Weekly TV Viewer Guide - Week of 1/24/11

Monday - NY Rangers @ Washington Capitals - 7:30PM - Versus

It's always a tight and physical game whenever the Capitals (5th in the East) and Rangers  (7th in the East) meet. The Capitals are coming home after a three game road trip with two wins and an overtime loss and are 5-3-2 in their last 10. Alexander Ovechkin scored a hat trick in Saturday night's 4-1 win at Toronto. The Rangers are 6-4-0 in their last 10 and are coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Atlanta. The teams have split the two meetings at Madison Square Garden and this is the first of two meetings at the Verizon Center. Each have one game after this (NYR - Tues vs. Florida / WAS - Wed @ Atlanta) before the All-Star break.

 

Things are always close when Philadelphia and Montreal get together

Tuesday - Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers - 7 :30PM - Versus

The Philadelphia Flyers have a league-best 69 points going in to Tuesday's game against Montreal. Montreal is in 6th place in the East with 59 points and is 6-1-3 in 2011. Philadelphia is even hotter, going 9-2-0 since we've changed calendars, and exacted revenge on the defending champion Blackhawks in Chicago yesterday. This will be their 4th and final match-up of the season. Philly is 2-1 against the Habs this season, but Montreal played it close 3-2 in their November meeting at Wells Fargo. For both, this is their last game before the All-Star break.

Wednesday - New Jersey Devils @ Detroit Red Wings - 7:30PM - Versus 

While this season has been an abomination for the Devils, the tide is starting to turn in Newark. The Devils have won four in a row and six of their past seven after shutting down the Panthers at the Prudential Center yesterday. Detroit is 5-4-1 in the new year and received some bad news when the Islanders stole G Evgeni Nabokov from them in the waiver process. This will be their 2nd and final meeting of the season before both head in to the All-Star break. Detroit won 4-1 in New Jersey back in December.

Thursday - NO HOCKEY - NHL ALL STAR BREAK

 

Friday - NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft - 8PM - Versus

Team Lidstrom: Captain - Red Wings D Nicklas Lidstrom; Alternate Captains - Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane and Lightning RW Martin St. Louis

Team Staal: Captain - Hurricanes C Eric Staal; Alternate Captains - Capitals D Mike Green and Cancuks C Ryan Kesler

Coaches: Peter Laviolette of the Flyers and Joel Quenneville of the Blackhawks (Stanley Cup coaches from last year)

Here is the remaining pool of players they will be picking from;
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=66980

Saturday - Honda NHL All-Star Game Superskills Competition - 7PM - Versus
The competitions and the rules, participants TBD:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157

Sunday - 2011 NHL All Star Game - 4PM - Versus

I can't really preview something when I don't know what the rosters are yet. That being said, this new format should lead to a fun, exciting game to watch. The NHL is finally starting to get things right. First the Winter Classic, now this. For the first time in a long time, the NHL All-Star game has a little bit of juice.

Random Musings

Saku Comes Home

Big props to the Montreal Canadiens fans for their warm welcome of Ducks C Saku Koivu. Koivu spent 13 seasons in Montreal, nine of them as team captain (who happens to be tied with Jean Bealiveau for longest-tenured captain), consistently produced, played with a blue-collar ethic, was a true leader, and was fan-friendly. There has never been a more popular, non native-Canadian Habs player ever.  The feeling is more than mutual. Koivu was admittedly nervous before this game, and described the plane's decent in to Montreal as if felt like he was coming home.  It's nice to see when a fan base truly appreciates what a player did for the team.

 

Evgeni Nabokov Waiver Wildness

While some people may see this is as an athlete being a baby, it really isn't. The Red Wings signed him for cheap (a very smart decision by GM Ken Holland, one of the best in sports) and had the back-up goalie Detroit needed for a the remainder of the season. The problem is he had to clear waivers first. The New York Islanders, who have  major goaltending issues themselves, are ahead of the Red Wings and claimed him. Nabokov can decline to report, and that's what he did. On the surface, this is a case of "Beggars being Choosers". The Islanders have the 3rd worst record in the league, the Red Wings are a top team in the West. Of course Nabokov is going to be disappointed. But why should he report to a team who will only play him when Rick DiPietro can't play (although that could be often), while the Red Wings would play him about 20 times down the stretch, in meaningful games, as Jimmy Howard gets back to top form. The Isles did send a private jet to pick him up in Oakland, so it's not like they aren't trying.

 

Marc Savard Heading Home

Marc Savard has only 2 goals and 8 assists this season. The reason is because he's only played in 25 games. Savard suffered ANOTHER head injury in yesterday's win over the Avalanche. Savard was hit into the corner boards by Avalanche D Matt Hunwick at the 3:19 mark, causing his head to snap into the glass. He was bleeding from the face as he was helped to the team's locker room. Savard missed 23 games this season already due to post-concussion syndrome and had just returned early last month. He's had numerous head injuries in the past, and at some point, he has to think about retiring before long-term damage is done (if it hasn't happened already).

 Peter Forsberg returning?

Ahh yes, the somewhat frequent Peter Forsberg quest back to the NHL. Although with Forsberg, it's much less annoying than when Brett Favre or Mats Sundin does it. You get the feeling he's doing it for all the right reasons. Forsberg would be a perfect veteran presence on a young team. Forsberg is a hockey icon in Denver and it would be a great PR move, too. Forsberg joining the team in February means you'll get his best 3-4 months in one spurt. In a tight Western Conference, he could be the difference in playing in to May.

 

 Will the real Alexander Ovechkin please stand up?

