
I want to let you know a few more fun facts about preseason I left out in my last post. First you might notice that rosters are getting smaller and smaller. As preseason continues players are going to be let go. This means they are sent down to the minors or if they were on a professional tryout the team no longer requires the player's services. Remember NHL teams consist of 20-23 players at any given time. So with preseason rosters big enough to make up 3 teams you can see how players on teams need to let go.
Second no points are awarded to teams during preseason. In the regular season teams are given points for wins. Then at the end of the year the team with the most points will be awarded the President's Trophy. Points also determine the seeding order in the playoffs. The team with the most points in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference are seeded 1st then all the way down to the 8th seed. Points work like this: if a team wins in either regulation or OT or a shootout they get two points. If a team loses in regulation they get no points and if a team loses in either OT or a shootout they get one point.
I wanted to point out one more fun fact. Fighting in hockey is nothing new and honestly it isn't going to go away. Well the NHL over the years had tried to lessen the amounts of fights by creating the instigator rule and a player being kicked out of a game it still happens. Know matter what, hockey players are going to chuck knuckles. This season there is a new fighting rule. A player may no longer take his helmet off to fight. Drop his gloves and stick yes but helmet no. It hasn't taken long for the players to find a way around this one. Last Thursday night Brett Gallant of the New York Islanders and Krystofer Barch of the New Jersey Devils removed each other's helmets. It was their 2nd time that night dropping the gloves with each other and they meant business. I have added the video below.
I have also added a fun Buffalo Sabre Marcus Foligno goal. Flying through the air and over two defencemen Foligno channelled his best Bobby Orr for the goal. I have also added the Bobby Orr goal which is one of the most famous goals in hockey history and won Boston a Stanley Cup!
Finally I have added the wacky nutty shootout between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night. It took 30 shooters before it was over. It was Jay McClement of the Toronto Maple Leafs that sealed the deal. McClement is also the player who tired the game up. Few facts about McClement. Jay was drafted in the 2nd round, 57th overall in 2001 by the St. Louis Blues.. He stands 6'1" and weights 205 pounds. Jay shoots left and during his NHL career has payed for the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs. WIth his stunning smile I am sensing my first Fantasy Friday of the year...........!
Until next time keep enjoying NHL hockey!