TB/Canes - I really thought the Canes would get out of the gate better than this. They dominated the 2nd period but couldnt finish and that was the difference. TB capitalized on their chances and Cam Ward struggled again in back to back outings in goal. Canes had a strong 3rd period but TB scored 2more goals on only 7 shots. Dan Ellis is a solid back up and I wouldnt be surprised to see him in goal next game out for the Canes.
Jets/Capitals - The Jets played a very sound road game and definitely had the legs compared to the Caps. The one thing that concerns me is that Ovechkin looks slow......and I really mean that. He looks like he is at the same pace or worse than most of the guys on the ice. One of his assets is his speed and since last year, he has looked to be a step behind. He has already played 30 games in the KHL and he looks like he hasnt played a game all year. That injury of his from a few years ago seems to have really slowed him down. He used to have the best 3 first steps of anyone in the league.....he is only 27 but looks alot older. This is something to watch over the next few weeks. I thought the Caps had a nice mix on defense but it has been very average in their 2 games so far. Three coaches in less than a year and the Caps look as lost as ever!
Flyers/Devils - DeBoer has his Devils team playing a team game, I absolutely under estimated this NJ team. Philly has nothing on defense and it really shows! I said this the other but they have nobody that strikes fear into the oppostions forwards when they cross that blueline. Teams are focussing on Giroux and making the Flyers other lines beat them, but they arent. They miss Jagr, yes the Flyers do and the sooner Briere returns, the sooner the Flyers PP and balance on their top 2 lines will return to form.
Habs/Panthers - Habs jumped on the Panthers early and looked like the rested squad. Great speed and puck movement on the Habs part. I didnt see too much of this one, but the youth and vets they have is a nice mix.......better than I thought. Just not sold on Therien as a re-tread coach.
Stars/Wings - Wings poured it on in the 3rd period, outshooting Dallas 20-6 but Lehtonen stood tall! It ws too late though as Dallas played a very strong road game......and play their system so well with the lead. Kept it simple and short shifts. Datsyuk needs to step it up big time......1 shot on goal aint going to get it done. Zetterberg was flying, 9 shots on goal but his assist came with 4 seconds left in the game to make it a 2-1 loss. Dallas will be a team to watch in the West.
Preds/Wild - Rinne was solid and definitely helped the Preds get the nice road win. Preds rolled their top 3 lines so well and were terrific in the offensive zone. Their time in the OZ was huge tonight. This was the Wild's problem all game.....they couldnt sustain any momentum in the OZ and their costly mistakes was so glaring that it seemed they all ended up in the net.
Hawks/Blues - I thought the Hawks took their foot off the pedal a bit up 3-0 early in the 3rd period. Blues made a game of it but it was Chicago that played terrific hockey through the first 2 periods and a bit. The secondary scoring from the back end was big for the Hawks and Crawford really stood tall in the last 10 minutes of the game. Blues legs showed playing their 3rd in 4 nights.
Kings/Avs - Stanley Cup hangover anyone? Oh yes it shows with this Kings squad. Penner and Kopitar didnt even register a shot on goal. Richards looked listless yet again and Quick got caught cheating on 2 of the Avs goals when Colorado would shoot the puck wide and have it bounced off the boards so the forwards had a gaping wide open net......it was quite obvious! Losing Greene on defense really hurt the Kings physical presence on defense. Sure Mitchell is solid in that dept but he even looked flat.....the whole team looks flat!
SJ/Oilers - Watched alot of this one. Special teams in the 1st period decided this one. 4 of the 7 goals came on the PP! Absolutely love this Sharks team, they are flying under the radar.......everyone is talking about STL, LA, Chicago, Vancouver, Minnesota, etc.....and like Anaheim, the Sharks have so much depth at foward. This is a team to watch!
Jets/Capitals - The Jets played a very sound road game and definitely had the legs compared to the Caps. The one thing that concerns me is that Ovechkin looks slow......and I really mean that. He looks like he is at the same pace or worse than most of the guys on the ice. One of his assets is his speed and since last year, he has looked to be a step behind. He has already played 30 games in the KHL and he looks like he hasnt played a game all year. That injury of his from a few years ago seems to have really slowed him down. He used to have the best 3 first steps of anyone in the league.....he is only 27 but looks alot older. This is something to watch over the next few weeks. I thought the Caps had a nice mix on defense but it has been very average in their 2 games so far. Three coaches in less than a year and the Caps look as lost as ever!
Flyers/Devils - DeBoer has his Devils team playing a team game, I absolutely under estimated this NJ team. Philly has nothing on defense and it really shows! I said this the other but they have nobody that strikes fear into the oppostions forwards when they cross that blueline. Teams are focussing on Giroux and making the Flyers other lines beat them, but they arent. They miss Jagr, yes the Flyers do and the sooner Briere returns, the sooner the Flyers PP and balance on their top 2 lines will return to form.
Habs/Panthers - Habs jumped on the Panthers early and looked like the rested squad. Great speed and puck movement on the Habs part. I didnt see too much of this one, but the youth and vets they have is a nice mix.......better than I thought. Just not sold on Therien as a re-tread coach.
Stars/Wings - Wings poured it on in the 3rd period, outshooting Dallas 20-6 but Lehtonen stood tall! It ws too late though as Dallas played a very strong road game......and play their system so well with the lead. Kept it simple and short shifts. Datsyuk needs to step it up big time......1 shot on goal aint going to get it done. Zetterberg was flying, 9 shots on goal but his assist came with 4 seconds left in the game to make it a 2-1 loss. Dallas will be a team to watch in the West.
Preds/Wild - Rinne was solid and definitely helped the Preds get the nice road win. Preds rolled their top 3 lines so well and were terrific in the offensive zone. Their time in the OZ was huge tonight. This was the Wild's problem all game.....they couldnt sustain any momentum in the OZ and their costly mistakes was so glaring that it seemed they all ended up in the net.
Hawks/Blues - I thought the Hawks took their foot off the pedal a bit up 3-0 early in the 3rd period. Blues made a game of it but it was Chicago that played terrific hockey through the first 2 periods and a bit. The secondary scoring from the back end was big for the Hawks and Crawford really stood tall in the last 10 minutes of the game. Blues legs showed playing their 3rd in 4 nights.
Kings/Avs - Stanley Cup hangover anyone? Oh yes it shows with this Kings squad. Penner and Kopitar didnt even register a shot on goal. Richards looked listless yet again and Quick got caught cheating on 2 of the Avs goals when Colorado would shoot the puck wide and have it bounced off the boards so the forwards had a gaping wide open net......it was quite obvious! Losing Greene on defense really hurt the Kings physical presence on defense. Sure Mitchell is solid in that dept but he even looked flat.....the whole team looks flat!
SJ/Oilers - Watched alot of this one. Special teams in the 1st period decided this one. 4 of the 7 goals came on the PP! Absolutely love this Sharks team, they are flying under the radar.......everyone is talking about STL, LA, Chicago, Vancouver, Minnesota, etc.....and like Anaheim, the Sharks have so much depth at foward. This is a team to watch!
