Stats, Trash Talk & YOU- Fantasy Hockey 05!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|-Team -|Bud Ice|Frosty | Newts |Rockets|Banshees|MntyFresh|Thrashers|Bladernners |
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
| Name -|Leshrak|Talsek-|Nizevyn|-Falix-|-Vidare-|Khirmint-|-Azyael--|- -Pyryth- -|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|=G=====|198 ** |174 -- |164 -- |185 -- |148 --- |149 ---- |185 ---- |196 ------- |
|=A=====|320 ** |319 -- |261 -- |265 -- |239 --- |246 ---- |268 ---- |280 ------- |
|(+/-)==|+32 -- |+77 -- |+56 -- |-22 -- |+11 --- |+35 ---- |+38 ---- |+140 ****** |
|=PIM===|500 -- |488 -- |446 -- |436 -- |564 --- |408 ---- |485 ---- |578 ******* |
|=PPG===|84 *** |71 --- |67 --- |82 --- |51 ---- |68 ----- |80 ----- |75 -------- |
|=PPA===|171 ** |146 -- |132 -- |132 -- |119 --- |114 ---- |128 ---- |127 ------- |
|=PPP===|255 ** |217 -- |199 -- |214 -- |170 --- |182 ---- |208 ---- |202 ------- |
|=SHG===|4 ---- |7 ---- |8 **** |2 ---- |5 ----- |3 ------ |6 ------ |8 ********* |
|=SHA===|1 ---- |9 **** |8 ---- |2 ---- |2 ----- |6 ------ |2 ------ |8 --------- |
|=GWG===|27 --- |34 --- |25 --- |23 --- |33 ---- |19 ----- |38 ***** |38 ******** |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|---------|---------|------------|
|Goalies| - - - | - - - | - - - | - - - | - -- - | - - - - | - - - - | - - -- - - |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|---------|---------|------------|
|=W=====|32 --- |24 --- |37 *** |19 --- |31 ---- |23 ----- |33 ----- |35 -------- |
|=SHO===|5 **** |2 ---- |1 ---- |0 ---- |4 ----- |0 ------ |3 ------ |5 ********* |
|=SV%===|.912 - |.929 * |.902 - |.887 - |.912 -- |.893 --- |.915 --- |.910 ------ |
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

|-Total-|---6---|---2---|---2---|-------|--------|---------|----1----|------3-----|

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
*** = Stat category leader

1 Bladerunners 72-35-19
2 Frosty Aquamonkeys 62-38-26
3 Headthrashers 62-45-19
4 Drink Bud Ice 59-44-23
5 Nizzy's Newts 54-50-22
6 Ice Banshees 43-64-19
7 Minty Fresh 34-70-22
8 PondRockets 31-71-24

Drink Bud Ice - 8
Frosty Aquamonkeys - 4

Despite a late comeback attempt by the Monkeys, DBI held on for a win this week, and move up to third place in the standings. The monkeys didn't quite get a spanking, being down 10-1 mid week, their goalies saving the embarassment with some incredible wins. DBI sets their sights on the Banshees this week, trying to usurp the #2 spot from Talsek, and the Monkeys look to stop this skid against the Newts.

Nizzy's Newts - 1
PondRockets - 9

The PondRockets broke it open this week, posting their first win of the season against the ailing Newts and having the biggest margin of all the games! The Newts slacked, narrowly avoiding being shutout by the league's worst team, getting a single point in the +\- column. They try to turn it around against the skidding(no pun intended) AquaMonkeys this week, and the revitalized PondRockets face the Headthrashers.

Ice Banshees - 5
Bladerunners - 6

Squeaking it out this week, the first place Bladerunners managed a 1 point win over the Banshees, keeping up with their near-perfect record (8-1-1). The Bladerunners won't face tough opposition this week against Minty Fresh, and are sure to extend their points lead over the rest of us who face hard teams, such as the Banshees who face off against DBI.

Minty Fresh - 5
Headthrashers - 5

Minty Fresh battled into a tie this week against the once-glorious Headthrashers, embarassing the former #1 seed to a 5-5 tie. The points aren't enough to keep the Fresh out of last place, and the Thrashers fall to fourth. Both teams want to turn it around this week, with the Thrashers trying to attain former glory against the PondRockets, and the Fresh battling it out against the Bladerunners. Man, that's gonna be a great matchup... number one against number LAST. Get the lube ready!

Oh man, I wonder if DBI is going to pull the wives off the ice and let the actual players skate this week?

Minty Fresh is totally embarassing you Leshrak. Last place team and you finally managed a point on the second to last day of the week. The only way I'll be impressed at this point is if you clench your asscheeks so hard as to break off your opponents firmly embedded prick.

I've seen orcs with better legs than your team this week.

On to the results, week 12!

Drink Bud Ice - 2
Minty Fresh - 7

Total Ownage. DBI lost by only 5 this week, barely saving the shutout after they were down 11-0 on Thursday. They fall to third place in the rankings, but can easily overtake it, being 6 points behind. Minty Fresh is still the worst in the league after getting their first win of the season, but they look to post another W next week as they take on the Newts. DBI predicts a rebound this week against the streaking first place Bladerunners, so get the lube ready, it'll be hot.

Nizzy's Newts - 7
Ice Banshees - 2

The Newts pounded this one home for the second time in a row with a score of 7-2, extending the Banshees' losing streak to 6 games! The Banshees just can't seem to get it together this year and fight to keep themselves out of last place. The Newts are now 31 points ahead of the Banshees in the standings, and only 18 points out of second place in the league, and look to overtake Minty Fresh in what will turn out to be a great matchup.

