Thursday helped all three leaders get themselves into better position and Friday was the calm before the storm tonight. New England has every player in action on Saturday, while Long Island has all but one (Pekka Rinne) playing on Saturday. Yukon has everyone in the lineup on Saturday except Nik Antropov, while Saint John only has 11 of its 15 players in action on Saturday. Pittsburgh has one more player in action (14 of 15) than Rochester (13 of 15) on Saturday.
It may come down to Sunday, where there are four games on the NHL slate and these are the players who will be in action in the PSA Postseason:
* Detroit-Chicago (2pm ET) (Datsyuk LI, Conklin PIT, Franzen ROC, Kronwall PIT, Lidstrom ROC, Red Wings ST ROC, Zetterberg SJN, Campbell NE, Havlat SJN, Huet YKN, Keith YKN, Toews LI)
* St. Louis-Colorado (5pm ET) (Backes ROC, Mason SJN)
* Boston-NY Islanders (5pm ET) (Chara PIT, Ryder LI, Savard NE, Thomas NE, Wideman PIT)
* NY Rangers-Philadelphia (5pm ET) (Antropov YKN, Drury SJN, Naslund PIT, Carter PIT, Hartnell PIT, Timonen SJN)
For the Thursday-Friday games, here are the latest updates:
GOODMAN CUP FINAL (PSA Championship)
Sounds defenseman Mike Green potted a goal and added two assists for 14.5 points to pace either team in the past two days. Long Island received secondary scoring from two of its other defensemen: Sergei Gonchar (6.5 points) and Jay Bouwmeester (4.5 points). Sidney Crosby led New England with a power-play goal and an assist (8 points). Tim Thomas stood strong for New England in getting past the Canadiens on Thursday night, winning in overtime and stopping 35 of 39 shots (6 points).
LI 335.2, NE 309.5 (This Week: NE 76.3, LI 63.0)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL (3rd Place Game)
Saint John has pulled away in the final week of the match, turning a 10-point lead into a much more formidable 76 points, in part by trouncing Yukon, 57.8 to 9 over the last two days. Saint John was rewarded with three players who scored in double figures during that span (Niedermayer 12, Dumont 11.5, Pominville 10) while Yukon only had its star goalie, Roberto Luongo, pitch a 20-save shutout for its only double-figure producer (13 points).
SJN 405.9, YKN 329.9 (This Week: SJN 120.7, YKN 55.1)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL (Loser's Bracket Playoff Championship)
Rochester is a study in domination during this match, as the Amerks all but sewed up the Hofmann Cup after two weeks and now leads by 146.5 points. Rochester has outscored Pittsburgh, 40.9 to 19, over the last two days on the strength of six goals, including four on the power play. Pittsburgh was led by another win for franchise goaltender Martin Brodeur (8 points).
ROC 393.2, PIT 246.7 (This Week: ROC 85.8, PIT 54.3)
Showing posts with label Puck and Stick Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puck and Stick Association. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
PSA: Final Round Update - 4/9/09
We are shaping up for an historic weekend in the Goodman Cup Final, as the game keeps getting closer and closer before the big finale of the 22-day match on Sunday. This is really too close to call because of the remaining games and addition of Special Teams statistics, which are manually calculated each week after the final games are played.
The following updates are from last night's NHL action (4/8/09):
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
A goal and power play assist from Brian Campbell (6.5 points) helped New England to an 8.5 to 5 edge on a slow Wednesday night. There were two players in action on either side of the ice.
LI 304.8, NE 299.3 (This Week: NE 66.1, LI 32.6)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL
Yukon had secondary scoring on Wednesday night, while Saint John was a one-trick pony. Yukon's Duncan Keith (0-2-2) scored 8.5 points and Rick Nash (1-1-2, +1) chipped in 6 points. Saint John only received good production from Jason Pominville (7 points).
SJN 350.1, YKN 320.9 (This Week: SJN 64.9, YKN 46.1)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL
A true off-day for the Hofmann Cup Final to crown the LBP Champion, as no one played on Wednesday.
