Red Light District Hockey

Saturday Faceoff: Best division in NHL?

2012-01-28T12:00:00.000-06:00

There are two great divisions in the NHL right now (and then the rest), as the Central and Atlantic Divisions are dominating the first half of the season. Which division is better? Alexander and I debate…

Central Division
By Ryan Porth

Seven teams in the league have 64 points or more here at the All-Star break. Four reside in the Central Division. Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville – there’s no doubt the Central is the best in the NHL.

The usual suspects are in contention. Behind Jimmy Howard’s goaltending and Jonathan Toews’ leadership, the Red Wings and Blackhawks are both Stanley Cup contenders (as expected). But there are two other divisional foes that deserve to be in the same conversation.

The St. Louis Blues have emerged as a prime contender in the West with Ken Hitchcock at the helm. All-Star Brian Elliott and recently-dominant Jaroslav Halak are leading the way for the hard-working Blues. Elliott leads the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage, while Halak has a 1.63 GAA in 21 starts since a sluggish October. Youngsters like David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo have developed much-needed consistency.

With a surge following the holidays, Nashville is legitimately in the race for their first division title. Barry Trotz’s Predators are 12-2-0 in their last 14 games, as Pekka Rinne is playing like a $49 million goaltender (1.60 GAA in last 13 starts). The Preds’ season turned for the better after a comeback win in Columbus on Dec. 8 (18-5-0 since then). Also, balanced offensive production has made up for any lack of firepower up front.

The Blues and Predators will look to continue to stay atop the Central as the second half moves along. And you know the Wings or ‘Hawks won’t be going anywhere. Nicklas Lidstrom and company can’t seem to lose at Joe Louis Arena, as they boast an NHL-best 20-2-1 mark on home ice. Meanwhile, Chicago has had its moments this season where they’ve looked like the top team in the league.

Once again, there is no doubt that the Central Division is best. Despite having the league’s doormat camping out in the cellar, this division has four teams within three points of each other at the All-Star break, and all are contending for the Western Conference lead and Presidents’ Trophy. The five other divisions, including the Atlantic, can’t say that.

Recently it’s been Detroit and Chicago controlling the division, but now they have company, which makes the Central the top division in the NHL.
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Atlantic Division
By Alexander Monaghan

While the Central Division may have four teams with over 64 points, the Atlantic has three teams over 60 points with a fourth currently in the playoff mix. There are no easy wins out East, where every game is a bitter rivalry.

Furthermore, the Atlantic lacks a sure-thing, whopping boy like the Columbus Blue Jackets to pad their stats. Even though you could make an argument for the New York Islanders to be a substandard team, they remain only 10 points out of a playoff seed while the Blue Jackets sit 22 points out, almost mathematically eliminated with over two months left in the season.

Leading the Atlantic is the New York Rangers, who established themselves as the beasts of the east. Playing in front of a supercharged Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have skill, grit and great defense which could make them the highest winning team in franchise history. Their victory over the Boston Bruins last weekend further proved to the rest of the league that this team can play with the best of them, and win.

Directly below the Rangers is the equally dangerous Philadelphia Flyers, who can score goals in bunches. What the Flyers lack in goaltending, they make up with a punishing blue line and three capable scoring waves. Moreover, their youth movement which puts rookies Sean Couturier, Matt Read and Brayden Schenn in the lineup should guarantee their success for years to come.

Also in the mix for the division lead is Dan Bylsma's Pittsburgh Penguins. After hitting a slight lull due to a vast amount of injuries, the Pens found their winning ways on the back of a red-hot Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh is already the home of the best player in the league -- Sidney Crosby -- but when their captain is sidelined, Malkin loves taking the baton and running with it. His dominance combined with scoring winger James Neal and the acrobatics of Marc-Andre Fleury make this blue collar team very difficult to play against.

Similarly, the New Jersey Devils just refuse to quit. Coming into the season, the Devils hoped to ride their second-half hot streak into a playoff berth. However, the growing pains of a young team has both helped and hurt their cause. While rookie Adam Henrique helped get both Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk back in the box score, other younsgters like Matthias Tedenby and Nick Palmieri have hurt their squad with their sophomore slumps. Nevertheless, their veteran scorers and veteran goaltending keeps New Jersey in nearly every game as they look to sneak into the postseason.

Finally, we come to the New York Islanders, who have posted over a .500 record in January. And, even though they are the cellar dweller of the Atlantic, they deserve credit for not packing it up in December. Their young players continue to mature with John Tavares easily becoming one of the breakout stories of the season. If he is able to replicate this season's production, the Isles should have no problem competing in this cutthroat division for years.

The Atlantic has the stars -- Malkin, Lundqvist, Crosby -- and they have the natural rivalries. Every game played is an intense battle from beginning to end. Due to that elevated compete level, the Atlantic is the toughest division.

Photos credit: Getty Images

Blackhawks face tough second half

2012-01-27T16:00:00.000-06:00

The All-Star Break couldn't have come at a better time for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Patrick Sharp has missed the last eight games, in which the Hawks have been able to run off a 5-2-1 record. But the last two games before the break, both losses to Nashville by a combined score of 8-3, saw only nine minutes of ice time from Jonathan Toews and dropped the 'Hawks into a third place tie in the Central Division.

While the team is anticipating Toews only missing the one game against Nashville, they haven't yet put a return date on the table for Sharp. Both will travel with the team to Vancouver when the 'Hawks begin a tough second half schedule.

Chicago comes out of the break on a nine-game road trip that includes games against the Canucks, Sharks, Predators and Rangers. In fact, the Hawks play only four games at the United Center between now and March 1st.

Add to the schedule difficulties the elephant in the room: the Blackhawks don't have a number three defenseman. Nick Leddy has been good on the offensive end of the ice, but Chicago hasn't won a game in 2012 when he's skated over 20 minutes. Niklas Hjalmarsson continues to be little more than a shot blocker and penalty kill specialist.

Chicago general manager Stan Bowman will try to address this before the trade deadline, but the growing list of teams needing a top-four defenseman will make any addition expensive. Teams appear to be lining up for Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason, which leads conventional wisdom to make one think Bowman will look to add from another organization.

With over $5 million in cap space and much-improved organizational depth over the last three seasons, Chicago finds itself well positioned to address it's problem areas before the deadline. But with 32 more games to play in a red-hot Central Division, Sharp cannot return soon enough.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Nabokov deserving of longer stay on Long Island

2012-01-27T13:30:00.000-06:00

It was just last season that Evgeni Nabokov wouldn’t report to Long Island when the Islanders claimed him on waivers. Nearly a year later he has become a key component to the Islanders' recent hot stretch.

Nabokov got his chance to take the reins as the Isles' starting netminder after Al Montoya left the Dec. 20 game against the Winnipeg Jets. While Montoya did not start or play in another game until Jan. 24 against the Maple Leafs, Nabokov started in 15 of the next 17 games for after that, going 8-7 in that stretch. Overall, he’s posted a 2.38 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage this season.

To put into perspective how well Nabokov has played, during the week of Jan. 16 he did two things, one, which hadn’t been done since 2007, and the other hadn’t been done since 1997. On Tuesday of that week, Nabokov was the first Islanders goaltender to shut out the Washington Capitals since Tommy Salo did it on March 7,1997. Two days later he backstopped the Islanders to their first win in Philadelphia in five years.

After many a game you will hear Islanders head coach Jack Capuano utter something along the lines of, “Nabby played great tonight,” or "Nabby kept us in the game.” His teammates also are highly vocal at praising Nabokov’s play after games; 99 percent of the time the praise is warranted since Nabokov has made impeccable saves nearly every night.

But now that Montoya is back, it will be another guessing game of who will be the starter. And whether the Islanders will even keep Nabokov passed the trade deadline.

Since the begging of the season, the consensus opinion was that he would be traded before or at the trade deadline. Some fans still see his starts this season as “showcase” starts, but in reality he has truly earned them and earned the opportunity to stay longer than just up until the trade deadline.

With Rick Dipietro out at least until the end of the season, keeping Nabokov would sustain what has been a surprisingly solid goaltending tandem this season on Long Island. The Islanders, while still barely clinging to playoff hopes, still have some possibility to making a run at the postseason. Not to mention possibly re-signing Nabokov once the season is up and try to keep a solid tandem together.

For now the short-term questions are how many games will he start after the All-Star break and will he still be an Islander past the trade deadline? The longer-term question, should he still be on Long Island after Feb. 27, would he want to stay in an Isles jersey for another season?

He is certainly deserving of the chance to.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Storylines for All-Star Weekend

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000-06:00

The rosters are set. The battle lines have been drawn. Team Alfredsson and Team Chara are ready to go at it. Here are five storylines to watch this weekend in Ottawa.

1. Home-ice advantage for Team Alfredsson
There’s no question who the fans will be rooting for this weekend in Canada’s capital. Captain Daniel Alfredsson was able to grab all three Ottawa Senators available in the draft – Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. But will it make a difference? Last year we saw Eric Staal draft his ‘boys’, Cam Ward and Jeff Skinner, but Team Lidstrom came away victorious. Nonetheless, it will be fun to see all the Sens fans on board with one team.

2. Can anti-Senators (Team Chara) spoil party?
Team Alfredsson is loaded with Sens and Swedes. Team Chara has an opposite look and will draw the ire of Sens fans. Captain Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa are former Senators who will probably hear the boo birds all weekend. Additionally, Sens fans made their distaste for the Maple Leafs heard during the draft on Thursday. Team Chara features three Leafs – Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul – and players from hated Boston and Montreal. Can they spoil the party in Ottawa?

3. Who will steal spotlight without big stars?
No Sidney Crosby. No Alex Ovechkin. Who will steal the spotlight this weekend with the sport’s two big superstars not participating? With his recent run, Evgeni Malkin is a pretty good candidate. Rocket Richard leader Steven Stamkos is another good one. No matter who it is, though, this weekend offers a good opportunity for an up-and-comer like Claude Giroux, John Tavares, or Jordan Eberle to steal some of the spotlight as well.

4. Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel on same team
One thing coming from the fantasy draft that has been underplayed is that Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel are both on Team Chara. As you know, Seguin and Kessel are forever linked for essentially being traded for one another. Whenever Boston and Toronto has met up in the last two years, the Seguin-Kessel storyline has been a subplot. It would be interesting if Claude Julien put them on the same line on Sunday.

5. How will Tim Thomas perform?
The biggest story in the NHL this week has been Tim Thomas’ decision to skip the Bruins’ Stanley Cup celebration at the White House with President Barack Obama. Thomas usually doesn’t get distracted by the spotlight, but it seems he is sick of hearing questions about it. How will he perform this weekend? The always-competitive Thomas picked up the victory last year in Raleigh.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Trophy Tracker

2012-01-27T08:30:00.003-06:00

Every other week, we’ll bring you an updated look at the candidates for the major awards around the NHL…

Tracker archive:
Nov. 17
Dec. 2
Dec. 16
Dec. 30
Jan. 15

HART TROPHY
1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT
Stats: 42 GP, 26 G, 32 A, 58 Pts, +12
Two weeks ago I took Malkin off the top three here. I have a pretty good feeling he is here to stay. It goes without saying, but ‘Geno has been magnificent this season. He battled through injury in the first quarter, but has turned it on ever since Sidney Crosby re-exited the lineup, putting the Penguins on his back during their current seven-game win streak. Malkin leads the NHL in points at the All-Star break and has been downright dominant in the last 21 games (17 goals, 34 points); of late, every goal or assist seems to be coming at a key time in the game. There isn’t a better player in the world right now.
2. Jonathan Toews, CHI
Stats: 49 GP, 27 G, 23 A, 50 Pts, +17
As valuable as Malkin has been to the Pens, Toews is just as important to Chicago. Toews, currently on IR with an upper-body injury, is on pace for a career-high 44 goals, but he’s bring a lot more to the table than just goal-scoring. He is the most important offensive and defensive forward for the Blackhawks, who are in contention for the Central Division at the break. He won’t lead the league in points, but Toews is the straw that stirs the drink for the ‘Hawks.
3. Claude Giroux, PHI
Stats: 44 GP, 18 G, 37 A, 55 Pts, +0
You could make an argument that no player has meant more to his team than Giroux to the Flyers. The 23-year-old budding star is Mr. Everything for the Flyers and is elite in many facets of the game. Giroux, who is tied for second in the NHL in points, has been clutch for his team all year. His production has slowed a bit, though, with zero goals since the Winter Classic. Expect him to turn it around, but his stock has dropped a tad in the MVP race.

VEZINA TROPHY
1. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR
Stats: 22-10-4, 1.87 GAA, .937 SV%, 5 SO
Lundqvist continues to be a stalwart and has been lights-out since Dec. 11 (1.55 GAA, .946 SV%). He’s a big reason why the Blueshirts are playing their best hockey of the year and have taken the lead in the Eastern Conference. ‘King Henrik’ is also arguably playing the best of his career. If he continues to put up these numbers, he’ll be near the top of the Vezina discussion the rest of the way.
2. Tim Thomas, BOS
Stats: 20-9-0, 2.12 GAA, .933 SV%, 4 SO
Like Giroux, Thomas has seen his stock for a major award drop this month. Thomas has a 4-3-2 record in January, with a 2.70 GAA and .914 save percentage. He had a similar stretch last season, but bounced back in a big way towards the end of the year. The thing going against Thomas in this year’s Vezina race is that his offense has given him so much goal support; the Bruins have scored five goals or more in 10 of Thomas’ starts.
3. Jonathan Quick, LA
Stats: 21-12-9, 1.93 GAA, .934 SV%, 6 SO
Quick gets the nod over the likes of Jimmy Howard and Pekka Rinne for the third slot here. Playing on the west coast, not the entire hockey world gets to see Quick go to work every game. But Quick has been the catalyst for a Kings team that has (a) been inconsistent through the first four months and (b) had a hard time scoring goals. He is ranked in the top five in shutouts (1st), GAA (4th) and save percentage (4th).

NORRIS TROPHY
1. Shea Weber, NSH
Stats: 46 GP, 10 G, 24 A, 34 Pts, +16
There isn’t much separating the top three, but Weber means everything to the Preds and is unquestionably among the elite on the blueline. He is second on the Preds in points (34), first in plus/minus (+16) and is a big reason why the power play is ranked second in the NHL. He has shown on many occasions this season why he’s an all-around dominant defenseman with countless Norris-like performances.
2. Zdeno Chara, BOS
Stats: 45 GP, 7 G, 20 A, 27 Pts, +26
Chara has been his dominant self during the Bruins’ amazing three-month stretch, racking up 23 points and a plus-25 rating in 35 games. He leads all defensemen with his plus-26 rating this season and is averaging 25:01 of ice time. ‘Big Z’, who is always in the Norris discussion, has been invaluable to the Bruins’ success in recent years. 2011-12 is no different.
3. Erik Karlsson, OTT
Stats: 51 GP, 7 G, 40 A, 47 Pts, +5
Ottawa has proved many doubters wrong by sitting six points outside of the conference lead at the All-Star break – and Karlsson has a lot to do with that. There isn’t much offensive depth for the Senators up front, so Karlsson’s league-leading production from the back end (40 assists, 47 points) has been crucial. The 21-year-old, on pace for 76 points, has arguably been Ottawa’s MVP this season.

CALDER TROPHY
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
Stats: 38 GP, 13 G, 22 A, 35 Pts, +0
This was a no-brainer before going down with a shoulder injury. The top overall pick from this past summer exceeded expectations through the first half, and has looked better than other recent No. 1 picks in their rookie seasons. He also leads the Oilers in points as a part of the dynamic trio with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. But ‘RNH’ now has company atop the Calder race.
2. Adam Henrique, NJ
Stats: 43 GP, 13 G, 21 A, 34 Pts, +6
To say Henrique has been a pleasant surprise in New Jersey would be an understatement. Henrique is fourth on the Devils in points and was a point-per-game player since the start of November before a recent drop-off. He may not have the flashiness like Nugent-Hopkins, but you better believe Henrique is one of the few favorites for this award.
3. Cody Hodgson, VAN
Stats: 49 GP, 13 G, 16 A, 29 Pts, +7
There are more than a few players you could put in this spot, but Hodgson has been a nice full-time addition to Vancouver’s lineup this season. He brings balance to a lineup that is loaded on the top two lines, and has scored a handful of big goals recently. Hodgson has been a consistent producer since Dec. 19, racking up 14 points in 17 games.

JACK ADAMS AWARD
1. Ken Hitchcock, STL
Record: 29-13-7, 4th Western Conference
The before and after results of Hitchcock’s arrival in St. Louis is staggering. When Davis Payne was fired, the Blues were 6-7-0; since Hitchcock stepped behind the bench they are 23-6-7. Hitchcock has given the Blues the proper wake-up call, and they are now fulfilling their potential. If this success keeps up, he has to be Jack Adams favorite, no?
2. Barry Trotz, NSH
Record: 30-16-4, 5th Western Conference
Trotz is doing it again. The Predators aren’t just competing for a playoff spot, though, as they are on a mission to hunt down the division-leading Red Wings. Trotz’s gang has won 12 of their last 14 games, and 18 of 23, as they continue to surge in the West. The Preds have faced adversity a few times this season, but Trotz has kept the team going in the right direction.
3. John Tortorella, NYR
Record: 31-12-4, 1st Eastern Conference
One of the season’s biggest surprises has been the New York Rangers. Aside from the Brad Richards signing, there isn’t much difference between this year’s Rangers and last year’s version. But Tortorella is pushing all of the right buttons as his team leads the entire NHL with 60 points. Aside from Boston, the Blueshirts have been the league’s most consistent team since the start of November.

*Stats through Wednesday, January 25
Photo credit: Getty Images

All-Star Fantasy Draft Recap

2012-01-27T00:00:00.001-06:00

This year's All-Star fantasy draft wasn't quite as fun as last year's (no "Phil Kessel sitting all alone" moment?) but it still provided plenty of laughs and awkwardness. The following are the results of the fantasy draft, as well as some observations on the evening.

Team Chara
Zdeno Chara (C)
Joffrey Lupul (A)
1. Pavel Datsyuk, F
2. Tim Thomas, G
3. Evgeni Malkin, F
4. Marian Hossa, F
5. Kimmo Timonen, D
6. Corey Perry, F
7. Carey Price, G
8. Phil Kessel, F
9. Ryan Suter, D
10. Jimmy Howard, G
11. Brian Campbell, D
12. Patrick Kane, F
13. Dion Phaneuf, D
14. Jarome Iginla, F
15. Dennis Wideman, D
16. Marian Gaborik, F
17. Jordan Eberle, F
18. Tyler Seguin, F
19. Jamie Benn, F

Team Alfredsson
Daniel Alfredsson (C)
Henrik Lundqvist (A)
1. Erik Karlsson, D
2. Jason Spezza, F
3. Jonathan Quick, G
4. Claude Giroux, F
5. Kris Letang, D
6. Steven Stamkos, F
7. Brian Elliott, G
8. Shea Weber, D
9. Daniel Sedin, F
10. Dan Girardi, D
11. Keith Yandle, D
12. Milan Michalek, F
13. Henrik Sedin, F
14. James Neal, F
15. Alexander Edler, D
16. John Tavares, F
17. Scott Hartnell, F
18. Jason Pominville, F
19. Logan Couture, F

Post-Draft Observations
- On paper, it looks like Team Chara is stronger. However, with Lundqvist, Quick, and Elliott in net for Team Alfredsson, Team Chara is going to score approximately one goal in the game. Those three are all in the Top 5 in the NHL in goals against average (Elliott is first with 1.69), save percentage (Elliott again, is first with .938), and shutouts (Quick leads with six, Lundqvist and Elliott each have five). Goaltending advantage: Alfredsson.
- Alfredsson did hoard all the Ottawa Senators and Swedish players for his team, but what did you expect from a team whose decisions were made by, you guessed it, two Swedes?
- How inappropriate to immediately ask Tim Thomas after his selection about his skipping the Bruins' White House event? Agree with his decision or not, let's focus on the fun All-Star festivities of this weekend, not something completely unrelated that happened earlier this week.
- It's great that Jason Spezza was selected to this All-Star game. One of several players mic'ed up during the draft, Spezza was easily the most entertaining. Chatting with Erik Karlsson, Spezza even poked fun at the Sedin twins, joking, "Think they'll have chemistry?" -- while sitting two rows in front of them.
- Most expected comment of the night? A mic'ed Patrick Kane caught commenting on a blonde in the crowd.
- I had hedged on Jason Pominville being picked last, but was surprised to see him picked up in the second to last round. Logan Couture was a good sport about being the last man standing after Jamie Benn got the pity pick, having just had an appendectomy 11 days ago.
- There was a new twist at this year's draft: the option to make one trade. It added a very interesting aspect to the draft, but, unfortunately, neither team opted to make a trade. Boring.
- Chara apparently elected to make teammate Tyler Seguin sweat a little, selecting him in the second to last round. The surprising part? The fact that Alfredsson didn't pre-empt Chara and pick him up sooner. But no hard feelings between Chara and Seguin. They hugged it out.
- Priceless reaction of the night goes to Carey Price, apparently shocked at being selected by Boston Bruin and rival Zdeno Chara. Unfortunately, when Chara held out his hand for a handshake, Price blew him off. But Price admitted he just didn't see that Chara was going for the handshake due to the blinding lights on stage, claiming, "I did not see the 6-foot-9 giant!"

On pace for how many points?

2012-01-26T15:00:00.001-06:00

Here at the All-Star break, some teams’ point totals are still a bit deceiving despite what the overall standings look like. Through Wednesday’s action, here’s a look at how many points each team is on pace to accumulate this season.

I’m going to change things up a bit from the previous times I’ve done this. I’ll factor in average point totals for home and away games through this point in the season.

Key: (Avg home point total X Remaining home games) + (Avg road point total X Remaining road games) + Current point total = Final point total pace

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. New York Rangers, 66 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.45 ppg … Away: 1.36 ppg)
Games remaining: 19 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 49.31
Final point total pace: 116.044

2. Boston Bruins, 64 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.36 ppg … Away: 1.36 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 19 Away
Projected remaining point total: 47.6
Final point total pace: 111.6

3. Washington Capitals, 55 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.48 ppg … Away: 0.78 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 18 Away
Projected remaining point total: 37.72
Final point total pace: 92.72

4. Phiadelphia Flyers, 63 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.19 ppg … Away: 1.41 ppg)
Games remaining: 20 Home, 14 Away
Projected remaining point total: 43.54
Final point total pace: 106.54

5. Pittsburgh Penguins, 60 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.3 ppg … Away: 1.15 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 15 Away
Projected remaining point total: 40.65
Final point total pace: 100.65

6. Ottawa Senators, 60 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.21 ppg … Away: 1.11 ppg)
Games remaining: 17 Home, 13 Away
Projected remaining point total: 35.0
Final point total pace: 95.0

7. Florida Panthers, 55 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.26 ppg … Away: 1.04 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 39.32
Final point total pace: 94.32

8. New Jersey Devils, 55 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.13 ppg … Away: 1.16 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 38.9
Final point total pace: 93.9

9. Toronto Maple Leafs, 55 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.23 ppg … Away: 1.0 ppg)
Games remaining: 15 Home, 18 Away
Projected remaining point total: 36.45
Final point total pace: 91.45

10. Winnipeg Jets, 50 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.28 ppg … Away: 0.72 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 32.0
Final point total pace: 82.0

11. Montreal Canadiens, 47 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.0 ppg … Away: 0.92 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 17 Away
Projected remaining point total: 31.64
Final point total pace: 76.64

12. Tampa Bay Lightning, 46 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.29 ppg … Away: 0.7 ppg)
Games remaining: 20 Home, 14 Away
Projected remaining point total: 35.6
Final point total pace: 81.6

13. New York Islanders, 45 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.0 ppg … Away: 0.86 ppg)
Games remaining: 15 Home, 19 Away
Projected remaining point total: 31.34
Final point total pace: 76.34

14. Buffalo Sabres, 45 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.08 ppg … Away: 0.75 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 17 Away
Projected remaining point total: 30.03
Final point total pace: 75.03

15. Carolina Hurricanes, 45 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.07 ppg … Away: 0.67 ppg)
Games remaining: 19 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 49.31
Final point total pace: 116.044

Projected final standings:
1. NY Rangers
2. Boston
3. Florida
4. Philadelphia
5. Pittsburgh
6. Ottawa
7. New Jersey
8. Washington
9. Toronto
10. Winnipeg
11. Tampa Bay
12. Montreal
13. NY Islanders
14. Buffalo
15. Carolina

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Detroit Red Wings, 67 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.78 ppg … Away: 0.96 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 14 Away
Projected remaining point total: 45.48
Final point total pace: 112.48

2. Vancouver Canucks, 64 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.35 ppg … Away: 1.27 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 15 Away
Projected remaining point total: 43.35
Final point total pace: 107.35

3. San Jose Sharks, 60 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.28 ppg … Away: 1.27 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 19 Away
Projected remaining point total: 44.61
Final point total pace: 104.61

4. St. Louis Blues, 65 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.7 ppg … Away: 0.9 ppg)
Games remaining: 13 Home, 20 Away
Projected remaining point total: 40.1
Final point total pace: 105.1

5. Nashville Predators, 64 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.35 ppg … Away: 1.21 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 15 Away
Projected remaining point total: 40.82
Final point total pace: 104.82

6. Chicago Blackhawks, 64 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.45 ppg … Away: 1.05 ppg)
Games remaining: 12 Home, 20 Away
Projected remaining point total: 38.4
Final point total pace: 102.4

7. Los Angeles Kings, 58 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.1 ppg … Away: 1.24 ppg)
Games remaining: 12 Home, 20 Away
Projected remaining point total: 38.0
Final point total pace: 96.0

8. Minnesota Wild, 55 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.32 ppg … Away: 0.96 ppg)
Games remaining: 19 Home, 14 Away
Projected remaining point total: 38.52
Final point total pace: 93.52

9. Colorado Avalanche, 54 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.08 ppg … Away: 1.04 ppg)
Games remaining: 15 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 32.84
Final point total pace: 86.84

10. Dallas Stars, 52 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.2 ppg … Away: 0.96 ppg)
Games remaining: 16 Home, 18 Away
Projected remaining point total: 36.48
Final point total pace: 88.48

11. Calgary Flames, 52 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.27 ppg … Away: 0.86 ppg)
Games remaining: 19 Home, 13 Away
Projected remaining point total: 35.31
Final point total pace: 87.31

12. Phoenix Coyotes, 52 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.04 ppg … Away: 1.04 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 14 Away
Projected remaining point total: 33.28
Final point total pace: 85.28

13. Anaheim Ducks, 43 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.04 ppg … Away: 0.73 ppg)
Games remaining: 15 Home, 19 Away
Projected remaining point total: 29.47
Final point total pace: 72.47

14. Edmonton Oilers, 41 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 1.17 ppg … Away: 0.54 ppg)
Games remaining: 18 Home, 15 Away
Projected remaining point total: 29.16
Final point total pace: 70.16

15. Columbus Blue Jackets, 32 points
2011/12 average point totals (Home: 0.79 ppg … Away: 0.52 ppg)
Games remaining: 17 Home, 16 Away
Projected remaining point total: 21.75
Final point total pace: 53.75

Projected final standings:
1. Detroit
2. Vancouver
3. San Jose
4. St. Louis
5. Nashville
6. Chicago
7. Los Angeles
8. Minnesota
9. Dallas
10. Calgary
11. Colorado
12. Phoenix
13. Anaheim
14. Edmonton
15. Columbus

What if we had an Olympic point system?

