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3-2-1 Point System (3rd Quarter)

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 9:03:56 EDT

Hello again, another update on the 3-2-1 Point System. For the history of this thread, check out the following links.

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

To begin with, I'll show the current point system standings, and follow it up with the 3-2-1 Point System.

3-2-1 Point System (2nd Quarter)

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:06:00 EST

For the story behind this, check my first "3-2-1 Point System" post at the link below:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/18267405/18430655

In this update, I'll break down the team records to show their entire true record - Wins, Overtime Wins, Shootout Wins, Shootout Losses, Overtime Losses, Losses. I will also include the tally points for both the current point system as well as my preferred point system, the 3-2-1 Point System.

The following list shows the teams alphabetically listed in their divisions, with their extended records.

Swing a big stick...

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:26:03 EST

In the World Hockey Championships of 2009, Tomas Surovy and the Slovakians were down 7-0 to the Czech Republic when Jaroslav Halak replaced the starter (Lasak). The Czech's decided that 7 wasn't enough, and before too long scored an eighth goal on the Slovaks. This was very unfortunate for Halak, as his teammate Surovy had apparently had enough. He swung his stick in frustration at the goal post, missed and struck Halak in the back of the head. Luckily for both players, the stick glanced off Halak's helmet, and Surovy was able to skate around the back of the net and take another good hard shot at it with his stick. See the video for this here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0emzMJ6FiwQ&feature=related

Earlier this week in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, Keith Ballard of the Florida Panthers decided the Surovy may have been onto something, and after Ilya Kovalchuk scored a go ahead goal midway through the first period he gave it a shot. Ballard two-handed goaltender Tomas Vokoun in the side of the head, lacerating his inner ear. Vokoun had to be removed from the game on a stretcher. Ballard, who was likely just aiming for the post and not trying to take Vokoun's head off, hit his goalie in the head and then proceeded to take another swing at the post, this time hitting his mark. He then skated off the ice without even stopping to make sure that Vokoun was alright. I mean, why would he, Vokoun was only laid out in the net just seconds after being struck in the head with the stick that Ballard hit him with. See the video for this one here:

Montreal playing badly?

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:49:48 EST

That's one way to put it. The Habs are not having a great year, and if they keep this pace, they'll be very lucky to squeeze into the playoffs. But that doesn't mean I don't love them, that doesn't mean I will ever cheer for another team. But I may poke a little good-natured fun at them in this post.

This 'joke' is in reference to the game of November 21 when they played the Detroit Red Wings and wore their retro jerseys from the 1909-1910 season. A link to the photos is below.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gamecenter/photos/NHL_20091121_DET@MON

Why did the Montreal Canadiens wear their blue and white jerseys for the game against Detroit?

3-2-1 Point System (1st Quarter)

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:50:25 EST

I am not, and never have been a fan of the 'shootout' to resolve an NHL game. I know I am not alone in this dislike of the 'breakaway relay' but the league seems to be pretty adamant about keeping it around. One of the reasons I dislike the SO is that a team winning in this manner attains the same value of points as a team winning in 60 minutes. And the team losing in this manner still gains a point. The league is giving away 3 points on some games and 2 points on others. So points totals appear bloated, with teams who have lost a lot of close games edging out teams who have won more games. A greater number of wins should count for a higher standing than a team who loses in overtime a lot, at least in my opinion.

So I have been keeping track of the wins/losses for the last couple seasons using a point system that I feel favours teams who actually win more. I refer to it as a 3-2-1 point system, as the title implies. This point system would see a team winning in regular time or over time receiving 3 points for their effort. A team winning in the shootout would receive 2 points, while the team losing in shootout would receive a single point. Losses in regulation or overtime would be worth zero points.

The 'Battle for Last Place'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:02:09 EST

Back on November 6th, the two worst teams in the NHL faced off in the 'Battle for Last Place.' The Toronto Maple Leafs (boasting a 1-7-5 record for a total of 7 points) were in Carolina to face the Hurricanes (also with 7 points, but having a 2-9-3 record). In that game Carolina scored 2 goals on Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson on 8 shots in the first period. They then fired 9 more shots in the second and 19 more in the third, all to no avail. Gustavsson held strong between the pipes and gave Toronto a chance to get back into the game. And that's precisely what they did, scoring twice in the second and once more in the final period to secure their (temporary) hold on 29th overall in the NHL.

