Unless you have been checking the NHL.com standings more often than a TSN intern, you'll have noticed that the standings just aren't what they used to be. It's like the Bizzaro world episode of Seinfeld. The South East division is now relevant, the Pittsburgh Penguins are out of the playoffs, and top it off , the Chicago Blackhawks would play the Phoenix Coyotes at the 4-5 spot if the playoffs started today.
How did this all happen? OK, well the South East division is basically the Alex Ovechkin show, so let's not go into details on that one. The Pittsburgh Penguins being out of the playoffs, now that's something you don't see everyday! Sure they are only two points out of the playoffs, but they are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games, and through the holidays they went 1-7 for a stretch. During that stretch they allowed 33 goals in 8 games, for a GAA of 4.125. Ryan Whitney came back during that run and he has been a -8 player playing 25 minutes per game. Does this mean that when Gonchar comes back they will plummet to Senator-like play?
The Chicago Blackhawks have slowly crawled out of their basement apartment in the Central division to become on of the bandwagon teams of the last two years (the other being Washington, oh and have you noticed all the Bruins fans lately?). The 'Hawks are being outscored by only the Sharks, Wings and Bruins, (when you consider the Caps have 4 games on them and the Flyers have 2) there's something to be jovial about.
And how about those Phoenix Coyotes, the addition of Olli Jokinen seems to have invigorated the youngest team in the league. A year ago people were calling for Wayne Gretzky to step down and join the ranks of the "Great players but brutal coaches" (which everyone seemed to WANT to label him as) but he has showed them that he really knows what he is doing; just look at his former assistant, Rick Tocchet as the head coach of the 7-3-0 Lightning. It's great to see the Great One getting credit where it is due. I think he should be in the running for coach of the year along with Claude Julien, Joel Quenneville and of course Todd McLellan.
And, most of all, my Dallas Stars are back in it! Only two points out of a playoff spot and firing off a shutout win last night, the Stars seem to have turned the ship around. Slowly climbing out of the worst start in franchise history, this team looks poised to make a run in the playoffs, talk about a team you wouldn't want your San Jose Sharks to face in the first round.
How about Pogge last night? Give me your thoughts, I've seen him play a lot and I personally do not think he is the guy just yet for the Leafs, but what do you think?
1 comment:
I think pogge should get more playing time in the bigs. Yes, he will get shelved because the leafs sucks, but one game in every ten or so should help him develop and get used to the speed of the nhl. I dont think he's improving all that much in the ahl (leafs prospects are never the greatest, and the good ones are usually traded). So why not try him out, he's shaky but he's still young and playing for the worst team the leafs have seen in years (and they havent won since 67!).
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