2011-12 NHL Preview - Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks came second in what was best division in the NHL last year. The Pacific division sent four out of its five teams to the playoffs, but only the Sharks made it out of the first round. The Ducks are poised to have another solid season and should be a factor in the 2011-12 playoffs.

Anaheim was one of only two teams to have three players in the top 15 in points last season, along with Vancouver. Maurice Richard trophy winner Corey Perry (50G, 48A), Teemuu Selanne (31G, 49A) and Ryan Getzlaf (19G, 57A) led the Ducks' offense and contributed to the team's 23.5% powerplay percentage, tied for second in the league. Anaheim would benefit from a more balanced offense, however, as the Ducks' only other forward inside the top 100 point scorers last season was Bobby Ryan (34G, 37A). Saku Koivu was their next-best forward who put up 45 points (136^th in the league).

2010-11 Maurice Richard Trophy winner Corey Perry

2011-12 NHL Preview - Northwest Division

Calgary Flames

The Flames finished second in the relatively weak Northwest division and tenth in the Western conference, 3 points out of a playoff spot. Calgary scored 250 goals last year which was fifth-best in the league, and has an elite goalie in Mikka Kiprusoff. However, expect this team with ageing stars to have a tough time fighting for a playoff spot.

Iginla will need some help if the Flames want to make the playoffs

Week 4 Pick'ems

Last week, Simon narrowed the gap with another 11-5 week, while Mike went 9-7. Mike now leads by just one game, 23-9 to 22-10. Here are our Week 4 picks.

Simon Daugulis		Mike Dow
CHI	CAR @ CHI	CHI
CIN	BUF @ CIN	BUF
TEN	TEN @ CLE	CLE
DET	DET @ DAL	DAL
HOU	PIT @ HOU	PIT
NO	NO @ JAC	NO
MIN	MIN @ KC	MIN
PHI	SF @ PHI	PHI
WAS	WAS @ STL	WAS
NYG	NYG @ ARI	NYG
ATL	ATL @ SEA	ATL
SD	MIA @ SD	SD
GB	DEN @ GB	GB
NE	NE @ OAK	NE
BAL	NYJ @ BAL	NYJ
TB	IND @ TB	TB

Week 4 Forecaster

A lot of attention this week is being given to two franchises experiencing an exciting—and well deserved—resurgence: The Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions. The fanbases of both of these teams have endured long enough, and while I could easily write a full article on these teams, it would just be paying lip-service to a hot topic which has been documented elsewhere. Instead, I'm going to focus on a team that had relatively high expectations, and have looked terrible thus far: the St. Louis Rams.

The NFC West stinks. We all know that, and yet some team still has to win the division and make the playoffs. For me, the smart money heading into the season was the Rams. Literally, I have a futures bet on them making the playoffs. With a young up-and-coming quarterback, an established run game, a new offensive co-ordinator of a reputable background, and an improving defense, what was not to like? Surely they could muster up 7 wins, and take the division... right?

Week 3 Pick'ems

After Week 2 Mike Dow already has a big three-game lead (14-2 to Simon's 11-5). Here are our Week 3 Pick'ems:

Simon Daugulis		Mike Dow
NO	HOU @ NO	NO
PHI	NYG @ PHI	PHI
CAR	JAC @ CAR	CAR
NE	NE @ BUF	NE
CLE	MIA @ CLE	MIA
CIN	SF @ CIN	CIN
TEN	DEN @ TEN	TEN
DET	DET @ MIN	DET
BAL	BAL @ STL	BAL
NYJ	NYJ @ OAK	NYJ
SD	KC @ SD	SD
ARI	ARI @ SEA	SEA
TB	ATL @ TB	ATL
GB	GB @ CHI	GB
PIT	PIT @ IND	PIT
DAL	WAS @ DAL	WAS

NHL 2011-12 Preview - Central Division

In anticipation of the upcoming NHL season, I will take a look at all thirty teams and try to determine their strengths, weaknesses and chances at making it to the postseason. The preview will be in six installments, one per division, starting in the Western conference. Enjoy! 

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks finished in 8^th place in the Western conference and 3^rd in the Central division last year, behind Detroit and Nashville. They had a solid showing against Vancouver in round one of the playoffs, coming back from three games down to force a game 7. Expect bigger things from Chicago this year.

