The Countdown Begins
December 1st, 2009 by Jason ChenGOALTENDERS
1 (4) Martin Brodeur, NJ (3-0, 0.97 GAA, .963 SV% - need we say more?)
2 (3) Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit (surging Pens now 3-0 after brief hiccup)
3 (2) Roberto Luongo, Van (2-1, .917 SV% only loss came vs. SJ)
4 (-) Steve Mason, Cbs (solid numbers across the board, 2.28/.928)
5 (1) Carey Price, Mtl (1-1, 2.92 GAA, coming back down to earth)
6 (-) Ray Emery, Phi (0-1, 4.24 GAA, .840 SV%)
7 (4) Marty Turco, Dal (0-2, 4.11 GAA, .876 SV%)
DEFENSEMEN
1 (1) Duncan Keith, Chi (just piling them on - 4 assists, +3)
2 (2) Stephane Robidas, Dal (10 points in last 10)
3 (5) Scott Niedermayer, Ana (6 points in last 7)
4 (3) Mike Green, Wsh (just 1 assist, but good defense means +4)
5 (13) Shea Weber, Nsh (rocket of a shot but poor Nashville depth hurts)
6 (15) Dan Hamhuis, Nsh (2 points, +3, 4 PIM, and hit of the week)
7 (7) Brent Seabrook, Chi (slow but steady - 1 goal, 1 assist)
8 (9) Dan Boyle, SJ (-4 is ugly, but still indispensable on PP with 2 PPG)
9 (6) Jay Bouwmeester, Cgy (Key to Flames’ streak)
10 (14) Dion Phaneuf, Cgy (hard to knock on him but at this point a longshot)
11 (8) Chris Pronger, Phi (Flyers losing their flight)
12 (-) Robyn Regehr, Cgy (solid defensively, even chipping offensively on PK)
13 (-) Marc Staal, NYR (one of few Rangers playing well)
14 (12) Adrian Aucoin, Phx (returns by lighting the lamp)
15 (-) Francois Beauchemin, Tor (Leafs playing better but still not winning)
16 (10) Drew Doughty, LA (losing consistency, which makes Canada’s choice easier)
17 (-) Kyle Quincey, Col (Avs floundering, but still finding ways to score on PP)
18 (11) Cam Barker, Chi (junior standout still unable to fully adjust to prime time)
19 (4) Brian Campbell, Chi (goose eggs, Hawks winning, he’s not a factor)
20 (-) Ed Jovanovski, Phx (injury woes continue)
21 (-) Michael Del Zotto, NYR (after hot start, Rangers stinking and Del Zotto is -7)
FORWARDS
1 (19) Sidney Crosby, Pit (breaks all rules with 5 points)
2 (5) Jarome Iginla, Cgy (20 points in 14 November games)
3 (9) Steve Stamkos, TB (gets knocked into own bench but right back up)
4 (12) Patrick Marleau, SJ (3 goals, chemistry, chemistry, chemistry)
5 (1) Joe Thornton, SJ (5 assists - if he gets cut it would be a mistake)
6 (21) Rick Nash, Cbs (young Jackets either surging or self-destructing)
7 (-) Brenden Morrow, Dal (4 goal week means tied with team lead with 11)
8 (18) Dustin Penner, Edm (losing Hemsky hurts, but not showing it with 4 points)
9 (13) Mike Richards, Phi (2 goals and shut-down centre for Canada)
10 (14) Corey Perry, Ana (Ducks record 18-game point streak)
11 (-) Rich Peverley, Atl (2 goals, both GWG)
12 (22) Derek Roy, Buf (good offensive player, but no room for him)
13 (8) Jonathan Toews, Chi (PK, PP, EV he does it all - versatility will be key)
14 (6) Dany Heatley, SJ (it happens - rare zero-goal week)
15 (17) Travis Zajac, NJ (2 more assists for 3-0 Devils)
16 (-) Brad Richards, Dal (a PP specialist? 3 of 4 assists came from PP)
17 (-) Jordan Staal, Pit (8 points in last 9, seeing PP #1 time)
18 (-) Eric Staal, Car (welcome back with 4 assists, but ‘Canes still mediocre)
19 (3) Martin St. Louis, TB (10 points over two weeks)
20 (-) Jason Spezza, Ott (so talented, yet only 2 goals and little help)
21 (10) Mike Cammalleri, Mtl (nothing extra in the tank to show Yzerman?)
