#rickard rackell | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

habsfans98 · 7 years

Text

Habsfan98 NHL Season 2017-2018 Team Opinions

Man, the off-season was painfully slow this year. But! Thankfully the pre-season was fun, and now the regular season will start in just a couple of hours. So, to kick of the season, I decided to make some opinions for the NHL teams this years. Just some predictions, and expectations that I hope come true.

Remember these are just predictions and opinions. And I have no intention of offending anyone, or the cities that these teams represent. I would love to have counter-opinions and discussions about your teams.

Anaheim Duck

The Ducks are still considered a cup-contender. Even after the loses of young defenseman Clayton Stoner, and Shea Theodore. Ryan Getzlaf is still the driving force of this team’s offense, along with rising star Rickard Rackell, and their bruising still of play. The real question, is if the John Gibson can elevate his game, and push the Ducks to the Stanley cup final.

Arizona Coyotes

The Yotes have a chance this year to take a big step up, from being a rebuilding (Mediocre) team. To a potential playoff contender in the Pacific Divison. Max Domi looks to take another step into stardom, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Antti Raanta, was brought in from the Rangers to bring capable goaltending, and Derek Stepan joined him to give a veteran presence for the young squad. Who I’m watching for this season, is Anthony Duclair. He had awful season last year, after an incredible rookie season. Will he be able to get back to that form under new head coach Rick Tocchet?

Boston Bruins

For Bruins it’s going to be an interesting year. You’re going to have to hope the Brad Marchand’s “break-out” season wasn’t a total one-off, and that Tukka Rask can have a stable, or Vezina caliber season. I think the Bruins could be a playoff team, but that all depends on whether the younger talent we saw in the playoff last year, develop and mature.

Buffalo Sabres

Jack Eichel is now the future of the Buffalo Sabres franchise. He is the piece that this team will build around for the next eight years. Meanwhile the rest of the team still has holes. I still question the Sabres defense, which has been the biggest weakness for this team since they started rebuilding. Hopefully the goaltending can hold the fort, until the new GM in Buffalo can find a solution.

Calgary Flames

Aside from the off-ice drama. The Flames look like a playoff team once again. Only this time with a much deeper defense. Mike Smith will have to be leagues better the Brian Elliot was if the Flames look to challenge the Oilers, Ducks, and Sharks for top bills in the Pacific. Sam Bennet also needs to take the next step, otherwise; I predict that he’ll be trade bait by Christmas.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes might finally get people to go to their games again with the improvements they made this year. Bring in the younger players from the cup winning Blackhawks teams was a gutsy move by the Hurricanes. Scott Darling has the chance to be a number one goaltender, and the young defense has a chance to really shine this year. Oh! And people might finally notice Jeff Skinner for a change!

Chicago Blackhawks

Stan Bowman went full nuclear and purged the 2016-2017 team, and did his best to bring back the 2014-2015 Stanley cup winning team. Bring back the well-rounded Saad, and fan favorite Patrick Sharp. However, this team will have to bring up some younger players from the system if they want a chance to stay afloat with the rest of the Central Division.

Colorado Avalanche

I have nothing to say about this team. Last year was terrible. This year will also be terrible. Your only notable off-season acquisition, was Nail Yakupov. Av’s fan’s your only hope is that Nathan MacKinnon takes another step, and turns into a true super star, Semyon Varlamov doesn’t get hurt again long term (and plays like its 2011-2012), and Joe Sakic gets fired.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets live and breath with Bobrovsky. If he’s healthy and stays healthy expect the playoffs. If he’s injured and stays injured, you’re out of the playoffs. You traded of Brandon Saad to Chicago for Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg and Zach Werenski will most lickely regress this season, and you better hope that Nick Foligno doesn’t vanish again.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars learned their lesson about trying the 1-A/1-B goaltending system. They went out a signed Ben Bishop to a six-year contract. He along with Marc Methot will finally get this team back into the post season. What I’m curious about is the offensive lines of this team. Sighing Radulov to a five-year deal, adds another piece of fire power to this team. There is one important question. Will anyone on this follow Ken Hitchcock rather stubborn defensive system.

Detroit Red Wings

Yeah… I don’t expect this team to make the playoffs. There old, slow, inconsistent, and poorly coached. If the Red Wings have any chance of being a good this year (or any year), they will need to get rid of a few contracts, and aging players. Hopefully, the first season at the new arena won’t be too painful to watch. Side Note: Fix the goal horn in that new arena.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are going to be the second-best team in the Pacific Division. McDavid and Draisaitl are going this team back to the post season. Well, so long as Cam Talbot plays like he did last year. A lot of people have faith that this team will end Canada’s cup drought. What I’m looking forward to is seeing if Kailer Yamamoto stays with the team for the rest of the year.

Florida Panthers

This team will be better than last year’s hot-mess. Dale Tallon has done everything he could to return the team to his vision of what a cup-contender in Florida would look like. The important question is whether the key players on this team, stay healthy. The Panthers could be a playoff team, so long has those players aren’t hit with requiring long-term injuries.

