Hockey is a game of excitement and thrilling suspense. Fans adore cheering on their favourite teams and players, and the athletes within this sport love playing for them. However, there is a dangerous side to this sport, and injuries are all too common. Whether it is through fighting or game play, players may become hurt, sometimes the injuries are minor and other times serious.
This season, injuries are becoming commonplace. Within the six Canadian teams alone, there have been over 20 injuries keeping players out for five games or more. While this has not seemed to directly affect the teams’ play, morale is lower and tensions rise. However, it is inspiring to see how well the teams rally and pull together in order to maintain their position.
The standings of today reflect the very interesting outcomes of some recent games. Leading the Atlantic division is New Jersey with 21 points. Topping the Northeast is Buffalo with 31, and the Southeast is dominated by the Atlanta Thrashers at 27 points. Within the West, Detroit leads Central division with 23 points, and Minnesota is holding the Northwest at 22 points. Anaheim shows their talent with the Pacific divisions’ leading score of 30 points. Overall, the Eastern Conference is being led by the Buffalo Sabres at 31 points, and the Western Conference is owned by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at 30 points.
Keep in mind that these scores do not take into account all the games played or the latest scores of the last day. However, the statistics are beginning to shape up, and allowing one to begin to make predictions as to the outcomes of this season. However, this reporter has very little to say at the present time regarding possible results. Check back later for my thoughts.
Player Spotlight
Mats Sundin – Toronto Maple Leafs
Height: 6 foot 5 inches
Weight: 231 pounds
Position: Centre
Shoots: Right
Born In: Bromma, Sweden
Born On: February 13, 1971
Acquired From: Quebec Nordiques in 1994
2005/2006 Highlights:
“¢ Played 70 games for Toronto collecting 78 points (31 goals and 47 assists) with 58 penalty minutes;
“¢ Ranked first on the team in points, goals, shots and third in assists;
“¢ Returned after missing 12 games, due to an eye injury November 5 vs. Tampa Bay;
“¢ Registered his 1100th career NHL point (assist) November 26 vs. Montreal. Collected two points (one goal and one assist) including the game winner in overtime November 26 vs. Montreal;
“¢ Played his 1100th career NHL game November 30 at Tampa Bay;
“¢ Selected as Captain of Team Sweden for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games;
“¢ Won Sweden’s first Olympic Gold Medal;
“¢ Registered his 800th point (goal) as a Leaf March 7;
“¢ Won the Leafs Molson Cup with 53 points and seven first stars;
“¢ Ranks first in career regular season NHL overtime;
“¢ Has scored more game winning goals than any other NHL player since the start of the 2000-01 season; and
“¢ Ranks first in Maple Leafs history in game winning goals, third in goals, third in points, fourth in assists and ninth in games played.