The annual NHL Winter Classic took place in Chicago. They did a nice job incorporating Chicago traditions, honoring former Blackhawks' legends, and having interview segments of Chicago improv celebrities. I wished they interviewed them about their first experiences with watching or playing hockey instead of trying to make a hockey improv connection. There was also Connor Bedard wearing ski sunglasses while being interviewed. But why is a last-place team hosting a Winter Classic? Even when they announced it, they had to know they wouldn't be good. Drafting Connor Bedard is not an instant turn around. There's no reason for the Blackhawks to be a participant.
The Blackhawks proved my point with their atrocious play. Half the time, I couldn't tell they were on a power play. I'm still amazed Taylor Hall scored a powerplay goal. However, the St. Louis Blues looked great. New addition Cam Fowler played in his 1000th game and scored two goals. He's put up nine points in eleven games with the Blues. As cool as the Winter Classic is, the game doesn't work if the game isn't close because a team is bad. It’s amazing they only lost 6-2. The Blackhawks are so bad they were just crushed by the New York Rangers 6-2, again.
They haven't announced the next location, but the rumor is that it will be in Florida. Uhhh no. The allure of an outdoor game is possibly playing in the snow. There will be no snow in Florida.
Things I like
- You never know what you're going to get in a hockey game, especially in overtime. The Montreal Canadiens had a delayed offsides that led to a Colorado Avalanche breakaway. But Artturi Lehkonen interfered with the goalie, which led to a Canadiens power play. They did nothing on the powerplay, but in the closing seconds, an Avalanche player, while falling down, sprung a fresh out-of-the-box Lehkonen. He didn't score, and neither did anyone else, but it was fun to watch. The Canadiens won in the shootout. Shootouts are still lame, but overtime is glorious. Three of the five Sunday games went into overtime. Bo Horvat scored a goal off a missed chance by the Bruins because all three Bruins were so deep, and the puck bounced right to Horvat, the downside of being too aggressive.
https://www.nhl.com/video/nyi-bos-horvat-scores-goal-against-joonas-korpisalo-6366721660112
- Alex Ovechkin returned from his injury and resumed where he left off with four goals in five games. He now has 872 career goals. He will inevitably break Wayne Gretzky's goal record of 894 this season. I've already written I'm not a fan, but it's still a remarkable feat.
Things I don't
- We're halfway through the season, but we're going to get the Los Angeles Kings vs the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth straight time in the playoffs. God no. NOOOOOO!
Fights of the Week
Special thanks to hockeyfights.com for making this section a little easier to do.
Michael McCarron vs Dakota Joshua
An okay fight.
Goat of the Week
Charlie Lindgren - Washington Capitals
On a Capitals power play, Lindgren goes behind the net to play the puck, fails miserably, gets his stick caught in the back of the net while trying to recover, and Yakov Trenin scores an easy goal. I always say goalies should stay in the net but they should especially stay when on a power play. So bad. The Minnesota Wild won in the shootout.
https://www.nhl.com/video/min-wsh-trenin-scores-shg-against-charlie-lindgren-6366634179112
Goal of the Week
Devon Toews - Colordo Avalanche
Toews played great defense on Tage Thompson and took it the other way for the overtime winner.
https://www.nhl.com/video/buf-col-toews-scores-goal-against-ukko-pekka-luukkonen-6366642086112
Stat Line of the Week
1/04/25 Toronto 6 vs.Boston 4
| Skater | TOI | G | A | +/- | SOG | Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.Knies | 18:52 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Matthew Knies became a top-six forward as a rookie last season. He's played even better this season but was mired in a nine-game goalless streak. But against the Bruins, he scored a hat trick and two assists. Some of his goals were beauties. Knies has a chance to hit 30 goals and 50 points this season.
https://www.nhl.com/video/bos-tor-knies-has-a-hat-trick-against-the-bruins-6366698624112
Numbers, Numbers
7 – Seconds left when Jonathan Drouin scored to win it for the Avalanche over the Sabres 29 – Goals for Leon Draisaitl, six ahead of everyone else, of course Ovechkin was injured 6 – Wins for the Rangers in their last 22 games 3 – Teams (Tampa Bay, Winnipeg, Washington) in the top five in goals for and against. 17 – Wins for the Vegas Golden Knights at home with only four losses 400 – Career NHL assists for Mika Zibanejad
Rankings
The rankings are based on how the teams are currently playing.
Top 5
- Vegas
- Edmonton
- Dallas
- Toronto
- Colorado
Bottom 5
- NY Rangers
- Buffalo
- NY Islanders
- San Jose
- Seattle
College Football Thoughts
The expanded playoffs have been bad because of the committee's choices. All four road teams lost, and then all four bye teams lost. The simple solution is to make it eight teams only with no byes and all neutral field games. You get automatic bids for conference champions but not seeds. This would have made the playoffs much better.