Another Opportunity missed

Matt Cooke was informed, along with the Penguins organization, that he will not be suspended for his blindside hit on Marc Savard. Colin Campbell's reasoning was that since Richards was not suspended for his hit, out of fairness and equality, Cooke will not be suspended either. He wasn't going to suspend Cooke based on is history and rather based on the hit. Now, it's all good and fair to say it's all in equality and fairness given the argument that depth players and stars are disciplined different but in a case like this, especially with the league looking at a rule change to penalize this type of hit, the league missed a chance to set a precedent. In hindsight, given the way the league is trying to go, Campbell's statement should have gone a little more like this:

"We have informed the Pittsburgh Penguins and Matt Cooke that he will be suspended for 10 games for his blindside hit to the head of Marc Savard. This is the type of hit we are trying to remove from the game in order to prevent concussions. It is a dangerous play in that we are looking to further penalize during the game when it occurs. This hit was similar to the one Mike Richards made on David Booth and in hindsight should have warranted a 3 or 4 game suspension. Due to Matt Cooke's history, we feel that it warranted a longer penalty."

Not only would this have set precedent to repeat offenders but it would have put star players like Richards on notice saying you got away with it but next time you won't. Though Campbell's decision to make Cooke's punishment equal to that of Richards in the name of equality was a step forward to giving the disciplinary board some credibility in stating they will punish all players equally, they took a step or two back in not making a suspension to prevent the blindside hit.

Olympic Cheaters and No More NHLers in the Olympics

It seems that in the wake up the Olympics ending, controversy and debate have been brought up. A Russian columnist has accused the Canadian men's hockey team of doping and others question whether or not NHLers belong in the Olympics at all.

To start, the accusation against the men's hockey team is that given the history between Canada and the USSR/Russian Federation resulting in close games, the 7-3 blowout must undoubtedly be a result of the Canadian team using performance enhancing drugs for the game against Russia. One might find merit in this had the Canadian team been blowing out every other team in the preliminary round. The columnist looks at the underwhelming performance the Canadians put forth against the Slovakians and thus argues that since they didn't blow out the Slovakians, they doped up for the Russia game and the Russia game alone. It almost makes you scratch your head wondering why not dope up against the Americans in the preliminary round? Had the Canadians won the US preliminary round and forced the US to face the Russians, would we have the same argument? Ryan Miller was a stone wall throughout the tournament and ignoring the Crosby goal in OT, had not let in a goal worth questioning all tournament long. Do we argue HE was on some form of performance enhancing drugs? Is it really unbelievable that the Russians were simply outplayed? After the score hit 2-0, it us hard to argue that the Russian team was amounting to any push back of any kind. You could hardly say the same for the Slovakians who stuck with their game plane and ultimately fought back to a 3-2 end result and almost tying it late. It sounds more like a case of sour grapes for the columnist than anything else. Because the Russians lost a game where they got blown out, the Canadians were then doping for that game alone. I really find it hard to believe they were on performance enhancing drugs let alone on them for that game alone.

Now, the debate for NHLers in the Olympics has been a big one and will always be argued. I remember after the 2006 Olympics, Dominic Hasek's mysterious abductor strain the prevented him from suiting up for the Playoffs with Ottawa. I would have to think the result of that playoff run would have been very different had Hasek been healthy. That being said, are we not willing to watch the best of the best play in a big tournament? With the arrival of the KHL boasting big contracts, the premier players in the world will be torn between the NHL and KHL resulting in a split pool of the worlds talent. It's the Olympics that now bring the highest talent together in a big tournament. I know that's what I want to see but I also acknowledge the strain the NHL players gain from the Olympics. The condensed schedule has already taken a toll on many players resulting in several injuries over the early part of the season. The emotional toll is equally high especially when players like Paul Stastny and Brian Rafalski playing the night after losing the Gold Medal. I would like to see a two day break right after the game but I highly doubt that'll happen. Many of the Russian players have already stated that regardless of the NHL's decision, they will go to Ochi, Russia in 2014. As with most things, it comes down to money. With the NHL trying to grow the game by playing preseason games in Europe, why wouldn't they want to send players to the Olympics? Showcasing the best players in the world for all the world to see would certainly grow the game. The NHLPA will most likely vote to continue sending players but GMs, Owners and the NHL will likely push against it as many teams will want their players fresh and healthy going into the playoff run rather than banged up coming out. I for one am all for the NHL players going to the Olympics. Big stage, every game is vitally important and in a short Tournament format, any team can win (Just ask who thought Slovakia would make it to the medal round).