Los Angeles Kings

A healthy Jonathan Quick means a chance at the playoffs. Jeff Carter hopefully won’t have to be anchor of the offense this season. Anze Kopitar had a dreaful season last year, and looks to rebound, meanwhile players from the farm system look to make an impact this year. I only have one question. What the fuck is going to happen to Dustin Brown?

Minnesota Wild

After a lack luster end to the playoff last year. It’s clear that Wild are trying to build from being a just a “get-in-the-playoffs” team. They want to play, to get deep into the playoffs. At this point I’m done doubting Devan Dubnyk, he’s proven himself to be an elite goaltender. The only worry I have for this team, is Zach Parise, he needs to be a better player than he was last year.

Montreal Canadiens

Oh boy. I hate to say this. But even with Carey Price on the team. I have the habs being a bubble team. The trade for Jonathan Drouin, was a much-needed addition for the habs, then they lose Radulov to Dallas in free agency. However, training camp has had some surprises Hudon, and De La Rose, made the opening night roasters, along with rookie defensemen Victor Mete. The habs can make the playoffs, if they can play a better offensive game. If not. It’s going to be an uphill climb.

Nashville Predators

The Preds shocked the hockey world making the Stanley cup final last year as a the technically 16 seed team. They lost to a much healthier and deeper Penguins team. The Predators added Nick Bonino to sure up the center position. However, the season is going to be a rough start. The mobile and offensively gifted defense will be without Ryan Ellis for 4-g months, while you’ve also lost James Neal to the expansion draft, and Mike Fisher retired. The Preds can be a playoff team, but that all depends on the young players that stepping up again from the playoffs, and Pekka Rinne standing on his head once more.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils aren’t going to have much of a season this year. At worst it’s a tank year, at best it’s a year that see’s the team take the steps with it younger players into being a team worth watching in the future. Nico Hischier was a pretty good in the pre-season, and will have to better in the regular season.

New York Islanders

The whole season is going to be about John Tavares not being signed. Other than that, new coach Doug Weight looks to keep up the momentum from last season’s ending. Josh Ho-sang looks like he’s ready to grow up, and maybe Jordan Eberle will elevate his game to a new level. It’s going to be interesting to see whether Halak can keep Thomas Greiss from the net this season.

New York Rangers

The Rangers made a few interesting changes this year. Getting rid of some aging players and giving some room for younger players to take a step up this season. However, I worry about trading away Antti Raanta, will Henrick Lundqvist stand on his head once again, or will he be up and down again? You also add Kevin Shattenkirk in free-agency to help with defense. Overall, expect another solid season for this squad.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators once again had lost more than they gained in the offseason. After a surprising run to the conference final. The Sens lost Marc Methot to the expansion draft, and then Eric Karlsson will miss the first few games of the season. Meanwhile highly regarded prospect Tomas Chabot was sent back down to the minors. Craig Anderson is the reason this team is even remotely a playoff team.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers has an underachieving season last year. That’s a fact, yet that landed this team the second pick in this summer draft. They picked Nolan Patrick, who made the opening night roaster for the Flyers. The real question is if captain Claude Giroux can have a bounce back season, after just scoring 14 goals last year. The goal-tending will also be a big question, Michal Neuvirth was good last year; but not good enough to get the team to the playoffs. The addition of Brian Elliot, could be what the Flyers need.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens are the repeat Stanley cup champions. So, the obvious question is if the Pens and make it a third in a row? What really stops them? Crosby and Malkin are still in their primes, the defense is still solid with a hopefully health Letang, and the younger players like Guentzel, and Rust growing into star players of their own. Even with the loss of Bonino, Chris Kunitz, and Trevor Daley. These are still Stanley cup Champions. So. Expect the playoffs, and expect another deep playoff run. Simple as that.

St. Louis Blues

Jake Allen can be a number 1 goalie. Now it’s the rest of this team that I worry about. Other than Vladimir Tarasenko looks to once again be the scoring machine of this team, while the rest take to Mike Yeo system. This is a strange team, they lost Kevin Shattenkirk; yet, they don’t look to weak on defense. This is a playoff team, but only just.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks can be a playoff team. Even with the lose Patrick Marleau, won’t hurt the team this year. The Sharks will absolutely need the younger players to keep developing with the aging veterans. Meanwhile Martin Jones will have to be rock for the team again. If this team makes the playoffs, he’ll have to play better than he did against the Oilers.

Tampa Bay Lighting

Everyone needs to be healthy. They also need to STAY healthy. Last year, Tampa lost a lot of key players to various injuries. If this team, wants to get back to being cup-contenders health is the most important thing. The other important factor is Andrei Vasilevskiy. Can he continue is growth into being a number 1 goaltender, or will he regress and for the Lightning to work harder to cover for him.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews, Marner, Nylader. Those are the names that everyone is going to watch this year. If those three can develop to another level of stardom. Then this team will go far if Babcock and keep making this teams young guns growing. Meanwhile, Fredrick Anderson will have to be even better than last season. This team is going to be special, very special.

