Issue 3 "Simulated Season"

Well it's that time of year again. Every year with about an average of 10 games left for each team I do a simulated season on the latest EA Sports NHL video game. A little about this years instalment in the EA NHL series.
For years I have been hoping that the game would be a little more like the Madden series that EA puts out for their NFL fans. This year we got a little taste of it. The Salary Cap is in place, you can create your own player (Which I use to update rosters. IE. Making Steve Mason for the Columbus Blue Jackets so I can get the rosters as close to real as possible) I do have some beef with the game though. For one, when you are playing in a game you can set your lines to auto, manual, or off. I play with my lines manual so I can play with all my fave players. Now what makes me angry is that the computer team which you are playing throws the same 5 guys out for all 60 minutes. WITHOUT getting tired... pretty unrealistic. Its tough to beat the likes of Detroit and Pittsburgh when your constantly having to change your lines due to fatigue and they keep their top line out there. But I digress.
Now for what you've been waiting for, the simulated season. I obviously had to control a team in this, but I never play a game nor do I stop simulation at any time to make adjustments. All results are from simulation, I do not have any part in this except for pushing simulate. I did however watch all the games of the Stanley Cup Final. I jotted down the standings, leaders in goals, assists... etc. Also each round of the playoffs, how many games each round was for each team, and finally the winners of the 14 Awards at the end of the season.
To start I check every team roster on the game, then on the team's website. Do the teams lines as close to real as I can and then I enter the season. I put computer trading off so that the rosters will be as they are now for the entire year. Regular season wins 2 points, OTL 1 point, 5 minute 4v4 OT followed by shootout. Just like the NHL. Playoffs saw 5v5 20 minute OT periods. The results of this simulated season throughout the regular season was pretty astounding. Most of the teams that are in playoff spots right now ended up with playoff births. Different positions than they are in now.
Eastern Conference
1- Pittsburgh Penguins 110 Pts
2- Washington Capitals 101 Pts
3- Boston Bruins 99 Pts
4- New York Rangers 100 Pts
5- Philadelphia Flyers 100 Pts
6- Florida Panthers 90 Pts
7- New Jersey Devils 89 Pts
8- Ottawa Senators 88 Pts

9- Montreal Canadiens 86 Pts
10- Carolina Hurricanes 86 Pts
11- Toronto Maple Leafs 86 Pts
12- Buffalo Sabres 84 Pts
13- Atlanta Thrashers 80 Pts
14- Tampa Bay Lightning 76 Pts
15- New York Islanders 70 Pts

Western Conference
1- Calgary Flames 105 Pts
2- Detroit Red Wings 103 Pts
3- San Jose Sharks 95 Pts
4- Chicago Blackhawks 95 Pts
5- Edmonton Oilers 95 Pts
6- Columbus Blue Jackets 93 Pts
7- St. Louis Blues 91 Pts
8- Vancouver Canucks 89 Pts

9- Anaheim Ducks 89 Pts
10-Dallas Stars 87 Pts
11- Minnesota Wild 83 Pts
12- Los Angeles Kings 82 Pts
13- Colorado Avalanche 77 Pts
14- Nashville Predators 72 Pts
15- Phoenix Coyotes 64 Pts

Goals:
WSH Alex Ovechkin 76
Assists:
OTT Jason Spezza 72
Points:
WSH Alex Ovechkin 128
PIMS:
OTT Chris Neil 288
GAA:
DET Chris Osgood 2.91
Wins:
PIT Marc-Andre Fleury 45
+/-:
CAL Jarome Iginla +55
CBJ Raffi Torres -38

East Quarters:
Pittsburgh 4
Ottawa 1
Pittsburgh In 5 Games
Washington 4
New Jersey Devils 2
Washington In 6 Games
Boston 4
Florida 2
Boston In 6 Games
New York Rangers 2
Philadelphia 4
Philadelphia In 6 Games

East Semi-Finals:
Pittsburgh 4
Philadelphia 2
Pittsburgh In 6 Games
Washington 4
Boston 3
Washington In 7 Games

East Final:
Pittsburgh 4
Washington 1
Pittsburgh In 5 Games


West Quarters:
Calgary 4
Vancouver 2
Calgary In 6 Games
Detroit 4
St. Louis 1
Detroit In 5 Games
San Jose 2
Columbus 4
Columbus In 6 Games
Chicago 3
Edmonton 4
Edmonton In 7 Games

