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PLUS/MINUS: Predictions, Pettersson, and the Best Goalie in the NHL

November 11, 2018, 12:56 PM ET [29 Comments]
James Tanner
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Back again, Plus Minus is to 31 Thoughts as the New York Times is to the National Enquirer.

PLUS: John Gibson. Best goalie in the NHL. If you look at the Ducks roster and their injuries, the fact that they're even close to .500 is amazing. The Ducks are 7-11 and he has still been the best in the league. Crazy!

PLUS: Elias Pettersson. Pettersson is lighting it up and proving to be one of the most exciting players in the NHL. I don't remember the last time I was watching Canucks games on purpose. I really do think he should go by Pete-erson though.

PLUS: I like to cherry pick my predictions and brag about the ones I got right. Did anyone see the Canadiens being good? I did!

Who predicted the Hawks would be in the basement? I did!

And who wrote this amazing paragraph?

The St Louis Blues will not live up to the hype because they refuse to understand that Jake Allen is the e-cig/vape of NHL goalies. No matter what people say, he's never going to be cool. He's basically the tan pants and Apple Watch of the NHL.

Jake Allen will never cost me another hockey pool because I will never draft his ass again. He is to the NHL what the guy who wears boat shoes while listening to Maroon 5 in his convertible is to me in my jean jacket driving my mom's Lasabre.

My prediction is that despite their roster they will miss the playoffs unless they get a goalie.


If you need to know anything else about the future, please dial the 900 number provided at the end of this blog and ask for Jim.

MINUS: Daily Fantasy Sports. I think I have to just admit that I suck at it and find a new hobby.



PLUS: Last Action Hero. This is a really underrated movie in the Arnie oeuvre and features probably the best example of a huge star making fun of what got him famous that I know about.

As far as one liners go, nothing will ever top Arnold saying, after a man has just been killed by an ice cream cone - "I iced that guy. To cone a phrase."

PLUS: Robyn. Huge fan.

PLUS: I probably wasn't the only one who thought the Canadiens did good in the Paccioretty trade, but as usual, I was right. Tatar is underrated and Paccioretty is done.

MINUS: George McPhee. Hated him in Washington, can't stand him in Las Vegas. Everyone's favorite GM of the moment is proving to have just been lucky. What is the deal with locking up average players to long term deals?

Yes I am bitter that they didn't even consider my application for the job, but McPhee just locked up Alex Tuch and Nate Schmidt to a combined 50 year billion dollar contract.

MINUS: The Leafs fighting with Nylander. Shut up and pay him, you've drafted, what, two better players than him in franchise history? Come on.

PLUS: You know I hate to make fun of people, but the guys who think Marner is worth 10 and that Nylander should sign for six are the best.

PLUS: The Islanders. People just never learn. Every year a team plays bad and gets results and every year when it gets pointed out people get mad and call you a troll. But you're always right.

MINUS: Antti Raanta is injured again. The Coyotes are finally off to a great start and then their best player goes down. Last year it was the end of their season, so hopefully they can do a bit better this time.

PLUS: Their is a new 8 CD box set documenting all the times REM played the BBC. Good times! One day REM will get their due they deserve and stand next to the Clash and the Talking Heads as the best bands of all time.

PLUS: The Coyotes penalty kill. They lost 4-0 last night, but did not allow a power-play goal. They have scored more short-handed goals than they have allowed power-play goals and are killing almost 92% of penalties.

They are also scoring short-handed at a better rate than some teams - including themselves - are scoring power-play goals.

MINUS: Pay of my credit card, pay off my car and then everyone has to go to the goddamneddentist. You ___ kidding me right now?

MINUS: Losing 4-0 and being shut-out despite controlling 60% of the game. Even adjusting for score effects, the Coyotes played a perfectly fine game. But with their best player injured and no high-scoring threat to counter Malkin/Crosby/Kessel, the result is in no way surprising.

On one hand, the coach is getting a lot out of his roster, but on the other, they can't score and at 5v5 their most used defenseman was Oesterle and their most used forward was Brad Richardson.

Dylan Strome continues to languish without much ice time, last night he skated for under 13 minutes. Considering he is, by far, their best chance to score goals, it would really make sense for the coach to play him more
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