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ESPN revealed their much awaited Fantasy League rankings recently and surprise surprise, they’re pretty much based in “fantasy land”. Wait, did I say much awaited? My apologies, i meant “much overrated”
Martin Brodeur gets #1 spot OVERALL, just ahead of Alex Ovechkin at #2 and Sidney Crosby at #3. In the top 15 players, ESPN in fact list 7 goalies. Do ESPN know something about the fantasy value of goalies that the rest of us don’t?
Interested in knowing just who makes up that list of 7?
Rank - Name 1 - Martin Brodeur 4 - Jean-Sebastian Giguere 7 - Jose Theodore 10 - Evgeni Nabokov 14 - Carey Price 15 - Ilya Bryzgalov
According to the great minds at ESPN, Chris Osgood (22 overall), Marty Turco (58 overall), Henrik Lundqvist (31 overall), even Marc-Andre Fleury (28 overall) don’t get a shoe-in when compared to the great Bryzgalov *insert chuckle here*. In fact Marty Turco is ranked 2 spots lower than Boston’s on again-off again Manny Fernandez. Vinnie Lecavalier, a player whom most would put in the top 10 in the league, is down at #24.
Hey, they do call it “fantasy” for a reason, right?
Who are the worse players in the league, according to ESPN?
Well, not including prospects or rookies (who let’s be honest, are impossible to rank anyway), Martin Gerber (Ottawa Senators) falls in at #370. Just ahead of him are two more netminders, Mike Smith (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Alex Auld (Ottawa Senators). Do ESPN predict Ottawa will bottom out this season?
I’m almost inclined to think ESPN stands for Exceedingly Stupid Prediction Noobs!
I doubt it matters all that much. In the coming weeks when the fantasy leagues open to the public, I imagine the rush of people heading to yahoo to join leagues will quickly make us forget ESPN actually have a fantasy league system!
The Detroit Red Wings went in to todays game against the Dallas Stars as a team on a roll. They had won 9 straight, and they had the comforting knowledge that Dallas netminder, Marty Turco, appears to have issues defeating the boys in red.
The Red Wings expected to leave todays game with a berth in the Stanley Cup finals.
It wasn’t to be.
The Dallas Stars proved today they can compete with the high flying Red Wings. They proved they can outskate, outpass, outshoot and outplay them, and after 60 grueling minutes, Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars left the rink 3-1 victors.
This win gives the Stars a major boost going into the must-win game 5 back in Detroit. Most importantly however it gives the confidence of Marty Turco and the rest of the Stars squad a shot of nitro.
Loui Eriksson opened the scoring in the closing seconds of the 2nd period. The Wings struck back 49 seconds into the third but it wasn’t to last. Mike Modano scored what was to become the Game-winner and Brenden Morrow added the insurance goal to round out the scorers.
Game 5 in the series is on Saturday at 1:30pm EDT.
It took 129 minutes to achieve, but the Dallas Stars finally eliminated the pesky San Jose Sharks from the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Brenden Morrow netted the puck 9:03 into the 4th overtime period to give the Stars their first Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
Marty Turco faced 61 shots in the epic battle, making him the 1st star of the game. Evgeni Nabokov of the Sharks was 2nd star and Brenden Morrow was 3rd.
The Dallas Stars now go on to face the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals.
Earlier tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated the New York Rangers, making way for an all Pen State EC final between the Penguins and Flyers.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)—Joe Pavelski collapsed like a kid on rented skates, nudging the puck straight to Brad Richards as he fell. Richards, who has a few big playoff goals in his past, turned that turnover into the Dallas Stars’ tying score before the Sharks even knew they were doomed.
- GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
That quote by Greg Beacham pretty much sums up todays game between the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks did come out swinging, and took the early lead off a Joe Pavelski goal. Mike Ribeiro leveled the score however not long after, setting the scene for a fast paced end to end hockey match.
The 2nd period saw Milan Michalek put the Sharks ahead once again, a lead they held going into the third period.
It was the 3rd however where the Sharks collapsed, the the Stars shone bright! Just 30 seconds into the match Joe Pavelski lost an edge while attempting to clear the puck from his zone. In his attempt to control the puck while falling, he handed it right to Brad Richards, who put it past Nabokov before anybody knew what had happened.
Like a puncture wound in a well used tire, the Sharks momentum deflated in an instant, and the Stars grabbed the advantage. Mike Modano put the Stars ahead 3 minutes later on the Power Play, and Niklas Hagman put up the insurance goal in the 13th minute of the period. A goalie change by San Jose was not enough, and Hagman picked up his 2nd of the night, an empty net goal to finish off the game.
