Ok so 4 rounds completed and in the books, that’s 16 games played by each team and one more round of games to complete our 20 game pre season before the money games begin.

Early tilt between the Bruins and the Islanders.  2 key Bruin forwards missing for this big game and it showed.  Opening frame was close as Islanders get the only goal.  The 2nd frame saw the Islanders score 3 unanswered goals for a solid 4 nil lead after 2.  Final period saw 2 more Islander goals for a final 6-0 win.  First shut out of the season for the ageless, re built, Bobby Ide.  Islanders went 1-2 on the PP and Bruins were 0-3.  Islander goals, 2 from Riddell and 2 from McKean, singles from Connell and Coffin (say that fast 3 times).  Players of the Game obviously Islanders backstop Bobby Ide, getting a shut out in our league is huge on the WOW factor.  Flumerfelt gets it for the Bruins and he never visited Brenda on this night, nice!!!!

Late match between the Flyers and the Oilers.  Only 8 Flyers available for this game as a small rash seemed to spread amongst most of the injured reserve boys from the previous week, who’s soap did they all use????   3 Islanders then dressed for them.  Oilers get the only goal in the opening period.  Flyers out score the Oilers 3-2 in the 2nd to tie up the match at 3’s.  Flyers take the lead early in the 3rd and then 10 minutes of scoreless frantic hockey at both ends of the pond.  Oilers tie it up at 2:44 on a power play and then win this game at 1:25.  Great game, I think.  Flyers got singles from Mihalic, Carlisle, McCormick and Messenger whose wife is asking what she can do with the big jackpot of $30 Rob won on the weekend.  Oilers goals all singles, Brideau, Nelson, Ree, Freeman and Atchison getting the late game winner and carried off the ice on Oilers shoulders.  Oilers went 1-1 on the PP and Flyers were 0-1.  Players of the Game went to Flyers Jimmy Martin and Oilers Rob Leenaars, ahhh the beauty and the beast!!!

So a quicky recap of our first 4 rounds of play.  Flyers and Islanders tied for top seed and looking to get March break off with 21 points each.  Oilers in 3rd spot with 16 followed by the Bruins with 13 and the schlepps Habs with 9.  With 8 points available for each team the Habs best finish can be 3rd.  All other 4 teams can all finish 1st.  Every team has beaten each other so far, except Bruins have a tie with the Islanders and 3 losses.  Islanders have scored the most goals with 90, Flyers have the least against with 63 and Habs are last in goals for 73 and most in goals against with 110.  Habs also lead the league in penalty minutes with 64 the other 4 squads are all basically the same around 44.  Bruins and Flyers lead the league in power play success and the Oilers have the best penalty killing success.  Flyers are a best +20 in even strength goals and Islanders are best with a +5 in special team goals, they also lead the league with 6 short handed goals, might be a record I think.

On the individual front Islanders Rob McKean, playing on a fun line all season, leads the league with 30 goals and 19 assists and 49 points.  With 4 games left he looks like he will break our single season goals and points record that has been held since 2000-2001.  Record is 36 goals and 58 points, he can smell it.  Scottie McCallum and Bobby Ide are fighting it out for the Vezina trophy that goes to the best goals against average.  Scottie is at 3.94 and Bobby is at 4.25.  Now not to upset Scottie but Bobby is like 50 years older than you and he had eye surgery, hip surgery and I think had his tubes tied as well this fall you better win or we will let you have it bad.  Oilers Chamberlain leads all rookie scorers and next best Habs Desrosiers is a million miles north somewhere for a month.  Flumerfelt and Diluzio are tied for 3 game winning goals each and are also both in contention for the Johnny Sparrow crown in leading the league in penalty minutes, ahh just one misconduct from running away with it.  Can Tony Thomas go 2 years in a row not winning the penalty minute crown??????  Dr Joel May is tops with 3 power play goals, you just can’t catch the dentist.  So lots of fun still left in our last round of games and remember boys its a fun league, keep your sticks on the ice and be respectful of each other and keep the pops consumption to after the game not before.

This week kicks off our final round with the Islanders playing the Habs at 9:15 and Flyers play the Bruins at 10:30, Oilers get the week off.  Games scheduled for February 12 our LOVERS Special.  If you are getting a penalty bring Brenda a rose.

See you all on the ice Boys!