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TOPIC: Prediction Pool Week 5 |
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| Webs
September 30, 2024
5:39:10 PM
Entry #: 4357335
| Jets (1-3) vs Stars (2-1-1)
The Jets are struggling to score early this season and it is affecting them in the standings. With less than half the goals of the next lowest scoring team the Jets spent the week working on shooting drills. Two weeks ago the Flames couldn’t score either and now they are alone in first place. Times change, the scoring will come. This week Proctor and Morry each scored for the Jets with apples going to Dukey, Orser and Parsons. My first question after coming out of the dressing room to catch the last half of the Jets game was why is Peter Duke playing forward? Turns out he wasn’t but, in an attempt to create offence, he decided to be the rover. Well that didn’t work, back to the drawing board Dukey. The good news for the Jets is that they are only 1 goal off of the second best defensive record, if Parsons scores on the wide open net chances here on out everything should be fine. Is Findlay back this week, seems like one more week of bike racing so waiting on the injury report on this one? The Stars were led by Giles, wait a second, checking notes. Yup, the Stars were led by Giles with a goal and an assist. Haverstock and Redden each scored 1 and assists went to Clark and Poirier. First time this season that coach Ryan didn’t record a point, first time this season that the Stars didn’t win, I see a correlation. Bright is expected back this week from an injured hallux. Stars management would ask you don’t look up what a hallux is as it shouldn’t keep a guy out this long. MacIsaac should be at the game this week as the Blazers are not scheduled to play, next week they do but the Stars play at 11 so he should make it. Poirier will be in Cape Breton playing golf this Friday so he is out. Ingraham and Haverstock are in a battle to lead the league in pims, my money is on Havey unless Messervey runs Glen this week, that could change everything.
Stars 4 - -Jets 3
Flames (3-1) vs Oilers (2-1-1)
The Burgess Flemming combo is working out well for the Flames, the week they had 3 and 1 and 1 and 2 respectively. They combine for 10 of the Flames 14 goals this season so it seems straight forward, stop these two and you have a good shot at winning. Only 4 Flames have hit the twine this season, only the 5 goal Jets have that few players contribute a goal so far. Chappy did manage 2 apples this week. Currie scored 1 and single helpers went to Murphy and Ross. Rumours abound that the Flames are bringing in a replacement for the injured Priest but league management has yet to give final approval. We need to mention Matt Robinson here, a GAA of 1.75 though 4 games has the Flames allowing 5 less goals than their nearest competitor. Matty has been on a roll since the summer all star break. The Oilers saw Bent break out with a 5 goal 1 assist performance, first star of the week material right there. Veinot had 1 and 4 to take back the scoring lead that he hasn’t held for a year and a half. Turple didn’t like Timmy’s comment about Lee being the top scoring defenceman so he went out and had a 1 goal 2 assist night to take back his top spot. Huebert had 3 assists to keep himself in the ROTY race with Flemming, while Flemming does have 4 more points Huebert is averaging more PPG. Huebert will be MIA again this week however. Gallant had 2 goals. Parking Lot Matt had a goal and an apple on the day his mom passed, he was determined to get a goal for her and came through, amazing what motivation can do for a fella. Congrats Matt and sorry for your loss. Cleveland, LeBlanc, Skinner and Webber each added a single helper. Two top teams who are hot meet here, should be a good match.
Oilers 6 – Flames 2
Lions (2-2) vs Wolfpack (2-1-1)
The Lions have been pummelled two weeks in a row by a combined 13 goals. Two weeks ago I was picking them for a top team but an injury to the Prodigy has that in question. Munden did manage 2 assists this week, Tracey had 1 and 1. Single goals scored by Glazebrook and MacDonald and Real Deal had a helper. Looks like some downtime is going to be required for Desi to get back into top form, or he could play through it and be ineffective all season. Lions management is troubled and not sure which road to take. My guess is that with this being a battle with the only team behind them in the standings that the Lions play their sniper at least this week and put off any major decisions for now. Even more concerning is the state of Grease, the four time Vezina winner missed last week maybe due to injury, maybe not. The Wolfpack have 2 wins in their first 4 games, it took them till December 1st last season to accomplish that feat. Fougere led the Pack with a goal and an assist. Baxter, Hill and P. LeBlanc each scored 1. Honorable mention to Eddie for the double fist pump celly when he scored, only Timmy Ryan has better cellys. Of course we tend to see Timmy’s more as he scores regularly, Eddie’s last one came on Sept 15th of last season. Bray and MacEachern each added an assist to round out the week’s scoring. Big game here as the loser is not in a playoff spot and the winner is. Until I see Munden walking like a normal person and Grease back between the pipes my pick is the Pack.
