When the Chips are Down, Babcock Chooses Kindl

Maybe I am reading too much into this, but I find it really odd that tonight’s regular season match up is the biggest in a very long time and Mike Babcock is sitting Kyle Quincey.

Think about it, he’s “rushing” back Jimmy Howard for tonight’s game,  but sitting Kyle Quincey in favor of Jakub Kindl?

That means one of two things.

1. He’s trying to inject some confidence in Kindl’s game, by choosing him in the seasons biggest match up.

2. He sees Kyle Quincey playing Rover on defense and trusts Kindl more at this point.

Perhaps a little of both.

Is it too late to get that first round pick back?

Here is the Freep story by Helene St. Jameswith Babcock’s quotes on the situation.

Big Game for Red Wings

What does tonight’s game mean for the Red Wings? How much will this game effect the Wings’ performance in the playoffs?

Click the link to hear what I think about Red Wings vs. Predators , and leave your thoughts below, or on my facebook!

Goon

Slow sports day!

I am not a movie critic.

That being said I just got done with the cinematic genius that was the movie “Goon,” and I suggest it to any and everybody.

I was a little nervous when I heard Stiffler (Sean William Scott) was in this movie, but after a handful of my friends had seen it and praised it as a great movie I thought it was time to give it a shot.

It’s an hour and a half long, which is perfect for a guy like me, who doesn’t want to give movies much longer than that.

The movie is true to the game of hockey, and especially to the role of enforcer, and almost more important than that, it’s super entertaining. The camera work and lighting felt like you were at a real hockey rink, it doesn’t get all “Mighty Ducks” with odd spot lights and unrealistic hockey sequences. The fighting camera work is great too, because you feel like you are right there in the fight.

If coarse language doesn’t offend you, there are some really good one-liners.

There is enough movie in there to entertain a non-hockey fan and enough inside hockey stuff to entertain the die-hards. Tell a friend about this movie, and I suggest you watch it tonight (its ON-DEMAND) before it hits theaters tomorrow.

Angry Apartment Letters (Part 2)

Apparently part two of a series I am calling:

Angry Letters in the Elevators.

If Wins counted more in the NHL….

It is a shame that the NHL has devalued wins so much that teams with less wins than another team  are ahead of teams in the standings based on points. If you change this system to one based more on W’s than points, you don’t get a dramatic difference, but you do get an important difference.

Here is a look at the Current Playoff Picture:

EASTERN		GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	ROW	SOW	SOL
1	x – NY Rangers	75	47	21	7	101	43	4	5
2	Boston	75	44	28	3	91	36	8	2
3	Florida	75	36	24	15	87	31	5	10
4	x – Pittsburgh	75	47	22	6	100	38	9	3
5	x – Philadelphia	76	44	24	8	96	40	4	6
6	New Jersey	76	42	28	6	90	31	11	4
7	Ottawa	77	39	28	10	88	34	5	4
8	Washington	76	38	30	8	84	36	2	4
	Buffalo	76	37	29	10	84	30	7	6
	Winnipeg	76	35	33	8	78	31	4	4

WESTERN		GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	ROW	SOW	SOL
1	x – St. Louis	76	47	20	9	103	43	4	8
2	y – Vancouver	76	46	21	9	101	39	7	7
3	San Jose	76	39	27	10	88	31	8	5
4	x – Detroit	76	46	25	5	97	39	7	2
5	Nashville	76	44	24	8	96	40	4	5
6	Chicago	76	42	26	8	92	37	5	4
7	Dallas	76	41	30	5	87	34	7	4
8	Phoenix	77	37	27	13	87	31	6	10
	Los Angeles	76	37	27	12	86	31	6	7
	Colorado	78	40	32	6	86	31	9	2

 

Now, using the system of a Win=2 pts, and Loss=0 pts, here is what the playoff picture would look  like today, prior to Tuesday’s games.

   EAST          WEST

1.  NYR -94        STL-94

2. BOS-88          VAN-92

3. WSH-76         DAL-82

4. PIT-94           DET-92

5. PHL-88          NSH-88

6. NJ-84             CHI-84

7. OTT-78           SJ-78

8. BUF-74          COL-80

9. FLA -72         PHX-74

10. WP-70         LA-74

As you can see,  there are a few subtle differences, most notably at the third place spot in each conference.  Washington and Dallas each trail teams (FLA and SJ) they have more wins than. The same story at the bottom of the Western conference race. In the current system Colorado sits in 10th place,  despite having 3 more wins than the eighth and ninth place teams in the West.

