The Ditch part deux

Those are pretty fitting stars there Will

 

Yes, they are... here are the particulars.

FIRST STAR - CAM ATKINSON, RW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Atkinson paced the NHL in goals (t-5), points (8) and plus/minus (+6) in three games help the Blue Jackets (12-6-2, 26 points) record a perfect week and extend their lead atop the Metropolitan Division. He registered 1-1-2 in both a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars Nov. 12 and a 7-3 triumph against the Florida Panthers Nov. 15. Atkinson then capped the week with 3-1-4, including his fifth career hat trick and 32nd career game-winning goal (all w/ CBJ), in a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Nov. 17. In doing so, he matched Rick Nash for the most hat tricks in Blue Jackets history. The 29-year-old Riverside, Conn., native shares eighth place in the NHL with 12 goals while ranking second on Columbus with 20 points in 19 outings this season.



SECOND STAR - COREY CRAWFORD, G, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Crawford went 2-0-1 with a 0.65 goals-against average, .980 save percentage and one shutout to help the Blackhawks (8-8-5, 21 points) pick up points in all four of their contests (2-0-2). He denied all 28 shots he faced to earn his 24th career shutout in a 1-0 win against the St. Louis Blues Nov. 14. Crawford then turned aside 31 of 32 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings Nov. 16. He closed the week with a season-high 39 saves in a 3-1 triumph over the Minnesota Wild Nov. 18. The 33-year-old Montreal native has compiled a 5-6-1 record with a 2.44 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and one shutout in 12 appearances this season - his first NHL action since Dec. 23, 2017.



THIRD STAR - JOE PAVELSKI, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Pavelski collected multiple points in all three of his games, sharing the League lead with five goals and placing third overall with six points to lift the Sharks (11-7-3, 25 points) into first place in the Pacific Division. He scored twice in a 5-4 victory against the Nashville Predators Nov. 13, posted 1-1-2 in a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Nov. 15 and added two more goals in a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Nov. 17. The 34-year-old Plover, Wis., native is tied for fourth place in the NHL with 13 goals in 21 outings this season (13-3-16). Pavelski's 330 career goals rank 13th in the League since he made his debut in 2006-07.

 

That's really interesting Will. What do you think of Coach Joel Quenneville getting replaced?

 

I was surprised when it happened and I still don't think it was the wisest of moves, but the Bowman's shoot from the hip and arnt afraid of change. I have to respect them.

Q wont be unemployed very long in my opinion either. His resume is stupendous.

 

Time for some pucks.

 

Teh phil scores on Teh phils team.

 

I got Teh Phil in a trade for Erik Karlsson… with Erik's slow start, im digging this trade.

 

Looks like he could get 40 this year, although EK is primed for a comeback, two pts sat night.

 

Bob and Panarin on expiring contracts, high drama in columbus.

 

Tanner Pearson 4-2 pens.

 

Pens and Sabres OT

 

Jack!

 

Jack it is.

 

Missed last nights game. I checked the score and Pens up 4-1 so I felt good. Checked again and it was 4-4. One more check revealed a 4-5 score. Pens in freefall mode right now.

 

The pens need crosby back, he's a defensive force. Goalies are struggling, de smith didn't look great.

 

Good teams get lucky, and Buffalo is good this year.
Crosby has always been a Sabres-killer. The Sabres probably don't pull off this comeback if he's on the ice. Good luck for Buffalo.

I think the Pens have issues, but I'm certainly not writing them off. Rutherford always pulls a rabbit foot outta his hat. The salary cap is going to make that excruciatingly difficult, but that org. has too much positive history to discount that happening.

Meanwhile, if they do miss the playoffs and then get to select #1... this is the year to let the draft reload your team.

 

Hmm. I think that strategy worked once or twice for the Pens.

 

Come on, the pens have sucked until late late jan in previous years and went on to make the playoffs.

 

At least three times. Maybe more.

The Colts draft great QB's. The Pens draft great C's when they really have to.

 

They've floundered during the season occasionally (like last year). But they have not sucked since the Sabres were elite.