Monthly NHL injury analysis - another (two) month(s)

Since nobody else in the hockey world appears to be talking about injuries right now (shame on you, Greyhound buses...), try the following for your fix of hurt:

Springing Malik: The Pain Game 2010/11 - Part Five

Sanctioned Brutality in the NHL must end: Chara-Pacioretty / LeMieux-Draper

ENOUGH! enough. enough enough. "ENOUGH" to mothra faulking infinity, enough.

I started this blog today to compare the Chara-Pacioretty boarding to the Claude LeMieux brutalization of Kris Draper in 1996, mainly because there are such striking similarities with the location of the hit and horrific outcomes.

But I am far too pissed about the heart of the matter: unnecessary sanctioned violence in professional hockey, to address so narrow an issue.

You can debate all you want whether Chara's (likely) career ending hit on Pacioretty was unintentionally brutal, because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it didn't look like a particularly bad hit. There is no need to continue to sanction and permit hits in this sport, especially because the risk of injuring or maiming a player far outweighs any misanthropic benefit.

But while we are on the subject, Do you really think Chara didn't know his "innocent check" wasn't a boarding? You think he couldn't see where -on the ice- they were as he drove his shoulder in? If so, you're a bleeding idiot. Sorry. Wait. No I am not.

Enough!

When will this league realize that the strength, grace and heart of this sport has nothing to do with hits or fighting? How many careers have to end by "innocent", "acceptable" hits from thugs?

What kind of professional sports league encourages, enjoys and sanctions willful, uncontrolled violence amongst and between its players in the course of a game?

The National Hockey League. The NHL, that is who. All the more horrific and astonishing because this sport does not need that shit to be incredible, exciting, explosive. Hockey, when played at its most skilled level is the most incredible sport on the planet. And yet year after year, the NHL pays only lip service to the cries of outrage as the preventable concussions and injuries pile up over the course of each season.

And what about the fans who continue to "fight for the right to fight"? How many "unintended" concussions to brilliant, talented players will you all continue to accept, just because you like seeing a fight or a hard check? And what kind of person are you that you want to see these things? What kind of dim Neanderthal monsters are you to seek out purposeful violence amongst players? What kind of a cretin enjoys such things, knowing each one- whether brutally crushing a guy's jaw against the boards or "unintentionally" snapping a guy's vertebra against glass edge- is more likely than not to end a career?

Why is it good gamesmanship to drive a guy into the boards,or poke your stick between his skates just because you are too damn slow to keep up?

This sport does not need the violence. These players do not deserve it. As long as it goes on in the NHL, hockey will never grow to be one of the top four professional sports in the world. Baseball, Football, Basketball, NASCAR, WWF, Soccer and Poker will continue to outrank the NHL in terms of popularity and fan base.

How, Dear Messieurs Campbell and Bettman, can we make you hear us? Why do you care more about a monstrous, demented fan base that seeks violence, than the health and safety of your players?

It needs to end now. Your priorities are woefully scrambled.

Built to (be) last

Juice 8:15: "And He dost proclaimeth that the men and women of Recon shallt guesseth most wildly who shallt finish in position named eighth and position named last both in conference most-westerly and that most-oriental."

[Editor's note: Due to circumstances beyond the control of our 1,000-strong monkey typist pool, submissions have taken a week or two to hit the press, so a comment or ten might seem slightly out-of-date now.]

Valentine's Day tidbit for Caps fans

From my "NHL Fact-A-Day" calendar:

Chris Valentine, an Ontario native, played three seasons for the Washington Capitals from 1981-82 to 1983-84, scoring 43 goals. He then played 12 years in Europe.

I hope this little fact warms your hearts.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Playoff Projections in the WC: Wild West Edition

Just how tough is it going to be to make the playoffs in the West this year, especially if you are on the cusp? If this month is any indication, the race for 8^th is tighter than Bryzgalov’s five hole.

LA Kings have at least a point in the last 8 games. In other words, no regulations losses, and yet the Kings have spent most of February being bumped around from 8^th to 10^th, fighting for their 63 points.

Until last night, Calgary (9^th, 64 pts) had won 9 straight games- 18 points straight (NB: NHL on the Fly is reporting it as 11 straight wins, but nhl.com says otherwise. If anyone actually knows, please drop a comment). 

8 straight games of points, 9-11 straight wins, and yet who emerged this morning in 8^th?

The Minnesota Wild.

