Follow @james_tanner123 Since +/- is the NHL's worst stat, I thought it would make sense to appropriate it and make it useful as we review the best and worst of the past week in the NHL.
MINUS: To the dirtiest player in the NHL, the turtling rat otherwise known as Matt Cooke. If the site's swear editor wouldn't change what I wrote to some off-putting euphemism, I'd tell you what I really think of Cooke for cross-checking a guy in the face and then hiding on the ice like scared idiot.
But let's give him some credit, I too would be scared if Shea Weber wanted to kill me. But I would't have cross checked him in the teeth like a (expletive Deleted). The NHL should give this idiot ten games at least for the cross-check, especially when you consider the history of Cooke, who makes Trevor Gilles and Ulf Samuelsson seem like gentlemen. .
It's a decent idea since it ensures you don't accidentally start moving up the standings too high but does ensure at least a modicum of entertainment for us fans.
Last night's Sens game was one of the duds and after scoring the opening goal, they allowed Ottawa to score the next five. I could not even face the third period if I'm honest - the Sens scored a minute or so in, I said several expletive filled sentences, went for a butt, then the wife and I watched Showgirls.
PLUS:Paul Verhoeven. All his movies are amazing. Especially Total Recall my all-time favorite movie that isn't a part of a trilogy (or ill-advised trilogy + 1).
MINUS: To the All-Star game. But mostly to people who seem angry that Zemgus Girgensons is there. If this angers you, you really need to re-connect with the real world. This is not an actual problem.........That being said, I don't really care or anything, but if the NHL wants to have an All-Star game in the first place, they might want to include Erik Karlsson and P.K Subban.
Just seems like you should have two of the world's best players at your event.
PLUS: A begrudging plus to OEL for his inclusion in the All-Star game. I don't care either way, but it is nice to see the guy get some credit. Now, hopefully he can correct his weird assist deficient stat line in the second half.
MINUS:To the Leafs GM Dave Nonis. What were you thinking when you gave three years to the NHL's slowest skater, Stephane Robidas? This almost makes the Brooks Orpik signing look good. Jeez. He was 38 and coming of not one, but two broken legs and you already knew you had a mess of a salary cap problem. What the hell were you thinking?
PLUS: I never heard of Joni Ortio before, but the Flames third-stringer got a shut-out over the Canucks in his first game of the season and that is pretty good. (I was informed quickly in the comment section that it was not his NHL debut, and only his season debut, so I had to downgrade my rating from "awesome" to "pretty good"). Still impressive.
MINUS: Patrik Marleau. What happened dude? He has seven goals so far this year and his sudden drop off makes you wonder if he maybe spent the summer working out with Dany Heatley? What else explains it?
PLUS:The return, this week, of my favorite comedy show Parks and Recreation.
Here is hoping for tons of Jean Ralphio, the best bit character in TV history.
MINUS: It seemed like last night was a night of injuries. Howard hurt his groin, Mason looked to aggravate his pre-existing injury, Tanner Pearson broke his leg, Toffoli came down with mono, Weber took a stick to the teeth and Crosby took a skate to the groin. Yikes.
PLUS:Nail Yakupov's goal Friday against the Hawks was one of the nicer goals this season in the NHL and the announcer mentioning that the goal "gives the Oilers a two-goal bulge" is just too much. Probably my favorite 51 seconds in the NHL this season, and a good reminder to all the people who rush to judgement that Yakukpov is barely 21 and way too good to be labeled a bust at this point.