Donuts cruise past Crusaders, Day 142

Another intra division game, this time Copenhagen which should be a problem. But 3 games on 3 days takes its toll in injuries but this game Straka and Boucher still nurses some minor ailments.

# TEAM PER TIME PLAYER GOAL# ASSISTS

-- ---- --- -----  ---------------  --------------------------------
1-0  WIS  1  03:15  Lehtinen   24   (Jovanovski, S.Niedermayer)  SHG
2-0  WIS  1  11:34  Gomez      22   (Rolston, Jagr)              EST
3-0  WIS  1  12:46  Stumpel    21   (Doan, Zubov)                EST
3-1  COP  1  14:30  Vrbata     23   (Kopitar, Frolov)            EST
3-2  COP  2  09:55  Olesz       6   (Kelly)                      EST
4-2  WIS  2  18:43  Ladd        3   (Zubov, Sharp)               EST
4-3  COP  3  12:15  Eaves       6   (Kelly, Erskine)             EST
5-3  WIS  3  19:47  Langkow    32   (S.Niedermayer, Sharp)       EST/EN

Game notes:

• Donuts scored first and early and was never behind, good!
• Jagr, now scoreless in last 12!
• Not 5-50-§50 but 5-45-114.
• Rolston 9 SOGs while Jagr did 4.
  

First star: Sharp, 2A, 9-4 in FO and 2-0 in passing in 10 min play.
Second star: Ladd, 1G, GWG in 15 min play.
Third star: Rolston, 1A, 9 SOGs, 3-1 in corners and 13-1 in passing.

Next game against a sagging Denver on away ice. It could ice Denver for second spot in conference it could let Demver and Hawaii pass Donuts. Important show off. Straka will be back in line up but not Boucher.

Killer Donuts kills Killers, Day 139

A intra divisional game with a Division title to claim if Donuts win. No easy game but odds where in Donuts favor.

We have often criticized Donuts for not scoring first this time they did after a minute play. The Donuts had the lead most of the game but it wasn't until 3:rd period the game was in hand.

   # TEAM PER  TIME  PLAYER        GOAL#  ASSISTS
-- ---- --- -----  ------------- -----  --------------------------------
1-0  WIS  1  01:10  Rolston         40   (Stumpel, Jovanovski)     EST
1-1  KRL  1  06:12  Semin           50   (Marleau, Pominville)     EST
2-1  WIS  1  09:34  Lehtinen        23   (S.Niedermayer, Jovanovski)SHG
3-1  WIS  3  02:12  Gomez           21   (Ladd)                    EST
4-1  WIS  3  09:06  Ladd             2                             PPG

Game notes:
* Rolstons 40:th tied for teamlead with Straka, who was the first ever 40 goal scorer for Donuts.
* This was the 10:th straight game without Jagr scoring. Talk about a slump, he was battling for the team scoring title before the bottom went out. He has 5 SOGs this game, maybe a comeback sign.
* Not a 5-50-150 game but at least a 4-37-109. Killers actually out passed and out hit Donuts.

First star: Lehtinen, 1G, SHG, GWG
Second star: Ladd, 1G 1A, in 8 min play.
Third star: Mason, 22 saves on 23 shots.

In two days Portland away and then Copenhagen home then rest before an important game against Denver. Straka a strained foot and will rest a few days.

Crusaders crushed by Donuts, Day 123

      # TEAM PER  TIME  PLAYER        GOAL#
   -- ---- --- -----  ------------- -----
1-0   1  WIS  1  00:05  Straka          36 
2-0   2  WIS  1  16:01  Lehtinen        21 
3-0   3  WIS  2  00:58  Ladd             1  
4-0   4  WIS  2  09:48  P.Boucher       18   PPG
5-0   5  WIS  2  11:51  Rolston         31
5-1   6  COP  2  19:05  M.Richards      11 
5-2   7  COP  3  03:20  Frolov          33   PPG
6-2   8  WIS  3  03:27  Zubov           12 
6-3   9  COP  3  04:28  Kopitar         12 
6-4  10  COP  3  05:39  Malhotra         5 
7-4  11  WIS  3  06:22  Sharp           11 
8-4  12  WIS  3  12:02  Rolston         32   SHG
9-4  13  WIS  3  14:20  Straka          37 
10-4 14  WIS  3  14:42  Stumpel         19

Game notes:
* Donut out shoot Copenhagen 52-33.
* Thibault injured and Raycroft faced 11 shots and let in 3.
* 5-0 lead after half of the game.
* Straka pulled away from Jagr in scoring champ 37-33. Rolston on 32.
* 4:th straight first star for Rolston!

First star: Rolston, 2G 2A, GWG, SHG, 7 SOGs, +4 on the night and 4-1 in corners.
Second star: Boucher, 1G, 1A, PPG, 7 SOGs, +3 on the night and 15-2 in passing.
Third Star: Niedermayer, 1A, +5 on the night.

NHL trade dealine effects on Donuts

Here are the trades involving Donut players:

Brandon Bochenski to Nashville
Brandon has been a commodity lately and going from club to club. Has done well scoring in minors while doing best in Boston with 11 goals in 30 games. Otherwise been used as spare and not getting into the grove. He has had some defensive short comings if he can score and mend the defense he should develop into a top 6. In Nashville Sullivan and Radulov has LW and Bonk is doing time there now. Brandon could be tested as 2:nd liner, hopefully maybe get some tricks in his bag from Bonk as well. At 25 he has to start establish himself or be out. I think he can and should take the chance.

Jan Hlavac to Nashville
Another LW to Nashville a pretty cheap cover for Brandon above if he doesn't work out. Nashville gave up a 7:th rounder for Jan and on contract only this season. Can evaluate and resign if needed. 9 goals so far if he gets up to 15 he could have some value. But Brandon and Jan are surely looking for the same places to play, that is a negative.

David Leneveau to Rangers
Part of the Montoya deal. David has been labeled a starter for Phoenix but not lived up to it. Phoenix get their starter and Rangers a back up with potential maybe. This was probably the key to the deal, in my mind I wonder if Rangers got enough value. Will anyone in the group be of use or would it have been better going for a impact player instead of a band of players.

Andrew Ladd to Chicago
I think Ladd has big potential, remeber big power forwards need time to develop their game. He is only 22 and will get good playing time in Chicago. Ladd has scored 9 goals so far and that will have to be increased for sure. Potentially he could be a hard hitting and scoring winger in the mold of captain Doan on Donuts. I did some waiting on Sharp (picked up in FA draft late rounds) and Chicago has made him bloom. Chicago is a young team that will get better and better and if Ladd could follow onto that he will be great in 2-3 years. I think this is a good move for him.

Alexandre Picard (D) to Tampa Bay
A day before the deadline but I'll include it. Picard made a decent season in Philly last year. Some even call him one of the better defensemen. He hasn't got the chance this year but will probably get some playing time in Tampa so this could work out well.

Summary
There it is 3 wingers (all LW, although Brandon can do both at least offensively), a defenseman and a goalie. For Brandon and Andrew it can work out as good deals. Brandon is more in a rush to show his value of the two. Jan was brought in as a safe guard to Brandon, if it doesn't work out. Hopefully they both will get playing time though. It was not a career move for Hlavac more a sign from Tampa that they aren't interested in continuing with him. Alexandre hopefully get a chance and can prove his value. David is now officially a back up goalie, I guess with potential to be a starter but has to start showing it. Well, stats wise it ain't all bad in Rangers once they get their scoring going and the defense is better than Phoenix. So it could work out well even though it was a decrease in value.