“We’ve had amazing third periods so far in the playoffs,” said Modano, who has six goals in six games in San Jose this season. “It was a big trip for us. Now it’s up to us to respond to this at home. We know this is far from over, but at the same time, we had a great two days here. Every shift, every night, we’ve looked hungry.”
- Yahoo! Sports
Games 3 and 4 will be back to back games, held in Dallas this Tuesday and Wednesday.
This last week has been busy, with over 60 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff videos being added. Included in these are game highlights, interviews, a few fights and some great goals. If you haven’t yet caught up on all the playoff highlights, head over there today and take a look.
Brett throws an octopus!
Throwing an octopus on the ice at the Wings game!
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
A smile from Kevin Weekes
2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. Round 1 Game 3 New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils. Down by the ice during the practice to go see the one and only Kevin Weekes.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Dallas Stars Vs. Anaheim Ducks - Ducks Score!
Short video showing the crowd going wild after the Anaheim Ducks scored on the Dallas Stars in game 5 of the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks Game 6 - Duck penalty
Anaheim Ducks penalty with 1:31 left in period 3, Chris Pronger cross-checking on Dallas Stars Brenden Morrow played at the AAC on 4/20/08
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Clowe telling Iginla that there’s no crying in hockey
This recap of some of the “rough stuff” from Game 5 of the 2008 WCQF. It shows Ryane Clowe mocking Jarome Iginla by rubbing his eyes.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Dallas Stars Goal No 3 Playoffs 08 vs Ducks Game 6
Dallas Stars goal in the 3rd period of Game 6 of Round one Western Conference Standley Cup Playoffs vs Anaheim Ducks at AAC on 4/20/08
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Dallas Stars Goal No 1 Playoffs 08 vs Ducks Game 6
Dallas Stars Goal in the 3rd period of Game 6 of Round one Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs vs the Ducks at AAC on 4/20/08
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Capitals vs Flyers - Game 5 Slideshow
Game 5 of the ECQF - Photos by myself and Hoydie17 of the Capitals message board.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Dallas Stars goal 4 & celebration Game 6 vs Anaheim Duck
Dallas Stars goal 4 in the 3rd Period of game 6 played at the AAC vs Anaheim Ducks, plus celebration of taking series 4 game to 2 over Anaheim Ducks.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Penguins Playoff Video Lord Stanley Back
Video of Pittsburgh Penguins to the tune of “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake with different words.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Boston Bruins
we may have lost the palyoffs but we gave it our all
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings: Game 4 . last 7 mi
Nashville Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings in game 4 of the NHL playoffs 3 to 2. April 16th 2008. Also Nashville was named one of the loudest NHL arena this year. Don’t believe me? Check out the video!
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Montreal beats Boston 2008
What can I say, awesome party, had so much fun, must admit Boston put up a great fight. Philadelphia and monsieur Brière, you’re next in line to bite the dust. GO HABS GO!
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Canadiens vs. Bruins: What the Puck?
This is footage of the post-game celebration at the Bell Centre, pre-riot on Monday, April 21. Other “Hot Flashes” are at www.NewYorkHotFlashes.com.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Jeff Carter Gets Hit with Beer Bottle
Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers gets hit in the face by a beer bottle which was thrown by a washington capitals fan after the flyers won game 7 of the series.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Caps/Flyers Game 7 Goal #1
1st goal scored by the Washington Capitals. Nicklas Backstrom Power Play Assists: Alexander Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Boston Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens - Game 7: 4-21-08
The Habs’ fifth goal and end of game celebration v. the Boston Bruins. Their fans proceeded to burn police cars and loot stores while rioting even though this was a first round win over the #8 seed in the East. Only in Canada, eh?
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Chris Higgins Scores a Great Goal vs Bruins
Off the faceoff Chris Higgins takes the puck, turns Wideman inside out and puts it 5 hole on thomas. montreal canadiens boston bruins highlights higgins koivu wideman denis chris saku goal hockey playoffs tribute ice
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
San Jose Sharks Win Game 7
Final minute of game 7 from HP Pavillion where the Sharks defeated the Flames 5 to 3.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
San Jose Sharks Entrance
San Jose Sharks entrance onto the ice before the start of game 7 versus the Calgary Flames.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2008 NHL Playoff Predictions
Starting from round two. Songs Used: One Last Breath-Creed
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
boston vs montreal 5-0 games 7
canadiens de montreal boston flyers bruins carolina sens washington capitals penguins 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 - 5-0 coupe stanley cup i karmazia i ikarmaziai baby rise owned pking runescape ownage wow WOW rakion wtf omg rofl lol rap techno music dang pwn ottawa toronto maple leaf leafs senateur florida new york rangers
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Sharks v Flames (Game 7) - last 3 min.
