Once is not custom, the most beautiful actions pass the first. At the same time… they deserve it.
The best goals of the week:
Brad Marchand Boston Bruins (vs Sans José Sharks) on 7/01
Goalie : James Reimer
For this goal, the Boston sniper leaves almost from the area of his own goalkeeper. The FIVE players of the shark team encircle it, surround it, surround it, hold out their sticks, arms, skates. Brad Marchand has full control over the puck. He slaloms as if it required no effort and ends up scoring from the backhand, all in nonchalance.
And because this one is sublime:
Leon Draisdaitl des Edmonton Oilers (vs. Anaheim Ducks) le 12/01
Goalie : John Gibson
Reading the game so well and anticipating so precisely is truly disconcerting. Trapped by the defenders but assisted brilliantly, the German striker catches the pass and deflects the puck blindly between his legs. Confused although attentive, the goalkeeper can do nothing about it.
The most beautiful stop of the week:
Matt Murray des Toronto Maple Leafs (vs Pittsburg Penguins) le 11/01
After stopping a shot in front of the left post, Murray sees the puck leave very quickly, too quickly besides at the opposite post. He doesn’t have time to get back to normal so he dives back, blindly, staring into the back of the cage. By instinct.
Ranking
- Bruins de Boston68 points, 41 games played (32-5-4)
- Carolina Hurricanes59 points, 42 games played, (26-9-7)
- Toronto Maple Leafs59 points, 43 games played (26-10-7)
A little light for the Flyers with Konecky’s hat trick
The Flyers were so far at half mast, 14e in the Eastern Conference, allowing far more goals than they save, despite their recent comeback. Facing their neighbors at the bottom of the table, such as the Anaheim Ducks or the Coyotes had given them very welcome points.
On December 12, the face to face with the Caps promised to be tough. And then there… hat trick. A beautiful, full of diversity with very different goals, scored by Travis Koneckny.
The first returned thanks to his clever positioning, barely offset from the massive silhouette of Ovechkin to receive the pass from the back of the cage and facing the goalkeeper’s chest.
The second starts from the other end of the ice, a two-man breakaway so that the passes prevent the defense from touching anything.
The last is in an empty cage, Kuemper has since been repatriated.
History does not tell us if the excellent Washington goalkeeper was not at least a little happy to flee the cages where the number 11 of the Flyers constantly came to inflict pucks on his back.
From cleaning to the Kraken
The sea monster club recently decided to fire the striker Shane Wright, a very young player, barely 19 years old, in the Ontario League. Wright had only played a few games this half-season and the Kraken want him to improve in the junior leagues before breaking into N and returning to the benches of senior clubs.
In fact, as the Kraken is an extremely young club discovering for the first time the fact of being in a good position to make the play-offs, the management wants all its players, even in the fourth line, to be at their best. performance in order to have a chance to go as far as possible.
Strengthened by the drastic path taken to earn a place in the league, the Kraken team faces the future with a smile, especially after the triumphant victory last night against the Bruins and their scores at the top.
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3-0 win against the Bears team, shutout of Jones. Even Boston was a bit in shock after the bell rang, staring into space, not sure what was going on, like a magician who misses a trick after a career of pulling it off every night.
Wounded whose absence hurts
- Chicago Blackhawks : Patrick Kaneinjured lower body, star player of the team, is sorely lacking in the formation of sinking Chicago.
- Colorado Avalanche : while the team was delighted to recover at least two defenders in training, Malginthe striker at number 81 is on the injured list and will have at least two games away.
- Toronto Maple Leafs lose for a while Brodie, its most solid defender, a very discreet player who, without making the media noise of successful scorers, cleans up the game and facilitates work in the shadows. Of these men who carry the matches without saying anything and who miss when they no longer step on the ice.
- Montreal Canadiens : the defense is at half mast; Jake Allen is no longer in the cages for some time as well as Mike Matheson et Kaiden Guhletwo defenders.
- Saint Louis Blues: Bortuzzo injured lower body just after the game against the Canadians
The race for trophies launched, the forecasts are going well
- Vezina
- Special trophy for goalkeepers
- Latest winner: Igor Shestiorkin, New York Rangers goaltender
- Suitors this year: Unsurprisingly Ullmarkwho alone steals the show, both in terms of save percentages, shutouts, games with more than 90% saves….
- Hart
- Trophy of regular season most valuable player ou Most valuable player
- Latest winner: Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs
- Contenders this year:
- McDavid for his exceptional number of goals
- Jason Robertson in Dallas
- Tage Thompsonwhich has been pulling the Sabers’ heads above water for several weeks
- david pastranak often man of the match for the Bruins
- Calder :
- Trophy of best rookieawarded to the best player in his first season in the NHL.
- Last winner to date: Moritz Seider (and as an illustration, it had previously been awarded to Kaprizov at the Wild and to Makar, the little genius from Colorado)
- Matty Beniersjust 20 years old, invited to the All-Star Game and front row at the Kraken in Seattle.
- Jack Adams
- Trophy of best trainer
- Latest winner: Daryl Sutter of Calgary
- Contenders this year (among others):
- Jim Montgomeryat the head of the Bruins
- Bruce Kassady who rules in Vegas
- Conn-Smythe …to come, of course, since it rewards the MVP or Most Valuable Player in Play offs. We will therefore have to wait for the play offs…
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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevsky with his Conn-Smythe on his head (because yes, the trophy is hollow and makes a great shade)
Star Match: It’s time to play the General Managers
As a reminder, the NHL All Stars Game is a friendly match between two teams made up of the best players from each team in the league. It is followed by a skills competition, always delightful to watch.
As these two competitions aim to offer a moment of proximity between the public and the players and to break for two days the serious imperatives of the championship, the fans can participate in the choice of the players who will be able to represent their teams during the competitions. In the end, it’s a bit like setting up your own dream team!
To participate : GAME ZONE (nhl.com)
