Videos Before Bedtime!

No I am not hard on certain players....no not at all. Here is some video evidence for everyone to enjoy.




Punked by sloppy seconds......




Pandolfo has lost a step...if that is possible.




Mottau gets beat like that often......



Have a great night!!!!

Pick The Winner

As we get ready for the supposed snowstorm, what better way to have some fun than predict some games tonight. Though there are only five on the schedule, there is some definite intrigue for this night in particular. The Devils christen the Kovalchuk Era tonight and Washington tries to play surrounded by snow.

Time to get down to business and pick these games before I get snowed in. Okay maybe not so much there.

New Jersey over Toronto
Washington over Atlanta
Buffalo over Carolina
Florida over Calgary
Chicago over Phoenix


All home dogs on a snowy cold Friday Night.....well we should see what the expert has from tonight....take it away.




Kinda thought this may be the game.....

Power Rankings 2k10 Week 5!

After last week's Reader Digest version, we get back to it all over again. Where will the Top 15 reside? Who stayed? Who left? Anyone new come in? All these questions and more will be answered albeit very slowly. As always body of work is important but how a team does week to week has considerable weight obviously. An 0 for the week is going to drop you but the problem is sometimes everyone has a hot week and your favorite team just cannot move up as much as you think they should.

There are always surprises and some controversy but that is the whole point of a list like this. Not everyone is going to agree and it really is that simple. This week we bring back the Bottom Three and our Three To Keep An Eye On. Shall we get down to business? Okay.

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Power Rankings Week Five!

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15. Dallas Stars (25-21-11, P10: 6-4, PW: NR)

Someone has to be 15 right? LMFAO. The 15th spot has to feel like the least wanted spot on this list. Dallas is limping toward the deadline with their tandem of Auld and Turco in net. Surely something has to give there....right? Well maybe. Mostly alternating wins and losses...Dallas has a good team but cannot sustain streaks long enough. Columbus was ripe for the taking last night and Dallas only managed one goal. Yes I know Columbus had a new guy behind the bench but the reality is this was a team Dallas should have beat. Playing Phoenix and then at Chicago is not going to be a fun start here. Maybe Neal, Richards, and Turco can steer this team....then again who knows.


14. Detroit Red Wings (27-20-10, P10: 3-4-3, PW: 13)

Sure they had a pretty good week at 2-1-1 but again falling behind like this is not going to help their cause. Jimmy Howard can only keep the Wings in it for so long. Literally his rise this year is the only reason why the Red Wings are as close as they are to a playoff spot. The big thing for Detroit is they get the Mule back next week. Johan Franzen is going to help this team immensely. It will be interesting to see how healthy he actually is. Then we will really know if Team Sweden made a HUGE mistake. Detroit plays LA and a pesky St. Louis team to start the week.


13. Calgary Flames (28-21-8, P10: 2-6-2. PW: 14)

The Flames had a better week going 2-1. Though the loss to Philly and the Phaneuf trade hurt some. Getting rid of Olli Jokinen may be a blessing for the rest of the year. I really do believe that Jokinen was killing that team to pieces. Now getting healthy against the likes of Carolina and Edmonton does not seem like much but it is progress for a team who lost 8 games in a row. Can Kipper keep playing like he has all year? That will be the question from here on out. Because if he can hold up and the Flames get enough scoring....then we probably do not remember this stretch of the season. Florida trip coming up for Calgary.


12. New Jersey Devils (35-18-2, P10: 3-6-1, PW: 11)

Honestly they would have fallen further if not for one thing...but hold the mayo on that. The Devils have been hurting for some time and the reality is they are scoring like the Rangers were during that brutal stretch (near nonexistent). It is not Martin Brodeur's fault. This falls on the offense. You have to score and your defense has to chip in too. Because if your D is not going to play well in its own end, it should at least do something on the other end. This is part of why last night happened. Yes Ilya Kovalchuk is a New Jersey Devil and if that does not make an impact, I do not know what will. Leafs and Rangers to start the week then Flyers Monday and Wednesday. Now this will be fun.


11. Nashville Predators (31-21-4, P10: 4-5-1, PW: 12)

A 2-1 week with still some questions in Nashville to be answered. Will Dan Ellis be traded at the trade deadline? Can Nashville keep it rolling because 95 points probably will be needed to get in the playoffs in the West? As I have said before I do have my doubts with Nashville and if Jason Arnott can hold up for the rest of the season. I also think guys like Arnott have lost a step and his leadership is the one thing that is often underestimated in the locker room. That being said, Nashville has to step it up like they did last night against Colorado in order to make the playoffs. The Preds get the Sharks before doing a little East Coast trip. Tough test.