The last 3 minutes of game 7 plus the handshake at the end. View from the upper level.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Don’s Playoff Picks Round 2
Don doing his Gabriel Morency impression while layin his round 2 picks down.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Sharks vs. Flames 4/22/2008 WCQF Game 7 part 2
Sharks vs. Flames 4/22/2008 WCQF Game 7 - All Sharks goals, Nolan’s goal, other highlights, from CSNBA, Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda. Part 2.
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Game #1 Montreal(1)VsPhiladelphia(6)
Tom Kostopoulos Scored the winning goal in Overtime.Tom Kostopoulos a compte le but de la victoire en prolongation pour completer la remonter du canadiens et lemporter 4-3 dans le premier match de cette serie.
Category: 2063 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Flyers @ Canadiens Playoff 24 april 2008 Highlight
The first game of the second round in montreal, april 24th 2008. The goal scored by the canadiens. Including Alex Kovalev insane goal
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Pens vs. Sens - Game 1 Round 1 - Cool Playoff Pregame Show
I was at this game!!! Before the players came out, there was this cool effects thing. The lighting went down and they projected the players faces onto the ice with sweet hardcore music. Basically, it was an effort to pump up the fans - an effort that killed the Sens. (Sorry for the shakiness, it was exciting and I didn’t feel like holding the camera)
Category: 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Not since 2003 has a Stanley Cup champion made it through the first round of the playoffs the following year. That trend has continued today after a highly underestimated Dallas Stars routed the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in Dallas, TX.
The victory in todays game 6 not only eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champions from the playoffs, but broke the “first round” curse that has plagued the Dallas Stars for 5 long painful years.
Marty Turco, who has taken the brunt of the criticism over the previous years showed that he is one of the elite netminders in the NHL, finishing the round with a GAA of 2.01, including a shutout in game 1.
Anaheim, who were one of the strongest teams going down the final stretch into the playoffs faltered under the constant Dallas Attack, and struggled to get past the Dallas Defensive group; a group that included 3 rookies and was missing Sergei Zubov and (for most games) Philippe Boucher.
“It’s disappointing because we believe we could do better,” said Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe winner as MVP of last year’s postseason who retired then decided to return to chase another Cup. “Our sights were set higher than this.”
- Yahoo! Sports
Dallas now have a few days to relax before the Western Conference Semi-Finals begin. The Stars will face either the Colorado Avalanche or the San Jose Sharks in round 2, but wont know who until after game 7 between the Flames and Sharks on Tuesday evening.
A week ago who would have thought that the Anaheim Ducks would be on the edge of playoff elimination in game 5 against the Dallas Stars. All but die-hard Dallas Fans appeared to have that much confidence in this Stars team, but they went out and they battled hard.
And today, in less than 12hrs time the Dallas Stars stand on the edge of 2 major milestones; elimination the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks from the playoffs, and more importantly making it past a first round.
Although the Stars share their victories and defeats equally, netminder Marty Turco needs this more than ever. Turco has been the brunt of the public backlash over the last fews seasons, even last year when he posted 3 shutouts in a 7 game series against Vancouver, which the Stars eventually lost in.
“Tonight I felt really good,” said Turco, who made 28 saves. “I had an opportunity to see all the shots that came my way. There were some anxious, scrambly moments in the second period. But the guys were doing all they could to help me.”
- Yahoo! Sports
The Stars have momentum and a “knowledge” that they can win. Now, they just have to go out there and take it.
After 3 disappointing first round playoff exits, the Stars have finally found their game.
For the first time in two years, the Dallas Stars won a game in which Marty Turco did not shut out the opposition. In doing so they served notice to the league that they are indisputable contenders, not pretenders.
- Bleacher Report
Contenders, not pretenders. That’s exactly the message the Dallas Stars are sending to the rest of the league right now.
The Stars are leading the Anaheim Ducks 2-0 in their first round series. 2 straight wins against the Ducks is impressive, no doubt. What makes this extra special is the Stars did it on the road, without their top playmaking defenseman Sergei Zubov, who is out due to Hernia surgery.
The key to Dallas success so far has been team-play. The entire team has played well, and the chemistry issues that plagued the team going down the last stretch toward the playoffs appears to be a thing of the past. Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow are dominating plays. Mike Modano is showing he still has what it takes to be a top player in this league and newcomer Brad Richards is shining whenever his skates touch. Richards appears to have gelled with young winger Loui Eriksson, who has a goal in each of the 2 games played in this series. Jere Lehtinen and Steve Ott have also played a role in the scoring.
The Ducks travel to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX this Tuesday for game 3.
The 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are here. In just a few hours the pucks will drop on a series of Round 1 games, marking the start of 2 months of grueling battles to find an eventual victor.
This is a good time then to take a look at the battles for Round 1.