2012-01-26T11:30:00.000-06:00

Here is our third look of the 2011-12 standings as if there was a different points system. The most popular solution is to dish out three points per game (and the one I’m in favor of the most) like they do in the Olympics.

A regulation win would be worth three points apiece, whereas an overtime/shootout victory will get you just two. The loser in extra time would still get a single point. The tiebreaker at the end of the year would be total wins, followed by regulation wins.

I’m a big supporter of this system (which was used at the 2010 Olympics), and did some ‘research’ as to what the standings would look like if this was indeed how we handed out the points. It would create more excitement for the final two minutes of regulation in a tied game. Also, this eliminates all of the extra point crap when a game goes to OT, plus rewards teams for getting the job done in 60 minutes.

Here’s what this year’s standings would look like here at the All-Star break…

			3 pts	2 pts	1 pt
	Key:	WINS	REG	OT/SO	OTL	PTS
1	Rangers	31	26	5	4	92
2	Bruins	31	25	6	2	89
3	Capitals	26	20	6	3	75
4	Flyers	29	24	5	5	87
5	Penguins	28	20	8	4	80
6	Senators	27	18	9	6	78
7	Maple Leafs	25	19	6	5	74
8	Panthers	22	18	4	11	73
9	Devils	26	15	11	3	70
10	Jets	22	19	3	6	69
11	Canadiens	19	16	3	9	63
12	Lightning	21	15	6	4	61
13	Hurricanes	18	16	2	9	61
14	Sabres	20	15	5	5	60
15	Islanders	19	15	4	7	60

			3 pts	2 pts	1 pt
	Key:	WINS	REG	OT/SO	OTL	PTS
1	Red Wings	33	25	8	1	92
2	Canucks	30	23	7	4	87
3	Sharks	27	20	7	6	80
4	Blues	29	26	3	7	91
5	Predators	30	24	6	4	88
6	Blackhawks	29	22	7	6	86
7	Kings	24	17	7	10	75
8	Wild	24	18	6	7	73
9	Stars	25	20	5	2	72
10	Flames	23	20	3	6	72
11	Coyotes	22	19	3	8	71
12	Avalanche	26	15	11	2	69
13	Ducks	18	17	1	7	60
14	Oilers	18	15	3	5	56
15	Blue Jackets	13	9	4	6	41

Morning Skate: January 26

2012-01-26T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Canadiens 7, Red Wings 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. David Desharnais, MTL (2 goals, 1 assist)
2. Max Pacioretty, MTL (1 goal, 1 assist)
3. Rene Bourque, MTL (1 goal, 1 assist)

Five must-read links:
- SI Red Light Blog: Ovechkin dims his own star
- Puck Daddy: Vladimir Putin wants meeting with NHL for 2014 Sochi Games
- CBS Eye on Hockey: How the NHL’s top scorers have been used
- Globe and Mail: Did Dave Hodge go too far with Tim Thomas tweet?
- NHL.com: Stars’ Benn excited about initial All-Star experience
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET today!

Rinne recharges for another second half run

2012-01-25T15:30:00.002-06:00

NASHVILLE – Pekka Rinne’s recent dominant stretch shouldn’t come as any surprise. The all-world goaltender usually performs better and better as the games become more and more important. With that in mind, Rinne is recharging the batteries for another late-season playoff push.

Rinne has started 45 of the Predators’ 50 games this year, which is a 74-start pace. Head coach Barry Trotz believes he was snubbed from the All-Star Game, but Rinne deserves the break. After a rough patch in December, the Kempele, Finland, native has put the team on his back over the last month as they are now contending for the Central Division.

Since a 4-1 loss to Detroit on Dec. 26, Rinne has been phenomenal. Rinne has won 12 of his 13 starts in that time, with the only loss coming on Jan. 5 to Dallas. In the 13-game stretch leading into the All-Star break, the 2011 Vezina Trophy finalist recorded a 1.60 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.

If the last month has been any sort of indication, Rinne is set up to have another successful late-season run. In each of the last three seasons, he has been the Predators’ best player during the playoff push.

Back in the 2008-09 season, Rinne started the bulk of the games over Dan Ellis after the break, posting a 16-4-4 record and 2.13 goals-against average in February and March. After the 2010 Olympic break, Rinne went 12-4-1 with a 1.96 GAA. Last year, with the team’s backs against the wall, he was dynamite in March, going 9-3-2 with a 1.91 GAA in 14 starts.

Trotz cites Rinne’s focus and mentality as the biggest reasons why he improves when the games become more important.

“The great mentality that Peks has is that no matter how we play in front of him, he recognizes that his job is to clean up our mistakes, basically. That’s why I call him the ‘Eraser’ – because he erases our mistakes all the time,” Trotz said.

“I’ve seen goalies stare down their defenseman or teammates when they make a mistake. He’s not wired that way. He’s just like ‘My job is to stop the puck, and if it happens that everyone else in front of me is not playing well, I’ll see if I can make the difference.’ That’s a great mentality to have.”

Ever since he arrived in Nashville on a full-time basis in 2008-09, February and March has been Rinne’s time to shine. In the last two seasons, Rinne has led the Preds to the playoffs with these big late-season pushes; three years ago, the Preds fell just short after a great second half followed a bad first half.

“The deeper you go in the season, you realize how big the games are,” said Rinne, who will spend the next week in Florida. “Obviously you realize that since October, but it’s still different. No matter what you say, it’s different when you come down to the last 30 games or so.”

Last year, backup Anders Lindback started just twice after the All-Star break. Look for more of the same, as the Preds will be relying on Rinne almost every night if they wish to keep pace with the likes of Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis in the division. The team knows its ticket to the playoffs rests on Rinne’s shoulders.

Trotz said of Rinne, “He’s got a great will to win, a great will to be a difference maker.”

Photo credit: Getty Images

Where will Ales Hemsky land?

2012-01-25T11:30:00.005-06:00

The NHL trade deadline is less than a month away with Edmonton Oilers right wing Ales Hemsky listed as one of the top commodities. His team continues to free fall in the standings as they likely prepare for yet another lottery pick. Hemsky has roughly $1.6 million remaining on his $4.1 million cap hit which makes him an affordable option for nearly every team craving that final piece.

Let’s look at the possible suitors for the crafty Czech.

New York Rangers

The Rangers will certainly be buyers by the end of February with GM Glen Sather no stranger to the Oilers organization. In addition, the team should have the required pieces to acquire Hemsky as they still hold their first round pick in addition to a decent pipeline in the AHL, juniors and college ranks.

Hemsky’s skill set should be up to the same level as the team’s heavy hitters but he may not be the best fit under coach John Tortorella – who has benched one-dimensional players like Wojtek Wolski and Erik Christensen all season. Nevertheless, a highly-talented rental with Stanley Cup experience probably wouldn’t hurt the team’s chemistry moving forward, so consider the Big Apple an option.

Philadelphia Flyers

Despite how well, or not well, the Flyers are performing they always are in the mix for the top forward available. Last season, GM Paul Holmgren took a gamble on Kris Versteeg, will he do the same with Hemsky? If Jaromir Jagr’s groin can’t hold up then acquiring a player like Hemsky would be a priority.

Jagr has been day-to-day since the Winter Classic, making the once-dominating top line of Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell far less dangerous. Adding Hemsky into the mix would give them an immediate option should Jagr get hurt and also broaden their potential line combination. The Flyers still hold their first round pick and have a good deal of NHL-ready players currently on their roster. If interested, they should be able to meet the Oilers’ price.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Does Evgeni Malkin need another winger? Chris Kunitz has worked out for most of the season but has been dubbed ‘Sid’s winger’ in the past. Should the captain actually be healthy enough for the stretch run, Malkin would benefit from having another skilled player by his side.

Adding an injury-prone winger to an already banged-up crop of players may not be the best idea but the Penguins severely lack depth up front. Despite winning through injuries for over the last 13 months, the team really needs more in order to advance in the playoffs. If they don’t get Hemsky, expect GM Ray Shero to find at least one more piece.

Washington Capitals

Do the Caps actually need Hemsky? No, but they should go after him. Tied for first place with the surprising Florida Panthers, Dale Hunter’s team would benefit from a top-six player the caliber of Hemsky.

Considering Mike Knuble is having his worst season in 10 years and both of their Russian superstars are well below their career averages, it would only make sense to try and compliment their strengths. Adding a creative player who can step up in big games would be a boon to the mediocre Capitals.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks continue to win despite their awful luck. Not only is Martin Havlat lost for another month but the team is dealing with Ryane Clowe missing playing time due to a facial injury. In short, the Sharks could use an upgrade over their current top-six, which featured Benn Ferreiro, Tommy Wingels and Andrew Desjardins among other less-talented players over the course of the season.

Their assets, however, remains somewhat depleted after sending an exorbitant package to the Minnesota Wild for Brent Burns at last year’s draft. They have some options in defensive prospects and a first round pick, but would be hard-pressed to outbid competing contenders if the asking price is a blue-chip prospect or more.

Detroit Red Wings

Can there be a talented player mentioned without the Red Wings looking like the perfect option? Hemsky fits the mold as a player focused on puck-possession who also brings a ton of skill to the table. Just imagine Hemsky lining up next to Pavel Datsyuk and essentially playing keep away from the opponent’s defense all game.

The Red Wings have the parts to make a major trade, although they’ve been reluctant to do so over the years. Their last big push was the acquisition of Todd Bertuzzi from the Florida Panthers for Shawn Matthias and a conditional pick. GM Ken Holland may pull the trigger and sacrifice one of his talented youngsters in the AHL like Joakim Andersson or Landon Ferraro.

Chicago Blackhawks

In the first half of the season, the Blackhawks severely tapped into their depth. Forwards Jimmy Hayes, Andrew Shaw and Ben Smith have become mainstays in the lineup with Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri getting their respective cups of coffee. With the Blackhawks hoping to make another deep run into the playoffs, do they have enough skill to make it to the Finals?

There is no denying the elite talent up front with Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane yet only the latter has played all 50 games. Adding Hemsky would bring in another offensive weapon to an already-powerful lineup. Furthermore, it would give head coach Joel Quenneville the option of moving the aforementioned Kane back to center.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have thrived under new coach Darryl Sutter and his hard-nosed system. However, they still haven’t scored enough to fully contend with the Sharks in the Pacific Division.

Part of the problem is the current injury to Simon Gagne, which forces Jarrett Stoll to play right wing on the second line opposed to adding offense to the third line – which is currently comprised of Brad Richardson, Andrei Loktionov and Trevor Lewis. Adding Hemsky, and likely another winger, could give the Kings enough of an upgrade to be taken seriously. It would also alleviate the massive amount of pressure on All-Star starting goalie Jonathan Quick.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 25

2012-01-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:

Rangers 3, Jets 0

Maple Leafs 4, Islanders 3 (OT)

Capitals 5, Bruins 3

Sabres 2, Devils 1 (SO)

Flyers 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 2

Penguins 3, Blues 2 (SO)

Predators 3, Blackhawks 1

Stars 1, Ducks 0

Sharks 1, Flames 0

Coyotes 3, Senators 2

Wild 3, Avalanche 2

Canucks 3, Oilers 2 (SO)

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Mathieu Perreault (3 goals, GWG)
2. Kari Lehtonen (27 saves, shutout)
3. Antti Niemi (25 saves, shutout)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Red Wings @ Canadiens

Game of the night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Montreal Canadiens
7:30 ET… TV: RDS, TSN, NBC Sports Channel

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (33-15-1) … Canadiens (18-21-9)
Away/Home: Red Wings (13-13-0) … Canadiens (8-9-7)
Last 10: Red Wings (8-2-0) … Canadiens (4-4-2)
Season Series: First meeting this season

Starting goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (2011-12 stats: 30-10-1, 1.95 GAA)
MTL- Carey Price (2011-12 stats: 16-17-8, 2.41 GAA)

Injury report:
DET- Patrick Eaves (fractured jaw, out) and Brad Stuart (knee, likely).
MTL- Brian Gionta (bicep tear, out for season), Andrei Markov (knee, out), Ryan White (hernia, day-to-day), Petteri Nokelainen (upper-body injury, day-to-day), Travis Moen (upper-body injury, day-to-day), Carey Price (laceration, likely) and Rene Bourque (flu, questionable).

Three things to watch:
1. The Magic Man
Pavel Datsyuk enters the game as one of the hottest players in hockey. In the new year, the top-line center has two goals and 14 points through only 10 games. He tends to elevate his game while in the spotlight so expect his A-game in his last contest before the All-Star Game.
2. All-Star Goalies
Jimmy Howard and Carey Price were honored to represent their teams during the All-Star Game and figure to provide a solid goalie dual tonight. Historically, Howard has won both of his two starts against the Habs so expect Price to play with a chip on his shoulder.
3. Original Six
Very rarely do these two teams get a chance to play each other so tonight should be a doozy. These two Original Six teams are the most successful franchises in NHL history so expect both world-class organizations to put on a show. However, only the Red Wings have succeeded in their winning ways so, again, the Habs should be playing with something to prove.

Final thought: This game is a mismatch on paper but the Canadiens might find the Red Wings asleep at the wheel. The Red Wings have won seven straight games which means they could be due for a loss. And, a strong goalie like Carey Price has the capability of stealing a game. Regardless, the Red Wings likely win this one. Prediction: Red Wings 4, Canadiens 1
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Five must-read stories:
- Sportsnet Magazine: Mr. Hockey's Toughest Fight
- The Sporting News: Flyers' Hartnell evolves beyond agitator, earns deserved All-Star Game nod
- SI.com's Red Light: Why Tim Thomas’ White House snub was wrong
- CBS Eye on Hockey: How the NHL's top scorers have been used
- Yahoo! Puck Daddy: Hockey rink roof collapses moments after Richard Zednik, youth players leave ice (Video)
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET on Thursday!

Who should replace Ovechkin at All-Star Game?

2012-01-25T02:30:00.001-06:00

With Ovechkin bowing out of the NHL All-Star Game, there's an open roster spot to fill prior to Thursday's All-Star Draft. Who deserves the nod?

Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Hartnell is off the table, deservedly named to the All-Star roster to replace the injured Jonathan Toews. With another roster spot to fill and the majority of the league leader board already participating, it may come down to the heart-and-soul guys in the NHL.

Boston Bruins fans have made a lot of noise about the exclusion of Patrice Bergeron, and they have a point. He doesn't have the flash of teammate and 2012 All-Star Tyler Seguin, but Bergeron is undoubtedly one of the best two-way forwards in the league, in strong early contention for the Selke Trophy.

He's a leader for the Bruins in all situations -- even strength and special teams -- and it shows in his 43 points and plus-27 rating (second in the league). He's on pace for what would be a career-high 74 points. Centering the Bruins' top scoring line with Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin on his wings, Bergeron should be considered for an All-Star roster position.

Bergeron's snub came as a surprise to his linemate Tyler Seguin. "Yeah, I was very surprised," he said. "I kind of kept hearing (Bergeron) was going. I thought he was going. I gave him so much credit for my success, obviously not only for how he plays and how many opportunities he gives me, but, you know, just being the guy that I can really follow."

Coach Claude Julien added his own surprise. "I think a lot of our players would have been worthy to go (to the All-Star game). (Bergeron) comes to mind, obviously, with the year he’s had. But, at the same time, there's 30 teams in the league and they've got to fill some spots, and they've got to give players on other teams an opportunity, so you've got to kind of share the spotlight with other teams."

If, as Julien points out, the issue is inclusion of all NHL teams, what about the Carolina Hurricanes' Jeff Skinner? The only Hurricane currently participating in All-Star weekend is defenseman Justin Faulk, who was selected only for the rookie portion of the event.

Skinner, last year's Calder Trophy winner, participated in the 2011 All-Star Game, a late replacement for an injured player. His promotion from the rookie portion of the event to the actual game made history, as Skinner became the youngest player ever in an NHL All-Star Game. He recorded an assist in the game as a member of Team Staal.

In terms of the Hurricanes' statistics this year, Skinner's may seem low -- he has 27 points, but due to missing 16 games in December with a concussion, those 27 points came in just 35 games. At the time of his injury, he was leading the team in points, but has since dropped to third behind Eric Staal and Jussi Jokinen. Now recovered and back in action, Skinner has barely skipped a beat, scoring three points in his first five games back.

In addition to his stats, Skinner is still a media darling in the NHL, and the publicity he brings to the game can't be denied. In lieu of Ovechkin, who typically garners a lot of press during the All-Star weekend, Skinner certainly brings the kind of storyline and personality that reporters (and teenage girls) love.

If the focus is on publicity, Skinner, who at last year's game was dubbed "a bigger hit than Bieber" by the Winnipeg Free Press, is a great choice to replace Ovechkin. Zdeno Chara, who played on Team Lidstrom last year, might agree. "Sometimes that's all you need, is for a young player to be the face of the franchise, a fan favorite, and all the kids say, 'I want to play hockey, I want to be like this guy,'" Chara said of Skinner.

Others to keep in mind are Pittsburgh's James Neal, Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar and Florida's Kris Versteeg.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Andy Murray takes on new coaching challenge

2012-01-24T12:30:00.002-06:00

OXFORD, Ohio – When you look at Andy Murray’s coaching resume, he has covered almost every base. Before this season, Murray had coached in the NHL, World Championships, overseas in Switzerland and Germany, and Canadian college hockey over a 35-year span. The only thing left for him to do was to coach U.S. college hockey, and Western Michigan University offered him the opportunity.

The former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and, most recently, St. Louis Blues passed up assistant coaching gigs in the NHL to pursue the head coaching position at Western Michigan.

“Some players that played for me in the NHL that went to Western Michigan contacted me and said I needed go and look at it,” Murray said of the decision process. “I’ve always had in the back of my mind that I’d like to try U.S. college hockey, because you only live once and I want to do it all. If I waited many more years it’d be too late.

“I came to campus, walked around and thought this would be neat.”

At the NHL level, Murray stood behind the bench with crowds of 18 to 20,000 in attendance. Even with crowds one-fourth of those sizes – some nights even less – and college hockey offering different challenges, Murray’s X’s and O’s style hasn’t changed.

“It’s coaching – just like coaching in the NHL, just like coaching at any level,” Murray said. “I coach the same way here that I did for 20 years in the NHL.”

The players have bought into his system, and the results are showing. The Western Michigan Broncos, a team that features expected future NHLers in Dan DeKeyser, Chase Balisy and Matt Tennyson, boast a 12-9-5 record and are ranked 13th in the latest NCAA polls. They are one of four teams that have been ranked in the top 15 all season.

Most coaches that make the transition from the NHL to the college ranks would have to adjust to teaching baby-faced college kids compared to highly-skilled veterans in the NHL. But Murray doesn’t see much of a difference in coaching his current players – mostly because he’s dealt with younger teams in the past.

“Everyone asks what it’s like to work with young players, but the teams I had in Los Angeles and St. Louis were very budget-conscious and we played a lot of a young guys. I had the Blues when (T.J.) Oshie, (David) Perron and (Patrik) Berglund were in their first year,” Murray said.

“Everyone talks about how college kids play with energy and love playing and play for the sake of the game – the NHL guys do, too. The only difference in the NHL is you have to play three games in four nights, six games in 10 nights, travelling across the country, and it’s tough to have that energy every night.”

As much as Murray has liked the new experience of coaching in the NCAA, his players are enjoying it as well.

“It’s been really valuable,” Western Michigan leading point-getter Chase Balisy said of playing for someone that has been in the NHL before. “He’s always thinking hockey, so I think it feeds off on the players. He’s always thinking about something, whether it’s on the plane or the bus. When it’s game day we all know he’s ready to go and so are we.”

Murray has had an adventurous coaching career. It started in 1976 when he took over the Brandon Travellers, a junior hockey team in Manitoba. After zigzagging around the globe over the last four decades, Murray finds himself in Kalamazoo, Mich., coaching 18-22 year olds as they seek the next level.

“Anyone who has followed my career path they’d say ‘What was he looking at?’ To me, I just do what’s going to make me happy and I thought I’d be happy doing this,” Murray said.

Murray wouldn’t count out a return to the NHL in the future.

“You never say never to anything. If it’s what I think I want to do and there’s a good opportunity, that’s what I’ll do,” but, “right now I’m enjoying this.”

Photo credit: Zolton Cohen

Morning Skate: January 24

2012-01-24T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 0
Hurricanes 2, Jets 1
Red Wings 3, Blues 1
Predators 4, Blue Jackets 1
Oilers 2, Sharks 1 (SO)
Kings 4, Senators 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Jonas Gustavsson, TOR (25 saves, shutout)
2. Devan Dubnyk, EDM (44 saves)
3. Mike Fisher, NSH (2 goals)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Sabres @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Islanders, 7:00
Jets @ Rangers, 7:00
Bruins @ Capitals, 7:00
Blue Jackets @ Lightning, 7:30
Flyers @ Panthers, 7:30
Penguins @ Blues, 8:00
Predators @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Ducks @ Stars, 8:30
Wild @ Avalanche, 9:00
Sharks @ Flames, 9:00
Senators @ Coyotes, 9:00
Oilers @ Canucks, 10:00

Game of the night:
Nashville Predators @ Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Predators (29-16-4) … Blackhawks (29-14-6)
Away/Home: Predators (13-9-1) … Blackhawks (19-5-4)
Last 10: Predators (8-2-0) … Blackhawks (5-3-2)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Starting goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (2011-12 stats: 27-11-4, 2.39 GAA)
CHI- Corey Crawford (2011-12 stats: 18-11-4, 2.88 GAA)

Injury report:
NSH- Francis Bouillon (upper body, questionable)
CHI- Jonathan Toews (upper body, out), Patrick Sharp (hand, out), Dan Carcillo (knee, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Pekka Rinne’s hot streak
Nashville head coach Barry Trotz is leaving the decision up to Rinne whether he wants to play tonight. With the way he has played recently, and with six days of rest on the horizon, why wouldn’t he want to play in this big game? Rinne, who has won a franchise-best eight in a row, is 11-1-0 in his last 12 games, sporting a 1.65 GAA in that time. He’s looking the $7 million goaltender the Preds signed him to be back in November.
2. Captain Toews out of the lineup
In the last meeting between these two teams on Saturday, the Blackhawks lost Jonathan Toews to an upper-body injury. The captain won’t play tonight, which is obviously a blow to their lineup. Toews is in the thick of the MVP race heading into the All-Star Game, an event he now will not partake in. Dave Bolland will see his role increase tonight in Toews’ absence.
3. Central Division implications
As I said yesterday, the Central Division is undoubtedly the best division in hockey. They possess four of the top five teams in the West, points-wise. The Blackhawks (and St. Louis) are three points behind division-leading Detroit; the Predators are five points back. All of these head-to-head games down the stretch, including tonight’s in Chicago, will have two big points on the line.

Final thought: This should be a good test for both sides. How will the ‘Hawks respond without their leader? Will the Preds have enough juice to grind out a win? I think this game will come down to special teams and goaltending, and Nashville has a big edge in both categories right now. Prediction: Predators 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)

The rest of today’s predictions:
Sabres over Devils
Islanders over Maple Leafs
Rangers over Jets
Capitals over Bruins
Lightning over Blue Jackets
Panthers over Flyers
Blues over Penguins
Ducks over Stars
Avalanche over Wild
Flames over Sharks
Senators over Coyotes
Canucks over Oilers
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Five must-read links:
- Puck Daddy: Tim Thomas skips Obama White House event; why he shouldn’t be demonized for it
- ESPN Boston: Tim Thomas put himself above team
- Globe and Mail: Time has come for Maple Leafs to strike
- Washington Examiner: Will Ovechkin still participate in NHL’s All-Star weekend?
- Preds On The Glass: Goo-Goo Game Winner by Mike Fisher Leads Predators to 4-1 Win
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET on Wednesday!

Florida's Versteeg regains early form

2012-01-23T13:30:00.001-06:00

By Bill Whitehead

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Even an upbeat player like Florida's Kris Versteeg -- impromptu singer and decent rapper, he of the major flow who constantly chews on his mouthpiece -- had to admit that his recent struggles were "a little difficult." In fact, you could call it quite a funk the funky 25-year-old Alberta native has been trapped in.

Entering Saturday night's game at Winnipeg, where he scored a hattrick on Nov. 10, Versteeg had been stymied around the net, stuck for nine straight games on the number 17 like a gambler working on an anxious hand of blackjack. Seventeen goals in 36 games -- a pace of 39 over a full season -- soon turned in to 17 goals in 45 games, with far too many missed chances in that span.

