Trudging Towards the Predator, Challenge and Omnivore

Well, once again its a 4-GM RACE for the Predator.

The Shadow looks at the teams and the competition and if Crosby is back for the last 2 weeks, the Kipper gets Calgary into the post-season, and Carcillo doesn't get benched for his massive, undiscplined PIMs, the Highlanders will probably pick up both the Omnivore [repeat] and then BECOME repeat PREDATOR champions again. However, Pronger's suspension may slow him down...or those +/- gambles...


Then they are the Bladerunners, hoping to lock up game 1 of the Challenge Cup [after qualifying on the last week and then barely eliminating the aforementioned Highlanders, 2-1]. They are still the team to beat, but they're offence has gone soft [except for the inspired call of Gagner]. They need their fps iggie pop and the new pit hossa to score or else...of course where's the defence.

The Wolves are spirall,ing, yet have constructed a team only 3 pts back entering the weekend. They probably have the best shot at a 3rd Omnivore and maybe even their 1st Predator! They go well as Montreal goes...plus having Brodeur does not hurt.

The Severed Heads have injuries at centre that will slow them down but having control [for now] of the Pens offence doesn't hurt...Malkin, Gonchar and stability on the wings at D and esp. at goal [which he ironically admonishes himself] is saving him.

Week 26 and 27 will be exciting at the top.

Outliers the Shadowmen will attempt to hang onto 5th and the Omnivore, though despite the fact they have won this award back to back, they have placed 2nd 6 times and perhaps 7th again as both the Highlanders and Wolves have much stronger teams...

Unless there is a miracle The Knights Templar will be awarded their 2nd Herbivore. 4 other teams have this sad distinction including the Severed Heads...

FP Ovechkin hit 60 goals with 8 games to go. 1st since Jagr's 62 and Mario's 69 in 1996! The Gm of the Edge is now within striking distance of 7th place...

Now what will the Great Whites do with Lundqvist fp and Price p1. Trade the fp for a forward or defence fp?

Hart Trophy ?

1. Ovechkin
2. Malkin
3. Brodeur
4. Nabakov
5. Kovalev

Comments...Ideas?

Second Coach to Fall by the Shadowmen

Coach Pantomime finally was fired, beheaded after the Shadowmen's weak week in game 2 of the Challenge cup semi-finals versus the now-seemingly all-powerful Bladerunners, determined to humilate the Shadowmen fans in the Mausoleum.

Pantomime's head has discarded and sent to the Severed Heads collection of fallen Shadow-coaches. Probably more telling was the fact that the team was bleeding points, the Wolves passed them into 4th and crossed the 800 mark before the Shadowmen.

The Shadowmen were drunk with the relish of victory after the 17th shooter gave victory in game 1. The jubliant team was unprepared for game 2. Pantomime had clearly lost the room and was drinking Absolut Smirmoff, a gift from the departed Trotzky when beheaded.

A weekend of sobriety and goal-scoring would help restore confidence before a new coach is named with Monday's lineup for week 24...

"Ties" for the Challenge Cup

Perhaps we should add ties or rather OTLs to the Challenge Cup contests

eg 1A tie only occurs with a mathmatical tie between to teams at the end of one week of play, each team receives 1 point each.
eg 2An OT is declared when there is a 3 point difference between two teams and a Win to the mathematical winner, for 2 points and the other team gets an OTL receives 1 point.

This would have the FUNHL and NHL have similar models.

That would be a Rule Proposal for the Challenge Cup.