Shallow Frozen Water

armchair with Kleenex and hot beverages on the side

my head has grown to twice it’s normal size so i’m not sure how long i’ll be able to write this morning.  if this stops abruptly then you know the reason.  to make matters worse i was actually out at a Christmas concert for Steve Bell (a local Christian artist with his own label, and a friend) where he teamed up with the Winnipeg Symphony for the night.  it was pretty cool actually and i was volunteering for him selling CD’s during the intermission.  anyway, that means that i missed the Leafs/Habs last night and only got home in time to see the OT and shootout for the Oilers/Canucks.  CBC now airs a recap of both games after the games themselves so i got to see some of the important stuff before dozing off.

Saku Koivu got past the “schneid” with a puck that bounced in off a defender’s foot last night.  he hadn’t scored since Nov 17 but that bouncing puck must’ve primed something in the puck because he pocketed a “real” one in the 2nd period.  Saku has always been an assist guy anyway where 22 goals is his career high for a season so what’s the real point in complaining that he hasn’t scored goals?  he’ll be fine and i’d be happy to have him as a C2 or C3 in just about any league around.

Andrei Kostitsyn “hog-tied” Bryan McCabe, grabbed him around the neck and threw him against the boards … apparently.  i didn’t hear the talking heads discussing this after the game but it just looked like a simple hold or obstruction to me.  i think that Paul Maurice is just pissed that the guy making the most mistakes on his D is now shelved and he has no insulation against losing now.  not that McCabe is the reasons for the Leafs troubles, he’s just had the most fingers pointed at him.  McCabe is done for 8 wks or so with three broken bones in his hand.  if you’ve been following my advice to trade for McCabe while his value is low, obviously stop doing that now.

Andrei Kostitsyn might be a decent fantasy option one day.  Mike Komisarek is going to be a very good PIMy D option and an All Star some season very soon.  Carey Price is an option that should already be on your team if he isn’t, he’ll be the starter for the Habs THIS season, and not because Huet is injured.  i saw that Mark Streit was listed as a forward last night, what’s up with that?  i was half asleep watching the recap so i must’ve been seeing things but at the same time he played at forward a little bit last season so it’s not so far fetched to happen again.

Fredrik Sjostrom and Martin Hanzal each had 3 pts as the Yotes beat up on the Devils.  2 of Hanzal’s 3 pts were special teams points including a shortie goal.  i think Hanzal could really be a special player in a few years.  does anybody else hear the Bugs Bunny cartoon about Hansel and Gretel whenever somebody says his name  (Hansel?  HANsel?)?  that’s an auditory joke that i’m not sure will be pulled off online, just like sarcasm is hard to pull off sometimes.

it’s interesting to me that Steve Ott is on the ice late in a one goal game so that he gets an empty net goal, and this after having 2 minors earlier in the 3rd period.  it says to me that the Stars like to play rough when protecting a lead.  well, it worked.  Ott won’t score much but he’s one of the best tough guys around.

Kris Letang got more ice time than Ryan Whitney last night.  Whitney is still reaching the score sheet more often but a changing of the guard looks to be possible on the horizon.  would i take Letang over Whitney right now?  no but the time will come.

Richard Park has never been a better than average player, and yet he’s getting some PP time for the Isles.  i still want no part of him, neither do you.

Dany Sabourin is not very good historically.  i’d expect Ty Conklin to get some decent starts for the Pens while they wait for MAF to return.

Tim Connolly has 25 pts in 26 games but he still has the injury issues in his history and he isn’t scoring goals.  i was asked who i would prefer Connolly or Dustin Penner in a league that rewards for goals more than assists and i easily took Penner.  Connolly will score more pts than Penner this season but there are few goals coming his way so far.  i hope he goals on a streak or something ’cause he doesn’t want to get labelled as a Craig Janney wannabe.  now if he can get Vanek, Afinogenov or Pominville scoring some goals then i’m sure that the Sabres would take it and run.

Patrick Sharp has more value to guys in SHP category leagues, he’s dangerous at any time.  Patrick Kane played his first NHL game in his hometown of Buffalo and got himself a goal.

who told Joffrey Lupul that he was good?  he went through a solid season lost in Edmonton after 28 goals in Anaheim two years ago.  i still have concerns about his defensive responsiblity but i could see 30 goals out of him this season.  he’ll take R.J. Umberger with him.  Scott Hartnell sure took long enough to show up eh?  he’s gone a bit snaky with the PIMs of late and i love that.  you’ll hear his name more often this season because he’ll still get close to 20 goals and maybe 150 PIMs?  that’s significant to your fantasy team.

i told you it was going to be Alex Auld in Boston.  everybody loves an “i-told-you-so-er”, and that IS a word, i just made it up.  Auld with a shuttie (Kevin James is a hockey fan).

not much to say about the game in Ottawa last night.  Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley are both GREAT goal scorers.  and with that we have another pearl of wisdom from Captain Obvious.  Mark Recchi is a really nice addition for the Thrashers and i think that 20 goals is still possible for him, he’s got a long way to go though.

Jiri Hudler must be noticed by you immediately.  his PP opportunities are happening, and he’s responsible defensively.  i wish the Red Wings would just give the majority of their starts to Dom Hasek and just see things like i do.  i saw that the Wings won and then immediately got all pissy when i saw they started Osgood again.

Brian Pothier 1 and 1; Tom Poti +1, 22:17 ice time; Mike Green 21:58, -2, 1 SOG.  that doesn’t look good for Green’s chances for more PP time.  i still like him to bust out a bit for the Caps simply because i don’t trust Pothier and Poti to contribute great amounts with the extra man.

everybody talks about Paul Ranger as the Lightning’s best D with Dan Boyle on the shelf but i personally prefer Filip Kuba.  he has 6 PPP to Ranger’s 3, he shoots nearly as much and the 3 fewer goals won’t stay that way.  when/if Boyle returns to the lineup then Ranger will return to the PK more and Kuba will man the other point on the PP.

Peter Budaj is the better goalie in Colorado.  can we all just admit that now please?  dude’s just plain underrated.  Ian Laperriere is a PIMy option who’ll get you 30-40 pts on the season.  i offered him to a buddy a couple weeks back and got rebuffed with him saying “you could find all sorts of waiver wire guys like him anyway”.  truth is, you can’t.  Sean Avery was the only forward who had more PIMs and points than Ian Laperriere last season, even Chris Neil had fewer points than Lap.

Sam Gagner lost control of the puck in the shootout so he wasn’t able to show his magic.  the Oil still managed to win in a SO again.  Fernando Pisani got the SO winner.  Shawn Horcoff continues to play great and be a shining star amid a bunch of “ok” players.

Bobby Lou should be back for the Canucks next game, Tuesday.  thanks for your help Curtis Sanford.  Mathias Ohlund with the nuck’s only goal on the night, assisted by the twins.  we haven’t heard enough from Ohlund or Salo this season and i need them both to contribute more.  the Canucks need Kevin Bieksa back.

speaking of missing guys, where has Rob Blake been?  what?  he’s been playing all season?  no, i mean the REAL Rob Blake not this imposter.  Blake pocketed his 2nd goal on the season last night and his +/- all season has been killing me.  i realize he’s trying to show Jack Johnson how to do this NHL D thing but couldn’t he do that by actually being good at it?

well, ok i cleared my day, i have a space heater on and i’m planning to lay down and watch sports all day.  i was supposed to volunteer at Steve Bell’s concert again today but nobody wants to talk to dumb-buddy wid a code.

hab a dice day.