Saturday Wrap-Up

By Zak Griffin

Antoine Dodson and a Ton of Overtime

He's climbing in yo' windows, he's snatching yo' people up. So y'all need to hide yo' kids, hide yo' wives and hide yo' husbands cause we... RECAPPIN' everything out here! That's right friend-o's, it is that time of the week again: The time where I go over the games that have already happened a few days earlier, but with my unique view on the game that you cannot find anywhere else. It's the Saturday Night Wrap-Up brought to you by your good friend's at The Neutral Zone Trap podcast/blog, where it's not just a trap... It's a neutral zone trap. So all jokes aside (yeah right!), we gonna do what we do best: look back at the night that was last saturday night and have some laughs while we're at it. And you can run and tell that, homeboy!

Pictured: Antoine Dodson as he appears today

Dallas Stars 5 vs. Philadelphia Flyers 1

In case you didn't know: I do NOT like afternoon games. In my lifetime, I have only gotten up to watch two Saturday afternoon games and one of those was because the Canucks were playing the Bruins... and I slept through the first half of the game! Point being, afternoon games are not typically the best hockey in the world in terms of back and forth action. On most days it seems as if the teams themselves don't even want to be there. They're groggy, grumpy that they have to be at the arena so early on a game day, but nobody ever listens to me. In terms of actual hockey, the game was highlighted by none other than Mr. Tyler Seguin scoring a natural hat trick in the second period to push the Stars past the up and down Flyers. Dan Ellis made 27 saves and Valeri Nichushkin had a goal and three assists... go Stars!

Montreal Canadiens 3 vs. Buffalo Sabres 2

Montreal may have been outshot in this one, but Carey Price put together another nice game to add to a resume that says, "Hey, I should be on Team Canada! Wassup!?" In fact, there were 11 games played this Saturday and of those 11 the team that was outshot went 6-4 (one game had an equal amount of shots for both goaltenders). In fact, as of last Tuesday, teams that outshot their opponents had only won 52.4% of the games played this season. What does this mean? It either means that this season has been defined by very, VERY lucky teams (we'll get to the Maple Leafs in a minute), or goaltenders are so good that teams have no problem just sitting back, clearing the shooting lanes and letting their goaltenders win games for them. Either way, I'm as baffled as the next guy. In this case, it was the strong play of Price that allowed the Canadiens to pick up their fifth win in a row as they continue their hot play of late. As for the Sabres... they're still the Sabres.

Boston Bruins 3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 2

It seems as if the Bruins have learned a thing or two from the Blackhawks, although they still have a ways to go before they are quite up to the same level of efficiency as the defending Cup champs. The Bruins, trailing the Penguins by one, scored two goals in the final 1:29 of regulation to steal one away. Tukka Rask made 28 saves in another game in which the winner was outshot! But this entertaining hockey game was mired by one player: Shawn Thornton. In case you haven't heard, during the first period, Thornton sucker-punched Brooks Orpik, forcing Orpik to leave the game on a stretcher. For more insight or to hear what we at The Neutral Zone Trap think about this incident, stay tuned for our next podcast, coming Tuesday.... shameless plug!!!

Toronto Maple Leafs 4 vs. Ottawa Senators (SO)

Speaking of teams that get outshot a lot and still win... ladies and gentlemen, the Toronto Maple Leafs!!! I won't go on about this one, because... well... I don't want to, but in their last eight games, the Maple Leafs have allowed 50 shots on goal three times... and won all three! This will not last... I hope.

Whoever made this wins!

Florida Panthers 2 vs. Detroit Red Wings 1

YES!! Finally!! The Wings and Panthers are in the same division! Just give it time, and I'm sure we will see these two teams become the biggest rivals in hockey! What? You don't think so? You'll see. As for the actual game, this was only the second time the Panthers have defeated the Red Wings at the Joe Louis arena in their last 12 attempts. A strong final two periods that saw the Panthers outshoot the Wings 28-14 got the job done, as the Wings now fall to 5-6-6 at home this season. Jimmy Hayes tied the game in the second, allowing Jonathan Huberdeau to play the hero, scoring early in the third period to get the Panthers the big W. Just wait, pretty soon tensions will start to boil and we'll see some good ol' fashion mean hockey coming out of Miami, mark my words.