Less than two weeks later, on November 19th, those two teams faced off again in Carolina. And the situation hadn't changed much in the meantime. Toronto had a record of 3-11-5, for 11 points, and Carolina matched those 11 points with a record of 3-12-5. This time around, Toronto jumped out to a good lead in the first putting 3 pucks past Manny Legace (in to replace the injured Cam Ward). Carolina got a couple back in the second on goals from Stephane Yelle and Matt Cullen that were scored 43 seconds apart. At 3:43 into the third period, though, Alexei Ponikarovsky scored to give Toronto a two goal advantage. Carolina refused to give up, and Tim Gleason scored twice at around the 8 minute and 12 minute marks to tie the game at 4 goals a piece.

Brad May vs Dallas Stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:29:40 EST

Last night, Brad May and the Detroit Red Wings faced off against the Dallas Stars in Detroit. Dallas and the officials (on and off the ice) got the better of Detroit in this one, and finished that game up 3-1. The major focus of conversation in regards to this game was a disallowed goal that was 'scored' by Brad May. Along with that, I'm going to focus on the Brad May v. Krys Barch fight in the second period.

First, the disallowed goal. At 6:24 of the second period, Brad May was in the slot and sent a backhand on goal. The puck went directly over the line and sat between the pad of Alex Auld and the padding at the side of the net. The whistle clearly did not sound for a second or two, and when it did, the referee said no goal. This is an understandable mistake as from his vantage point, he could not see the puck. But through the miracle of science, the NHL has video replay. As a matter of fact, they have a 'room' in Toronto that watches every game in progress and assists the on ice officials in cases of video replay. The first replay that was shown during the game clearly showed the puck crossing the line immediately. Auld never stopped it, slowed it down and deflected it. It went over the line, hit his toe and was stopped by the side of the net. So this should have been a clear goal when it was reviewed in Toronto.

John Tavares

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 0:52:06 EST

Wes Goldstein has an article on the main page right now about the 'Rookie sensation Tavares' and I just wanted to touch on a few things in the article. So, first I will include the link to the article, please go have a quick read before you continue.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/12524878/rookie-sensation-tavares-changing-isles-fortunes

Now that you have read that, the first thing I want to say is this - why do people put so much pressure on a rookie to 'save' a franchise? Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Carey Price, and now John Tavares. Sometimes it works, and the player responds positively to the pressure, as was the case with Crosby and Ovechkin. Other times, as with Stamkos and Price, the player has a 'normal' rookie season, and the media turns around and bashes them for not producing, not saving the team. Luckily for Tavares, so far he is playing up to the media expectation and no one is doubting his ability to become and NHL star.

Record Setting Goaltending & Home'r 3 Stars

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:34:40 EST

To say that Montreal Canadiens fans are the toughest critics for their goaltenders may be putting it lightly. The Canadiens fans are not afraid to let their goaltender know when they think that he could be playing better. Sometimes they can be downright rude. And there have been a few of those goaltenders that have let the fans know that their voices are being heard.

Carey Price is one of those goaltenders.

Despite his ups and downs this season, of which there seems to be a few more downs than there has been ups, Carey Price came out tonight to play some solid goaltending against the Nashville Predators. Hopefully he showed all those critics of his that this kid is the real deal, that he can play net with the best of them. And he backed it up with the statistics to prove it. Here a quick Canadiens history lesson:

The shutout loss

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 0:15:56 EST

Tim Thomas was 'perfect' tonight, stopping all 23 shots that Nathan Horton and the Panthers threw at him. He played the entire game, 65 minutes and the shootout. And he lost in that shootout, but his goals against will read 0.00 for the night. His save percentage will read 1.000 for the night. He will receive a shutout statistic for his effort. And he will also receive a loss for that same shutout effort. There are many reasons why I don't like the shootout, today I want to focus on this one - invisibility.

The Bruins and the Panthers played 65 minutes of good strong hockey. Some may say that Boston outplayed Florida, almost doubling their shots. But Tomas Vokoun played an amazing game, and kept Florida in it. After 65 minutes no points had been recorded, both goalies has shutouts, and they were off to the shootout.