22 (24) Jeff Carter, Phi (9 goals in first two months not nearly enough)
23 (16) Mike Ribeiro, Dal (not exactly what Yzerman’s looking for)
24 (15) Ryan Getzlaf, Ana (Perry, not Getzlaf, carrying team)
25 (20) Shane Doan, Phx (doing something with little help)
26 (-) Vincent Lecavalier, TB (7 points in six, then goes 0 in last 2)
27 (-) Andy McDonald, StL (Blues scoring woes and McDonald’s production related)
28 (2) Mike Fisher, Ott (spot and role already taken by M. Richards)
29 (-) Dan Cleary, Det (nevermind point totals, not even effective on forecheck)
30 (-) James Neal, Dal (suspension hangover? 0 points, -4)
Dropped out: Cam Ward (laceration), Brent Burns (concussion) Milan Lucic (ankle), Simon Gagne (hernia), Ryan Smyth (upper body)
Posted in Canucks
5 Responses to “The Countdown Begins”
By Derek Jory on Dec 1, 2009
Hey Jason,
Drop me an email at derek.jory@canucks.com. I’ve become a fan of your blog and I want to include you in the new Canucks fan zone…
Cheers,
Derek
Canucks.com
By Jason Chen on Dec 1, 2009
Thanks for the support and comment, Derek!
By BCapp on Dec 1, 2009
Hey Jason,
Just wanted you to know I read this every weak and enjoy it.
Just for the sake of it (I am sure they’ll change) any idea on line combinations?
I see something like the following
Nash-Crosby-Iggy/St Louis
Heatley-Thorton-Marleau
Carter-Richards-Iggy/St Louis
?-Getzlaf-Perry
And I imagine the ? would be Stamkos? Maybe Cammalieri as a natural LW. The thing with these lines is that it comes with 3 lines with chemistry…
And with Getzlaf/Perry and Carter/Richards as two checking lines it looks pretty strong defensively…
On D in no particular order (and I don’t know natural Lefts vs Rights):
Keith-Seabrook
Regehr-Jay Bo
Pronger-Boyle
Extra D:
Green/Weber Maybe Niedermeyer/Doughty (vet vs youth)
G:
Brodeur
Luongo
Anywho thanks for posting this every week!
Cheers,
BCapp
By Jason Chen on Dec 3, 2009
Ahhh line combos, I like it. Crosby has played with Kunitz and Guerin, so not straying far away from the power forward LW/RW combo, I envision the first line to be Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla, and Crosby.
The second line is obviously the San Jose trio - secondary scoring will be valuable and they will put the puck in the net with their established chemistry.
Getzlaf and Perry will anchor the third line, with St. Louis playing off wing because 1) he’s smart enough to be able to do it, 2) he’s a creative playmaker that will do well with the room the two Ducks will create for him.
The fourth line will show Canada’s true depth, with Morrow, Doan, and Mike Richards, forming the ultimate checking line. Morrow hasn’t played well of late, and neither has Doan, but both are Canada veterans and play with an edge and scoring ability few others in the league have.
The last spot comes down to Toews and Stamkos, two players I feel that are playing their best right now and the edge goes to Toews because of his face-off ability and two-way play.
Defense is set: Pronger and Niedermayer is the top pair. Weber-Keith and Boyle-Bouwmeester round out the top six while Seabrook would be my seventh man. Green is a late cut because of his defensive game (or lack thereof) while Doughty’s been a little inconsistent and at 18 he’ll have plenty of other opportunities to make the squad. I wouldn’t take Phaneuf because I’m not sure if playing in Vancouver for Olympic gold will be good or bad for him - he’s a player that feeds off his emotions and sometimes it just manifests itself in a bad way, usually a penalty.
By BCapp on Dec 4, 2009
Fair enough. I am just surprised you don’t think Carter’ll make the team, as he has looked as good as Richards to me. I can’t believe I forgot Morrow.
On D though I really don’t know if they’ll do Pronger/Neidermeyer as Neids just hasn’t looked that good this year. He ain’t young.
as well I would line Keith and Seabrook up as they are better than the sum of their parts. They have great chem. I also can’t imagine NOT haveing Regehr make this team. He has earned it.