Daily News: NHL and EPL

 

NHL News: 

 

Malhotra prognosis 6-8 weeks away – Manny Malhotra underwent successful eye-surgery but it is too early to say whether he will return to the game or not.

Tim Brent comfortable in visor – After receiving a high-stick to the eye, Tim Brent has realised the importance of a visor.

Crosby cleared for practice – This is simply huge news for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Canucks claim clinch No. 1 seed in West – It has only been a matter of time for the Canucks, but they have finally clinched the top spot in the Western Conference.

Bruins' Thornton leaves game early after facial cut – How lucky was Shawn Thornton? A couple of inches lower and he loses an eye.

 

EPL News:

 

Charlie Adam concentrating on the present – Blackpool captain, Charlie Adam is only concentrating on keeping Blackpool in the Premier League, despite rumours linking him with several other clubs.

Lucas signs new deal at Liverpool – Lucas Leiva has signed a new long-term deal at Liverpool after enjoying his best season yet at the Merseyside club.

Perma-crock Woodgate gets new injury – Jonathon Woodgate has picked up yet another injury. What a surprise.

Ferguson happy with one trophy – Despite being in the hunt for three trophies, Alex Ferguson would be happy with only one. Doesn't sound like Ferguson at all.

McCarthy: It's never been tighter – Mick McCarthy cannot remember a Premiership season that was a tight as this one. A sign that the game is improving? Definitely.

More tomorrow!

Daily News: NHL and EPL

Busy weekend for me so let's start off Monday with some more NHL and EPL news!

 

 NHL News:

 Crosby impresses during training - Sidney Crosby is getting closer and closer to his NHL return as he continues to impress during practices.

Kovalchuk injured? - Ilya Kovalchuk missed Monday's practice with the Devils with a sore leg. Is there more to it?

Kopitar out for the season with broken ankle - Anze Kopitar's injury has weakened the King's chances of a Stanley Cup this year.

Bruins clinch playoff spot - After beating the Flyers, the Bruins have made it into the playoffs and look strong.

Savard's concussion worsening? - Marc Savard's concussion issues are leading to memory loss.

 

EPL News:

Pardew sweating on Best fitness  - Alan Pardew is hoping striker Leon Best will be fit for this weekend's crucial clash with Wolves. Really? Things are desperate up North.

Redknapp likened to Mourinho  - Rafael Van Der Vaart has made a comparison between Harry Redknapp and Jose Mourinho's management styles. Pretty big compliment for Redknapp. 

Doyle out for 1-2 months - Wolverhampton's hard working striker Kevin Doyle could be out of action for the rest of the season. That could be damaging to Wolves' survival hopes.

Kean confirms interest in Ruud Van Nistelrooy - Blackburn boss Steve Kean has made his interest in veteran striker Van Nistelrooy public.

Richards targets a swift return to action - Talented, but injury prone, defender Micah Richards is hoping his latest injury will not keep him out for too long.

Enjoy!

Should the NHL Change Rule 48?

Howdy gang.

In case you didn't know, Rule 48, adopted this season, outlaws blindside hits where the head is the primary target. The offenders are punished with game-misconduct calls, major penalties and suspensions in the hope that this will deter anyone from attempting a check to the head. The NHL also believe this will lessen the number of injuries (mainly concussions) suffered by the players.

I am in full agreement with this rule. Hard, legal checking still has a huge place in the game, but now there is more protection for the players. Why would you want to watch a sport in which the best and most skillful players are rarely playing because of injuries?

Take Sidney Crosby for example. This year he was leading the NHL in points and on course for his best season yet, but he suffered a concussion (from a couple of bad hits) and hasn't played since January 5^th. 

Along with that, serial offender Matt Cooke has, over the years, damaged the careers of Vincent Lecavalier and Marc Savard by going after the head. Watch the above video for his disgraceful portfolio. It's a crime and people like Cooke and Trevor Gillies are being rightly punished for it.

However, the rule does not cover accidental hits to the head. This is where I would like to see a change. I believe that accidental hits should also be punished every time. Just because the offender did not know or did not mean to deliver a check to the head, does not make it any less dangerous. As Penguins GM Ray Shero puts it,

“We are a league where you can accidentally hit a guy in the head with your shoulder and not be penalised, but if you clear a puck out of your zone and it accidentally goes in the stands they give you two minutes. Does that make sense?"

The NHL should be handing out at least major penalties for all head-shots no matter how harsh it may seem in pursuit of the greater good. It takes away any grey areas and makes the rule black and white. Did he hit the head? Yes: major penalty and possible suspension. It's that simple.

Thoughts?

On a slightly different note. What about that hit Zdeno Chara landed on Max Pacioretty the other night? It was late, stupid and utterly unnecessary. Pacioretty was stretchered off the ice and taken directly to hospital. He suffered a severe concussion and a fractured vertebrae. The good news is that shortly after his arrival he was moving all extremities, conscious and talking in hospital.

