Shallow Frozen Water

Sunday morning armchair

big day here in Manitoba yesterday.  Winkler MB hosted the nation and has been doing so for the better part of this week.  all the CBC folks were in the area and nobody dropped by to say hey.  bummer.  Winkler is a really nice little place.  i’ve always appreciated the intensity that you find in any little town but there’s mixed in a deep belief in fair play in guys from Winkler (at least from what i’ve met).  i like to believe it’s the Mennonite influence because my wife is Mennonite and she’s really the most honest person i know.  anyway CBC News has been there for half the week, National broadcasted from there and Ron McLean and the boys have been there throughout too.  big day, very cool.

it turns out that the best game on the CBC sched was the one that i missed but wanted to see very much.  the Leafs and Red Wings battled to a tie only to have my Leafs get the extra point in OT.  Nik Antropov has become very adept at tipping the puck this season, scoring the winner off  a Stralman point shot.  Darcy Tucker got his 3rd goal in two games just in time to make it a lot easier to get ANYTHING for him in a trade before the deadline.

Mikael Samuelsson was tied for the game lead in shots with Zetterberg, Sundin and Tucker.  Samuelsson can be had for a lot cheaper than the two big names on that list and he IS shooting the puck a lot of late (i noted it in my buy low opportunities post the other day and have actually been noting it for about a month now).  he’ll get goals if he keeps getting ice time and with Dan Cleary on the shelf (broken jaw) then there’ll be more ice for guys like Samuelsson and Filppulla.

everyone talks about how good Malkin has been since Sid went down but few talk about how much Ryan Malone has stepped up of late too.  he’s got 11 pts in his last 8 games.

i don’t know why it is but i can’t stand New York teams, in any sport.  the Giants winning the Super Bowl almost made me ill.

Nigel Dawes and Brandon Dubinsky are both getting some ok ice time.  Dawes went 1&1 and B-Dub got 9 PIMs in around 10 mins ice time.  earlier in the season Dawes lined up with Jagr for quite a while and Dub has 10 pts in his last 15 games.  this Dubinsky kid will be heard from plenty in keepers by the way.

it was apparently Hockey Day Minnesota yesterday too.  i didn’t realize that.  the Wild got an OT winner from Brent Burns (love that guy) to get past the Isles.

i see some really big things for James Sheppard in a couple years.  right now they have him in a defensive forward role but just imagine what he’ll be like when he knows how to play defense and can turn that offense side of him loose.

Alexei “plays like” Zhitnik came through with an unassisted OT goal on his only shot of the game.  you still want no part of him.

where have you been Slava Kozlov?  really, i’ve been looking for you, where have you been?

 in the Hockey Day game that i would’ve enjoyed but got no chance to see the Sens made a definite statement to the Habs.  the band was back together in the Nation’s capital and they really showed they how to play the game.  the Sens only had one PP goal of the 6 they put past Hab pads, the rest was a display of “how do ya like me now”.  Spezz with 3&3, Alffy 2&3, and Heater 1&3.  all 6 goals from that same line.  ouch.

Huet started and got pulled after 3 goals on 4 shots.  Price finished the game and let the other 3 past him.  i had been expecting the Habs would’ve traded Huet by now but i wasn’t expecting them to challenge for the Conference lead so unless they completely trash it in the next couple weeks Huey will be the guy for the Habs this season.

Andrei Kostitsyn is a guy to go after in your keeper league.  he could be a quality goal scorer for years and years.

it boggles my mind that Marco Sturm is doing this well.  i’ll take it, i have him as my LW3 in my deep league, it just boggles me.

 Brett McLean had a 5 pt game against the Leafs this week and he’s put up at least one pt in each of his next two games.  he bears watching but i dont think there’s all that much there for the future.  i know i’m not taking a flyer on him.

who the heck is Johnny Oduya?  deep league need to definitely be looking at this guy.  the Devils need a D that can move the puck instead of spending all day clearing the puck and i’ve never been a believer in Paul Martin or Karl Rachunek.  it looks like Oduya could be the one to look for in Jersey.  he scored a pretty end to end thing yesterday, go check it out.

while you’re looking at Jersey, take a gander at David Clarkson.  he’ll be among the best power forward options sooner than you think.  but maybe i look at PIMs too much so you decide for yourself.

things got all PIMy in Calgary last night with the Flames deciding to take it to the Oilers in the latest battle of Alberta.  Owen Nolan had a hattie against his old SJ mates last week and he got another 2 last night.  i said it after the SJ game and i’ll say it again, this stuff won’t be happening much from here on out.  he isn’t but Nolan LOOKS older than me for crying out loud.

i’m hopeful that the Horcoff injury creates some room for Robert Nilsson in addition to guys like Gagner and Cogliano.   it’s looking like Nilsson is getting some opportunity with 15 mins of ice time and a goal last night.  right now i consider him a streaming option or a deep keep.

Matt Niskanen is getting really good ice time and is being relied on heavily for the Stars.  he wasnt even supposed to make the team and he’s blossoming into a serviceable NHL’er already, ready to burst on to the scene.  he does a lot of things right and he could eclipse Phillipe Boucher on his own team’s D within a year.

Antti Mietinen had a pts streak in late Nov/early Dec and fantasy guys got all loopy for him.  he isn’t that good and his 12 mins of ice time yesterday should be telling even though he somehow managed to pocket a couple goals.

Jonathan Cheechoo may be back my friends.  it did look like one of his 3 goals last night may’ve gone off his stick and in the net but hey they all count.  i’ve been surprised with the number of guys who’ve given up on him and turfed him to the waiver wire.  seriously, a 56 goal guy two years ago on a waiver wire.  Milan Michalek is wide awake too by the way.

is there a team who has done more this season despite horrid injury than the Colorado Avalanche?  really, they’ve been without Sakic, Stastny, and Smyth for forever it seems and yet they’re in striking distance of the division lead.  i remember during the preseason hearing about how Calgary and Vancouver were going to dominate that division and i couldnt help but notice that the Avs made a significant add this offseason in Smyth.  still, the Wings could and should be nervous about facing a healthy and rested Avs squad in the playoffs.

i love this commercial.  ”poke-check” 

http://www.youtube.com/v/dUzZByhEMPY&rel=1