West Semi-Finals:
Calgary 4
Columbus 2
Calgary In 6 Games
Detroit 2
Edmonton 4
Edmonton In 6 Games

West Final:
Calgary 3
Edmonton 4
Edmonton In 7 Games

Stanley Cup Final: (1e) Pittsburgh V. (5w) Edmonton

Game 1 Pit 1-0 *Malkin/Staal both with Hat-Tricks*
Pittsburgh 8
Edmonton 1

Game 2 Tied 1-1 *Gagner/O'Sullivan 4 points*
Pittsburgh 3
Edmonton 6

Game 3 Pit 2-1 *Gonchar 2 Goals*
Pittsburgh 4
Edmonton 2

Game 4 Pit 3-1 *Staal 7:32 into OT*
Pittsburgh 5 OT
Edmonton 4

Game 5 Pit 3-2 *Cogliano PP 18:55 into the second overtime*
Pittsburgh 4 2OT
Edmonton 5

Game 6 Tied 3-3 *Cogliano Hat-Trick*
Pittsburgh 2
Edmonton 3

Game 7 Pit 4-3 *3:34 into the third OT Jordan Staal*
Pittsburgh 3 3OT
Edmonton 2

Awards:
Stanley Cup - Pittsburgh Penguins
Presidents Trophy - Pittsburgh Penguins
Conn Smythe - Jordan Staal Pit
Art Ross - Alex Ovechkin Wsh
Hart Memorial - Alex Ovechkin Wsh
James Norris - Mike Green Wsh
Lady Byng - Jarome Iginla Cal
Calder - Kris Versteeg Chi
Vezina - Martin Brodeur Njd
William M. Jennings - Steve Mason Cbj
Bill Masterson - Ethan Moreau Edm
Frank J. Selke - Tim Connolly Buf
Lester B. Pearson - Alex Ovechkin Wsh
Maurice Richard - Alex Ovechkin Wsh

There you have it. The 2008-2009 simulated season.

Issue 2

GHL...I lost the final of my tournament league as I had said in my last post. So let me set the stage for my private league with friends and family members that I have which ended last night. Same layout, 38 games, 2 points for win, 1 point for OTL. I finished 3rd behind my friend Kody, Flaming Giraffes, and Smitty, Bits and Bites. First round went as this; Bits and Bites played Wookies, Flaming Giraffes played Pig Tails, Ruffriderz(my team) played Moosetracks, and Hit Faced played Power Rangers. The top 4 teams all won their first rounds, Giraffes were the only ones not to sweep. Semi finals had 1st place Bits and Bites against Hit Faced, and Flaming Giraffes against Ruffriderz. Both series were sweeps which landed me, Ruffriderz against the top team in the league Bits and Bites. Now all season long there were posts on the league forum about this unfair advantage Bits and Bites had. They had the luxury of having a goalie rated 30 points over any other goalie in the league. His goalie was rated 89. Many, including myself were posting calling this goalie a "steroid" as he let in 38 goals throughout the regular season. Yes, a goal a game. Hard to beat a team when their goalie lets in ONE goal a game. So for the Final I went up against Goliath. Game 1 I get beat 3-2. Game two I come back from being down 2-0 to winning 3-2 in overtime. Game three... no contest, I won 3-1. Tops among my friends!

So I went to the Saskatoon Blades playoffs opener last night. Game 1 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes... Got my Blades towel... Got my Beer... and sat down in my seat. Now the Credit Union Center will be holding the 2010 World Juniors... There will be additional seating put in during the summer to completely bowl the stands. But I say, instead of just working on the one end of the stands to add more seats(where there are no seats right now) Why not renovate the entire seating area in the building? You get a full row of ppl in those stands and you have virtually NO room. I swear I had lost my pucks once I sat down and had my legs crush them. Blades won pretty handely... Interesting though... The Blades goalie, Braden Holtby (I know his sister fairly well from curling) has been drafted by the Washington Capitals. There was a Capitals scout sitting right behind me. My friend and I had chatted with this fellow and he liked what he saw, despite the bickering among fans about Holtby's puck playing frequency. He figures if everything goes as it has been Holtby may very well be the goalie in Washington in 3 years.

