CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence
What a difference a century makes.
In 1909, there was no: National Hockey League, Montreal Canadiens, forward passing, or paid players. 
New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska weren’t yet U.S. states, so the Coyotes wouldn’t  have been an American team and Sarah Palin couldn’t run for the U.S. Vice Presidency.
But, there was a Stanley Cup.
The [...]

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by desertdawg
Well, this is it. The point of no return. Halfway through what has arguably been our most brutal schedule in recent memory.
So where are we?
Well, if we looked at this business back say, the end of August, what would we say about today? Would we be happy that entering the halfway mark, that [...]

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by Ron Spence
A couple of days back I posted a piece showing the NHL’s Top 30 goalies – according to wins this season.
I noted that they weren’t necessarily the best goalies.
Today’s trivia questions are concerned with one tell tale stat: the save percentage – in other words, the percentage of shots stopped by a goalie.
Who [...]

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by desertdawg
Sometimes you just have to wonder how they do it.
Sure, most of these guys have been training for this since they were about eight years of age. Unless they’re from Ontario. Training hockey players in the Pre-Cambrian Shield starts at about six years of age, when a scout from the central bureau [...]

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by Ron Spence
This quick study was prompted by the fact that 3 of the NHL’s Top Ten goalies – so far this season – were drafted by the Sharks, and with very low picks.
I decided to look at the Top 30 goalies – in wins – a week ago.
I am not claiming that they are [...]

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by desertdawg
It’s a bit ironic that the position that is arguably the most important on the team, gets the least press at the annual amateur draft.
Sure, Roberto was taken in the first round…and then later traded away when Mad Mike Milbury defied the odds and drafted another first rounder in Rick Dipietro. And [...]

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by Ron Spence
Vancouver’s had a holiday tradition that’s continued – off and on – for nearly 40 years – the Flyers come to town.
Yesterday’s game was excellent hockey – the best game that the Canucks have lost this season - according to the dawg.
There was only one scrap, the result of some intense play – something to be [...]

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