Hot 'n' Nots

It’s time for what we hope will be a regular feature here, The Peerless’ “Hot ‘n’ Nots,” where we take a look around the league and ask…”who’s hot, and who’s not?”

Hot…

Henrik Zetterberg…The Detroit winger is leading the league in scoring through seven games with 5-8-13. this time last year he was 1-2-3 and was in the midst of what would become a nine-game pointless streak.

Not…

Martin Lapointe…Chicago’s ode to underachievement is without a point through five games this year. He has never missed a game (169 and counting) as a Blackhawk, and he’s even this year…having been -44 the last two years combined, that should be seen as progress. But were he to miss a game, it’d be hard to see where Blackhawk fans would complain much.


Hot…

The Ottawa top line… Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson are a combined 11-19-30 through seven games. They rank 2nd, 3rd (tied), and 6th (tied), respectively, in scoring. Oddly, perhaps, they are also a combined -1.

Not…

The Capitals checking line…Matt Pettinger, Boyd Gordon, and Chris Clark are a combined 0-0-0 through five games (Gordon having missed two to injury). But they, too, are a combined -1.


Hot…

Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding…the Minnesota netminders have allowed a total of four goals in five games and have three shutouts – two by Backstrom, one by Harding in his only start. The goals allowed are half as many as the club in second (St. Louis, with eight).

Not…

Kari Lehtonen…Did the Ranger series really leave this guy a quivering puddle of goo in the crease? 0-4-0, 4.72, .870 suggests that’s the case. But it’s not as if Johan Hedberg is doing much better…0-1-0, 4.50, .857. Maybe it’s the defense in front of them.


Hot…

Paul Stastny…the Avalanche forward has taken only ten shots this year…and scored on five of them. That 50.0 percent shooting percentage leads the league and has him tied for third in goals scored.

Not…

Brendan Shanahan….32 shots…32 turned away. As Dean Wormer might put it….”zee-roh…point…zee-roh.”


Hot…well, sore anyway…

Anton Volchenkov…39 blocked shots…that’s almost twice as many as the next in line (Pavel Kubina and Brendan Witt, with 20 apiece…The Peerless thinks Witt is there because he’s just in the way and can’t move).

Not…

Gary Roberts…hey, tough guy…four games, no blocked shots?


Hot…

Chris Phillips…seven games, 12 shots on goal…no missed shots. Bet he’s great in a duck blind, too.

Not…

Alexander Ovechkin…22 shots on goal, 16 misses.


Hot…

Toronto Maple Leafs…last year, Toronto scored 22 goals through seven games. At the moment they lead the NHL in total goals scored (26, although Buffalo has a higher goals-scored-per-game average).

Not…

Toronto Maple Leafs…last year, the Leafs allowed 18 goals in their first seven games. So far this year…29 (also leads the league). That might explain why they started 3-2-2 last year and are 2-3-2 so far this year.