Vegas Golden Knights

The newest team in the NHL might be the best assemble expansion team, the NHL has ever seen. Ok, they only get that title because, unlike the last time the NHL expanded. They managed to get a quality NHL goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury is going to be the star of this team. I don’t expect much from the G-knights for this year. They’ll be competitive, but they won’t win much. They need to build from the draft. Still it’s going to be a fun seeing if the residents stick with this team.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are doing a sort of rebuild. There not going to be that goo this year, but they’re going to try and be a competitive squad. It would be a shame for Canucks fans, but this could be the last year of the Sedin’s being in Vancouver together. It’s a shame that they couldn’t win a cup in Vancouver, but getting rid of them in a trade package could help the future. Other than that, I want to see what Bo Horvat and Jacob Markstrom can grow into elite or star players.

Washington Capitals

I don’t see the Capitals missing the playoffs. But, I done with calling them cup-contenders. They proved that this year against the penguins. The Capitals are a team, built for the regular season and the regular season only. It’s hard to say what the Capitals need to do to get to the third round or the cup final. In my opinion, they need numb luck, and not to run into the Pittsburg Penguins to get to the Stanley cup finally.

Winnipeg Jets

Steve Mason is not the solution to you goaltending problems Winnipeg. You have some solid goal scoring threats in: Laine, Scheiflele, and Wheeler. A great defensive core in: Byfuglien, Trouba, and Myers. However, none these players can fix bad goaltending. You better hope that Mason plays like he did for the Flyers back in 2013-2014. Otherwise… It’s going to be one cold season in Winnipeg.

Side Note: I wanted to finish this yesturady before the season started tonight. But, I fucked up and forgot about it. I hope that my opinions are even remotely accurate. If you feel differently about your team’s odds this season. Please don’t hesitate to tell me!

6 notes · View notes

hommedeseptiles · 7 years

Text

Duckdator Musings and In-Game Scribbles

Game Six

May 22, 2017

Nashville leads 3-2

Anaheim: 46-23-13 (Sixth, overall)

Nashville: 41-29-12 (Seventeenth, overall)

We're told that Jonathan Bernier will be starting tonight. John Gibson who's started all of the Ducks' games this playoff is out.

Why. Blue lights spill across the rink and over certain segments of the crowd and we hear PK Subban's name over the PA. The NBA Golden State Warriors also play tonight, leading their wounded Western Conference Final series with the San Antonio Spurs 3-0. The Predators are up 3-2 for their part. Those seated here (at Contender on Ossington-Dundas) remark on the anthem singer's weight gain to some chuckling. Contender is a sports bar. Why is Gibson out? Eddie George, former Titan halfback is on the blue carpet, waving his yellow towel. The intrepid Ryan Johansen, out for the series, the team's number one centre, is also shown waving a towel in joy, elsewhere in the raucous rink. Gibson's injury is cited as "lower body". Despite some articles citing otherwise, he cedes the spot. Gibson was able to practice with the team this morning.

First Period

Nashville 0, Anaheim 0

Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Bernier are the goalies.

Winger Corey Perry’s line starts for the Ducks; Ryan Getzlaff and Rickard Rackell accompany the stony winger.

Chance at Rinne's left is a near thing, the puck sailing wide. Andrew Cogliano. The former Oiler. We remember him best from the Oil's great run in 05-06, the one that ended ... goal. Bernier is beaten. The horns. And Nashville’s Austin Watson shown skating to his bench, a job done. Nashville 1

Anaheim 0

Watson sent a hash puck to the net and it went off white legs, no Preds in sight.

