dlbalr

The Bulldogs once again host division rival Rochester in the hopes of getting out of the league cellar. Active scoring leaders: Goals: Derek Whitmore (12) Assists: Mark Voakes (12) Points: Derek Whitmore (18) PIMS: Joe Finley (57) +/-: Mark Voakes (+10) Active scoring leaders: Goals: Philip DeSimone (6) Assists: Brian Willsie (11) Points: Brian Willsie (14) PIMS: Zack FitzGerald (107) +/-: Andreas Engqvist (+2) Puck drop is at 3:00 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/

He has started skating but he's still three or so weeks away.

Sexton spoiled what was a phenomenal effort by Mayer (45 saves) by scoring with 2 minutes left to end the shutout bid. Still, the Bulldogs win a big one 4-1 and at least temporarily move out of dead last in the league (though Rockford is also winning tonight). They're back home tomorrow afternoon against Rochester. http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1009011

The stats that caught my eye this game: - Desharnais 14/18 on the draw, terrific from him. - Kaberle (boy is it weird seeing his name beside other Habs on the scoring summary) played 17:33 including leading the team in PP TOI. I thought he'd get a little more to be honest. - Gill (0:43) played more than Diaz (0:41) on the PP. Granted, these were late shifts and Kaberle was double shifted at times but this is funny. - No Hab forward played over 20 minutes - I really like this one, guys like Plekanec need partial rests here and there. - Gorges was the only Montreal D to be credited with a hit (2) - Weber had one but as a forward. The team in total had 6, as many shots as Pacioretty had in the game. - The Habs had a total of 4 missed shots...I'm not going through all the game summaries but that has to be the least of the year. Usually that's closer to 15-20 I do believe. http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20112012/ES020421.HTM

Dumont scores on the PP to make it 4-0, now late 3rd.

Anyone remember the movie 'Cool Runnings' about the Jamaican bobsled team? Perhaps a sequel of sorts will need to be made, called 'Cool Icings.' Jamaica has applied for national federation status to the IIHF for the purposes of forming the Jamaican hockey team. They seem to naively think they can qualify for the 2014 Olympics but good on them for trying. It'll be interesting seeing them in the D3 or D2 championships if they get the program running. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111208/sports/sports1.html

The Bulldogs lead 3-0 after 2. Goals by DeSimone, Masse, and Palushaj. Most shocking though is that Robert Mayer has 28 saves so far without allowing a goal.

It's a battle a pair of defencemen have been waiting for all year as Mark Mitera and Mathieu Carle face their former teams for the first time. Active scoring leaders: Goals: Philip DeSimone (5) Assists: Brian Willsie (10) Points: Brian Willsie (13) PIMS: Zack FitzGerald (107) +/-: Andreas Engqvist (+2) Active scoring leaders: Goals: Patrick Maroon (10) Assists: Dan Sexton (16) Points: Patrick Maroon (24) PIMS: Troy Bodie (55) +/-: Patrick Maroon (+15) Puck drop is at 7:30 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/

Gomez is close to returning at least. Regardless, it wouldn't surprise me to see one of Palushaj/Engqvist recalled to at least give them 12 healthy forwards on the roster.

Why am I bumping a game thread from last Saturday? The NHL today decided to fine Eller $2,500 for his cross-check on Drew Doughty that drew a penalty...I think in the first period. How backed up are the NHL offices if this took a week to sort out? http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382425

Forget Campoli playing limited minutes, he's playing zero as he will not play today.

Has the proverbial light bulb finally gone on for Scott Kishel? He was the player drafted with the 7th round pick we got for Michael Leighton and until this season, he could barely crack the lineup most nights. Now the defenceman has 2-12-14 in only 17 games. He has to sign by mid-August. Magnus Nygren, the 21 year old D drafted back in June, has slowed down considerably after a strong start to the season (I think he was a point-a-game player early on). He has 5-7-12 with a -8 in 30 games with Farjestad. In comparison, he had 4-11-15 and a -2 in 22 games at that same level last year. The Czech WJC team appears to have made some cuts, Pribyl was not among them. According to that roster link from before, there are 27 left in camp including 15 forwards. He's got a shot at making this squad.