Chara was not suspended.

Should he have been suspended? I say yes. He did not hit Pacioretty in the head (which is probably why Chara escaped a suspension) but he still seriously injured his target with an illegal hit. The NHL should be looking to discourage these things with harsh deterrents before they ever happen.

What do you think?

Sidney Stopped.

Crosby: Needs to keep scoring

Of all the teams in the NHL I don't think anyone was expecting the New York Islanders to snap Sidney Crosby's point streak. Not only did they do that, but they beat the Penguins 2-1 (after a shootout) in the process. Crosby has, almost single-handedly, propelled the Pittsburgh Penguins to the top of the Eastern Conference. His streak ran for 25 games, which is mightily impressive.

During that time he got his goal scoring tally up to 32 and his assists up to 33, putting him in 1^st place in the NHL for points. While the 50 goals in 50 games achievement might be a little out of reach, Crosby is on pace for around 70 goals which would be his best ever tally.

Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury have got to be considered a big reason for the Penguins great season so far along with Crosby. Fleury is fifth among goalies for wins and Letang is having the season of his career, currently sitting in third amongst all defensemen for points with 32.

If Crosby can keep playing as well as he is, and if he stays free from injury, then the Penguins will surely be considered contenders for the Stanley Cup. However, if Crosby cools down, then it is hard to see where the Penguins are going to get goals from.

However, no-one else on the team is really contributing in a big way. Malkin looked ready to go after a five point stormer against the Phoenix Coyotes on the 20^th of December, but he has failed to keep that momentum going and has only registered 13 goals in 34 games.

The next few games are crucial for Pittsburgh and Sidney Crosby. If the first half of the season is anything to go by, the Penguins are going to need Crosby to keep scoring if they are going to be successful this year.

The Stanley Cup: A bridge too far?

Personally, I don't think this team has it in them to win a Stanley Cup. The Kid does, but that isn't enough. They are going to need contributions from several more players and it just doesn't look like that is going to happen.

Prove me wrong Pittsburgh.

How to shoot yourself in the foot: The Phoenix Coyotes.

• Too many penalties
• Lack of speed
• Lack of effort
• No finisher

Those are just four of the issues that plagued the Coyotes during their four game road trip of the Atlantic division. The New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins were the desert dog's opponents and in each game the Coyotes found ways to, as Dave Tippet says, “shoot themselves in the foot.”

They simply failed to turn up against the Devils and ended up getting shut out. Against the Rangers they were two goals up in the first period before they started to take penalty after penalty, thereby letting the Rangers back into the game. Against the League's worst team in the Islanders, the Coyotes did manage a win, their only win of the road trip, but made very, very hard work of it. Last night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, however, was the worst of all. After failing to convert a number of chances in the first period, the Coyotes' gave up three power-play goals on their way to a 6-1 defeat.

What seems to be a massive problem for the Coyotes is the lack of a sniper, a 30+ goals a season man. The Coyotes' top goal scorer this season is Martin Hanzal and he only has nine goals. Nine? I know the Coyotes are a team that all pitch in, but really, after 32 games it's not good at all. The 'Yotes cannot rely on Wolski or Stempniak to get them a ton of goals or Doan, who has been fantastically reliable and consistent over the years but hardly prolific.

Morris and Aucoin: Are they too slow?

Another problem is the defense. They are either too slow or too inexperienced. Aucoin, Morris and Jovanovski are good players but they get left behind every time a speedy skater hits the ice and are making mistakes because of it. The younger defensemen such as Ekman-Larsson, who looks like a great prospect, and Schlemko, who is getting better, are also prone to making silly mistakes that are costing the team right now. Even Yandle, who has been so solid this year, and leads the team in points and time-on-ice, had an iffy road trip. 

What this team really needs is some fresh blood. They need a new forward or two who can put up at least 30 goals a season and a couple of experienced, quick and reliable defensemen who can replace Jovanovski and Aucoin as they come to the end of their careers and be role models for the younger prospects. Also, while the Coyotes do have Bissonnette to stand up for the less physical players, they only have Bissonnette, and he isn't a great player. A couple of better players who can go toe-to-toe with the League's other enforcers would be great to protect the likes of Turris as they develop. For example Pittsburgh have players such as Engelland (who battered Pyatt last night), Asham and Cooke to protect their star forwards.

The Coyotes have a great coach, a great captain and goaltender (who they desperately need to re-sign) and a great GM. Now with a new owner and a secure future, this is a positive time for the franchise itself. However, they do need to improve drastically on the ice to reach the play-offs this season.

As a fan of the 'Yotes, I'd love for this road trip to serve as a massive wake up call that brings back the Coyotes of last season, but I might be dreaming about that. I guess I will have to see how they react in a very tough game against San Jose on Thursday.