[Market Buzz] Turkey Thirty

[GMGates]

Market Buzz - Turkey Thirty

If you were asked which team would be the first this season to have three players record 30 or more goals, which one would come to mind? Philadelphia? Vancouver? Think again!

At the moment, it is a three team race between the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks.

As of Sunday March 27th, John Tavares only needs to score three more goals to have the Islanders clinch this impressive feat, as Michael Grabner (31) and Matt Moulson (30) have both already hit the plateau.

Up North, the Leafs are right on New York's heels, being five goals away from running away the title. Leading his two other teammates by one goal is Phil Kessel, who only needs one more to reach 30. Behind him are Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin with 28 goals apiece.

Over on the Western Coast, two Ducks have already reached the milestone with the goal leading, Rocket Richard candidate Corey Perry (44) and fellow winger Bobby Ryan (32) holding down the fort. They await the Finnish ageless wonder, Teemu Selanne, who only needs five more goals to join them on the greener side.

Favourable bet: Tavares and the Islanders.

You know, things are finally starting to look bright on Long Island, and finding a couple hidden gems sure helps! Who would have thought that a minor league free agent (Moulson) and a waiver wire player (Grabner) would be the first pair of Islanders to record 30 goals since Alexei Yashin and Mark Parrish achieved it in the 2001-02 season?

In addition, if Tavares pots in another three, they will become the first trio to do so in close to twenty years. Last time the franchise seen three plus 30 goal scorers was back in the 1993-94 season when Steve Thomas (42), Pierre Turgeon (38), Benoit Hogue (36), Derek King (30) all made the mark.

Impressive to say the least!

Double Take

One would think that there was a mini case of the Sedin twins in the Isle's dressing room as both Moulson and Grabner have some pretty identical looking statistics :

(as of Sunday March 27th)
Matt Moulson - 30 Goals, 18 assists, 213 shots on goal
Michael Grabner - 31 Goals, 17 assists, 211 shots on goal

Although they do have some differences...
Matt Moulson - minus-10, 24 PIM, 14 PPP, no SHP, three GWG
Michael Grabner - plus-16, 10 PIM, two PPP, six SHP (five are goals), three GWG

Edge: Grabner.

A positive 26 plus/minus over Moulson and six shorthanded points definitely makes up for twelve power play points, no?

GMG

[ericdaoust]

The Isles did a great job plucking guys off the waiver wire when they had #1 priority. Grabner worked out well, Schremp did not, but both were given trial runs without giving up any assets.

[dyzfunctioned]

All of Grabner, Moulson, and Tavares were neck and neck around the 20 goal mark, interesting to see Moulson and Grabner pull ahead. Although Tavares has a ton more assists.

Still don't know how Grabner went from WW to 30 goal scorer and calder candidate...

[ericdaoust]

All of Grabner, Moulson, and Tavares were neck and neck around the 20 goal mark, interesting to see Moulson and Grabner pull ahead. Although Tavares has a ton more assists.

Still don't know how Grabner went from WW to 30 goal scorer and calder candidate...

The Panthers messed up big time.

[dyzfunctioned]

The Panthers messed up big time.

That's for sure. Don't know how they couldn't at least give him a 5-10 game trial period.

[GMGates]

Update :

All three teams played last night and the only player mentioned in this article that scored was Perry, with two. He passed Stamkos to become the league's leading goal scorer. Kudos!

So the tracker is still on -

3 - John Tavares, NYI
2 - Teemu Selanne, ANA
2 - Nikolai Kulemin, TOR
2 - Mikhail Grabovski, TOR
1 - Phil Kessel, TOR

and yes, given the state of the Panthers, they screwed up BIG time.

[GMGates]

Two goals by Selanne so far tonight push the Ducks (and Teemu) in a two way tie with Tavares and the Islanders for first team to crack three thirty goal scorers!

Much less climatic if Anaheim takes the title over the Isles... although I'm very pleased with Selanne's play.



Edit : Teemu scored another so he now has two goals remaining and the Ducks seem to be the clear favorites.... or do they!?

[GMGates]

Updated tracker :

2 - John Tavares, NYI
2 - Teemu Selanne, ANA
1 - Nikolai Kulemin, TOR
1 - Mikhail Grabovski, TOR

Who's going to take it? Three teams - two goals remaining.

[dyzfunctioned]

Next 3 games:
TOR - WSH
TOR - NJD
TOR - MTL
NYI - BOS
NYI - PIT
NYI - PHI
ANA - SJS
ANA - LAK
ANA - LAK

I'd like to say NYI because I'd love to see Tavares hit 30, but damn, rough schedule there.

[GMGates]

Updated Three to Thirty tracker:

NYI & Tavares - 2G remaining - playing Friday vs. PIT
ANA & Selanne - 1G remaining - playing Friday vs. LAK
TOR & Grabovski - 1G remaining - playing Saturday vs. MTL

I'm thinking Selanne.

[dyzfunctioned]

Thinking selanne as well but pulling for Tavares.

[GMGates]

I was hoping for NYI or TOR as well, simply because it would be unexpected from them this season. In Anaheim you can definitely see their weaponry achieve the feat.

Although I gotta give it to Selanne who needed five goals when I first started the thread, while Tavares only needed three.

So in the span the Teemu put in four while JT only recorded one - for shame!

[dyzfunctioned]

Looks like Teemu pulled it off.

[GMGates]

yessir!

Anaheim becomes the first team this season to feature three 30 goal scorers.

Will they be the only team this season? We'll find out tonight!

Toronto (1) and New York Islanders (2) still in the hunt.

[dyzfunctioned]

Tavares hit 29 just now.