Fantasy Hockey - Coming up on the Halfway Point

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Huge win for the Oilers in SJ.

Some continuing signs for concern (playing in their own end way too much) but also played with 3 rookies on the blue line.

And the fact that at least one of your goals should not have counted if you had a competent ref. And the fact that the same incompetent ref blew the play dead while the puck was clearly alive and the Sharks attacking several times.

That non-call though, it was brutal. Right infront of the ref, Thoresen interferes with Bell who falls to the ice and slides into the boards. The shooting lane is therefore wide open, and pop goes the goal...

I wouldn't call that a "huge win" so much as a "lucky win", undeservedly so. The Sharks still way outshot you despite the fact that they spent half the game on the PK while Edmonton got away with amazing amounts of stuff.

[Flubber]

Another HUGE night tonight with playoff implications everywhere

Islanders Bruins
Maple Leafs Sabres
Senators Rangers
Canadiens Flyers
Panthers Hurricanes
Capitals Lightning

Interestingly, it is impossible for Toronto to get back to clear eighth tonight. Unless Toronto pulls out the win tonight, they WILL fall to 11th and will be 2-3 points out of a playoff spot. With a win, their best result is tied for eigth with Tampa





Ducks Stars
Flames Avalanche
Red Wings Coyotes
Wild Canucks
Sharks Kings

In the west, the Wild need to find some road skill. The Flames and the Avs will have only the second of their EIGHT meetings in a matchup that is huge for both teams .. . .and the Coyotes?? . . . well they just need to keep on winning. Thats the problem with needing to catch multiple teams even if the gap is only 3-4 points. One two-game skid and one of the teams you need to catch will be 7-8 points up on you.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Definitely Peca. He plays a huge defensive role and is an important leader on the ice. Few players in the league can match his abilities. It's something that is rarely reflected in stats. His checking line shuts down the other team, but may not score much so his +/- doesn't look impressive.

hmm-- your description sounds much like what Yelle can do for the Flames. he was out for something like 20 games .

[Flubber]

Talking about injuries . . . they almost always hurt a team but Asher is correct, a truly strong team has enough depth to absorb some injury problems for they WILL happen every season

Look at the Flames


their top defensive forward (Yelle)was out for a good chunk of the season

They lost their top dman (Hamrlik) at a time when another top 4 d-man (Warrener)was out and had a top 6 guy (Zuyzen) out for an extended stretch

Now they have their best player and a regular second line forward out

Seems to me that the Flames have had injuries just like anyone-- ( they have also had injuries to 4th liners and callups )

[Flubber]

THis morning Calgary radio was saying the Flames should put together a 4th line of Nilson, Godard and McCarty and name it the "Tank line"

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher

Perhaps the problem with his "performance" in Toronto has more to do with inept coaching staff, bad systems, and terrible defense.

The problem with that theory wasn't able to put together good games last year while Aubin played great. Same team, different results.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
Sorry, I guess I forgot about Andy Wozniewski. See, I just don't consider him an injury for the Leafs

Yeah, we know you don't consider a lot of things.

Fact is the Leafs have seven injuries, not six as you claimed.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Yeah, we know you don't consider a lot of things.

Fact is the Leafs have seven injuries, not six as you claimed.

Yes, if you include a terrible player who's played 16 career NHL games with crappy stats. This is technically true.

The fact that you keep bringing this guy up as part of your lame excuses for Toronto's performance just cements Toronto's position was "screwed", since he's apparently a noteworthy injury.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber
Talking about injuries . . . they almost always hurt a team but Asher is correct, a truly strong team has enough depth to absorb some injury problems for they WILL happen every season

A couple of injuries, sure teams can get by, but Asher is claiming that a strong team can handle six injuries, which is just stupid No team in the NHL has the ability to perform at 100% capability when a quarter of the team is injured.

Once again, he's showing how little he knows about hockey by taking an extremist position.

The Leafs will be fighting hard to overcome the injuries. Some of the young guys have a chance to show what they can do. But it will not be what the team can do at full strength, or even what it could do with half the injuries.

[Asher]

yay this is fun

Tellqvist: 7-3-2, 2.59 GAA, .912sv%
Raycroft: 17-14-4, 3.02 GAA, .895sv%
Aubin: 2-4-2, 3.45 GAA, .881sv%

Raycroft for Rask -- brilliant.
Tellqvist for Nash -- brilliant.

Weren't you the guy that made fun of Calgary (with Kiprusoff) as a bad judge of goaltender abilities?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
A couple of injuries, sure teams can get by, but Asher is claiming that a strong team can handle six injuries, which is just stupid

Calgary handled it just fine. If you watched NHL games or paid adequate attention to it, you'd know.

Once again, he's showing how little he knows about hockey by taking an extremist position.

How is that an extreme position? I didn't say they'd be 100%, that was your strawman born out of desperation.

I said strong teams can overcome injuries to keep winning. That's not extreme at all, as teams regularly do this. Look at the injured list, the Leafs are far from the only ones with lots of injuries. It hurts to lose people, but with a strong team, you've got depth to fall back on. Toronto's management is so inept there's virtually no depth, the Marlies are one of the worst teams in the AHL and their roster tells you why.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
This is technically true.

Ah good, you finally admit you can't count to seven. Excellent

What's amazing is that Flubber posted the list of the seven injured players, and you could only count to six.

Now, to cover up for your stupid mistake, you're trying to claim that I said he was vital. Come on, that's pretty lame.

[Asher]

For example, Carolina -- who beat you 4-1 last -- had what, 4 of its regular defensemen out?

[Tingkai]

Asher, you really don't understand hockey do you.

And you canna count can ya.

Four is less than six. '

And if you knew anything about hockey, you would know that Carolina's won the Cup without having any stellar d-men.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Ah good, you finally admit you can't count to seven. Excellent

What's amazing is that Flubber posted the list of the seven injured players, and you could only count to six.

Now, to cover up for your stupid mistake, you're trying to claim that I said he was vital. Come on, that's pretty lame.

First -- do you realize how obvious it is when you avoid the issues like this?

Second -- I can count just fine. I'm pretty sure my four years of post-secondary applied mathematics means I can do math better than you can, so don't even go there, artsy boy.

Third -- and this is where your counting skills come in -- Flubber posted 6 guys, including White who was injured at the end of the game in question -- again, if you watched the games, you'd know this. The injury date was even right in your list. I specifically stated this, and this is how I arrived at 5 injured players. Read the thread again. In your very quote, the context is clear.

Fourth -- My source for injury reports was www.hockey-recap.com, which has 5 Toronto injuries as of today:

tor	ian white	Jan 9	 7 mild shoulder separ
tor	michael peca	Dec 23	 fractured tibial plat
tor	alexei ponikarovsky	Dec 21	 separated shoulder
tor	nik antropov	Dec 6	 ankle
tor	andy wozniewski	Oct 8	 shoulder surgery

Fifth -- I never said you said Wozniewski was vital, just that you're spending an awful lot of time pointing out he's injured as some kind of excuse for Toronto's bad play. The implication was made by you.