"I've been kind of brutal as of late," Versteeg said. "I've been missing a lot of opportunities -- a lot of open nets, a lot of breakaways. I don't know how many posts (I've hit) in the last 10 games...It's been frustrating. I can't explain it. The other game in Chicago (on Friday) I had an open net on the goal line, and somehow I shoot it out the far side.

"I've probably missed five or six wide, wide open nets. I've never experienced anything like that. It's adversity you try to fight through, but you pray to the hockey gods for a bounce here or there."

The gods came through Saturday when Versteeg scored twice and added an assist in Florida's 4-3 shootout win over the Jets. For good measure, Versteeg even gave life to the Panthers' woeful shootout crew by connecting in the second round to match Kyle Wellwood on an almost identical move, flipping a backhanded shot over Jets' netminder Ondrej Pavelec. An excited Versteeg, wearing his headgear backwards as a rally helmet, was quick to meet Mikael Samuelsson on the ice after netting the game-winner in the shootout's seventh round.

After Marcel Goc leaped to keep the puck in the offensive zone, the center fed Versteeg, who scored his first goal with a neat backhander after deking Pavelec. In the third period less than a minute after the Jets tied it at 2-2, Versteeg picked off Tobias Enstrom's breakout pass near the high slot and fired on Pavelec, who gloved it but couldn't keep it out.

"It was a time coming for myself," said a relieved Versteeg, who can usually be found after games wearing a cool Miami Heat hat bearing his No. 32. Even cooler to the Cats and coach Kevin Dineen, he now has a team-high 19 goals and 42 points.

The first-place Panthers hope Versteeg's breakout night is a return to form of the season's first 30 games when the right winger, center Stephen Weiss and left winger Tomas Fleischmann formed the league's most productive top line. Teams lately, though, have focused on the trio, primarily sending out its top defensive pairing to neutralize the line, and it's worked -- which probably has plenty to do with Florida's 5-14-6 mark in games when scoring two goals or less.

Weiss showed signs of breaking out Wednesday against Colorado. His sliding goal through the crease past J-S Giguere broke a 15-game goal drought. Fleischmann had a chance to get off the schneid with 20 seconds left in overtime in Winnipeg, but his potential game-winner from the doorstep was stopped by Pavelec. Weiss needs to keep improving, while Fleischmann, stuck on 15 goals for eight games, needs to score.

But I'm not worried about Steeger. He's hip again.

By Bill Whitehead
Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

Photo credit: Getty Images

The Week Ahead

2012-01-23T11:00:00.001-06:00

With the NHL All-Star festivities set to take place this week, it is time to look at the week that was in the National Hockey League. As always, we will tell you our "Three Stars of the Week", "Three Players to Keep an Eye On", "2 Teams to Watch", "Game of the Week" and "Other Games to Keep an Eye on".

Three Stars of the Week

1) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

No one has stepped up more in Sidney Crosby's absence that Evgeni Malkin. In four games last week, Malkin had five goals and seven points. He was an absolute beast all week, especially in his three-point performance against Washington on Sunday. He's the best player in the world right now.

2) John Tavares, New York Islanders

With a 12-game point streak, Tavares is on a tear right now. Last week he tallied four goals and six points, contributing to three Islanders victories in four games. Tavares scored game-winners against the Capitals and Hurricanes, as well.

3) Pekka Rinne, Nashville Preadtors

The Nashville Predators have been an extremely tough hockey club to beat lately. One of the main reasons for that has been the play of goaltender Pekka Rinne. This week, Rinne won three games, allowed just three goals and picked up a shutout. He had a .969 save percentage in the three victories.

Three Players to Keep an Eye on

- Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

It is clear that the Buffalo Sabres are struggling this season. One of the main reasons for their struggles has been the play of their starting netminder Ryan Miller.

In 29 games, Miller is 11-15-2 with a 3.15 goals against average (GAA), a .897 save percentage and 1 shutout. These are numbers that the Sabres and Miller are not used to and as such, the Sabres have one frustrated goaltender on their hands.

This week, Miller and the Sabres will take on the New Jersey Devils.

- Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

Is there a goaltending controversy brewing in Chicago? With the way starter Corey Crawford has played and backup Ray Emery has performed, there very well might be.

Crawford is 18-11-4 with a 2.88 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Emery is 11-3-2 with a 2.57 GAA and a .907 save percentage. The numbers from these two netminders are not exactly top of the line, which has forced coach Joel Quenneville.

This week, the Blackhawks will take on the Nashville Predators.

- Jonas Hiller, Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks seem to be turning their season around with their great play of late. One of the reasons for their success has been Jonas Hiller in net.

In his last seven starts, Hiller is 6-0-1. In that time, Hiller has a .950 save percentage and 1.42 GAA with one shutout. The Ducks goaltender got off to a rough start, but his improved play should help the Ducks go on a bit of a run here in the second half.

This week, the Ducks will take on the Dallas Stars.

Two Teams to Watch

- Toronto Maple Leafs

For a team and an organization that has high hopes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are certainly struggling to meet the high hopes of its giant fan base.

For awhile this season, it seemed like the Leafs had a firm hold on one of the top eight spots in the Eastern Conference. However, with its recent skid and lackluster play, the Leafs currently find themselves in the ninth spot in the Conference, one point out of a playoff spot.

This week, the Leafs will take on the Islanders in a home and home series.

- Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks may not be in a playoff spot right now in the competitive Western Conference but they are certainly doing their best to make things interesting.

In the team's last 10 games, the Ducks are 7-2-1. They are doing that with good goaltending, getting lots of goals up and down the line-up and playing smart on both sides of the puck.

This week, the Ducks will take on the Dallas Stars.

Game of the Week

Tuesday, January 24 -- Boston Bruins @ Washington Capitals

With the Boston Bruins in the second spot in the Eastern Conference and the Washington Capitals just two points behind the Southeast Division leading Florida Panthers, both teams will certainly be competing hard before heading into the NHL All-Star break. Both teams have offense and both teams can play smart defensively so it should be a terrific game.

Other Games to Keep an Eye On

Monday, January 23

St. Louis @ Detroit
Ottawa @ Los Angeles

Tuesday, January 24

Boston @ Washington

Philadelphia @ Florida
Nashville @ Chicago

Wednesday, January 25

Detroit @ Montreal

Sunday, January 29

NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa

Photo credit: Getty Images

Power Rankings: Week 16

2012-01-23T09:15:00.000-06:00

1. Boston Bruins… LW: 1
Boston hasn’t been as invincible since embarrassing Calgary 9-0 on Jan. 5 (5-3-1 record). But you have to give them credit for absorbing seven of a possible 10 points in five games last week.
2. Detroit Red Wings… LW: 4
Pavel Datsyuk and company sit atop the NHL and Western Conference through Sunday’s action. The Wings will put their franchise-best 16-game home win streak on the line tonight.
3. New York Rangers… LW: 3
The Blueshirts are an even 3-3-0 in their last six games. However, they picked up a big overtime win Saturday in Boston, the first of four second half meetings between the two teams.

4. St. Louis Blues… LW: 5
Brian Elliott signed a two-year extension and is heading to this week’s All-Star Game. But Jaroslav Halak, with seven straight wins and an 11-0-3 record in his last 14 games, is starting to grab back his starting job.
5. Vancouver Canucks… LW: 2
The Canucks slipped a tad due to the recent work of the top four teams. Cody Hodgson, who has 14 points in the last 16 games, is providing some valuable secondary scoring.
6. Nashville Predators… LW: 10
The surging Predators have won 10 of their last 12 games. In six of those 12 games, either Shea Weber or Ryan Suter has been out of the lineup. You can credit the team’s top line for picking up the offensive slack.
7. Chicago Blackhawks… LW: 6
For the first time since 2006-07 with Atlanta, Marian Hossa is averaging more than a point per game (tied for third in NHL with 52 points) and has only missed one game all year.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins… LW: 15
Evgeni Malkin has put the team on his back recently, carrying the Penguins to a six-game win streak; ‘Geno has 13 points in the six games. Also, the team is 9-0-1 this year with the big four defensemen all healthy.
9. San Jose Sharks… LW: 7
One thing the Sharks need to improve is the special teams; ranked 19th and 28th on power play and penalty kill, respectively. In recent years, both units have been a big strength.
10. Ottawa Senators… LW: 9
Ken Hitchcock and John Tortorella are getting the most recognition for the Jack Adams, but why not throw Paul MacLean’s hat into the ring? The Sens are unexpectedly in firm playoff positioning through 50 games.
11. Philadelphia Flyers… LW: 11
Scott Hartnell scored five goals over the weekend, lifting his season goal total to 25. He is now on pace for 43 goals, 13 more than his previous career-high.
12. Los Angeles Kings… LW: 12
Justin Williams, an important piece of the Kings’ offense, is playing his best hockey of the year. Williams is currently on a seven-game point streak.
13. Washington Capitals… LW: 8
Though in a loss, Alex Ovechkin collected three points on Sunday against Pittsburgh. Will that get him rolling? Possibly, but it would have to happen after his imminent suspension.
14. Colorado Avalanche… LW: 13
Of the 16 teams in playoff position, Colorado is the worst while skating at 5-on-5 (27th in NHL). They can thank a top-ten power play for cancelling that out.
15. New Jersey Devils… LW: 14
Alexei Ponikarovsky struggled in his short stint with the Hurricanes. Will the move to a playoff contender spark something in the former 20-goal scorer?
16. Calgary Flames… LW: 19
The next two weeks will be important for Calgary. While they are playing better, the schedule will stiffen in February.
17. Anaheim Ducks… LW: 26
The Ducks, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, are the biggest movers in this week’s rankings. Since Christmas, Bobby Ryan has nine goals and 14 points in 12 games.
18. Toronto Maple Leafs… LW: 17
Ron Wilson’s club is an incredibly average 9-9-3 in their last 21 games.
19. Florida Panthers… LW: 18
Like the Leafs, Florida has cooled off after a quick start, going 6-7-6 in their last 19 games.
20. Winnipeg Jets… LW: 20
Winnipeg is 15-8-2 at home and 7-12-4 on the road. They will be tested in the coming weeks, as seven of their next games away from MTS Centre.
21. New York Islanders… LW: 24
John Tavares has racked up 21 points during his current 12-game point streak. Also, Evgeni Nabokov is 5-1-0 in his last six starts.
22. Minnesota Wild… LW: 21
Will a 5-2 win over Dallas end the Wild’s prolonged dry spell? We’ll find out Tuesday when they face Colorado, another playoff bubble foe.
23. Montreal Canadiens… LW: 23
To build off what was said about the Avs, Montreal is the best team at 5-on-5 (11th in NHL) that isn’t holding down a top-eight seed in either conference. Boasting the worst power play will offset any of that even strength success.
24. Dallas Stars… LW: 16
The Stars have dropped five in a row, due in part to the absence of both Jamie Benn and Mike Ribeiro. According to SportsClubStats, their playoff chances have gone from 60.12% to 23.36% during the skid.
25. Phoenix Coyotes… LW: 22
Despite carrying a 2.28 GAA in January, Mike Smith has a 2-3-4. The goal support just isn’t there right now (on a consistent basis) for the Coyotes.
26. Tampa Bay Lightning… LW: 29
Since returning from a face injury in December, Bolts forward Martin St. Louis has 19 points in 15 games.
27. Carolina Hurricanes… LW: 27
Since Dec. 9, the Hurricanes are 8-6-2 and have accumulated points in 10 of 16 games. They have certainly been more competitive since Kirk Muller took over behind the bench.
28. Buffalo Sabres… LW: 25
Will the Sabres turn it around this year? They didn’t show any positive signs last week, extending their road skid to 12 games with four convincing losses away from home.
29. Edmonton Oilers… LW: 28
Nikolai Khabibulin has gotten progressively worse as this year has gone on. He is 0-5-1 this month with a 3.31 GAA and .893 save percentage.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets… LW: 30
The Jackets have an NHL-worst two players with 20 points or more. Two!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 23

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Penguins 4, Capitals 3 (OT)
Bruins 6, Flyers 5 (SO)
Ducks 3, Avalanche 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Scott Hartnell, PHI (3 goals)
2. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (1 goal, 2 assists)
3. Bobby Ryan, ANA (2 goals)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Islanders @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Jets @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Blues @ Red Wings, 7:30
Blue Jackets @ Predators, 8:00
Sharks @ Oilers, 9:30
Senators @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the night:
St. Louis Blues @ Detroit Red Wings
7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Blues (29-12-6) … Red Wings (32-15-1)
Away/Home: Blues (8-9-3) … Red Wings (19-2-1)
Last 10: Blues (8-1-1) … Red Wings (8-2-0)
Season Series: Tied 2-2

Starting goaltenders:
STL- Jaroslav Halak (2011-12 stats: 14-7-5, 2.00 GAA)
DET- Jimmy Howard (2011-12 stats: 29-10-1, 1.98 GAA)

Injury report:
STL- Alexander Steen and Andy McDonald (concussion, out), Kent Huskins (ankle, out)
DET- Patrick Eaves (jaw, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Detroit’s home winning streak
Joe Louis Arena has become a black hole of sorts for opponents since early November. The Red Wings have won 16 straight at home, a new franchise record with each passing win. Mike Babcock’s gang has out-scored the opposition 71-23 in these 16 games. The Blues, who have lost twice already in Detroit this season, will look to snap the streak tonight.
2. Jaroslav Halak’s great play in net
Brian Elliott may be going to the All-Star Game, but Jaroslav Halak is the better goaltender right now. In his last 14 starts, Halak is 11-0-3 with a 1.53 GAA and .939 save percentage. He has won all seven of his starts in January, including three shutouts (1.13 GAA, .954 SV% in that time). This is the goaltender the Blues thought they had acquired in June 2010.
3. Central Division implications
The Central Division is undoubtedly the best division in hockey. The Wings and Blues, along with the Chicago Blackhawks, are separated by one point for the division and conference lead (and don’t forget about the surging Nashville Predators). All of these head-to-head games down the stretch, including tonight in Detroit, will have two big points on the line.

Final thought: This is the fifth meeting between Detroit and St. Louis this season; their last meeting will come in April in St. Louis. Both teams are playing great hockey of late and will be trying to gain (momentary) separation from Chicago. The beat goes on for Detroit. Prediction: Red Wings 2, Blues 1

The rest of today’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Islanders
Hurricanes over Jets
Predators over Blue Jackets
Sharks over Oilers
Kings over Senators
---

Five must-read links:
- Puck Daddy: Shanaban time for Alex Ovechkin after leaping hit on Penguins’ Zbynek Michalek? (Video)
- CSN New England: Horton forced to leave game after blindside head shot
- Buffalo News: Sabres are overdue for change at GM
- Fox Sports West: Defense keying Ducks’ resurgence
- Smashville 24/7: Bourque bringing energy to Preds lineup
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET on Wednesday!

Same old, same old for Red Wings

2012-01-22T12:30:00.000-06:00

It seems like every single season, the Detroit Red Wings write stories that they have published before. Season after season, the Red Wings find themselves to be at, near or on top of both the Western Conference and the entire National Hockey League. In fact, it is something that hockey media and fans alike can mark down before the season even begins.

This appears to be the case for the Red Wings this season as well.

At 31-15-1, the Red Wings, believe it or not, are first in the Western Conference, just one point ahead of division rivals Chicago and St. Louis. The Red Wings are also first in the entire NHL.

There are many reasons why the Red Wings have had success this season. For starters, the goaltending of Jimmy Howard has been exceptional.

Howard, 27, is at or near the top of many of the important goaltending categories this season. Howard leads the league in wins with 29, is fifth in the NHL with a 1.98 goals against average, is seventh in the league with a .926 save percentage and is second in the league with 5 shutouts. Not bad for someone who nobody trusted a few seasons ago, eh?

Secondly, the Red Wings once again have a balanced offense. The team has 10 players with 20 points or more and has eight with at least 10 goals, and a lot more near that mark.

Leading the way for the Red Wings on offense has been Pavel Datsyuk, who has 51 points on 13 goals and 38 assists, which is good for third in the NHL. He has been extremely consistent since late November, and continues to display an artistry with the puck that few can reproduce while also continuing to be one of the game's top two-way players.

The team has also been almost unstoppable on home ice this season. The club has won 16 straight home games, breaking a franchise record established in the 1964-65 season. In this incredible streak, the Wings have out-scored their opponents by a mark of 71-23. Overall, the Red Wings are 18-2-1 at the Joe Louis Arena this season. Come playoff time, it is going to be an extremely tough barn to play in.

Lastly, head coach Mike Babcock continues to get the best out of his players on a consistent basis. He knows what makes them tick, knows how to put together the right lines and knows how to give them a reality check in every once in awhile.

For a team that has not won a Stanley Cup since 2008, the Wings have a great chance to contend for one when the playoffs roll around. Should they win, would anyone really be surprised?

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 22

2012-01-22T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Rangers 3, Bruins 2 (OT)
Flyers 4, Devils 1
Canucks 4, Sharks 3
Ducks 2, Senators 1
Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 1
Islanders 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT)
Red Wings 3, Blue Jackets 2 (SO)
Panthers 4, Jets 3 (SO)
Blues 4, Sabres 2
Predators 5, Blackhawks 2
Lightning 4, Coyotes 3
Wild 5, Stars 2
Flames 6, Oilers 2
Avalanche 3, Kings 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Lee Stempniak, CGY (3 goals, 1 assist)
2. David Backes, STL (2 goals, 2 assists)
3. Kris Versteeg, FLA (2 goals, 1 assist, SO goal)
---

Today’s slate:
Capitals @ Penguins, 12:30 ET
Bruins @ Flyers, 3:00
Avalanche @ Ducks, 8:00

Game of the day:
Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins
12:30 ET… TV: NBC

Records:
Overall: Capitals (25-19-2) … Penguins (26-17-4)
Away/Home: Capitals (8-13-1) … Penguins (14-4-2)
Last 10: Capitals (6-4-0) … Penguins (5-5-0)
Season Series: 2-1 Capitals

Starting goaltenders:
WSH- Tomas Vokoun (2011-12 stats: 19-12-0, 2.55 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2011-12 stats: 24-12-2, 2.24 GAA)

Injury report:
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom (head, out), Mike Green and Tom Poti (groin, out)
PIT- Arron Asham (concussion, questionable), Sidney Crosby (concussion, out), Jordan Staal (knee, out), Simon Despres (lower body, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Two teams, two different directions
The teams’ records in the last 10 games (listed above) are a bit misleading in relation to how the Pens and Caps are playing. It may seem the Caps are playing better than the Pens, but that’s not the case. Riding the hot hand of Evgeni Malkin, the Pens have won five in a row. Contrarily, the Caps have been shut out in two of their last three games and aren’t playing good hockey away from home.
2. The ever-sizzling Evgeni Malkin
It seems like we’re always talking about ‘Geno, but he keeps getting better as this season goes along. Malkin has 31 points in his last 19 games, taking over the league lead in production in the process. He has scored in five straight games – all Penguins wins – and it seems like he’s scoring in clutch moments.
3. How will Caps respond to shutout loss?
As mentioned above, the Capitals aren’t playing great right now. They have dropped six of their last eight road games, including Friday’s 3-0 loss in Carolina (overall, the Caps boast an 8-13-1 record on the road). Will today be the perfect setting to bounce back? The Caps have remarkably won eight straight games in Pittsburgh.

Final thought: These two rivals renew hostilities for the fourth and final time this season. Two important points are up for grabs as both clubs look to rebound in second half. I see the Pens getting a win against this team on home ice, but the Caps won’t go down easy. Prediction: Penguins 3, Capitals 2

The rest of today’s predictions:
Flyers over Bruins
Ducks over Avalanche
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET on Wednesday!

Saturday Faceoff: Mock All-Star Draft

2012-01-21T11:30:00.001-06:00

Like last January, the most intriguing part of next weekend’s All-Star Game festivities in Ottawa will be the fantasy draft conducted on Thursday. Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara – recently-named captains – will draft their teams for Team Alfredsson and Team Chara.

Alexander and I recently did a mock fantasy draft of the 42 All-Stars. Here’s how our draft played out, with Alexander getting the first pick…

(Remember: all goalies will have to be picked by round 10, defensemen by round 15)

Round 1
Alexander… Evgeni Malkin, PIT, F
Malkin is on pace to break 100 points for the first time since 2008-09, which is a strong indication that he is playing at an elite level. With Sidney Crosby not an option, we feel 'Geno' is the second-best player in the League.
Ryan… Claude Giroux, PHI, F
In the wide open format of the All-Star Game, Giroux's skill set is even more valuable. Giroux has arguably been the league's top player up until this point in the season.

Round 2
Alexander… Alex Ovechkin, WSH, F
Even though Ovechkin hasn’t set the world on fire this year, he’s still one of the more talented players in all of hockey. In addition, the former No. 1 overall pick remains a great draw and should help make this year's festivities special.
Ryan… Henrik Sedin, VAN, F
Sedin is second in the NHL in points and has been an offensively dominant player over the last few years. He's another player that will benefit from the extra ice in the All-Star Game.

Round 3
Alexander… Henrik Lundqvist, NYR, G
Few starting goalies have been as dominant as Henrik Lundqvist as he looks to finally win a Vezina Trophy. His sharp reflexes make him one of the best instinctual goalies out there which should help against the dangling All Stars he is sure to face.
Ryan… Tim Thomas, BOS, G
There hasn't been a better goaltender in the NHL over the last two seasons. Thomas is the ultimate competitor – whether it’s Game 7 of the Cup final or the All-Star Game.

Round 4
Alexander… Zdeno Chara, BOS, D
Chara’s size won’t be used too much during the exhibition game, but you can't argue with his shot power. ‘Big Z’ is a fierce competitor who should challenge for the Norris Trophy this season.
Ryan… Daniel Sedin, VAN, F
I’ve already got Henrik, so why not grab his brother? The Sedin twins were on separate teams last year in Raleigh, but not this time. Daniel led the NHL in points in 2010-11, and is in the running once again.

Round 5
Alexander… Steven Stamkos, TB, F
Last year, Stamkos came close to scoring 50 goals for a second consecutive season and projects to approach the plateau again this season. There isn’t a better natural scorer in the game.
Ryan… Shea Weber, NSH, D
Since Alex has Chara, I have to respond by grabbing Weber, right? The Predators captain has been one of the league’s best defensemen all year and will contend for the hardest shot in the skills competition once again.

Round 6
Alexander… Ryan Suter, NSH, D
Ryan taking Weber was a good reminder to take his defensive partner. Although Suter is currently battling through an upper-body injury, the second-generation defenseman is capable of shutting down any opponent.
Ryan… Jonathan Quick, LA, G
Surprisingly flying under the radar, Quick is having a standout season with the Kings. I now feel I have an advantage in net with two of the three best netminders, even though goaltending is mostly irrelevant in All-Star Games.

Round 7
Alexander… Jimmy Howard, DET, G
The Vezina Trophy race is neck-and-neck with Thomas, Quick, Lundqvist and Howard all very worthy candidates. As a player used to playing behind a high-octane offense, Howard should help find a way to win the game.
Ryan… Phil Kessel, TOR, F
I need another forward. With Kessel available, it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up. He has turned into a consistent goal-scorer this year and, alongside Giroux, will light up Alexander’s defense. Kessel will not be this year’s Mr. Irrelevant!

Round 8
Alexander… Dan Girardi, NYR, D
Girardi led all d-men in blocked shots last year and is a contender for the trophy this season. Our squad will need someone to actually play some defense in what should be a wide-open tilt.
Ryan… Erik Karlsson, OTT, D
You’re right – it will be a wide-open game. So give me this season’s top offensive defenseman, Erik Karlsson. The 21-year-old will be amped up to play this game in Ottawa.

Round 9
Alexander… Carey Price, MTL, G
Instead of getting stuck with Brian Elliott, who could be over his head against heightened competition and away from Ken Hitchcock’s system, we take the wunderkind in Price. The lone selection on the Montreal Canadiens, the former 5th overall pick should be able to keep the game close.
Ryan… Brian Elliott, STL, G
So you don’t want Elliott, eh? The guy has played with a chip on his shoulder all year and will be returning to Ottawa, a place that gave up on him last year. It may be the All-Star Game, but it’ll mean something to Elliott.

Round 10
Alexander… Jonathan Toews, CHI, F
You take a chip on your shoulder; I’ll take a ‘C’ on mine. This silent leader is as talented as they come, and a member of the Triple Gold Club.
Ryan… Dion Phaneuf, TOR, D
The blueline gets beefed up with the addition of Phaneuf, who was voted in by the fans. But he would have gone anyway due to his stellar first half for the playoff-contending Leafs.

Round 11
Alexander… Keith Yandle, PHX, D
Despite playing in a stingy, defensive-minded system in Phoenix, Yandle continues to shine offensively. This Boston native is on his way to a third-consecutive 40-point campaign which is not such an easy task playing under Dave Tippett.
Ryan… Dustin Byfuglien, WPG, D
I don’t think ‘Big Buff’ should be Winnipeg’s representative; Evander Kane earned a ticket to Ottawa in the first half. Nevertheless, Byfuglien is an asset in the ASG due to his capability to activate offensively from the back end.

Round 12
Alexander… Dennis Wideman, WSH, D
Wideman has been a great stopgap for Mike Green over the past two years as his teammate simply cannot stay on the ice. Considering his success playing alongside stars like Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin in DC, he should have no problem jumping on the right point during the power play.
Ryan… Alexander Edler, VAN, D
The run on defensemen continues here with the selection of Edler, who will join the Sedin twins on this team. He has been really good this season with the Canucks and is so smart with the puck on his stick.

Round 13
Alexander… Patrick Kane, CHI, F
A little bit of playmaker mixed with a lot of dangle, Kane has what it takes to get the job done. Reunited with friend and teammate Jonathan Toews, the former 1st overall pick should juke his way around the opposition.
Ryan… Pavel Datsyuk, DET, F
Talk about dangle. Datsyuk may be the most gifted, complete player in the NHL. He may not necessarily want to be in Ottawa, but that doesn't mean he won't put his skills on display.

