While we are on a Detroit and New York kick here….did anyone notice how physical the Red Wings were last night against the Rangers and how well it worked? The Wings smartly focused this physical play around guys like Marian Gaborik as well and that Gaborik bobble that led to a goal was a pure result of getting aggressive with the puck carrier. Nick Lidstrom is the one who started that play for the Wings and for the first time all year I have to say that Lidstrom looked like Lidstrom. It did not hurt that he had 2 assists last night as well.
Everyone will talk about the Henrik Lundqvist “E-9” that caused the game winner but the Rangers were for the most part outplayed on this night. Shots did ultimately end up close to even (30-29 Wings) but the reality is Rangers were getting knocked around all night. Its a novel concept. Be physical and Gaborik disappears almost like Jaromir Jagr…remember him? At .500 again the Rangers have a ton of work to do even if they want to make the postseason. I bet Coach Tortorella is starting to wonder why he took this job.
Speaking of coaching hot seats…the Anaheim position has to be pretty damn toasty right now. The Ducks at 26 points are dead last in the Western Conference (yes they really are). If the .500 record at home is not alarming enough…the 2-5-4 record on the road IS. The team plays devoid of discipline and really only Jonas Hiller saved Randy Carlyle’s job last year. This year you could probably place Roy, Brodeur, and Hasek all at once in the net and it would not matter.
What is worse is that according to reports…there is no imminent shakeup coming. The question becomes how long will this team continue to twist in the wind? Henry Samuelli does own the team once again but yet….nothing has been really done to rectify the glaring discipline problems. Last night the Ducks had 3 men in the box at once for the 4th time this week alone. How many lives is Carlyle going to get? It seems like his last ones are coming close and maybe the time is close at hand to see his departure? Then again maybe not.
Now on The Program last night, we touched on even more. Go listen to the whole podcast and much thanks of course. We talked about the potential of renaming the awards, why I am a traditionalist pig, and much more. Also there was much fantasy talk and a nice down tick in the Injury Ticker (currently at 109). Tonight we also trot out that Versus theory once again. Let’s see what happens.
Up next is the Fantasy Hockey 101 and then who knows….what else may tickle our fantasy. Now to fix those fantasy teams…..grumble…grumble!
Sincerely,
Chris Wassel
Director Of The Program
