Good morning, we will let Captain Ryan take this thing over and steer you towards another night in the NHL.  Remember to tip your hat to the Captain as your are leaving.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Thrashers 2, Islanders 1 (OT)

Red Wings 5, Flames 4 (OT)

Oilers 4, Ducks 2

Coyotes 3, Canucks 2

Predictions record: 2-2

 

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET (1 Goal, 2 Assists)… Captain Nash netted a hat trick to help Columbus get their first win in San Jose since 2004.

2. Taylor Pyatt, PHX (2 Goals)

3. Dustin Byfuglien, ATL (1 Goal, 1 Assist)

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If the playoffs started today…

Eastern Conference:

1) WSH vs. 8) ATL

2) PHI vs. 7) NYR

3) MTL vs. 6) PIT

4) BOS vs. 5) TB

Western Conference:

1) DET vs. 8) VAN

2) LA vs. 7) CHI

3) COL vs. 6) CBJ

4) STL vs. 5) PHX

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Tonight’s Slate:

Stars @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET

Capitals @ Devils, 7:00

Flames @ Rangers, 7:00

Canadiens @ Flyers, 7:00

Predators @ Blue Jackets, 7:00

Kings @ Senators, 7:30

Bruins @ Lightning, 7:30

Penguins @ Panthers, 7:30

 

Games of the Night:

Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers

7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

 

Records:

Overall: Canadiens (13-6-1) … Flyers (13-6-2)

Last Ten: Canadiens (6-4-0) … Flyers (7-2-1)

Away/Home: Canadiens (6-2-0) … Flyers (8-4-0)

Season Series: 1-0 Canadiens

 

Players to watch:

MTL- P.K. Subban

The rookie D-man will be target No. 1 for the Flyers tonight.

PHI- Mike Richards

Captain Richards has 10 points in the last six games.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

MTL- Carey Price (2010/11 stats: 12-6-1, 2.00 GAA)

PHI- Sergei Bobrovsky (2010/11 stats: 11-3-1, 2.29 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

MTL- Andrei Markov (knee, out)

PHI- Dan Carcillo (knee, out), Matt Walker (hip, out), Ian Laperriere (head, out)

 

Game Thoughts:

Everyone quickly circled their calendar for this game after last Tuesday’s chippy affair in Montreal, featuring Subban and Richards. Philadelphia is coming off a big win in Washington, while Price posted his fourth shutout. He’s been successful against the Flyers in his career, but I see the Flyers avenging last week’s loss in a game that is sure to have a taste of postseason.

Prediction: Flyers 3, Canadiens 2

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Boston Bruins @ Tampa Bay Lightning

7:30 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN2

 

Records:

Overall: Bruins (11-5-2) … Lightning (11-7-2)

Last Ten: Bruins (5-3-2) … Lightning (4-5-1)

Away/Home: Bruins (7-1-0) … Lightning (4-2-1)

Season Series: Tied 2-2

 

Players to watch:

BOS- Zdeno Chara

‘Big Z’ has compiled a plus-7 rating in the last four games.

TB- Martin St. Louis

Because of some guy named Stamkos, St. Louis is under-the-radar at third in the league in points.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

BOS- Tim Thomas (2010/11 stats: 10-1-1, 1.49 GAA)

TB- Dan Ellis (2010/11 stats: 5-4-2, 2.81 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

BOS- Marc Savard (concussion, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Trent Whitfield (Achilles, out)

TB- Vincent Lecavalier (hand, out), Simon Gagne (neck, questionable), Matt Smaby (ankle, out)

 

Game Thoughts:

Tim Thomas and company will take their game to Tampa to face a club that went 3-0 on the road last week. The Bolts responded to a rough patch with a trio of key wins, while the B’s have been playing well of late, too. Boston has had success in Tampa in recent years and could catch the Lightning on a letdown night. Go with the B’s in a close one…

Prediction: Bruins 3, Lightning 2 (OT)

 

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Maple Leafs over Stars

Capitals over Devils

Rangers over Flames

Predators over Blue Jackets

Kings over Senators

Penguins over Panthers

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There are just times where ideas spring out from nowhere.  This is one of those times when the execution may not quite pan out compare to the initial thought  I would like to thank Jennifer (Diary Of A Mad Sports Historian) for the idea.  Sometimes players just wear out their fantasy welcome and this normal POTN candidate in previous years known as Roberto Luongo lost again tonight.