Round 14
Alexander… Marian Hossa, CHI, F
We already have the other two Blackhawks forwards, so why not take arguably the most lethal of the three? On pace for his best season since 2006-07, it’s safe to say he’s having a rebound year.
Ryan… Kimmo Timonen, PHI, D
Rounding out my defense is Timonen, who has been underappreciated with the job he’s done since Chris Pronger went down. Timonen will reunite with Weber, a former teammate, on the blueline.

Round 15
Alexander… Brian Campbell, FLA, D
Campbell rounds out our blueline in his bounce-back season. He too gets to reunite with his former teammates on the Blackhawks.
Ryan… John Tavares, NYI, F
Tavares will be making his first All-Star Game appearance, so he’ll probably empty his bag of tricks in the skills competition and the game itself. He’s got an assortment of moves that can be utilized in this type of setting.

Round 16
Alexander… Marian Gaborik, NYR, F
'Gabby' has managed to stay healthy all season and is productive because of it. Stepping out of the spotlight in New York, the Slovakian star is finally playing on a well-rounded team. One can only imagine what his quick release and impressive foot speed will do in Ottawa.
Ryan… Daniel Alfredsson, OTT, F
The 39-year-old is having a lot of fun this season and will probably be the star of the festivities next weekend in Ottawa. Alfredsson may be on the downside of his career, but will put forth a nice effort this year in the ASG.

Round 17
Alexander… Corey Perry, ANA, F
The reigning MVP really doesn’t deserve to slip any further, so he won’t. Aside from Teemu Selanne, Perry is one of the few players living up to their paycheck in Anaheim which made him their lone selection. He should thrive in a more-relaxed environment and show why he was last year’s best player.
Ryan… Jarome Iginla, CGY, F
The Flames captain had another slow start, but definitely has a spot on this team. Iginla, who missed last year’s event in Raleigh due to family reasons, will be an asset in both the skills competition and game.

Round 18
Alexander… Jason Spezza, OTT, F
With two other Senators on Ryan’s squad, we felt it necessary to get the crowd behind us. Spezza has been arguably the Sens best player this year and has stayed healthy all season. His playmaking skillset should go well with our smattering of snipers.
Ryan… Tyler Seguin, BOS, F
For the last two years, Seguin and Kessel have been linked to one another. Now, for one weekend, they’ll be on the same team. Kessel just can’t exit the ASG spotlight, can he?

Round 19
Alexander… Milan Michalek, OTT, F
Despite Senators fans stuffing the ballots, Michalek is a solid option in such a late round. The Czech sniper is an All-Star this season, unlike Dany Heatley, meaning the fateful trade to bring him to Ontario is finally paying off.
Ryan… Jamie Benn, DAL, F
Due to injury, Benn may not participate next weekend in Ottawa. But if he can go, he’ll shine with the open ice and extra space to maneuver. He has more moves than most people realize.

Round 20
Alexander… Logan Couture, SJ, F
There's been no sophomore slump for Couture, who currently leads the Sharks in goal scoring. This natural center can play either pivot or wing which makes him a very flexible piece to the roster.
Ryan… Joffrey Lupul, TOR, F
Lupul can stop sweating; he won’t be the last one chosen like fellow Leaf Kessel was last year. Lupul is surprisingly in the top 10 in the NHL in points.

Round 21
Alexander… Jason Pominville, BUF, F
The first-year captain has taken his game up a notch for the Sabres. Even though Terry Pegula’s team is not where they want to be in the standings, they would be a lot worse if Pominville wasn’t producing at a point-per-game pace.
Ryan… Mikko Koivu, MIN, F
Minnesota’s captain (currently injured) becomes this year’s Mr. Irrelevant of the fantasy draft! By no means, though, is Koivu the worst of the 42 veterans selected for the ASG. He is averaging close to 21 minutes ice-time per game.

Draft results:

Alexander	Rd.	Ryan
Evgeni Malkin, F	1	Claude Giroux, F
Alex Ovechkin, F	2	Henrik Sedin, F
Henrik Lundqvist, G	3	Tim Thomas, G
Zdeno Chara, D	4	Daniel Sedin, F
Steven Stamkos, F	5	Shea Weber, D
Ryan Suter, D	6	Jonathan Quick, G
Jimmy Howard, G	7	Phil Kessel, F
Dan Girardi, D	8	Erik Karlsson, D
Carey Price, G	9	Brian Elliott, G
Jonathan Toews, F	10	Dion Phaneuf, D
Keith Yandle, D	11	Dustin Byfuglien, D
Dennis Wideman, D	12	Alexander Edler, D
Patrick Kane, F	13	Pavel Datsyuk, F
Marian Hossa, F	14	Kimmo Timonen, D
Brian Campbell, D	15	John Tavares, F
Marian Gaborik, F	16	Daniel Alfredsson, F
Corey Perry, F	17	Jarome Iginla, F
Jason Spezza, F	18	Tyler Seguin, F
Milan Michalek, F	19	Jamie Benn, F
Logan Couture, F	20	Joffrey Lupul, F
Jason Pominville, F	21	Mikko Koivu, F

Final remarks:
Alexander…
One word describes Team Monaghan: chemistry. Whether it is ‘Geno and Ovi taking feeds off each other or the Blackhawks’ dominant forwards working in unison, this team will have a leg up on the opposition.

In addition to our healthy offense, our combination of Vezina Trophy deserving starting goalies and shut down defenders should be enough to stifle the efforts of Team Porth.

Ryan…
I don’t need any one word to describe Team Porth… because you could use many words. You want to talk chemistry? I’ve got the highest scoring duos in the league: the Sedin twins (flanked by Alfredsson), as well as Kessel and Lupul (centered by Giroux).

You may have a stalwart like Lundqvist in net, but Team Porth has three netminders that play with a chip on their shoulder – even if it’s the All-Star Game. Add in Weber and Karlsson on the blueline, and you can chalk up a win for Team Porth in Ottawa next weekend.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 21

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Hurricanes 3, Capitals 0
Penguins 5, Canadiens 4 (SO)
Lightning 2, Stars 1
Blackhawks 3, Panthers 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Cam Ward (23 saves, shutout)
2. Dustin Jeffrey (2 goals, 1 assists)
3. Mathieu Garon (27 saves)
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Tonight’s slate:
Rangers @ Bruins, 1:00 ET
Flyers @ Devils, 1:00
Senators @ Ducks, 4:00
Sharks @ Canucks, 4:00
Panthers @ Jets, 7:00
Canadiens @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Islanders, 7:00
Blue Jackets @ Red Wings, 7:00
Sabres @ Blues, 8:00
Lightning @ Coyotes, 8:00

Blackhawks @ Predators, 8:00

Stars @ Wild, 8:00

Flames @ Oilers, 10:00

Avalanche @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the night:
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins
1:00 ET… TV: NHL Net. (US), Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Rangers (29-12-4) … Bruins (30-13-1)

Away/Home: Rangers (15-7-2) … Bruins (16-7-1)
Last 10: Rangers (7-3-0) … Bruins (6-4-0)
Season Series: First meeting this season

Starting goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12 stats: 20-10-4, 1.93 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (2011-12 stats: 19-9-0, 2.02 GAA)

Injury report:

NYR - Brad Richards (neck, likely), Michael Sauer (concussion, out) and Jeff Woywitka (foot, out).

BOS - Marc Savard (concussion, out indefinitely).

Three things to watch:
1. Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy race will be neck-and-neck this season between Lundqvist and Thomas in the East and Jonathan Quick and Jimmy Howard out West. Very rarely do we get to see two MVP-worthy starting goalies face each other in the regular season so it should be a treat to watch. Expect both elite netminders to bring their A-game.
2. Who wants it more?
Last time these two teams faced each other, the Rangers won by playing their game and staying true to their identity. Because of that, they defeated a coasting Bruins team 5-3 en route to making the playoffs. The Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan, blocked a booming Zdeno Chara slapshot in the final minutes that shattered his ankle and ended this season. With two well-rounded, hard-working and gritty teams facing off, expect both teams to leave it all on the ice.
3. Beasts of the East
While this game is played in January, it should have the feel of a playoff contest. Furthermore, the victor could take sole possession of the first seed as the Rangers are currently only one point up on the Bruins. A win in regulation would give the Bruins that seat back.

Final thought: Both teams have played at a higher level with a sense of relative ease. However, this game should be a test for all involved. Due to that, we think the game will be low scoring. Prediction: Bruins 2, Rangers 1

The rest of today’s predictions:
Devils over Flyers

Ducks over Senators

Canucks over Sharks

Jets over Panthers

Canadiens over Maple Leafs

Islanders over Hurricanes

Red Wings over Blue Jackets

Blues over Sabres

Lightning over Coyotes

Blackhawks over Predators

Stars over Wild

Flames over Oilers

Kings over Avalanche

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Five must-read links:
- Puck Daddy: Montreal fans plan 1-year anniversary celebration in honor of Scott Gomez's last goal

- Sun-Sentinel: How does Skille for Frolik trade look a year later?

- STL Today: Stillman signs deal to buy Blues

- Flames Nation: Babchuk vs. Regehr, Part Two

- Sabres Edge: Light day after a long night

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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with broadcaster Kenny Albert? No worries… you can check it out here!

Rangers slumping into All-Star break

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-06:00

Are the wheels starting to fall off of the car that is the New York Rangers?

Though the Rangers are not in dire straits, they are limping into the All-Star break. In their last five games they’ve gone 2-3 with losses in three poor outings against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and, most recently, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The slump has allowed the Boston Bruins, who defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Thursday night, to move within a point of the Rangers for first place.

The Rangers play two more games before the NHL breaks for the All-Star Game. The Rangers will battle the Bruins on Saturday at 1 pm and then take on the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden Wednesday, January 24.

Prior to the slump the Rangers had been playing like the best team in the league, which lead team owner James Dolan to address the hockey media, for the first time since the 2005-06 season, following their win over the Predators on Tuesday.

“I’m very proud of the organization. I’m particularly proud of Mr. Sather,” Dolan told the media who were assembled. “Because all the way back to 2004 when things weren’t going so well and we had a lot of free agents in here and we made the decision to basically redo the strategy, Glen and I actually had a pact. I actually gave him something that I won’t reveal what it is. I said, ‘You can’t give it back to me until we win the Stanley Cup.’ And I think I’m getting pretty close to getting that thing back.”

The proclamation did not sit well Rangers head coach John Tortorella, who told the media that the team needed to just go about its business.

“I’ve got an owner up here talking about a Stanley Cup. That’s a bunch of bull----.” Tortorella said after Dolan had left the room. “We’ve got to take it one day at a time.”

Sound advice since, historically, the Rangers have seemed to level off after hot starts. Last season the Rangers did not give a superb showing during the second half of the season and snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed before they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. During the 2009-10 season the Rangers poor performances caught up with them as they had their season come down to a shootout against Philadelphia. The Flyers won the game and a spot in the playoffs, while the Rangers were sent home to watch on T.V.

Fans of the team were not too ecstatic about Dolan’s comments since many believe that between January and April many things can happen. Only four points separates the Rangers and the fifth place Flyers and a prolonged stretch of loss could derail what has been to this point an outstanding year for the New York Rangers.

“Our team has to understand if you’re going to have a record like we have, teams are going to start looking for you, and they’re going to be ready to play,” Tortorella told the New York Post following the Rangers loss on Thursday night. I guess we’re used to those five-game winning streaks and those seven-game winning streaks, and it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a grind through [these] couple months. I think our players understand that.”

We've had our stretches of winning five in a row a few times this season, Dan Girardi told reporters following the Rangers loss to Pittsburgh. But now we're struggling to put two strong ones together, so now we're going to have to check ourselves out here and figure out what's going on.

The Rangers grind will continue with a chance to rebound from the 4-1 loss to the Penguins when they travel to Boston Saturday.

“It's been a little too many bounce-back games lately, but when we lose, we always come back with a strong effort,” Girardi told The Daily News. “It would be a great bounce-back game for us against another top team in the conference.”

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 20

2012-01-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Islanders 4, Flyers 1
Penguins 4, Rangers 1
Predators 3, Blue Jackets 0
Maple Leafs 4, Wild 1
Bruins 4, Devils 1
Blues 1, Oilers 0
Jets 4, Sabres 1
Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2 (SO)
Flames 2, Kings 1 (SO)
Senators 4, Sharks 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Pekka Rinne, NSH (38 saves, shutout)
2. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (2 goals, game-winning goal)
3. Evgeni Nabokov, NYI (40 saves)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Capitals @ Hurricanes, 7 PM EST
Canadiens @ Penguins, 7 PM EST
Panthers @ Blackhawks, 8:30 PM EST
Lightning @ Stars, 8:30 PM EST

Game of the night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins
7:00 ET… TV: RDS, NHL Network

Records:
Overall: Canadiens (17-21-8) … Penguins (26-17-4)
Away/Home: Canadiens (8-9-7) … Penguins (14-10-2)
Last 10: Canadiens (4-5-1) … Penguins (4-6-0)
Season Series: 2-0 Penguins

Starting goaltenders:
MTL- Peter Budaj (2011-12 stats: 2-4-0, 2.51 GAA)
PIT- Brent Johnson (2011-12 stats: 2-5-2, 3.47 GAA)

Injury report:
MTL- Brian Gionta (torn bicep, out), Ryan White (sports hernia, day-to-day) and Andrei Markov (knee, out).
PIT- Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Arron Asham (concussion, out) and Simon Despres (torn MCL, out).

Three things to watch:
1. Malkin's Tear
Evgeni Malkin has been on an absolute tear as of late with two goals last night and seven goals and two assists over his last four games. He may be the best player in the game right now making every time he steps onto the ice a must-see performance. Malkin enters the game in sole possession of the League lead in points.
2. The New Top Line
When Randy Cunneyworth took over as the Habs bench boss we expected him to transform the system into a hard-working image. His newly-promoted top line of David Desharnais, Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty have been just that, putting on a hard hard and getting the job done. The troika combined for 12 points over ther past four games.
3. Letang vs. Pacioretty
The last time these two teams faced each other, the Penguins lost both Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek to concussions. Pacioretty's hit earned him a suspension but the Penguins may be looking for some justice of their own. With Letang missing all-but-one game since these two teams last faced each other, one would expect he would be playing with a chip on his shoulder.

Final thought: The Pittsburgh Penguins are hot but the Montreal Canadiens are fighting for their lives. Both teams should be hungry for the win and therefore will be fun to watch. The Pens got the best of the Habs in the first two games of the season so expect Montreal to be out for blood. Prediction: Penguins 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)

The rest of today’s predictions:
Capitals over Hurricanes
Blackhawks over Panthers
Lightning over Stars
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Five must-read links:
- All Things Avs: If not for Jiggy, Avs backup likely would have been Theodore
- Chicago Blackhawks Report: Rookie Shaw's "legend" growing on Twitter
- Edmonton Journal: Oiler Taylor Hall’s stitches prompt teams to rethink helmets during warm-ups
- Driving Play: Was the Brian Elliott Extension a Good Idea?

- Nicholas J. Cotsonika's Three Periods on Yahoo! Sports: Goalies face unique obstacles in concussion recovery
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with broadcaster Kenny Albert? No worries… you can check it out here!

Hitchcock at forefront of Jack Adams Trophy candidates

2012-01-19T16:00:00.001-06:00

Much has been made about the amazing 25-4-1 run that Claude Julien and the Boston Bruins pulled off over a 30-game stretch which started at the beginning of November. In all honesty, that should garner a great deal of attention, not only for the incredible record, but also because of the sheer dominance exhibited by the Bruins in doing so.

There's another white-hot team, and this one plays out West. They too got off to a similarly rough beginning to the 2011-12 campaign, but have since recovered rather nicely.

St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong knew something had to change. A 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild left his club with a 6-7-0 mark after the first 13 games, and as the old saying goes, it's much easier to fire the coach than it is to get rid of 23 players.

So Davis Payne got the axe on November 6th, and an old familiar warhorse was brought in to replace him. With a 534-350-88-70 record over the course of 1,042 NHL games, Ken Hitchcock was the best man available to refocus a confused-looking St. Louis squad.

It was also a very natural fit for Armstrong, who had been assistant GM in Dallas when the Stars won the Cup in 1999 with Hitchcock at the helm.

At the time of his hiring, Hithcock was walking into a bit of a mess. The Blues were among the worst in special teams, both on the power play (7.5%, ranked 30th -- dead last) and penalty killing units (73.8%, 27th).

The team wasn't terrible defensively, as they had yielded just 35 goals in the 13 games (2.69 goals per game), With 32 goals scored in the 13 contests, St. Louis' offense averaged 2.46 goals per game.

Blues' management felt goaltender Jaroslav Halak would be key to their success, but had gotten off to a miserable start. He held a 1-6-0 record, with a 3.35 goals-against average, with an awful .856 save percentage. The 26-year-old was supposed to be leading the team into a new age, one of success after missing the postseason in five of the previous six seasons, and Halak was playing nowhere near what St. Louis would require.

With Halak attempting to work through his slump, Brian Elliott was outstanding between the Blues' pipes, with a 5-1-0 mark and statistics that were at or near the NHL-lead in just about every goaltending category.

The change was noticeable from Hitchcock's very first game, a 3-0 shutout over the division-rival Chicago Blackhawks. Halak made 29 saves that night in winning for just the second time all season.

Hitchcock's 4-0-1 start in his first five games behind the bench laid a foundation for the players to form a solid trust in him.

The goaltenders platooned while Halak continued to struggle to regain the form that made the Blues covet him while he manned the crease in Montreal. Slowly, but surely, he began to come around, and it now appears that he has wrestled the starting job away from Elliott.

Halak's numbers are now excellent, as he's gone 11-1-5 since the coaching change. He now sports a 12-7-5 record, with a microscopic 2.08 GAA, and .918 save percentage. After Monday night's 1-0 shutout of one of Hitchcock's old teams, the Dallas Stars, Halak now has registered three shutouts.

St. Louis has been almost unbeatable under the new coach. The Blues are a spectacular 21-5-6 in the 32 games since Hitchcock was brought on to lead the troops.

While the offensive output of the club has been essentially the same -- 84 goals in the 32 games (2.62 goals per game average), the Blues have done so with a stifling defensive system, which has allowed just 59 goals over 32 games (1.84 goals per game). This is always a trademark of a Hitchcock-coached squad.

What's scary is even with how well the Blues have done in their first 45 games, there is still room for improvement. The power play has improved to 13.8%, but is still good for only 27th in the NHL. The penalty killing unit has made much better strides with an 82.6%, which now ranks 15th overall.

Julien will no doubt garner some serious consideration for the Jack Adams Trophy as the League's best head coach, while John Tortorella of the New York Rangers, Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks, Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks, Kevin Dineen of the surprising Florida Panthers and Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators will also get some much-deserved attention.

But with the job he's done in turning the Blues' season around thus far, Hitchcock should be at the forefront of any discussion of the award.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Can the Sabres bounce back?

2012-01-19T11:00:00.001-06:00

Following last night’s debilitating blowout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Buffalo Sabres have now lost 10 consecutive games on the road. It was their third straight loss overall which not only kept them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference -- nine points behind the Florida Panthers for the final playoff seed –but also kept them only three points ahead of 15th place.

These Sabres are struggling to score goals and struggling to prevent them. In their eight January games, Buffalo has allowed three-or-more goals in five contests while scoring two-or-less markers in six of those games. In short, they are finding ways to lose games.

“We’re not dealing well with adversity,” coach Lindy Ruff explained following the loss. “Until we learn to win again, we won’t win on the road. We’re not dealing well with those situations.”

On the first game of back-to-back games, Ruff simply could not afford to sit any of his players. Some of them were banged up, others sick. Playing in Chicago before heading north to Winnipeg the struggling Sabres needed to stay fresh for yet another road tilt.

“We’ve got several players that are way away from their game,” Ruff said. “We’ve got some guys I thought that were good tonight but we didn’t have enough of them. And I thought again our defense struggled on the first couple goals on our coverage.”

If you read between the lines, Ruff is claiming that his hands were tied. While it would be appropriate to bench Ville Leino following his no-look, behind-the-back to nowhere which led to Marian Hossa’s breakaway/game-winning goal, Ruff could not. He was already dealing with an injury to Paul Gaustad and his top-line center Jochen Hecht feeling under the weather.

Ruff simply has had to make do with what he was given. And while new owner Terry Pegula opened up the checkbook in order to make upgrades at nearly every position, their new acquisitions and higher-paid players simply have not lived up to their billing.

Some of the blame can be put on their abnormally arduous schedule. The Sabres play a total of 20 back-to-back games which includes 11 of them in their past 12 weeks culminating in tonight’s game against the Jets. Their record over those games: 9-10-2. Their record otherwise: 19-22-5. In other words, the schedule likely has attributed to their rash of injuries but their overall record has been mediocre most of the season.

Their main problems likely stem from a team-wide losing mentality which accounts for over half of the team playing below expectations.

Starting with their product between the pipes, Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth are playing well below their expectations. Miller boasts especially poor peripherals, only posting a GAA under-three in one of the season’s four months. In three November starts he averaged nearly six goals per game before settling down with averages of 3.23 and 3.44 respectively.

By comparison, Enroth has been as bad, or worse. He followed up Miller allowing five goals on Monday by letting six get past him last night. After a steady October and stellar November, the Stockholm, Sweden native also regressed to post 3.35 and 3.06 ratios over the last two months.

Without steady goaltending the Sabres will not go far. Last year, Miller was able to propel them into a late playoff seed with his best post-All-Star performance of his career; Miller won 13 of 26 starts with a steady 2.44 GAA and .921 SV%. When they made numerous upgrades up front and on the back end the Sabres envisioned their starting goalie getting back to his Vezina Trophy winning form – an expectation that has simply not been met.

However, he can’t be blamed for all of the team’s woes. After all, they’ve dealt with an exorbitant amount of man-games lost with everyone from Thomas Vanek to Brayden McNabb missing playing time. Furthermore, most players not named Vanek or Jason Pominville have struggled to play up their salary.

The aforementioned Leino has been suspended, injured and generally ineffective, posting only three goals and 10 points over 35 games. Putting those numbers in perspective, 365 players have more points, 330 have more goals. He average $4.5 million per season, which is 500K more than Derek Roy, Drew Stafford and Brad Boyes – a troika of underachieving forwards.

Those struggling offensive players combine for roughly 26 percent of the team’s allotted salary cap. Couple them with struggling/injured defensemen like Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff and nearly 43 percent of the cap is tied into players who aren’t jelling. Adding Miller and Enroth into the mix the percentage skyrockets up to 54 percent.

So with the problem being more than half of the team, is it time for a major trade?

For that very reason trade rumors have circulated over Miller getting traded in various different scenarios. Nevertheless, with a wide range of problems, creating one hole just to fill another likely won’t change their outlook.

Similar to last year, Ruff and company will need to be near-perfect to clinch a playoff berth. As he mentioned, some of their players were good; he now needs more of them to step up.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 19

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Capitals 3, Canadiens 0
Blackhawks 6, Sabres 2
Avalanche 4, Panthers 3 (OT)
Ducks 6, Coyotes 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Michal Neuvirth, WSH (31 saves, shutout)
2. Peter Mueller, COL (2 goals, 1 assist)
3. Jonathan Toews, CHI (2 goals)
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Tonight’s slate:
Wild @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Bruins @ Devils, 7:00
Penguins @ Rangers, 7:00
Islanders @ Flyers, 7:00
Predators @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Oilers @ Blues, 8:00
Sabres @ Jets, 8:30
Red Wings @ Coyotes, 9:00
Flames @ Kings, 10:30
Senators @ Sharks, 10:30

Game of the night:
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers
7:00 ET… TV: NHL Net. (US), Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Penguins (24-17-4) … Rangers (29-11-4)
Away/Home: Penguins (12-10-2) … Rangers (14-4-2)
Last 10: Penguins (4-6-0) … Rangers (7-3-0)
Season Series: 2-0 Rangers

Starting goaltenders:
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2011-12 stats: 22-12-2, 2.23 GAA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12 stats: 20-9-4, 1.90 GAA)

Injury report:
PIT- Arron Asham (illness, questionable), Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang (concussion, out), Jordan Staal (knee, out), Simon Despres (lower body, out)
NYR- Steve Eminger (shoulder, out), Michael Sauer (concussion, out), Jeff Woywitka (foot, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Evgeni Malkin’s hot streak
Don’t look now, but Malkin co-leads the NHL with 52 points coming into tonight’s contest. ‘Geno has been red-hot since Crosby sustained his second concussion, piling up 28 points in the last 17 games. He had five points on Sunday and scored the Pens’ lone goal on Tuesday. The team is counting on Malkin to continue his hot streak tonight against the Blueshirts.
2. Henrik Lundqvist building off shutout effort
After back-to-back rough outings, Lundqvist blanked the Predators on Tuesday night with 27 saves. How will he build off of that effort tonight? Lundqvist had won seven straight starts before those aforementioned losses, and has arguably been the NHL’s best goaltender since the start of November.
3. How will Rangers respond to Cup talk?
Rangers owner James Dolan stole a lot of headlines Tuesday night when he stated that the team was ‘close’ to the Stanley Cup. John Tortorella didn’t seem pleased with Dolan’s words, and you figure the Penguins have seen those remarks in the last day or so. It’ll be interesting to see how the Rangers respond to their owner making a bold statement at mid-season.

Final thought: This will be the third meeting between the Rangers and Penguins; the Rangers have won both previous meetings. Pittsburgh has responded well after Ray Shero basically guaranteed they’d make the playoffs. I think they’ll get a point, but the Rangers get two. Prediction: Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (SO)

The rest of today’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Wild
Devils over Bruins
Flyers over Islanders
Predators over Blue Jackets
Blues over Oilers
Sabres over Jets
Red Wings over Coyotes
Flames over Kings
Sharks over Senators
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Five must-read links:
- ESPN: It'll be a Wild ride to make the playoffs
- NHL.com: Alfredsson, Chara named All-Star Game captains
- STL Today: Blues re-sign Elliott to two-year contract extension
- Blue Jackets Xtra: Renney: Jackets need patience in overhaul
- Los Angeles Times: NHL players should participate in the Olympics
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with broadcaster Kenny Albert? No worries… you can check it out here!