ROC 352.3, PIT 227.7 (This Week: ROC 44.9, PIT 35.3)
The following updates are from last night's NHL action (4/8/09):
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
A goal and power play assist from Brian Campbell (6.5 points) helped New England to an 8.5 to 5 edge on a slow Wednesday night. There were two players in action on either side of the ice.
LI 304.8, NE 299.3 (This Week: NE 66.1, LI 32.6)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL
Yukon had secondary scoring on Wednesday night, while Saint John was a one-trick pony. Yukon's Duncan Keith (0-2-2) scored 8.5 points and Rick Nash (1-1-2, +1) chipped in 6 points. Saint John only received good production from Jason Pominville (7 points).
SJN 350.1, YKN 320.9 (This Week: SJN 64.9, YKN 46.1)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL
A true off-day for the Hofmann Cup Final to crown the LBP Champion, as no one played on Wednesday.
ROC 352.3, PIT 227.7 (This Week: ROC 44.9, PIT 35.3)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
PSA: Final Round Update - 4/8/09
Here are the updates in all three postseason series from last night's (April 7th) action:
GOODMAN CUP FINAL: Update
The Goodman Cup Final just got a lot more interesting, as New England had an impressive 37.4-point output on Tuesday night, compared to 0.8 points for Long Island to pull within 9 points of the lead with four days to play. Nicklas Backstrom won his game and saved 27 out of 28 shots to score 7.4 points. Three different skaters chipped in 6 points (Brian Campbell, Sidney Crosby, Ron Hainsey).
LI 299.8, NE 290.8 (This Week: NE 57.6, LI 27.6)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL: Update
Saint John keeps pulling away from Yukon, outscoring the Sunbathers by a 42.3-26.2 count. Alexander Edler had a big day for the Johnnies with two assists, one on the Power Play, and a +2 rating for 12.5 points. Roberto Luongo was impressive in net for Yukon, though, scoring 11.2 points on a 46-save win while only allowing one goal.
SJN 341.1, YKN 306.4 (This Week: SJN 55.9, YKN 31.6)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL: Update
The Loser's Bracket Playoff Final has just about been clinched by Rochester, as both the Americans and Pittsburgh are trading points right now. Rochester used Eric Staal's four-point night, including his fourth hat trick of the season (19 points), to lead the way, while Pittsburgh received another goal and assist from Jeff Carter (9 points). Rochester won the day, 22.4-17.8, and lead by almost 125 points.
ROC 352.3, PIT 227.7 (This Week: ROC 44.9, PIT 35.3)
GOODMAN CUP FINAL: Update
The Goodman Cup Final just got a lot more interesting, as New England had an impressive 37.4-point output on Tuesday night, compared to 0.8 points for Long Island to pull within 9 points of the lead with four days to play. Nicklas Backstrom won his game and saved 27 out of 28 shots to score 7.4 points. Three different skaters chipped in 6 points (Brian Campbell, Sidney Crosby, Ron Hainsey).
LI 299.8, NE 290.8 (This Week: NE 57.6, LI 27.6)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL: Update
Saint John keeps pulling away from Yukon, outscoring the Sunbathers by a 42.3-26.2 count. Alexander Edler had a big day for the Johnnies with two assists, one on the Power Play, and a +2 rating for 12.5 points. Roberto Luongo was impressive in net for Yukon, though, scoring 11.2 points on a 46-save win while only allowing one goal.
SJN 341.1, YKN 306.4 (This Week: SJN 55.9, YKN 31.6)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL: Update
The Loser's Bracket Playoff Final has just about been clinched by Rochester, as both the Americans and Pittsburgh are trading points right now. Rochester used Eric Staal's four-point night, including his fourth hat trick of the season (19 points), to lead the way, while Pittsburgh received another goal and assist from Jeff Carter (9 points). Rochester won the day, 22.4-17.8, and lead by almost 125 points.
