Crosby VS Ovechkin

Number 87 versus number 8, Sid vs Ovi, Sid the Kid vs Alexander The Great.  All of their NHL careers they have been compared to each other. They were drafted a year apart, but entered the NHL during the same season because of the lockout in 2004.

From the time they started their careers, they didn't disappoint.  Ovechkin finished 3rd in league scoring and Crosby finished 6th in their 1st season. Ovechkin took home the Rookie of the year award that year.  If we are talking personal trophies, this is where we are at.

As you can see, Ovechkin has a lead in personal trophies. Although, a lot of people will only count cups by the time they retire, and in that regard, Crosby leads Ovechkin 1-0.

To add to their "rivalry", in 2009, their respective teams met in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The series went to seven, and boy did they impress.  The Penguins and Sidney Crosby ended up beating Ovechkin's Washington Captials 4-3.  Ovi and Sid had a wonderful series. Especially in game two, when both of them scored hattricks.

Ovechkin got his 500th point of his career on Feburary 4th 2010.  He managed to do this in just 373 games. Crosby you ask? Well he just HAD to show up Ovechkin and did it in 4 games less (369)

Where I am going with this, is we potentially have something special coming up.  Barring any long term injuries, (more than 10 games) these two studs could score their 1000th career points on the same night. Here is a look at where they are in relations to their 1000th career point.

As of Aug 15 2015

As you can see, Crosby will most likely blow away Ovechkin in games it takes to get to 1000 points, but they could get that 1000th point on the same night. How nice would it be to see them do this on the same night or maybe even against each other.


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Game 3: Rangers Host Leafs - Predictions

As you already know, the Leafs have started the season out 0-2.  I'm not so much angry at this, as I am at people that are completely over reacting to this.

PDO - The sum of on-ice save percentage and on-ice shooting percentage at even strength. League average PDO is 100. Sums considerably higher or lower (+/-2.5) tend to regress towards 100 over large samples for both teams and players. Named after the internet alias of the man who conceived the stat. Could be considered an acronym for "Percentage Determined Outcomes".

The above can be found at TheLeafsNation

Basically PDO refers to a team's "Puck Luck" If you are above 1.000, you are experiencing good luck.  If you are below 1.000 it's pointing out that you are probably experiencing bad luck.

In the case for the Leafs, their team PDO is 0.973.  They are experiencing a bit of bad luck so far this season.  Because we are only a couple games into the season, we can specific events that have led to this bad luck coming from the Leafs.  A few missed open nets, the game winning goal that went off Percy's foot in the last minute of the first game.

What I am saying is that the Leafs are not great, but they are not as bad as how they are playing right now. Well, after taking a look at last night's possession stats for the Leafs, they played pretty terrible, but there is a bright side! They play again today!  A chance for redemption.

Rangers: New York is coming off a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.  They have split their first 2 games and sit 9th in the East.
Point Leaders (G-A-P): Nash 3-1-4, Kreider 1-1-2, St Louis 0-2-2
Leafs: Toronto got a beat down by the Penguins last night at the ACC.  They have lost both games and sit 15th in the East. See Mike's report from last night's game.
Point Leaders (G-A-P): Bozak 2-0-2, Rielly 0-2-2, Lupul 0-2-2

Mike (0-2): Leafs win 3-2 with JVR getting a pair of goals.
Jeff (0-2): Leafs win 2-1 and it's JVR with the game winning goal!

Game 2: Leafs Host Penguins - Predictions

Hockey Night in Canada has it's debut tonight, with it's new cast, and new host, George Stroumboulopoulos.  I wish good luck to Strombo with this new adventure in his life.  He has some big shoes to fill.

Sidney Corsby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in Toronto tonight to take on  The Buds. Crosby has had quite the career against The Leafs.  He has 20 goals 23 assists for 43 points in only 28 games.

Penguins: Penguins have won their only game. They over came a Corey Perry hattrick to beat The Ducks 6-4.
Record: 1-0-0
Point Leaders (G-A-P): Pascal Dupuis 1-3-4, Crosby 2-1-3, Ollie Maatta 0-3-3


Leafs: Leafs lost their season opener to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3.  The winning goal for the Habs came with less than a minute left in the game, when the puck went of rookie defence man Stuart Percy.
Record: 0-1-0
Point Leaders(G-A-P): Tyler Bozak 1-0-0, Nazem Kadri 1-0-0, Morgan Rielly 1-0-0

Predictions:
Mike (0-1): 4-2 Leafs.  Kessel with a big game and the game winner.
Jeff (0-1):  5-4 Leafs.  Phil Kessel will get the game winning goal.  

Up next for the Leafs visit The New York Rangers in  tomorrow (Sunday)

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HGS: October 10th 2014

The Leafs lost the first game of the year, big deal.  It's only one game!  Even ask Phil Kessel, he knows!

"Guys, it's Game 1. You guys need to relax a bit here.” — Phil Kessell #Leafs
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) October 10, 2014

Phil is right.  Stop over reacting to 1 game!  There are 81 left.

There is a never ending supply of reasons why Randy Carlyle should not be a coach in the NHL.  1) He would rather have 2 face punchers sit on the bench for 57 minutes a night than to have 2 guys there with actual skill.  I know you might say "But Jeff, the Leafs farm is bare, they don't have anyone with skills" and you would probably be right. Just having two players who are going to play 3 minutes a game is just a giant waste.

Then there was that time when he said Reimer was "Just ok."  Even if this was the case, and it was, you don't throw your goalie under the bus, ever.  There isn't a player on a team with a more fragile confidence than the starting goalie who is going through a bit of a rough patch.  Or in this case, a sub-par season.

Today, Randy was at it again.  This is what he had to say.

Carlyle on Phaneuf's transition from right to left side this season: "I don't think it's really that difficult, personally"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 10, 2014

Is he nuts?  Is this his way of getting back at Leafs management for getting rid of his cement heads fighters?  If you ask me, and by reading this blog post I assume you are asking me, get rid of this guy.  He is a hindrance to the youth on this team and is way behind the times.


Here are some note about tomorrow's game:

Franson looks doubtful for Saturday's game. Sunday probably a better fit. Only possible lineup change would be Panik for Frattin. #TMLtalk
— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) October 10, 2014

Jonathan Bernier was the first goalie off the ice at practice today. Would think he starts tomorrow with James Reimer to follow on Sunday.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) October 10, 2014

You'll notice in the first tweet there that Henny mentions "Panik"  Richard Panik, who failed to make the roster of The Tampa Bay Lighting, was picked up off waivers by the Leafs.  Here is the 411 on Panik, who by the way will wear #18 in Saturday night's game.

Head over to BarDown @ TSN.  Check out this weirdo.

Yes, this is a Tom Brady Helmet Tattoo. See the rest of this crazy guy's head HERE: http://t.co/dmLMXzr4EK pic.twitter.com/jfTQz2taTQ
— BarDown (@BarDown) October 10, 2014

Test

PS.  It looks like Thor is back in the NHL.  Striking resemblance? Na, they are twins separated at birth!

OFFICIAL: #NYR have recalled defenseman @Kostka85 from the @WolfPackAHL. Kostka had 1a & was +2 in 4 preseason games. pic.twitter.com/klbAJjVMMi
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 10, 2014