Wolfpack 5 – Lions 2
Side notes:
Mets just clinched a playoff spot, now they have nothing to play for in the second game of the double header. Do they celebrate making the playoffs with champagne in the locker room and come out buzzed for game 2. Sucks to be Arizona who make it with a Mets sweep but are out if Atlanta win game 2. Last year’s Oilers know that helpless feeling.
Alabama looked great for the first half vs Georgia, second half not so much but held on for the win.
Deone’s son is expected to be the second QB to go in the draft this year, still early but Jayen Daniels was the second QB this year and he looks great. I am sure that organization will do something to ruin him.
Baseball playoffs and hockey season start up, best time of year for sports fans.
Swayman turns down 64 million from the Bruins. Jesus.
Stories that saltwater is making electric cars explode after the hurricane in the southern states. Doesn’t make someone who lives in Herring Cove want to run out and buy an EV.
Oilers released Mike Hoffman from his PTO, guy used to be able to score but you need to be a skater in today’s NHL. He did receive the nicest pass ever and scored. Remember who passed it without google?
Berube hates Nylander already, shocked.
Jets lose to Denver, Rogers should hang them up, he ain’t no Tom Brady. Speaking of Brady, what a petty little fuck he is going after Mayfield. Not everyone needs to dedicate themselves to eat avocado toast everyday Tom. You should be above going after guys who mention you, you want to be the GOAT act like it. Think Gretzky would take shots at current players, be the bigger man for once in your life. Loser.
Derrick Henry is OK. Nice run to start the game.
My Steelers showed their true colors this week. Doesn’t matter how good the defense is if you can’t score TDs.
Shout out to Mike Oliver for supplying pucks for the season.
Dikembe Mutombo died, 58, only 2 years older than me, eek.
Standings
6 – Corky
5 – TimH, Skinny, Desi, Croke, Bongo, Graeme, Kerr, Murphy, Stoney
4 – Real Deal, TimR, Ted, Taiwan, Todd, Anthony, Priest
3 – Oliver, Walshy, Grayson, Perry, Sto, MacQueen, Flinner, Grease, Dukey, Bubba, Webs, Matty, Glennie
2 – Parsons, Rudy, Leon, Logan, Lee, Blair
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| Prediction Guy
September 30, 2024
7:34:52 PM
Entry #: 4357336
| Week. Five. Woche fünf, as they say in Düsseldorf.
These are the last games of the first cycle of the 2024-2025 HRHL season.
It’s been crazy competitive so far this season, with 4 points between 1st and 6th places, 2 points between 1st and 5th, and THREE teams tied for 2nd. Best guess is that this week continues the trend. It’s also been a pretty solid mix of offense and defence this year: on the defence-first end of the spectrum we’ve had a 1-0 regulation win (the Jets sole victory this year, back in Week 2 versus the Flames) and a 2-1 OT victory by the Flames over the Pack to kick off the season. We’ve also had a 10-3 game, and 8-2 game, and a 6-5 OT thriller as far as offensive explosions go. That’s three games with at least 10 total regulation goals.
Quirkily enough, all three of those goal-fests have involved the defending champion Lions: their famous “ghost goal” shootout win versus the Stars a few weeks back and their two more recent losses against the Flames and Oilers.
The most popular score so far this year? That’d be a saw-off between 4-1 and 5-1 finals. We’ve had two of each of those scorelines so far this year out of the twelve games played up until now. Losing teams have only scored 1 goal FIVE different times so far this season, making that the most frequent losing team goal output. The most frequent winners’ tally total is 5 goals, which has happened FOUR times so far.
Stats rock, huh!
Speaking of rock, here’s a heads up that there’s a new rock music doc out on the ol’ streaming services, in case you’ve been living under a proverbial, um, rock for the last while. It’s about a little band it stands to reason a few folks around the league might remember. Some of you might even own a few of their cassette tapes or compact discs.
“The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” is a documentary series about a bunch of scrappy dudes from Kingston, Ontario — Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair — who went on to make music that a bunch of folks seem to feel maybe-kinda-sorta defined Canada for the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians (at least for canucks of a certain epoch), at one point or another..