ROC 352.3, PIT 227.7 (This Week: ROC 44.9, PIT 35.3)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
PSA: Final Round Update - 4/7/09
Here is an update of the Puck & Stick Association, the official fantasy hockey league of this blog (and, conveniently, the league that I run and the league in which I own a team):
In the final week of the Final Rounds in the Goodman Cup Playoffs, Long Island is adding a few insurance points over New England in the title game, Saint John and Yukon are keeping it close in the fight for third place, and Rochester is continuing to pull away from Pittsburgh in the last game for the best of the rest.
PSA POSTSEASON SCOREBOARD
(scores through Monday, April 6th)
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
#3 Long Island 299.0, #1 New England 253.4 (LI by 45.6 pts)
Week 1: LI 136.3, NE 98.3
Week 2: LI 135.9, NE 134.9
This week: LI 26.8, NE 20.2 (LI by 6.6 pts)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL (3rd place)
#4 Saint John 298.8, #2 Yukon 280.2 (SJN by 18.6 pts)
Week 1: SJN 167.9, YKN 120.1
Week 2: YKN 154.7, SJN 117.3
This week: SJN 13.6, YKN 5.4 (SJN by 8.2 pts)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL (Loser's Bracket Playoffs)
#5 Rochester 329.9, #9 Pittsburgh 209.9 (ROC by 120 pts)
Week 1: ROC 112.4, PIT 80.4
Week 2: ROC 195.0, PIT 112.0
This week: ROC 22.5, PIT 17.5 (ROC by 5 pts)
In the final week of the Final Rounds in the Goodman Cup Playoffs, Long Island is adding a few insurance points over New England in the title game, Saint John and Yukon are keeping it close in the fight for third place, and Rochester is continuing to pull away from Pittsburgh in the last game for the best of the rest.
PSA POSTSEASON SCOREBOARD
(scores through Monday, April 6th)
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
#3 Long Island 299.0, #1 New England 253.4 (LI by 45.6 pts)
Week 1: LI 136.3, NE 98.3
Week 2: LI 135.9, NE 134.9
This week: LI 26.8, NE 20.2 (LI by 6.6 pts)
NEWMAN CUP FINAL (3rd place)
#4 Saint John 298.8, #2 Yukon 280.2 (SJN by 18.6 pts)
Week 1: SJN 167.9, YKN 120.1
Week 2: YKN 154.7, SJN 117.3
This week: SJN 13.6, YKN 5.4 (SJN by 8.2 pts)
HOFMANN CUP FINAL (Loser's Bracket Playoffs)
#5 Rochester 329.9, #9 Pittsburgh 209.9 (ROC by 120 pts)
Week 1: ROC 112.4, PIT 80.4
Week 2: ROC 195.0, PIT 112.0
This week: ROC 22.5, PIT 17.5 (ROC by 5 pts)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Hockey Coming To A Close...When You're Non-Playoff Bound
HAPPY OPENING DAY! This is the day a long-suffering Islanders fan has been waiting for all winter. More on the upcoming baseball season in a bit, but first, let me put a wrap on the Islanders talk for the season...well, at least until the Draft comes around...
As much as I would have liked to detail every game -- most of them losses (yeah, we've got a lot of them) -- there are plenty of other news outlets to get your Islanders information (well, a couple...Newsday.com and islanderspointblank.com are my two sources).
Much like Newman's comment that he can barely tell the difference between generic wax beans and the regular kind, I think if I continued that stream of consciousness, we would have officially bottomed out.
During this hockey season, I have watched the Islanders sink into oblivion, but rise with the youngsters on the road to respectability. Of course, it does not mean much unless you can do it when the pressure is on and the pressure will not be on until next fall. It became apparent early that this team was not going to push for a postseason berth. The initial talent level made it tough to begin with, but 550+ man-games lost will also do that to you.
It has been fun watching these Islanders since the All-Star Break. I feel like a hockey dad, watching the young team and feeling proud of them when they score a goal, make a great save, or have a good shift. The Isles have to start with the building blocks of a solid franchise because the franchise itself is being rocked to its foundations.