Arguably as crucial as the two points from their win over the Blues, the Wild (8^th, 65 pts) benefited from Vancouver’s 2 points over the Flames. (Vancouver (1^st, 81 pts) didn’t need ‘em anyway.) A practical gain of 4 points in one night.

H-E-D-H-S, as it stands, 4 points in any given night has the potential to utterly disrupt the western conference standings and the playoff picture.

Just 3 points separate Chicago (11^th, 62 pts) from Minnesota today, and only three points separate the Wild from Dallas (3rd, 68 pts).  Only Vancouver and Detroit seem relatively safe with respective 10 and 19 point cushions separating the top two from Chicago.Then again, a couple regulation losses by the Wings and a couple of regulation wins by the Wild on the same nights, with positive movement from Dallas or Nashvillle? Well you do the math, but I tell you it gets too close for comfort.

With only 6 points covering the spread, playoff seeds 3 through 8 are still up in the air in the West, and even the Wings are not out of firing range. 

Bottom Line? From now until April it will not be enough to just win in regulation for many teams.

It’s only Mid-February, and as it stands on every given night, no fewer than 10 teams have to fight not just for the win, but hope the right team loses.

Sure within a week or two some of these teams will stop believing they can make it, stop fighting- but at this point there is no telling who.  And in all honesty, I still expect Colorado (14^th 56 pts) or St. Louis (13^th 57pts.)  to flip a switch and return to early season glory, making a run at it. Making it that much harder for every other team fighting for its playoff life.

Never have I before given such credence to the cliché “every point counts”.

That said, I am not a huge advocate of winning your conference, and even less a fan of winning the President’s Cup. It stems from my firm conviction that the road to the Stanley Cup is a marathon not a mile. When I see teams like Vancouver and San Jose burn it out with 112 points in a year, I remember 1995.

That said, if you let yourself get to far behind, like Chicago, Calgary and even Anaheim- all who are nursing some injuries in key players, I can tell you that fighting for your playoff life at Valentine's Day will cost you after the 1^st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

If February is any indication, this year’s race will put the “W” in Minnesota.

NHL on the Fly: Head Up His Arse Edition

Did you know that the NHL Network's NHL on the Fly does not have its own website? And did you know that the NHL Network doesn't have its own website? As the flagship program for the only sports network reporting on the NHL, it is utterly amazing to me that these two media outlets do not have their own websites. Upon realizing this, my first reaction was to categorize this fail as just another example of how archaic, poorly prioritized and woefully inept the League seems handle its media.

Adding this complaint observation to an already long list that includes the fact that neither its local contracts with all Fox Sports channels, nor Center Ice have "HD" broadcasting requirements, it becomes easy to believe the rumor that Doc Emrick is still broadcasting the play by play with a transistor radio plug in his ear.

And if that is the case, perhaps we've all been too hard on Pierre McGuire... You make the call.

 more after the break...

NHL All-Star Game - LW goes live-blog back-to-back

After last night's Versusastrophe, looks like I'm getting the CBC coverage of the game tonight...

Interviews with the laugh-a-minute Sedins precede the anthems.  Or they precede more commercials that precede the anthems.  No, they haven't switched teams etc etc...

Back from break to see the Montreal players not picked for the game with some kind of amateur dramatic tribute to the team captains and Caniac favourites, Rod Brind'Amour and Ron Francis.  Brind'Amour then takes the kids off the ice to bag skate them and lift weights for the rest of the evening.

NHL SuperSkills - LW's attempted live blog

Incoherent Red Bull-assisted thoughts to follow...

First disappointment of the night: I'm getting the Versus coverage rather than CBC. Doc Emrick providing the screech-by-screech commentary.  At least this means no Milbury (I hope)...

First record of the evening: Bob Harwood asks a question featuring fewer than 17 subclauses.  Meanwhile, Charissa Thompson clearly invades Nick Lidstrom's personal space during her harrowing interrogation.

ASG Weekend reading links!

Hey Reconners (don't worry that nickname can't possibly stick), I'll bet you are gonna jones for some non-ASG hockey related news this weekend, so here are a couple great links to keep you busy:

Biznasty and Doaner pick their fantasy ASG teams at TSN

Fantastic Blogger Super Dave (whom I constantly beg to write for us) confesses here

Hockey Recon's own Motley Su reminds us there are other leagues here

Maybe you like Waffles?

