Faceoff Factor

A Week in the NHL - January 13-19

Ashley Gallant | National Hockey League

Jan 20, 08:23 PM | Hype this story!

Quote of the Week
“Even if you’re the biggest jerk in the world he shouldn’t be hanging in the air and swinging in the wind like this and getting rocks thrown at him in all directions.” Anaheim GM Brian Burke’s opinion of the Toronto organization’s lack of decision regarding the future of GM John Ferguson, Jr.

The Dominators
Todd Bertuzzi, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks (4G, 4A, 4 games)
Last summer, Bertuzzi was a so-called ‘has been’. Then Brian Burke signed him to a big, fat contract and it seems like the Ducks may be getting their money’s worth.

Ryan Getzlaf, Centre, Anaheim Ducks (1G, 7A, 4 games, 1GWG)
Getzlaf is one third of the Perry-Getzlaf-Bertuzzi line that has been absolutely nuts this week. Twenty-two points this week = amazing.

This line, Scott Niedermayer, and the potential return of Teemu Selanne means that the Ducks could seriously challenge the Red Wings in the West.

Alexander Semin, Left Wing, Washington Capitals (5G, 1A, 4 games, 1 GWG)
The ‘other Alex’ in Washington had a great week, including a three-point game against Ottawa. After injury problems kept him on the sidelines earlier this season, it looks like Semin is on a roll.

Kimmo Timonen, Defence, Philadelphia Flyers (2G, 5A, 3 games)
It’s not too often that a defenceman scores some major points in a week. Timonen had one of those weeks, including two 3-point nights for the Flyers. Let’s hope he’s a little tired by the time the 24th rolls around.

Ed Jovanovski, Defence, Phoenix Coyotes (1G, 5A, 4 games)
Look at that, another defenceman with a solid week on the scoresheet.

Shawn Matthias, Centre, Florida Panthers (2G, 0A, 2 games)
Matthias, the guy who set up Matt Halischuk for the OT game winner at the WJC, was called up to the Panthers lineup this week. He scored two goals in Saturday’s game against Washington. Too bad the Caps had to spoil it and win.

In any case, good on ya, kid.

The games that made you cheer. Or freak out. Or cry. Or all of the above.
Buffalo Sabres (10) Atlanta Thrashers (1) – Friday, January 18th, 2008
How do you end a 10-game losing streak?

By scoring 10 goals and humiliating the Thrashers in the process, of course.

The Sabres completely dominated this game, chasing both Atlanta goalies from the net. Drew Stafford and Derek Roy each scored hat tricks, and Stafford also picked up a couple of assists for his first five-point game.

So what’s a team to do after putting on such a show? How about losing 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on national television?

Columbus Blue Jackets (4) Phoenix Coyotes (3) – Thursday, January 17th, 2008
The game was tied late in the third, and Rick Nash took a dumb high sticking penalty. All looked lost for the Blue Jackets, but Nash came out of the box and promptly scored THE goal of the year.

Haven’t seen it yet? Take a look for yourself…

Nash has the ability to score some truly amazing goals. These are just a couple of them from the last 8 months.

Okay, that’s enough for the Rick Nash lovefest.

Edmonton Oilers (2) Calgary Flames (1) – Sunday, January 13th, 2008
The Oilers are at the bottom of the Northwest standings, and only the Kings have a worse record in the West. However, in last Sunday’s Battle of Alberta, the Oilers won their fourth straight game, a season high and something that hadn’t been done since November 2006. Unfortunately, Edmonton lost their next 3 games.

Injury Report
Daniel Alfredsson, Right Wing, Ottawa Senators – hip
It doesn’t appear to be a serious injury, but losing Alfie is not good for the Sens since Heatley is out with a dislocated shoulder. I hope that 2-0 loss to Tampa wasn’t a sign of things to come.

Paul Stastny, Centre, Colorado Avalanche – appendectomy
The Avs seem to be losing their best players to injury, with Sakic, Smyth and now Stastny out of the lineup. It was a bout of appendicitis that sent All-Star Stastny to the injured reserve list.

Michael Nylander, Centre, Washington Capitals – torn left rotator cuff
Nylander has been playing injured for quite some time and has decided to have season-ending surgery on his shoulder. With 11 goals and 37 points, I’m sure the Caps will have a hard time replacing Nylander.

Mark Bell, Left Wing, Toronto Maple Leafs – facial surgery
Bell fought Ryan Malone on January 3rd and left the game with a broken orbital bone. The winger decided this week to have surgery on this injury, and will be out approximately 8 weeks. He’s not a scoring winger by any means, but he’s one of those energy guys that Toronto needs.

Odds and Ends
Washington sweeps Ottawa
It seemed very unlikely. One would predict that the high-flying Senators would have won at least two of the four games against the Capitals, but it wasn’t meant to be. Ovechkin and Company decided to make a statement by sweeping the top team in the East.

Ramage sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Rob Ramage, the former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was sentenced to 4 years in prison this week for causing the death of former Blackhawk Keith Magnuson while driving under the influence of alcohol in late 2003. This is one of the toughest sentences in Ontario for a person who has never previously been charged with drunk driving.

The judge in the case decided that he needed to make an example of Ramage, despite the fact that Magnuson’s family did not want Ramage to serve time in jail.

Ramage is appealing the conviction and the sentencing and will be allowed to live in Missouri, where he lives with his wife and children, until a final decision is made.

CBC Sports’ Don Wittman dies
Don Wittman, the legendary broadcaster with CBC, died Saturday morning from cancer. He was the voice of Canadian sports for decades – hockey, curling, football, track and field, you name it.

Wittman was there at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He called Ben Johnson’s apparent win at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, and he called Donovan Bailey’s world record run at the Atlanta Games.

Wittman was inducted into the CBC Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month, and he bravely attended the luncheon despite feeling poorly. He was surrounded by countless peers, many of whom got started in the business under the tutelage of Wittman.

He will surely be missed.

The Week Ahead
All-Star Game and Skills Competition
Here’s the schedule.
Saturday, 6:30PM ET, Skills Competition
Sunday, 6PM ET, ASG.
CBC, RDS, Versus, NHL Radio.

Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild – Monday, January 21st, 10PM ET.
Get this for a division: in the Northwest, there are two points that separate first place and fourth place. Minnesota and Vancouver are second and third in the division, both with 55 points. A win in this game will give that team the lead in the division. What a playoff race this will be…

Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins – Thursday, January 24th, 7PM ET.
Okay, let’s be honest here. Fans of both teams have had this date circled on their calendars since the last time the teams played – a humiliating game that Pens fans everywhere would rather forget. It is time for redemption! A victory would be oh-so-sweet…