WEEK #6 REVIEW

For this week's edition of the weekly review, we've decided to do something a little different and show our respects to the players in the league that never get as much recognition, but must fulfill an important role by being able to step in at any time if their name is called. There has been an overwhelming theme this year of #1 goaltenders falling to both short and long-term injury, and this week, we have all thumbs up for goaltenders who have stepped up their level of play in time of need:

JOEY MacDONALD - NEW YORK ISLANDERS
-Rick Dipietro has been the #1 goaltender for the Islanders for a few years now, and it is evident by the monstrous 15-year contract he is currently working on. Dipietro is currently sidelined by injury, and the organization has turned towards MacDonald, the 28 year old Nova Scotia native to carry the team, and he has posted an 8-7-2 record in his 17 games played this season, with a .913 save percentage. Not bad for a guy who has gone 3-8-3 between the Red Wings, Bruins, and Islanders before this season started.




BRIAN BOUCHER - SAN JOSE SHARKS
-Although Boucher's ice-time is not due to any injury from Nabokov, San Jose has been known to work with a 2-goaltender system for many years, with the exception of last year. Boucher has been called upon 9 times this season, posting a 7-1-1 record with a .928 save percentage and an unbelievable 1.89 GAA. The system must be working for the Sharks, as Nabokov has started the other 12 games, posting a 10-2 record, helping the team to a league-best 17-3-1 record. Keep in mind just how capable of goaltender Boucher is: He holds the league's shutout record of 5-straight shutouts when he played with the Coyotes.




TY CONKLIN - DETROIT RED WINGS
-For the time being, we'll have to forget just how bad Conklin was for the Oilers from 2001-2006. Just remember his rather "important" blunder in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Hurricanes. Since then, Conklin has been one of the league's best backup netminders, splitting time with the Blue Jackets, Sabres, Penguins, and now, with the Red Wings. This season, Conklin has posted a 6-1-0 record in 7 starts, complementing a great goaltending system with the 8-1-3 Chris Osgood.



NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN - CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
-Nikolai who? In an off season that saw former Montréal Canadiens star keeper Christobal Huet off to the Windy city, Huet would be the definite #1 keeper. But not everything goes as planned, injuries occur, and Khabibulin's season has been an indication of a career resurrection, posting a 7-1-4 record for the Hawks. Considering he is a rather "seasoned" backup goaltender, becoming a UFA at the end of the season, will he be with the Hawks next season? Probably not, but for the time being, he's helping a great deal to restoring a winning tradition in Chicago.

HONOURABLE MENTION TO THE BACKUP KEEPERS:

Danny Sabourin - PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Alex Auld - OTTAWA SENATORS

Kevin Weekes/Scott Clemmenson - NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Curtis Sanford - VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Jaroslav Halak - MONTREAL CANADIENS

Brent Johnson - WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Erik Ersberg - LOS ANGELES KINGS




That's all for now,


PP

More props for Luke Schenn... and a lead in the polls!

There's an article I found on nhl.com about how awesome Luke Schenn is. The story has a "everything about the Maple leafs sucks except this kid (who is awesome) and Wendel Clark and Johnny Bower (who are both SK products, and are awesome). At the bottom the article there is a poll about the Calder candidates and best rookie defenseman. Schenn was winning both polls when I checked and voted at 10:44ish today. Likely the polls are leaf-fan-inflated, but who cares. Luke Schenn is great. Keep up the good work kid.

Say it ain't so Morrow!

Well folks, here at the Prairie Puck we've been handing praise and blessings (to whatever capacity our abilities allow) to Brendan Morrow, captain of the Dallas stars and native of Carlyle, SK. We regret to inform you that he will be out for a good long time. NHL.com (who we love) had this article on the subject. I've looked for a quote from the man himself but, like Theoren Fleury, came up short.

It is at this point I would like to point out a few very loosely related facts:
1. We love Theoren Fleury. No one celebrates like he used to. And no one leaves the NHL to play in Ireland quite like him.
2. He's really short and was really awesome, which we like.
3. He worked a hockey camp our own Jordan Toppings attended, which means that once we get ahold of him he will do an interview for sure.
4. He's from Oxbow, SK and played his Junior hockey in Moose Jaw, so obviously he is one of the coolest to ever lace on the blades.
5. We're gonna do a story on him right away here.
6. All of that was just to make sure you weren't gonna jump on us for hating Theoren Fleury. We definitely don't. Alcoholic jokes just wouldn't be funny. We love him like John Daly loves Hooters. Now, back to the story.

The injury is apparently "a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will require surgery." Shitty. Ahh well, we'll still find a way to get you in here anyway Mr. Morrow. When you come back, we know you'll be just fine.

