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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Short Attention Span Blog
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here are a few “quick shot” topics to roll with:
It’s Like Deja vu All Over Again
The Thrashers go into Thursday’s game in Florida riding a five-game losing streak. Yes, they had an eight-game slide a few weeks back, but this one is five regulation losses in as many games. The last time that happened, of course, was at the beginning of the season…and then they then went on to lose their sixth consecutive.
Hmmm, what happened after that? Oh yeah…
Anyway, here is a quick comparison of the two streaks:
Back then the team was outscored 23-9. The current streak: 20-10.
Back then the team was outshot 110-173, (-64). The current streak: 113-187, (-74).
Might Be The First, Probably Not The Last
Ross McKeon of Yahoo Sports has posted a power ranking which places the Thrashers el-deadlasto. It’s the first such ranking that has come out recently that I have seen putting Atlanta at the bottom…but I’m sure it won’t be the last given how the Thrashers are…moving in the right direction…toward the league basement.
He poses a very good question in his comment for the home team.
To Touch Or Not To Touch
By now most of you have seen the injury that was sustained by Minnesota Wild’s defenseman Kurtis Foster last week as he was racing to the puck with San Jose Shark rookie Torrey Mitchell on an icing play. Foster’s left leg was broken in the collision.
The incident has spurred the conversation regarding whether or not the NHL should move toward modifying it’s icing rule, possibly going to a “no touch” policy. That would mean that icing would be called once the puck crossed the line, thus eliminating such chases and possible collisions.
While that would no doubt reduce injuries, I am not sold on the idea. This is the big league, after all, and I think players need to play. Taking away the full-tilt races to the boards to touch up or prevent an icing would remove one aspect of the game in which the speed and skating skill of the players are on full display.
In the kid’s league, no touch icing is acceptable due to the fact we don’t want our young-uns injured in such a fashion, but at this level … I say let ‘em race to it!
What’s your take?
Ducks Lay A Goose Egg
Did anyone catch the end of the Ducks-Sharks game last Friday? It was an exciting 2-1 win for San Jose in the Shark Tank. Jeremy Roenick scored the game winner at the 1:12 mark of the third and then the San Jose defense shut down the defending Stanley Cup champs the rest of the way.
And I mean SHUT THEM DOWN!
As in… ZERO, nuthin’, na-da, goose egg, zilch, bumpkis… NO shots on goal for the entire third period. The Sharks’ D said, “You’ll get NOTHING and LIKE IT”!
And we thought only getting off two against Washington was bad!
Now there is a defense I’m looking forward to watching in the playoffs.
Which brings me to…
Rawhide’s Playoff Team Adoption Center
OK, the Thrashers aren’t going into the playoffs but this blog is. So, whom are you going to be following into the spring tournament for Lord Stanley’s Cup?
Me…I love the Sharks out west. That team plays awesome team defense, as illustrated above, and only strengthened that blueline with the addition of Brian Campbell. Only Detroit gives up fewer goals per game, their penalty kill is 85.2 efficient, (second in the league), they give up only 24.1 shots a game, (that’s a third period for Atlanta), and Evgeni Nabokov is currently 43-20-8 with a 2.13 GAA and a .910 SV%. (These stats are prior to their game Tuesday night).
Sure, Detroit is the powerhouse, statistically speaking, and the Flames are always a sentimental favorite with me…but it looks like the Sharks are peaking at just the right time as they have gone 9-0-1 going into the game with the Coyotes.
In the east… I am very interested in seeing how Hossa and Dupuis do with Crosby and Co. and given the way Washington is playing right now they could cause problems for anyone if they get in.
But Montreal has my eye right now. Their power play is deadly…24.2% efficient and leads the league. The Habs traded away veteran net-minder Cristobal Huet to the Caps at the trade deadline, so they’re are placing a lot on the shoulders of 20 year old Carey Price. However the kid looks like he’s up to it as he is sporting a 20-12-3 record with a 2.71 GAA and .915 SV%.
So there…I’m out on the limb now with the Sharks and Canadiens as my adopted teams this spring.
There are plenty of others…who are you taking in?
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