Annoyed by the ASG and want to get on with it already? start here

I'll add more as the weekend progresses, but for now enjoy this totally random flash from the past:

Why Nabokov will clear waivers, a team by team analysis.

In order of waiver priority, here are the reasons each of these teams won’t pick Nabokov from Holland’s pocket.

Obviously Nabby’s deal with Detroit isn’t likely to hurt most salary caps, even the 12 "OTC" (over-the-cap) teams (Rangers,Wings, Wild, Sharks, Flames, Devils, Canucks, Canadiens, Kings, Flyers, Leafs, Sens, Bruins), assuming their GMs were creative enough, or they had enough season ending injuries. Still, where applicable the cap is noted. All cap information gleaned from Hockey Buzz. Note:  Players on IR and two-way players and their respective cap hits are not factored.

New Jersey               Lou said they would not. What he should have said is “could not”. And you know why? K-O-V, A-L-C, ... M-O-U-S-E.  Devils are No. 1 on the Over the Cap Race, ringing in at +8MM.

Edmonton               The Bulin Wall is costing them 3.7MM/yr and they still can’t get out of the fivehole. Goaltending is not their biggest problem. 

NY Islanders            Although they have plenty of cap space, the Islanders have a rigorous pre-signing fitness exam and rumor has it they believe Nabby would undoubtedly fail the whip cream licking test.

Ottawa                    Still stinging over the Chee Choo and Emery Buyouts and having made that deal to pay Pascale Le Claire 3MM a year. Also, no cap space since they could not unload Spezza or Alfreddson.

Toronto                  Cap space at a negative, and with Giggy being their highest paid player, they are now counting on Kessel to do it all.

Calgary                   With the third highest Cap Hit in the league(<5MM) and Kipper, there is no way in hell this would go down, unless the management were colossally stupid. Oh wait. 

Buffalo                   They Have Cap room, but they also have Hobie.

Florida                   I have nothing clever to say about the Panthers, and I refuse to stoop to cliche. They can't all be winners folks.

Columbus                Too afraid to piss Holland off, plus Steve Mason keeps promising he’s not a fluke.

Los Angeles             Just spent all their Cap room to keep their GM’s mouth shut, and to install better goal cams in Johnny Quick’s net.

San Jose                  Pride. Yea, because they have loads of that these days in SJ. (I know. Even I think this is a cheap shot, but hells bells, we all were thinking it. Just like I am thinking it would be stupid of SJ not to pick him up. Seriously. No, I mean it.)

Carolina                   Perfectly happy with Cam Ward and their middle of the pack status.  Actually Carolina could be the sleeper in this equation.  I mean, its always been rumored in the Detroit Area that Karmanos and Ilitch are mortal enemies. It would be just like Karmanos to pick up a goalie just to screw Ol’ Mike. And they have cap room.

Atlanta                    I got nothing. But who really worries about Atlanta?

St. Louis                  Provided the St. Louis Management isn’t still balled up in a corner suffering PTSD from the Wellwood and Stavos fiascoes, this could happen- just out of spite.

Minnesota                Cap issues aside, with a net-minding tandem that includes Jose Theodore, there should be no need to even speculate. 

Anaheim                  Rumor has it they wanted Nabby, but he ain’t gangsta enough and has refused to purchase a mask with a gold grill.

Chicago                   No more room on their AHL affiliate for million dollar goaltenders.

Phoenix                   Owner Bettman won’t hear of it, keeps muttering “those who defect must be punished” in strange Slavic accent of unknown origin.

Colorado                  Absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t. Except that I am holding Joe Sakic hostage and will force him to snow blow my driveway if they mess with my Wings.

NY Rangers               Two Words: Glen Sather.

Montreal                   Two more words: Carey Price. This is not commentary on Carey’s skill and success in net. Its judgment.

Nashville                   Two more words: Pekka Renne. (This is commentary on Renne’s      amazing skill)

Washington               Have reached the little known, never publicized NHL Russian quota (established in 2002) referred to in secret circles as the “R5Q" (or "There will never be another Russian 5 in this league again Quota”) and may not pick him up.

Tampa Bay                Stevie Y. would never do this to Kenny, unless he expressly let him.

Boston                      Absolutely the only team in the League without the need. Thomas-Rask tandem is amazing.

Pittsburgh                 Team moratorium on any sort of relevant NHL activity until Sid’s head gets better.

Dallas                        Still laughing about the Modano signing, B. Hull doesn’t feel the need to kick his old team when its “down”.