Well, that and the future money commitment. The Carl Landry-Marcus Thornton trade drew some ire when it added payroll, this added $15 million (albeit over a few years). They are close to getting a re-worked deal done, one that I suspect will be heavier in draft picks or players on rookie scale contracts. Another Toronto deal may be falling through (this will be what, the 3rd one since last offseason?) as apparently Mickael Pietrus didn't do too well on his physical that would rescind the deal with Phoenix. Notable news and notes: - Dwight Howard is allowed to seek a trade with the Lakers, Nets, and Mavericks. - David West is close to signing with Boston (boy, New Orleans will be bad this year) in a sign and trade for Jermaine O'Neal and another lesser player. - Glen 'Big Baby' Davis dealt to the Magic for Brandon Bass; Davis signs a 4/26 M deal. - Gilbert Arenas amnestied. There were many, many other smaller moves (and probably more today) that don't need to be mentioned here.

I wonder if they'll use Weber as a forward or someone like Diaz instead who they're more comfortable with in case Campoli can only play limited minutes considering his combined TOI (preseason and regular season) is all of about 45 minutes or so.

Only caught a bit of the game (where he got banged up briefly late in the 1st) but his goal was really impressive. Here are the game highlights where you can see it (he wears #11): http://vancouvergiants.com/video/ind...769c3f19eb1e95

Bulldogs lose 2-1 and it gets ugly after. Willsie speared Zigomanis after Zigomanis did something as the buzzer sounded.

FitzGerald ignores the play and chases a guy down to start beating on him. Why am I not surprised?

There's a goal and the place goes nuts. Thing is, Toronto scored and the game is in Hamilton. D'Amigo with the goal.

Engqvist scores on the PP and down come the teddy bears! 1-1 in the 2nd. Derek unsuccessfully tried to throw a smurf onto the ice from the booth and wound up hitting someone in the 3rd row. St-Denis had the assist on the goal which means he's in the lineup. Wonder if he'll sit tomorrow then.

Videos from the NHL site are a pain to load for me so I'll take your word. However, Markov wasn't supposed to play on the Anaheim trip yet when he made the trip he was expected to play. It all depends on the healing process really, how fast does he heal?

Marlies score on the PP (there goes key #2) on a dumb penalty by Avtsin who is back into clueless mode it appears. 1-0 Toronto.

He'll be back before the All-Star break by all indications. If it's 4 weeks, it'll be before the halfway point of January. Shockingly before this, Markov was considered a fast healer. This is an instance where I'd like to see him accept a Hamilton conditioning assignment though, slowly ease back into game shape there. With the depth on D the Habs have, they can afford to go this route.

Bill Simmons on Grantland has a long but absolutely terrific piece on this debacle. It's well worth taking the time to read. http://www.grantland...y-nba-christmas

It was a clean-up procedure. These are common and nothing worth fussing over. He'll be back when he's ready, this doesn't put him any closer to retiring...at least it shouldn't.

If it ain't broke, I'm not fixing it which means lazy-style again. Considering what I have to do given the events of the day, that's not a bad thing either. I'm not sure St-Denis will play tonight even though he'll be with the team. Hamilton starts a 3-in-3 tonight (odd considering those weren't supposed to be on the schedule anymore) and with him playing last night, he's looking at a 4-in-4 which isn't good. vs Keys to victory for Hamilton: - Get the first goal. The Bulldogs have a .750 winning percentage when they score first. - PK - Toronto is near the bottom in road PP percentage while the Bulldogs are terrible at home on the penalty kill. A good night will take this element of the Marlies' game away. - Keep FitzGerald off the ice at all costs. I know this one won't happen but since he leads the league in minor penalties, he's due to do something stupid. Puck drop is at 7:30 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/