PLUS/MINUS is the NHL's worst stat, mostly because it's based on a result which varies wildly from game to game. Despite knowing this for years, it remains a standard statistic used in broadcasts league-wide that seem designed to insult the intelligence of the viewer.
PLUS: I have to say the first half of the 2017-18 season has been amazing so far. We've barely had to talk about concussions or the ridiculous player safety department. The Crosby vs Ovechkin rivalry is still going strong - possibly better than ever. We got to see both Sedin and Ovechkin's 1000th point.
McDavid, Matthews, the Leafs and Oilers. The surprises like Columbus, all the winning streaks, Matthew's four-goal game......etc.
Usually I just use this space to complain about things that suck - and do not mistake me, a lot of things really, really suck - but this NHL season has been fantastic.
PLUS: The managers of this site liking what I do enough to promote me to cover the league's best team. Thanks to Eklund and EO for the new gig.
MINUS: Some people like Trump and aren't going to give a crap about anything I have to say, even if, objectively speaking, one crazy opinion and one informed opinion are in no way equal. That being said, I don't care who you support, blatant lying should not be acceptable to you, and if you just agree with everything the guy you like says and does, that makes you a brainwashed enabler of evil.
People can protest, but it's up to the supporters to hold up the standard of truth because they are the ones who have credibility. What I mean, is that negative reactions from people who like you hold more weight than the reactions of people who already think you're a criminal.
Politics aside, it makes me sick to see someone in power just say everyone who disagrees with him or criticizes him as "sad" "failing" "fake-news" etc.
If you don't have a problem with that, you should.
PLUS: The Coyotes actually beat the Lightning. Do those guys miss Stamkos or what? Congrats to Christian Fischer for scoring what I assume is his first ever NHL goal.
PLUS: The Sedins are about to become twin-thousand point players. That's insane. Even though I find twins pretty creepy and off-putting, I still have to say, the Sedins are among my favorite players of all time. Their Canucks teams circa 08-0'12 is one of the greatest teams to never win the Cup.
I salute these creepy Swedish gingers. I rate them two Ron Weasleys and one Ron Howard.
MINUS: Just 893 more points to go to become the best brother-combo in NHL history.
PLUS: Trump is going to end the war on drugs, fight on behalf of the environment and make sure women have full equality.
Just kidding, but it's bizarre that caring about those issues makes you a "liberal" and not a "human."
PLUS: Don Cherry. The guy is 80 something, and he goes on TV every week and tells the truth. At least as he sees it. I don't care if you ever agree with the guy, at least he never sells out his beliefs for popularity, never holds back to maintain his access, and is constantly entertaining.
PLUS: The pending return of Patrick Laine. It sucks he was injured, but man, that hit was awesome.
MINUS: The results-based lunacy that has spawned rumours of the Bruins firing their coach. The Bruins demonstrably have a record that is way worse than it should be. Instead of being one of the NHL's best teams, their record has them (technically) out of a playoff spot.
Patrice Bergeron has been unlucky in the way Nazem Kadri was last year - he is playing way better than his meager point totals indicate. Julien does not need to fired - if anything he should be getting coach-of-the-year mentions because he has taken an aging team many people thought would be in decline, and has it playing as one of the best in the NHL.
The record will come around. No need to Horachek the guy.
MINUS: The Weather. I built a sweet ice-rink in the backyard for my kids. It took me about two weeks to get skating on it, which we did twice before the weather turned warm for a week. Never in my life have I been cheering for the cold, but come on.
Still, it's + 3 (Sorry Yanks, I don't know what that is in F....39? Maybe?) today and I have a solid rink still. As long as she gets cold soon, I should be OK.
PLUS: The movie Anchorman 2: the Legend Continues. I know I also mentioned this yesterday, but it's hilarious. One of the funniest movies of all-time and you should definitely re-watch it.
MINUS: Bruce Willis screwed me again. Just when I was forgiving him for Die Hard 5 too. Yesterday I was at Wallmart (my greatest shame) and I was going through the discount DVD bin.
I came across two movies I'd never heard of before, but like a rube, I saw Willis was on the cover and figured it would give me a sweet action fix and prevent my wife from making me watch some Oscar wank-fest.
Both of these movies were garbage. They both feature Willis on the cover prominently and then he shows up three times - once in the beginning, once in the middle and then once at the end. I googled it, and it turns out for the last five years, Willis has been pumping out straight-to-DVD movies where he does extended cameos in order to collect a paycheck he doesn't need while forcing his fans to watch movies that Steven Seagal wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
Worse than the fact that these movies sucked horribly, was that I fell for their crooked marketing scheme. It's like Bruce Willis just sold me a time-share, basically. The weird thing is, even though I watch a ton of movies, I don't really pay attention to celebrity or entertainment news and I still thought Bruce Willis was one of the the biggest actors in the world.
PLUS: Nick Kypreos, live on HNIC calling Jake Gardiner an "elite skilled defenseman." Talk about vindication.
PLUS: Andy Sandberg. I love that guy. His TV show is the funniest thing on TV, the movie Popstar should win Best Picture (probably won't even get nominated) and he is literally the third greatest white-rapper of all time.
MINUS: The injury to Clark MacArthur. The guys is one of the NHL's all-time most underrated players. I didn't come around to the statistical revolution in time to appreciate what he did with the Leafs (i.e be consistently great) but I have since become a huge fan.
PLUS: Let us take this time to remember the possibly worst coaching decision in NHL history: The year is 2011, the Leafs are trying to upset the Bruins and Randy "Is it OK if I stab this toaster with a knife?" Carlyle decides to healthy-scratch Clarke MacArthur in favor of Colton Orr in a Playoff game.
It was part of a secret plan to turn the Leafs fans against Phil Kessel. Or something.
PLUS: Jay Beagle in O.T
MINUS: Why is Jay Beagle on the ice in O.T?
MINUS: A hair in my lobster-taco at Red Lobster. I will never forgive you!
PLUS: I almost forgot this amazing joke by the genius writers at the Dallas Star's Jumbo Tron:
How bad is it that the NHL team from Texas is mocking the Republican "president" just a day into his reign? A Rangers game, OK you northern east-coast Libs.....but in Texas? Oh baby!
MINUS: Anyone who tries to make anyone else apologize for a joke. Jokes are the best. You might disagree, but I don't think any topic should be off-limits and I don't think anyone, ever, for any reason, should have to apologize for a joke.
If you get mad about a joke, you have problems.
Thanks for reading, remember to get your DMX posters framed, they'll be worth some cash one day.
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