The really sad part in all of this is the possibility the Islanders may move -- to Kansas City, Saskatoon, Hamilton, or wherever outside of the area. The first preference is to stay at the Coliseum and see the Lighthouse Project come to fruition. If they move to Suffolk County, I might still go to the games if it is not that far out on the Island. Queens would be the best move, both for the team's relevance in the New York sports scene, but also as a "partner" to the Mets and new Citi Field.
I have only one problem with moving to Queens, and it is not alienating the East Enders because, after all, I have made the trip from Northern New Jersey as a season ticket holder since 2002. My issue is that we would be losing part of our identity as a small-town team with a close-knit group of people you recognize at the games, again and again. My fear is that this would become "too corporate" an organization. While it may be a good thing for the level of play and stature among the nine major pro sports teams in this town, the Islanders and the gameday experience would lose its kitsch. But, if you put a beautiful new arena next to Citi Field, what a destination it would be?!
So, the season was tough to take, but hopefully, Islander fans will look back on this season as some formative training for the years -- and successes -- ahead.
***
The fantasy hockey season has been a big success. Our 8th full season of the Puck & Stick Association (PSA) is culminating in a big Goodman Cup Final between two charter members of the league: the Long Island Sounds (owned by yours truly) and the New England Slam Chowdah (owned by Jon Strauss). We are entering the final week of the three-week final and Long Island leads by 39 points, 272.2-233.2. Here are the rest of the scores for the Goodman Cup Playoffs up to this point:
GOODMAN CUP SEMIFINALS
Game "A": #1 New England (17-5) vs. #4 Saint John (12-10)
Too little, too late for Saint John, getting blitzed in Week 1 of the two-week match by 45 points, as the Stompin' Toms 146.6 points in Week 2 did not make up enough ground.
FINAL: #1 New England (Jon Strauss) 237.0, #4 Saint John (Tim Bresnahan) 223.3
Game "B": #3 Long Island (12-10) vs. #2 Yukon (13-9)
Long Island was lucky to snatch the third seed from Saint John in the final week because the Sounds scored less than New England, but advances to the Final by playing the only team that scored less than Long Island. Long Island was consistent, scoring 110.6 in Week 1 and 110.4 in Week 2.
FINAL: #3 Long Island (George Stathopulos) 221.0, #2 Yukon (Eric Brown) 166.8
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
#1 New England (18-5) vs. #3 Long Island (13-10)
Consistency has been a boon to Long Island again, fetching 136.3 in Week 1 and 135.9 in Week 2. Long Island has built a 39-point lead after two weeks in this three-week match, but New England is coming on with 134.9 points in Week 2 to only drop one point further behind.
AFTER 2 WEEKS (1 week left): #3 Long Island 272.2, #1 New England 233.2
NEWMAN CUP FINAL (for 3rd place)
In a not-so-rare occurrence, teams from this game outscore both teams in the Goodman Cup Final for the championship. But, both teams are outscoring both teams in the Goodman Cup Final. The game is tight, as Saint John had the upper hand by 47.8 points in Week 1 and Yukon returned the favor, outscoring Saint John by 37.4 points in Week 2. This makes for a contest that will go to the wire.
AFTER 2 WEEKS (1 week left): #4 Saint John 285.2, #2 Yukon 274.8
In the Loser's Bracket Playoffs, #9 Pittsburgh (Sarah Jorgensen) got by #8 Chicago (Pete Yunger), 194.0-186.1, and the Pumpkins are facing rival (and husband) #5 Rochester (Greg Jorgensen). After 2 weeks, Rochester is leading handily by 115 points, 307.4-192.4.
As much as I would have liked to detail every game -- most of them losses (yeah, we've got a lot of them) -- there are plenty of other news outlets to get your Islanders information (well, a couple...Newsday.com and islanderspointblank.com are my two sources).
Much like Newman's comment that he can barely tell the difference between generic wax beans and the regular kind, I think if I continued that stream of consciousness, we would have officially bottomed out.
During this hockey season, I have watched the Islanders sink into oblivion, but rise with the youngsters on the road to respectability. Of course, it does not mean much unless you can do it when the pressure is on and the pressure will not be on until next fall. It became apparent early that this team was not going to push for a postseason berth. The initial talent level made it tough to begin with, but 550+ man-games lost will also do that to you.
