March 15, 2015

 

I'll get into the boxscore-related stuff here in a bit, but there are a few recent topics that I'll provide my two cents worth on. After all, that's what the Ramblings are all about, right?

 

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Even though Doug Wilson and even Sharks beat reporters will shrug off the recent Wilson/Joe Thornton feud (CSN Bay Area), this situation in San Jose is toxic. A player telling his general manager to "shut his mouth" and "stop lying"? Hmmm, that relationship might be past the point of no return, even if they owner decides to step in and mediate. I'd be surprised if both Wilson and Thornton are both back next season. One of the two has to go. End of story.

 

Before you believe it's a foregone conclusion that Thornton gets traded, consider the following: In spite of being viewed as a diminishing asset, Big Joe has hardly slipped in terms of his production this season. He is second on the Sharks with 58 points in 65 games, so taking away the "C" hardly seems to be what would cure the Sharks' ills. Wouldn't you rather have a core player who would much rather remain with his team that one who wants to jump ship at the first sign of adversity (Ryan Kesler, I'm talking to you).

 

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Nazem Kadri returned to the Leafs' lineup on Saturday after being scratched for the past three games. It doesn't bother me that the Leafs scratched him for his tardiness/general behavior, but why did Brendan Shanahan suspend him for two more games after Peter Horacek scratched him for one? Was there another discretion? If not, then the "Shana-ban" flies in the face of proper management skills. In other words, good managers don't punish their employees twice for the same action. But that's just the Leafs. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Speaking of which…

 

I know why the Leafs schedule a 7 p.m. Eastern Time game on Saturday in Vancouver every season (television ratings!) So why is it that the Canucks have to accommodate their normal 7 p.m. Pacific Time schedule every year when the Leafs come to town? I wouldn't have a problem with this arrangement if the Canadiens or the Senators or maybe even a marquee American team were granted the start time whenever they come to Vancouver. If this were a special game of some kind (matchup, jersey retirement, the Queen visiting), sure I can start watching hockey three hours early. But this is the 26^th-ranked team in the NHL that the league and the television networks constantly bend over backwards for. This perceived arrogance is the reason that many in Western Canada hold a certain disdain toward the Leafs in particular and Toronto in general.

 

Before I step off my soapbox, please let me know if I am missing anything with this Leafs telecast situation. Now on to the fantasy stuff…

 

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Brayden Schenn picked up two goals and added an assist on Saturday. Apparently centering Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux isn't a bad place to be. Neither was the Flyers' power-play on Saturday, which struck for three goals on the Wings, with both Schenn and Wayne Simmonds earning points on two of them.

 

How about Steve Mason getting it done this week? Mason earned his first win in three tries this week in spite of making at least 30 saves in each of those games. Mason had the hard-luck shutout-but-no-win performance against St. Louis on Thursday, settling for a 1-0 shootout loss. Mason was a late-season pickup in one of my leagues, and he has turned into my highest point performer this week as I attempt to win a playoff series.

 

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Those who drafted Tuukka Rask with a first or second-round pick this season have to consider his season overall a disappointment. However, Rask is coming through at the right time, with his 30-save shutout against Pittsburgh on Saturday his fourth consecutive win and third this week. Rask has allowed just five goals over those four games.

 

Unfortunately for the Penguins, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both injured. Crosby was a last-minute scratch for Saturday's game, while Malkin left Saturday's game with a possible lower-body injury. There is a quick turnaround for the Penguins on Sunday, as they face Detroit in the NBC game of the week, which is usually an early start. According to Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Malkin is likely out and Crosby likely in for Sunday.

 

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I recapped the Sharkies' woes earlier. But Patrick Sharp has had his own set of problems this season both on and off the ice. Strictly focusing on-ice, Sharp had not scored a goal in 18 games entering Saturday's game against San Jose, but he struck for two in the Blackhawks' 6-2 win. Sharp proves why you should never bench your studs. But shouldn't you bench a slumping scorer playing a two-game week in weekly formats? I don't know anymore.

 

Sharp scored one of his goals on the power play with 2:53 of overall power-play time. He won't flirt with 80 points again in his career, but he won't be mired in an 18-game goal-scoring drought again anytime soon.

 

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From the "this helps almost no one" file, Mackenzie Skapski made 20 saves for his first NHL shutout. Maybe you didn't start Skapski, but there's two lessons to be learned here from his perhaps unexpected shutout. 1) Check GoaliePost daily. 2) If you really zone in on matchups, you should be starting whatever goalie faces the Sabres. Let's see… there are two games remaining against Arizona later this month. Time to check if Mike Smith is now available. Yes, the same Mike Smith with the 3.24 goals-against average and .898 save percentage and 11-34-5 record.

 

For the record, I'm really looking forward to the results of those two Sabres-Coyotes games. They could be pivotal.

 

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Is there anything Carey Price can't do these days? Another win, including a spectacular save and even posing for a selfie for the kids.