PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 15: Matt Murray #30 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends the net against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PPG Paints Arena on November 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Brad Burud and Blake Friars talk Pittsburgh Penguins. Should there be panic in the “Steel City” or is all the panic premature. The Penguins find themselves in last place and the hockey world is so not used to seeing that. Then its time to breakdown all the players off to hot starts that were not expected to be doing this well. What players are flying under the radar? Then it’s time to go around the horn and talk injuries, Buffalo Sabres, the “Battle of Alberta”, playoff projections, and a very heated and frustrating listener question. Yes, he is a rat!
MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 19: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens controls the puck while being challenged by Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 19, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
Canadiens Summer Additions Paying Off Big
When Marc Bergevin acquired Tomas Tatar from the Vegas Golden Knights many people just thought he was just a piece of the puzzle that Montreal received for their captain Max Pacioretty. Well he has been a pleasant surprise. His 9 goals and 8 assists give him 17 points in the first 21 games of the season. This scoring pace would crush his career high of 56 points. Then to top off this good move Bergevin landed Max Domi from Arizona in a June trade for Alex Galchenyuk. This was a very unpopular trade in Montreal. Domi struggled last season in Arizona with just 9 goals and 45 points. Domi has fit in well in Montreal. In the first 21 games of the season he has 10 goals and 15 assists for a point total of 25. Almost half way to his career high of 52. He also brings another intangible to the table. He is an aggravator. The much critized general manager may just have struck gold with these two pick-ups. Tatar has also become a fan favorite…
The Dream Vacation – 31 games in 31 days
Rob Simpson has started what many hockey fans would call a dream vacation. The Sirius/XM radio host began the venture late last week. The venture will take him on a 31-day journey where he will visit a game in every NHL arena. Plus, he will still be recording his morning show Stellick and Simmer. Busy guy, but wow would this be fun!
Halak Proving his Worth in Beantown
Last summer the Boston Bruins signed goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a 2 year, 2.75 million per year contract. A bargain for the Bruins and a chance to prove his worth after struggling through a long season on the Island. A season in which he saw tons of rubber in net for the New York Islanders. Halak presents a great one-two goaltender tandem for the Bruins. Halak has been strong this season. He is 7-2 with a 2.07 GAA and a .935 save percentage. Not too bad for a guy a lot of critics wrote off.
Thank you, Matthew Tkachuk,
Matthew Tkachuk has single handedly resurrected the Battle of Alberta. In one game he managed to take 20 Edmonton Oilers players off their game. Influenced and changed the way the coaching staff coached. Straight pissed off the Oilers fans, and even pushed the Oilers media into unprofessional behavior. Wow, I can’t wait for the next meeting.
ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 6: Jake Allen #34 of the St. Louis Blues makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks at Enterprise Center on October 6, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)
The NHL season is one month old and one of the most surprising stories of this young season is the struggles that goaltenders are having thus far. The numbers are disastrous. Brad Burud discusses what goalies are struggling, and gives insight into why these struggles are taking place. He talks about how long this will continue, and if the NHL is changing to a two goalie team system rather than a system where a team lives and dies on the #1 starter. Then Mark Paul from Overtime Hockey Talk joins the show to give a very interesting perspective on why he thinks goalies are off to a terrible start this season. Then it is time to dive into a fan poll – Who is the best goaltender in the NHL from the 1980’s to present? The results are interesting and controversial.
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 24: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes part in warm up prior to playing the Detroit Red Wings at the Air Canada Centre on March 24, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 40
Nylander Sign or Trade and the Inconsistent Oilers
Are you sick and tired of thinking and speculating what will happen with William Nylander. Brad Burud and Blake Friars are too. For the last time they break down possible trade scenarios for Nylander, and discuss the possibility that he still may sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Would the real Edmonton Oilers please stand up….are you good or are you terrible again? Joel Quenneville is out in Chicago. This is crazy. Questionable hits, player suspensions, and the Hall of Fame welcomes six new members. It was a crazy week in the NHL and did we mention the UBER fiasco in Ottawa.