Full disclosure: I haven’t seen it yet myself, but it apparently this series has “never-before-seen” archival footage and splices that content together with an assortment of interviews with the band, their family, their friends, and a few famous fans including folks like Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Harmer, and Geddy Lee, to name a few.
Best I can tell, the whole documentary series has at its core the idea that The Tragically Hip brought together Canada’s history in words and music and did so in a way that succeeded in showing us Canadians who we had been, who we are, and who we could be.
Anyhow, let’s see if we can’t find a Hip tune that sonically reflects where each HRHL franchise stands at this early fall instant, as the first round of regular season games comes to its conclusion.
On to the games…
Jets (1-3-0 2 points 5GF/13GA -8 6th place)
vs
Stars (2-1-1 5 points 17GF/13GA +4 2nd place tie)
It’s been an underwhelming start to the season for the Jets, as they have been missing key contributors like Findlay and Rocket MacQueen for multiple weeks due to injuries and other commitments. The goals have been hard to come by thus far, as have the wins. With the losses pilling up, guys in the room just might be wondering what is going on and starting to have a feeling that “New Orleans Is Sinking”:
My memory is muddy, what's this river that I'm in?
New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don't wanna swim
Colonel Tom, what's wrong, what's going on?
Can't tie yourself up for a deal
He said, "Hey north, you're south, shut you big mouth
You gotta do what you feel is real"
- “New Orleans Is Sinking” (1989)
Aside from a few small blips (last week’s loss to the Flames and the now famous “ghost goal” against the Lions), it’s been a fabulous start to the 2024-25 campaign for the Shiny Brights. It seems like each week a new player on their star-studded roster steps up and makes a key contribution. Just like Gord sings in the 1999 hit “Bobcaygeon”, the boys in blue keep revealing themselves (and their talents) one star at a time:
I left your house this morning
'Bout a quarter after nine
Coulda been the Willie Nelson
Coulda been the wine
When I left your house this morning
It was a little after nine
It was in Bobcaygeon, I saw the constellations
Reveal themselves, one star at a time
- “Bobcaygeon” (1999)
What happens this Friday? It says here that in the opening skate of the night, the Les Etoiles de T-N-T continue to shine brightest, and the Jets remain grounded, stuck in a frustrating holding pattern.
Stars 3 – Jets 2
Flames (3-1-0 6 points 15GF/7GA +8 1st place)
vs
Oilers (2-1-1 5 points 19GF/14GA +5 2nd place tie)
The Flames are on fire as of late, playing smoking hot forechecking hockey, despite having been bitten (stung?) by the injury bug to start the year. In the last few weeks, they seem to have unlocked something offensively and have made the jump, as of right now, to the top of the (very tight) HRHL regular season standings. It’s early days, but the mood in the Flames room is great and they hope to stay hot and ahead of the other HRHL franchises, maybe even by a century:
But that's when the hornet stung me
And I had a serious dream
With revenge and doubt
Tonight, we smoked them out
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
And disappointing you is gettin' me down
- “Ahead By A Century” (1996)
Skinner’s Winners have seemingly gotten on the right track as of late, scoring 18 goals in their last three games, including TEN against the Lions last week. Vaunted Oiler management duo Veinot and Skinner, those Himalayas of the mind, have decided at this point they couldn’t care in the least about what the poets are doing, as long as rookie hotshot Huebert is able to make VeinBros games on Friday nights:
Don't tell me what the poets are doing
Those Himalayas of the mind
Don't tell me what the poet's been doing
In the long grasses over time
Don't tell me what the poets are doing
On the street and the epitome of vague
Don't tell me how the universe is altered
When you find out how he gets paid, alright
If there's nothing more that you need now
- “Poets” (1998)
But what happens Friday night? Best guess is that the Murphy-Kerrs inferno stays white hot (a la Tom Cochrane) and burns the VeinBros’ blaze oranges our prime-time skate.
Flames 3 – Oilers 2
Lions (2-2-0 4 points 16GF/24GA -8 5th place)
vs
Wolfpack (2-1-1 5 points 11GF/12GA -1 2nd place tie)
The defending champion Lions have had a rough couple of weeks, losing big twice in a row and allowing 18 goals in the process. This Lions squad isn’t dead yet, though. This group has too much pride, too much talent, and too much of a championship pedigree for this to be anything other than a hiccup. The lions aren’t going to choke, on little bones or anything else. Maybe they are just a little bit tired?