Big trade wrong avenue for Ducks

2012-01-18T12:00:00.002-06:00

NHL trade rumors, whether they are legitimate or not, take on the life of their own sometimes. In the last two months, Anaheim Ducks stars Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan have been thrown into trade rumors due to the team’s struggles. Those rumors, however, weren’t orchestrated on internet message boards.

Ducks GM Bob Murray has made it known that he is willing deal a star to “shake things up,” per se. And that would be the wrong approach for Murray and the Ducks.

There’s no arguing that the Ducks have been one of this season’s biggest disappointments. Pundits expected them to contend for the Pacific Division title, not the Western Conference cellar. But that doesn’t mean Murray should just trade away one or two of their best players.

On the RLD Hockey Talk podcast last week, ESPN.com’s Craig Custance made a valid comparison between this year’s Ducks and the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers. That team was an underachiever, as well. In fact, that Flyers team ended the season with the worst record in the league.

In 2007, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren didn’t trade the present or the future. He dealt prospective free agents like Peter Forsberg and Alexei Zhitnik, receiving youngsters and picks in return. One of those youngsters Holmgren acquired was Braydon Coburn. Holmgren also swung a deal to set up the following season by bringing in goaltender Martin Biron, who spent three years in Philadelphia.

The Flyers have made the playoffs every year since that tumultuous season. Murray should look at the job Holmgren did at that deadline and follow a similar route.

Trading away Ryan Getzlaf or Bobby Ryan, no matter what kind of package they get in return, is not going to make the team better. Getzlaf, 26 years old, and Ryan, 24, are special talents with bright futures. They make up for two-thirds of what is considered, on occasion, to be the most dominant offensive line in hockey.

Unless a team sells the farm, Murray can’t get equal value for those guys. Before this disastrous season, Getzlaf averaged 1.09 points per game since the start of the 2007-08 season, while Ryan tallied 30 goals in three straight years (with potential for 40 or 50 in the future).

With a healthy lineup next year, the Ducks could easily get back on track, especially with Bruce Boudreau now behind the bench. If Murray trades Getzlaf or Ryan, that process is delayed.

The Ducks have a handful of pending free agents that could be of value to other teams. Jason Blake can add offensive depth for any team, while Francois Beauchemin would be looked at by many clubs as a solid blueline rental pickup for the playoffs. And don’t forget Teemu Selanne, who may want to take another run at the Cup despite being labeled an “untouchable” by Murray.

Trading Getzlaf or Ryan, though, won’t solve any problems in Anaheim – it will only create more problems. Murray should play the conservative card at this year’s trade deadline and not make a trade out of impulse that he’d regret three years from now.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Green's surgery a blow to Caps

2012-01-18T09:45:00.001-06:00

Mike Green has played in only 10 Capitals games this season with what was thought to be a groin injury, and Monday, the Capitals announced that Green would be missing even more time. He was scheduled for abdominal surgery Tuesday. Already placed on long-term injured reserve last week (with a first possible activation date of Feb. 1), Green is to miss at least four to six weeks following surgery.

General manager George McPhee clarified Green's surgery to the media Tuesday morning. "It's basically a sports hernia, but there are a couple parts to it," McPhee said. "One was a tendon issue, one was a little tear in the stomach (lining). The tendon healed just fine, but the hole didn't close up. We just need to close that thing up. It just never really healed to the point he can play with it effectively."

The Capitals had initially taken the conservative approach, treating Green's injury like a groin injury. But after re-injury on Jan. 7, the team decided to dig deeper into the real problem and discovered the stomach lining tear.

Green's absence is sorely missed on the Capitals' blueline. Because of various injuries that have kept him sidelined, he has only played in 12 of the Capitals' last 72 games. But when he is in the lineup, he makes an impact. Of the 10 games Green has played in this season, the Capitals have won nine.

But the fact that the Capitals win when Green is in the lineup should not come as a surprise. He played close to full seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10, and put up over 70 points both seasons, prompting Norris Trophy nominations. Last season, his performance finally gained attention, and he was honored with an NHL All-Star Game appearance, serving as an alternate captain for Team Staal.

For the Capitals, his most significant contribution typically comes on the power play. In 2008-09, Green tallied 38 power play points; 35 in 2009-10. In both of those seasons, Green scored more power play goals than even strength goals, and in that two-year span, he averaged 1.04 points per game.

With his powerful slap shot, Green's impact on the Capitals' power play is huge. In the 10 games he's played this season, Green scored three power play goals, two of those coming in one game against Detroit on Oct. 22. From 2008-2010, largely due to Green's power play performance, the Capitals' power play finished second in the NHL (25.2%) in 2009 and first (25.2%) in 2010.

This year, through the first eight games of the season -- with Green playing -- the Capitals' power play was at a staggering 29.6% success rate. Green accounted for three of the eight power play goals scored during that span. Since then, without Green, the Capitals have dropped to fifth place in the NHL, with a 19.7% conversion rate.

Green is also one of the Capitals' go-to guys in one-goal situations. His clutch third period game-winning and overtime goals have earned him the nickname "Game Over Green." He has 14 game-winning goals over six NHL seasons. Though Green has received some negative attention for his play in the playoffs, the numbers speak for themselves: in 36 playoff games with the Capitals, he has 25 points.

Green is no doubt talented, and brings speed and offensive finesse from the back end, while eating up the biggest minutes on the team (over 25 minutes per game when healthy). Few defensemen in the NHL have the same skill set and abilities as Green.

Teammates agree, pointing to Green as one of the most important elements on the team. "He brings, in my opinion, every element to the game -- offense and defense," defenseman Karl Alzner said.

"It's not a secret he's one of the best 'D' in the league. He can carry the puck, he can change the game so quick," says captain Alex Ovechkin.

Fellow Capitals and management hope this surgery, fairly common in the hockey world, will return him to his prior form. If not, the Capitals and Green, 26, may be at a crossroads.

Green is at the end of a four-year, $21 million contract, and becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season. If Green returns healthy and better than ever after his recovery, and helps the Capitals to a deep playoff run, he should expect a good return when it comes to a contract offer at the end of the year. But if Green can't stay healthy, the Capitals may be tempted to let him walk in order to sign someone less injury-prone.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 18

2012-01-18T07:30:00.002-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Senators 3, Maple Leafs 2
Devils 5, Jets 1
Flyers 5, Wild 1
Penguins 2, Hurricanes 1 (SO)
Islanders 3, Capitals 0
Blue Jackets 4, Oilers 2
Rangers 3, Predators 0
Lightning 5, Bruins 3
Red Wings 3, Stars 2 (SO)
Kings 3, Canucks 2 (SO)
Sharks 2, Flames 1 (SO)

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (27 saves, shutout)
2. Ilya Kovalchuk, NJ (2 goals)
3. Craig Anderson, OTT (37 saves)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Capitals @ Canadiens, 7:30 ET
Sabres @ Blackhawks, 7:30
Panthers @ Avalanche, 9:30
Coyotes @ Ducks, 10:00

Game of the night:
Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens
7:30 ET… TV: TSN, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Capitals (24-18-2) … Canadiens (17-20-8)
Away/Home: Capitals (7-12-1) … Canadiens (8-8-7)
Last 10: Capitals (7-3-0) … Canadiens (4-5-1)
Season Series (10/11): 3-1 Capitals

Starting goaltenders:
WSH- Tomas Vokoun (2011-12 stats: 19-11-0, 2.53 GAA)
MTL- Carey Price (2011-12 stats: 15-16-8, 2.44 GAA)

Injury report:
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom (head, out), Mike Green and Tom Poti (groin, out)
MTL- Tomas Plekanec (undisclosed, probable), Travis Moen (lower body, probable), Brian Gionta (biceps, out), Scott Gomez (groin, out), Ryan White (sports hernia, out), Andrei Markov (knee, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Will Capitals be out to get Rene Bourque?
Back on January 3rd, Nicklas Backstrom was elbowed in the head by then-Flames forward Rene Bourque, who was subsequently suspended five games. The Caps thought they wouldn’t see Bourque again. But they get the chance tonight after Bourque was dealt to Montreal last week. Will the Caps make Bourque pay for hurting Backstrom (who has been sidelined with a concussion since the play)?
2. Will Tomas Vokoun’s starts streak continue?
Counting last night’s defeat to the Islanders, Tomas Vokoun has started 10 games in a row. In that span he is 7-3-0 with a 2.07 GAA and .936 save percentage, looking a lot more like the goaltender the Caps thought was a huge bargain, not the goaltender that has underperformed through the first half. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michal Neuvirth get the start, considering the compact schedule before the All-Star break.
3. Which teams will show up?
Both the Caps and Canadiens have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde this month, leaving you wondering which team will show up on a game-to-game basis. The Habs are coming off a big win over the Rangers, which came on the heels of three straight losses. Meanwhile, the Caps, who lost at home to the Isles last night, have been all over the place.

Final thought: For the first time all year, the Caps and Habs meet up. The Bell Centre hasn’t been a tough place for the Caps to play in recent years, and they’re looking to rebound. I think they’ll beat Price and the Habs tonight. Prediction: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1

The rest of today’s predictions:
Blackhawks over Sabres
Avalanche over Panthers
Ducks over Coyotes
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Five must-read links:
- CBC: The Penguins’ plight, Crosby’s recovery + 30 Thoughts
- ESPN: Daily Debate: Wings need to win Central
- Star Tribune: Wild’s road winless skid hits double digits
- Pro Hockey Talk: Winter Classic at the Big House would have serious complications
- Puck Daddy: Pancakes fan Dustin Penner autographed box of Aunt Jemima; there’s syrup behind Kings bench
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with broadcaster Kenny Albert? No worries… you can check it out here!

Preds are NHL’s comeback kids

2012-01-17T10:30:00.002-06:00

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Predators never feel like they are out of a game. It may sound cliché, but if the first half of their season proved anything, it’s that the Preds are capable of winning no matter what kind of deficit they face.

This season, the Preds have made five comebacks in 17 instances when trailing after the second period, good for the highest percentage in the NHL through Monday’s action. That’s not counting other comeback wins when facing other deficits, whether it’s late in the game or by two goals.

With all of their comebacks this season, most in dramatic fashion, it may be safe to call the Predators – the youngest team in the league, not to mention – the ‘comeback kids’. What is their key to success when they find themselves trailing on the scoreboard in key moments?

“I think the biggest thing is the belief we can do it,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “We try to get back in the game with one goal and build momentum going forward. Maybe teams start second guessing themselves and then it’s our time to shine.”

The Preds have frustrated opponents to no end this season with their abundance of comebacks. Following a win against Columbus on Dec. 22 where the Preds trailed by three goals after the first period, 4-1, and won the game, 6-5, with 8.4 seconds left in regulation, Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger emphatically broke his stick in half on the boards and subsequently sat on the bench with his head in his hands. That’s just one example.

On four consecutive Thursdays in December, the Preds pulled off a dramatic comeback win. Aside from the aforementioned game against the Jackets, the Preds were trailing 3-1 in Columbus on Dec. 8 with less than two minutes remaining. Barry Trotz’s gang scored twice in the final 96 seconds and won, 4-3, in overtime. That win came a week before Shea Weber scored twice in the final five minutes to top rival Detroit, 4-3, at home.

“I think if you have belief in the system and your team, you realize that if you go down a couple goals you can come back,” forward Colin Wilson said.

The Preds also have comeback wins over Washington and Colorado at home, Vancouver and San Jose on the road.

“Those wins build confidence and belief,” Wilson said. “We’ve come back a lot, so when we go down 2-0 we come in the dressing room confident we can come back since we’ve been there before.”

Obviously, Wilson and the Preds don’t want to be in position to have to make all of these comebacks. They don’t want to spot the opposition a 2-0 or 3-0 lead. In most of these aforementioned cases the Preds have trailed by two or three goals early in the game, forcing them to battle back for the rest of the game.

“That’s something we have to work on,” Wilson said. “It’s a lot better playing with the lead. Sometimes we play better without the lead and coming back, but we have to learn how to get the lead and play with it.”

Said Rinne, “Obviously we don’t want to put ourselves in that situation where we are down two or three goals and have to rally back. Fortunately we’ve been pretty good at it.”

Speaking with a lot of experience just from this season, Trotz believes you just have to move on and not get frustrated with the mistakes that led to the early deficit.

“You have to mentally park it for a second and sort of move forward,” he said. “If there’s something that we learned, maybe we learned something in the playoffs. Things are going to change and you just have to deal with it, good or bad, and you have to deal with it the proper way. … I think we’ve learned a few lessons in the past.”

The playoff reference focuses on the previous two postseasons where the Preds have been on the giving and receiving end of comebacks in crucial games. In Game 5 in Chicago two years ago, the Preds blew a late lead and lost in overtime. A year later in almost the same scenario, the Preds beat the Ducks in Game 5 with a late game-tying goal and overtime winner.

From now through the rest of the season, opponents will have to be wary of one- or two-goal leads in late-game situations – because the Predators sure know how to erase those deficits when their backs are against the wall. As Trotz would say, and Rinne reiterated, coming from behind to win games is now in their DNA.

“No matter what the situation is,” Rinne said, “this team realizes there is still a chance until the final buzzer.”

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 17

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Predators 3, Islanders 1
Coyotes 6, Avalanche 1
Jets 2, Senators 0
Bruins 3, Panthers 2 (SO)
Red Wings 5, Sabres 0
Blues 1, Stars 0

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Jaroslav Halak, STL (22 saves, shutout)
2. Chris Mason, WPG (25 saves, shutout)
3. Pekka Rinne, NSH (36 saves)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Senators @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Jets @ Devils, 7:00
Wild @ Flyers, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Penguins, 7:00
Islanders @ Capitals, 7:00
Oilers @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Predators @ Rangers, 7:30
Bruins @ Lightning, 7:30
Red Wings @ Stars, 8:30
Kings @ Canucks, 10:00
Flames @ Sharks, 10:30

Game of the night:
Los Angeles Kings @ Vancouver Canucks
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Kings (22-15-9) … Canucks (28-15-3)
Away/Home: Kings (9-5-6) … Canucks (12-6-2)
Last 10: Kings (5-1-4) … Canucks (6-3-1)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Starting goaltenders:
LA- Jonathan Quick (2011-12 stats: 19-11-8, 1.95 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (2011-12 stats: 18-10-3, 2.41 GAA)

Injury report:
LA- Simon Gagne (concussion, out), Scott Parse (hip, out)
VAN- Sami Salo (concussion, out), Andrew Ebbett and Aaron Volpatti (shoulder, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Battle of elite goaltenders
Jonathan Quick is in the Vezina discussion this year; Roberto Luongo was a Vezina finalist last year. In his last five road starts, Quick is 3-0-2 with a 1.15 GAA. In his last nine home starts against the Kings, Luongo is 7-1-1 with a 1.39 GAA. If both play to their capability, something will have to give. This should be a good goaltending duel.
2. Low-scoring Kings
In 25 games since Nov. 22, the Kings have scored more two goals just seven times (counting shootout wins). They boast an 11-8-6 during that span, however. The Kings have been successful amidst the scoring woes due to Quick’s great goaltending and Darryl Sutter’s system. But against Vancouver tonight, one or two goals likely won’t be enough.
3. Canucks looking to bounce back
On Sunday, the Anaheim Ducks won 4-1 in Vancouver in convincing fashion. Alain Vigneault’s club will be out to get back on track tonight. The Canucks have not gone more than one game without accumulating at least a point since early November. They’ll be looking to re-capture the top seed in the conference (for the time being), as well.

Final thought: Due to their playoff meeting a couple years ago, there is no love lost when these two teams meet. Quick has been good on the road lately, but the Canucks are the better team and will get two points tonight. Prediction: Canucks 3, Kings 1

The rest of today’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Senators
Devils over Jets
Flyers over Wild
Penguins over Hurricanes
Capitals over Islanders
Blue Jackets over Oilers
Rangers over Predators
Lightning over Bruins
Stars over Red Wings
Sharks over Flames
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Five must-read links:
- Puck Daddy: Ryan Miller: ‘There’s no such trade’ that can fix Buffalo Sabres this season
- CBC: From undrafted to all-star game, Girardi is a good story
- NHL.com: Couturier starting to display his offensive flash
- CBS Eye on Hockey: No discipline for Lecavalier following punch
- Associated Press: Sidney Crosby to meet with specialist as symptoms linger
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET today with Rangers radio voice Kenny Albert!

Conversation with Danny Briere

2012-01-16T13:00:00.003-06:00

NASHVILLE – Over the weekend I caught up with Philadelphia Flyers forward Danny Briere to get his thoughts on where his team is at midseason, his Winter Classic experience and concussions.

RLD: How would evaluate where the Flyers are at midseason?
Danny Briere: We’ve put ourselves in a really good position in the first half of the season. We didn’t know what to expect with the big turnover up front, the amount of rookies we have in the lineup and losing Chris Pronger. Those were all big factors, but somehow we kept rolling. Everybody seems to be chipping in and doing their job. Obviously the emergence of Claude Giroux to be one of the top two or three players in the league is really helping us. There are many guys who have stepped up, including the rookies.

From your point of view, what have you seen from Giroux and Jaromir Jagr? It seemed like they clicked right away…
Yeah, right away they seemed to find each other on the ice really well. They were making plays and knew where each other was going to be; that’s something you can’t really teach – you have it or you don’t. For those two it really clicked right away.

In the second time around with the Winter Classic, what were some of the differences with your experience?
The biggest difference was HBO. Having HBO around full-time was a big change, but it’s something I’m looking forward to 15 to 20 years from now because we’ll get to look back and appreciate it even more, to see how it was in the room and how we conducted ourselves around the rink. Those are going to be great memories down the road. Besides that, it was a great show by the NHL. It’s something I feel very fortunate to be a part of. It’s unfortunate that both times we lost by a goal, but overall, those are experiences I hope to have again.

Some of the Capitals players last year said after a while the HBO cameras almost became an annoyance. Did it ever become like that for you guys?
Not really. We were in a good stretch just like the Rangers. We won most of our games and there weren’t any droughts where everybody was getting on everybody’s nerves. That definitely helped. I think it was a little awkward the first two or three days when the cameras were there all of a sudden, but after that you just realize the crew is a part of the team. They’re always there and you become friends with them.

What did you think of the response from the city of Philadelphia during the Winter Classic weekend?
It was just amazing. Everything was sold out. I was there for the legends game and the whole stadium was filled. It was pretty cool. I thought the city responded very, very well and everybody that worked to put it together did a tremendous job as well.

The comments from Ilya Bryzgalov on the practice day got a lot of media attention. Did you notice that and what was the reaction in the room?
I think the fact that it was such a big, national game – center stage, everybody was there – I think it got out of hand a little bit. If it happens during any other game during the season it probably doesn’t get as much attention as it did there. To us in the room, we’re used to it. It wasn’t a big deal. I think the media made it worse than it really was.

Did you guys get a laugh out of Bryzgalov’s antics in 24/7? Is that just himself?
(Laughs) We laughed about it. It wasn’t fun to see him struggle like that, but besides that he’s a pretty funny guy. All of that stuff is just him.

How do you feel this team has responded without Chris Pronger?
As far as leadership goes, we knew it wasn’t going to be a problem. We have lots of guys that have been around before. That wasn’t an issue. You can never replace a guy like Chris Pronger on the ice. What really helped was a guy like (Marc-Andre) Bourdon coming in and giving us some big minutes and playing as well as he has; I don’t think too many people expected that. That helped relieve a little bit of the blow. We have to give credit to the other guys how they’ve stepped up their play in his absence. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be back this year, which is sad. It is what it is and we have to keep moving forward and find a way to do it without him.

Pronger is obviously out with a concussion, and that has become a big topic around the NHL. Do you see any way the league could cut down on the number of concussions?
It’s tough. You don’t want to take anything away from the game as far as speed goes. Speed is probably the biggest culprit because the game is getting so fast now. You don’t want to take that away. I think the next step is trying to eliminate the head blows as much as possible. I think Brendan Shanahan has done a great job in that regard and trying to make guys more aware of their surroundings and not hit guys when they’re in a vulnerable position. I don’t see many ways you can change without it affecting the game somehow. That’s what you have to be careful of.

Photo credit: Getty Images

The Week Ahead

2012-01-16T11:00:00.000-06:00

As we fly by the midway point of the season, it is time for another installment of "The Week Ahead".

As usual, we look at our "Three Stars of the Week", "Three Players to Keep an Eye on", "Two Teams to Watch", "Game of the Week" and of course, "Other Games to Keep an Eye on".

Three Stars of the Week

1) Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators' goaltender Craig Anderson has found his game and it has his hockey club trending upward. Anderson went 3-0 last week allowing three goals and also picking up a shutout over the New York Rangers. His strong play has the Senators firmly in the top eight in the Eastern Conference.

2) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

In Sidney Crosby's absence, Evgeni Malkin has been red-hot offensively. That continued on Sunday when Malkin had a third period natural hat trick, and five points overall, against the Lightning. He had seven points in four games last week and was a big factor in their win in Florida as well.

3) John Tavares, New York Islanders

While the New York Islanders continue their "rebuilding process", John Tavares continues to be their most productive player and All-Star. In three games, Tavares had 6 points on 2 goals and 4 assists. Tavares has 42 points this season.

Three Players to Keep an Eye On

- Rene Bourque, Montreal Canadiens

Things have not been going well for the Montreal Canadiens this season as they struggle to get points and play consistent hockey.

This past week, the Canadiens traded Michael Cammalleri to the Calgary Flames in exchange for power forward Rene Bourque. Bourque has 13 goals and 3 assists for 16 points on the season and will certainly need to step up his game if he wants to succeed in Montreal.

This week, Bourque and the Canadiens will take on the Capitals, Penguins and Maple Leafs.

- Michael Cammalleri, Calgary Flames

After what Michael Cammalleri said about his Montreal Canadiens this week, it was obvious that he was going to head out of town.

It ended up working out for Cammalleri as he goes back to a team where he had a lot of success in the Calgary Flames. In his one season with the Flames in 2008-09, Cammalleri had 39 goals and 43 assists for 82 points.

This week, Cammalleri and the Flames will take on the Sharks, Kings and Oilers.

- Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
With lots of names being tossed around as potential trade bait in Anaheim, one has to wonder if it will be Ducks' forward Bobby Ryan.

In 43 games this season, Ryan has 26 points on 16 goals and 10 assists. He has a lot of speed, can dangle with the best of them and has a terrific shot, but just needs to be a bit more consistent.

This week, Ryan and the Ducks will take on the Coyotes and Senators.

Two Teams to Watch

- Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have found their mojo and are currently atop the Western Conference and second place in the entire NHL. The team is getting offense from all three lines and are getting the goaltending they need from Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider to win hockey games.

This week, the Canucks will take on the Kings, Sharks and Oilers.

- Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are still without Crosby, Kris Letang and Jordan Staal, and unfortunately, it is beginning to show. The team is currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points and is 4-6-0 in their last 10 games.

This week, the Penguins will take on the Hurricanes, Rangers, Canadiens and Capitals.

Game of the Week

Saturday, January 21 -- New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins

This has been a matchup that the league and its fans have been waiting for for many weeks now. These are the two top teams in the Eastern Conference who both have a lot of depth, terrific defense, excellent goaltending and fans believing that this could be the year to win a Cup, or another Cup in the case of the Bruins.

