1. Minnesota (102)
2. San Jose (107)
3. Los Angeles (117)
Apparently the key to a great goal differential is to score a bunch and not give up very many.
huh. since when has that been the case?
I mean, the way the NHL does standings, this may be a new thing for all anyone knows.
So what you're saying is that the inevitable Minnesota-esque playoff collapse will be particularly devastating?
Probably true.
The thing about the NHL is that over and over again, the playoffs are a completely separate season from the regular season.
A great first half means even less in the NHL than about any other sport that I can think of.
The only thing about first half of the season is that you bank standings points so you can lose a bunch of games later and sneak into the playoffs.
Which the Wild have certainly taken advantage of
Especially when we've seen this script before. Several times.
That's some good hedging. But yeah, even though I don't follow the nhl, it's really noticeable how different the playoffs are.
In light of this success of the Wild, I might have jump on the bandwagon. One thing, though, that's kept me from doing that is the thuggery that used to be fairly prevalent. From what I this year,it sounds like that's not really a thing anymore and fights are way, way down and it's a more open and free flowing game. Is that accurate?
I think I've seen fights in every Wild game I've watched this year. Lots of "praise" for Chris Stewart from the clueless bozos on FSN.
Adding: that sounds harsh. Stewart's the best fourth liner I can remember the Wild having in a long time, but that's not what they're praising
I feel like there's been a little more of it the last few games, and the praise has been irritating. At the same time, I feel like it's largely been situations where the other teams have been specifically instigating, and the Wild have been on the defensive. And last game the announcers had the good sense to suggest that engaging in thuggery was getting away from the Wild's game and that it wouldn't serve them well.
So, in short, there is still some thuggery in the NHL, but I don't find the Wild to be overly guilty, and it is noticeably less for me than other years.
Wild have 13 fighting majors this season (t-19th in the NHL). 11 of their 45 games have had a fight.
Fights in their last two games, but none in January before that.
I'd like to think that with Deadpool and Guardians, (and, of course, Watchmen) we've now turned the corner somewhat, such that superhero movies can edge out of the narrow confines of explosion-and-spectacle-driven genre flick and be seen as storytelling. But that's probably asking too much.
Out of towners (only?): Wolves game is available to watch on a free preview.
Wolves keeping this a game. At least, as far as I can tell through this crappy NBA feed. Not inspiring me to purchase League Pass...
I've seen a few people on Twitter say that League Pass is awful. Games cut out, archived games not available when they are supposed to be. Archived games cut out.
Heck of a game. KAT 32-12-7 dimes- 4 blocks. It was nice to see Dunn make some buckets.
League Pass freebie does not seem to be available on Uverse?
maybe only the interwebz version?
I was having problems with it on my laptop. I had better luck on my phone.
I had League Pass the year before I moved back. Servers were hit-and-miss. Nice interface, bad infrastructure, apparently. From everything I heard, the problems used to be much worse still.
I lost count of times I had to restart the feed, but I'd say it was about 20-25. Seriously.
Best goal differential in the Western Conference.
1. Minnesota (+48)
2. San Jose (+17)
3. Chicago (+13)
That's a 31-goal difference over 45 games. This team has been unreal.
Most goals scored: Western Conference.
1. Minnesota (150)
2. Edmonton (144)
3. Winnipeg (140)
Fewest goals allowed: Western Conference.
1. Minnesota (102)
2. San Jose (107)
3. Los Angeles (117)
Apparently the key to a great goal differential is to score a bunch and not give up very many.
huh. since when has that been the case?
I mean, the way the NHL does standings, this may be a new thing for all anyone knows.
So what you're saying is that the inevitable Minnesota-esque playoff collapse will be particularly devastating?
Probably true.
The thing about the NHL is that over and over again, the playoffs are a completely separate season from the regular season.
A great first half means even less in the NHL than about any other sport that I can think of.
The only thing about first half of the season is that you bank standings points so you can lose a bunch of games later and sneak into the playoffs.
Which the Wild have certainly taken advantage of
Especially when we've seen this script before. Several times.
That's some good hedging. But yeah, even though I don't follow the nhl, it's really noticeable how different the playoffs are.
In light of this success of the Wild, I might have jump on the bandwagon. One thing, though, that's kept me from doing that is the thuggery that used to be fairly prevalent. From what I this year,it sounds like that's not really a thing anymore and fights are way, way down and it's a more open and free flowing game. Is that accurate?
I think I've seen fights in every Wild game I've watched this year. Lots of "praise" for Chris Stewart from the clueless bozos on FSN.
Adding: that sounds harsh. Stewart's the best fourth liner I can remember the Wild having in a long time, but that's not what they're praising
I feel like there's been a little more of it the last few games, and the praise has been irritating. At the same time, I feel like it's largely been situations where the other teams have been specifically instigating, and the Wild have been on the defensive. And last game the announcers had the good sense to suggest that engaging in thuggery was getting away from the Wild's game and that it wouldn't serve them well.
So, in short, there is still some thuggery in the NHL, but I don't find the Wild to be overly guilty, and it is noticeably less for me than other years.
Wild have 13 fighting majors this season (t-19th in the NHL). 11 of their 45 games have had a fight.
Fights in their last two games, but none in January before that.
source
The Wild have scored all those goals yet no player shows up in the Top 20 Goals Scored leaderboard, 1 in the Assists, and none in the Points.
Every line can score. It's pretty amazing
Staal is the only Wild player in the top 50 in goals.
5 of the top 6 in plus/minus though.
This doesn't say it well, but they were separate accidents. Very sad in any case.
FWIW:
I am excited for this last chapter for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
I'd like to think that with Deadpool and Guardians, (and, of course, Watchmen) we've now turned the corner somewhat, such that superhero movies can edge out of the narrow confines of explosion-and-spectacle-driven genre flick and be seen as storytelling. But that's probably asking too much.
Keep Marvel Michael Bay-free
Out of towners (only?): Wolves game is available to watch on a free preview.
Wolves keeping this a game. At least, as far as I can tell through this crappy NBA feed. Not inspiring me to purchase League Pass...
I've seen a few people on Twitter say that League Pass is awful. Games cut out, archived games not available when they are supposed to be. Archived games cut out.
Heck of a game. KAT 32-12-7 dimes- 4 blocks. It was nice to see Dunn make some buckets.
League Pass freebie does not seem to be available on Uverse?
maybe only the interwebz version?
I was having problems with it on my laptop. I had better luck on my phone.
I had League Pass the year before I moved back. Servers were hit-and-miss. Nice interface, bad infrastructure, apparently. From everything I heard, the problems used to be much worse still.
I lost count of times I had to restart the feed, but I'd say it was about 20-25. Seriously.