Compete Level

Some boos in Calgary of all places after the US anthem

What an embarrassing display from the Wild. I’m glad I didn’t bother staying in and watching.

Yeah, seemed like a mega dud from them. Emotional hangover from the MTL game with Fluery? Their road record is absolutely amazing, got to image that game wasn't indicative of anything.

Hartman's getting an in-person hearing, I would be surprised if it's not over 5 games on account of:

- he kinda made it clear it was premeditated, throwing threats directly AT Timmy in the penalty box + it wasn't "heat of the play"
- repeat nature of doing it on a faceoff (re: Perfetti last year)
- laughing on his way off the ice?
- oh also it was pile-driving a guy's head into the ice

More like Ryan Fartman amirite

You SO are!

Habs lose, Habs lose

I think with Guhle out they’re done

Losing to the Ducks does lend some credence to that theory. I'm wary of calling anyone done at this point.

Absolutely loving seeing both Boston and Tampa on the outside this morning, at least.

Habs have lost five in a row now. They play the Sharks next, but like the Wings earlier in the season, you can't underrate the challenge of a West Coast road trip.

Hutson has no points and is -6 in the last five. Laine hasn't scored in six games. Caufield has two goals in his last ten games. Maybe they're not 100% out of it, but this is more what I expected from them.

I couldn't believe the bottom wasn't falling out of them for weeks, not surprising they went super cold. The Blue Jackets have continued to be hot/lucky but would expect the same fate for them soon, Isles too.

Rangers might be a problem? I think the Bruins will not.

I just realized that the SNES play Tampa twice in a row this week and both of the games are in Tampa. That's... weird!

I mean, look at Columbus here.

My level of confidence in terms of borderline teams making the playoffs:

1. BLOT: The elite guys just keep doing it. I think the Four Nations break will help Vasi.
2. SNES: I think they've got the juice, we'll see how the two games in Tampa go.
3. Rags: They're five back now but they just got Miller and have Shesterkin. I think they find a way.
4. Broons: They know how to make the playoffs, that's what concerns me.
5. Wings: They 100% could make the playoffs, but they need ground ahead of the Rags and Broons.
6. Beej: Great story, not sure if it'll last all year.
7. Isles: They can't possibly be actually good, right?
8. Habs: Wheels came off

I’m curious how the Four Nations tourney affects the race. Some guys (Kane) can get healthy, some guys (Tarasenko) might get a needed reset, but the Wings and SNES are rolling right now and losing that momentum can’t be good.

Also who knows if a key player gets hurt during the tourney.

All pretty reasonable.

Ullmark is back for the SNES but Josh Norris got hurt at the end of the MIN game (looked like lower body) and is out. He's been playing great.

Edit: Norris is out for a few weeks, unfortch. Good time for the 4 nations, i guess.

Tough injury for the Beej:

Marchenko was seated on the bench when he was struck by an errant puck late in the second period, heading directly to the Blue Jackets’ dressing room with a towel pressed against his face. While the third period played out, Marchenko was taken to a Dallas-area hospital to have the jaw reset.

It’s unclear how long Marchenko will be out of the lineup, but a typical timeline for a broken jaw is six to eight weeks.

Brutal for the BEEJ

They're down Marchenko, Monahan, Chinakov, Fabbro, and (still) Jenner.

On the plus side, Gudbranson is also hurt.

10 Games for Hartman, seems about right.