dlbalr

It's a minor miracle, there were more than 2 weeks between the latest Bulldogs (15-7-4) vs Marlies (15-10-3) matchup. The winner gets 1st in the division too. The game is on CBC, wonder what the over/under on free tickets will be in Hamilton. Wasn't it close to about 40% last time, Lammy? Scoring leaders: Goals: Joey Crabb (10) Assists: Lashoff/Hodgman (11) Points: Justin Hodgman (18) PIMS: Matt Lashoff (61) +/-: Mike Brennan (+10) Scoring leaders: Goals: Max Pacioretty (16) Assists: David Desharnais (23) Points: Pacioretty/Desharnais (30) PIMS: Jimmy Bonneau (62) +/-: David Desharnais (+11) Puck drop is at 1:00 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/ Or of course, you can watch it on CBC.

The callup was in case someone who played yesterday couldn't go today. The player could so he sat, and was/will be (not sure if they've filed the papers already) demoted. Not the end of the world here. Probably wasn't Martin's decision either to be fair. As for Subban, he looks out of sorts at both ends. Certainly not the bounce back I hoped for or expected. A few days off I think will do him some good actually, try and get back in the groove at practice. With Spacek out, my worst fear is coming true - Subban, Picard, and Weber all in the lineup together. Might be worth considering splitting up Gill/Gorges and having 1 veteran with 1 youngster.

Somebody (maybe more than one) who played last night was questionable for tonight. Could be injury, illness, who knows? He was the precautionary recall. Evidently the player(s) in question are good to go after all.

Though Trestman isn't taking the Minnesota job, he reportedly has emerged as a favourite to take over the Miami Hurricanes of the NCAA. Here we go again... http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/11/1968...ing-choice.html

Auld in, Desharnais will not play and will be sent down tomorrow. Interesting way to spend over $2,900 on the cap... Boyd out (despite a solid game I thought), Weber in as the team dresses 7 D. Edit: Reports of Weber for Boyd are being shot down, I give up figuring out this lineup...

If you're watching in 3D tonight, you'll be getting Dean Brown and Greg Millen as the PBP team. If not, it's the usual PBP teams for CBC/RDS.

Burke retracts his boycott, sort of, saying he didn't mean for his comments on lack of support and his refusal to come on the show to be construed together. Apparently, he doesn't think fans are capable of putting one and one together? Wow. MacLean's latest on the situation: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/ronmaclean/...ic-meeting.html

Sigh, poor Boyd. Played quite well and still will probably be benched. Off to update the cap projections, yippee.

Gomez out, Auld may be getting the nod too.

How much is Carle worth trade wise considering anyone could have claimed him for free back in early October? (Or late September, I forget when he was waived...) At this point, Palushaj alone may be worth as much as the pair unless you're dealing with a team who plans to make a Calder Cup run. Don't get me wrong, I like Carle, but his trade value is at an all time low.

I can understand the Lightning being upset, it's not as if the move helped lead to the goal. If he did a spin move near the crease, that's one thing, doing a meaningless spin-o-rama before the blueline, probably wasn't required. Not anything terrible by any stretch but I can buy the showboating argument. Also, Sturm to LA...again. Watch for it to happen soon.

Projected Lines: Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Gionta Cammalleri - Halpern - Moen Pouliot - Eller - Darche Pyatt - Lapierre Gill - Gorges Hamrlik - Spacek Picard - Subban Weber Auld Price Projected Lines: MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin Armstrong - Bozak - Kessel Versteeg - Mitchell - Kadri Sjostrom - Brent - Orr Schenn - Kaberle Phaneuf - Beauchemin Lebda - Gunnarsson Giguere Gustafsson Scoring Leaders: Goals: 4 tied with (9) Assists: Tomas Plekanec (16) Points: Tomas Plekanec (25) PIMS: Maxim Lapierre (59) +/-: Jeff Halpern (+12) Scoring Leaders: Goals: Phil Kessel (10) Assists: Tomas Kaberle (15) Points: Clarke MacArthur (22) PIMS: Colton Orr (56) +/-: Kaberle/Grabovski (+1) Team Stats/Notes: Record: 18-9-2 (1st in Northeast) Scratches: Desharnais, Boyd Injuries: Markov, Gomez Team Stats/Notes: Record: 10-14-4 (5th in Northeast) Scratches: Aulie, Rosehill* Injuries: Komisarek Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST TV: RDS, CBC, NHL-N Radio: CJAD,CKAC Last Meeting:

Pacioretty scores, Bulldogs win! http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007721

Such a move would eliminate all of the remaining cap space at this time, regular and LTIR. He'd be an interesting acquisition but if he moves (and I don't think he will actually), it'll be closer to the deadline.