Then it hit me.  Why not just name a POTN with a brief explanation.  There could be even a goat if need be.  Tonight's POTN by the way was Jarome Iginla who potted 2 goals in a losing effort.  His uptick in production may not save Brent Sutter's job but he is not being traded at least for now. In the same token, this may be the year where Martin Brodeur wears out his fantasy welcome amongst the elite goalies.  Time will tell.

Either way as the quarter pole is just about here.  The turkey quarter pole is on the horizon and the choices will be much more difficult.  Bad has turned into abysmal and it almost feels like a Walking Dead reference could come at any time.

If you think I am kidding, look at Corey Perry who scored one weird own goal tonight or Howie Rose who let it rip during a TV timeout.  Tonight was a blue moon and it may go down in the history books as just one of those nights where the sublime became ordinary.  It is almost like asking how does a jumbo jet get wide open in the slot in an Overtime or how to blow a two goal lead without really trying?  So many of these things often make no sense.

That is the best way to sum up the fantasy hockey landscape this season.  Everything you expect to go a certain way has not.  Even Steven Stamkos has 19 goals in 19 games which has led to some 50 in 50 discussion.  It has been far too long according to some since the last time an NHL player came close to 70 goals.  Now imagine if Stamkos pushed 80.  This is where I might be accused of drinking a kool-aid that has no space or time boundaries.

Cue back in Jarome Iginla.  All JI has done is rekindle fantasy hopes in the last couple weeks.  If people read some of our past posts, they would realize exactly what Iginla did last year and that it could happen again.  The twist this year is he knows that his performance ties in with a coach's job.  Brent Sutter probably deserves not quite as horrible of a fate and Iginla is likely stuck in Calgary till next season.  Getting Iggy with it just loses meaning as the weather chiils down further.

So can Iginla continue this and will the rest of the team?  The reality is this crazy streak  will play itself out throughout the regular season driving Iginla owners mad enough to start longer shows  Its going to be fun to see what trends manifest themselves.  Just one one sidebar, keep an eye on the beyond of the happenings.  Stay tuned and sit back while he span the hockey world.  More is yet to come...much more.

Ready set, Howie Rose take it away......

 

 

 

Have a great night everyone.

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Tonight is an emotional night for the show.  Its always hard to say goodbye and its even harder to remember loved ones taken much too soon.  So on this night we do both and still bring you the hardest hitting 2 hours in hockey and fantasy hockey entertainment.

So yes there are no shiny pictures on this post like the usual.  The number to get in on the action tonight is 1-347-826-7358.  If you want to pay your respects to Pat Burns or just say a few words about hockey in general, go right ahead.  This is your show, for the listener.

Do you want to know what is on tap?  Here is what's up!

 

THE PROGRAM

-- A moment of silence for Pat Burns

-- Thanks to the folks at WEEI, we have a special interview from April of 09

-- Joe Yerdon from Pro Hockey Talk joins us.

-- Break

-- Live NHL scoring updates

-- WTF Trade Rumors ARE BACK!

-- The CSB scouting report

-- Why Colin Campbell already has had his manhood stripped.

-- What is going on with Pro Hockey  Talk

-- We ask three questions of consequence....

-- INJURY NINJA!

-- Break

-- A tribute to my dad, without him, this show would never have been possible.

-- Blog and podcast news

-- So who would your #1 fantasy player be so far?

-- Oh about those New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames

-- Break

-- Rapid Fire

-- Shenanigan Sunday!

-- What We Learned Tonight

-- Aloha means GTFO!

 

This show will not be like most and we make no bones about it.  Come join us for a very special episode.  You may even shed a tear or two but we hope you can make it or even call in.  Thanks so much and hope to see you tonight for the anchor leg of Sunday Bloody Sunday on Blog Talk Radio.

Sincerely,

Chris Wassel

Director Of The Program

Today's moment is graced by royalty.  This happened 23 years ago and was one of those moments that you had to be there to believe it.

 

 

November 21, 1987

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King Olav V of Norway watched from behind the Montreal bench, as the Canadiens beat the Devils 2-1 at the Forum. Bobby Smith and Chris Chelios each scored a goal and added an assist in the second period for Montreal.