Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in sports –
Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Toronto Raptors, all curlers from Manitoba, and all Canadian athletes competing on the international stage.
I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula. I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned.
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets had a great week garnering five of six points and continue to baffle “the experts”. They improved their record to a solid 18-10-2.
2. Moose: The Manitoba Moose are plodding along at a .500 but help is along the way. The Winnipeg Jets are getting close to being healthy which means Michael Spacek (already reassigned), Andrew Shaw and Joona Luoto with be returning to the Moose. The Moose are currently 13-13-0-0.
3. Jets: Because the Jets are winning, I think something that is lost on most casual observers is that they are getting absolutely no scoring from their bottom-six forwards.
4. Jets: Is it just me or does it seem like the Jets miss the net an awful lot and more than most teams?
5. NHL: The officials – I have enough ammo to make this a regular feature.
If you watched the game on Sunday afternoon versus Anaheim you will remember the play in question.
Andrew Copp was in all alone on a clear cut breakaway and was hooked from behind without getting a shot on goal. It was a textbook example of what a penalty shot is but yet a minor penalty was given. Every person in the stands and every player on both benches knew it was a penalty shot except the officials. It was so obvious it was laughable.
If Dean Morton or Ian Walsh didn’t think this was a penalty shot then there should never be a penalty shot ever called again in Count Chocula’s beer league.
6. Jets: Yesterday the Jets got a much-needed goal from Adam Lowry, his second of the season and his first with a goalie in the net. I know the third line of Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, and Mathieu Perrault do a lot of good work that doesn’t show up on the scoresheet but it sure is nice to see that line kick in a goal now and then. (See #3)
7. NHL: Stop the presses. This just in. Frederik Andersen played in back-to-back games last week for the Leafs.
8. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch. Pretty quiet on the Buff front. No sightings so no “BUFFARAZZI” to report this week.
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9. Jets: Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik unless your Sarah Orlesky” Ehlers got into his third NHL scrap on Sunday afternoon. I don’t know why this surprises people as he played in the QMJHL and was exposed to fighting unlike a lot of the college boys on the Jets roster that crap their pants whenever there in a scrum. Yes, I took a shot at the college boys. Relax.
10. Pet Peeve: I don’t know if this classifies as a pet peeve but I have absolutely ZERO interest in anything that Justin Bourne has to say on Hockey Central. Justin who? Exactly. Please go away. Is this the best you could do SportsNet?
11. Jets: It is really painful at times watching Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine trying to get the puck out of their end when it is along the wall. I think it might be time to work on a different breakout strategy.
12. Jets: I hate Sunday afternoon home games. The Jets always look sleepy.
13. Jets: It took a little longer than normal but Josh Morrissey is starting to look a lot like Josh Morrissey. And that’s a good thing.
14. This week:
- Manitoba Moose – Dec. 11, 13, 15, 17
- Winnipeg Jets – Dec. 10, 12, 15
- Winnipeg Ice – Dec. 11, 13, 15
15. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 15-7-2 … 2.19 GAA … .934 SV%
- Laurent Brossoit: 3-3-0 … 3.65 GAA … .885 SV%
16. Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added. (as your minimum) I also base the movement (up or down) on the % and not the NHL ranking.
- PP: 27th at 15.40% down from 24th at 15.50%
- PK: 26th at 76.40% down from 23rd at 76.90%
- FO: 6th at 51.60% down from 5th at 51.70%
In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.
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Thanks, Mitch
Agree with #5 completely! #9 should also include coach Maurice.
Right … Maurice calls him Nikky sometimes doesn’t he?