The NHL Thread
For the 5 of us who post NHL stuff, here you go. Officially the season starts Tuesday October 11, although there were tw
That Oilers goal to put them up 3-2 over the Ducks was a thing of beauty
Edit: Now they're playing with their food
Former Pittsburgh Penguins star Jaromir Jagr loved to bet parlays.
“But he always lost, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. He’d bet them in bulk, dozens of them at a time. He never bet hockey, but everything else, mostly baseball,” he wrote.
When Manteris was asked to raise Jagr’s limits, he refused.
“Jagr was so bad at sports betting, we actually felt guilty, and had to put the brakes on him,” he wrote. “I didn’t do that a lot, but I did for Jagr.”
Now you know why he's going to play hockey forever
NO GOAL
GOAL!😃
Going to be lot's o goals I think
This road trip will determine the Leafs playoff hopes which are slim
Though I think they have $30,000 in cap room to buy a few players 😀
The buzz about Stolarz was that when he was ready they wanted to send him down for a conditioning stint before starting him and he refused. That told me everything about this team
Not sure Burube survives
I clearly don't watch much hockey these says as it seems like forever since Stolarz was on the Flyers.
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huh, 15 games today. didn't even realize. is that everyone?
most incredible thing might be that the lolcanucks had the only shutout today. their first since i don't even know when
unrelated: lol laffs
what else happened?
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And one game today.
Carolina wearing the Hartford Jerseys looked sharp
At least the Leafs are consistent
huh, 15 games today. didn't even realize. is that everyone?
most incredible thing might be that the lolcanucks had the only shutout today. their first since i don't even know when
unrelated: lol laffs
what else happened?
Habs dummied Avs.
Dobes #1 but Caufield 6 game goal streak ended even though they put up 7.
Wings somehow salvaged a point down 3-1 with under 2 mins left.
Panthers lost in regulation at 19:51.
Oilers came back from down 3-0 in the 3rd.
Good day of ice puck.
Hurricanes came from down two w less than 2 min in third to win in regulation, that’s just a Mammoth collapse.
Nyquist, a guy who has been riding the pine, but a nearly point-per-game player looks really good on the first line.
A win!
Well that was crazy!
Olé Olé Olé
Dobes 8-0-1 in L9 and only allowed 2G vs. 5.5xG against Buffalo. Dare I say the Habs finally have their #1?
Caufield 3rd in goals scored in the league.
Wish the Atlantic wasn't so damn tough though. You have to keep winning just to keep pace. 5 of the 10 teams in the league with >60% pts are in the Atlantic. 1 division doesn't even have 1 team over this threshold (::cough::Pacific::cough:😀
Habs are leading the league with 13% shots, which isn't sustainable so they'll need to start playing a little better and/or get more consistent goaltending.
Analysis: Samford Bulldogs @ Western Carolina Catamounts (Sunday, Feb 1) – Total Points Pick (Over/Under 154.5)
A critical Southern Conference (SoCon) rematch arrives with both teams at divergent psychological crossroads and clear defensive vulnerabilities. The Samford Bulldogs (10-12, 3-6 SoCon), reeling from a heartbreaking 78-73 loss at Furman, desperately need a road win to reignite their faltering conference campaign. The Western Carolina Catamounts (8-12, 4-5 SoCon), soaring after a monumental 90-88 road upset over first-place East Tennessee State, seek to validate that victory and climb into the SoCon's upper echelon. This matchup isn't just about standings; it's a battle between an elite offensive weapon and a resilient, high-variance attack, played on a floor where defense has been optional. The over/under line of 154.5 points is a direct challenge to the core identities of both squads.
Deep Dive: Tactical Styles, Personnel, and the Rematch Dynamic
Samford Bulldogs: The Star-Driven Engine with a Leaky Hull
Offensive Identity: The offense flows through and finishes with Jadin Booth (20.8 PPG, 41.6% 3PT), a bona fide SoCon Player of the Year candidate capable of 30-point explosions. He is complemented by the interior efficiency of Dylan Faulkner (17.3 PPG, 63.1% FG, 7.5 RPG), creating a potent inside-outside duality. Point guard Keaton Norris (4.7 APG) is the orchestrator, adept at finding both in their spots.
