A look at the good and bad in the NHL:
PLUS
To the New York Islanders, especially Coach Ted Nolan, for inviting legendary coach Al Arbour lead the team this past Saturday night. The Isles won and Arbour reached 1,500 games coached in the process. What I really like about this is the respect Nolan has for his field and the team's history. And respect is something the game can always use more of.
MINUS
To the Buffalo Sabres, who, after letting co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury leave via free agency to Eastern Conference rivals, sank to a new low with their treatment of defenseman Teppo Numminen. The pleasant Finn, nicknamed Repo, underwent a second heart surgery before the season started. The Sabres decided to pinch pennies (relatively speaking) and suspend the assistant captain so they wouldn't have to pay him! Contrast this with Edmonton, another small market team, and one that is right up against the salary cap this season. The Oilers continue to pay forward Fernando Pisani as he battles a season-long infection that has cast some doubt about his playing future.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Friday, November 02, 2007
What ails the Stanley Cup champs?
Caught my second Anaheim Ducks game of the season in person last night, and I've noticed a four trends about the defending Stanley Cup champions.
1. They're sound defensively. They held Columbus to 20 shots in regulation and overtime combined. I've seen both goalies - J.S. Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov - play, and both were steady.
2. Their power play is out of sync even with the return of defenseman Mathieu Schneider. It spends way too much time on the perimeter and rarely gets players in position to bang home rebounds in the slot.
3. They lack finishers on the wings. Aside from Chris Kunitz, Corey Perry (who battles some inconsistency in my opinion) and sometimes Rob Niedermayer, they don't have wingers with a scorer's touch. This is where the losses of Teemu Selanne (retirement) and Dustin Penner (free agency) are being really felt.
4. They're as physical as ever and won't back down from anyone. That's both good and bad. Against the Blue Jackets it meant they spent about half the game killing off penalties.
1. They're sound defensively. They held Columbus to 20 shots in regulation and overtime combined. I've seen both goalies - J.S. Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov - play, and both were steady.
2. Their power play is out of sync even with the return of defenseman Mathieu Schneider. It spends way too much time on the perimeter and rarely gets players in position to bang home rebounds in the slot.
3. They lack finishers on the wings. Aside from Chris Kunitz, Corey Perry (who battles some inconsistency in my opinion) and sometimes Rob Niedermayer, they don't have wingers with a scorer's touch. This is where the losses of Teemu Selanne (retirement) and Dustin Penner (free agency) are being really felt.
4. They're as physical as ever and won't back down from anyone. That's both good and bad. Against the Blue Jackets it meant they spent about half the game killing off penalties.
NFL Week 9 preview
I'd like to start by discussing a game we've been waiting all season for - Falcons vs. 49ers, a clash of two teams with a combined 3-11 record.
OK, kidding there.
When it comes to the NFL this week, there is one game front and center for everyone - the clash of undefeateds - Patriots at Colts. These are the two best teams in the league at this point and owners of two of the past three championships.
The game has been analyzed to death already this week, so I want to point out a few trends I've spotted that might play a role in the outcome. Many believe the Patriots will win, but I'm not so sure.
While the Patriots have been blowing teams out week-in, week-out this season, it's important to note the quality of their competition. The combined record of their foes is 24-34, though they did beat 6-1 Dallas soundly on the road. The Colts, meanwhile, have beaten teams with a combined mark of 27-24 and are coming off road victories over 5-2 Jacksonville and 4-3 Carolina.
The physical factor: For some reason, the Colts are perceived as a "soft" team in some corners. It might have something to do with the calm demeanor of Coach Tony Dungy or their inability to stop the run LAST season, but the aforementioned road victories came against two of the most physical teams in the league. And safety Bob Sanders says new cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson have added a physical element to the secondary.
No one disputes the Patriots' toughness, but receivers Randy Moss and Donte' Stallworth have not faced a lot of physical opposition thus far. And Moss, if you may recall, has a long history of pouting when things haven't gone his way. A few hard hits or missed connections might knock him off his game.
Both teams have exceptional offensive lines, probably the most underrated units on each team. Which team can generate the better pass rush will have a huge say in which team wins. The Patriots will send an array of blitzes at Peyton Manning, but that plays to his strengths. I look for the Colts to give Tom Brady a steady diet of DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
And what of the running games? If Lawrence Maroney is healthy, it's a big boost for the Patriots. I think Coach Bill Belichick is going to try to run the ball on the Colts and keep Manning off the field. However, Joseph Addai of the Colts is at least as impressive and he is another key player in this matchup. If he finds room to run, the Colts can keep the Patriots defense a bit off balance.
