Official 2011-2012 NHL Regular Season Thread; Second Period

MJ5150 · #1 01-24-2012, 07:56 PM

Continuation from first thread. Carry on here guys.....

-Mike

MJ5150 · #2 01-24-2012, 08:53 PM

Seven in a row for the Pens as they beat the Blues in a shootout. Tough win too, the Blues play a physical brand of hockey and beat up on the Pens all night. Cooke got a boarding penalty, just his eighth penalty this season.

Nice to hit the break with a win. But I have to say it was funny seeing Fleury making snow angels. He did have a great game overall though.

Hopefully I can stay awake to see the rest of EDM/VAN.

-Mike

**Lazarus.Bird** · #3 01-24-2012, 09:04 PM

That boarding play didn't make a lot of sense. I see why the penalty was called but Cooke hit him on the side and he ended up going head first into the boards.

Great win for the Pens though. Glad to see Fleury playing lights out once in awhile!

jp58 · #4 01-24-2012, 09:08 PM

Preds end the last month and a half on an 18-5 stretch and notch Rinne's Franchise Record 9th straight win. Wilson adds his 10th and Nashville becomes the second team with 10 double digit goal scoring players. Good way to hit the break here in Nashville.

Anyone else care to put up mid-season awards predictions? I think I may start working on a small list for fun.

jp58 · #5 01-24-2012, 09:40 PM

Vezina- Has to be Henrik Lundqvist or (as much as I hate to say it) Jimmy Howard. They have very similar stats with very little difference in their GAA or %'s. The biggest difference comes in wins, but Howard has a distinct edge in games played. If you look at the percent of games played where the goalie's team picked up points or even pure winning percentage, the difference in wins is pretty negligible (71% for Lundqvist vs. 75% for Howard).

Calder- Call it homerism, or what have you, but the torrid output Smith had out of the gate has me sold on Smith as the Calder winner. Second choice here would be Matt Read as he leads all rookies in +/-.

Hart- Evgeni Malkin. He has led the Pens in the absence of Sydney Crosby as well or better than ever could've been expected of him. The team is still playing at a high level and I'm attributing a lot of that success to Malkin's ability to get it done.

Selke- David Backes. High shot blocked total, large number of hits, high +/-, and he continues to eat up ice time on a St. Louis team that finally appears to be returning to its former greatness.

Norris- Shea Weber. High plus minus, 3rd in goals scored with 10, 6th in assists with 24, and second in total points by a D-man. Not to mention the fact that he LEAD his team in scoring for most of the first half of the season.

Jack Adams- Barry Trotz has long been deserving of this award, but after losing most of his roster and having a few key players missing stretches, his team still sits in 5th place in the Western Conference and headed into the break 9-1 in the last 10 and 18-5 since December 1.

MJ5150 · #6 01-24-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

Great win for the Pens though. Glad to see Fleury playing lights out once in awhile!

Seriously. Bylsma is really using Fleury. Only two games off in the last seven weeks. I sure hope Fleury doesn't wear out come the playoffs.

-Mike

MJ5150 · #7 01-24-2012, 09:47 PM

Howard for the Vezina and Lidstrom for the Norris. Probably Datsyuk on the Selke again, but good call on Backes.

-Mike

Rage1331 · #8 01-24-2012, 09:49 PM

I would love to say Landeskog for the Calder, but unless he steps up in the next few months it wont happen.

Broadstbully22 · #9 01-24-2012, 10:21 PM

Way to early to start guessing awards.

burk48237 · #10 01-24-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadstbully22

Way to early to start guessing awards.

I agree. I do think you have to include Datsyuk in any Hart talk this year. Although I couldn't argue with Malkin. They ought to just rename the Norris trophy the Lidstrom trophy. I do believe he's the best ever, not knocking Orr in any way but 21 years at this level in todays more physical-faster NHL? His career is phenomenal, and he's played in the playoffs EVERY season!

dangnewt · #11 01-25-2012, 06:43 AM

So far this year
Backles - 37 points; 16 plus/minus
Bergeron - 43 point; 27 plus/minus

Last years winner (Kesler) had a line for the year of 73 points; 24 plus/minus

Am I missing anything here? Bergeron is already ahead in plus/minus and is on pace to exceed the point total. He has always been recognized as a leader on this team and he wears the big A on his jersey. He is the best 2-way forward on one of the best teams in the league.

iamlowsound · #12 01-25-2012, 06:47 AM

The Leafs pulled off another win last night. They have been playing good hockey since the Christmas break. Looks like you are going to need 93 points to make the playoffs in the East this year and it is going to be a tight race as 0 points separate four teams fighting for the last two spots.

lowsound

**Lazarus.Bird** · #13 01-25-2012, 07:06 AM

I'll take it! I have both RNH and Crosby hurt in fantasy so I grabbed Grabovski as a FA and he lit it up last night.

Here is the Cooke hit. He makes contact from the side and is looking Jackman right in the face when he makes contact, yet Jackman goes head first into the boards. I get the penalty but call BS if Cooke gets suspended, but of course I'm a Pens homer: 24 Jan 2012 Cooke hit on Jackman Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues NHL Hockey - YouTube

Bassman316 · #14 01-25-2012, 07:14 AM

Tardy to the party, but I'm a happy camper this morning since my Flyers finally won a shootout last night. Bob stepped up last night- good win!

netface · #15 01-25-2012, 07:16 AM

i don't know... cooke could see his numbers the whole way.

it looked worse than the ference hit and ference got 3 games.

iamlowsound · #16 01-25-2012, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

I'll take it! I have both RNH and Crosby hurt in fantasy so I grabbed Grabovski as a FA and he lit it up last night.

Here is the Cooke hit. He makes contact from the side and is looking Jackman right in the face when he makes contact, yet Jackman goes head first into the boards. I get the penalty but call BS if Cooke gets suspended, but of course I'm a Pens homer: 24 Jan 2012 Cooke hit on Jackman Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues NHL Hockey - YouTube

Grabovski has been playing really well lately.

lowsound

mkandolf · #17 01-25-2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

I'll take it! I have both RNH and Crosby hurt in fantasy so I grabbed Grabovski as a FA and he lit it up last night.

Here is the Cooke hit. He makes contact from the side and is looking Jackman right in the face when he makes contact, yet Jackman goes head first into the boards. I get the penalty but call BS if Cooke gets suspended, but of course I'm a Pens homer: 24 Jan 2012 Cooke hit on Jackman Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues NHL Hockey - YouTube

I agree Cooke hit Jackman from the side, no doubt about that, but it's the viciousness of the hit, exploding with the arms the way he did to finish him off into the boards, that I think gets him the suspension. That and his priors.

dangnewt · #18 01-25-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkandolf

......... and his priors.

Bingo!

In watching how the league has dealt with Marchand - the priors carry a lot of weight.

**Bipslapper** · #19 01-25-2012, 05:28 PM

As a B's fan, gotta say I am very impressed with Bergeron's play this season. He looks hungry.

MJ5150 · #20 01-25-2012, 06:16 PM

Whew....4-0 Montreal after one. Detroit mailed it in tonight and started the all-star break early. Embarrassing effort from the Red Wings. I wouldn't want to be in Babcocks locker room right now.

-Mike