Hartley Miller’s Slap-Shots January 13th, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 3:45 AM
Oh Canada! It’s mid-season in the NHL. The Canucks remain Canada’s best while the Oilers are the country’s worst. Here’s a brief look at each of the seven Canadian teams starting in the West:
(Stats are prior to Thursday games)
(Stats are prior to Thursday games)
Vancouver: The Canucks are in familiar territory, atop the division and the Conference. They are also just as strong on the road as at home. Vancouver is headed for its seventh 100-point season in the past nine years. The Sedins remain the most consistent duo in the league. Alex Burrows is the benefactor of playing with them leading the club in plus-minus (+ 18). Ex-Cougar Dan Hamhuis has been an anchor on the blue line and quietly is a + 12. Corey Schneider has slightly better numbers than Roberto Luongo, but the Canucks will be Luongo’s “train to navigate”. For the sake of the team, one of those two goalies needs to be moved albeit not necessarily this season. One of Vancouver’s biggest strengths is depth.
Bottom Line: It’s Stanley Cup or bust for the Canucks.
Bottom Line: It’s Stanley Cup or bust for the Canucks.
Calgary: This is another miserable season for the Flames. They hit rock bottom when they recently lost 9-0 in Boston. The Flames are 12th in the West and have given up 18 more goals than they have scored. If the 500 goal man, Jarome Iginla, agrees to a deal, the time has come to trade him for younger
players. So-called top defenceman Jay Bouwmeester has only two goals and is minus 11.
Bottom line: Prospects are bleak for the Flames.
players. So-called top defenceman Jay Bouwmeester has only two goals and is minus 11.
Bottom line: Prospects are bleak for the Flames.
Edmonton: After opening on a promising note, the Oilers are back in familiar territory, near the bottom of the Western Conference. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, like many of his teammates, has cooled off since an exceptional start. Captain Canada, Ryan Smyth, has been solid while youngsters Taylor Hall
and the injured Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have been terrific. Captain Shawn Horcoff,
at $5.5 million a season, has badly underachieved and is minus 14, the worst on the team.
Bottom Line: Another non-playoff season is in the works for the Oilers.
and the injured Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have been terrific. Captain Shawn Horcoff,
at $5.5 million a season, has badly underachieved and is minus 14, the worst on the team.
Bottom Line: Another non-playoff season is in the works for the Oilers.
Winnipeg: The pressure and expectations have been lessened with Winnipeg just enjoying having a team again. Naturally, the players and the fans want a playoff spot, and the team sits on the bubble. Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler have been the Jets most consistent players. Winnipeg’s top
defenceman, former PG Cougar Dustin Byfuglien, struggled with a minus 8 rating before his injury.
Bottom Line: The Jets are a middle of the road lunch bucket team without a superstar.
defenceman, former PG Cougar Dustin Byfuglien, struggled with a minus 8 rating before his injury.
Bottom Line: The Jets are a middle of the road lunch bucket team without a superstar.
Toronto: The Maple Leafs jokes are on hold. Toronto has shown vast improvement with Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul both surprisingly in the top five of league scoring. Most of the core players on the team have a plus rating. Yes, the Leafs can talk playoffs for a change. Whether they make it will be
determined in the stretch drive.
Bottom Line: With one of the better offences, the Leafs should remain competitive.
determined in the stretch drive.
Bottom Line: With one of the better offences, the Leafs should remain competitive.
Ottawa: Give new coach Paul MacLean credit for helping the Senators become one of the most
improved teams in the league. I am dumbfounded as to how Ottawa can sit 5th in the East while giving up more goals than they have scored. Can somebody explain how forward Erik Condra is +12 and defenceman Filip Kuba is +14. High scoring forwards Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson and rearguard Erik Karlsson have been excellent.
Bottom Line: The Senators will be hard pressed to maintain a playoff position.
improved teams in the league. I am dumbfounded as to how Ottawa can sit 5th in the East while giving up more goals than they have scored. Can somebody explain how forward Erik Condra is +12 and defenceman Filip Kuba is +14. High scoring forwards Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson and rearguard Erik Karlsson have been excellent.
Bottom Line: The Senators will be hard pressed to maintain a playoff position.
Montreal: It’s unfortunate the Habs biggest problem isn’t new coach Randy Cunneyworth’s ability to speak French. Even GM Pierre Gauthier told the media: “Our fans deserve better and it’s our team who needs to find a solution.” Goalie Carey Price has been sharp, but he needs to return to all-star form for this team to excel. Montreal lacks consistent offence. As an example, Lars Eller scored half of his eight goals in one game. Erik Cole is the top forward which helps explain why the Canadiens are 12th
in the East.
Bottom Line: The Habs are a long shot to return to the post-season.
in the East.
Bottom Line: The Habs are a long shot to return to the post-season.
In summary: I suspect Vancouver and at least two other Canadian teams will make the playoffs. Only two teams from Canada qualified last season, so slow growth is a reality. I am not sure if it would be reality to see the Maple Leafs in the playoffs. Some traditions need to continue.
From the Quote Rack:
The Canucks beat the Bruins 4-3 in a high-spirited rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final. Violence was mostly limited to four fighting penalties, two for unsportsmanlike conduct and three for misconduct — but enough about the streets of Vancouver.
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/
Vancouver is one of the cities chosen to receive a Lingerie Football League team. I have secured a pair in Section DD. (tickets that is)
The Vatican is hoping that Tebow won’t have to play against The Saints!
Comedy writer TC Chong http://www.dailycomedy.com/u/tcdag52
Tim Tebow says that Tom Brady is ‘someone I can learn from’. Heck, Rex Grossman is someone he
can learn from.
can learn from.
After Monday’s 21-0 shellacking at the hands of Alabama, LSU actually received a first place vote in the final poll. Isn’t that like Custer receiving a first place vote after Little Big Horn?
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Heck for anyone who switched over from the Alabama BCS game to "The Bachelor" many of the women Monday night definitely looked more aggressive than the LSU offense.
John Elway has to be feeling pretty good about telling Tim Tebow to “pull the trigger.” But if John’s going to toss around phrases like that, it’s probably a good thing the Broncos hadn’t traded for Plaxico Burress.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
With the BCS championship game over we can now finally say goodbye to College football, except for the court cases, suspensions and drug arrests.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says the next budget will be “prudent” which is like the NY Yankees saying they will spend “cautiously”.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com
Recently released statistics shows a drop in major crimes in New York City, except for strangulation. Authorities say they haven’t seen this much choking since the 2007 Mets season.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
The Walt Disney Co. is ready to submit a bid in the latest reported attempt to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Goofy has been running the team the last few years and he is in the middle of divorcing Grumpy.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
And in case you missed it:
Toronto Marlies forward Mike Zigomanis swears that nude photos on a website are not of him. He says those aren’t the sort of people he hangs out with.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.
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