Now that every game counts ...
by jamestobrien on Jan 27, 2009 12:20 PM PST
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PrintThe Stars host the Atlanta Thrashers tonight. It's oddly fitting that these two teams will meet right after the All-Star break, since those two Southern markets hosted the last two All-Star games before Montreal.
(File that tidbit under "Things Even Less Relevant than the All-Star Game.")
Mike Modano and Stephane Robidas will come back from All-Star appearances, along with Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk. The big news out of HOTlanta lately is the team crowning Kovalchuk as its captain. It might not be enough, but at least they're trying to show their appreciation for the Russian star.
My suggestion to the Thrashers: hold onto Kovie for dear life. He's easily one of the best snipers in the game (right behind Alex O and Heater, I'd say). Who knows what could happen if the Thrashers win the Tavares sweepstakes? Perhaps lady luck will shine on Atlanta in the long run.
As for the Stars, these are the games that could make-or-break their playoff run. Atlanta is an inferior team from the Eastern Conference. It's a home game. Anything short of a win must be considered a failure.
It's also their easiest game for quite a while. After tonight, the Stars will almost certainly be squashed by an angry Detroit team who will enjoy the "return" of suspended All-Star hookey players Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. They will be motivated (and they're at home). After DET it's a trip to Hitchcockland against the CBJ's, a big game against one of the Stars bubblemates.
If the Stars can pull four points out of the next three games, they'll be in very solid shape going into the friendliest part of their schedule. With 10 of their 13 games at home in February, the Stars should know quite soon if they can take advantage of their 35 percent odds to make the playoffs.
- Check out Cycle like the Sedins for a very BoC-relevant debate that might just amount to Pronger vs. Niedermayer.
As just about any hockey fan with half a brain would surely agree, Nicklas Lidstrom is a no-brainer as one of the two best D of the decade. But who fits into that No. 2 slot? Could it be "Stompy" or Scott Niedermayer? Or perhaps someone I snubbed like Sergei Zubov?
- Sean Avery's contract was listed as the Stars' "scary contract." Obviously, the Avery signing has been an Alexei Yashin-ian disaster, but looking at the Stars overall roster numbers it's a mixed bag.
Later this week I'll do a rundown of some of the worst and best contracts in the division.
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With 10 of their 13 games at home in February, the Stars should know quite soon if they can take advantage of their 35 percent odds to make the playoffs.
Heh, I like how much more optimistic you seem about a 35% chance — of course, with the start the Stars had, I suppose that’s better-than-expected for the ASG-break.
Want to rent-a-Niedermayer?
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I’d have to give it to Pronger on merit, but then I would suspend him from this all-decade team, and his replacement would be Neidermayer, I think.
I don’t put too much stock into his Hart trophy (I mean, hell, even Jose Theodore won one of those!), but damn if he can’t take over a game. If the Oilers win that stanley cup, I think Pronger easily goes home with the Conn Smythe. He’s a great defenseman who excels in every aspect of the game, and can singlehandedly dominate long stretches of games. The only real thing that Pronger lacks is any amount of class.
Plus, I gotta think that Neidermayer’s playoff beard has got to give him some points too.
If the Oilers win that stanley cup, I think Pronger easily goes home with the Conn Smythe.
If if weren’t for the technicality that the Ducks won twice while Pronger was serving a Lidstrom-length suspension, I think he would have easily won the following year’s Conn Smythe, also. Scott Niedermayer is a nice player, a nice leader, and scored some big goals, but Scott wasn’t on the ice for twice as many goals-for as he was for goals-against. In fact, Scott was on the ice for more goals-against than goals-for, but hey, at least he kept his elbows down nicely.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Thats true, I’d agree with you there. I noticed him a lot more through that Wings series than I did Niedermayer, even discounting that half the time it was cause he was trying to decapitate someone.
No love for Jay-Bo?
What’s it take to get some Southeast attention in this league?
The Litter Box: Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus
What’s it take to get some Southeast attention in this league?
I’d guess that 24 more teams would have to skip out on the All Star game. (I kid).
But hey, Bouwmeester did get some mentions in the Ducks post below today. Not in the good sense, but more in the sense of “let’s trade Pronger away and make a UFA bid on this kid who’s been hiding in Florida”. (Less kidding this time).
http://www.battleofcali.com/
What is this “Southeast” you speak of? That where the old couples do those cruises? :-)
I can already hear the cycle renewing if Jay-Bo and Kovalchuk leave the division.
Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
Believe it or not, Jay Bouwmeester has been on my radar for years. Sure, it might be because he’s sneaky awesome in video games, but still.
Even though I don’t really have a wildly different choice for the second D, I guess I’ll wait to announce my pick on the blog. Here’s a hint, though: it IS one of the Norris brothers.
No offense to anybody, but why are the Stars covered in the BoC? And why are they in the Pacific division, and Vancouver (a true Pacific Ocean team) isn’t?
Fuck you, Denis Gauthier
No offense to anybody, but why are the Stars covered in the BoC?
It’s a combination of things: relevance to BoC teams, a strict unwillingness to make rules about this blog, and so we had something to talk about after the 2nd round last spring.
And why are they in the Pacific division, and Vancouver (a true Pacific Ocean team) isn’t?
That one I have a tougher time answering. Blame Canada.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
That one I have a tougher time answering. Blame Canada.
It’s like in the NFL. Dallas has always been in the NFC East. But from 1970 to 2001, Atlanta and New Orleans were both in the NFC West. For those of you who aren’t geographically inclined, Atlanta is 718 miles more east than Dallas, and New Orleans is 450 miles more east than Dallas, and there probably isn’t a soul in the world with a functioning brain that would place Atlanta and New Orleans in the West.
Fuck you, Denis Gauthier
Yeah I hate other sports' conferences
besides the NBA but I can’t stand pro basketball.
But the MLB and NFL have the most annoying conference-setups. I understand they’re trying to keep teas from the former AFL in the AFC and from the former NFL in the NFC but goddamn… just localize the conferences already. Pittsburgh in the AFC and Philadelphia in the NFC? They could have a great rivalry but instead they play each other once every 4 years. And the MLB… well jesus effing christ, 14 AL teams and 16 NL teams – fix the damn system, it’s unfair, and this is coming from an Angels fan (the Angels currently benefit from the broken system). At least interleague play is somewhat localized (ex. Angels play the Dodgers 3 – 6 times every year, I believe).
People who save up for a rainy day are like milk. And milk goes good with cookies, so you should have those people over for cookies.
And yeah I know a lot of people hate the NHL for having teams like Detroit and Chicago in the Western Conference… but really there’s only like 7 or 8 teams that are truly in the western half of North America, so it’s necessary. You can’t complain about the conferences AND complain about westward expansion at the same time, Eastern fans.
People who save up for a rainy day are like milk. And milk goes good with cookies, so you should have those people over for cookies.
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
54 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 68 |
|
Los Angeles
|
57 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 65 |
|
Phoenix
|
57 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 63 |
|
Dallas
|
56 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 59 |
|
Anaheim
|
56 | 23 | 24 | 9 | 55 |
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