PondRockets - 5
Frosty Aquamonkeys - 8

The Monkeys' 4 game skid is over this week with a solid win over the PondRockets. Falix continues to suck, and Talsek continues to climb, currently in second place in the standings. That doesn't say much as only 18 points separate 2nd and 5th places, and solid play by the Newts, paired with an incredible collapse of the Monkeys could vault Nizevyn into the same position. The Rockets take on the Banshees, trying to post some points and save some face as we enter the twilight weeks of the season, and the Monkeys will face the once-glorious HeadThrashers.

Bladerunners - 9
Headthrashers - 4

In the highlight game of the week, the Bladerunners posted a 5 point victory against the former #1 Thrashers, extending their streak without a loss to 9 games. It's funny how we stopped hearing from Azoryn when his first place rank slipped away... The Runners are out to prove their dominance against the reeling DBI next week, and the Thrashers try to get their first win in 5 weeks against the Aquamonkeys.




POWER RANKINGS

1. Bladerunners

It's week 13, and the Bladerunners haven't lost a game since week 3. They currently hold the best record, and longest streak without a loss of any of the teams. Hasek, Brodeur, and Luongo have been performing beautifully for Pyryth in the last couple weeks, and look for the dominance to continue. So long as the Runners stay healthy, they should have a firm hold on first place through the end of the season.

2. Frosty Aquamonkeys

Talsek wants to take over that coveted first place spot, and has the talent to do so, but their flaky play as of late leads me to say they're only second best. Look for them to surge this second half of the season and give the Bladerunners a run for their money.

3. Nizzy's Newts

The Newts are on fire, winning 3 of their last 4, and are poised to move up in the rankings this week. The recent acquisition of Esche and Auld to their goalie corps has sparked their play and gotten a couple of wins under their belt, but they will face tough competition over the next three weeks in Minty Fresh, the Bladerunners, and Drink Bud Ice.

4. Drink Bud Ice

DBI was embarassed in week 12, getting stomped by Minty Fresh. Mario Lemieux was placed on IR with a recurrance of arterial fibrullation of his heart. They picked up Mike York free agency, who has 2 goals and 5 assists in his last 5 games, and look to pick up the play over the coming weeks.

5. PondRockets

Falix has been missing from the league for at least a couple weeks, the last time it looks like he paid any attention was on 11/28 when he picked up a free agent. He continually keeps key production players benched, and since he's not been very far off from victory, he's missing out.

6. Minty Fresh

Minty Fresh posted an astonishing win this week, nearly shutting out DBI. They haven't made a cut or pickup all year, and it looks like it may be paying off as their stars Thornton, Cheechoo, and Nash are in the lineup and producing with regularity. Look for the Fresh to climb out of last place in the standings to become a playoff contender.

7. HeadThrashers

The HeadThrashers have just been playing poorly over the last 2 months, partially due to injuries and partially due to performance. Legace is out, leaving only backups Lundgvist and Garon on goaltending duty. They have only won 1 of their last 8 games, falling from first place in the league to fourth. Their steady decline won't stop until they're down a little bit further and their star goalie returns. Look for a late run in the season for the playoffs.

8. Ice Banshees

There isn't much to be said about the ailing Banshees. They have been second most active in roster changes with 37, but it doesn't seem to have helped. The manager, whom we are assuming is Vidare, still hasn't stepped up to reveal their true identity, and I believe this will be the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Leshrak
It's funny how we stopped hearing from Azoryn when his first place rank slipped away...

---

Can't smack talk when you have nothing to smack talk about.

But let's get real here, people. This is a temporary setback. For the true Thrasher fans out there, expect to see us rise back up to our rightful places.

;pulls back the blanket from the corpse of this seasons Fantasy Hockey smack-talk and tsk's to myself.

So much potential, so little backbone.

I've had better competition at sewing circles. If this was an armpit smelling contest, I'd want the PondRockets, Minty Fresh and Ice Banshees on my team, because you STINK.

I at least thought I'd get a decent showing from the second place team this past week. But instead of sending out their A-list team, I got the farm team.

Looking towards the playoffs, it's a firm race between Nizzy's Newts, Drink Bud Ice and the Headthrashers for the third and fourth spots. Who has the nertz to stay in the playoffs and who's gonna be watchin' from home with their mother? :crying

Bring it!

After a brief stint in the dumps (It had to happen, else there would be no competition in this league) the Thrashers are on a roll again posting victories in the last four weeks. We've got an 11 to 1 start on Minty Fresh, and a complete Fresh ass-whooping can be expected.

The Aquamonkeys realize that this week is an important one. After a narrow loss to the Bladerunners last week, a loss this week could easily drop us a place or two in the standings. Things have gotten off to a slow start, but the Monkeys are preparing for a saving rally midway through the week.

On a related note, Aquamonkey management wonders... how many more retirements are on the way this week for Drink Bud Ice?

Fantasy Hockey playoffs are almost upon us! Woooooooo!

The two week break for the olympics will give us plenty of time to figure out if our playoff format is what we need/want. I was projecting the Bladerunners to lock a playoff spotspot after the week just past, and when I did it a week early I was quite surprised. I took a look at our playoff schedule and realized we had a 6-team playoff format.

Most sports leagues allow a small percent of the teams to fight it out in the playoffs. We're allowing 75% of the league into the playoffs. Is that a little too much? I realize even 50% of the league would be kinda high, but there would have to be at least four teams.

Is it even possible to change the playoff format this late into the year? If so, I think this would give us one more regular season week before playoffs. Do we even care how many teams make it into the playoffs? Is it even important?

Personally, I think four teams would be more competitive.

What are your thoughts?

I can go look, but with only 8 teams, I don't really think it's that big of a deal. Then again, I think only 4 of us have actively been checking our rosters, so who knows...