Sunday Night Hockey: FIGHT!!!

I'm working on something, I swear. Stay tuned...

Monthly Standings

The Leafs still second? That will change.

Six Thoughts:

• Really no surprise in the Atlantic
• Bruins from worst to first? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
• FLORIDA? FLORIDA! WHAT THE HELL?
• Ok, not that I turned off caps lock, we are back to (semi-) normal in the Central
• MINNESOTA? MINNESOTA! (ok ok I'll stop)
• The biggest surprise is that the Ducks are last...and maybe San Jose being in third (still early though)

Chaos In Finlandia

Ah, the beauty of the rarely seen line brawl.

It starts off with a collision in the corner, one Pelican goes into turtle mode while a HIFK tries to rip him apart. Then we get Arttu Luttinen (#9 Pelicans) trying to man-handled two guys before settling with Siim Liivik (#72 HIFK).

Cut to a faceoff in the Pelicans zone. You swear the linesman* couldn't drop the puck soon enough. The Pelicans just wanted to get their gloves off and fight. The best part is that since it was a powerplay for HIFK, there was gonna be an odd man out. Poor #3, seemed so eager to get at someone, then dejectedly skates back and watches. Also, a tender moment between #13 of HIFK and #4 of the Pelicans.

*Great, now I know what the next alternative jersey fad will look like.

Two Quick Notes

1. Yes yes, Winnipeg has a team. But in reality they were booing their franchise. Especially Shane Doan, the only guy still with the franchise. Winnipeg's logic: Boo us, yay Atlanta.
2. It's nice to see the Habs win vs. the Kings last night, but why did LA's only goal be scored by Dustin Penner?!?!

Links

The Wysh with an interesting take on coach firings.

Well, nice to see Pavel Bure be recognized by ONE Hall of Fame

Kerry Fraser: Voice of reason in a cloud of confusion...wait what?

Lineup NOTables

(Confession time: Most of the time I guess the starting goalies of each game. Most of the time I only need to change 2 of those guesses. Last night, thought, was brutal. Only had 3 right before I updated it. The later late game saved me from going below .500)

Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche

Detroit: Patrick Eaves (jaw) and Jan Murek (ankle) are out. Ty Conklin is in net.
Colorado: Peter Mueller (concussion), Mark Olver (head), and Erik Johnson (groin) are out. Semyon Varlamov starts tonight.

Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks

Minnesota: Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), Justin Falk (back), Mike Lundin (back), Marek Zidlicky (concussion), and Niklas Backstrom (groin) are out while Cal Clutterbuck (thigh) is questionable). Josh Harding will start.
Boudreaus: Jason Blake (wrist), George Parros (eye), Matt Smaby (thumb), Lubomir Visnovsky (finger) and Dan Ellis (groin) are out. Jonas Hiller will start.

Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks

Calgary: Alex Tanguay (shoulder) David Moss (foot), Scott Hannan (knee), Mark Giordano (leg), and Anton Babchuk (hand) are out. Henrik Karlsson gets the start.
Vancouver: Mason Raymond (back), Byron Bitz (groin), Andrew Ebbett (foot), Arron Vopatti (shoulder), and Steven Pinizzotto (shoulder) are out. Roberto Luongo is expected to start.