WEEK #5 REVIEW

It was a big week in the NHL, with many ups and downs. Let's take a look....


THUMBS UP - C Jordan Staal - Pittsburgh Penguins

-If there's one thing that the young Penguins team needs, it's secondary scoring so not all of the responsibility is put on superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sid Crosby. Don't get me wrong, they can carry the weight (1st and 6th in the scoring race), but a solid effort from their 2nd and 3rd line is essential if the Penguins want to make another Cup run, and Pittsburgh has found this extra scoring touch in 3rd year player Jordan Staal. In the last 5 games, Staal has notched 6 goals and one assists, reaching half of his disappointing scoring output of last year. This wave of secondary scoring has put the Penguins within 4 points of the division leading Rangers.


THUMBS DOWN - The Dallas Stars

-How is this team not sitting atop the west? Maybe it's because they're up against the ridiculous conference leading San Jose Sharks, not to mention the Red Wings, Ducks, and damn near every other team in the West that has better records than the Stars. Last year, the Stars made it all the way to the West Final, losing to the eventual Cup Champs, but how is it possible that they are sitting 14th (yes that's right, 14th) in the West? Even the Maple Leafs in the East have a better record. That should be reason enough for something drastic to happen, and NOW. Did Dallas really make any changes in the off season that would hurt them this much? Not really at all. If anything, the addition of Sean Avery should have solidified their presence as among the West elite. Mr. Brendan Morrow, we love ya here at the Prairie Puck, but rally your troops son.


THUMBS UP - Rookie Goaltenders Steve Mason and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers

-Now these guys are a thrill to watch. First, rookie keeper Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets is one of the most promising young net minders we've seen in years. You might remember this guy from last December, when he backstopped the Canadian Junior team to a 4th straight gold medal at the U20 IIHF tourny, named the top goaltender of the tournament in the process. It was at this tournament, where the star netminder for the London Knights was dealt in a rare blockbuster trade of the OHL, to the Memorial Cup host Kitchener Rangers. Mason would unfortunately be sidelined due to a knee injury, and Kitchener lost the Memorial Cup final to the Spokane Chiefs (backstopped by a Mr. Dustin Tokarski of Watson, SK by the way). Mason has posted a 3-1-1 record in 5 starts for the Blue Jackets, and believe me, the Jackets need all the help they can get if they want to make a serious playoff run.

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers of the Edmonton Oilers is part of the 3-headed monster situation they have in Edmonton, but unlike the Boston Celtics, the 3-man situation in Edmonton is not a good one. At a 3-5-1 record in the last 10 games, we're still waiting on Dwayne Roloson to be dealt to New Jersey. The 24-year old has only been in the Oilers system for 1 season with the Springfield Falcons last season, and brief stints with AHL affiliate teams of Pittsburgh, Montréal, and a few tries with the ECHL. His most impressive outing in the NHL came against the Eastern elite Rangers, which the rookie backstopped the Oilers to a 3-2 victory, stopping 40 of 42 shots. A French-Canadian duo of Garon and Deslauriers is not far off in the future.


THUMBS UP - Simon Gagne - Philadelphia Flyers

-In a season that couldn't have gone worse last year for Flyers superstar Simon Gagne, there were questions as to the future of Gagne's ability. A history of concussions had ultimately ended the 28-year old star's season last year, but Gagne has silenced all the critics thus far. In only 16 games, Gagne has accumulated 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists, and 4 more points than all of last season), and this is good enough for 4th in the league in points for this former 2-time 40 goal scorer. Even better news the Flyers - they made it to the Conference final without Gagne last year. If they can get things to click down the stretch, could the Flyers make a run at the cup?



And the final thumbs up for the week goes to a good ol' Saskatchewan product that has carried his team to victory. Of course, we mean Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Preds got off to a sub-par start to the season, managing only a 6-7-1 record in 14 games, but in the past 3 games, Ellis has performed extremely well, with back-to-back 4-3 victories over the West's powerhouse Sharks, in which he stopped 54 of 57 shots, and again with 32 of 35 shots against the Anaheim Ducks. A 3-1 victory over the LA Kings capped off the impressive week, and Ellis will try for a rare victory against the Sharks in Nashville tonight. Although the Sharks are an extremely good team, there's no reason why this 28 year old SK netminder can't generate an impressive collection of wins against the West's best. Congratulations Dan Ellis, you have earned the player of the week award.


That's all for this past week folks. Don't forget to watch Saturday, November 22nd's broadcast of the Bruins @ the Canadiens on CBC to watch the retiring of Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy's #33 jersey.




PP