Golden Moment

I would like start off by congratulating all the Olympians who competed throughout the last two weeks giving us a very good Winter Games as well as a particular thumbs up and cheer to the Canadian Athletes who may not have owned the Podium in total medals but owned the Gold Podium completely.

Now, as for the hockey, I think it's time for Crosby to retire. Now don't get me wrong, I don't want him to retire but what else is there for Sid the Kid to do? A World Junior Gold Medal, Stanley Cup Winner, Olympic Gold Medalist along with various other personal awards. In what has been a young career for the 22 year old, he added to his pedigree by scoring the game winner in the Olympic Gold final against the United States.

The Gold Medal game was definitely an exciting one with all the intense drama only Overtime can give us. A showdown between Toews and Kane, Kesler and Luongo, Crosby and Orpik. Teammates going head to head in a very entertaining game. Going into the game, the USA were riding the best goalie in the world and playing as a better team. If it's any indication as to the expectations for the US team were, the IOC had booked their return flights home for 9:30 that morning. Clearly nobody expected them to get to the Gold Medal game and yet they came together and played in a manner that would be best described as Canadian Hockey. Despite going down 2-0, the young US team never looked out of the game and rather looked like they were calm and cool. The black cloud over the Canadians was goaltending and not spotting a goal to the Americans. That's exactly what happened when Ryan Kesler tipped in a point shot that went through Luongo. Tip or not, it was a bad goal that went through Luongo and brought the Americans within one goal. Though in the end they only got a Silver Medal, there is certainly a bright future for American hockey. Zach Parise tied the game with a clutch goal while Patrick Kane factored in on both US goals.

On the side of the negatives, many will wonder where the Sharks line was throughout that game. Though they produced points throughout the tournament, one has to wonder where Thornton was in general? In viewing the gold medal game, Only Marleau seemed noticeable, throwing himself in front of pucks and playing a physical game. A line consisting of Getzlaf, Perry and Morrow seemed to be the most effective line along with another line of Toews, Nash and Richards. When those two lines were on the ice one felt assured that they would play well and generate chances. The same cannot be said of the other two lines and despite Crosby getting the winner, his line couldn't bury chances. Iginla looked Snakebitten the whole game. In the end, all it takes is a bounce and Canada came out on top. In a tournament where goaltending was the US strength, Ryan Miller made his one and only mistake and it cost him the Gold Medal.

Paging Martin Brodeur

So Canada takes a pretty bad loss to the rival United States and everyone seems to be asking "What happened to Marting Brodeur?" Though I never took time to put this to the blog, my comments after the Swiss game were something along the lines of "Luongo should start against the US, Brodeur looks way to eager to play the puck and has had a few Elliott moments that scare me". Now the 'Elliott' I refer to is Brian Elliott of the Ottawa Senators. I'm not trying to take away from his recent success but many who follow Ottawa can agree that Brian Elliott should stay in his net and play the puck very little else he gets caught. A few weeks ago against the Blackhawks, he tries to play the puck behind the net, loses it and has to come around and make a diving save against Marian Hossa to stop, what was effectively, and open net chance. Fast forward to the games and we find Brodeur playing the puck with high frequency. I'm not trying to take away from Brodeur as, in my mind, he definitely is one of the best goalies in the world but right now, he certainly isn't showing it. Though the Swiss game was only a precursor, the issue was in plain view against the US. The first goal starts with a dump in and Brodeur trying to play the puck and sees his rim around stopped by two US forecheckers and the end result is a deflection goal later in the play. I realize many will say a deflection isn't his fault but it begs the question "With 7 all-star defencemen on the team, why is he so keen on playing the puck?" The second US goal results directly from his attempt at swatting the puck out of midair to clear the zone. The third goal was also a direct result of his diving pokecheck at a loose puck despite Chris Pronger's close proximity to the puck. The US seemed to zero in on Brodeur's enthusiasm to play the puck and turn those plays into scoring chances. This simply did not look like the Brodeur of old and I strongly believe it's time for Roberto Luongo to get the starts going in against Germany and, if Canada wins, Russia as well.