The system that rewards zero points for a loss puts an emphasis back on getting the win when you head to overtime, whether it be on the road, at home, in the division or out of it. I believe this would lead to fewer shootouts because teams would open up play more in  OT, as opposed to sitting back and playing “not to lose.”  It is my hope when the league realigns, they also (and it has been brought up) consider giving teams more points for a win.

Conklin Clears Waivers

Ty Conklin clears waivers and will start tonight in New York for the Detroit Red Wings, with Jordan Pearce on back up duty. If Conklin can stop the skid the Wings have been on, with an impressive performance (because that’s the only way the Wings will win tonight) perhaps Conklin can sneak back into that back up goalie position just before the playoffs begin next month.

Howard is day-to-day.

Conklin’s Numbers

TEAM         GP        W        L     GAA          SV%

DET              11          3         5     3.40          .878

GR                 12         8         4     2.40          .915

Tim Tebow to the Jets

Tim Tebow is traded to the Jets from the Broncos for fourth and sixth round picks in the 2012 draft.

The Jets now have Mark Sanchez, Drew Stanton, and Tim Tebow.  Drew Stanton and Tim Tebow are actually remarkably similar players…I don’t have to point out the difference between these two though, do I?  Are the Jets looking to start some double option here?

Also a lot of talk about Tebow being some kind of slash….Still leaving room for the straight up fullback option.

Obviously what I am saying is ludicrous..

Or is it?

Ain’t No Saint: NFL Suspends Sean Payton, Saints Staff

Well the Saints are an ironically named team, aren’t they?

• Here is what the  Saints have earned as a punishment as a result of “Bounty Gates.”
• The New Orleans Saints are fined $500,000 and will lose its 2012 and 2013 second round draft picks.
• Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the year without pay, starting on April 1st. (no draft for him)
• General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended without pay for the first eight regular season games of 2012.
• Current St. Louis Rams and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely. His status will be reviewed at the end of the 2012 season.
• Saints’ assistant head coach Joe Vitt is barred the first six regular season games of 2012
• The individuals involved will be expected to  participate in programs that teach respect, fair play, and that bounties are wrong.

I think this sets a great precedent for the league and makes it very clear how the league feels about bounties. Players have gotten less for more (outside the NFL type of stuff, rape, murder, and dog fighting) but this type of stuff puts players on the offensive side of the ball in immediate dangers, and with Peyton Manning coming off a neck injury, there is no way the league wants this kind of stuff endangering players (not saying that Manning is specifically why they made the punishment this harsh).  Major League Baseball should consider this type of thing when a bunch of players connected to one team (cough! Yankees, cough!) get busted for steroids.

Players, coaches and even Bill Goldberg loved Devils-Rangers brawl

Well if Goldberg liked it… For real, I can see why Tortorella didn’t like it, but from a guy who wants the NHL to do well, it got people talking about hockey, the fights were fair, and it was followed by a great hockey game. Win all around.

Injured Wings’ Return Dates a Mystery

Not only are the Red Wings injured,  four of its eight injuries don’t really have a timeline, so it’s hard to say when they’ll be back. You have to imagine the guys who can go during playoff time will go, but it’s hard that doesn’t bode well for the Wings clawing into fourth for home ice against Nashville.

It seems like getting Nick Lidstrom back ASAP seems like the best possible move, but even in the Wings’ current situation it may be best to just wait till he’s 100 percent.  The Wing’s playoff picture isn’t getting any brighter, but at the moment, they are still a lock to be in.

“Expected Back” dates will be updated as information becomes available.

PLAYER,INJURY: EXPECTED BACK

Jimmy Howard, groin: Day-to-day

Joey MacDonald, back:  ?

Nick Lidstrom, bruised ankle:  May return this weekend, Early next week.

Jonathan Ericsson, wrist: Late March/Early April

Jakub Kindl, Oblique: ?

Johan Franzen, back: ?

Darren Helm, MCL: 4-6 weeks

Patrick Eaves, Broken Jaw/ Concussion symptons:?