Strand's Theorem says that teams that score get a bit of jump. But the Ducks have been consistent in violating this tenet. They continue with some early post-goal pressure. Finally, the Preds control, send it down and we hear a whistle. Bernier takes a sip. We're shown some pre-game shots of Gibson in practice; he was able to skate this morning, able to practice. Bernier came in last game and looked less technical, less confident than what I remember from his best hockey days (yes, with the Leafs). This town, Nashville, is a hockey town. Believe it. Though they average about 17.5 thousand per game, about the league median, they are considered either the loudest rink in the league or in the top five. Puck is trapped on the boards deep left for Preds. Then it's cleared out. The Ducks go to a power-play. But Anaheim’s unpopular second-string centre Ryan Kesler interferes and he grumbles as he heads to the box. We'll go to four on four. Kesler, the former Canuck, an American, continues with his entitled, gruff ways. He shakes his head in the box, mouth-guard clasped in his teeth. Face-off to Bernier's right. Ducks win it. They are at about fifty-five percent in this series and in the playoffs. Behind Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle, a yellow-cloaked fan sports a bright canary cowboy hat. This is saddle-up country, son. And pleasantly so, one might believe. The town has evolved since mayor Phil Breseden announced in the early nineties that the team would benefit from the construction of a new stadium or arena and attract a sports team (or two). Broadway Street, a line of colourful honkey-tonks, once a place “one wouldn't be caught dead" on has become safer and more over the decades. The Predators first season was 98-99. The four-on-four ends with no threats either way. Eleven and forty-eight. Slot shot. Sissons. Lofts it. Scores. Nobody around him, seemingly. Bernier beaten over the right pad. He hangs his head. Pierre McGuire says it's one the goalie should have had. Or is that McGuire? Nashville 2, Anaheim 0 Five Ducks in their own slot. Lost stick. Men on knees. Weak backhand. Bernier remains adroit. And the Ducks survive. Nine and thirty-nine. The Preds haven't allowed much movement or presence through their own slot and the trend continues. The Ducks are fast enough for Edmonton (their previous-round opponent) but look slow against Nashville. All series. Nine oh one. Faceoff to Bernier's right. . He brings a 0.915 GAA into the playoffs and that number means less these days. It’s at the midpoint; round up the thirty goalies with the most starts and 0.915 will place fifteenth. Rinne’s 0.945, or so, places him first among NHL playoff goalies. Ducks're doomed. Getzlaf. Pauses. Across to Perry in the neutral zone, sideline to sideline puck. Brief entry and the puck is lost. Now on the side-boards, some jostling. Whistle. Perry is there. Duck first-pairing defender Brandon Montour. Some booing. A commercial. My seatmates Gary and Mookie discuss politics and then urban issues including sewer pipes and roads. They've each ordered chicken wings. Our bartender, the venerable Al, mutes commercials in favour of the pub sound system. I think it's his iPod. Are iPods still a thing? We return from commercial to see Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle scratching his head staring at the floor and yelling to nobody in particular. Here’s why. Dangerous Pred right winger Viktor Arvidsson is shown with blood droplets on his forehead and brow as he rose from the ice. McGuire says it's a five minute major; blood. Sure enough, the five-minute clock flashes on. No limit on goals. Preds power. Our bartender yells as Kesler fails to pass on an unexpected foray into the zone. "He's such a bum". I offer that Kesler thought he had the speed to wrap. Replay shows a pass into the low slot off the wrap would have been a certain goal. The bar staff feel that Bernier was, yes, once technically sound but that he hasn't evolved with the game. Two forty-five and the Preds haven't been able to set up yet. The Ducks have had consistent success in preventing entry throughout this series and they've done it in a few ways, notably standing a fence across the blue and daring the Preds to carry it in. It's a staggered horizontal bar of four or three. I shake my head. Preds are in their own zone, stymied and uncertain with ninety seconds left in a major that could have ended the Ducks' chances. I say this aware of the vulnerability of three and four-goal leads in this season's playoffs. The Preds have the best goaltending in the16-17 post-season. Best GAA, best save percentage. Rinne is 34 but still sparkling. The Ducks beat him on key goals over the right stick and shoulder but he's since adjusted. The Ducks' own counter-adjustments remain to be seen. Twenty-three seconds in the major. One last entry. Josi. Almost slowly into the slot alone against three. And he mumbo-fumbos the puck away. Ducks' penalty-kill was sharp; interruption and contradiction. Whistle shortly after. Mookie offers that the Ducks need a miracle tonight and then adds that they have no game plan. Yes, I disagree. Two and twenty-tree. Faceoff to Rinne's left. The Preds slap it out. The Ducks dither and then slap it back in. The crowd begins to regain their voice. Who's this forty-six for Preds? [Ed note: Pontus Aberg, left winger] He starts behind their net. Later he turns nearly 180 and slaps at and connects with a puck in the neutral zone. The game slogs into white mud. Under a minute. Kesler fails to carry through the middle zone. No looking for receivers. The Preds, their fabled long passing game, absent, negated by Ducks roaming, have also slowed and are missing passes. Uncharacteristic. Nervous? Perhaps. The Ducks have shown they can score in two and three-goal bunches over the past five years. Most recently they scored three in the final 3:23 of the third against Edmonton, ruining a 3-0 Oil lead and winning in OT. Hey. They can do that. Some shots of the Conservative Party debate (air quotes) flash across the screen. The decision will be made on May 27th. Is there one last debate? First Intermission Nashville 2, Anaheim 0 Contender doesn't unmute for the intermission and I try and decipher the CBC panel's yellow-circled players (graphic) and play selection. Hrudey and Friedman are there with Kypreos and your friend Ron MacLean. Nice suits tonight. Industrial blue. A third look at the Kesler backhand wraparound shows a Silfverberg fake shot motion to distract Rinne. Perhaps that lets Kesler off the hook? We're shown some grain-tinted, slo-mo post-processed shots of Pittsburgh's 7-0 game five win over Ottawa. Pens lead that series 3-2. Ya. <smh> Both teams are hard to like. Particularly Ottawa. But another Crob Cup with the attendant overly weighted praise is equally irritating. Second Period Nashville 2, Anaheim 0 Golden State game is now on one of the screens here. Good screens. Rinne and company are back on the ice. The Ducks fork and shrug; power and purpose on the boards. They push out and then are back in, Silfverberg firing one into the boards behind Rinne. He's usually more accurate. The boards sounded as cheap as those in a small-town rink. I like the sound. Franchise player Kawhi Leonard is not back. Leggy Manu Ginobli is 39. Sparkling PG Anthony Parker is out. And the Spurs 2-0 lead ends quickly. Three on three entry, the waters churning, and the skates moving without glide. Ducks' Chris Wagner enters with hope. But a whistle. And likely a Preds penalty. Nope. Hmm. Well, I haven't done this in a while, right? Ahem. Plus, this Caesar salad is scrumptious. So is my virgin Caesar. Ya, I know. Play-by-play man Paul Romanuk's joy in a Duck goal is measurably higher than for a Pred goal. Somehow, a breakdown leads to a quick pass from the end-line and a goal. Preds' third-pairing Matt Irwin is a falling tree in the crease as Getzlaf finds Ondrej Kase at the crease-lip. A jagged angle, awkward but standing soldier finish. Nashville 2, Anaheim 1 Preds now defy Strand's Theorem and apply the pressure. Preds penalty. Romanuk and oafish colour-man Garry Galley seem enthused. Five games of this. Now six. But I have control. I could listen to Preds radio, say. Online. There are options. I'll check. Meanwhile, the Ducks ice Getzlaf, Silfverberg and Perry. Early clear.