It has been fun watching these Islanders since the All-Star Break. I feel like a hockey dad, watching the young team and feeling proud of them when they score a goal, make a great save, or have a good shift. The Isles have to start with the building blocks of a solid franchise because the franchise itself is being rocked to its foundations.
The really sad part in all of this is the possibility the Islanders may move -- to Kansas City, Saskatoon, Hamilton, or wherever outside of the area. The first preference is to stay at the Coliseum and see the Lighthouse Project come to fruition. If they move to Suffolk County, I might still go to the games if it is not that far out on the Island. Queens would be the best move, both for the team's relevance in the New York sports scene, but also as a "partner" to the Mets and new Citi Field.
I have only one problem with moving to Queens, and it is not alienating the East Enders because, after all, I have made the trip from Northern New Jersey as a season ticket holder since 2002. My issue is that we would be losing part of our identity as a small-town team with a close-knit group of people you recognize at the games, again and again. My fear is that this would become "too corporate" an organization. While it may be a good thing for the level of play and stature among the nine major pro sports teams in this town, the Islanders and the gameday experience would lose its kitsch. But, if you put a beautiful new arena next to Citi Field, what a destination it would be?!
So, the season was tough to take, but hopefully, Islander fans will look back on this season as some formative training for the years -- and successes -- ahead.
***
The fantasy hockey season has been a big success. Our 8th full season of the Puck & Stick Association (PSA) is culminating in a big Goodman Cup Final between two charter members of the league: the Long Island Sounds (owned by yours truly) and the New England Slam Chowdah (owned by Jon Strauss). We are entering the final week of the three-week final and Long Island leads by 39 points, 272.2-233.2. Here are the rest of the scores for the Goodman Cup Playoffs up to this point:
GOODMAN CUP SEMIFINALS
Game "A": #1 New England (17-5) vs. #4 Saint John (12-10)
Too little, too late for Saint John, getting blitzed in Week 1 of the two-week match by 45 points, as the Stompin' Toms 146.6 points in Week 2 did not make up enough ground.
FINAL: #1 New England (Jon Strauss) 237.0, #4 Saint John (Tim Bresnahan) 223.3
Game "B": #3 Long Island (12-10) vs. #2 Yukon (13-9)
Long Island was lucky to snatch the third seed from Saint John in the final week because the Sounds scored less than New England, but advances to the Final by playing the only team that scored less than Long Island. Long Island was consistent, scoring 110.6 in Week 1 and 110.4 in Week 2.
FINAL: #3 Long Island (George Stathopulos) 221.0, #2 Yukon (Eric Brown) 166.8
GOODMAN CUP FINAL
#1 New England (18-5) vs. #3 Long Island (13-10)
Consistency has been a boon to Long Island again, fetching 136.3 in Week 1 and 135.9 in Week 2. Long Island has built a 39-point lead after two weeks in this three-week match, but New England is coming on with 134.9 points in Week 2 to only drop one point further behind.
AFTER 2 WEEKS (1 week left): #3 Long Island 272.2, #1 New England 233.2
NEWMAN CUP FINAL (for 3rd place)
In a not-so-rare occurrence, teams from this game outscore both teams in the Goodman Cup Final for the championship. But, both teams are outscoring both teams in the Goodman Cup Final. The game is tight, as Saint John had the upper hand by 47.8 points in Week 1 and Yukon returned the favor, outscoring Saint John by 37.4 points in Week 2. This makes for a contest that will go to the wire.
AFTER 2 WEEKS (1 week left): #4 Saint John 285.2, #2 Yukon 274.8
In the Loser's Bracket Playoffs, #9 Pittsburgh (Sarah Jorgensen) got by #8 Chicago (Pete Yunger), 194.0-186.1, and the Pumpkins are facing rival (and husband) #5 Rochester (Greg Jorgensen). After 2 weeks, Rochester is leading handily by 115 points, 307.4-192.4.
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