Around the NHL 12/1-12/7

NHL getting old

The NHL celebrated its USA birthday on Monday December 1st. The first NHL game played in the US was played in Boston on December 1st 1924. The Bruins defeated the Montreal Maroons in the game at the Boston Arena. Smokey Harris scored the first goal.

Martin dies

Hubert Martin died this week in a snowmobile accident. The NHL star from the 1960’s and 70’s drowned when his snowmobile fell through the ice while he was trying to get home. Martin played 17 seasons in the NHL. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blawkhawkx, and the Vancouver Canucks. In 1,101 NHL games he amassed 324 goals and 485 assists. Martin was 64.

Hawks Honor Larmer

The Chicago Blawkhawk honored one of its greatest players this past week. The 1983 Calder Trophy winner was honored in a ceremony before a game this week. Steve Larmer never missed a game in his 11 seasons with the Hawks. He scored 441 goals and assisted on 571 more. He played two seasons with the Rangers and helped end the teams Stanley Cup drought.

Avery suspended

No need to spend a lot of time on this. Sean Avery was suspended six games by the commissioner for remarks he made on camera early in the week. That’s all I am going to say, I could really go off on this but I am not going to.

Canes welcome old, new coach.

The Carolina Hurricanes fired Peter Laviolette last week after a rough start and two seasons with out a playoff appearance. The Canes named Paul Maurice the new coach. Laviolette replaced Maurice a few years ago.

Injuries

Some big injuries this week.

Joe Sakic will be out of Colorado’s lineup for about six weeks with a back injury.

Danny Briere will miss four weeks with a bad groin strain. This season Briere has recorded five goals ad four assists in nine games.

Columbus wing Raffi Torres will miss at least two weeks after knee surgery.

Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy will miss four weeks with a sprained knee. He is currently fourth on the team in scoring.

Fernandez earning a spot

Boston Bruins back up goaltender Manny Fernandez is challenging Tim Thomas for the teams top goalie spot, just as the Bruins wanted him to do; last season.

Fernandez has a seven game win streak going for him. He is now 8-1-1 on the season with one shutout. He has a 2.09 goals against average.

While Tim Thomas is also on a hot streak, Thomas is 10-3-3 on the season with a 1.83 goals against average. The Bruins face a tough decision coming up this season; both goalies are free agents and are getting up there in age, they are both 34. It will be interesting to see what the Bruins do, both at the trade deadline and in the off-season. If this 1-2 combo continues the Bruins could go deep into the playoffs.

The Bruins as a team are wicked hot. They are currently riding a four game win streak and are 13-1-1 in their last 15 with a season record of 18-4-4.

Sharks win streak stopped

The San Jose Sharks were riding a most impressive win streak this season, a nine gamer. The Edmonton Oilers snapped the streak on Saturday with a 3-2 overtime loss. The Sharks have been the best team in hockey this season posting a record of 22-3-2 with 46 points. The sharks have 102 goals for and just 64 against so far this season. If they keep this up they should be the favorites in the playoffs. The Sharks have also yet to lose in regulation at home, they are the only team in the NHL to do that this season.

Melrose back in action

Barry Melrose is making a comeback. This time he is returning to ESPN. He will sit beside Matthew Barnaby as the NHL anyalist. With Tampa losing seven in a row, maybe Barry should have had more time.

Panthers and Predators looking at goaltender battles

The Florida Panthers have been pleasantly surprised by the emergence of Craig Anderson. Anderson has a record of 6-2-3 this season with a 2.03 goals against average. While Thomas Vokoun has struggled this season with a 5-10 record with a 3.04 goals against average. Vokoun could have a big opportunity coming up as Anderson left the game last Saturday against the Bruins with an apparent neck injury. I have yet to see anything on his injury.

In Nashville Dan Ellis has struggled a little bit this season with a 8-10 record and now will miss a little time with a bad bruise on his knee. Pekka Rinne picked up his first and second shutout of his young career last week and has yet to lose with a 6-0 record and a 2.24 GAA. Rinne could be the full time started by the end of this week.

It’s a streaky league

The Boston Bruins have won four straight games.

The Colorado Avalanche have lost 3 straight games.

The Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and Nashville Predators all have 3 game winning streaks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost 3 in a row.

The big streaks are half over. The Sharks won 9 in a row but that was snapped on Saturday. However Tampa has a pretty good losing streak going. They have lost 7 in a row and will play the red hot Bruins tonight.

Other Notes

-Claude Lemieux is attempting an NHL comeback, he signed with the AHL Worcester Sharks and will attempt to get back in the NHL with the Sharks.

-The Sharks lead the league in goals for (102), wins (22), and points (46).

-The Sharks also have the least goals against in the conference (64). They also have the least amount of losses with 3.

-The Avalanche were the last team to lose in OT.

-The Stars were the last team in the West to get to 10 wins. While the Lightning, Thrashers, and Maple Leafs have yet to do it in the East.

-The Boston Bruins have the most goals for (89) in the East. They also have the least goals allowed (56) in the NHL.

-Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne was named the first star of the week. Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks was the second star and Jasson Spezza of the Senators was the third star.

- Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins leads the league in points with 43 and assists with 32.

-The Flyers Jeff Carter leads the league in goals with 19.

- Washington’s Alexander Semin leads the league in plus/minus with an amazing plus 17.

-Florida’s Craig Anderson leads the league in save % with a .943.

-Bruins goalie Tim Thomas leads the league in GAA with a 1.83.

-Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo leads the league with 5 shutouts.

-Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers leads the league in wins with 16.