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The NHL season season is quickly winding down. Here at BlueShirts and Pinstripes Blog, I’ll be taking a look at the NHL Awards of the next few days and picking who I think deserves/will win the award. I’ll look at the award, give last years winner, the nominees and who I think will win it.
Today we’ll be looking at the Calder Trophy. The Calder Trophy is given to the best rookie player in the NHL.
Last Year’s Winner: Steve Mason, 33-20-7 with a 2.29 GAA and a .916 SV%.
Nominee’s:
Matt Duchene. After being selected third-overall by the Colorado Avalanche in last years draft, Duchene has rocketed to the top of the stat sheet for rookies in goals, points, games played and powerplay goals. Here’s a look at Duchene.
Tyler Myers. This rookie defenseman was drafted 12th overall in 2008 by the Buffalo Sabres. He currently leads the NHL in rookie assists and averages over 23 minutes per game. Here’s Myers.
Jimmy Howard. Howard has toiled and labored in the AHL for four long years without getting much NHL action. His break came this year when Ken Holland gave him the job as back-up to Chris Osgood. Osgood got the flu and Howard was inserted as the starter, and to make a long story short, Howard has started the last 22 games for the Red Wings and has posted a 33-15-9 record with a 2.24 GAA and a .926 SV%.
Winner: Jimmy Howard. The man is a beast. He sports the second best GAA at 2.24 (I don’t count Tuukka Rask) and is third in SV% at 9.26. This one has to be Howard, hands down.
The Rangers are going to have some injuries to deal with when they take on division rival Islanders tommorow night.
Ryan Callahan, will be out with an injured leg a lower body injury.
Sean Avery will also be out with a knee injury.
Brian Boyle who has missed the past three games with an ankle injury will be out yet again.
Matt Gilroy will be scratched yet again. Anders Eriksson will take Gilroy’s spot in the line-up for the second consecutive game. Amazingly both Wade Redden and Michal Roszival, who have played less than steller defense, will be in the line-up. Gotta love that accountability we were promised. Thanks Torts.
And speaking of Tortorella, did you guys notice how rude John was to Sam Rosen? It’s Sam Rosen!!! I can understand Larry Brooks, he mocked Redden and Torts was defending him, but this is two games in a row where he has called out a media member. First it was Rick Carpinello. I’m not sure if you guys read his blog or not, but his work is second to none. Next, it’s Sam. Torts better be careful, if the entire media turns against him, he can kiss his job goodbye.
As speaking of Torts, ESPN polled players in the NHL, 18% said they wouldn’t want to play for Tortorella. Saying that he called out the media and players in the media. Torts was the highest vote getter for that “award”.
The Rangers had two huge back-to-back victories against Atlantic Division opponents.
1) The Rangers absolutely dominated the Islanders on Wednesday. They outplayed them in every facet of the game.
2) I thought Hank played good on Wednesday and extremely well on Thursday. He wasn’t really challenged by the Islanders which is something that can’t be said too often. I thought the score could have easily been 6-3 last night but Hank kept them in it.
3) Good call by ref Wes McAuley on that waved off goal by Parise.
4) The defense, especially Redden, was awful again last night. Bad changes, misplays and errors really put the Rangers at a disadvantage.
5) Gaborik played really well versus the Islanders, but was almost invisible last night.
6) How good has Artie Anisimov been the past few games? He seems to be getting stronger and smarter every game. The goal on Brodeur really showed his patience and calmness under pressure.
The Rangers have moved within one point of the Boston Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Bruins have two games in hand, but the Rangers play the Bruins on Sunday in a game that will no doubt have severe playoff implications.
The Rangers are coming off a good game against the Flyers. Here are some quick thoughts.
1) Sean Avery seemed to be “engaged” in this game, eh? After a one game benching by Coach Tortorella, Avery responded with one of his best games a a Ranger. Avery scored twice, drew two penalties and was active with hits and pressure throughout the game.
2) I think it was smart not going after Carcillo. Remember the Rangers last two games are both against the Flyers. By that time we should know whether the Rangers have clinched or been eliminated from the playoffs. I’m thinking he’ll get something then.
3) Brandon Dubinsky really laid the smackdown on Brad Richards. Here’s the video courtesy of HockeyFights.com
4) I thought Lundqvist played a good game. He wasn’t called upon to make many saves. But, when he needed too he came through as usual.
5) The game against Montreal will be another game that will have huge playoff implications. Unfortunately the game is on Versus which I do not get.
6) There will be a new poll on the side soon so be on the look out for that.
Star Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin will meet with National Hockey League disciplinarian Colin Campbell to decide whether his hit on Blackhawks defenceman was legal or not. For those who have not seen the hit here you go:
If you ask me I think that he deserves to be suspended, especially with the news ESPN is reporting that Campbell may be out for the season.
Don’t be confused what you saw the New York Rangers did indeed defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in regulation. Well, that would have been the score if linesman Scott Driscoll knew what an offside was.
Towards the middle of the third period Brandon Dubinsky shuffled the puck into the Buffalo zone. The ouck hit a Sabres defender and hopped in the air and danced along, but never crossed, the offsides line and was kept in by Chris Drury.
Drury shoveled the puck to Dubinsky who promptly dispensed the puck into the net past a sprawling Ryan Miller. Rangers lead, right? Wrong! Apparently the linesman saw the puck go outside the line, which never happened. He blew the whistle, but it could not be heard to to the raucous MSG crowd.
Maybe he was blowing the initial play offside and not the Drury keep in? Wrong again. Upon entry to the zone you can clearly see him extend his arms in the “wash out” position, indicating that the initial play was, in fact, onside. The was just one of them many butchered calls in last nights game. From quick whistles to blown offside calls to blown icing calls, you name it, it probably happened in this game.
You can all that linesman Scott Driscoll if the Rangers miss the playoffs by one point.
Here is the incident, it happens around minute 3 of the video.
Leading Scorer: Anze Kopitar, 17-32-49 pts
Starting Goalie: Brian Elliott, 22-13-3 with a .910 SV% and a 2.59 GAA.
New York Rangers (28-27-7) 63 points
Leading Scorer: Marian Gaborik, 35-34-69 pts
Starting Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist, 25-22-6 with a 2.41 GAA and a .920 SV%.
Prediction: The Rangers are fresh off a next 2-week Olympic break. Hank only played 3 games in the last 2 weeks, so he’s been on a mini-vacation.
Marian Gaborik will not be in the line-up tonight after apparently injuring his groin while playing for Team Slovakia in the Olympics. He may or may not be injured. This maybe a case of John Tortorella giving him a day off.
As far as I know Lundqvist will be in net. I don’t think the Rangers will be able to beat the Sens tonight.