Other Games to Keep an Eye on

Monday, January 16

Boston @ Florida
Dallas @ St. Louis

Tuesday, January 17

Ottawa @ Toronto
Los Angeles @ Vancouver

Wednesday, January 18

Washington @ Montreal

Thursday, January 19

Pittsburgh @ NY Rangers

Friday, January 20

Florida @ Chicago

Saturday, January 21

Philadelphia @ New Jersey

Chicago @ Nashville

Sunday, January 22

Washington @ Pittsburgh

Boston @ Philadelphia

Photo credit: Getty Images

Power Rankings: Week 15

2012-01-16T09:15:00.001-06:00

1. Boston Bruins… LW: 1
Are the Bruins the most dominant team – at the moment – since the lockout? Their recent 30-game stretch is up there with recently-dominant regular season teams.
2. Vancouver Canucks… LW: 2
Are we overlooking Alexander Edler in the Norris discussion? Not saying he should be the favorite, but Edler is a model of consistency and has made up for the loss of Christian Ehrhoff, offensively, on the back end.
3. New York Rangers… LW: 3
John Tortorella’s gang will have a nice test this week as they face the hard-working Predators, seemingly-rejuvenated Penguins and scorching-hot Bruins.
4. Detroit Red Wings… LW: 4
With Saturday’s win over Chicago, the Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 14 games. It’s their longest such streak since 1965.
5. St. Louis Blues… LW: 5
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has had a nice January thus far. He has three points and a plus-7 rating in six games, along with a shootout winner over the weekend.
6. Chicago Blackhawks… LW: 8
With Patrick Sharp sidelined, the ‘Hawks have unexpectedly received secondary scoring from the likes of Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes. The rookies have a combined six points in the last three games.
7. San Jose Sharks… LW: 6
Despite being five points behind conference-leading Chicago, Todd McLellan’s Sharks are on pace for the most points in the West. They have played 42 games, the least in the conference.
8. Washington Capitals… LW: 9
For the Capitals to cement themselves as division favorites, Tomas Vokoun has to improve in the second half. So far he has, with a .961 save percentage in his last three games – all Capitals wins.
9. Ottawa Senators… LW: 14
Since Kyle Turris was acquired, the Senators are 11-1-2… 11-1-2! They have remarkably gained a point in nine consecutive games, including eight wins. In a shallow East, the Sens look like a playoff team at this point.
10. Nashville Predators… LW: 12
After starting the season with a 4-5-3 record at home, the Predators have won 10 of 12 at Bridgestone Arena and have once again made it a tough place for opponents to play.
11. Philadelphia Flyers… LW: 7
In his last eight games, Ilya Bryzgalov has struggled mightily to say the least. In that time he has a 2-5-1 record with a 3.96 GAA and .863 save percentage.
12. Los Angeles Kings… LW: 13
Since Darryl Sutter took over behind Los Angeles’ bench, their penalty kill is a staggering 40-for-43 – good enough for a 93.0 percentage.
13. Colorado Avalanche… LW: 10
We should know more about the Avalanche at the All-Star break, as they have big games against the Coyotes, Kings and Wild ahead of them.
14. New Jersey Devils… LW: 15
On Tuesday, the Devils will begin a key stretch where they will play 9-of-11 at home against playoff-contending opponents.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins… LW: 16
Last Thursday, Penguins GM Ray Shero stated: “We’re making the playoffs.” The team responded with two big wins in Florida. Also, Sidney Crosby is skating again.
16. Dallas Stars… LW: 11
Glen Gulutzan’s Stars have a big week ahead, featuring contests against the Blues, Red Wings and Wild. They’ll have to play without Jamie Benn due to an emergency appendectomy.
17. Toronto Maple Leafs… LW: 17
There have been a many rumors surrounding defenseman Luke Schenn recently. The former fifth overall draft selection has struggled with consistency since breaking into the NHL.
18. Florida Panthers… LW: 18
The Panthers, who have three wins in their last 10 games, may want to turn their fortunes around prior to the break. A tough three-games-in-four-days road trip is bookended by home dates with Boston and Philly.
19. Calgary Flames… LW: 23
The acquisition of Michael Cammalleri was a good one by GM Jay Feaster. In his one year with the Flames in 2008-09, Cammalleri racked up 39 goals and 81 points playing alongside Jarome Iginla. He is expected to help boost an average power play.
20. Winnipeg Jets… LW: 19
A three-game skid has left the Jets five points out of a playoff spot. Will they show more second half fight than they did last year in Atlanta?
21. Minnesota Wild… LW: 21
Since returning from a concussion last year, Pierre-Marc Bouchard had been performing fairly well. But he has suffered another concussion and there is no timetable for his return.
22. Phoenix Coyotes… LW: 20
The Coyotes have on win this month, and it was against the Isles at home. They aren’t winning close games, which is costing them valuable points in the standings.
23. Montreal Canadiens… LW: 22
GM Pierre Gauthier has undoubtedly had one bizarre season to date. He fired an assistant and head coach on gameday, and traded Cammalleri during a game. Montreal is never short on drama.
24. New York Islanders… LW: 26
The injury-laden career of Rick DiPietro keeps getting sadder with each passing prognosis. The latest, sports hernia surgery, will likely end DiPietro’s season.
25. Buffalo Sabres… LW: 24
Lindy Ruff’s Sabres have dropped eight straight away from home – which isn’t good news for this week. They will play in Detroit, Chicago, Winnipeg and St. Louis in a matter of six nights. Ouch.
26. Anaheim Ducks… LW: 28
It appears the Ducks are finally starting to ‘get it’ under Bruce Boudreau, as the big guns are starting to contribute more consistently and the team is starting to win games.
27. Carolina Hurricanes… LW: 27
Rookie blueliner Justin Faulk, who will participate in the All-Star Game festivities, has points in six of his last eight games, including four points on the power play.
28. Edmonton Oilers… LW: 29
Since Nov. 25, the Oilers are 5-15-4 and are once again destined for a lottery pick. How much longer until the fan base gets impatient with the rebuild.
29. Tampa Bay Lightning… LW: 25
The Lightning are in a world of hurt right now. They have just one point in seven games this month and are now looking up at the rest of the Eastern Conference.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets… LW: 30
Someone should throw out Curtis Sanford’s baby blue pads. #Ugly

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 16

2012-01-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Penguins 6, Lightning 3
Capitals 2, Hurricanes 1
Canadiens 4, Rangers 1
Blackhawks 4, Sharks 3
Oilers 2, Kings 1 (OT)
Ducks 4, Canucks 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (3 goals, 2 assists)
2. Tomas Vokoun, WSH (43 saves)
3. Jason Blake, ANA (2 goals, 1 assist)
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Tonight’s slate:
Predators @ Islanders, 1:00 ET
Avalanche @ Coyotes, 4:00
Jets @ Senators, 7:30
Bruins @ Panthers, 7:30
Sabres @ Red Wings, 7:30
Stars @ Blues, 7:30

Game of the night:
Dallas Stars @ St. Louis Blues
7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network

Records:
Overall: Stars (24-18-1) … Blues (26-12-6)
Away/Home: Stars (11-10-0) … Blues (18-3-3)
Last 10: Stars (5-5-0) … Blues (6-2-2)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Starting goaltenders:
DAL- Kari Lehtonen (2011-12 stats: 16-8-1, 2.52 GAA)
STL- Jaroslav Halak (2011-12 stats: 11-7-5, 2.17 GAA)

Injury report:
DAL- Jamie Benn (appendectomy, out), Mike Ribeiro and Tomas Vincour (knee, out), Philip Larsen (concussion, out)
STL- Alexander Steen and Andy McDonald (concussion, out), Kris Russell (groin, out), Kent Huskins (ankle, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Top seed in West available for St. Louis
Going into tonight’s game, the Blues can claim the top spot in the Western Conference with a victory. They are currently two points behind division-foe Chicago, but have played two less games. No matter what happens tonight, however, it will surely be a back-and-forth battle atop the conference the rest of the way.
2. Will goaltenders’ head-to-head numbers continue?
In nine career games against the Blues, Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen is 7-1-0 with a 1.73 GAA. Contrarily, Jaroslav Halak is 1-4-0 with a 3.04 GAA in five games against Dallas. On paper, it appears the Stars may have an advantage. However, Halak has won four straight starts.
3. How will Dallas adjust without two offensive stars?
The Stars were dealt tough news last night, as Jamie Benn will miss up to two weeks with an emergency appendectomy. Meanwhile, Mike Ribeiro continues to be absent from the lineup. How will the team respond with two key cogs not playing? They went 1-2-0 in three games without Ribeiro last week. Benn and Ribeiro are crucial to Dallas’ success.

Final thought: It should be an interesting contest tonight in St. Louis. Ken Hitchcock’s club will attempt to keep pace with Chicago atop the division/conference, while the Stars are jostling for playoff positioning. It’s a toss-up. Prediction: Blues 3, Stars 2

The rest of today’s predictions:
Predators over Islanders
Coyotes over Avalanche
Senators over Jets
Bruins over Panthers
Red Wings over Sabres
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Five must-read links:
- Globe and Mail: Tough flying ahead for slumping Jets
- NHL.com: Bourque thrilled at chance to play in Montreal
- ESPN Dallas: All-Star Jamie Benn has appendectomy
- Fox Sports Midwest: Oshie having career-best year for Blues
- Puck Daddy: Alex Ovechkin drops a verse in ‘Champion’, by Russian rapper Sasha Belyi (Video)
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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Don’t forget about our podcast at 1 PM ET on Tuesday with Rangers radio voice Kenny Albert!

Video: Niemi robs Kane

2012-01-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

In tonight's game against the Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi made a spectacular glove save against Chicago's Patrick Kane. The play occurred in the first period of the Blackhawks' 4-3 victory.

Putting Boston’s dominance in perspective

2012-01-15T13:15:00.002-06:00

There hasn’t been a more dominant team in the NHL since the start of November than the Boston Bruins. Going into Saturday’s game in Carolina, the defending champs were 25-4-1 in their last 30 games. How does their run compare to other top teams since the lockout in 2004-05?

Throughout the Bruins’ remarkable 30-game run, I kept thinking to myself that hockey fans haven’t seen a team this dominant for this long in quite a while. So I decided to look into it. How did the last six Presidents’ Trophy winners’ best 30-game stretches compare to the Bruins’ of this season?

2011-12 Boston Bruins
Best 30-game stretch (so far): 25-4-1
Goals for: 124
Goals against: 51
Goal differential: +73
No. of games with 6+ goals: 10

2010-11 Vancouver Canucks
Best 30-game stretch: 23-7-0
Goals for: 95
Goals against: 58
Goal differential: +37
No. of games with 6+ goals: 2

2009-10 Washington Capitals
Best 30-game stretch: 23-7-0
Goals for: 124
Goals against: 74
Goal differential: +50
No. of games with 6+ goals: 7

2008-09 San Jose Sharks
Best 30-game stretch: 25-3-2
Goals for: 109
Goals against: 70
Goal differential: +39
No. of games with 6+ goals: 5

2007-08 Detroit Red Wings
Best 30-game stretch: 24-4-2
Goals for: 99
Goals against: 52
Goal differential: +47
No. of games with 6+ goals: 2

2006-07 Buffalo Sabres
Best 30-game stretch: 23-5-2
Goals for: 118
Goals against: 88
Goal differential: +30
No. of games with 6+ goals: 4

2005-06 Detroit Red Wings
Best 30-game stretch: 25-2-3
Goals for: 124
Goals against: 73
Goal differential: +51
No. of games with 6+ goals: 7

Only the 2005-06 Red Wings and 2008-09 Sharks accumulated more points in the standings over their best 30-game stretch, but none of the six teams were close to Boston’s +73 goal differential. The Bruins have had victories of 9-0, 8-0, 7-0 and 6-0 (twice) since the start of their 30-game stretch. And whether it’s been Tim Thomas or Tuukka Rask in net, the B’s have kept the puck out of their net with regularity.

Another impressive part of the Bruins’ run since November is they haven’t had one or two players single-handedly carry the offense. From the first line to the second line to the tertiary scoring, Claude Julien’s club has had a lot of balance throughout the lineup, which was a great strength for the B’s last postseason when they won the Cup.

The Bruins have been incredibly dominant and, as you can see, their recent 30-game run is on par (or better) than other teams’ great stretches since the lockout.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Trophy Tracker

2012-01-15T10:30:00.003-06:00

Every other week, we’ll bring you an updated look at the candidates for the major awards around the NHL…

Tracker archive:
Nov. 17
Dec. 2
Dec. 16
Dec. 30

HART TROPHY
1. Claude Giroux, PHI
Stats: 39 GP, 18 G, 31 A, 49 Pts, +2
At this point in the season, no player has meant more to his team than Giroux to the Flyers. The 23-year-old budding star is Mr. Everything for the Flyers and is elite in many facets of the game. Giroux, who is tied for second in the NHL in points, has been clutch for his team all year. His production has slowed a bit, though, with just one point in the last five games. Expect that to change soon.
2. Jonathan Toews, CHI
Stats: 45 GP, 23 G, 21 A, 44 Pts, +13
As valuable as Giroux has been to the Flyers, Toews is just as important to Chicago. Toews is on pace for a career-high 41 goals, but he’s bring a lot more to the table than just goal-scoring. He is the most important offensive and defensive forward for the Blackhawks, who are tied for the Central Division lead through Saturday’s action. He won’t lead the league in points, but is the heartbeat of the ‘Hawks.
3. Phil Kessel, TOR
Stats: 44 GP, 24 G, 24 A, 48 Pts, +2
Kessel, who ranks second in goals and fifth in points, has obviously been a valuable cog in the Leafs’ lineup this season. He’s come through in the clutch all year and recently picked up his fourth game-winning goal of the season. His production has ‘dropped off’, if you will, from his early-season pace with ‘just’ 9 points in the last 12 games. Still, Kessel is right in the thick of the MVP race.

VEZINA TROPHY
1. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR
Stats: 19-8-4, 1.89 GAA, .937 SV%, 3 SO
Lundqvist continues to be a stalwart and has been lights-out since Dec. 11 (1.45 GAA, .949 SV%). He’s a big reason why the Blueshirts are playing their best hockey of the year and have taken the lead in the Eastern Conference. ‘King Henrik’ is also arguably playing the best of his career. If he continues to put up these numbers, he’ll be near the top of the Vezina discussion.
2. Tim Thomas, BOS
Stats: 18-8-0, 1.99 GAA, .937 SV%, 4 SO
Thomas has had comparable numbers to his stellar 2010-11 season, when he won his second career Vezina. For the first time all year, his save percentage has dipped below last year’s record-setting .938 mark. Thomas has seen Tuukka Rask get some more starts of late, which may be a negative in his pursuit of a third Vezina, but something that needs to happen if the Bruins want to repeat as champs.
3. Jimmy Howard, DET
Stats: 26-10-1, 2.04 GAA, .924 SV%, 4 SO
Howard always gets the glass-half-empty treatment from hockey fans, who believe his success is based purely on the team in front of him. This season, though, Howard has had to be on his A-game more nights than not. He leads the NHL in wins and, whether you like it or not, is a Vezina candidate. Lastly, don’t forget about Jonathan Quick in this conversation.

NORRIS TROPHY
1. Shea Weber, NSH
Stats: 40 GP, 9 G, 23 A, 32 Pts, +12
There isn’t much separating the top three, but Weber means everything to the Preds and is unquestionably among the elite on the blueline. He leads the Preds in points (30) and plus/minus (+12) and is a big reason why the power play is ranked second in the NHL. He has shown on many occasions this season why he’s an all-around dominant defenseman with countless Norris-like performances.
2. Zdeno Chara, BOS
Stats: 39 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 Pts, +27
Chara has been his dominant during the Bruins’ amazing two-month stretch, racking up 22 points and a plus-26 rating in 31 games. He leads all defensemen with his plus-27 rating this season and is averaging 24:31 of ice time. ‘Big Z’, who is always in the Norris discussion, has been invaluable to the Bruins’ success in recent years, and 2011-12 is no different.
3. Erik Karlsson, OTT
Stats: 45 GP, 6 G, 38 A, 44 Pts, +6
Ottawa has proved many doubters wrong by sitting four points outside of the conference lead in mid-January – and Karlsson has a lot to do with that. There isn’t much offensive depth for the Senators up front, so Karlsson’s league-leading production from the back end (38 assists, 44 points) has been crucial. The 21-year-old has arguably been Ottawa’s MVP this season.

CALDER TROPHY
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM
Stats: 36 GP, 13 G, 22 A, 35 Pts, +1
This was a no-brainer before going down with a shoulder injury. The top overall pick from this past summer exceeded expectations through the first half, and has looked better than other recent No. 1 picks in their rookie seasons. He also leads the Oilers in points as a part of the dynamic trio with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. But ‘RNH’ now has company atop the Calder race.
2. Adam Henrique, NJ
Stats: 40 GP, 13 G, 21 A, 34 Pts, +9
To say Henrique has been a pleasant surprise in New Jersey would be an understatement. Henrique is fourth on the Devils in points and has been a point-per-game player since the start of November. He may not have the flashiness like Nugent-Hopkins, but you better believe Henrique is one of the few favorites for this award.
3. Matt Read, PHI
Stats: 40 GP, 13 G, 14 A, 27 Pts, +10
At 25 years old, Read is seven years older than Nugent-Hopkins and four years older than Henrique; so he won’t win over many voters in that sense. But Read has been one of many rookies that have stepped up for the Flyers. With Read specifically, he has flown under the radar with his two-way play that has, on occasion, found himself playing on a line with Danny Briere.

JACK ADAMS AWARD
1. Ken Hitchcock, STL
Record: 26-12-6, 2nd Western Conference
The before and after results of Hitchcock’s arrival in St. Louis is staggering. When Davis Payne was fired, the Blues were 6-7-0; since Hitchcock stepped behind the bench they are 20-5-6. Hitchcock has given the Blues the proper wake-up call, and they are now fulfilling their potential. If this success keeps up, he has to be Jack Adams favorite, no?
2. John Tortorella, NYR
Record: 28-10-4, 1st Eastern Conference
One of the season’s biggest surprises has been the New York Rangers. Aside from the Brad Richards signing, there isn’t much difference between this year’s Rangers and last year’s version. But Tortorella is pushing all of the right buttons as his team leads the entire NHL with 60 points. Aside from Boston, the Blueshirts have been the league’s most consistent team since the start of November.
3. Kevin Dineen, FLA
Record: 21-14-8, 3rd Eastern Conference
Dineen is one of many rookie head coaches that are turning heads in the first half. Remarkably, the Panthers lead the Southeast Division. Combined with the front office work of GM Dale Tallon, Dineen is doing a great job getting a team full of new faces to buy in and compete every night. If the Panthers make their first playoff appearance since 2000, Dineen will be in the Jack Adams discussion.

*Stats through Saturday, January 14
Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 15

2012-01-15T07:00:00.002-06:00

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s results:

Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2

Avalanche 2, Stars 1

Devils 2, Jets 1

Rangers 3, Maple Leafs 0

Islanders 4, Sabres 2

Senators 3, Canadiens 2

Sharks 2, Blue Jackets 1

Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2

Blues 3, Wild 2

Predators 4, Flyers 2

Kings 4, Flames 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:

1. Todd Bertuzzi (2 goals)

2. Michael Grabner (2 goals)

3. Martin Biron (20 SV, SO)

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Tonight’s slate:

Penguins @ Lightning, 1:00 ET

Hurricanes @ Capitals, 5:00 ET

Sharks @ Blackhawks, 7:00 ET

Rangers @ Canadiens, 7:00 ET

Kings @ Oilers, 8:00 ET

Ducks @ Canucks, 9:00 ET

Game of the night:

New York Rangers @ Montreal Canadiens

7:00 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, RDS

Records:
Overall: Rangers (29-10-4) … Canadiens (16-20-9)

Away/Home: Rangers (15-6-2) … Canadiens (7-8-7)

Last 10: Rangers (8-2-0) … Canadiens (3-6-1)

Season Series: Tied 1-1

Starting goaltenders:

NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12 stats: 19-8-4, 1.89 GAA)

MTL- Peter Budaj (2011-12 stats: 1-4-0, 2.81 GAA)

Injury report:

NYR - Michael Sauer (concussion, out), Steve Eminger (shoulder, out), Jeff Woywitka (foot, out), Brandon Dubinsky (shoulder, game-time decision)

MTL - Brian Gionta (bicep, out), Andrei Markov (knee, out), Ryan White (groin, out)

Three things to watch:

1. The Bell Centre

Henrik Lundqvist boasts a below-average record against the Habs at home with a GAA over three and save percentage under 900. To succeed he needs to play better under pressure and maintain his composure when the fans are behind their team. If he can perform to his highest level, expect a low scoring game. He’s allowed three goals or less in seven of his past eight games.

2. The Forecheck

To perform admirably the New York Rangers need to establish their forecheck early and often. If they fail to sustain pressure against the competition then they should allow their opponent back into the game.

3. The New Guy

Rene Bourque joins the team after a recent suspension. Considering the controversial winger is expected to chip in offensively, the entire League should be watching his progress. As a player who plays an honest, hard-working game, he should help assist the team’s current offensive system that’s been devoid of scoring.

Final thought: The Rangers are expected to be one of the top teams in hockey, therefore they should make short work of the Canadiens. Their opposition has hung into the playoff race due to a hard working effort. Should they succeed, expect the Rangers to struggle against a team that simply outworked them. Prediction: Rangers 3, Canadiens 2

The rest of today’s predictions

Penguins over Lightning

Capitals over Hurricanes

Sharks over Blackhawks

Kings over Oilers

Canucks over Ducks

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Five must-read links:

- NJ.com: Kurtis Foster scores first goal for Devils with dad watching on TV

- Michael Russo's Sunday Insider: Speed makes, breaks game

- Kings-Flames: Another Sutter vs. Sutter coaching matchup

- McLellan’s view of hit on Desjardins: ‘That’s exactly what we want to eliminate from the game, exactly’

- CSN Philly: More of the same for Bryzgalov in Flyers' loss

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey

*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with ESPN.com’s Craig Custance? No worries… you can check it out here!

Saturday Faceoff: Mid-season Cup favorite?

2012-01-14T12:30:00.002-06:00

As the season’s second half gets under way, who is the favorite to lift Lord Stanley come June? Three teams, including the two Cup finalists from a year ago, come to mind. Dave, Patrick and I debate…

The defending-champion Bruins
By Dave Strehle

It's been 13 years since the NHL has had a repeat champion. What had been commonplace during the 70's and 80's has now become the hardest of any sport with which to defend the title. These are the odds that face the Boston Bruins this spring when they attempt to capture consecutive Stanley Cups. When Claude Julien's squad got off to a 3-7-0 start to begin the season, it would seem a foregone conclusion the tendency would hold true once again.

Yet, as the League's regular season recently passed the midway point, the Big, Bad Bruins would appear the favorites to hoist Stanley when all is said and done. It seems the 'Stanley Cup hangover' theory had some validity, because the club sobered up in a hurry to the tune of a 12-0-1 November. Boston hasn't looked back since, and have posted a blistering 25-4-1 record in their last 30 games. It could very well be that Beantown ends the drought for defending champs to complete the back-to-back feat.

In hockey, championship teams are built from the goal line out, and the B's are no different. 37-year-old Tim Thomas continues to dominate. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has a stellar 18-7-0 mark, which includes a red-hot 15-3-0 in his last 18 decisions. In 26 starts, Thomas is in the top four leading netminders in every statistical category; 1.95 goals-against average (fourth), .939 save percentage (second), and four shutouts (tied for third).

When Thomas has needed a rest, the Bruins have not missed a beat with backup Tuukka Rask between the pipes. The 24-year-old Finn has bounced back nicely from a subpar 2010-11 campaign. Sporting a 10-4-1 record, Rask is also among the League-leaders in almost every facet of the position; his 1.59 GAA and incredible .945 save percentage are both NHL-bests, and Rask's three shutouts is fifth overall, despite limited playing time.

Led by imposing 6' 9", 255-pound captain Zdeno Chara, Boston's blueline is yet another major strength. While frustrating opposition forays into their zone, Boston's mobile defenders are also quick to jumpstart a counter-attack with a quick outlet pass or leading a rush on their own.

With no Bruins at the point per game mark, it's tough for opponents to key in on any one skater – or even a single line – when coming up with a game plan to shut down the Black and Gold machine.

Julien can roll four tough, effective lines, led by the trio of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton. The beauty is that there is no drop off when it comes to what is considered the club's 'second unit' of (currently suspended) Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. The two lines are actually interchangeable as a number one, as evidence by the team's leading scorers. Seguin leads the B's in goals (17) and points (38), with linemate Bergeron right behind with 36 points.

Boston's depth stands out at every turn. Benoit Pouliot, Chris Kelly, and Rich Peverley comprise a very solid third line, and a fourth of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell, and Shawn Thornton frequently contribute, as well.

What perhaps separates the champs from other clubs up front is the defensive conscientiousness in their own zone. The Bruins boast the top six players in plus/minus figures; four of those skaters are forwards, with Seguin leading all NHLers at +33. The individual lines are each as sound defensively as any collective group of forwards in the NHL, thereby giving a more game-changing affect on their offensive contributions.

GM Peter Chiarelli has constructed one of the most dominant squads in the League in some time, and there appears to be no glaring weaknesses. While the eventual place in history of this season's version of the Bruins has yet to be determined, there is no mistaking the look of a true champion.

Boston definitely has just that, as they continue their journey towards what they hope will be a repeat performance as Cup winners this spring.
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Canucks the same team as last year
By Ryan Porth

Last year’s Vancouver Canucks were 60 minutes away from ecstasy. In what was their 40th anniversary as a franchise – a dominant season, no less – the Canucks seemed destined all year to win their first Stanley Cup. Boston had other plans, however, and the Western Conference champions fell one win short.

Fast forward seven months from that disappointing defeat and the Canucks look like a team that is ready to go on another long playoff run.

In their Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign a year ago, Alain Vigneault’s gang was amongst the league-leaders in almost every statistical category. This year is no different, as they are fourth in goals scored per game, fourth on the penalty kill and first on the power play. They also rank seventh in goals against despite a first half where Roberto Luongo wasn’t at his best.

The Canucks’ early-season hangover lasted longer than the Bruins’, but they have rebounded nicely. Since Nov. 20, when the team was 9-9-1, the Canucks are 19-5-2 and have vaulted to the top of the Western Conference standings. In that time, the top line has been dominant with Alex Burrows being reunited with the Sedin twins (who are the NHL's leading point-getting duo), and Ryan Kesler has returned to his top form after getting back to 100 percent.

Personnel wise, when you compare last year’s team to this year’s, it’s pretty much the same group. David Booth was acquired early in the year, which will add scoring depth in the playoffs. With his always-reliable two-way play, Alexander Edler has more than made up for the loss of Christian Ehrhoff. Additionally, rookie Cody Hodgson has stepped up this season.

You could make an argument that the biggest difference between the two clubs is that Luongo has not been the same Vezina-contending goalie that he was a year ago. With a 2.11 GAA and .928 save percentage, 2010-11 was arguably Luongo’s best NHL season. This season he has recorded a 2.35 GAA and .918 save percentage – certainly not bad peripheral numbers.

And maybe the second half promises to be better for Luongo, just like last year. In his final 32 games of 2010-11, Luongo was 21-7-4 with a 1.79 GAA and .939 save percentage. So the fact that Luongo’s best hockey of the year is potentially ahead of him makes Vancouver all that more dangerous.

The Canucks, who will win their fourth straight division title, are the best team in the West. But that doesn’t mean they won’t have solid competition come playoff time. Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and Nashville are all dangerous out of the Central, while San Jose and Los Angeles seem to be picking up steam. With that said, the Canucks are good enough to slay any of those teams in the playoffs.

Coming up one win short last June can only inspire this Canucks team, which mirrors last year’s edition, to get back to that same point again.
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1994 all over again in New York?
By Patrick Hoffman

The last time the New York Rangers were in first place in the entire NHL at this point of the season, the club ended up winning the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Fast forward 18 years later and the Blueshirts are not only first in the Atlantic Division, but also first in the league with 58 points. The team is currently 27-9-4 and has shown no signs of slowing down as they head into the most grueling months of the season.

Believe it or not, this year’s Rangers hockey club might have their best chance to win a Cup since 1994. There are many reasons for this.