Wings - Nabokov Deal: New and Interesting Theories Abound

Oh I love all of this! Excepting any ill effects toward or on the Wiz, the Nabokov rumor mill is by far the most fun -so far this year- that a girl can have without taking her skates off.

As you know, if you read my post yesterday, I had my theory on why this was going down and why Nabby would clear waivers:

Mainly because no one else was talking to him, and if anyone can work a "waiver proof" deal, it would be the Detroit Red Wing GM extraordinaire: Wylie E. Kenyote, E. Pluribus Holland.

Well now that we "know" the deal is a one year $570k contract, my theory might be dead....or not.

My bet now is that the Wings lowballed the contract knowing someone would pick him up off waivers and they have a side deal with another team to do just that. Say they have a side deal with Stevie Y. Tampa picks Nabby up off waivers, then releases him, Wings uh-  "nab" him. (ahem).

And while we are on the subject, Maybe we don't want him at all, but Stevie Y. does. Its totally plausible that the Red Wings are doing No. 19 a solid here. I am totally ok with that.

Oh there are other theories too!

Plenty of smart fans on various boards (say...."puck daddy")  have some lovely ideas, go ahead pick your favorite or tell me what you think.

One commenter speculated that the Devils will pick him up and trade him back for a draft pick.  But Lou addressed this one today and said "Why the faulk would I do that. We got our own problems, leave me alone."

Tyris commented that the Wings are merely doing Nabby a favor to get him back into the NHL, because they want him for next year. (This is my favorite idea, BTW, you know, ONLY if Oz retires.)

An anonymous commenter told us that Nitty was placed on IR after today's morning skate.... If the Wings don't have a side deal on the waiver process, I can't see how the Sharks could NOT pick Nabby up if he's still around at 12:30 tomorrow,  at bargain basement prices.   If this goes down I think that will be the end of any UFAs heading to Europe "to find themselves".(more on why at a later date.)

Another commenter argued the Blues should pick him up, just out of spite.. ahhh haaa: I say "Piss off, strong letter to follow."

Someone said one of my favorite Red Wings Bloggers,George Malik, has an interesting theory, but I can;t find it anywhere! If you have a link, send it.

What's your theory? What is your favorite?

For more fun, Left Wing Lock has the waiver order.

Nabokov headed for Detroit? What does it mean for Chris Osgood?

 Nabokov to Detroit? What does it mean for the Wizard of Oz?

If you weren't already scared of the Detroit Red Wings potential to head back to the SCF again this year, you ought to be quaking in your boots at this point as news breaks of a Wings-Nabokov deal that has been quietly brewing since - oh, November-ish, when Nabby first publicly stated he wanted to come back to the NHL.

People in the know were predicting this is where he would end up, and I have to say for Nabby its a helluva place to land. For the Wings and their fans I will be the first to say its bitter sweet.

For those of you who don't recall the 2008 playoffs, where Evengi Nabokov stood on his head, playing and winning in the clutch almost through the first two rounds- being the only saving grace on a surprisingly overrated San Jose team, or for those of you who haven't closely followed the Sharks for the past 5 years and don't know how time and time again Nabby saved their chum loving tushes, well heads up. He is the real deal. A goaltending stable including Nabby, Howard and future HHOF Chris Osgood should send every team in the league running for the locker rooms. 

oh wait. Faulk. Who in this league carries three starting goaltenders? It has never been the Wings style to carry three starting goaltenders, and I think we all know what that means. 

Truth is, if the Wings sign Nabby (and waivers are cleared), it probably means we have seen the last of the Wizard. The last of the loyal, hardworking, incredibly talented Kid Future HHOFer who saved our red asses year in and out, who stood on his head time and time again, in the clutch and brought us 3 Stanley Cups. The "Kid" who always gets tossed aside for the Big Name Goaltender, but ends up having lifetime stats as good or better than some such as the Dominator or CuJo. The "Kid" who succeeds in Detroit where BIG Name Goaltenders fall.

It will break my heart. You know I am protective of Ozzie. You know I think he is underrated by the league, the fans and often even his own team. I just want Wings to do right by him, and let him go out with class dignity and the respect he deserves. 

Some of you will say that I am jumping the gun and I hope you are right, because its true that I have no way of actually knowing what will happen to Oz if the Nabokov deal is finalized and waivers cleared.