10. Colorado Avalanche (31-19-6, P10: 6-4, PW: 8)

Is this the beginning of the end or just a blip again? So far every time Colorado has gotten to this point, they run off a few wins to keep the people from jumping off the ledge. Losing 4 out of 5 will do that especially when the goaltending has been below average lately. Thankfully the Avs get Edmonton and St. Louis at home to start the week. If there was a time to get well and start piling up a few wins before the break....this is the time!


9. Vancouver Canucks (34-20-2, P10: 7-3, PW: 5)

Yes we dropped them 4 spots because we knew this road trip would expose some flaws. People are going to say well no they had to play Raycroft the other night. Well that does not matter. Vancouver has fallen behind in every game of this road trip...getting away from what they do best and then having to rely on the twins to bring them back. It does not always end in a happy ending like the movies. They are constantly giving up 3 goals a game (3 straight now) and that is also not a good sign. On the bright side, they play Boston and Tampa to start the week. Boston has been dreadful and Tampa has been inconsistent.


8. Buffalo Sabres (32-16-7, P10: 3-5-2, PW: 4)

The wheels have come off a bit for Buffalo. They went 1-2 this week and tried to play run and gun with Pittsburgh and watched it backfire and explode in their faces. Ryan Miller has been mortal lately and though the offense has shown up some, the defense on this team has taken a bit of a step back. Some screamed they needed a Kovalchuk but I think they just need a rest honestly. Buffalo plays a game that is very taxing on not only the opposing team but them as well. The home loss to Ottawa may be one Buffalo looks back on and cringes every time they see it in the offseason. Carolina and @ Columbus to start the week for Buffalo...time to right things a bit.


7. Ottawa Senators (33-21-4, P10: 10-0, PW: 9)

They went 3-0 again this week and just keep on winning. Brian Elliott has not lost since last year it feels like (okay Jan.12th). Simply put they get it done how they have to and with Alfredsson and Spezza healthy...this team is pretty dynamic and scary to play against. Who knew that at the start of the season? Not many did. Somewhere Mr. Lavigne (from Hockey This Morning) is still doing backflips of joy. The schedule is not too bad either as they get Calgary and Toronto to start the week. Although Toronto has Giguere......be aware.


6. Pittsburgh Penguins (35-21-1, P10: 7-3, PW: 7)

Weird week but the Pens went 2-0 and defeated Detroit in a game where they badly outplayed them. There was really not much to say the Pens won a high scoring game against Buffalo where basically Buffalo tried to outgun them. So in effect, it might have been a bit of luck Pittsburgh went 2-0. This weekend they get to play Montreal and Washington (HNIC and NBC respectively). Not for nothing but these guys always seem to be on TV. Will this be the weekend Marc Andre-Fleury steals one or both? That is the burning question.


5. Phoenix Coyotes (34-18-5, P10: 8-2, PW: 6)

Yes this is not a misprint. Phoenix deserves this and yes they beat 3 teams they probably should beat but they are taking care of business. They handled the Rangers (a bit sloppy), played better against Dallas and then overcame the circus and bad ice to beat Nashville in the shootout. Good teams find ways to win and Phoenix did it three different ways. They scored early and held on. They put the pedal to the metal against Dallas and then they just held on till the shootout against Nashville. A back to back on the road against Chicago and Dallas may be just a bit of a more cumbersome test....just a hunch. Will the dream continue?


4. Los Angeles Kings (35-19-1, P10: 9-1, PW: 10)

One off the wall riser this week is Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. Why this much? They have earned it....winning a ton on the road and taking care of business at home. Anze Kopitar has 61 points now on the season and is finally rolling again and Quick leads the league with 33 wins. No one picked Quick to do that at this point of the year and I mean no one. Maybe they should have lost against New Jersey or the New York Rangers but they did not. So what is their reward? They get to play Detroit and then Anaheim to start the week. Gee thanks NHL.


3. Chicago Blackhawks (37-15-4, P10: 6-4, PW: 1)

They had a bad week losing both games and in regulation. The Hawks deserved a bit better against Carolina but you CANNOT lose to St. Louis at home. You just cannot and yet they did. They do get Dave Bolland back and that should be huge but this team has some work to do before the Break. A big home game tonight against Phoenix is going to be a real test as the goaltending has been very so-so the last 3 or 4 games. Can Kane and Toews whip these guys in shape? Can they get their revenge against St. Louis? We will surely find out.


2. San Jose Sharks (37-11-9, P10: 7-1-2, PW: 2)

Not much to say here really. Though they went 2-1-1...they managed to lose to Detroit yet again (0-3 against them this year). I still say this team needs a checkup from the neck up. This is because when they get in games like Detroit, their mental makeup just causes them to fall apart at critical times. Yes I know they are missing Boyle and Vlasic...but players have to step up. Hell you would think this would be the perfect time to. That being said they are still #1 in the West and play Nashville and Toronto on the road.....should be a good time.