Well, nothing's dead down here, it's just a little tired
Nothing is dead down here, it's just a little tired
Well, nothing's dead down here, it's just a little tired
Nothing is dead down here, it's just a little tired
Oh baby, eat this chicken slow
It's full of all them little bones
Baby, eat this chicken slow
It's full of all them little bones
Little bones
Full of all them little bones
Aah, little bones
- “Little Bones” (1991)
The Pack and their new management continue the work of forging a new identity as the second season for the new regime takes shape. The green goblins of the long-shower-crew know there’s no point in living in the past and they are most definitely putting in the work to foster a keen sense of team camaraderie. It appears to be working, with early results this year a BIG improvement on last year’s inaugural campaign. No joshing, the green machine are starting to reap what they have sown, in a good way, and remain excited to see what tomorrow brings:
Late breaking story on the CBC
A nation whispers, "We always knew that he'd go free"
They add, "You can't be fond of living in the past
'Cause if you are, then there's no way that you're gonna last"
Wheat kings and pretty things
Let's just see what tomorrow brings
Wheat kings and pretty things
Oh, that's what tomorrow brings
- “Wheat Kings” (1992)
But what’ll happen in Friday night’s finale? The west-coaster sees the Lions’ pride kick in after two consecutive weeks of tough losses as they scratch and claw their way past a valiant effort by Eddie’s Steadies in a tight one to cap off the night.
Lions 3 – Wolfpack 2
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| Leon C
September 30, 2024
10:11:07 PM
Entry #: 4357338
| I’m sorry to the teams I pick to win this week! The only points I have so far in the pool come from the 2 games my team has won. So if the trend stays the way it is, it won’t be good for the teams that I pick that are not mine. Here are my picks, let’s see what happens this week.
Stars
Oilers
Wolfpack
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| Flinner
October 1, 2024
7:44:16 AM
Entry #: 4357339
| Stars
Flames
Pack
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| Sto The Pro
October 1, 2024
3:09:12 PM
Entry #: 4357344
| Stars
Oilers
Lions
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| Lee M
October 2, 2024
8:26:55 AM
Entry #: 4357349
| Stars flames pack
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| Lightning M
October 2, 2024
9:08:53 AM
Entry #: 4357350
| JETS
OILERS
PACK
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| tim r
October 2, 2024
10:07:15 AM
Entry #: 4357352
| Weekly 3 stars………
3. Fougere , leads the pack to a win over the jets with a goal and an assist. The last couple years have been tough on this player so it’s great to see him back on this elusive list. This player finally has a couple linemates that he’s creating chemistry with and this is great news for the pack. A goal scorer and a room guy win win
2. Burgess , 3 goals and 1 assist in the flames dominant victory over the stars last week. This player is the best two way player in the league and the fucker can’t be beat on faceoffs. The flames know they have a good one here as seen by them extending him another year. This player will keep the flames in playoff talk as long as he’s playing like this .
1. Bent , 5 goals and 1 assist in the oilers rout of lions last week. This player had 6 times as many points in this game as he has had year to date. Maybe this game will remove his name from the trade rumours that have been floating around. With a terrible injury like this guy suffered it’s great to see him back terrorizing goalies .
Well done boys congrats on achieving the highest honor you can in the HRHL
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| Jackhammer Jim XXX
October 2, 2024
4:48:13 PM
Entry #: 4357357
| Jets
Oilers
Lions
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| Anthony T
October 4, 2024
5:58:26 AM
Entry #: 4357372
| Stars
Flames
Lions
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| Dmunden
October 4, 2024
7:01:18 AM
Entry #: 4357373
| Stars
Flames
Lions
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| tim r
October 4, 2024
9:13:27 AM
Entry #: 4357375
| Notes…….
NHL preseason hockey has been fuckin wild, brawls scraps guys running wild.Wi fi on the habs trying to get suspended every night. Old school hockey
- 3250 men and women have accused diddy of diddling them . Goddamn he’s been busy
- nick Robertson will score 30 goals this year for the leafs . The Stewtennials boys laughed at me when I said this but now they are believers.
- Darren Macqueen has said it since June that Quentin Byfield will have a break out year for the Kings.
