Figured I’d combine the two months seeing as February is almost over.
Ovechkin returns tonight but the Caps have settled into seller mode for the trade deadline. Probably the right move as I really can’t see some wild card team getting hot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. I don’t know if Boston will run away with the conference, but no wild card team is getting past all the juggernauts in the East, Tampa can get scorching hot any time and Leafs are backing up the truck. Carolina could also get stronger at the trade deadline.
Older teams, like the Caps and Pens, don’t seem to have a chance this year for a deep playoff run.
Tampa Bay Lightning bench their first line today. The Lightning really have been sleepwalking, knowing that they have to wake up as the playoffs approach.
Not sure how I feel about adding Max Domi to the Stars’ lineup. And now there are two NHL goalies named Matt Murray. At least they’re not in the same division.
I do think the playoff picture is basically set although it will be interesting to see if Florida can catch the Islanders or Penguins for a wild card.
The Panthers are finally starting to fire on all cylinders, they’re up 2-0 over the Wings and it’s still the first period. But, the Panthers did dig themselves quite a hole so they’ve got to stay super hot and hope Pittsburgh or the Isles run out of gas
The Seattle Kraken have to use an emergency call up in net tonight against the Stars. How the Kraken are still so strong with the goaltending they’ve had is baffling, but the same could be said for other teams in the West. Vegas, for example.
Did Ovechkin’s stance on Putin and the war have anything to do with your not renewing? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, I’m not trying to turn this into a political thread or anything, just curious. Have you talked to other STHs about it and if so what is the general feeling among them about his position? Do you know anyone who has not renewed because of him?
Again, I’m not trying to turn this into a political discussion, I really don’t want to stray from the hockey context.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews attended team practice yesterday for the first time in two months, in hopes that he might be able to return to the ice before the end of the season.
Toews has been dealing with long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome since 2020; the illnesses forced him to miss the entire 2020-21 season, and have kept him sidelined since late January. This is his final season under his current contract with the Hawks, and he’s considering retiring; either way, his hope is to be able to take to the ice in Chicago at least once more.