In the east
Montreal Canadiens (1) Vs Boston Bruins (8)
The Bruins struggled this year. First they lost Patrice Bergeron to a season ending concussion, then later in the year Marc Savard goes down with an injury. Yet, somehow they scraped through to the playoffs, and they go into them equal to all other teams. Montreal however are a hot team who have the leagues best Powerplay. Boston, in order to keep in this series will need to stay out of the box.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2) Vs Ottawa Senators (7)
Ignoring the fact that Brian Murray accused the Penguins of throwing their last game, am I the only one who hopes to see the Penguins kick some serious ass this series? Last year the fresh faced Penguins were routed from the playoffs in just 5 games by a stronger, more powerful Senators team. This year the teams are evenly matched and both offensive powerhouses.
Washington Capitals (3) Vs Philadelphia flyers (6)
The classic Cinderella story. Alexander Ovechkin is in the playoffs for the first time, and with him is a solid determined Capitals team. The management of that team deserve awards for the progress and improvements they made with the team. The Flyers have been inconsistent, and will need to be 110% on their game to beat the Caps.
New Jersey Devils (4) Vs New York Rangers
The battle of the creek, as it was referred to earlier on today. These 2 teams have plenty of reasons to hate each other, and you can guarantee a very passionate series. Unfortunately neither team can guarantee an offensive display, so expect physical defensive style hockey.
In the west
Detroit Red Wings (1) Vs Nashville Predators (8)
There is nothing bad you can say about the Red Wings this year. Top of their division, top of their conference and top in the league on points. The best goalie duo (by stats) in the league. Nashville don’t have a Crosby or Ovechkin. They don’t have a Hasek. They do however have a very potent young goalie in Dan Ellis, and a very effective Pack Mentality style play. At the end of the day however, the Predators may find themselves a little behind the eight-ball.
San Jose Sharks (2) Vs Calgary Flames (7)
If there was going to be an upset, this might be it. Going into the last day of the regular season, there was a chance that the Sharks may face the Avalanche in the first round. In fact, most Sharks fans wanted them instead of the Flames. Look for Iginla to lead the Flames to a long series against the Sharks, possibly even 7 games.
Minnesota Wild (3) Vs Colorado Avalanche (6)
Veteran leadership Vs Young blood. That’s how this series may end up being. The Avalanche have been reuniting old team mates, the question now is whether the likes of Sakic and Forsberg are able to content with the young speedsters like Marian Gaborik.
Anaheim Ducks (4) Vs Dallas Stars (5)
Defending champions the Anaheim Ducks have had a strange type of season. If not for the controversial return of both Selanne and Niedermayer earlier in the season they would not be in the playoffs. Their leading scorer, Corey Perry is out and Chris Pronger is likely going to do something to get himself a suspension. Unlike last year the Ducks don’t have a powerful attack this time round. They do however have the best Blue Line in the league with Pronger, Niedermayer, Schneider and Beauchemin. Dallas will have to battle with their own demons however. Getting past the first round is the goal of this team, and you can expect goalie Marty Turco to be on his game. The inclusion of proven playoff performer Brad Richards in the lineup may have the desired impact. The Stars, unlike the Ducks, can score this year, so expect a very hard hitting, physical game.
Predictions?
I know people like predictions, so here are my wildly unpredictable, highly unlikely, but what they hey predictions…
East: Montreal Canadiens in 5 games
Pittsburgh Penguins in 5 games
Washington Capitals in 6 games
New Jersey Devils in 7 games
West:
Detroit Red Wings in a 4 game sweep.
Calgary Flames in 7 games
Colorado Avalanche in 6 games
Dallas Stars in 6 games
The Detroit Red Wings went in to todays game against the Dallas Stars as a team on a roll. They had won 9 straight, and they had the comforting knowledge that Dallas netminder, Marty Turco, appears to have issues defeating the boys in red.
This win gives the Stars a major boost going into the must-win game 5 back in Detroit. Most importantly however it gives the confidence of Marty Turco and the rest of the Stars squad a shot of nitro.
That quote by Greg Beacham pretty much sums up todays game between the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.
Like a puncture wound in a well used tire, the Sharks momentum deflated in an instant, and the Stars grabbed the advantage. Mike Modano put the Stars ahead 3 minutes later on the Power Play, and Niklas Hagman put up the insurance goal in the 13th minute of the period. A goalie change by San Jose was not enough, and Hagman picked up his 2nd of the night, an empty net goal to finish off the game.
A week ago who would have thought that the Anaheim Ducks would be on the edge of playoff elimination in game 5 against the Dallas Stars. All but die-hard Dallas Fans appeared to have that much confidence in this Stars team, but they went out and they battled hard.
After 3 disappointing first round playoff exits, the Stars have finally found their game.