Fowler and Sami Vatanen are low for Ducks.

Clark enters Contender and Durant is immediately labelled a deserter while the Preds are lauded as the team that we all want to see advance. Our Gary hasn't commented on either situation. He's not a sports guy. Twenty-seven seconds in the penalty. Lindholm's shot is wild, right. I'm reading a book on the Blazers. Halberstam's book on the Portland Trail Blazers 1980 season (The Breaks of the Game). A year removed from Bill Walton's move to the San Diego Clippers. Halberstam accompanied the team for the full season. Antoine Vermette line. Draw won by Ducks. Duck defender Hampus Lindholm clears it around. It pops out. Kase is deep on the left hash. Ducks retain. A man falls, Weber, (no not that Weber). Puck is lost in the logs.

Yannick Weber, former Hab, is a third pairing Pred defender.

I inform Clark that Bernier's presence is a drop-off from Gibson. A significant one. It's harder to prove in numbers but there's something about Gibson's languid state that calms his team. His wanderings. He's unique, even for a goalie. His perspective, for one. Dangle. Yo-yo. Keep and tuck. But no goal. The Preds looked more like themselves on that play than in the whole game. How does emotion shift so clearly, so easily in group situations? When for minutes or hours, a team is stuck ... The Preds finally look themselves, pressing, short-passing, sniping and smouldering. The Ducks can't keep up. A whistle saves this shift even as I watch a Subban hustle-up to get back from a past-hash entry. Seven oh five. Ducks clump down the left. Weber won't allow centre Nate Thompson past him. Now fifty-five traps a man. [Ed note: Cody McLeod, left wing] Clark notes the empty net and we're headed to a Duck power-play. Whistle. Nashville coach Peter Laviolette, one of the NHL's top two coaches (Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay), knee up, shakes his head slightly. The Preds handle the first minute. Ekholm and Subban are on the second kill pairing low. Cleared. An ad-hoc discussion on online trolling emerges amongst my group. At the far end of the spectrum, just short of doxing and death threats is the area where polite conversation ends and feelings get hurt. Sargon is mentioned; new to me. But he sounds like a satirist; right or left, ideology or what have you, they must be first to the goal. First to critique. The best will. Second Intermission Nashville 2, Anaheim 1 Durant. I can't respect it. I tried. I tried to be a good guy. If you want a fucking championship so fucking bad, go buy some destitute former NBA guy's old ring from a pawnshop, then. Or go have one made. Have twelve made. Why the fuck play the games, at all? I shake my head. Number five is quick. But Durant is magnificent. What a block. Perry is interviewed by possible Trump supporter Christine Simpson. Perry manages some humanity for the brief chat. And a wink! For the camera. He's not THAT kind of creep. Third Period Nashville 2, Anaheim 1 Disable the wireless system and then re-enable it again and it will last. So Al informs me with an internet drop problem my new laptop exhibits. The stats show 25-8 shot advantage for Ducks. Surprising. There haven't been good scoring chances amongst. This is the Ducks' last period. Or... Perry the first parry. Eighteen-foot shot from the slot. Sorry. Rinne gloves and retains. Faceoff to his left. And the puck skitters out to Fowler.

The Preds are a five-man golden glove. Five fingers move as one in their zone. And they clasp this entry shut. Draw to Rinne's right. Followed by a draw to Bernier's right. Care is the watchword. Of the screens layered along the wall, the one I watch most often happens to have a toonie and serviette barely visible at the bottom, centred and halfway down the screen's plastic framing. It's to hold the screen in place. Behind his net. Ellis. Sporting the A. He shakes his head. Waits. More waiting. Another Pred circles. A second joins. Now Ellis fires the long pass. Bernier traps it after the carom. And then he extends a blocker into a forward's body. Clark notes it's a nice pass for Arvidsson and we see the skate spray that irritated Bernier on the replay. The pass was just long. Would have allowed Arvidsson a chance alone. Two minutes elapsed. Duck entry is offside. We're reminded that Bernier stopped sixteen of eighteen in game five. As our group discusses Chauncey Billups' (unexpectedly youthful) presence on the ESPN NBA panel (and his championship in 2004 and his rental ring-chasing friends Karl Malone and Gary Payton), the Preds work behind the net, get it in front, shoot and shoot again. And then score. Nashville 3 Anaheim 1 Pontus Aberg, backhander as he rounded a frissoned post. Frosted, he chopped again. Bodies and a barrel. A pirate's eye view.