Defensive Frailty: For all its offensive firepower, Samford's defense is a persistent issue. They struggle to contain dribble penetration, lack consistent rim protection outside of Faulkner's 1.6 BPG, and are vulnerable to giving up offensive rebounds (36.2 DRPG). Their defensive effort can wane, especially on the road, leading to debilitating scoring runs by opponents.
Psychological State & Recent Form: Coming off a tough loss where they surrendered a second-half lead at Furman, the Bulldogs are fragile. However, they won the first meeting against WCU 82-77, giving them a tactical blueprint and confidence. Their season is on the brink, which could elicit a supreme offensive effort or compound defensive lapses.
Western Carolina Catamounts: The Volatile, Opportunistic Storm
Offensive Identity: Don't be fooled by the lack of a single dominant scorer. WCU wins through collective toughness, pace, and relentless rebounding. They are led by Cord Stansberry (13.9 PPG) and Marcus Kell (13.4 PPG), but the engine is Julien Soumaoro (11.9 PPG, 37.2% 3PT) and the interior duo of Samuel Dada (7.2 RPG, 73.4% FG) and Abdulai Fanta Kabba (6.7 RPG). Their +3.7 rebounding margin is a direct ticket to extra possessions and higher game totals.
Psychological State & Recent Form: Riding the high of a program-defining road win at ETSU, WCU will be confident and energetic in front of their home crowd. The revenge factor for the earlier 5-point loss to Samford adds fuel. Their style is inherently chaotic, which naturally leads to higher-possession, higher-scoring games.
Game Flow & Multifaceted X-Factors
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The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:
v i c t o r y p i c k s . e u
And today, something truly special...
Dobes 8-0-1 in L9 and only allowed 2G vs. 5.5xG against Buffalo. Dare I say the Habs finally have their #1? Caufield 3rd in goals scored in the league. Wish the Atlantic wasn't so damn tough though. You have to keep winning just to keep pace. 5 of the 10 teams in the league with >60% pts are in the Atlantic. 1 division doesn't even have 1 team over this threshold (::co
We also have a very low wins in regulation number. Lowest in Atlantic aside from lol leafs
Analysis: Nicholls State Colonels @ Northwestern State Demons (Monday, Feb 2) / Odds: Both Teams -110
The Stakes: A Southland Revenge Spot
A conference rematch with teams on opposite trajectories. Nicholls State (9-13, 8-5 Southland) sits in the upper half of the standings and won the first head-to-head meeting 74-72 on Jan 6. Northwestern State (6-15, 4-8) is mired near the bottom, having lost four straight and 8 of their last 10. For the Demons, this is a chance for revenge at home. For the Colonels, it's an opportunity to sweep the season series and stabilize after recent stumbles.
Deep Dive: Team Styles & Current Form
Nicholls State Colonels:
Biggest Strength: Balanced Scoring & Experience. They have three reliable double-digit scorers: Jaylen Searles (14.4 PPG), Jalik Dunkley (13.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG), and Sincere Malone (11.1 PPG). They are a veteran group that has learned to win close conference games.
Fatal Flaw: Defensive Lapses & Inefficiency. Their defense is among the worst in the country (308th). They struggle to get consistent stops. Offensively, they shoot a poor 43.2% from the field, often relying on second-chance points (Dunkley) to score.
Current Form/Identity: INCONSISTENT BUT BATTLE-TESTED. They own quality Southland wins but are prone to bad losses. They are a physical team that wants to attack the paint and rebound, but their guard play and shooting can be erratic.
Northwestern State Demons:
Biggest Strength: Star Scorer & Home Comfort. Micah Thomas (17.1 PPG) is a dynamic guard capable of taking over a game, as shown by his 29 points in the first meeting. The team plays with significantly more competence at home (5-3 vs. 1-12 on the road).
Fatal Flaw: Lack of Support & Collapsing in Clutch. Beyond Thomas, scoring is inconsistent. They have a severe inability to close games, as evidenced by their 4-game losing streak featuring several tight losses (by 2, 2, and 2 points). Mental toughness is a major question.
Current Form/Identity: FREE-FALLING AND FRAGILE. A team that competes but has forgotten how to win. They rely heavily on Thomas and forward Willie Williams (9.1 PPG, 8.0 RPG) but lack the depth or late-game execution to finish.
⚔️Game Flow & Key Matchups
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The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:
And today, something truly special... free NHL fix with a 100% win guarantee for everyone!
