If you're a daily reader, I apologize for missing yesterday's bits but sometimes life just gets a little to hectic. But, we have a lot to cover in today's bits from last night so let's get started.
WASHINGTON vs. PHILADELPHIA:
Well if you watched this game, I assume it was everything you wanted to see and more. Both teams combining for 164 PIMS, Caps with 65 of them, and Flyers with a whopping 99. This was a gongshow if I've ever seen one. When Philly decided they weren't going to win, they took it to the Caps Broad Street Bully way just like back in the day. Bad news was, Steve Downie in his Flyer debut fought, and fractured is his orbital socket while getting a concussion. Then, Vincent Lecavalier is out due to a facial contusion in his fight. The goalies even decided to get into it, well kind of. It was the perfect case of Kobe Bryant all over again. Ray Emery skated down and challenged Braden Holtby, but Holtby didn't want any part of it and yet Emery took it as an insult and decided to start hammering him anyways. Joel Ward had a hat trick with 3 goals, and Nicklas Backstrom with 2 goals and an assist of his own. Holtby stayed in the game and earning the shutout win making 30 saves. Jason Chimera had 1 goal and 3 assists last night, and Grabovski had a playmaker with 3 assists. Grabovski was bumped from Caps top PP unit, and now on a 5 point streak, with 3 last night putting him back at a point per-game.
WASHINGTON vs. PHILADELPHIA:
Well if you watched this game, I assume it was everything you wanted to see and more. Both teams combining for 164 PIMS, Caps with 65 of them, and Flyers with a whopping 99. This was a gongshow if I've ever seen one. When Philly decided they weren't going to win, they took it to the Caps Broad Street Bully way just like back in the day. Bad news was, Steve Downie in his Flyer debut fought, and fractured is his orbital socket while getting a concussion. Then, Vincent Lecavalier is out due to a facial contusion in his fight. The goalies even decided to get into it, well kind of. It was the perfect case of Kobe Bryant all over again. Ray Emery skated down and challenged Braden Holtby, but Holtby didn't want any part of it and yet Emery took it as an insult and decided to start hammering him anyways. Joel Ward had a hat trick with 3 goals, and Nicklas Backstrom with 2 goals and an assist of his own. Holtby stayed in the game and earning the shutout win making 30 saves. Jason Chimera had 1 goal and 3 assists last night, and Grabovski had a playmaker with 3 assists. Grabovski was bumped from Caps top PP unit, and now on a 5 point streak, with 3 last night putting him back at a point per-game.
DETROIT vs. CALGARY:
Detroit wins 4-3, and now 2-0 on their road trip through Canada. Datsyuk with 1 goal and an assist last night, along with Zetterburg with the same. The Wings shuffled lines, and had Todd Bertuzzi skating on the top line and it looked like magic, Bertuzzi with 2 assists last night and if he can stay healthy will be a benefactor to fantasy owners I think. Curtis Glencross with 1 goal last night, his fourth of the year. Rookie Sean Monahan with another goal to help keep him there, but his pace has slowed, only 2 points his last 5 games but does have 11 points in 13 games. He's good, and will do fine this year, but I like his potential more so in the long run, especially if you're in a keeper league. Jiri Hudler has quietly put together a hell of a start this year, with 2 assists last night now has 15 points in 13 games (5G/10A), while only taking 20 shots so far.
TAMPA BAY vs. CAROLINA:
Tampa Bay handling the Hurricanes last night, winning 3-0 and Ben Bishop with his 1st shutout of the season making 31 saves. His record is now 8-2 this year, and is a fantasy asset if you can get him, he'll post great numbers and it's hard to argue the Bolt's offense because they really help if he's having an off night. Alex Killorn was skating on the top line with Stamkos and St.Louis and had a goal and an assist proving he can handle the duty. Stamkos with another goal, and St.Louis with 2 assists. Oh ya, Victor Hedman with a goal.
ISLANDERS vs. OTTAWA:
I think Robin Lehner is the future in Ottawa after seeing what he's done last season, and so far this year. Even though he lost last night in a shootout, he faced 57 shots but stopped 53 of them. The guy is a workhorse. This season he's started 3 games, but played in 4, and his record is 0-2-1 with a .937 SV% & a 2.77 GAA. He's faced a whopping 174 shots, stopping 163 of them and his SV% hasn't dropped once below a .900, that's damn impressive. Craig, take note. Losing 5-4 last night, Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist, and Erik Karlsson with 2 assists. John Tavares with a goal, and Thomas Vanek notching his first point as an Islander with an assist, and folks, it was a beauty. Check it out.
Detroit wins 4-3, and now 2-0 on their road trip through Canada. Datsyuk with 1 goal and an assist last night, along with Zetterburg with the same. The Wings shuffled lines, and had Todd Bertuzzi skating on the top line and it looked like magic, Bertuzzi with 2 assists last night and if he can stay healthy will be a benefactor to fantasy owners I think. Curtis Glencross with 1 goal last night, his fourth of the year. Rookie Sean Monahan with another goal to help keep him there, but his pace has slowed, only 2 points his last 5 games but does have 11 points in 13 games. He's good, and will do fine this year, but I like his potential more so in the long run, especially if you're in a keeper league. Jiri Hudler has quietly put together a hell of a start this year, with 2 assists last night now has 15 points in 13 games (5G/10A), while only taking 20 shots so far.