Talk moves to the Oilers and how much of an idiot owner Daryl Katz might be. Mookie chuckles as he shares that holding a city hostage for an arena goes back to the Romans. Bread and Circus.

The Oil have a great team. They can keep this coach for a couple of years, bring in someone more imaginative (which will help retain McDavid) and they're fine. It's a likeable team. Wagner, a third-line nobody, now rolls a puck up over Rinne's shoulder from an unlikely angle. Nashville 3 Anaheim 2 The Ducks are a team that never really goes away. Ask Edmonton. Ask Calgary (though that series was an Anaheim sweep). The Predators are tactically and physically (speed and skill) the better team. But they don't quite believe it yet. The Ducks know they are outmatched but are clever enough, skilled enough to compensate. Talk of Raptor star Kyle Lowry's contract opt-out, interjections from another bar patron included, are abandoned as Bernier loses his stick and the Ducks scramble to prevent a shot. And they succeed. The pace slows. "I don't think the Predators have gotten one faceoff yet", offers Clark. To the blue. Fired high. Score.

Ducks. Laviolette's yellow and speckled gold tie isn't good for TV. Perry interfered. Refs confirm it. We wait for a review and decision. They call it a goal. The replay showed Perry being felled and his arm colliding with Rinne's chest. Was there any embellished contact, as well? Seems no. And that's the call. Goal stands. Ducks slither across the pond. Anaheim 3 Nashville 3 Ten and forty. It's harder to write when the game flutters a stomach. Harder to think. Harder to focus. Faceoff to Bernier's right. Won by Ducks. Again. Slot shot. Kase. Rinne stretches the right pad. It's still anyone's game and the Preds play breathes as they adjust. Laviolette is good at managing his teams' emotions. Carolina. Philly. We watch the games we can't control. We watch the news and feel small. One vote. One voice. What's it worth. One puck, one team. No skating allowed. Yet, investment is hope. And hope melds memory. Commands future. Doesn't it? And in politics ... one voice becomes many. We outnumber them. And for now, always will. <insert guffaw> But. We do. Commercial break. Josi is in the box when we return. A couple stands, Pred towel waving, defiant in the face of a penalty-kill. Ducks win another faceoff (Clark: "See, these guys can't win a faceoff"). Panic is tempting. Isn't it. Thirty-nine seconds in the penalty. Ducks lead 39-15 on shots. Virtually all harmless. Stoppage. The four on-ice officials gather. Did it get thrown up and out? Looks like it from the replay. No delay of game. Penalty expires. Two down the ice. Across. One-timer. In. Sissons. Nashville 4 Anaheim 3 The crowd rises. The pace responds. Five and seventeen. CBC informs us that there have been 48 one-goal games this playoff. Pred left winger Calle Järnkrok outsprints a man down to avoid the icing call. It comes to nothing and the Ducks are back in the Predators zone. On the boards. Three Preds. Three Ducks. Silfverberg is there. Kept in. Around. Interrupted, Josi. Stolen by Silfverberg. Ducks control like it's a power-play. Contender patrons exhort the Predators. This is a Preds bar. All of the sudden? Several more people in here since the first period. Three and fourteen. Rinne nearly bounces a puck into his slot, going around to play it behind his net. My typing speeds but my thoughts jitter. Rinne. Earning plaudits from all around me. Draw to Rinne's left. Two thirty-eight. Lofter. Won draw. Long. And long, i tap Mookie's arm and it slides in. Two twenty-two. David Poile exults in his double-hand head-tapping nerd way. He's the Preds President and GM. Also the son of notorious Bud Poile (former Flyer executive). Nashville 5 Anaheim 3 Two twenty-two. I inform Clark this is not over; "Dude you're depressing me!" It's the Ducks. Into the Predator zone following another lofter, this one intercepted. Around the boards. Now to 51. Shot. Goal. That red-faced fan is SO happy. Yellow ties. Arms exulting. The Predators may advance. One and thirty-four.

Fifty-one is Austin Watson, fourth-line right winger.

Nashville 6 Anaheim 3 They don't pull the goalie? Come on. Time ticks down. Surly Kevin Bieksa, Duck defenceman, is involved in some bitterness. Typical. Nashville power-play. With 6.7 left. It's complicated. PK is in the SC Final. And so are the Predators.

Final Score

Nashville Predators 6

Anaheim Ducks 3

Predators advance to Stanley Cup final.

HDS Stars: Ondrej Kase, Pekka Rinne, Colton Sissons

CBC Stars: Unknown Clark's Stars: Rinne Mookie's Stars: No comment elicited They pose for photos. PK looks happy. No melancholy. He's happy. Be happy.