Winnipeg Jets 2 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (OT)

Hello... My name is Al Montoya... You killed my father... Prepare to die!!! Okay, for the sake of legality, nobody on the Tampa Bay roster killed Montoya's family, nor does he intend to kill them (at least it seems...), but I still had to say it. This game, which eventually made its way to overtime, ended when Mark Scheifele decided to play hero, prompting this response from Jeremy Roenick:

Washington Capitals 5 vs. Nashville Predators 2

When coaches say they want their boys coming out of the gates early, and how they want to set the tone early to get their crowd involved, I'm sure that this is exactly what they have in mind. Three straight goals in the first period put the game out of reach early for the Preds, as they were never really able to close the gap that their lacklustre first period created. On a really happy note, Capitals D-Man Nate Schmidt scored his first ever career goal in the NHL! So I would like to allow Dr. John Zoidberg to extend my congratulations to him. Dr. Zoidberg?

Couldn't have said it better myself

New Jersey Devils 4 vs. New York Rangers 3 (OT)

Something is brewing in the New York, methinks. And to me, it smells like a goalie controversy. For the first time in three weeks, I have not gotten the chance to write about the miracle workings of Rangers back-up Cam Talbot in a Saturday Wrap-up. The last three weeks, Talbot has played each Saturday and has only allowed two goals during those three games, both of which were against the Canucks last weekend. So, what happens when the Rangers put in their go-to guy, the league's highest paid goaltender Henrik Lundqvist? They lose to... wait for it David Puddy... THE DEVIIIIIILLLLS!!! WE'RE THE DEVILS!!! But to be fair, that's what is likely to happen when you take a penalty in overtime, bad things usually will occur in that situation. That's not me talking, that's just good science.

Anaheim Ducks 5 vs. St. Louis Blues 2

To quote NHL.com, "What was supposed to be a clash of Western Conference giants was quickly squashed by the Anaheim Ducks... something, something, something... we're not as good as Zak!" You heard it here first folks! Anyways, Ryan Getzlaf (Ha!) potted his 16th of the year and added an assist on Corey Perry's 18th, to extend his point streak to 13 games and lead the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks to glory. For the Blues, this game was just their second regulation loss at home this year. Jaroslav Halak was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots in the first and Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen made 26 saves in another game where the winner was outshot! Do you see what I'm getting at here!? Do you get my drift?! Do you see? DO YOU SEE!?

Calgary Flames 2 vs. Edmonton Oilers 1 (OT)

Oh, what's that? Another game where the winning team was outshot? Hmm, fancy that, eh? And the winner for the "Who Cares?" game of the week goes to... the same match-up that it has been given to the last 10 years! Remember when games between the Flames and Oilers were entertaining. When they were two of the best teams that the division had to offer and would put on classic match-up after classic match-up every single Saturday night? I do, and it pains me every single time that CBC showcases the "Battle of Alberta" every other weekend. It's like beating a dead horse with another dead horse... yeah I said it!

Pictured: The "Battle of Alberta" as it appears today

Los Angeles Kings 3 vs. New York Islanders 0

Hockey Poem #7 by Zak Griffin

The Islanders fell,
It happens all the time.
I think, in fact, that number
In a row, is number nine.

You would think with names like Tavares,
Hunter and Vanek,
That a team could not possibly be
Even close to this pathetic.

So look out Buffalo
This team is falling fast
Your current lowly status
May not be built to last

Cause the Islanders it seems,
With the mighty Clutterbuck
It seems, for now, they have you beat
At teams that really suck!



Well that's about all I have in terms of funny jokes, pictures and poems, which means we are all done here at the Saturday Wrap-Up. From all of us (me) here at... well... my room, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to hearing all of your positive and inspiring feedback. So, until next time, don't forget to tip your fish, feed your waitress, and, as always, keep your stick on the ice kids.

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Zak Griffin is the NHL's Poet Laureate. Check him out on Twitter at @ZakGriffin13.