Three other things to watch for:
The Patriots start fast, and the Colts have started slow this season. However, the Patriots took a 21-3 lead in the AFC Championship Game last season, but the Colts rallied to win.
The Colts are playing at home.
The Colts have the best clutch kicker in the game - Adam Vinitieri, a four-time Super Bowl winner, including three with the Patriots.
My upset special is the Colts beating the Patriots, who are favored by five points.
Upset season record: 6-2
Last week's schedule of games didn't thrill me. This week, however, has an exceptional lineup, so there are several Games Worth a Peak.
Green Bay (6-1) at Kansas City (4-3): Two surprise division leaders meet, and both have teams breathing right down their necks in their divisions. What does QB Brett Favre do for an encore after Monday's heroics? He'll have to be sharp against the Chiefs, who likely will try to control the clock by running Larry Johnson. This could be a real defensive slugfest with one mistake making the difference. Another factor: the Chiefs are rested and the Packers played on the road on Monday night.
Two interconference South battles:
Jacksonville (5-2) at New Orleans (3-4): The Saints ain't dead yet. Winners of three in a row, they're going to have a tough time making it four against the Jaguars and their stout defense. Jacksonville, meanwhile, will rely on its running game - headed by Maurice Drew-Jones and Fred Taylor - to try to keep QB Drew Brees and RB Reggie Bush off the field as much as possible.
Carolina (4-3) at Tennessee (5-2): The Panthers have relied on the run since QB Jake Delhomme was lost for the season. Unfortunately for them, the Titans have the league's top run defense. Titans QB Vince Young has appeared out of sorts, and the Panthers have the speed on defense to contain him. This will be a physical, low-scoring game unless Carolina can somehow get WR Steve Smith involved.
Trivia Time: What AFL team did both John Brodie and Mike Ditka sign with (though never play for) in 1966?
PRIME TIME TREATS:
Both night games this week offer intense, intradivisional rivalries.
Sunday - Dallas (6-1) at Philadelphia (3-4): The Cowboys are rested, and a road victory here would keep them in the NFC East driver's seat. Dallas will need to run the ball some on Philadelphia's improved run defense. The Cowboys shaky secondary presents an opportunity for QB Donovan McNabb. The Eagles are in danger of irrelevance in the division if they lose another home divisional game.
Monday - Baltimore (4-3) at Pittsburgh (5-2): The Ravens don't appear to be the team many (including me) thought they would be - road losses to improving Cleveland and Buffalo demonstrate that. Pittsburgh has the necessary run/pass balance on offense to keep the Ravens honest. The Ravens offense again is struggling, so their defense is going to have to pressure QB Ben Roethlisberger and hope for turnovers.
GAMES OF THE WEAK:
San Francisco (2-5) at Atlanta (1-6): What do you get when you add two teams with zero starting-caliber quarterbacks? This.
Houston (3-5) at Oakland (2-5): This is a good lesson about why you can't get too excited about teams that start fast. These were division leaders five weeks ago.
Trivia answer: The Houston Oilers
OK, kidding there.
When it comes to the NFL this week, there is one game front and center for everyone - the clash of undefeateds - Patriots at Colts. These are the two best teams in the league at this point and owners of two of the past three championships.
The game has been analyzed to death already this week, so I want to point out a few trends I've spotted that might play a role in the outcome. Many believe the Patriots will win, but I'm not so sure.
While the Patriots have been blowing teams out week-in, week-out this season, it's important to note the quality of their competition. The combined record of their foes is 24-34, though they did beat 6-1 Dallas soundly on the road. The Colts, meanwhile, have beaten teams with a combined mark of 27-24 and are coming off road victories over 5-2 Jacksonville and 4-3 Carolina.
The physical factor: For some reason, the Colts are perceived as a "soft" team in some corners. It might have something to do with the calm demeanor of Coach Tony Dungy or their inability to stop the run LAST season, but the aforementioned road victories came against two of the most physical teams in the league. And safety Bob Sanders says new cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson have added a physical element to the secondary.
No one disputes the Patriots' toughness, but receivers Randy Moss and Donte' Stallworth have not faced a lot of physical opposition thus far. And Moss, if you may recall, has a long history of pouting when things haven't gone his way. A few hard hits or missed connections might knock him off his game.