#Montreal Mystique #Homme de Sept-Iles #Nashville Predators #PK #Peter Laviolette #Preds #Ducks #Anaheim Ducks #Musing #Musing and In-Game Scribbles #HDS #MM #NHL

2 notes · View notes

thrashermaxey · 5 years

Text

Ramblings: Ovechkin Clicking at Career-Rate, Rantanen On Another Planet, Meier, & Johnsson (Dec 12)

Alex Ovechkin – USA Today Sports Images

William Nylander hit the scoresheet for the first time this season. The 22-year-old led the way for the Leafs with two even-strength assists as they beat the Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday evening. Nylander continued to skate alongside Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau on the team's third line. He's also working the half-wall on the team's second power-play unit.

It isn't exactly the ideal spot to push his metrics to the next level, but it should be enough for him to play at a 60-point pace – about where I'd peg his floor to be.

Freddie Andersen continues to roll on. The 29-year-old has been the best fantasy netminder in all setups. His win tonight pushes his record to 17-8-0 with a 0.928 save percentage. He's posted a quality start rate of 72 percent. That's a puck-stopper you can rely on.

Andreas Johnsson scored a goal on Tuesday night but it was quickly changed to give credit to Morgan Rielly. Despite the pointless night, Johnsson has been playing well of late. He was a sleeper pick by many last offseason to break out in Toronto this year. He started his season by watching up in the press box as a healthy scratch. When he did get into the lineup, it was in a depth role.

Well, Willy Nylander is back in Leaf-land and things are moving and shaking. Johnsson has been lining up on the left side of Auston Matthews at even strength the past few games. He's also seeing his fair share of second power-play unit duties.

The 24-year-old has made the most of his upgrade in deployment. He came into the game against Carolina with two consecutive games with a goal and an assist. He’s owned in just 16 percent of Yahoo leagues but that number is climbing.

Patty Marleau doesn’t look like a true fit beside Matthews, and Johnsson’s speed, skill and tenacious-style fits well to pursue the puck and cause turnovers for the big pivot to operate with. I love this type of streamer. A young player with upside who is in a good spot. He won’t see PP1 time, so the results will be held back to some degree. But he could become a staple on that line with a few more strong performances.

Buy-in if you can.

It was reported that Ryan Miller will miss six weeks with a sprained MCL. The Ducks wasted no time in claiming Chad Johnson off of waivers from St Louis to provide some support to John Gibson.

Jordan Binnington is the new back-up in STL. The 25-year-old has a single NHL game on his resume. He managed to wrestle the starting gig in the American league from Ville Huuso who has been projected as the up and comer for a few seasons.

With the way the Blues are playing these days, it is conceivable that Binnington sees some ice, but the results will likely be very muted.

It was Jake Allen who got the start and the win against the Panthers on Tuesday. St Louis needed this one. After getting shelled on home ice by Vancouver on Sunday, the media was all over the practice tilt involving Bortuzzo and Sanford. Perhaps that was the gelling moment for a squad that should be much better than they've been.

David Perron (2+0), Brayden Schenn (1+1) and Jaden Schwartz (0+2) led the way for the Blues.

Speaking of bad teams, the Blackhawks dropped their eighth consecutive contest on Tuesday. They fell 6-3 the Jets on the road.

Winnipeg was led by Kyle Connor and his two tallies. Dustin Byfuglien chipped in with three assists. He seems to be back to his old ways after that terribly managed concussion.

More injuries in Anaheim? You don't say. This time it's the team’s top left-wing, Rickard Rakell who continues to be out with a sprained ankle. There is no timeline for his return at this point.

That’s another gaping hole on a team that has been decimated with injuries this season. It was Pontus Aberg who rolled next to Getzlaf and Ondrej Kase on the team’s ‘top line’ during the last game. Aberg and Sprong both took turns on the team’s top power play unit.

No one is replacing Rackell in the short term, but Sprong or Aberg could provide some streaming options if they are getting exposure to Getzlaf in all situations.

Boston and Arizona squared off in a cross-conference battle that drew…very little attention. While it didn't have the heat of a divisional matchup, this was a good game. The Coyotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Nick Schmaltz and Nick Cousins potted first-period tallies. Schmaltz has seven points in the seven games since landing in the desert. Here's hoping you bought in when we told you to.

The Bruins stormed back to score four unanswered goals. Brad Marchand popped two. David Pastrnak chipped in with a goal and two helpers. The Bruins haven't been their dominant self with Patrice Bergeron on the shelf. But they're finding their way.

Of note, Ryan Donato skated on the team's second line and top power-play unit. He saw 3:35 of PPTOI and recorded an assist and two shots on goal. That's the type of deployment you want to see the young sharp-shooter receive to start considering him an asset for this season.

The NHL has its first 50-point scorer in 2018-19. Mikko Rantanen buried his 13th and 14th goals of the season and added two assists on Tuesday in a 6-4 loss to the Oilers. That extended his point streak to 12 games and 23 points. This dude is on another planet.

He has a six-point lead atop the Art Ross race.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combined for five points in the victory. Drai was chucking some backhand sauce out there.

https://dobberhockey.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/12/Drai-to-McD.mp4

The big German has quietly slid into the top-15 point producers with 37 points in 31 contests. He and McDavid belong together. I don't ever want to see those two split up again.

Mikko Koskinen was good once again. Ken Hitchcock appears to have cleaned the squad up defensively, and it's Koskinen who is thriving the most. He sporting a 0.928 save percentage in 15 games played. He has two regulation losses in his last 11 games and has posted a quality start rate of 60 percent.

