League Leaders
Offense
Goals: Alex Ovechkin – 10
Assists: Henrik Sedin – 12
Points: Sidney Crosby – 17
Goalies
GAA: Josh Harding – 1.00
SV%: Tuuka Rask – .957
Wins: Antii Niemi – 8
Shutouts: Jean-Sebastian Giguere – 2
Other
Players Suspended: 7*
Games Lost Due to Suspension: 33*
(*Pending John Scott’s meeting with the Shanahammer)
Dope Things
Backup goalies!
Josh Harding – Harding started the season in Minnesota as a back-up for Niklas Backstrom but became the starter after Backs went down (typical Backstrom) 3 games into the season with a knee strain. Harding played in 9 games posting a 1.00 GAA and a .953 SV% before going down himself last night with an injury and being replaced by his back-up Backstrom. It’s like a snake eating it’s own tail.
Carter Hutton – Nicknamed “Tiki Hutt” by his teammates, Hutton has been strong in his first season as a first-string back-up for the Nashville Predators. He’s played in three games, won two of them, has a 1.37 GAA and a .959 SV%. Hopefully he can keep those numbers up because he’s going to be “in the shit” with Pekka Rinne being injured.
J.S. Gigure – Giguere has been excellent. It’s crazy. 3-0, .981 SV%, 0.67 GAA, 2 shutouts. It’s probably just another one of his streaks, but keep in mind his greatest streak won him a Conn Smythe trophy in ’03
The Coyotes
Last year I was like, “Sure am glad the Coyotes aren’t in the playoffs”. This year I’m like “Why are the Coyotes still so good?!”, although I know the answer is 2 words: RIBEIRO BABY! 9 points in 11 games, this guy is partly to blame for the Coyotes best start since the 2000-01 season.
Nope Things
Suspensions
CLEARLY THE NHL’S DISCIPLINARY TACTICS ARE NOT WORKING BECAUSE NOBODY GIVES A SHIT ABOUT MISSING 5 GAMES OR LESS.
Public Smack Talking
In one of my favorite stories of the early season, Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller called the visiting Edmonton Oilers a “junior team“. I mean, it’s kind of true but you probably shouldn’t be saying something like that to the media, especially before a game. So what happened? The Oilers beat the Canadiens 4-3 and Eller was to blame. Tsk Tsk
American of the Week
NOT Dustin Byfuglien, OR Craig Smith (this week)
Americans had a pretty good week. Phil Kessel had a hat trick, Craig Anderson had a good game, Bobby Ryan is fitting in behind enemy lines . BUT I’m gonna give American of the Week honors to one of the USA’s up and coming stars: Seth Jones. WHO?!
SETH JONES!
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Bye Byeeeeeee!
-T-bone