Both teams have exceptional offensive lines, probably the most underrated units on each team. Which team can generate the better pass rush will have a huge say in which team wins. The Patriots will send an array of blitzes at Peyton Manning, but that plays to his strengths. I look for the Colts to give Tom Brady a steady diet of DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
And what of the running games? If Lawrence Maroney is healthy, it's a big boost for the Patriots. I think Coach Bill Belichick is going to try to run the ball on the Colts and keep Manning off the field. However, Joseph Addai of the Colts is at least as impressive and he is another key player in this matchup. If he finds room to run, the Colts can keep the Patriots defense a bit off balance.
Three other things to watch for:
The Patriots start fast, and the Colts have started slow this season. However, the Patriots took a 21-3 lead in the AFC Championship Game last season, but the Colts rallied to win.
The Colts are playing at home.
The Colts have the best clutch kicker in the game - Adam Vinitieri, a four-time Super Bowl winner, including three with the Patriots.
My upset special is the Colts beating the Patriots, who are favored by five points.
Upset season record: 6-2
Last week's schedule of games didn't thrill me. This week, however, has an exceptional lineup, so there are several Games Worth a Peak.
Green Bay (6-1) at Kansas City (4-3): Two surprise division leaders meet, and both have teams breathing right down their necks in their divisions. What does QB Brett Favre do for an encore after Monday's heroics? He'll have to be sharp against the Chiefs, who likely will try to control the clock by running Larry Johnson. This could be a real defensive slugfest with one mistake making the difference. Another factor: the Chiefs are rested and the Packers played on the road on Monday night.
Two interconference South battles:
Jacksonville (5-2) at New Orleans (3-4): The Saints ain't dead yet. Winners of three in a row, they're going to have a tough time making it four against the Jaguars and their stout defense. Jacksonville, meanwhile, will rely on its running game - headed by Maurice Drew-Jones and Fred Taylor - to try to keep QB Drew Brees and RB Reggie Bush off the field as much as possible.
Carolina (4-3) at Tennessee (5-2): The Panthers have relied on the run since QB Jake Delhomme was lost for the season. Unfortunately for them, the Titans have the league's top run defense. Titans QB Vince Young has appeared out of sorts, and the Panthers have the speed on defense to contain him. This will be a physical, low-scoring game unless Carolina can somehow get WR Steve Smith involved.
Trivia Time: What AFL team did both John Brodie and Mike Ditka sign with (though never play for) in 1966?
PRIME TIME TREATS:
Both night games this week offer intense, intradivisional rivalries.
Sunday - Dallas (6-1) at Philadelphia (3-4): The Cowboys are rested, and a road victory here would keep them in the NFC East driver's seat. Dallas will need to run the ball some on Philadelphia's improved run defense. The Cowboys shaky secondary presents an opportunity for QB Donovan McNabb. The Eagles are in danger of irrelevance in the division if they lose another home divisional game.
Monday - Baltimore (4-3) at Pittsburgh (5-2): The Ravens don't appear to be the team many (including me) thought they would be - road losses to improving Cleveland and Buffalo demonstrate that. Pittsburgh has the necessary run/pass balance on offense to keep the Ravens honest. The Ravens offense again is struggling, so their defense is going to have to pressure QB Ben Roethlisberger and hope for turnovers.
GAMES OF THE WEAK:
San Francisco (2-5) at Atlanta (1-6): What do you get when you add two teams with zero starting-caliber quarterbacks? This.
Houston (3-5) at Oakland (2-5): This is a good lesson about why you can't get too excited about teams that start fast. These were division leaders five weeks ago.
Trivia answer: The Houston Oilers
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday Night, Week 8
My upset special this week is selected with both my heart and my head: The Packers will take down the Broncos in Denver for the first time ever.
Denver will not have an answer for Green Bay's defense, which will force plenty of turnovers. Working with a short field, I expect the Packers offense to mix in more running plays against the porous middle of the Broncos defense. The Broncos are quick on the outside and feature an excellent pair of cornerbacks, so Brett Favre will attack the heart of the Denver defense.
Season record in upset picks: 5-2
Coming later this week, a mid-season report and a closer look at the Super Bowl - Patriots vs. Colts.
Denver will not have an answer for Green Bay's defense, which will force plenty of turnovers. Working with a short field, I expect the Packers offense to mix in more running plays against the porous middle of the Broncos defense. The Broncos are quick on the outside and feature an excellent pair of cornerbacks, so Brett Favre will attack the heart of the Denver defense.
Season record in upset picks: 5-2
Coming later this week, a mid-season report and a closer look at the Super Bowl - Patriots vs. Colts.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
NFL Week 7 preview
Undefeated and winless. There are two of each remaining as the NFL heads into Week 7 of the 2007 season.
Interestingly enough, one of the two unbeaten teams (the 6-0 Patriots) pays a visit to one of the two winless teams (the 0-6 Dolphins).