- oilers are alive in the HRHL , venoit is alive Austin can finally claim to be a fan again
- Mets brewers was some good baseball. Up 2 in last inning with your fireball closer on the hill. Oops he gives up a 4 spot
- baseball playoffs is like 1985 again I’m telling you
Padres brewers Mets tigers all the old school teams.
- is Croke the football prognosticator guru?
One championship and down to final four in second!
- tryouts everywhere for minor hockeys. Parents everywhere from novice to junior B are telling their co workers today that little jimmy was robbed , he’s way better then three kids they took.
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| tim r
October 4, 2024
9:21:08 AM
Entry #: 4357376
| Stars /jets……two teams coming off losses so expect some desperation hockey and the Stars prevail 5-3. Perry busts out for a pair, redden haverstock and bright do the damage here. Short staffed stars rise up and are led by a wall on the blueline and glen 21 saves as the last line of defence.
Oilers/flames…… two red hot teams collide here and I’m going with the Oilers scoring one more in the 4-3 win over the flames . Venoit with a pair , skinner finally and LaPointe with his first. Get him the puck boys. The oilers defence is very solid and goalie replacement does his job.
Pack/lions……. As terrible as the pack were last year, this version seems a little less terrible so I’m picking them to defeat the lions 2-1. Baxter and Ingraham do the scoring and Logan is stellar as hell between the pipes. Imagine a world where the pack are two games over 500. Get used to it it’s happening
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| KC18
October 4, 2024
10:19:53 AM
Entry #: 4357377
| Stars 5 - Jets 3: Stars don't lay eggs two games in a row, just doesn't happen. Stars score on the rush but can take crosschecks from Croke and Duke like Bray did last game too if needed.
Oilers 3 - Flames 2: Tight affair - Webber gets 3 apples with Gallant, Bent and Vienot bulging the twine. Murph gets two holding penalties and kicked out with 5 minutes remaining in the final period to open door to a Vienot winner.
Pack 4 - Lions 2: Lions downfall continues as Igor misses again and the Pack light the lamp under a strong game by Pudge who pots 2 and the GWG - taking a beating in front of the net to give Bray a break.
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| skindawg
October 4, 2024
11:25:53 AM
Entry #: 4357378
| Stars
Oilers
Pack in a shootout
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| jmurphy
October 4, 2024
11:25:56 AM
Entry #: 4357379
| Stars
Flames
Pack
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| Peter D
October 4, 2024
11:43:08 AM
Entry #: 4357380
| Jets
Flames
Lions
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| Todd M
October 4, 2024
1:14:11 PM
Entry #: 4357382
| Star
Flame
Wolf
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| TKERR22
October 4, 2024
1:59:23 PM
Entry #: 4357383
| Stars
Flames
lions
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| tim h
October 4, 2024
3:33:24 PM
Entry #: 4357384
| stars
oilers
LIONS
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| Blair C
October 4, 2024
3:36:43 PM
Entry #: 4357385
| Stars
Flames
Pack
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| Mike S
October 4, 2024
4:21:14 PM
Entry #: 4357386
| Stars
Flames
Pack
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| oliverm
October 4, 2024
4:31:02 PM
Entry #: 4357387
| Stars
Flames
Lions
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| Grayson I
October 4, 2024
5:07:04 PM
Entry #: 4357388
| Stars
Oilers
Pack
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| Jason P
October 4, 2024
5:17:41 PM
Entry #: 4357389
| Stars
Tie
Pack
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| The Awesomeness
October 4, 2024
6:24:48 PM
Entry #: 4357392
| Jets
Flames
Lions
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| Ted P
October 4, 2024
6:42:59 PM
Entry #: 4357393
| Stars
Flames
Wolfpack
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| Dave W
October 4, 2024
7:02:35 PM
Entry #: 4357395
| Stars
Flames
Lions
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| Goalie 29
October 4, 2024
7:06:50 PM
Entry #: 4357396
| Stars
Flames
Lions
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| Patrick L
October 4, 2024
7:30:15 PM
Entry #: 4357397
| Stars
Flames
Pack
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| chad h
October 4, 2024
7:30:27 PM
Entry #: 4357398
| Jets SO
Flames SO
Lions SO
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| Real Deal .
October 4, 2024
7:33:11 PM
Entry #: 4357399
| Stars
Oilers
Lions
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| Taiwan
October 4, 2024
7:55:16 PM
Entry #: 4357400
| Stars
Oilers
Lions
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