Today on This Day, we look at what became a very smart career move for one of the best, if not, the best coaches of all time.  What did he do 39 years ago today?  Well I think it is time to find out.

 

 

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Ryan comes out swinging because yes there is a Game 7.

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Canadiens 4, Capitals 1
Bruins 4, Sabres 3
Blackhawks 5, Predators 3
Predictions record: 1-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (53 Saves, 1 GA)
The Great Wall of Halak was in a zone last night, stopping almost everything that came his way. One of the best goalie performances I’ve ever seen.
2. Michael Cammalleri, MTL (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Cammer’s pair of wicked wristers set the tone for the Habs early.
3. Jonathan Toews, CHI (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Captain Toews played a solid all-around game, picking up 3 points.
‘RLD Game-Changing Performance’ of the night:
Jonathan Toews… The Predators clawed back from a 3-1 deficit with a pair of Jason Arnott goals before the end of 1st period. It didn’t take long, though, for Toews to swing the momentum back to Chicago, scoring a crucial power play goal with 30-plus seconds remaining in the period. It took some air out of the building right before intermission, and was the eventual game-winner.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Detroit @ Phoenix, Game 7, 9:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Phoenix Coyotes
Game 7, 9:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN, Local Networks
Series tied, 3-3

Players to watch:
DET- Valterri Filppula
Filppula has had a great all-around series, especially as of late.
PHX- Keith Yandle
The Habs need Markov (just 3 A in series) to step up big-time in this one.

Keys to the Game:
DET- Strike on the power play… Detroit has been so-so while on the man advantage throughout the series; the Wings need to capitalize when given the opportunity.
PHX- Feed off the crowd… The ‘Yotes should get a lift from the home faithful clad in white, but they have to use that energy wisely (no stupid penalties, etc).

Starting Goaltenders:
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 3-3, 2.86 GAA)
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (Playoff stats: 3-3, 3.01 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Patrick Eaves (undisclosed, probable), Kirk Maltby (shoulder, out)
PHX- Shane Doan (upper body, questionable), Scottie Upshall (knee, out), Kurt Sauer (head, out)

Game Thoughts:
Game Seven… soak that in for a minute! Every one has its own hero, goat, and special moment. What will happen tonight in the desert? Will goaltending be the determining factor? Will Doan be able to give it a go? Will snakes and octopi be thrown on the ice? Who knows! This has been a great back-and-forth series, and is deservedly going the distance. Goaltending is huge Game 7’s, so Phoenix has the edge there. But it’s Detroit, and I picked them to win the series. My head says Detroit… my gut says Phoenix. Using my brain here…
Prediction: Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2 (OT)

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET on Thursday!

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Its just after 9pm, time for some videos and here they are.

 

 

 

 

Have a great night! no comments

Coming in the next few weeks will be something completely different for Fantasy Hockey 101.  Also we want to throw out a side congrats to the Nashville fans who made tonight's Preds-Hawks game a sellout.  Awesome job guys...you rock!

Now getting back to the matter at hand here.  What we are going to do besides giving you updated playoff information so you can see how your playoff pools are doing but we are also going to take a look back at our rankings before the season and sit there and wonder what went so wrong and what went so right.  It is a way of giving back to the loyal readers and it is also a way to see how we can do this even better in the coming year.

Also, we will be taking a look back at some past drafts for busts and booms as well as some sleepers you never saw coming even from Hades.  Trends are very hard to spot but the goal here is to do this in a nuts and bolts way that makes it easier for fantasy hockey fans to understand.  You want the information quick and concise and that is our goal.  Why dress it up with a bowtie and tux when you can just get to the meat and potatoes of the matter.

Fancy matrices are not what we are about here.  If you want that or if you want to pay a whole bunch of money, then this is not for you.  We give you the tools to think for yourself.  Fantasy hockey often involves more luck than anything else.  We foster that belief and just nudge you along with information.  Nobody wants to have to read hundreds of pages of information to get just what you need at that point and time.

So starting next week we will take a look at the Top 25 goalies we picked and then sheepishly determine whether they overperformed, underperformed, or were just right on target.  There will be quite a few surprises along the way and expect many disagreements as we consulted with some of the best and brightest in the fantasy hockey industry for this.  You have been warned.