TAMPA BAY vs. CAROLINA:
Tampa Bay handling the Hurricanes last night, winning 3-0 and Ben Bishop with his 1st shutout of the season making 31 saves. His record is now 8-2 this year, and is a fantasy asset if you can get him, he'll post great numbers and it's hard to argue the Bolt's offense because they really help if he's having an off night. Alex Killorn was skating on the top line with Stamkos and St.Louis and had a goal and an assist proving he can handle the duty. Stamkos with another goal, and St.Louis with 2 assists. Oh ya, Victor Hedman with a goal.
ISLANDERS vs. OTTAWA:
I think Robin Lehner is the future in Ottawa after seeing what he's done last season, and so far this year. Even though he lost last night in a shootout, he faced 57 shots but stopped 53 of them. The guy is a workhorse. This season he's started 3 games, but played in 4, and his record is 0-2-1 with a .937 SV% & a 2.77 GAA. He's faced a whopping 174 shots, stopping 163 of them and his SV% hasn't dropped once below a .900, that's damn impressive. Craig, take note. Losing 5-4 last night, Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist, and Erik Karlsson with 2 assists. John Tavares with a goal, and Thomas Vanek notching his first point as an Islander with an assist, and folks, it was a beauty. Check it out.
Kyle Okposo had 2 assists last night, and the story this year has been Frans Nielsen, who had the final goal last night to send it into OT, and then potting the GWG in the shootout. He now has 16 points in 13 games, 8 goals & 8 assists.
ST.LOUIS vs. FLORIDA:
Blues taming the Panthers last night, with a 4-0 win and Brian Elliot looking like his former self with a 31 save shutout. I think it's a little to late for him to make his case, I think they get rid of him this year with Jake Allen showing last year he's more than ready to be the teams backup behind Halak. David Backes with 2 assists, and Christ Stewart with his 1st goal of the year last night, also tallying an assist. Derek Roy with a goal, and Alexander Steen also with a goal.
COLORADO vs. DALLAS:
The Av's, wait for it, yup............with another 3-2 OT win last night, now improving to 11-1-0 record and my god, maybe they're the real deal. Paul Stastny with 2 goals last night, and Gabriel Landeskog with a goal. Seymon Varlamov with the start just 2 days after domestic charges were brought against him, and looking like it didn't bother him. He earned the win stopping 27 shots and improving to 8-1 on the season. Tyler Sequin with a goal and an assist, and Jamie Benn with one apple, also.
QUICK HITS:
Jiri Tlusty, despite playing on the top line with Eric Staal & Alex Semin, is struggling this year and it wouldn't surprise me to see them get rid of him. Kyle Turris has developed some good vibes with the top line with Bobby Ryan and MacArthur and those three with Spezza and Karlsson made up the top PP unit last night. Sorry Milan Michalek, and owners. Jay Bouwmeester has 9 points in 11 games this year, but the flip side is Patrick Berglund has zero points his last 6 games. Tomas Tatar with another goal last night, has goals in back to back games. But, Stephen Weiss has been a let down for Detroit signing him, he's scoreless his last 8 games and only has 2 points this year.
ST.LOUIS vs. FLORIDA:
Blues taming the Panthers last night, with a 4-0 win and Brian Elliot looking like his former self with a 31 save shutout. I think it's a little to late for him to make his case, I think they get rid of him this year with Jake Allen showing last year he's more than ready to be the teams backup behind Halak. David Backes with 2 assists, and Christ Stewart with his 1st goal of the year last night, also tallying an assist. Derek Roy with a goal, and Alexander Steen also with a goal.
COLORADO vs. DALLAS:
The Av's, wait for it, yup............with another 3-2 OT win last night, now improving to 11-1-0 record and my god, maybe they're the real deal. Paul Stastny with 2 goals last night, and Gabriel Landeskog with a goal. Seymon Varlamov with the start just 2 days after domestic charges were brought against him, and looking like it didn't bother him. He earned the win stopping 27 shots and improving to 8-1 on the season. Tyler Sequin with a goal and an assist, and Jamie Benn with one apple, also.
QUICK HITS:
Jiri Tlusty, despite playing on the top line with Eric Staal & Alex Semin, is struggling this year and it wouldn't surprise me to see them get rid of him. Kyle Turris has developed some good vibes with the top line with Bobby Ryan and MacArthur and those three with Spezza and Karlsson made up the top PP unit last night. Sorry Milan Michalek, and owners. Jay Bouwmeester has 9 points in 11 games this year, but the flip side is Patrick Berglund has zero points his last 6 games. Tomas Tatar with another goal last night, has goals in back to back games. But, Stephen Weiss has been a let down for Detroit signing him, he's scoreless his last 8 games and only has 2 points this year.