Habs vs Leafs
Montreal was the better team in the first period….
Especially the kid line; Gallagher, Eller & Galchenyuk; hands down the best
top line in night one of the NHL. Lars Eller could have a breakout season.
James Reimer despite struggling in period one; was the better
of the two goalies. Price at times looked lost; exactly the same way he looked
last year. Reimer was ok at times; but was great late in the came to close the
door on the Habs.
Now lets talk about; with what I’m sure everyone already is.
The second fight between George Parros and Colton Orr; it’s more than knowledge
that two years ago Orr was Ko’d by Parros. We all know it wasn’t Orr but the
ice that Ko’d Parros. My bone to pick is this; who’s really to blame for the
second fight occurring? That’s right PK Subban. All of a sudden with Parros in
town; Subban thinks he’s the NHL’s toughest defender. Orr was going for the
puck; and it was a quick whistle; but Subban even when the refs were in the
middle of them; kept going at Orr. I feel sorry for Parros; cause night in
night out; he
Hawks vs Capitals
Despite winning 6-4; one obvious that came out of this game
is the Hawks MUST be more aggressive on the penalty kill; Caps went 3-5 on the
PP; and was dominate at it.
Braden Holtby was wonderful at times; but then he looked
like a below average goalie at times as well; the game winner was horrible goal
to let in.
Both teams may not be at the top of the league in fighting
majors at year end; but they’ve both increased their team size this year; allot
of solid, clean body contact in this game.
Oilers vs Jets
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Both of these teams, most
little if no improvement on their blueline and it showed last night.
Oilers first
No disrespect to Andrew Ference; I think he’s a great captain
for a young Oilers teams. But ladies and gentleman he was at times a #6 de-man
for the Bruins; and on any other team is maybe just maybe a #3; but should be a
#4 de-man.
I can’t say I’ve sat down and watched Justin Schutlz very
closily; but did for this game. All I can say is one dimensional. He maybe a
40-50 point blueliner, but he is clueless and I mean clueless in his own end;
on the 5-4 goal for Winnipeg, I counted it, in a 10 second shift decides not to
get down and block a shot; sits there watching 3 defenders within 3 feet of him
without even attempting to clear one of them..
No matter what Mark Lee or Kelly Hrudey wants to think;
David Perron is not a gritty forward. The former St. Louis Blue might be pesky;
but to claim he is what the Oilers need for grit in their top six? If that is
their thinking; that is while they’ll be a non-playoff team yet again
Jets
Truba looks like a stud; but to me, if Claude Noel knows
what he’s doing; he’ll breakup Byfuglien and Enstrom and put one with Truba and
the other with Boogasian. Having to puck moving offensive defenseman as one pairing,
can and will lead to disaster. Paul
Postma had a rough night; showing why he’s a below average defenseman. The Jets
must improve their blueline; with another stay at home reguard.
Michael Frolik to me was one of the best off season moves a
team can make. A premium third liner; who is one of the best penalty killers
and can be a 20 goal scorer, if the team stays healthy.
Goaltending and
own zone coverage
Two of the main reasons neither the Jets nor Oilers will
make the playoffs is their own zone coverage. At times it’s a fire drill gone badly;
everyone converging to the front of the net not taking anyone out. The other
reason is goaltending. Both Dubynk and Pavelic are not and will never become
top flight goaltenders. Allot of bad goals were allowed in all 3 games; but both
Dubynk and Pavelic let in horrendous goals, both at times looked like the
second coming of Vesa Toskala.
Two new throwback
blue-liners
It’s been many years since we’ve seen two nasty, burly defenseman
come along; but it’s a refreshing change. Both Jacob Truba & Jarrett
Tinordi; are throw backs to what we seen allot of in the 90’s and into the
early 2000s. Truba reminds me of Scott Stevens, why Jarrett reminds me of his
father Mark Tinordi. While we have some bruising blue liners, these two will be
front and center for the next decade.