The crease is his.

The LA Kings are dreadful. Leading the Sabres 3-1 heading into the third period they managed to blow things. Jeff Skinner ended up potting the overtime winner, his 21st of the season. His captain and linemate, Jack Eichel contributed a goal and an assist. It was his fifth multi-point outing in the last six games.

Eichel now sits tied for ninth in NHL scoring with 38 points in 31 contests. The 22-year-old has officially arrived. And so have the Sabres. Buffalo is solidly in the playoffs and third in their division. Just three points behind the Leafs for second. It's been a long road in upstate New York, it's good to finally see some success.

Rasmus Dahlin was held off the scoresheet in this one. But the 18-year-old played 28:34, had eight shots and three blocks. He played 10:04 on the man-advantage!

Fret not keeper league owners, his counting stats may not jump off the page just yet, but he's out there doing things like this before he even has to shave. Imagine what he'll do in a year or three.

https://dobberhockey.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/12/Dahlin-dangles.mp4

Nick Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin teamed up to lay a beatdown on the Red Wings on Tuesday. Ovi proceeded to score three goals to push his league-leading total to 25 in 30 games. The 33-year-old has never had that many tallies through 30 games in any of his previous 13 seasons.

Let that sink in for a moment. He's 33 years old and on pace for his highest output yet. The man is pacing for 68 goals!

What a legend.

Ovechkin is currently riding an 11-game point streak where he's scored 13 goals and 19 points.

Meanwhile, Backstrom continues to be the most underappreciated fantasy star ever. Left for dead by many after a 'disappointing' 71-point campaign a year ago and looking like his days of dishing to Ovi at even-strength were over. Well, turns out he's far from dead. The 31-year-old has 38 points in 30 games to be living in the top-10 league-wide.

I keep trying to trade for him in my main league and you should too.

Rick Roos is rolling again with his annual Cage Match Tournament. Check out the forums to vote for The New Normal edition.

Gus Nyqvist potted a goal and an assist. The 29-year-old has produced nine points in the six games since Anthony Mantha went down with a hand injury. Nyqvist is having his best start to date with 28 points in 32 games. A quiet but effective producer who is seeing high-end deployment.

That's a good combination.

The requisite Elias Pettersson tidbit.

Heading into Tuesday’s contests, Pettersson had 15 goals and 30 points in 26 career games. Here’s a look at some other current stars and their totals after 26 contests.

Some current NHL stars and their points totals after 26 career games:

Elias Pettersson – 30

Evgeni Malkin – 30

Alex Ovechkin – 29

Sidney Crosby – 28

Connor McDavid – 28

Patrick Kane – 27

Patrik Laine – 21

Johnny Gaudreau – 20

Auston Matthews – 20

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">Adjust for scoring era and this changes but worth noting. Some other comparables in their first 26 games: Yashin – 34 pts Selanne – 34 pts Lindros – 34 pts Sakic – 33 pts Makarov – 32 pts. All but the first guy are in the HHOF. Pettersson is tied with Malkin for 6th.— Stephen Burtch (@SteveBurtch) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveBurtch/status/1072623138553368576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Since we're talking about Pettersson (when am I not?), the 20-year-old rookie posted a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Columbus. His 32 points in 27 games vaults into the top-30 for skaters league-wide. His 1.19 points-per-game represent the 18th best mark.

As amazing as that is, the thing that really stands out is that 1.19 points-per-game is only good for 18th in the league! We are living in a high-scoring and enjoyable time. Perhaps the 22 skaters that played at or above a point-per-game last year wasn't an aberration after all. The goalie pads are slimmer, and the red lights are warmer.

Good times.

The Wild laid the boots to Canadiens 7-1 on home ice on Tuesday. Matt Dumba scored two goals, while Zach Parise added a goal and two helpers.

Dumba has been good again this season. The 24-year-old has 12 goals and 21 points in 30 games this year. His 12 markers lead all blueliners and he's on pace for another career year. That would be five seasons in a row where the former WHL stud improved on his goal and point total.

Jeff Petry may not be working the top power-play unit in Montreal now that Shea Weber is healthy, but that hasn't slowed him down yet. The veteran defender has five points in the five games since Weber rejoined the team.

His five-on-five shooting percentage is a bit high, but the rest of his metrics remain solid. Better not drop him yet.

Let's talk about Timo Meier for a moment. The 22-year-old is tied for 10th in the NHL with 26 even-strength points. His 3.6 P/60 is 17th most – tied with Crosby, Wheeler, Eichel, Pasta, and Malkin.

He's putting 3.31 shots on goal per night and is on pace for 44 goals and 82 points in 79 games.

PLUS! his name is really fun to say.

Teeeee-moe!

People need to be waking up on this kid. He’s a play-driver and he’s driving the bus in San Jose as a third-year player. We keep waiting for his numbers to slag, but there have been no signs of slowing down yet.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @Hockey_Robinson

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-ovechkin-clicking-at-career-rate-rantanen-on-another-planet-meier-johnsson-dec-12/

0 notes