The Patriots have the look of one of the league's all-time best teams. Their offense has shredded everyone in sight, and their defense has remained its opportunistic self. Many are predicting they will not lose a game this season, much less this week.
Nothing, meanwhile, has gone right for the Dolphins, who have lost QB Trent Green, possibly for good, because of a concussion, and just traded their best receiver, Chris Chambers. Even the normally reliable Dolphins defense has fallen from its usual perch in the top five of the NFL rankings.
Last season, Miami beat New England at home. That won't happen this time around.
The league's other unbeaten team, the 5-0 Colts, is coming off its bye week to face its toughest in-division competitor, the 4-1 Jaguars, on Monday night. The bye came at a good time for the Colts, who have been banged up.
The keys to the game of the week are:
Can the Indianapolis defense contain Jacksonville's running game and force QB David Garrard into making mistakes? Garrard has yet to throw a pick this season.
Can Jacksonville control the clock and keep Indy's high-octane offense off the field as much as possible?
The Jaguars blew out the Colts down the stretch last season, but this is going to be a close one. I'm giving the Colts the nod because they're rested and at home.
The NFL's other winless team, the 0-6 Rams, pays a visit to Seattle. The Rams, who have been wrecked by injuries, particularly on offense, likely will get QB Marc Bulger back this week, which will help. But without RB Stephen Jackson it's hard to see them winning in Seattle, where the usually dominant Seahawks suddenly have been exposed as vulnerable.
One other game of note is on Sunday night, when Denver plays host to Pittsburgh in a battle of teams coming off byes. The Broncos took an unusual pasting at home from San Diego two weeks ago, and they appear to be at a make or break point in their season because both the Chargers and Chiefs are playing much better right now. The Steelers are winning with their hallmarks - a punishing defense and strong ground game. The difference for them has been the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has cut down his mistakes from a season ago and is making big plays when needed.
There are plenty of clunkers this week, too.
My upset special is Tampa Bay, which I believe is for real, beating Detroit. I think the Lions are a mirage, and against a defense as stout as the Bucs' their careless ways are going to cost them. On the flip side, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia is not making the types of mistakes that the Lions have feasted on in their victories this season.
Upset special season record: 5-1
Interestingly enough, one of the two unbeaten teams (the 6-0 Patriots) pays a visit to one of the two winless teams (the 0-6 Dolphins).
The Patriots have the look of one of the league's all-time best teams. Their offense has shredded everyone in sight, and their defense has remained its opportunistic self. Many are predicting they will not lose a game this season, much less this week.
Nothing, meanwhile, has gone right for the Dolphins, who have lost QB Trent Green, possibly for good, because of a concussion, and just traded their best receiver, Chris Chambers. Even the normally reliable Dolphins defense has fallen from its usual perch in the top five of the NFL rankings.
Last season, Miami beat New England at home. That won't happen this time around.
The league's other unbeaten team, the 5-0 Colts, is coming off its bye week to face its toughest in-division competitor, the 4-1 Jaguars, on Monday night. The bye came at a good time for the Colts, who have been banged up.
The keys to the game of the week are:
Can the Indianapolis defense contain Jacksonville's running game and force QB David Garrard into making mistakes? Garrard has yet to throw a pick this season.
Can Jacksonville control the clock and keep Indy's high-octane offense off the field as much as possible?
The Jaguars blew out the Colts down the stretch last season, but this is going to be a close one. I'm giving the Colts the nod because they're rested and at home.
The NFL's other winless team, the 0-6 Rams, pays a visit to Seattle. The Rams, who have been wrecked by injuries, particularly on offense, likely will get QB Marc Bulger back this week, which will help. But without RB Stephen Jackson it's hard to see them winning in Seattle, where the usually dominant Seahawks suddenly have been exposed as vulnerable.
One other game of note is on Sunday night, when Denver plays host to Pittsburgh in a battle of teams coming off byes. The Broncos took an unusual pasting at home from San Diego two weeks ago, and they appear to be at a make or break point in their season because both the Chargers and Chiefs are playing much better right now. The Steelers are winning with their hallmarks - a punishing defense and strong ground game. The difference for them has been the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has cut down his mistakes from a season ago and is making big plays when needed.
There are plenty of clunkers this week, too.
My upset special is Tampa Bay, which I believe is for real, beating Detroit. I think the Lions are a mirage, and against a defense as stout as the Bucs' their careless ways are going to cost them. On the flip side, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia is not making the types of mistakes that the Lions have feasted on in their victories this season.
Upset special season record: 5-1
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