Thoughts to Ponder is a weekly blog posted every Tuesday exclusive to StormTheCrease.com. Each post involves hockey-related news and is meant to provoke thought, enrich your mind and invite criticism. Many times, it will simply annoy, disturb or possibly even destroy your love for the game. Let’s hope the latter does not happen with every post.
The NHL Trade Deadline was almost two weeks ago… and that is the last that you’ve read from me.
This was not because I thought I deserved a break from my writing/blogging duties. I wish that were the case. In reality, I was the lucky recipient of strep throat. If you have not had the pleasure of receiving this wonderful sickness, you do not know the joys of a 101-degree fever, a completely sore body and, of course, the inability to swallow anything.
The one positive that came from the last week of hell was the time I had to watch countless NHL games and read numerous articles from beat reporters around the league.
I was able to put a firm grasp on the politics of this season. With most NHL teams playing about 42 games so far, we would normally be at the midway point of a regular 82-game season. Looking at the calendar, we would also normally be starting the post-season about this time.
This makes the race for the NHL awards very interesting. Most notably, the Hart Trophy for the league MVP will come right down to the wire.
At the halfway point of this season, I named my midseason award winners and gave the Hart to Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane. Things have changed quite a bit the past month.
Of course, certain players considered are your usual suspects; Sidney Crosby and Stephen Stamkos to name a few. But with Crosby going down with a broken jaw a few weeks back and the Lightning floundering at the bottom of the NHL standings, some players you may have not expected at the beginning of the season have stepped into the limelight.
Alex Ovechkin is atop the goal-scoring leaderboard (Bridgetds@Flickr)
Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals
The Capitals were the disappointment of the league up to March 19, when they had a 12-15-1 record (25 points), and were third to last in the NHL standings. Since that time, the Capitals have posted an 11-1-1 record, catapulting themselves to the leader of the Southeast Division with 48 points (23-17-2). First-year Head Coach Adam Oates has gone from a man on the hot seat to a bench genius.
In the midst of this is Ovechkin, the Russian superstar who has had a major drop-off in production since lighting the lamp 50 times in 2009-10. Not scoring more than 38 goals in the past two seasons, Ovechkin has posted 17 goals in his last 15 games, amassing 27 total this season. He has taken his rightful place atop the NHL goal leaderboard, posting one more than Stamkos with just six games to play. He also ranks fifth in the league with 46 points.
The turnaround of a team is often associated with the play of its captain. The Capitals are no exception.
Jonathan Toews
Toews plays in every situation for the Blackhawks (Bridgetds@Flickr)
Much like the Capitals, the Chicago Blackhawks have a solid leader on and off the ice. While Ovechkin is outspoken and one of the league’s most enthusiastic goal-scorers, Toews leads his team by example on a nightly basis with a solid work ethic.
Although Patrick Kane is the team leader in points (20-27—47), Toews has truly been the heart of the Blackhawks lineup. Leading the team with 21 goals, Toews is used in every in-game situation, as he is used on the team’s penalty-kill and on the top power-play unit. His 19:30 average time-on-ice ranks only second to Patrick Kane amongst forwards on the roster, while his 52 takeaways leads the NHL. His dazzling 60.4 faceoff percentage ranks second in the league as well.
The stats are not the real game. What Toews has brought to the Blackhawks this season has to be seen to be believed.
Sergei Bobrovsky – Columbus Blue Jackets
If you have been living under a rock with your fingers in your ears for the past two months, you are likely laughing hysterically right now. Well, believe it. Bobrovsky sits in the driver’s seat as he and his teammates are looking at a possible playoff berth.
Bobrovsky, acquired from Philadelphia during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, posted an amazing 8-0-2 record spanning from March 3 -22, propelling the Blue Jackets from last in the NHL to 10th in the Western Conference. Currently, the Blue Jackets are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with five games to go.
Bobrovsky’s numbers speak for themselves as well, recording a 2.03 GAA (6th in NHL) and a .931 save percentage (2nd in NHL) with four shutouts (tied for 4th in NHL).
The most impressive stats that back up Bobrovsky’s Hart candidacy are his team’s statistics. The Blue Jackets have allowed 30.2 shots against per game, which is tied for 10th worst in the entire NHL. Bobrovsky alone has faced 946 shots this season, which is 11th most in the league.
Although the stats speak for themselves, Bobrovsky’s play is better seen through his actions (like Toews). Making 39 saves on 41 shots in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 road victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday may just be the game that the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association points to as to why Bobrovsky stole the Hart Trophy in 2013.
Make sure to tune in tonight for Episode 25 of the Storm The Crease Podcast.
