Little shakin', little tenderizin', ....down you go
The San Jose Sharks are beginning to realize their potential this season, and are lining up the giants of the West and knocking them down one by one. Just two nights removed from shutting out the undefeated Dallas Stars, 2-0, the Sharks took advantage of a penalty filled game to score 5 power play goals, and win their sixth game over the Detroit Red wings 5-1.
Joe Thornton who had been quiet for a few games finally hit paydirt (thank you! he's my first rounder in one league!) by setting up winger Jonathan Cheechoo on the powerplay, and assisting on another. Patrick Marleau had two goals on the night (and seems to be blossoming in his second line center position), as did Milan Michalek, Mark Bell, and the aforementioned Cheechoo.
The Sharks have been platooning the goaltending between Vesa Toskala and Evgeni Nabokov since the start of the season. Both have responded well to the every other game starts. Nabokov has already pitched to shutouts, and Toskala responded last night by making 21 saves against the Red Wings.
Quick Shave:
As if things couldn't get worse for the Philadelphia Flyers. After watching 13 goals go by them in the last two games, and three of their own get sent down to the farm, they lost captain Peter Forsberg to a wrist injury for at least the next game. This was bound to happen sooner or later. Or sooner than later. The Flyers were dismantled by the Lightning 4-1 last night and don't appear to show any signs of life. The Pittsburgh Penguins and their young guns Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin stole a game from the Islanders in OT last night 4-3. Malkin scored his second goal of the season, in his second game of the season and just looks special out there. Crosby had three assists on the night. The New York Islanders have looked solid with Mike Dunham in net and for the fourth straight game have managed to secure a point in the standings. I think these guys are gonna be alright.....but what happens when DiPietro returns? Whats up with the Ottawa Senators? This is the biggest shock that has been quietly swept under the carpet....until now!!! BOSH is draggin' it back out. The Senators have lost 4 straight, and what's worse....they can't score. Dany Heatley got his first goal last night. First goal? He, Daniel Alfreddson, and Jason Spezza have been scarily quiet. There are rumors that GM John Muckler is looking into acquiring Yanic Perrault (from Hockey Night in Canada, and Spector on the Face Off Hockey Show), but I'm not sure that he will be the panacea for this team. Another team up north, the Calgary Flames are having a rough start too. Still unable to find the offence they long for, they are now having trouble getting the same goaltending they got a season ago from Vezina winner Miikka Kiprusoff.
Game of the Night:
Carolina at Buffalo 8:00 PM
Oh hell yeah! Rematch of the season opener and I think the Hurricanes will be ready. If anyone can topple the monsters from West New York its the boys from Raleigh! Enjoy the games!!!
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
I'm not gonna complain about this one. The Sharks capitalized on the (innumerable) power plays, while the wings couldn't get anything going.
I do want a moment of bitching, though...
That game was called tight. That game was called tight even by new NHL standards. That game was called tighter than Hillary Clinton's anus.
HALF the game was played on special teams. No really, the wings themselves had 13 penalites called, and the sharks got quite a few as well I think it was six, give or take 1.
34 minutes out of a sixty minute game played short-handed? Jesus Christ...
Don't get me wrong, a lot of these calls are okay...even the delay of game ones (I still think this is the worst rule ever. Don Cherry has the right idea). A lot of the holding were the correct call.
Some of them were pretty weak calls on both sides of the puck. Especailly the hooking and tripping calls.
I mean, the new NHL is supposed to have more penalties, but that was just ridiculous.
Posted by: jeff | October 20, 2006 10:47 AM
Jeff don't feel so bad. The Rangers had almost 3 full minutes of 5 on 3 against the Predators and couldn't capitalize. That's frustrating!
Posted by: Captain Bosh | October 20, 2006 11:29 AM
The Rangers had 3 mins of 5 on 3 and didn't score??? How did I miss that? If I had to bet on one power play in the league, I would put my money on the Rangers in a 5 on 3 with Jagr at the point. Wow, what happened? Does someone have monkey pox or something?
I hope you guys watched - or will soon get to watch - the Pens play. Malkin and Crosby on the same 4 on 4 line in overtime was something else. Crosby owned that game last night, was just absolutely everywhere and all up in the grillz of the Islanders. Had the Isles not found a pulse for 3 minutes in the 2nd period, the game would've been completely lop-sided. As is, the Pens responded nicely. Fleury was solid and perhaps most importantly, Gonchar got his first goal - something he didn't do until game 13 last year.
You got Thornton as your top dog in one of your leagues, Bosh, but I've trumped you: Spezza was my first pick. Kid's got 3 points is a minus player and that's about it. Philly's getting the attention because of the loss to Buffalo, but I don't think there's a bigger disappointment in the league than the Ottawa Senators and their offensive inabilities. Is it just a matter of time? Or is it just a matter of time before we stop saying it's just a matter of time?
Posted by: Stache | October 20, 2006 12:14 PM
The Philadelphia Flyers and their horrendous start has overshadowed the equally bad start by the Ottawa Senators. Maybe getting rid of Havlat and Chara wasn't such a good move afterall? In fairness they couldn't have held onto Chara, but Havlat could have been in the fold for another year.
Posted by: Captain Bosh | October 20, 2006 02:16 PM
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Posted by: eoec | November 24, 2007 02:43 AM