Off to OT, tied at 2.

Reffing aside, the 2nd period did the Habs in tonight. When all the PK's were done, they just weren't able to get anything going, Detroit got that 3rd goal and that was that. A tremendous 3rd period though, I just hope they didn't burn too much energy going for the tie that it costs them tomorrow.

Tied at 2 in the 3rd, Conboy and Palushaj with the goals for Hamilton. Mayer with the nod in goal tonight which means Sanford should be in for the TV game Sunday.

I filled in the missing info for you - one game note, Zetterberg/Datsyuk will start on different lines tonight but are expected to be back together by the end. Tonight's officials: Referees: Tom Kowal, Marcus Vinnerborg Linesmen: Pierre Racicot, Brad Lazarowich

The Bulldogs (14-7-4) finally get to play a back to back against someone not named Toronto as they once again face off against Rochester (11-13-1). (Sadly, they play Toronto next, a CBC televised game on Sunday). Scoring leaders: Goals: Max Pacioretty (15) Assists: David Desharnais (22) Points: Pacioretty/Desharnais (29) PIMS: Jimmy Bonneau (60) +/-: David Desharnais (+10) Scoring leaders: Goals: Mike Duco (7) (Top 3 goal getters are in the NHL) Assists: Michal Repik (22) Points: Michal Repik (26) PIMS: Eric Selleck (73) +/-: Scott Timmins (+7) Puck drop is at 7:35 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/

Long time coming, and oh how far he's fallen. Mike Komisarek is a healthy scratch for the Leafs (losing 4-1) tonight. Boston makes 2 minor deals, the only reason I note it is because it frees up a 50-contract spot (and one of those trades looked eerily reminiscent of a TOR-TB one early this offseason where the sole purpose was to get a reserve list spot open).

It'll be a while before it's up, more than a week from today actually. Edit: Maybe I'll move it to this week's HW Recap, I think I can make it a good old rant either way, and people seem to like my rants (which is why I've done more of them this year).

It'd be about 25-30%, too lazy to look up the actual days though. As for my take, I don't want to give away my position on this topic as it will be appearing in an upcoming HW article.

He's succeeded quite a bit so far; if he 'takes his lickings' the right way, it won't be long before he gets back in and plays like a core player.

They're not telling him to simply shut up though - the sense I get is that he's placed himself on too high a pedestal and needed to be knocked down a peg or two. All rookies, even the Crosby's, Kane's, and Hall's of the world, have to take their knocks as the rookie. This to me is just a part of it, with more attention being given since it's the media frenzy that is Montreal. Cockiness is fine, but even then it should have some boundaries. I think those boundaries are being established right now. Subban is nowhere near the same d-man he was in the playoffs, he was a lot quieter then and I'd say basically just as effective as he is now. That's what I think the organization (coaches, veterans, etc) wants him to return to, as do I. You can still have charisma and play with flare as Subban does without running his mouth constantly. The sooner he finds that balance, the better it'll be for all parties involved. As for Crosby, I don't think he gets the benefit of the doubt anywhere near as often as he could/should (the Leafs were doing a good job mugging him last night and weren't called for them). On that matter, I don't equate what he does to what Subban does - one chirps (PK), the other whines (Crosby). Both involve yapping but there's a world of difference. I'll say this much, I'm glad Subban doesn't yap like Crosby. Edit: Having seen the quotes from Martin on the TwitterBug (on the main page), it sounds as if the decision to bench him was primarily behavioural based. One of them: "Important to keep in mind that it's a privilege to play at this level, lots of responsibilities attached to it." (Quotes are from HIO's Dave Stubbs.)

Surprised this wasn't mentioned yet, Leafs' GM Brian Burke refused to go on HNIC last weekend for an interview. He did so over protest - he felt HNIC was too negative towards the Leafs this season. I can't help but find that amusing. How positive can you be about a team that's fighting...for last in the division...again? http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/ronmaclean/...rian-burke.html