After all with Oz out recovering from sport hernia surgery now anyway, we  need stellar talent in back up. We need to take some of the pressure off Jimmah, and frankly Oz has not been able to do that for over a year now.

Of course Nabby will take time to get back up to speed and into shape.  Maybe in the end, come March, what we will have is two veteran goaltenders, the best in the league, duke-ing it out for that back up spot. Not a bad situation for the Detroit Red Wings to find themselves in.

Stay tuned.There are Waivers to clear.But keep this in mind:  We all know how brilliant Wyle E. Kenote Holland is with his Cap space and creative deals. HEDHS, for all we know, Nabby will get a nice big one year check for his shot at seeing a cup and then pull a Hossa. I'm ok with that, except for the impact on Oz. 

Just for JUICE

From my NHL "Fact-A-Day" Calendar for January 17, 2011.

"Igor Larionov, a champion in Russia and in the United States, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. He won eight consecutive Russian league championships with CSKA Moscow from 1982-89 and three Stanley Cup Championships with Detroit in 1997-98 and 2002."

Just a little "Professor" love for you, Juice!

Hockey Recon lost an old friend.

Maruschka was one of the brightest stars, and she will be missed. You can read a loving tribute at the Daily Su:

Monthly NHL injury analysis - another month

A year-end (calendar rather than season - same thing for the Devils...) analysis, courtesy of LW Industries, can be located by using the following hypertextualised words:

Springing Malik: The Pain Game 2010/11 - Part Three

Osgood? HEDHS no- OSGREAT. Chris Osgood racks up 400 in a stunner

400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 After three gut wrenching periods and OT, with 50 damn good shots on goal and a 30-(er PLUS) something Ozzie standing on his head like a 25 year old kid, future HHOF Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings joins 10 of the best goaltenders in history to rack up his 400th win.

Not to mention a career high of 47-48(?) saves…

Congratulations Oz- Nobody Beats the Wiz. Nobody deserves this record more. Nobody deserves the accolades and congratulations that you will be receiving in the coming days.

Thank you Nic Lidstrom for that top shelf slapper which took our boys up 3-2 in regulation (and also jumping up in a couple record stats categories yourself). Thank you Nic for playing your heart out for Oz. You too Z. Holy shizz Z, that steal with 3 seconds???  ZZZZ!!! and MULE, you are a monster.  Berts- sniping like he’s 28 again. Don’t think we didn't notice. OH HOMER! coming back after the puck to the face? I am proud of you all. And I thank you for stepping it up despite a damn bench worth of injuries. Dats, Cleary, Modano, B-Raf (who am I missing?).

Do I feel bad for chastising all of you last week after tonight's show stopper? Hmm, uh, well, no. Sorry, we all know it would have been much sweeter for Oz to win at home. But I do forgive you.  And how about this- When called to arms, you the amazing Detroit Red Wings, never let us down. Thanks for not letting Oz down tonight.

AND FINALLY, THANK YOU KRONNER FOR THAT OVERTIME WINNER. Sure it was heart-wrenching to deal with overtime. I was only a little sick to my stomach, but I wasn't crying yet. Plus its indisputable that Oz looked to Great in Goal. Maybe his play elevated all of you tonight and you fed off each other's energy. Whatever it was, it was a gorgeous PP, picture perfect power play goal. Tic Tac toe baby. Assists by Nic and Z, all wonderful, a great effort. An Os-Great effort.

Nobody beats the Wiz. Nobody beats the Wiz.

Love ya Ozzie- Detroit Loves ya, Michigan Loves ya. We know you are one of the all-time best to ever guard a net.

Now go get Fuhr…And Stay Big. You are playing so well this month, we love it!

American bloggers making fun of the American stereotype

The Sleeping Giant

If you're taking this site at all seriously, then you're missing the entire point of it.

This is a USA - World Junior Hockey Championships blog. And it's run by two of the most sarcastic and caustically humored guys that you'll come across in the hockey blogging world. One is a Leafs fan who writes for Pension Plan Puppets on SB Nation, and the other has a general NHL blog, The Two-Line Pass (and contributes to Yahoo Sports' Puck Daddy blog), where he lampoons everyone pretty equally. Which should tell you everything you need to know about this particular blog.

This WJC blog isn't making fun of other countries. Not even close. They're making fun of their fellow Americans. They're intentionally playing up all of the bad American stereotypes and trying to be funny about it. So if non-Americans are getting all worked up over this site, then they joke's on them. That's not what it's about.

