Well, it looks like my predictions about the games were correct. The only team that won(that matter for us here) was Philadelphia. Toronto found yet another way to lose. I need some love...but I will settle for a hug.
Here are the *sigh* scores for Jan 30th's games:
1. Philadelphia beat the Islanders 2-1. A closer game than I thought it would be, especially since Roloson was in net. Philly scored both their goals in the first period and then tried to protect their lead. They gave up a goal in the second period, but were able to prevent the Islanders from getting any more. I am sure that Jen is happy.
This is all the joy us TLB folks will enjoy from this night of hockey.
2. Ottawa beat Montreal 3-2 in overtime. Not a good game for Montreal. They had to play from behind yet again. They were able to tie it up at 2 after being down 2-0, but they fell short in overtime again. Hal Gill took an absolutely idiotic penalty which pretty well cost them the game. True, Spezza took a penalty later in O/T but that doesn't really help too much. I believe that Ottawa scored the first ever 3-on-3 goal in the history of the NHL.
Some potential bad news on the injury front for Montreal as well. Mike Cammalleri was injured in this game, and they won't know the extent of his injury until Sunday. If they lose Cammalleri they are in a LOT of trouble, as he is their leading scorer. Another injury happened to Ottawa. Mike Foligno broke his leg blocking a shot. Ouch!
3. LA beat Boston 3-2 in the shootout. Boston's freefall continues. Some unruly behaviour in the second period led to a slew of penalties. Boston capitalized with a goal, but that is all they got in that period. Savard got his second point in his second game back from a lengthy injury, but he was not able to get Boston to shake their scoring slump. Boston got a point out of this loss, but it is probably a point that is hard to swallow for Boston fans.
4. Vancouver beat Toronto 5-3. What can I say? What do I want to say? I want to let loose with a whole lot of profanity, but that won't make a lick of difference. Toronto had a 3-0 lead after the first period. Do you know what I thought when I saw that? I thought "Toronto is going to lose this game. I just know it." And I was right! Arggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Carolina has now passed Toronto in the standings. Just
lovely.
At least Edmonton is sucking even more than Toronto, so we aren't in last place for the entire league...yet.
5. Carolina beat Chicago 4-2. And this is why Carolina went past Toronto. They won when they had to(against a tough team!), and they got it done even though they were outshot 41-24. Hossa had a goal and an assist. I wonder if the limo incident(Kane and two other players were allegedly in a limo with two girls and had pictures taken with them. The players did not wear shirts.) had anything to do with this loss? Perhaps this distracted the Blackhawks?
6. Columbus beat St. Louis 3-2 in overtime. I would like to say that I care about this game, but I do not wish to lie. I don't care about this game.
7. Nashville beat Atlanta 4-3. Jason Arnott scored the winner for the Predators just 7 seconds into the third period.
8. Phoenix beat the Rangers 3-2. This was a battle of the back-up goalies. Phoenix had a 3-0 lead until the third, and then they let their foot off the gas. The Rangers scored two goals, but as is the case many times for them this season, they did not score enough. They have a very poor offense.
9. Calgary beat Edmonton 6-1. I can almost guarantee that Calgary saw this game and licked their chops with anticipation. They had a 9 game losing streak and they could almost be certain that playing against Edmonton would stop that streak. Edmonton has now lost 13 in a row. Bad, putrid, ugly, you name it, that pretty much describes the Oilers right now.
10. San Jose beat Minnesota 5-2. Dan Boyle(defenseman for San Jose) missed his 4th game in a row with an undisclosed injury.
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Mike Green of the Washington Capitals was suspended for 3 games for his elbow to the head of a Florida player Friday night. This was almost a given, especially with the vicious elbow that Patrice Cormier was suspended for(and is currently appealing). Boudreau(Washington head coach) complained that he saw no reason why he should be suspended(he never does...his players do no wrong apparently) but Green's teammate(and NHLPA representative) Brooks Laich said that hits to the head need to be punished so obviously it was a hit that deserved a suspension. Some of the head coaches in the NHL need to give their heads a shake and realize that they need to tell their players to stop with the head shots. If the head coaches basically do not hold their players accountable(by saying that they think the player did not deserve to be suspended, for example), then why would the players care about whether or not they hit someone in the head. Sheesh.