1. Washington Capitals (39-12-6, P10: 10-0, PW: 3)

Washington keeps winning and winning and winning. They went 4-0 this week and took care of all comers. Their +69 goal differential leads the NHL by leaps and bounds over Chicago (+50) and San Jose (+53). They can outscore you in offensive slugfests (6-5 win last night) or get some goaltending like they did in Boston (4-1 win). Either way, the Caps are the perfect regular season team with a line like Ovechkin-Semin-Backstrom....you can almost expect them to explode nearly every game. But their surrounding cast does not get the praise it deserves. Maybe it is better that way. The big matchup comes Sunday against Pittsburgh but look out Saturday for Atlanta...I do not know why.


So who are our three to look out for this week?

1. Minnesota
2. Anaheim
3. Philadelphia


And our bottom 3......

1. Edmonton
2. Toronto
3. Carolina


See you next week with more ups and downs only on The Power Rankings!!!!!

Morning Skate (2/5)

TGIF everyone!



The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Canadiens 3, Bruins 2 (SO)
Capitals 6, Rangers 5
Blue Jackets 2, Stars 1
Senators 3, Canucks 1
Lightning 5, Islanders 2
Sharks 4, Blues 2
Predators 5, Avalanche 3
Wild 4, Oilers 2
Kings 6, Ducks 4
Predictions record: 8-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Nicklas Backstrom, WSH (1 Goal, 4 Assists)
All of Backstrom’s assists were primary, plus he scored the game-winner in the 3rd.
2. Anze Kopitar, LA (2 Goals, 2 Assists)
Kopitar came up big last night, helping the Kings win their 8th straight with 4 points.
3. Jason Arnott, NSH (1 Goal, 3 Assists)
Arnott possibly his best game of the season thus far and helped the Preds turn around a struggling power play.
Honorable Mention: A. Ovechkin, S. Stamkos, J. Halak, P. Hornqvist, J. Johnson, M. Havlat, D. Alfredsson, V. Prospal, R. Clowe, S. Mason
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Tonight’s Slate:
Maple Leafs @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Thrashers @ Capitals, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Sabres, 7:30
Flames @ Panthers, 7:30
Coyotes @ Blackhawks, 8:30

Game of the Night:
Toronto Maple Leafs @ New Jersey Devils
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Maple Leafs (18-28-11) … Devils (35-18-2)
Last Ten: Maple Leafs (3-5-2) … Devils (3-6-1)
Away/Home: Maple Leafs (8-16-6) … Devils (18-9-0)
Season Series: 1-0-1 Maple Leafs

Players to watch:
TOR- Dion Phaneuf
Phaneuf got in a fight against the Devils on Monday; will he dare to do it again?
NJ- Ilya Kovalchuk
I have a feeling ‘Kovy’ will have a big night in his debut.

Projected Goaltenders:
TOR- J.S. Giguere (09/10 stats: 5-8-5, 2.98 GAA)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (09/10 stats: 32-17-2, 2.22 GAA)

Injury Report:
TOR- Mike Komisarek (shoulder, out), Mikhail Grabovski (wrist, out), Mike Van Ryn (knee, out)
NJ- Jamie Langenbrunner (flu, questionable), Patrik Elias (concussion, probable), Paul Martin (arm, out), David Clarkson (leg, out)

Game Thoughts:
As if the Devils weren’t determined enough to win tonight after Monday’s debacle in Toronto, they have the Kovalchuk acquisition to look forward to. All eyes will be on the Russian superstar as they take on the Leafs. This will be the third game in eight days between the two. Toronto is usually a thorn to their side, but I think the Devils will be amped up for this one.
Prediction: Devils 4, Maple Leafs 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Capitals over Thrashers
Sabres over Hurricanes
Panthers over Flames
Blackhawks over Coyotes

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!

Morning Video Fix...

There were things going on last night other than the Ilya Kovalchuk trade. Here is some of what you may have missed.




Attack of the laser pointer?




So not fair.....




One good fight.....




Ottawa extends streak but a nice fight in there!



The weekend is almost here......

This Day In Hockey History (2/5)

It is a TGIF edition of This Day. This one is for team records that do not need all that much to break. Leave it to a former Devil to accomplish this one 14 years ago today.



Only Chris....now the moment.....

February 05, 1996

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San Jose's Chris Terreri set a team record for goaltenders, with his third assist of the season, in a 6-4 Sharks' win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It took Terreri just 33 games with the Sharks to register the three assists.