Week 3 Forecaster

Texans DE/OLB Mario WIlliams

Of all the 2-0 teams, the Houston Texans have to be the most over-hyped. Sure, they will probably win their division. But keep in mind half of the AFC South (the Peyton-less Colts, and the Luke McCown led Jags) have looked like NCAA I-AA teams at times.

The Texans are 2-0 with wins at home against the above mentioned Colts, and on the road in Miami. While I suppose the old adage “you can only beat who's on your schedule” applies, these were two remarkably easy games, with the Colts severely struggling, and the Dolphins having lost 11 of their last 12 home games. Despite going up against two stalling offences, some pundits seem to have bought in. Clark Judge of cbssports.com suggests that you “gotta believe” in their D, while his colleague Pete Prisco has the Texans 4 in his power rankings, also noting the defense as a strength.

Justin Verlander: Most Valuable Pitcher

Recently, on Bill Simmons' BS Report podcast, former Red Sox player Kevin Millar aired his belief that the MVP award should go to an everyday player. Millar's thinking was that pitchers already have the Cy Young Award, which should be enough.

In reality though, the award should go to the best player, the player most valuable to his team. As we head towards the playoffs, there is almost no doubt that the AL MVP is Justin Verlander.

Quick Hits: Sept.19th

I've seen a lot throughout my years as an NFL fan: a quarterback as mediocre as Trent Dilfer win a Superbowl; an unstoppable, undefeated team lose a Superbowl to a wildcard team; a man shoot himself in the leg and go to prison, only to return to the league. But one thing I'd never imagine, is a team one year removed from winning a division title stoop to worst record in the league. The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs, though, may just do that.

HC Vitkovice @ HC Plzen 1929

Yesterday, I experienced a surprising introduction to the world of Czech professional hockey. For starters, I didn't even know there was a game going on until two hours before puck-drop. My only clue was the mob of rowdy fans that got off our train which took us from Prague to Plzen yesterday afternoon. This was a pleasant surprise, and I just had to find out more. 

NFL Week 2 Questions

Thousands of NFL fans are affected by a terrible condition, which flares up every single week. Of course, I'm talking about the lack of NFL Sunday Ticket. The inability to choose which game to watch can cause some terrible side-effects, like being forced to watch a Browns game, or catching the score of your team's matchup only through game breaks. With these poor souls in mind, The Redshirt Freshmen present intriguing storylines of the week, with the hope that this life-affecting condition can soon be alleviated for fans around the world.

KC @ DET: Are the Lions really a playoff contender? Can the Chiefs, one year removed from a division title, really be that bad?

OAK @ BUF: Really? One of these teams will be 2-0 to start the season?

NFL Week 2 Pick'ems

Every week of the NFL season, we'll be picking winners for all the games. As we missed Week 1, here's our first edition of Pick'ems.

     Simon Daugulis                                            Mike Dow

RAIDERS	OAK @ BUF	BILLS
LIONS	KC @ DET	LIONS
RAVENS	BAL @ TEN	RAVENS
COLTS	CLE @ IND	BROWNS
VIKINGS	TB @ MIN	BUCCANEERS
SAINTS	CHI @ NO	SAINTS
JETS	JAC @ NYJ	JETS

Quick Hits: Sept. 17

(Editor's Note: As a diehard Yankees fan, this pains me to write)

If it's possible for a single game to be pivotal in a 162 game season, last night's Boston Red Sox 3-2 win fit the bill. In the midst of a dismal stretch, and with the Tampa Rays right on their heels, the BoSox got their ace, Josh Beckett, back from injury to provide the spark they needed. Beckett pitched a gritty 6 innings, throwing 7 strikeouts, and for the first time in what seems like months—and to the dismay of Red Sox haters across the universe—the bullpen actually held up.

Week 2 Forecaster

Rant of the Week:

Admit it: you knew it was coming. As the 4^th quarter of last Sunday night's game wound down, you knew Tony Romo would do something so unthinkably un-clutch, it couldn't really have come as a surprise. It was almost like watching the hot girl wander out into the woods in a horror movie, calling “who's out there?”. You knew how it would end.

A couple of classic Romo turnovers later, and all of a sudden a sure win for America's Team turned into a fourth quarter collapse. Did the Jets win that game? Not really. I mean, its tough for any Jets fan to come away from that game feeling amazing about their team. Rather, the Boys found a way to lose. Between the aforementioned turnovers, and Dez Bryant's sudden inability to run, they barely stood a chance, even with a late lead. You might even say, they pulled a Romo.