ilya Kovalchuk the ‘C’ at the Thrashers’ Casino Night. This should quiet the trade rumors for Kovy. They host the Toilet Bowl on Wednesday when Ottawa comes to town!

29. Ottawa Senators
Last Week: 28
Overall: 13-21-6
Last Ten: 2-7-1
Week Record: 0-3
Speaking of the Sens… they went 1-6-1 on their 8-game roadie. You’d think they’d be charged up to finally play at home, right!? Rangers 2, Senators 0… end of story.

30. New York Islanders
Last Week: 30
Overall: 12-26-4
Last Ten: 2-7-1
Week Record: 0-2
I refuse to talk about this team… I wanna see the Hershey Bears (currently tops in the AHL) play these guys!!