The Daily Goon: Daily PIM Predictions

[Pengwin7]

New for this year - I decided to try my hat at predicting fights.
For every day of NHL games, I'll predict three fights.

Saturday, January 19th (Opening Night):
1. Shawn Thornton (BOS) vs. Stu Bickel (NYR)
Nothing says Boston like starting the NHL season with some banging. The atmosphere will be electric. Boston also has Greg Campbell who could drop 'em. The Rangers have both Mike Rupp (6'-5") and Micheal Haley, though I'm not sure Haley will be in the line-up.

2. Matt Martin (NYI) vs. Krys Barch (NJ)
Barch was in Dallas to start last year and dropped the gloves often in his first few games with Florida. If he's in the line-up, I expect him to goon it up. The Isles have both Matt Martin & Matt Carkner that can drop 'em. My bet is on Martin.

3. Zenon Konopka (MIN) vs. Cody McLeod (COL)
Opening night for the Minnesota Wild. Place will be crazy. Everybody thinks the Wild's biggest new additions were Parise & Suter... well how about Zenon Konopka. The NHL two-time PIM leader narrowly lost last year to Derek Dorsett. He won't fall behind this year.

[Soco]

Konopka and McLeod will be a beauty of a tilt if they do go at it.

On an aside, check out Konopka's pet rabbit (http://www.startribune.com/printarticle/?id=186709631). I always thought the guy would have a rottweiler or a bulldog or something. Pet rabbit named Hoppy, who knew...

[blayze]

Colton Orr (TOR) vs. Brandon Prust (MTL) - book it.

Prust cause it's his debut in front of the crazy crowd at the Bell Centre and Orr cause... well he's the only player on the Leafs man enough to fight.

[horrorfan]

This could be quite handy if I wanted to take a flier on some 'lesser' names in my goon/grit league for matchup purposes or for daily lineup decisions. But interesting challenge regardless. Good luck and thanks.

[Pengwin7]

Colton Orr (TOR) vs. Brandon Prust (MTL) - book it.

Prust cause it's his debut in front of the crazy crowd at the Bell Centre and Orr cause... well he's the only player on the Leafs man enough to fight.

Love it!
Yeah... Prust is going to be a big PIM sleeper this year as the alpha-dog with Montreal.

[horrorfan]

I'll pick a dark horse for tonight - one stud vs one sleeper: Dorsett vs Gaustad? Especially using your logic of being on a new team, Gaustad might want to stir things up against a division rival.

[4T2]

Looking forward to watching Thornton knock a Ranger out tonight!

Neat idea Pengwin7, looking forward to seeing your predictions

[blayze]

Colton Orr (TOR) vs. Brandon Prust (MTL) - book it.

Prust cause it's his debut in front of the crazy crowd at the Bell Centre and Orr cause... well he's the only player on the Leafs man enough to fight.

Well... I was half right

[AFlyers66]

Great idea, Pengwin7, I love The Daily Goon already!

Both of my keeper leagues have PIMs as a scoring category, and I always enjoy it; keeps things interesting. I always target one key guy in the draft to keep around for PIMs, then also play the wire at times. Prust is my PIM guy in my roto keeper, while Konopka is my H2H keeper goon.

Prust already threw down for me tonight -- off to a good start.

Long live The Daily Goon!

[Pengwin7]

Sunday, January 20th
1. Arron Asham (NYR) vs. Tanner Glass (PIT).
Asham didn't play last night while serving a one-game suspension. The other two Rangers fought, so perhaps two new guys have at it in this one.

2. Tim Jackman (CGY) vs. Ryane Clowe (SJ).
I believe these guys have had at it previously, a good size rematch.

3. Zenon Konopka (MIN) vs. Jake Dowell (DAL).
Really I'm not sold that anybody on Dallas would drop the gloves with Konopka, but if the Wild win tonight following a Zenon-fight... I think he'll be back for more tomorrow.

Analyzing the previous predictions:

Saturday, January 19th (Opening Night):
1. Shawn Thornton (BOS) vs. Stu Bickel (NYR)

2. Matt Martin (NYI) vs. Krys Barch (NJ)

3. Zenon Konopka (MIN) vs. Cody McLeod (COL)

The big prediction was Konopka & McLeod going in the first 3 minutes of the Wild vs. Avalance game. Thornton actually fought Mike Rupp with Gregory Campbell squaring off against Bickell. Krys Barch did not draw into the NJ line-up and there were no fights in that game.

Score for Year: 4/6

[horrorfan]

Good start Pengwin - it's not easy even if there are trends and likely combatants.

[Bomm Bastic]

I'm thinking Scott has to fight today - new off season acquisition, first home game, vs. Flyers. Problem is finding a dance partner when you'r 6'8". Rinaldo would need to stand on a few phonebooks. Hartnell could but he's on the first line and Scott's on the fourth.

Anyone the Flyers could activate?

[Pengwin7]

Predictions for Monday, January 21:
1. Matt Martin (NYI) vs. BJ Crombeen (TB).
Crombeen is the first enforcer to play for the Lightning in a while. The Isles are always looking to scrap at home. It could be Martin... it could be Carkner. Martin is a LW, Crombeen is a RW... which means they may line-up for a face-off and jaw.

2. Colton Orr (TOR) vs. John Scott (BUF).
Is Orr dumb enough to drop them with Scott (6'-8")... yes, yes he is. And Orr (6'-3") is possibly big enough to handle him. Since Mike Brown dropped them in Game 1, I'll switch over to Orr for Game #2 for both teams.

3. Chris Neil (OTT) vs. George Parros (FLA).
I just can't foresee either of these guys not fighting.
Double negative, yeah... that applies here.


Predictions for Tuesday, January 22:
1. Brandon Prust (MON) vs. George Parros (FLA).
Odds are that Parros will fight one of these nights... not sure which one.

2. Brandon Bollig (CHI) vs. Ryan Reaves (STL).
You want a tilt... mercy, this would be a good one. I think Bollig wants to be in the running for the PIM crown.

3. Brian McGrattan (NAS) vs. Zenon Konopka (MIN).
You are going to see Konopka predictions all year, regularly. Get used to it, that is all.



Analyzing Previous Predictions

Sunday, January 20th
1. Arron Asham (NYR) vs. Tanner Glass (PIT).

2. Tim Jackman (CGY) vs. Ryane Clowe (SJ).

3. Zenon Konopka (MIN) vs. Jake Dowell (DAL).

Well, Asham & Glass dropped them on the faceoff dot.
That was the only fight of Sunday action other than Bollig (CHI) vs. Biz Nasty (PHX)... which perhaps I should've predicted.

Score for the year: 6/12

[blayze]

Orr has to fight tonight... he looked regretful on the replay when the smaller Brown stepped up to fight Prust. He's gonna man up tonight for sure to redeem himself.

[Pengwin7]

Predictions for Monday, January 21:
1. Matt Martin (NYI) vs. BJ Crombeen (TB).
Crombeen is the first enforcer to play for the Lightning in a while. The Isles are always looking to scrap at home. It could be Martin... it could be Carkner. Martin is a LW, Crombeen is a RW... which means they may line-up for a face-off and jaw.

Martin & Crombeen go off-the-faceoff in the Isles/TB game!!!!
I. am. amazing.