We recompose ourselves after a loss to Latvia and then a less than inspiring win over Germany at the World Junior Championships.  What does the classic New Year’s Eve game vs the USA have in store? We’re concerned. We review some interesting stats from the calendar year 2024 and then give our thoughts on some novel ideas to improve the game.  As always we have Guess the 5th and Connections! 

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Title Player Andre Savard – 

News

Caps game – Ovechkin now 23 away

USA wins gold in OT over Finland

Canada loses in 2nd straight year to Czechia – lots of controversy – left Michael Misa – 33 goals for Saginaw, Beckett Sennecke – 26 G, 59P in 33 GP OSH.  Carter Yakemchuk Zayne Parekh – both over PPG as defencemen

Canadiens are hot – now in playoffs by points but behind Senators in PTS% 8-2-0 in last 10 

Includes wins over FLA, TBL, VGK, COL

Since Dec 1 – GF% 51.31 xGF% 48.38 CF% 50.03 

Before Dec 1 GF% 41.35 xGF% 45.82 CF% 46.47 

Jakub Dobes – Czechia goalie played 2 nhl games – Shut out Florida, then 1G against Col 

Crazy that they are in playoff spot with 51.3 PTS% (41 pts in 40 GP – 84PTS projected) 

In 2023-24, Worst PTS% to make playoffs was 55.5 (91 pts)  VGK was 2nd wildcard in West with 98 PTS (59.8%) 

Guess the 5th 

41 Game Mark Predictions review

CONNECTIONS: 

Martin Biron, Sean Avery, Martin Brodeur, Rob Ray 

Nora – all four have a rule named for them or had a rule changed because of them. 

THIS WEEK 

Pavel Bure, Jay Bouwmeester, Trey Augustine, Niklas Sundstrum 

40 Game Who is For Real? 

Based on xGF% – GF%  (high positive number means probably going to improve, low negative number means probably going to fall off)

WPG -6.98

TOR -5.59

VGK -5.1

NAS +8.83

PIT +6.72

PHI +5.76

41 Games Stats Leaders

Goalies

Crazy Stat

DOPeS 

Hamilton $2000 for embellishment – Friedge says lots of complaints about diving –https://www.nhl.com/video/hamilton-fined-for-embellishment-6366654206112

Norris back in Dec https://www.nhl.com/video/all-of-monday-s-goals-6366759964112

Bennett fined for roughing – NHL shows videos of embellishment fines, but not others