Points Race

[Captain Chaos]

Since we have the "Playoff Push" I thought I'd make a "Points Race" thread.

With a monster 4 point night Ovechkin moves to within 6 points of Geno.

106 points   Evgeni Malkin, PIT

100 points   Alexander Ovechkin, WSH

 96 points    Sidney Crosby, PIT

 89 points   Pavel Datsyuk, DET

 89 points   Zach Parise, NJ

[whitmer_87]

God, I'd love to see Sid explode today and have a 4 or 5 point game.

I think today's game is going to be very defensive and very conservative though. Much like the Philadelphia game last week.

[pensodyssey]

Parise has to be the most underrated player in the league.  You never hear about this guy.

[Captain Chaos]

107 points   Evgeni Malkin, PIT

100 points   Alexander Ovechkin, WSH

 97 points    Sidney Crosby, PIT

 89 points   Pavel Datsyuk, DET

 89 points   Zach Parise, NJ

Sid is just one goal away from 30 for the year.

[Captain Chaos]

108 points   Evgeni Malkin, PIT

101 points   Alexander Ovechkin, WSH

 99 points    Sidney Crosby, PIT

 91 points   Pavel Datsyuk, DET

 89 points   Zach Parise, NJ

Sid nets his 30th last night, now only one point awawy from 100. Parise for MVP? Get the fuck outa here! If his name wasn't on the lineup sheet, I wouldn't have known he played last night.

[Captain Chaos]

108 points   Evgeni Malkin, PIT

106 points   Alexander Ovechkin, WSH

 99 points    Sidney Crosby, PIT

 96 points    Pavel Datsyuk, DET

 93 points    Zach Parise, NJ

Unless Malkin picks it up, Ovechkin is going to leave him in the dust. Is Geno running out of gas again? He sure isn't getting any help from linemate Sykora who has been invisible for the last month or so. Datsyuk is breathing down Sid neck as well.

[Merman1983]

Is Geno running out of gas again?

I'd say it has more to do with his linemates. I like Sykora, but he has been invisible for a month. And if he's not scoring goals he pretty much useless. Also, Cooke has been on his other wing at times, and while I like Cooke as a 3rd liner, he can't even bury one in an empty net.

Unless Geno beats Ovechkin by a decent number or points, Ovechkin gets the MVP. Which is bullshit, since Geno leads the league in takeaways as well.

[PghSteel-43]

I'm with you Merman, I think a good bit of it has to do with his Malkin's linemates and the other big reason is our lack of production on the PP.  Ovechkin get's a ton of his points on the PP.  Malkin is not getting those points right now.  Sykora can't buy a goal and I'm with you completely when it comes to Cooke.  When he was on the Gronk-TK line, he was better suited. 

While we were able to fix the first line with Guerin/Koondog, we are now lacking production from the second line.  IMO, when you have one of the league's most notorious instigators on your second line and playing with one the best players in the game, you know there are problems on that LW.  Out of pure desperation, I'm starting to wonder if we will end up seeing Satan or Pesonen back up here before all is said and done.

[Captain Chaos]

As far as the power play, everyone from Paul Steigerwald to Mark Madden to Bob Errey to Jay Caufield has mentioned that Sid and Geno are playing in the wrong positions on the pp. I can't believe Bylsma doesn't see it. Unless it's a case of Sid wanting to play the half wall and Bylsma giving in to his wishes above common sense. I can't see Sid being that selfish but I also can't think of any other reason not to switch those two. They need to shoot the puck and Geno shoots the puck. Sid always looks to pass first.

[Captain Chaos]

110 points   Evgeni Malkin, PIT

108 points   Alexander Ovechkin, WSH

101 points   Sidney Crosby, PIT

 97 points    Pavel Datsyuk, DET

 93 points    Zach Parise, NJ

The good news; Geno adds 2 assists last night. The bad news; Ovechkin keeps pace with 2 of his own. Both have just 2 games remaining.