Now go enjoy those playoff hockey pools where all you had to do was set it and forget it.  Happy reading and yes the turkeys will be released again on Thursday.

Well Jacques Lemaire has stepped down to take a position in the Devils organization.  Now what are the Devils going to do?  Many experiments have failed miserably and several first round exits in a row cannot be ignored.  I swear it felt just like yesterday when Lemaire returned to New Jersey.  Okay it lasted for a year and yet it felt like it went too fast.  This video from Game 4 may have given an inkling that this retirement was possible.  Listen to the entire thing.  Yes I know it is a little over five minutes long but in retrospect, it provides much insight.

 

 

With Lemaire heading out of the Shark Tank that is the Devils coaching situation, what will Lou do now?  First off I guess it is time to hit the Hockey Database.  Oh lord help us on this one.  First things first....here is that list.

1997-98	NJ Devils			82	48	23	11	0	0	107	0.652				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1
1998-99	NJ Devils			82	47	24	11	0	0	105	0.640				Robbie Ftorek	Lost in rd 1
1999-00	NJ Devils			82	45	24	8	5	0	103	0.628				Multiple coaches	Won Cup
2000-01	NJ Devils			82	48	19	12	3	0	111	0.677				Larry Robinson	Lost in Finals
2001-02	NJ Devils			82	41	28	9	4	0	95	0.579				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 1
2002-03	NJ Devils			82	46	20	10	6	0	108	0.659				Pat Burns	Won Cup
2003-04	NJ Devils			82	43	25	12	2	0	100	0.610				Pat Burns	Lost in rd 1
2005-06	NJ Devils			82	46	27	0	5	4	101	0.616				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 2
2006-07	NJ Devils			82	49	24	0	1	8	107	0.652				Claude Julien	Lost in rd 2
2007-08	NJ Devils			82	46	29	0	3	4	99	0.604				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2008-09	NJ Devils			82	51	27	0	2	2	106	0.646				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2009-10	NJ Devils			82	48	27	0	2	5	103	0.628				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1

 

Just for the record, there were a few games coached by John Maclean and Lou Lamoriello thrown in for good measure.  Lamoriello coached most of the 05-06 season.  There was a brief reign of terror known as Kevin Constantine as well.  It seems hard to get a coach to stay more than 2 years in New Jersey of late.  Aside from the early playoff exits since the 2003 Stanley Cup, New Jersey has a great regular season record.  Hell they have ten 100 point seasons since the 97-98 season.

For whatever reason though, playoff success has always been a little distant.  John MacLean seems to be the next logical guy to take the reins in the sense that he has paid his dues and hey he did guide the Lowell Devils to a playoff berth before being ousted in you guessed it, the first round (in 5 games).  Now to have a little fun with this, I wanted to thank Julie Marie Halady for coming up with the idea for the Days Of Our Lives video....as seen here. Just insert Devils coaches in and it works well.

 

Days of our Devils coaches sounds real catchy.  This has real potential.  So who could be next?  I thought it might be time to have a little fun with this.  Here is a list of candidates that we came up with.  Some are not meant to be taken seriously and I think that most will be able to spot those in very short order.

• John MacLean (Current coach of the Lowell Devils)
• Brent Sutter (Coach of the Calgary Flames)
• The Pope (Savior of Catholics)
• Pat Burns (sentimental choice but impossible)
• Scott Stevens (in the Devils organization)
• Bobby Carpenter (Scout in Toronto organization)
• John Tortorella (Current NY Rangers coach)
• Insert Candidate Here

WHY?  Why do I say that?  Because there is always a feeling that a coach will come from "outside the box".  The Devils have much to fix and whomever decides to take on this job has a series of hurdles to overcome that may be too daunting for most to take on.  I still maintain that the next coach has to be austere but flexible and open minded.  It is such a rare combination and THEN add in the patience that is required in dealing with Lou Lamoriello.

My question to every reader is can the Devils find that guy or the better question is this.  Is that guy right under the Devils' noses literally?  Something to ponder on this cold and rainy afternoon.  I have my ideal choice and it is not the top guy on the list.  I still maintain that somehow Michelle Kenneth and Kevin Weekes know the next coach of New Jersey but I cannot be sure on this.  Stay tuned.  The search will continue for the next New Jersey Devils coach.