For starters, two words – Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers’ all-star netminder has been outstanding for his hockey club this season. The “King” is 19-7-4 with a 1.95 goals against average, .939 save percentage and 3 shutouts. He is certainly in the running to win his first Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender while also being selected to his third NHL All-Star game.

Night in and night out, Lundqvist is the team’s best player and is one of the main reasons why the Blueshirts have had so much success this season.

Another reason why the Rangers have been so successful this season is because of offensive depth. The team has such balance that it allows team head coach John Tortorella to roll all four lines during each and every game.

The leader for the club’s offense has been Marian Gaborik, who can score with the best of them. He currently has 23 goals, which is not only good for third in the league, but more than he scored all of last year. ‘Gabby’ also leads the team with 34 points.

Behind Gaborik is nine-year veteran Brad Richards. Richards has 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points and has the right leadership skills to lead this team into the postseason.

After that, the Blueshirts have players such as Ryan Callahan (14g-17a), Derek Stepan (9g-18a), Artem Anisimov (7g-15a), and Brandon Dubinsky (5g-16a) all producing on a somewhat consistent basis. These players have all grown up in the Rangers’ system and are ready to continue being good, effective players come playoff time.

The Rangers also boast a solid defense corps. All-star Dan Girardi continues to impress the rest of the NHL with the amount of minutes he plays, the large number of shots he blocks and the consistent presence he provides on the blueline. Girardi leads the NHL with 27:16 of average ice time.

Following Girardi, Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, Anton Stralman, Stu Bickel and others have all performed admirably. Del Zotto has particularly stood out, bouncing back from a forgettable sophomore season. The Rangers also have Marc Staal back in the fold, so the defense has actually gotten stronger.

Lastly, this team has what it takes to win the Cup because they have an identity that they stick to. This is a team that works hard and is competitive every single night, and is one that knows how to battle back.

Come playoff time, this is going to be an extremely dangerous team to face.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Transcript of Bettman's meeting with Florida media

2012-01-14T10:00:00.002-06:00

By Bill Whitehead

SUNRISE, Fla. -- National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman made his annual visit to BankAtlantic Center Friday night during the Florida Panthers' game with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bettman spoke on a variety of current issues as the first intermission was winding down. Topics spanned the first-place Panthers' success to the NHL Players Association's disagreement with divisional realignment to rampant injuries throughout the league, plus other points.

Here are five questions the commissioner addressed:

What are you hearing about the Panthers from around the league?
"I think it's clear people are excited for the fans down here and for the organization. It's nice to see the team so competitive. It's not about my expectations. It's about the expectations of (owner) Cliff Viner and (general manager) Dale Tallon. They're clearly focused on building this team the right way. You see the preliminary results, to say the least."

Describe your disappointment with the union not endorsing realignment. Do you like the proposed divisional format?
"In the final analysis, we decided it was better not to have a confrontation (with the union) and we'll deal with it down the road. First and foremost was getting teams better aligned geographically and to deal with the issues Columbus, Detroit, Dallas, Minnesota and Winnipeg have. And we wanted every team to play a home-and-home against every team. We want every team in every team's building."

Are injuries, not just concussions, up in the league this year?
"I don't think so. We're much more proactive in treating and diagnosing injuries, particularly concussions, than ever before. As you see from the numbers, we're more aggressively reporting concussions than ever before. Part of that is changing the culture We want players who have concussions to feel comfortable in telling their clubs and getting treatment and rest. "

Is there any chance the Panthers could host a Winter Classic at the Florida Marlins' new ballpark?
"We would have to take a look at it, but I assumed water still freezes down here at 32 degrees. We did it in Las Vegas in an exhibition game, but what's important is that the game's conditions stay competitive. Ultimately, we have to get everyone to participate, even if it's a road game."

Is an All-Star Game here more realistic?
"We've had a game here (in 2003), but there's a long list of clubs who want one who haven't had one as recently as South Florida has. But obviously we don't hesitate to have our big events here. We've had the draft (in 2001) and an All-Star Game here."

--Bill Whitehead
Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

Morning Skate: January 14

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Capitals 4, Lightning 3
Blue Jackets 4, Coyotes 3
Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 2
Penguins 4, Panthers 1
Ducks 5, Oilers 0

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Troy Brouwer, WSH (3 goals)
2. Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (4 assists)
3. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (1 goal)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Blackhawks @ Red Wings, 12:30 ET
Avalanche @ Stars, 3:00
Devils @ Jets, 3:00
Rangers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Senators @ Canadiens, 7:00
Sabres @ Islanders, 7:00
Bruins @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Sharks @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Wild @ Blues, 8:00
Flyers @ Predators, 8:00
Kings @ Flames, 10:00

Game of the night:
New York Rangers @ Toronto Maple Leafs
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Rangers (27-10-4) … Maple Leafs (22-16-5)
Away/Home: Rangers (14-6-2) … Maple Leafs (12-5-4)
Last 10: Rangers (8-2-0) … Maple Leafs (6-3-1)
Season Series: 2-0 Maple Leafs

Starting goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12 stats: 19-8-4, 1.89 GAA)
TOR- James Reimer (2011-12 stats: 7-4-4, 3.01 GAA)

Injury report:
NYR- Brandon Dubinsky (shoulder, questionable), Jeff Woywitka (foot, questionable), Steve Eminger (shoulder, out), Michael Sauer (concussion, out)
TOR- John-Michael Liles and Colby Armstrong (concussion, out), Tyler Bozak (shoulder, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Will James Reimer play inspired?
Since returning from his concussion, James Reimer is 3-4-3 with a 3.23 GAA and .895 save percentage. Due to those struggles, Jonas Gustavsson has started five straight games. With the Leafs in the second game of a back-to-back, Reimer is expected to start; look for him to have a big effort. At home this year, Reimer boasts a 6-0-3 record with a 2.27 GAA.
2. Will Rangers bounce back?
Going into Thursday’s showdown with the Senators, John Tortorella’s club had won five straight and 10 of 11. They laid an egg at home, though, in a shutout defeat at the hands of the upstart Sens. The Blueshirts will look to bounce back tonight in a building where they are 3-0-1 in the last two seasons.
3. Toronto’s home win streak on the line
Coming into tonight’s tilt, the Maple Leafs have won five in a row on home ice. In that span, the Leafs have out-scored their opponents by a score of 20-8. They’ll be looking to grab their sixth straight win at home for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Final thought: It should be an interesting contest tonight at Air Canada Centre. Toronto has won the first two games of the season series (both in New York); so you know the Rangers, who are coming off a loss, will be looking to get revenge. Prediction: Rangers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (SO)

The rest of today’s predictions:
Red Wings over Blackhawks
Avalanche over Stars
Jets over Devils
Canadiens over Senators
Islanders over Sabres
Bruins over Hurricanes
Sharks over Blue Jackets
Blues over Wild
Flyers over Predators
Kings over Flames
---

Five must-read links:
- Yahoo! Sports: Montreal Canadiens need fresh start – and new GM
- NHL.com: Transcript of Sid’s comments skate session
- Calgary Herald: Cammalleri pumped about returning to Flames
- LA Kings Insider: Richards displeased with penalties, rules
- Newsday: Rick DiPietro to have sports hernia surgery
---

Video of the day:
Cammalleri returns to Calgary

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with ESPN.com’s Craig Custance? No worries… you can check it out here!

Work ethic turned Tavares into All-Star

2012-01-13T15:45:00.000-06:00

UNIONDALE – When the NHL All-Star roster was announced Thursday afternoon, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that New York Islanders forward John Tavares would make the team for the first time in his career. His teammates also felt that he’d be the guy to get into the All-Star Game.

“A lot of the guys felt I had a good chance,” Tavares said after being informed that he made the team. “Some of them congratulated me earlier and I told them they were going to jinx it. … I didn’t think about it a lot, but it’s just a great thrill.”

So how did Tavares, who leads the Islanders with 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists), elevate his game to an All-Star level? If you ask his coach and linemates, it’s his work ethic. Earlier in the season Islanders head coach Jack Capuano had called Tavares a “student of the game” noting his desire to be the best player in the league.

“Johnny’s one of those guys that takes a lot of pride in his game on both sides of the puck,” Capuano said when asked about Tavares’ play. “He’s getting his chances from his defensive play. Again it’s his work ethic. We all knew he had the skill level and the vision and the creativity that he has, but he’s elevated his game to an all-star level. He’s really helping carrying our team right now. To me it’s just his battle level and he’s much stronger on the puck and his puck protection.”

Tavares has easily been the Islanders' most crucial player this season. His strong play on the puck and his natural playmaking abilities has orchestrated Islander comebacks and created several highlight reel plays this season. Tavares could also do something that only former Islander Ziggy Palffy has done, and that is account for over 40 percent of the team’s points for a full season, a feat Palffy accomplished during the 1997-98 season. Tavares accounts for 41.9 percent currently.

“Johnny’s been playing terrific for us,” commented Tavares’ linemate Kyle Okposo. “A guy like that, who can find you, just makes smart plays and his work ethic has been so great this year. I think that’s one thing that’s really improved with him is he just works so hard and that’s why he’s having some of the success he has had.”

In Okposo’s last five games he has scored four goals. Tavares has played a role in setting up Okposo in three of those four goals and has been credited with helping to reinvigorate Okposo’s play. “He’s a very special player and it helps your confidence anytime you play with him,” Okposo said about playing on a line with Tavares.

One player who is quite familiar with Tavares’s play and work ethic is his linemate, former roommate and good friend Matt Moulson.

“He’s playing all right,” Moulson said with a grin when asked about his friend's on-ice performance. “I said it from day one, and I’ve known him for a long time, he’s an extremely competitive person on and off the ice in everything he does. He’s focused on getting this team to where we need to be and he works on his game consistently, doing all the little things and getting better. He’s only going to get better.”

Tavares is just 21 years old and undoubtedly has many more years of hockey left to play. If his progress this season is any indication of what’s to come down the road, then Islander fans should be prepared to see him in a lot more All-star Games.

“I felt I’ve been getting better every year, every game,” Tavares said. “I feel like I’m just getting to know the league a lot better. I feel my game is evolving, just me as a person, and I think it’s all translating and coming together every year, everyday. It's another step for me. It's exciting to know when you're recognized like this, you know you're doing some good things and you know you're making an impact out there. That's what I'm trying to do.”

Photo credit: Getty Images

Surging Sens one of season's best stories

2012-01-13T09:00:00.003-06:00

The renaissance of the 2011-12 Ottawa Senators has been one of the best and most surprising stories of the season's first half.

Picked by most NHL experts to finish the year out of the postseason for a second consecutive year and third in the last four, the team didn't do much to change people's opinions early in the campaign. With new head coach Paul MacLean at the helm, Ottawa got off to a horrific start out of the gates.

Winners of just one of the first six games -- and that being via a shootout -- the Senators appeared to be on the fast track to receiving a heavily-weighted lottery pick for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

It wasn't just the fact they were 1-5-0, it was the way they were losing the games. Ottawa's team defense was nonexistent, and they were outscored badly as a result. The Sens scored 15 goals in the opening six contests, but they allowed their opponents a whopping total of 30. Included in the stretch were four different games in which the club yielded five or more goals, and twice they gave up seven.

But something strange happened following a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers on October 18th. The Senators began to win, and pretty regularly.

Starting with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets two nights later, Ottawa closed out October with six straight wins to finish the season's first month with a 7-5-0 mark. During the span of the six-game winning streak, the Sens netted 23 goals and allowed just 15.

Even though November began with an 0-4-1 record, the Senators were playing much better. The players were buying into MacLean's system, and the difference in their overall defensive game was noticeable.

As loyal Senators' fans were being panned for stuffing the ballot boxes to ensure their local heroes would be well-represented at the upcoming All-Star Game at Scotiabank Place, the team kept improving. While there were bouts with inconsistency earlier in the year, the Sens have racked up a fantastic 23-10-6 mark over the last 39 contests. Their current 10-1-2 record has pulled them to within three points of the red-hot, Northeast Division-leading Boston Bruins, and trail the Flyers by just two points for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

There have been several reasons for the turnaround in Ottawa's fortunes, here are the major factors:

The emergence of Erik Karlsson -- Maybe more than any other player, Karlsson's metamorphosis in his continuing journey of becoming an elite NHL defenseman has had the biggest impact on the Senators. With 43 points in 44 games, he is the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman at the midway point in the season.

The 21-year-old Swede's mobility and offensive abilities make him the most lethal skater for Ottawa. His 37 assists place him second among all NHL skaters, just four less than Vancouver's Henrik Sedin's leading total. He's also been much more reliable in his own end this season. After posting a horrific -30 during the 2010-11 campaign, Karlsson is a +4 this year.

Karlsson's propensity for being able to to put the puck on net from the right point on the Sens' power play has been invaluable, as evidenced by his man advantage 18 points (1 goal, 17 assists). That means he has been in on over 64% of the Senators' scoring 28 power play goals. Along with Boston's Zdeno Chara and Nashville's Shea Weber, Karlsson is one of the front-runners to win the award in RLD Hockey's mid-season Norris Trophy evaluation.

"Erik's obviously a very important player for us," said MacLean via the club's official website. "He generates a lot of offense for us, and is arguably our best player."

Milan Michalek -- In just 39 games, the 27-year-old winger's 23 goals has already surpassed his best output in a season since being dealt to Ottawa by San Jose before the 2009-10 campaign. Beginning with two goals on opening night, Michalek has been the model of consistency. He has not gone more than five games without scoring a goal at any time during the year, and looks like a lock to top his career-high goal mark of 26, set with the Sharks back in the 2006-07 campaign.

The coaching of Paul MacLean -- After spending the last six seasons as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings, MacLean has definitely shown he has learned a few things from Mike Babcock along the way. It was no secret that Cory Clouston, who was fired following the non-playoff finish last season, had lost control of the team. Alexei Kovalev took a shot at Clouston on his way back to Russia after the season ended, and while no other players will go on record as acknowledging the same, some have mentioned the improvement in the atmosphere surrounding the club this year under MacLean.

Yet it still took a bit of time before the players fully grasped onto MacLean's teaching, but they are fully seeing the rewards with hard work and following their respective roles. Maybe Karlsson said it best in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Michael Farber in November:

"I've played for five, six different coaches as a pro and the way he thinks we should play is the way I want to play," says Karlsson, 21, who has a goal and 12 assists. "He thinks we should have possession. Not to make stupid plays all the time, but to play with a lot of skill. He can get mad at me, but I know it's for a good cause. Guys know he was a good hockey player and that he knows what to do. He understands how players think and what they're going through."

Craig Anderson -- After posting an 11-5-1 mark after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche late last season, GM Bryan Murray knew he needed to re-sign the pending UFA. With a new four-year deal in place, Anderson has responded with a 22-12-4 record, which includes his first shutout of the year, a 34-save effort last night against the New York Rangers. His 22 victories is second-most in the League, and he has covered up for some major deficiencies in Ottawa's play in their own zone.

Although snubbed by not being named to the NHL All-Star Game -- perhaps a victim of the large presence of Senators already heading to the midseason Classic -- the 30-year-old netminder could very well throw his name into the Vezina Trophy mix by year's end.

Health of the captain and Spezza -- Serious injuries that kept both Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza out of the lineup for an extended period of time all but killed Ottawa's playoff hopes last season. They've both been healthy this year, and have been the key contributors the club has come to expect for so many seasons. Even though he doesn't lead the club in goals or assists, Spezza leads the Senators in points with 46 (18 goals, 28 assists), and Alfie, who sits third in team scoring, has played well in posting 14 goals and 33 points.

Secondary scoring -- While Ottawa's top names have been producing, the contributions of their role players have been enormous. In addition to some bringing defensive awareness and grit, Nick Foligno and Zack Smith each have scored 12 goals, Colin Greening has nine, Erik Condra and Chris Neil each have seven, and Bobby Butler has tallied five times.

The acquisition of Kyle Turris has also provided a big boost. Even though he has just a goal and eight points since moving northeast, the team has gone 9-1-2 in the 12 games since bringing the disgruntled Phoenix forward into the Sens' ranks.

Improvement in defensive play -- Along with Karlsson, the blueline corps includes a rejuvenated Sergei Gonchar, Chris Phillips, team plus / minus leader Filip Kuba (+15), rookie Jared Cowen, Brian Lee, and Matt Carkner.

Because of the early-season deluge of goals allowed, only two other Eastern Conference teams have given up more goals that Ottawa's 144 -- Carolina (150), and Tampa Bay (146).

The influence of MacLean on the defensive responsibility of all players, forwards included, has led to the decreasing amount of goals yielded by the constantly improving squad. The Senators have yielded just 13 goals over the course of the past seven games, and just one in the last two contests.

As the current campaign progresses, there is definitely a feeling that something special is happening in Canada's capital. The All-Star Game will be played at month's end, with a heavy Senators presence. Every aspect of MacLean's club is heading in the right direction, making the resurgence of Ottawa one of the first half's best stories.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 13

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s results:

Bruins 2, Canadiens 1

Senators 3, Rangers 0

Flyers 3, Islanders 2

Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2 (SO)

Hurricanes 5, Lightning 2

Canucks 3, Blues 2 (OT)

Predators 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)

Blackhawks 5, Wild 2

Sharks 2, Jets 0

Flames 1, Ducks 0 (OT)

Stars 5, King 4 (SO)

RLD 3 stars of the night:

1. Craig Anderson, OTT (34 saves, shutout)

2. Alex Burrows, VAN (2 goals)

3. Tim Thomas, BOS (33 saves)

---

Tonight’s slate:

Lightning @ Capitals, 7:00 ET

Coyotes @ Blue Jackets, 7:00

Maple Leafs @ Sabres, 7:30

Penguins @ Panthers, 7:30

Ducks @ Oilers, 9:30

Game of the night:

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Washington Capitals

7:00 ET… TV: NHL Network, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Lightning (17-22-4) … Capitals (22-17-2)

Away/Home: Lightning (6-15-3) … Capitals (15-5-1)

Last 10: Lightning (2-6-2) … Capitals (6-3-1)

Season Series: 1-0 Capitals

Starting goaltenders:

TBL- Dwayne Roloson (2011-12 stats: 6-9-2, 3.76 GAA)

WAS- Tomas Vokoun (2011-12 stats: 17-10-0, 2.56 GAA)

Injury report:

TBL - Matthias Ohlund and Ryan Shannon (knee, out), Victor Hedman (concussion, out), JT Wyman and Adam Hall (upper-body, out)

WAS- Mike Green (groin, out), Nicklas Backstrom (concussion, out), Tom Poti (groin, out)

Three things to watch:

1. Fighting the 1-3-1

The Lightning deploy a 1-3-1 ‘trap’ aimed to limit the offense-heavy Capitals. Last season, the Bolts were able to upset their Southeast Division rivals in the post season mainly due to their frustrating system. Guy Boucher and company will try to keep the Caps to the outside in order to stifle their offensive creativity. In their first meeting, the game plan was unsuccessful as the Caps managed to score six goals.

2. Tomas Vokoun

Which Tomas Vokoun will we see tonight? The veteran starting goalie allowed four-or-more goals in eight of his 28 appearances. Contrarily, he won four games in a row to begin the new year, allowing only five goals over that span. He’s been either very good or very bad. The difference in his play tonight should be the difference in the score.

3. Alex Ovechkin standing still

The ‘Great 8’ remains hot and cold in what could be his worst season offensively. After a seven-game point streak, Ovechkin has no points and a minus-4 rating over his past three games. Playing against a struggling Roloson could be just what he needs.

Final thought: These two teams were expected to compete for the division lead but they find themselves struggling to even make the playoffs. The rivalry remains fresh after last season’s playoff upset but it lacks the high-profile billing of last Spring. Perhaps the Lightning can channel their past success and bounce back from a tough loss against the Hurricanes. Prediction: Capitals 4, Lightning 1

The rest of today’s predictions:

Coyotes over Blue Jackets

Maple Leafs over Sabres

Panthers over Penguins

Ducks over Oilers

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Five must-read links:

- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins GM Shero insists that return of Crosby, Letang worth the wait

- Jets Nation: The Best Player No One Talks About

- Puck Daddy: Fix the All-Star Game voting system; let the fans vote for the team captains

- Yahoo! Sports: Shane Doan, Monty Python & the Phoenix Coyotes

- Capitals Watch: Capitals will see Rene Bourque again

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Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey

*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with ESPN.com’s Craig Custance? No worries… you can check it out here!

Trade works for Cammalleri and Bourque

2012-01-12T23:45:00.007-06:00

In a stunning and abrupt fashion, the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames swung a deal Thursday night, exchanging underachieving forwards Michael Cammalleri and Rene Bourque, among other future assets. It is a deal that should work for both sides.

Following Wednesday's practice, Michael Cammalleri was rather candid with his views on the current state of the Montreal Canadiens. Not even three years into a five-year pact, the diminutive winger was clearly frustrated with the team's current 12th place seed as they sat seven points out of a playoff berth.

His comments, which were loosely translated from English to French then back to English, may have paved his way out of Quebec. “I can’t accept that we will display a losing attitude as we’re doing this year,” Cammalleri told local reporters. “We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it’s no wonder why we lose.” Something tells us those words stung Habs GM Pierre Gauthier as they became the latest controversial news item in an already forgettable season.

The turn of events led to Gauthier sending his talented winger, as well as KHL netminder Kari Ramo and a 2012 5th round pick, to the Calgary Flames for suspended winger Rene Bourque, prospect Peter Holland and a second round pick in 2013. Surprisingly, he was able to quickly find appropriate market value for a disgruntled player with an expensive contract.

By comparison, Rene Bourque carries a cap hit slightly more than half of Cammalleri's $6 million anchor. Putting that into perspective, the future pick and solid prospect become icing on the cake. Furthermore, Bourque outscored Cammalleri through the halfway point and figures to fill the void left by Cammy's absence quite nicely.

While not a traditional scorer, Bourque fits a similar mold as fan favorite Erik Cole. He will add speed to Randy Cunneyworth's lineup while contributing a bit more physically. His aggressive style of play coupled with the steep upgrade in size should be a good fit in the currently evolving coaching system.

This deal should work out well for Gauthier's Habs. Likewise, Flames GM Jay Feaster feels he too made out quite well in the transaction; we could have a 'hockey trade' here folks.

"Mike Cammalleri is a dynamic player who enjoyed great success playing in Calgary,” Feaster
explained in his press release. “We believe Cammalleri will help our offensive production, solidify a second scoring line, bolster our power play, and bring another strong veteran voice to our room. We are confident that a return to Calgary will be good for Mike and good for our continued pursuit of a playoff berth."

Despite scoring only nine goals on the season, the Flames hope their newest acquisition can add some offensive creativity to their second line. In fact, they are hoping his presence will give them the final piece to their perennial blueprint of sneaking into the playoffs. In his previous season in Alberta, Cammalleri racked up 39 goals and 82 points in 81 games before the Flames burned out in the first round. The best-case scenario, and likely what Feaster is hoping for, is a middle-of-the-pack offense gaining a point-per-game player. A player that could help divert top pairings away from Jarome Iginla.

Like Gauthier, Feaster is trying to make the best out of what he's been given. And while the Flames can't trade for superstars every season, they have been able to rekindle their past success in snatching falling stars on their descent. Cammalleri could work out perfectly, just as Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay have in their current second tour of duty.

Last season, the trade deadline came early with much less fanfare as the end of February neared. Assuming Cammalleri was on the trading block for only a day or two, are teams eager to make moves now in order to get a leg up on their competition? Moreover, will we see more 'hockey trades' as general managers get more creative with their allotted cap space?

Gauthier and Feaster both proved to the hockey world they were not afraid to pull the trigger. Considering they made this big of a move in January, the bigger question might be: are they done?

Photo credit: Getty Images

Top 5 All-Star Game snubs

2012-01-12T14:15:00.000-06:00

As the All-Star Game roster was announced today, a handful of snubs came to mind right away. The NHL got the goaltenders and defensemen right, but there are some changes we would have made at forward. Without knowing whether these players declined an invite, here are the five biggest All-Star snubs this year…

1. Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals
If Backstrom didn’t ask out of the festivities, he is easily the biggest snub on this list. Most players in the Capitals lineup have had their fair share of ups and downs – including Alex Ovechkin, who was named an All-Star. Backstrom has 42 points in 38 games this season and has been incredibly consistent despite the team’s underachievement. Injury aside, Backstrom deserves to be in the All-Star Game.

2. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Bergeron already has three teammates going – Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin – which was likely a factor. But there’s no doubt that Bergeron is going to be a Selke Trophy finalist at the end of the year. There could also be an argument that Bergeron, with his superior two-way play, is Boston’s most effective and valuable forward. I’m sure he won’t mind the break, but he deserves to be in Ottawa later this month.

3. Scott Hartnell, Flyers
Like Bergeron, Hartnell had some competition just on his own team. Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen are fellow Flyers heading to the All-Star Game, which could have squeezed out Hartnell. However, Hartnell was deserving of an All-Star nod, as he is on pace for a career-high 36 goals and 74 points. He has played a big role in the success of the Flyers’ top line with Giroux and Jaromir Jagr.

4. Jordan Eberle, Oilers
I understand Eberle is hurt (sidelined for next 2-3 weeks), but that didn’t stop the NHL from naming Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the list of rookies. Eberle has had a fantastic, All-Star caliber season in Edmonton and got more consistent as the first half went on. He has the most points (43) out of any player not named to the All-Star Game roster and has had a good amount of highlight-reel goals thus far.

5. Anze Kopitar, Kings
Kopitar, who has made two All-Star appearances in his young career, falls under the same hat as Backstrom. The Kings have obviously disappointed for most of this season, but that hasn’t stopped Kopitar from having a fine first half. He has 37 points on a team that has struggled (mightily) to score goals and has only four players with 20-plus points. Kopitar deserves to be a part of the festivities.

Honorable Mention: Loui Eriksson, Evander Kane, Patrick Sharp, Thomas Vanek, Kris Versteeg

Photos credit: Getty Images

Could Nashville get by without Suter?

