Shallow Frozen Water

Saturday morning armchair

i think the explanation is as easy as Joe has another weapon at his disposal.  Brian Campbell didn’t hit the scoreboard last night but you can’t tell me his 21 minutes of puck lugging doesn’t make a difference in a team’s transition game, it frees up Joe et al for other things.  the Sharks have gone from semi-dangerous to a serious Cup contender.

Jonathan Cheechoo has 11 goals amidst 15 pts in his last 14 games.  and you guys doubted he’d ever be back.  i still say he comes back to 80 pt production next year and you can probably get him for a lot cheaper in next year’s draft.

Dustin Byfuglien has 15 goals which is significant in fantasy hockey for a guy who’s eligible at D on Yahoo even though he spends more time on the wing or in front of the net lately.

Patrick Sharp has 3 pt bursts on a regular basis.  if i had a vote, and i don’t, he’d win the Selke trophy this year.

the Hawks brought Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita back last night to shouts of approval from all over the arena.  it was a bit bittersweet as a Winnipeg boy to see the Golden Jet up there but i’ve always maintained that he’s known as a Hawk first and foremost.  i’ve actually had discussions about the best Jet ever and the first name out of people’s mouths wasn’t Dale Hawerchuk.  that’s just wrong.

Zach Parise with 2/3rds of a Gordie Howe Hattie last night … and the missing third wasn’t the fight, he dropped his gloves for the first time in the NHL last night.  he’s a captain in waiting.

Dan Boyle racked up 19 PIMs at the end of the 3rd getting a fighting major, 2 instigating minors and a misconduct.  the boy does a lot more than score.  if he’s healthy he can be as valuable as Dion Phaneuf in fantasy leagues, no wonder they signed him.

Patrick Elias is valuable again as a fantasy hockey option.  he was asleep for the first 3 months of the season it seems but now he shoots tons (9 SOG last night) and racks up pts.  it doesn’t hurt that he’s eligible at LW which is always harder to find too.

the Jackets had to believe that if this game with the Oil wasnt won in regulation they were going to lose anyway, have you seen the Oil’s record in shootouts?  it’s no matter the kids in Edmonton showed them how it’s done and won in OT.  young guys with goals last night, Fritsche and Cogliano, both will score a LOT more in long careers.

the Oil were outshot 2 to 1 and still got the win.

the Marian Hossa trade got the Thrashers 2 pts last night as Colby Armstrong got 2 goals and Eric Christenson got the SO winner.  only Colby’s count officially though.  it was a back and forth game that the Wild needed to win but couldn’t.  the Wild remain in a dogfight for the division league and for playoff eligibility.  both of Colby’s goals came on the PP and if he gets to play alongside Ilya like he did last night then he’ll be a fine option for offense over the rest of this season.

Brian Rolston and Brent Burns each went 1 and 1 last night.  i watched hilites of the shootout and was surprised when Rolston DIDN’T take a slapshot as has been a bit of his trademark.

i sat down to watch the Calgary/Nashville game last night thinking that it’d be nice to see Nashville play since i don’t get the chance too often.  apparently it was a VERY exciting game but i only have the hilites as proof since i promptly fell asleep.  it’s been one of those weeks.

J.P. Dumont got his 26th last night, the winner.  not many pundits that i have been reading pegged Dumont for 35 goals on the season.  that’s what i’m predicting.  i actually only had him pegged for 30 at the start of the season but im very confident in that now.

with a name like Vernon Fiddler he’s definitely playing in the right NHL city.

from what i remember as i drowsed Miikka Kiprusoff played a great game.  i have no doubts in his ability.

Jarome Iginla will be the franchise career leader in goals in a game very soon, like Monday soon against the Blues.

the Western Conference has several teams fighting for the playoffs but i wouldn’t have thought the Preds would be able to take one when we started the season.  the Preds are playing really well though and they presently hold the 8th spot with Vancouver looking over their shoulder.  that war in Vancouver the other night that the Preds came up short on, may prove to be the difference in the end.