Goaltending Issues?

So over the course of the season, and past seasons, goaltending has always been a hot topic. A prime example of the effects of good goaltending can be seen in Columbus and in Phoenix. With very few changes occurring in the off season for Columbus, the team they have now is effectively the same they had when they went to the playoffs last season. The biggest change for them is the play of Steve Mason. Mired in his sophomore slump, Columbus is left with a failing Starter and a career backup who's certainly not getting the job done. The quick turnaround in goal for columbus has turned a promising season into a disaster. The opposite can be said in Phoenix with the likes of Ilya Bryzgalov as one of the league leaders in goalie stats. It's no surprise that the teams performance has improved with Bryzgalov's play. Similar situations are present in Ottawa with both Brian Elliot and Pascal Leclaire performing poorly. Recent games aside, neither goaltender has been playing at the level they were needed at. Leclaire has shown to be a Jekyll and Hyde goalie all in the same game making Spectacular saves and equally spectacular mistakes. This is a far cry from the goalie we were seeing earlier in the year before he got hurt. The call up of Mike Brodeur sparked the team. Calm, poised goaltending and timely saves allowed the team to play with confidence and they shed a 5 game losing streak and are now on a 4 game tear.

It's off hearing that Chicago has a goaltending issue when they have the only goalie with a goals against average under 2.00...It's not like Detroit has a goalie who's a brick wall either. At the end of the day it's the timely saves that need to be made and Osgoode and Huet have seemed to be able to do that. I suppose it helps having stellar defensive players in front of you and Chicago's #1 defence will do more than enough to insulate Huet. That being said, aside from his abysmal puck playing abilities, he's still a good goaltender and as long as he makes the saves he needs to make, the Hawks will have no problem down the road. And hey they can always throw that guy with the under 2.00 GAA. Antti Niemi right?

By the way? Think there's a scouting report now that Carey Price can be beat high blocker side off the rush? Zack Smith's first career goal he scored shorthanded on Saturday and Andy MacDonald's OT winner last night look oddly similar.

Back! ish....

So after a long hiatus due to mainly laziness I should be posting a little more regularly. Now to kick off the start of this New Year I'll take a look at My home team the Ottawa Senators. After another boring defeat to the Florida Panthers the Senators are now on a three game losing skid heading into Carolina this evening. The team just lost another player in Jesse Winchester and maybe "Top offensive" defenceman Filip Kuba bringing their injury numbers to 4 and 5 respectively. I put top offensive in quotations because though he's being paid to be that stalwart D-Man, Kuba has hardly played in a way that merits such a title. Like most of the Senators he's been underachieving but he's simply looked lost for the most part. Bobbling pucks and simply not making crisp passes it's hard to get powerplay goals when Kuba is unable to perform. If you look at most effective powerplays, there's always a threat from a shot from the point and normally from either point man. That's not to say both will shoot but both have the slight threat of a shot. I've watched a lot of Ottawa's struggles on the powerplay and a lot comes from teams knowing who's the trigger man. Kuba normally lines up with Alfredsson, when's he's healthy, on the right or left point. Alfredsson has a good shot and a lot of teams cover him to prevent that shot.

The problems the team has been facing aren't based off the powerplay alone. Goaltending has been shaky at best looking spectacular at times and horrific at other times normally in the same game. I'm not one to question coaching but at this point I would ride Leclaire for the next several games. Both Leclaire and Elliot have struggled but Leclaire was brought in as a Number 1 guy. Not 1a or the backup. Since you have no hot hand to ride, you ride the supposed prized horse and hope he catches fire.

Ottawa faces a lot of road games now and their losing record on the road and all their injuries likely means they fall from they playoff position very rapidly.