2012-01-12T09:45:00.004-06:00

We all know Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter is an unrestricted free agent after the season. The NHL trade deadline is also six weeks away. If Suter is not signed by February 27th, what does GM David Poile do? Does he trade Suter and make sure he doesn’t walk away for nothing in the summer? Or does Poile keep Suter to enhance the team’s chances at a playoff run? Judging by recent comments from the Predators GM, it could very well be the former.

If that possibility actually came to fruition, it would certainly be a different sight without Suter and Shea Weber patrolling the blueline side-by-side. Would the Preds be able to survive without Suter? Here are some reasons from both sides of the fence…

Why they could get by
- The Predators will still have Weber for at least another year, and possibly longer if the team can further prove to him that a Stanley Cup can indeed be won in Nashville.

- The organization is rich when it comes to quality young defensemen. We’ve recently seen a pint-size example of what Ryan Ellis is capable of in the present and future. Roman Josi is a promising blueliner that stepped up under pressure when Weber missed time with a concussion. Despite this season’s roller coaster, Jonathon Blum has a lot of potential, which we saw first-hand last spring.

None of them are Suter right now. And they may never become as well-rounded of a defenseman as Suter is at this moment. But do they have the potential to eventually become a defenseman that is on par with other top-pair defensemen around the league? Absolutely. Blum will turn 23 later this month, while Josi is 21 and Ellis just turned 21. There is still a lot of development to be done for all three of them.

- Suter will demand Weber-type money ($7.5 million/year) on the open market. And he could get more. If average second-pair rearguards like Christian Ehrhoff (10 years, $40 million) and James Wisniewski (6 years, $33 million) can earn top-pair money in this salary cap era, I cringe at what a team could offer Suter on July 1st – which is likely why he is reluctant to sign with the Preds, knowing the payday he could get elsewhere.

If the Preds are willing to spend over $7 million a year on Suter, they could use some of that on (a) getting that much-anticipated, much-needed goal-scorer or (b) signing a veteran stop-gap defenseman to essentially be a bridge to the when the aforementioned rookies are ready to play 20 minutes a night.

The Preds are willing to spend money. They gave $7 million a year to a goaltender in an era where teams like to go on the cheap between the pipes. If they can’t sign Suter, it doesn’t mean they won’t utilize that money elsewhere.

- Head coach Barry Trotz has grown accustomed over the years to adjusting on the fly without top players, whether it’s off-season departures or injuries. Somehow, the Preds made the playoffs in 2008 after watching Paul Kariya, Tomas Vokoun, Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell exit stage left. The Preds survived without last year’s ‘prize’ free agent signee, Matthew Lombardi, for 80 games plus the postseason.

Now, Suter is a different animal. I get that. He’s one of the 10 best defensemen in the league. But if there is any NHL coach that can overcome losing a player as talented and valuable as Suter, it is Trotz.

Why they could not
- Because it’s Suter. The soon-to-be 27-year-old, as I mentioned above, is an elite defenseman. He can control the pace of a game and is a smooth-skating puck-mover that doesn’t mind getting physical. Those kinds of blueliners don’t necessarily grow on trees. Not to mention, he’s a big part of the team’s leadership group. When Weber was out, Suter became the voice of the room and took on the weight of having to be the leader of the defense.

There’s no doubt it would be a big void to fill, both on and off the ice.

- In the last two years we’ve gotten a small taste of what the blueline would look like without one of Suter and Weber. Early last year, Suter missed 12 games with a knee injury. And then there’s Weber’s recent concussion, for which he missed just four games after the holidays.

In the games without Suter last year, the defense was in shambles at times. In those 12 games, the team’s goals-against average was 3.08 (0.76 above the season average); the Preds also surrendered 31.3 shots per game in that span (0.7 above the season average). Most importantly, the team’s record was 4-7-1.

In four games without Weber this year, the team went 3-1-0. The team’s GAA in that span, 2.25, and shots against, 28.3, were both lower than the current season average.

(Some people think with/without stat splits are overrated; but numbers are numbers, so make your own judgments with these statistics.)

- Just looking at the rest of this year, no matter who would be coming the other way, how would the team react if Suter were dealt? In our calendar year recap for 2011, Suter had this to say of the Mike Fisher acquisition from last February:

“Whenever you get a guy at the trade deadline, it doesn’t matter if he’s a good player, a great player, or an average player, it boosts your team no matter what. When your GM shows you a sign he’s got faith in you as a team, it gives your team a boost.” Later on in that same conversation, Suter admitted it also goes the other way if a GM deals away a star player.

The team’s goal is not just to make the playoffs, but to contend for the Cup. What kind of message would it send to the team if one of their better players was traded away right before the stretch run for the playoffs? As much as the Pekka Rinne extension lifted the locker room, one would guess that a trade of this magnitude could have the opposite effect.

- There’s also the doomsday scenario where Suter leaving could sway Weber to do the same when he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

David Poile’s uneasy predicament
Twenty-nine other GM’s would rather not be in the position that Poile finds himself in right now. Six weeks away from the trade deadline, Poile is likely covering his bases just in case he decides to trade Suter. But pulling the trigger on a deal wouldn’t be easy.

If Suter isn’t signed by Feb. 27, there’s no question Poile has to look at other options, and there’s no exact cookie-cutter way to approach a situation like this. The Atlanta Thrashers dealt Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa at past deadlines and have nothing of importance left to show for those trades. Dallas and Florida held on to Brad Richards (partly due to injury at the time) and Jay Bouwmeester, respectively, and just the missed the playoffs. To pour fuel on the fire, Richards and Bouwmeester both signed elsewhere in the free agent frenzy.

Poile is going to have to weigh what is more important: getting a hefty return of picks and prospects for Suter instead of risking losing him for nothing, or keeping him and hope to make a playoff run that might convince Suter to re-sign?

As much as it’d irritate Poile to decide on a trade, getting a third-round pick for Suter’s negotiating rights in June would pale in comparison to what he’d get in a trade in February. At the same time, Poile can’t let other teams take advantage of him and end up getting an underwhelming package in return. If Poile trades someone of Suter’s stature, he should get what he wants or not trade him at all.

Here’s the tricky part of this ordeal. If another team wants Suter, a rental player for the stretch run and playoffs, they aren’t going to give up a top-flight player. For instance, Philadelphia, who needs help on defense, is one of the many teams that have been thrown into rumors involving Suter. They would be getting Suter with the intent of going for the Cup this spring. Are they going to give up, say, a 30-goal scorer like Scott Hartnell? No. And that goes for other teams looking to acquire Suter. So if the Preds are to get that goal-scoring help this season, it’d likely have to be in a separate deal.

I wouldn’t expect Poile to give up on the Suter negotiations weeks before the deadline. If anything, he could try to make a splash that could help convince Suter to sign. If Suter is in fact dealt, one would assume that Poile would have another deal lined up to help soften the blow.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a tough position for Poile to be in.

***

Suter could sign on the dotted line tomorrow and make this whole discussion irrelevant. But judging by Poile’s recent tone in relation to the negotiations, it is unlikely.

This is the last thing Predators fans want to think about, but it’s the reality of the situation.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 12

2012-01-12T07:30:00.012-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Capitals 1, Penguins 0
Devils 2, Oilers 1 (OT)

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Tomas Vokoun, WSH (30 saves, shutout)
2. Zach Parise, NJ (Game-winning goal)
3. Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (20 saves)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Canadiens @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Flyers @ Islanders, 7:00
Senators @ Rangers, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Lightning, 7:30
Coyotes @ Red Wings, 7:30
Canucks @ Blues, 8:00
Avalanche @ Predators, 8:00
Sharks @ Jets, 8:30
Wild @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Ducks @ Flames, 9:30
Stars @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the night:
Vancouver Canucks @ St. Louis Blues
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canucks (27-14-3) … Blues (25-12-5)
Away/Home: Canucks (15-9-1) … Blues (17-3-2)
Last 10: Canucks (6-3-1) … Blues (6-3-1)
Season Series: 2-0 Blues

Starting goaltenders:
VAN- Roberto Luongo (2011-12 stats: 17-9-3, 2.37 GAA)
STL- Brian Elliott (2011-12 stats: 15-5-0, 1.62 GAA)

Injury report:
VAN- Sami Salo (concussion, out), David Booth (knee, out), Andrew Ebbett and Aaron Volpatti (shoulder, out), Aaron Rome (thumb, out)
STL- Barrett Jackman (undisclosed, questionable), Alexander Steen and Andy McDonald (concussion, out), Kris Russell (groin, out), Kent Huskins (ankle, out)

Three things to watch:
1. St. Louis’ home dominance
The Blues have proven to be a tough team to beat at Scottrade Center this season. With a record of 17-3-2, they rank second in the NHL in points percentage on home ice. They are 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games, and have lost only twice in regulation since Ken Hitchcock took over. St. Louis also has a +30 goal differential at home, third-best in the league.
2. Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider?
Luongo and Schneider have each started twice in Vancouver’s last four games. Luongo has been solid en route to splitting the two decisions, while Schneider has given up seven goals in two victories. Luongo has a 13-11-0 career record against the Blues, while Schneider is 1-1-0 in two starts. If I had to guess, it’d be Luongo in net since Schneider played Tuesday. Nothing would surprise me, though.
3. David Backes taking over
The Blues captain has elevated his game to another level recently, putting the team on his back at times. Backes has six points in the last four games, goals in three straight. He has 15 points and a +7 rating in his last 16 games. There won’t be much space to be had tonight, so Backes’ big body will come into play in the hard areas.

Final thought: These are the top two teams in the conference standings. The Blues have beaten the Canucks in both meetings thus far, and both wins came with Davis Payne behind the bench. Vancouver is playing well and will figure St. Louis out tonight. Prediction: Canucks 3, Blues 2 (OT)

The rest of today’s predictions:
Bruins over Canadiens
Flyers over Islanders
Rangers over Senators
Lightning over Hurricanes
Red Wings over Coyotes
Predators over Avalanche
Sharks over Jets
Blackhawks over Wild
Ducks over Flames
Kings over Stars
---

Five must-read links:
- Puck Daddy: Exclusive: Univ. of Michigan, NHL in advanced discussions for 2013 Winter Classic
- SI Red Light Blog: The first-half report
- Hockey Primetime: Kings seek and get results with Sutter
- Washington Post: Penguins talk about a cooling Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry
- Hockey Night in Nashville: Wilson’s consistency has provided big spark for Predators
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss Tuesday’s podcast with ESPN.com’s Craig Custance? No worries… you can check it out here!

Does NHL need a new poster boy?

2012-01-11T17:30:00.003-06:00

The NHL's biggest star hasn't played in over a month. Overall, that star has been in the lineup just eight times in the last calendar year. Is it time for the NHL to locate a new superstar to market as the face of the league?

The suspense is renewed.

Sidney Crosby has not played in an NHL game since December 5th, 2011. His status remains "out indefinitely" and his timetable for return simply does not exist. (Though the Penguins reported today that he will rejoin the team.) Diehard fans will tell you he began light workouts but his absence from both practice and media availability is telling. He won’t be back for a while, leading to recent speculation of getting shut down this season and possibly retirement.

His return on November 21st was arguably the highlight of the season's first half. Scoring just 5:24 into the game in an iconic, picturesque manner, the hockey world witnessed the return of a true great. Whether you like the Pittsburgh Penguins or despise them, you probably can close your eyes and recall him using bursting through the offensive zone, fending off an Islander defender with one hand on his stick before scoring on a miraculous backhand roof-job over unprepared rookie netminder Anders Nilsson.

As the poster boy of the League, he brought a type of dynamic skill and domination that the hockey world rarely gets to see. His combination of that elite skill coupled with winning the Stanley Cup and scoring the game-winning goal during the 2010 Olympics make Sidney an icon capable of rising into the one-named ranks – Mario, Wayne, Gordie, Bobby, etc.

Generational superstars obviously do not grow on trees, but the NHL needs someone to help carry the load in time of need. They need someone to help become the ambassador of a sport that carries a ‘niche’ label in North American countries that don’t start with a C.

While Crosby has been out, the sport has carried on. Their product remains faster, more skilled and possibly the most dynamic we’ve seen in years. But trying to market the sport to non-hockey fans becomes an issue without that on-ice presence.

One of the bigger problems since Sidney went down is formerly having that star in Alexander Ovechkin. The ‘Great 8’, as he is affectionately referred to by the hockey world, would need to channel his former ways in order to get back into those good graces.

After posting a career-low 32 goals and 85 points last season, many assumed Ovechkin would rise back to his 50-goal average. At just 26 years old he has struggled to regain that scoring touch, potting 17 goals over the first 40 games this season. Even though he remains the best player on the Washington Capitals as their captain and leader, that dominant goal scorer of the past looks like a mortal, above-average 30-goal scorer. In fact, many thought he might not even hit 30 goals before he scored five goals in his last five games.

The NHL can center their commercial breaks on Ovechkin, but the ship may have sailed on his ascension into the land of the greats.

Nobody expected Ovechkin to burst on the scene the way he did during the 2005-06 season. Despite being selected as the first overall pick in 2004, hockey fans grew accustomed to 18 and 19-year-olds breaking into the League and finding their legs in their rookie year.

Before there was Crosby and Ovechkin, there was Eric Staal and Rick Nash – the top offensive selections in the 2002 and 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Both players broke into the League directly following their draft year and both players produced modestly as they acclimated to the speed and intensity of the game at its highest level.

When Crosby and Ovechkin immediately began dominating the opposition on should-be rebuilding teams we held them to a higher standard. We expected them to battle over the Stanley Cup every season as well as fight to the bitter end for personal accolades like the Art Ross and Rocket Richard. However, only Crosby has elevated his game when it matters the most.

It has been apropos that with Sidney sidelined, Ovechkin has done nothing to prove himself better than his nemesis, as he’s done in the Stanley Cup playoffs over his five-plus years in the NHL. As a ‘playoff bust’ on the decline, it may be difficult for him to reestablish himself as the game’s biggest attraction. His previous letdowns are now in everyone’s minds. It would take a Stanley Cup ring to avert attention away from his past failures.

Furthermore, the rivalry between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins has all-but-evaporated with both stars losing their prominence in the ever-changing sky. Playoff series and the no-longer natural rivalry have evolved a once-promising matchup into a different kind of rivalry.

“I wouldn’t say it’s just another game.” Penguins backup goalie Brent Johnson explained to Lindsey Applebaum of The Washington Post. “The rivalry is still good, but it’s just different. Things have changed. We’ve had injuries this year, and now we have other teams I hate.”

These two teams remain fun to watch, but Johnson is right -- the rivalry is different. It clearly has not been the same since the 2011 Winter Classic.

Nevertheless, ratings remain steady according to Steve Lepore of Puck the Media, a website centralized on hockey’s TV ratings. “Well, there's indeed a definite void, but in their absence (or at least absence of greatness in Ovechkin's case) ratings have been quite fine,” Lepore explained via email. “The Bruins-Canucks Final was a slow build, but when it finally built to Game 7, it was another record audience for the league.”

Despite neither player delivering on the promise of a pure superstar, the League continues to produce a product worthy of the fairweather fan. “The NHL survived (and thrived) before them, and can do so without them,” said Lepore.

We know the game will go on without them, but with the recently-recognized concussion epidemic and the game continually speeding up, it’s hard for the league to invest in another up-and-comer and realistically expect that they will play, and dominate for their entire career.

“Perhaps a new ‘face of the league’ needs to be groomed,” Lepore later added. “Crosby was promoted as a once in a lifetime kind of guy, but can you find another? That may be the next step depending on how Sid comes back from this next concussion.”

Lepore acknowledges the need for a new ‘face of the league’ regardless if it is a necessity with regards to their record-breaking ratings. The League could get that with expected number one pick Nail Yakupov this coming summer or Nathan MacKinnon the year after. They may already have it in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Or they may choose to look at the top of their League Leaders.

Henrik Sedin, along with brother Daniel Sedin, have quietly dominated the aforementioned leaders for years now. Their dominance on the ice has been almost as impressive as their lack of fanfare.

Playing in Vancouver, the entire city stands behind their play and cheers perhaps louder than any province when they score. Their chemistry is undeniable, playing on the same team for most of their life yet they fail to translate to the ‘East Coast elitists’ that follow the sport so intently. Considering their games typically end in the early-morning hours – where the NHL has main offices in New York and Toronto – their dominance gets swept under the rug.

Moreover, the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals made them the bad guys. They were goaded as players who couldn’t stand up for themselves in scrums. Their lack of goal scoring further labeled them as ‘playoff busts’ and much like Ovechkin they will have trouble shedding such a doomed description. Again, the idea is already in people’s mind, making it hard to get behind them.

At 31, their window to become the face of the sport has likely expired. With two of them, it would actually be faces which further knocks them out of the running for the elite distinction. Even though they already have the pleasure of being referred to by their first name it comes more out of necessity than greatness.

The candidates we should be looking at are those who dominate the NHL and still have room to grow. Ideally that face would play in a market that either has a great deal of media coverage like New York, Philly or Toronto, or previously held a great to compare him to like Chicago, Edmonton or Pittsburgh. Furthermore, that face needs to be a dynamic personality -- one loved and respected much like Crosby and the previous incarnation of Ovechkin.

That leaves names like Jonathan Toews, Phil Kessel, Claude Giroux, along with Nugent-Hopkins. You could, and should argue that Steven Stamkos enters the mix, but Tampa Bay isn’t exactly what you would call a traditional hockey market which makes it difficult to put him on the nationwide map.

Giroux sticks out like a sore thumb as a name to market. Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren traded away two franchise cornerstones because he believed Giroux could carry his team to the Cup. And so far, the Hearst, Ont., native has not disappointed.

Just last month, Giroux fell victim to the concussion bug but returned after missing only four games. His return came in epic fashion, having a say in all four goals the Flyers scored that night. Four games later he scored a momentum-swinging goal in the second period of the 2012 Winter Classic, putting his team up 2-0. He has the flair for the dramatic and the durability to withstand whatever the NHL throws at him.

We recently sat down with Dustin Leed of The Intelligencer Journal, discussing whether Giroux has that ‘star power’. "It's not often that a team as hated as the Philadelphia Flyers have a star come along that could potentially be a league-wide superstar; but Claude Giroux is just that,” Leed opined.

Giroux is silky smooth in the offensive zone, but for me it's his competitiveness that sets him apart. He's one of the most chippy Flyers and truly dislikes the players he is playing against. He is one of, if not the best Flyers' penalty killing forwards and he never takes a shift off in the defensive zone. When you combine that with his raw offensive skill it's a deadly combination that could find Giroux bound for NHL stardom sooner rather than later."

Clearly those who see him on an everyday basis speak very highly of the 24-year-old. And even though this year is his first with a point-per-game pace, he tallied 38 points in his first 40 playoff games which includes a Stanley Cup run. If the League needs to peg their hopes on one guy right now, it would be him.

But does the NHL need to crown its next superstar? That is a question that still hinges on Crosby and if he returns this season. Many speculated last week that No. 87 would sit out the remainder of the season in order to prevent a fourth concussion in less than a year which would classify hockey as a sport without a face, or at least a producing one.

As the schedule inches closer and closer to June the games will only continue to be played and hockey will survive with or without Crosby. But until/if he returns, we are left pondering who the next superstar will be.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Confident Paajarvi returns to Edmonton

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-06:00

Twenty-five games into the 2011-2012 season, Oilers winger Magnus Paajarvi was in trouble. Following a 34-point campaign in 2010-2011, Paajarvi had apparently fallen off a ledge, and had no goals and just three points through 25 games. He was also a minus-2 while seeing his time on ice decrease over three minutes from the previous season.

The Oilers made the decision to send him down to the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons to find his edge again. Paajarvi understood the reasoning behind the move perfectly. "I'm actually not too sad about it. I want to play a lot. It's important I play a lot," Paajarvi said in December after the news broke. "I really feel like this is going to benefit me. Hopefully, I can come back even stronger. Hopefully, I can be back here soon."

With his demotion, Paajarvi went from a team that is now 16-22-3 to one that currently leads the AHL's West Division with a 23-10-4 record. Paajarvi got a chance to play top-six minutes and get his confidence back. Oklahoma City was good for Paajarvi, and he scored one goal and eight assists in 10 games with the Barons.

The regaining of his confidence came at a good time for Paajarvi, as he was recalled Tuesday in the wake of Jordan Eberle's injury that could keep him out of the line-up for two to three weeks.

Though Paajarvi's recall comes at the expense of Eberle, he feels ready and better-equipped for the challenge of being back in Edmonton. As he spoke to reporters Wednesday, it was clear that the intent behind his demotion had worked.

"I played a lot down there. I think that's exactly what I needed," Paajarvi said. "To just play, to get that rhythm back, to not think so much. I don't think I'm too different a player, it's only been two and a half weeks, but I definitely have a lot more confidence."

Coach Tom Renney knows that the December demotion was necessary, and is glad to have received a more confident player back from Oklahoma City. "We just want (Paajarvi) to go play because we know he can," said head coach Tom Renney. "This kid really got it, he was really good at understanding that (a ticket to Oklahoma City) was a move for his career."

Renney wants to get Paajarvi in the line-up immediately so as not to interrupt Paajarvi's positive mindset, beginning with Wednesday's game against the New Jersey Devils. "We don't want him to analyze anything to a standstill," Renney said.

Paajarvi points to his playing top-six minutes as the most important part of his time in Oklahoma City. "The situation for me (with the Oilers earlier this season) wasn't good. When you play those small minutes you can't get going," Paajarvi said. "It was really good for me that I got a lot of minutes (in Oklahoma City)...I'm at my best when I'm in the top six." But he still realizes that he has to play well in Edmonton in order to stay there after Eberle returns.

"Don't get me wrong, I want to be up here and with this team for a lot of years, but you do get some perspective when you go down," Paajarvi said. "I do think the experience was good for me. I felt that before I went down, that I can make plays, I just didn't. Now I've done it (in the AHL), played a lot and that was the main thing."

The Oilers have to wait until Wednesday to see if his successful sojourn to the AHL will translate back to the NHL, but Renney thinks that doing well in the minor leagues was necessary for Paajarvi to get on track in the big league. "We want to hit a home run, for sure, but maybe you've got to hit a home run in a little league park before you swing for the fences at Yankee Stadium," Renney said.

Paajarvi, too, is ready to see how his second chance plays out, and is willing to fight to stay on the roster for the rest of the season. "I'm an offensive player. That's where I can do the most damage, but you have to earn it," Paajarvi said. "There's a lot of forwards here, really good forwards. That just raises the bar."

Photo credit: Getty Images

Morning Skate: January 11

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-06:00

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Bruins 5, Jets 3
Maple Leafs 2, Sabres 0
Islanders 5, Red Wings 1
Rangers 2, Coyotes 1 (SO)
Senators 5, Penguins 1
Flyers 2, Hurricanes 1
Blues 3, Canadiens 0
Canucks 5, Lightning 4 (SO)
Wild 5, Sharks 4 (SO)
Blackhawks 5, Blue Jackets 2
Predators 4, Avalanche 1
Flames 6, Devils 3
Ducks 5, Stars 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Jonas Gustavsson, TOR (32 saves, shutout)
2. Saku Koivu, ANA (3 goals)
3. Jaroslav Halak, STL (19 saves, shutout)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Penguins @ Capitals, 7:30 ET
Devils @ Oilers, 9:00

Game of the night:
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Washington Capitals
7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network

Records:
Overall: Penguins (21-16-4) … Capitals (21-17-2)
Away/Home: Penguins (10-9-2) … Capitals (14-5-1)
Last 10: Penguins (4-6-0) … Capitals (5-4-1)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Starting goaltenders:
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2011-12 stats: 19-11-2, 2.32 GAA)
WSH- Michal Neuvirth (2011-12 stats: 5-7-2, 3.23 GAA)

Injury report:
PIT- Paul Martin (illness, questionable), Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang (concussion, out), Jordan Staal and Dustin Jeffrey (knee, out)
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom (head, questionable), Mike Green (groin, questionable), Tom Poti (groin, out)

Three things to watch:
1. Will rivalry spark desperation?
A Penguins-Capitals game in January would usually feature two of the top teams in the NHL. That isn’t the case tonight. Pittsburgh comes in banged up and losers of five straight. The Caps have only dropped two in a row, but they were ugly losses out west. With both teams on the playoff bubble at the midway point, will the hostilities between these two teams spark some desperation?
2. Marcus Johansson’s increased role
Nicklas Backstrom has missed the last two games after taking a Rene Bourque elbow to the head last week. As a result, Marcus Johansson has seen his role and ice time increase. Johansson has four points in the last three games, including a pair of goals in Monday’s contest. If Backstrom can’t go, Johansson will once again be a key player for the Caps.
3. Evgeni Malkin’s importance
The Penguins will be without two of their top three centers for the foreseen future. That means there will be even more of an onus on Evgeni Malkin to manufacture scoring chances and produce. Malkin scored in last night’s loss to Ottawa, pushing his season point total to 46 in 35 games. Malkin will have to carry the load again tonight against a Caps club he has had success against in his career (26 points in 18 games).

Final thought: The two teams split their first two meetings this season. With the way they have played leading up to this game, it almost feels like a toss-up. I believe the Capitals will feed off the home crowd tonight in what probably feels like a must-win. Prediction: Capitals 3, Penguins 1

The rest of today’s predictions:
Devils over Oilers
---

Five must-read links:
- CBC: Realignment woes, potential CBA circus + 30 Thoughts
- Yahoo! Sports: First-timers dominate NHL midseason awards
- ESPN: Rant answers: Flyers’ goalie, Pens’ injuries
- Star Tribune: Pierre-Marc Bouchard out with concussion-like symptoms
- News & Observer: Canes must give Laviolette his due for ‘06 Cup title
---

Video of the day:

*Follow us on Twitter – @RLDhockey
*Did you miss yesterday’s podcast with ESPN.com’s Craig Custance? No worries… you can check it out here!