Now for some NHL talk.
Is the Flame buring out? With the Canucks hot on the trail for division lead the Flames lose to the Blues in a minute. 2 goals under a minute actually. Can the Flames hold onto the division lead with the late surge of the Canucks it sure will make for an interesting race.
Brodeur to break ANOTHER record before the end of the regular season?!? Very much a possibility that Marty will become the all time shutout leader by the end of this year as he blanked the Wild last night. Now only 2 shutouts away from Sawchuks 103.
OVer the top? Oh no, oh my I seemed to have dropped my cup of coffee. Ouch! I cannot get my hands close to the mug b/c its very hot. But I'm going to keep attempting to get my hands on it even though my hands are going numb with this burning sensation. Ovi... what were you thinking!? Celebrations like that should only take place when Terrell Owens of the Buffalo Bills scores a Touchdown. Ya, we get it Ovi, you score alot, your stick is hot. IMO you made an ass of yourself by doing that. You LOVE scoring, you LOVE winning. For years I have told everyone I'd take you over Crosby in a draft any day. My answer is still the same, I pretty much hate the cry-baby Crosby, and I know you did it for the fans but come on Ovi. Show some class.
Surging Oilers looking to climb into sixth!? I WOULD LOVE to see a battle of Alberta in this years playoffs. With the way the Oil have been playing of late they could very well finish 5th or 6th. If the Flames can start winning again and finish 3rd then I cheer for the Oil to finish 6th. Although with the play of the Canucks of late the Flames may have their work cut out for them. Could you imagine though... Flames Vs. Oilers in the first round!? They finish off the season against eachother in a HOME and HOME. It could turn out to be 9 straight games against eachother...

Issue 1

Not sure if you have ever heard of the free online fantasy hockey league http://www.goodhockey.com/ where you can join a tournament league or a private league, or even make your own private league to do battle with your friends. My private league is currently in the semi-finals, where I am up 1-0 in my series, but thats not what I want to rant about. You pick a team of fictatious players with a salary cap of 35 million dollars. In the tournament league you start in tier 5, top 2 teams from that move up, while the bottom how many ever move down, except in tier 5 b/c thats the lowest tier. Anywho... 20 teams per league, 38 games, 2 points per win, 1 point per overtime loss, play everyone twice. I finished the regular season of this tournament league with a record of 38-0-0. Yes, I went undefeated, despite losing my top rated player for 11 games. Playoffs come around, they are best of 3 series, top 8 teams make it. I sweep the first round no problem. Second round comes along, close games, I lose 4 players to injury in that round but still manage to sweep it. So I am perfect so far, 42-0-0 all year long and I'm now in the finals. Whaddaya know, I get swept... not scoring a goal in the final round. I still got 5 million bucks and I get to move up to tier 4 but I'm so disappointed. To go undefeated all year and get swept in the Finals makes me wanna cry.

Thankfully to wipe away those tears caused by online hockey... the NHL has tremendous playoff races going on. The east... I honestly could care less about, the west will win the cup yet again. It makes it more interesting to me b/c my team is right in the middle of it all. Sitting in 7th as I type and looking to get Ethan Moreau back in the line-up tomorrow night against Atlanta. Too bad the Trade Deadline was a week ago... we could maybe have gotten depth defencemen or a pick for the depressing Dustin Penner. When will he learn... to play in the NHL you need to move your feet.

I laugh every time I hear that Derek Morris was the marque defencemen moved on the Deadline last wednesday. What has this guy done? Honestly. Besides the suspensions he has accumulated over the years. ... ... ... I can't think of anything. I came near to soiling myself the other day when I had read an interview done by him with some Ranger reporter. Morris says that he is happy to be with the Rangers and hopes that he can play alongside one of the many young defencemen the team has and teach him how to play in the NHL. I don't know about you but if I were an NHL defencemen I would LOVE to have Derek Morris as my mentor... ... ... HA! If I'm wanting to learn how to be a thorn in the locker room and a presence in the penalty and press box then ya O.K. Morris would be a good mentor. Please Mr. Morris, please leave the young hockey players alone so that we can get away from headshots in the game.