There isn't a lot of press or publicity here in the US when it comes to international hockey. So, they're working the ugly American gag to get attention. And, frankly, I think it's hysterically funny because it is so over the top.

So, sit back and enjoy Americans ripping into, and making fun of, Americans. And don't take it personally. Really. It's not that we're oblivious to what the rest of the world thinks of us. (Okay, some of us are.) It's just that most of us don't care about what the rest of the world thinks of us. (Though, some of us do actually care.)

Have a laugh on us. Or, on the US. Either way, it works.

Detroit Red Wings play abysmally, fail to honor Chris Osgood.

In the hundreds of Red Wings blogs I have written, I doubt you’ll find a truly negative word written about the Detroit Red Wing team, organization and its legendary players. I may occasionally call some players and coaches out, but not like I am about to do. In the 25+ years I have had occasion to be a Red Wings fan, this team hasn’t ever before disappointed me, excepting you know, parts of the mid 80’s. 

In 25 years this team hasn't ever disappointed me the way it did last night.

How could you? How could you let Ozzie down like that? Nic, Pavel, B-Raf, Z, Homer -Drapes? DRAPES! How could you? Yea, I am calling you all out. You all have been there with him through the great majority of his career. You all, better than anyone else, know how much Oz deserves to achieve this hall of fame-esque milestone.

What a faulking abysmal game, what a lackluster effort. Losing to Dallas? With Raycroft in net and Crawford on the bench? COME ON!! I am so disgusted, I can barely contain it.   

What is it? Do you just think once Oz in in goal, he can handle it all by himself? Did you just forget that this game could have been a historical momentous occasion? Or did you let Dallas school you? Hm?

BTW- this loss WAS NOT Ozzie’s fault. It was a clear breakdown of defense, sloppy puck handling and turnovers that you all should have been much, much sharper about. Oz stood on his head making the kind of acrobatic saves we usually only see when we are down in the 7^th game of a SCF.  Did you not see how amped he was, how "in it" he was the whole game, doing all the little things Oz does so well, like keeping the play going when any other goalie would have covered the puck, helping on the power play, mid air leaping saves? How did you all fail to see how badly he wanted this 400th win last night?

The rest of us saw it. And you boys broke our hearts. Good thing Oz's heart is bigger than all of ours combined.

And Coach Babs, don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t make it any easier on Oz. Look.  I get that you like to play with and mix up lines. And with the recent slump the boys are dragging their sticks through, I know mixing up lines is your go-to move. While I don’t always see the success in this strategy that some of my better learned hockey fan brethren do, I respect you and your talent and success enough to keep most of my grumbling to myself. But dammit- it wasn’t working for our D last night. 

Trouble is, the two points don’t really matter at this point in the season. What does matter is a career milestone. It was Oz that suffered. The most loyal, sincere, honest player on your team. The guy who cares as much about Detroit Red Wing Hockey as all of us combined. The guy who cares more about the Detroit Red Wing Fans, Family and Community than all of us combined.  Here is just one of a bazillion speeches Ozzie has given thanking and being grateful for all of the Red Wing Community.

It wasn’t just another mid-season, pre-holiday 2 point game. This was Number 400. A game that meant a lot to the one person who should have mattered the most yesterday: Chris Osgood.

The one guy who deserved to see his 400^th win at home, in front of a holiday sellout crowd, with his family and closest friends and teammates right there with him.

How could you let Ozzie down?  Ozzie.

The goaltender with the biggest heart, who fights adversity, wins in the clutch, who brought you (us) THREE Stanley Cups. The goaltender who has, time and time again, saved your asses when all your “super star” goaltenders had nothing left. The biggest heart, the most clutch goalie. And the most unsung future hall of fame deserving goaltender that ever will be.

This is Ozzie we are talking about.  Get your shit together boys, Coach. You owe him. We all do.

Shame on you. Can’t believe I ever had to say this. Can’t believe it relates to Ozzie.  

Kinda-Quarter mark reviews - update

Following a brief hiatus, our correspondents are (wo)manfully straining to complete the remaining team reviews this side of the playoffs.  Follow the LINK to see the latest updates.

Monthly NHL injury analysis

If you are so inclined (i.e. want to justify your team's bad start by pointing and whining about injuries), LW Industries has churned out a second analysis for 2010/11 at the following fine, fine location:

Springing Malik: The Pain Game 2010/11 - Part Two