Welcome Back Hockey, We Missed You!

              Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson will receive a 2-game suspension for his hit on Sabres’ forward Jason Pominville.  Good to see the NHL taking initiative on hits like this.  It was not a blatantly dirty play; however, by signaling his intention of suspending questionable hits, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman can hopefully put the concussion conundrum of last season into the history books.  Also, Hjalmarsson will miss Wednesday’s game against the Predators and Friday’s game against the Blue Jackets, meaning he will be fresh and ready to go Saturday night when the Sabres come to Chicago.   Get ready for some hard hits, post-whistle scuffles, and dropped gloves during that one. 

            Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers became the 4^th player in NHL history to record a hat trick in his first career NHL game.  Perhaps the youngster will lead the franchise to a great season; however, playing in the Atlantic Division with the Flyers, Pens, and Devils makes that thought somewhat hard to conceive.  Speaking of the Atlantic, what’s up with these seemingly upside-down standings?

Team	W	L	OT	PTS	Goals For	Goals Against
Flyers	2	0	1	5	8	6
Islanders	1	0	1	3	10	9
Rangers	1	1	0	2	10	9
Penguins	1	2	0	1	7	7
Devils	0	2	1	1	6	14

            Sure the Flyers belong at the top considering the great season they’re coming off of; however, the Penguins and Devils are supposed to be the NHL’s cream of the crop.  The names Sidney Crosby and Ilya Kovalchuk instantly come to mind when discussing these two teams, and they have done jack you-know-what in the first 3 games.  Kovalchuk has a +/- rating of -3 (meaning when he’s been on the ice this year, New Jersey has been outscored by 3 goals), 0 goals, 2 assists, and 9 total shots.  Crosby’s even on the +/- scale with 0 goals, 1 assist and 11 total shots.  Sure the perennial All-Stars and former Maurice Richard Trophy Winners (league’s top-scorer) may have just tripped over their shoelaces during the start of this marathon, but it is worth pointing out their lack of not only goals but also shots. 

            Finally, as I end this abbreviated version of Hump Day Hockey during mid-term week here at Miami University, I leave you with a link to the most ridiculous, short-minded, lunatic, NHL hockey rankings ever put out.  Scott Burnside, you are crazy!  ESPN, you are equally insane for running putting these shenanigans on your website.  Although, if you were just trying to get people talking – you win.