01/03/12 Studs & Duds

[ericdaoust]

Thanks to TK for covering for me last week as I was away in Dominican Republic. I spent a week there back in 2007 and I must say I had been missing their rum in a big way. Now that I had my rum fix this past week I am re-energized and will do a few extras to compensate for last week. Tons of topics to cover both in the NHL and the WJC.

STUDS

Russia 6, Canada 5

This game was an epic bout of inconsistency that took fans on an amazing thrill ride. The Russians held a 6-1 lead in the 3rd period before Canada fired in four goals to cut the lead to one. The Russians changed goalies to attempt to slow the momentum and as it turns out it was just enough to squeeze by with a 6-5 win to advance to the gold medal game in a rematch against Sweden.

Lupul-ing the trigger

Joffrey Lupul has been red-hot of late and tonight was no different. He torched the Lightning with four points (one goal, three assists). He added a PPP and three shots on goal.

Not going Downie without a fight

Steve Downie was back to his old ways picking up a grand total of 20 PIM vs the Leafs. That gives him 100 PIM in 35 games this season which puts him on pace for a career-high 226. He added two shots, three hits and finished plus-1 despite the 7-3 defeat.

Backstrom to the future

Nicklas Backstrom assisted on all three Capitals goals in a 3-1 win over the Flames. He also won 11 of 18 face-offs (61.1%). Despite the team-wide struggles for the Caps this season, Backstrom has maintained a very good scoring pace.

It takes two Wings to fly

A pair of Red Wings tallied three points en route to a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars. Henrik Zetterberg had three assists, three shots and two hits while Valtteri Filppula finished with a goal and two assists. Zetterberg is well on his way to fixing a slow start as he now has 29 points in 39 games. Filppula meanwhile has had a very impressive season with 33 points in 38 games. His career-high is 40 back in 2008-09.

Honourable mentions

Michael Ryder: two goals, one assist, plus-3, four shots
Jaroslav Halak: 34/35, .971 SPct, W


DUDS

I'm really tired of the 25-percent rule. - John Tortorella

This quote is from Torts' days with the Lightning but they almost apply today. Both Roloson and Garon saw action tonight. Here are the stat lines:

Garon: 17/21, .810 SPct, 7.06 GAA, L
Roloson: 18/21, .857, 6.92 GAA

You are such a Khokh

For those who missed it, Alexander Khokhlachev crashed into Canadian goaltender Scott Wedgewood after a Russian goal. Wedgewood's head/neck were roughed up during the collision. Khokhlachev was not pushed and carelessly hit the goaltender who did not see it coming. Did he get a call from teammate Milan Lucic before the game?

Lehtting his team down

Kari Lehtonen had a lousy game tonight. He stopped 26 of 31 to finish with a .839 save percentage in a losing effort. It was his third game back from injury and his save percentage in each of those games was .900 or worse.

Kipper is no Keeper

The Calgary Flames only allowed 21 shots on goal against the Capitals. Unfortunately, Miikka Kiprusoff allowed goals on three of them to sport a dismal .857 save percentage this evening. The Flames lost 3-1.

Dis-honourable mentions

Nikolai Khabibulin: 29/33, .879 SPct, L
Eric Nystrom: Minus-3 in 12:52


Added bonus

John Tortorella's great post-game rant after the winter classic. I tend to agree with his comments. Those were some wacky calls at the end. Skip to about 3/4 to get to the rant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xwSoZTHpQg

[bondon]

You are such a Khokh

LOL. I have a friend who says this all the time. Awesome.

[TK12555]

Lupul was on fire tonight! Nice to see him in the studs

[ericdaoust]

LOL. I have a friend who says this all the time. Awesome.

In my draft preview guide that I picked up for a bus trip between Montreal and Sudbury (11 hours total) in the Khokhlachev analysis they wrote something like "He may have an odd nickname but he still has talent". That kind of great hockey analysis sticks in people's minds.

Lupul was on fire tonight! Nice to see him in the studs

This is the beauty of the salary cap era. The constant changes to teams throws us curve balls like this one. I know Lupul has talent but I don't think anyone predicted he would be among the best in the league, even on Kessel's line full-time.

[Confidential]

What does everyone think of Khabibulin going forward? He and the Oilers started out great but have been taking a nose dive lately.

I think he has 4 wins since mid-November.

Keep or drop?

[ericdaoust]

What does everyone think of Khabibulin going forward? He and the Oilers started out great but have been taking a nose dive lately.

I think he has 4 wins since mid-November.

Keep or drop?

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/...layer.cgi?1061

Check his stats for the last few years. For the most part he underwhelms. Add in his injury history (ie he is not a workhorse) and his fantasy value is hurt significantly. Your window to sell high and get a very good player in return are gone but you might still be able to get something because he's still above .920. I just think that his stats moving forward will not justify most formats. Obviously the league settings are a factor here.

[dyzfunctioned]

Take that Nystrom.

[ericdaoust]

Take that Nystrom.

Still thousands of times better than Moreau...

[dyzfunctioned]

Still thousands of times better than Moreau...

I'll give you Boulton?

[ericdaoust]

I'll give you Boulton?

I'd rather drink Javex.

[dyzfunctioned]

I'd rather drink Javex.

What the hell is Javex?

[ericdaoust]

What the hell is Javex?

It's bleach - basically something you shouldn't drink.

[dyzfunctioned]

It's bleach - basically something you shouldn't drink.

Well this would have been a much more straightforward convo if you just said Bleach, now wouldn't it?

I thought it was some kind of fancy coffee or something

[ericdaoust]

Well this would have been a much more straightforward convo if you just said Bleach, now wouldn't it?

I thought it was some kind of fancy coffee or something

you're thinking Java coffee which is totally disgusting. Probably in the same category as bleach.

[dyzfunctioned]

you're thinking Java coffee which is totally disgusting. Probably in the same category as bleach.

Well I wasn't too far off then.