It's only one hat trick, and it's against the awful Maple Leafs, but has Alex Ovechkin finally woken up? It was his first multi-goal game since October 30th. While Ovie has delivered in the assists department (32 for the season - good for 13th in the league) at his usual numbers, his goal total leaves a lot to be desired (19 - good for a tie for 17th in the league). He manages to tie for 8th in points at 51, but he's paid to score goals. Maybe his performance at the Air Canada Center gets him going at the right time in the season for the Caps.

Random Trend

Take a look at the standings in each conference. Among non-playoff teams, the only two that are positive in the goal differential are Los Angeles (+16, makes sense) and the Florida Panthers (+3)...yes the Panthers. While there won't be any playoff games in Sunrise, FL this season, they are a young bunch that's starting to gel on the ice.  G Tomas Vokoun's five shutouts ranks 3rd in the league and keeps them in every game. They're a tough out every night. Florida is a game above .500 while only being 8 points out of 8th in the East.

The current playoff teams that are a negative in goal differential: (Tampa Bay -8; Atlanta -9; Anaheim -7)

Tale of the Tape: Tim Thomas vs. Carey Price

The Bruins-Canadiens rivalry is just as good as ever with both having top-notch netminders

GAA: Tim Thomas - 1.77* / Carey Price 2.38


Wins: Carey Price 21 / Tim Thomas 19


Shutouts: Tim Thomas 6* / Carey Price 4


Save Percentage: Tim Thomas .946* / Carey Price .919


Games Played: Carey Price 39* / Tim Thomas 30

* = leads league

Both are Vezina candidates and both have their respective teams dominating the Northeast Division (two points separates the Bruins in 3rd place and the Canadiens in 7th). Both goalies were lights out two years ago and had down years last season. All of the numbers point to Tim Thomas being the better goalie. So why would I pick Carey Price over Thomas? This may sound simple, but age. Tim Thomas is 36, Carey Price is 23. I would much rather have fresh legs for the grind of the playoff season. Plus, I feel like Carey Price thrives on the pressure of being the man. Last year, he had Jaroslav Halak breathing down his neck. This year, it's all on him (no shot of the Habs going to Alex Auld), and Price looks like he's in top-notch form with each start. Tim Thomas is playing fantastic hockey, but Price is my pick.



Why Martin Brodeur Should Be Traded

New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello is in denial about the state of his own team. Sure, he knows they have a league-worst record at 10-28-2 (good for 22 points, next lowest team is the Islanders with 30 points). But firing a rookie head coach, trading away your captain (Jamie Langebrunner to the Stars this past week), and having a huge signing blow up in your face usually means you're rebuilding. Lamoriello sees it another way:

"I despise the word 'rebuilding,"' Lamoriello said in a conference call. "We have to look at the reasons why we're in this position. Maybe it's talent. Maybe it's chemistry. We have to be very careful and look at the big picture."

Before I go any further, lets point out that the Devils haven't missed the playoffs since the 1995-96 season (a year after winning their first Stanley Cup); have won two Stanley Cups since then, an additional conference championship, and nine Atlantic Division championships. That is quite the run. But all good things must come to an end, and a rebuilding phase for this franchise has finally come. 


Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goalie to ever play the game. He's spent 19 seasons with the Devils, won three Stanley Cups, two gold medals, four Vezina trophies, five Jennings trophies, the Calder, ten All-Star Game appearances, and has only missed the playoffs once since becoming the Devils cornerstone. He owns the league records for wins, shutouts, appearances, and numerous franchise records. While age has caught up with Brodeur and he's not the goalie he once was, on a good team he would still be able to backstop a deep playoff run. New Jersey won't be making the playoffs this season. He has no value to this team for this season and won't over the next few seasons. When asked in a conference call if there were any thoughts of trading the franchise goalie, Lamoriello answered with "No" and then moved on

To teams like the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, or San Jose Sharks, he could be priceless.

The worst option for Brodeur would be Ottawa. While their goalie situation of Pascal Leclaire-Brian Elliott, an upgrade is needed. They are currently in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and 9 points out of 8th, but there is still half the season remaining and he would make them a playoff contender. It would be ironic to see Brodeur go here considering the playoff battles the Devils and Sens have had over the years.

A better destination would be San Jose. The Sharks have been one of the league's top teams over the past five seasons but could never get over the hump. While netminder Evgeni Nabokov wasn't bad, he was never capable of taking the team to the next level. Brodeur would certainly be a better option that Antero Niittymaki or Antti Niemi and the Sharks lack a veteran with championship experience. Marty comes with loads of that. San Jose is in 6th place in the West and six points out of the Pacific Division lead. 

The best option would be the Washington Capitals. They are the closest to winning the Stanley Cup of the three teams mentioned.  The Caps are in 5th place in the East with 52 points and are a single point out of the Southeast lead. The young goalie duo of Semyon Varlamov (pictured above) and Michal Neuvirth have both had their moments this season (Varlamov has come on as of late. Brodeur knows the teams in the East, and the Capitals would get the benefit of being Cup-capable this season and for the long run with one of their younger options.

What about from the Devils perspective? While Marty's stats aren't great this season (5-18-1, 3.15 GAA, .882 save percentage), he has still posted three shutouts and hasn't had the top quality of defensemen in front of him this season (New Jersey has been banged up on the blueline). Lamoriello would fetch quite the ransom in return to get the Devils back on track quicker. I recognize that Brodeur is the franchise's best player ever and they will probably never have a player again that is as great and as popular as he is, but keeping him around isn't helping either side. If Ray Bourque can leave Boston to win a Stanley Cup, why can't Brodeur go somewhere else to help a  franchise win it all?

I know it's tough to trade someone that's been the heart and soul of this franchise for almost two decades, but sometimes decisions need to be made with your head, not your heart. Lou Lamoriello has never been a man to make decisions with his heart, now is not the time to start.