NHL – Who runs the show?

These days, as it seems, it is all about that one very special player on the roster. Or is it really? Let’s have a look around NHL franchises as the league jumps into the second month of competing with and without the big names on the ice.

It might be too early to jump into conclusions, but the Caps are without Alexander the Great and it is time to see the real character of the team. Ovechkin has been the great entertainer for years now and the absolute driving force for the Washington team. He has posted league leading twenty three points in fourteen matches, posting at least a point in eleven. His absence is due to an unspecified injury, however should not be out for long. In the mean time, the opposition might take fine advantage of the Capitals, just like the Devils did in Wednesday’s 3-2 win. Despite being close throughout the most of the match, you could feel the absence of the creative spark, especially on the rushes and the power plays. Alexander Semin attempted to step up and lead the team, but failed in the overwhelming motivation recording three minor penalties. Surely Martin Brodeur was glad to face Ovechkin-free Caps, still making twenty five saves. Regardless of the length of the absence, Capitals got a good look at what this team can do without their main skater and will be looking to reunite as soon as possible before the team possible falls into no mans territory.

Over in Atlanta, the Thrashers seem to be handling their situation rather well. Ilya Kovalchuk is out with broken bone in the right foot since October 26th, with his return planned for the early December. Since his injury, Thrashers recorder a narrow 3-4 loss to Washington Capitals, but bounced back with two away wins in Ottawa and Montreal.
And here is that significant importance of the whole team stepping up while their big guns are out. Goalie Ondrej Pavelec did just that on Saturdays 3-1 win over the Senators, handling fifty shots with plenty of quality scoring chances. In addition to that, you could see the whole team battling for pucks, bodies thrown into shots, overall a team effort. And then you get guys like Rich Peverley step up their game, posting three points for a goal and two assists in the Tuesdays 5-4 OT win against Montreal Canadiens. It is the mental strength and the dedication of every player, every shift to battle without leading players, creating new leaders and heroes in the process.

Talking about the mental dedication of the team consider Wednesdays match between Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes, on a nine game loosing streak,
had to face Panthers without leader Eric Stall for the first time since his rookie season of 2003-04, ending a streak of 349 consecutive regular-season appearances. And they reacted just as the coach would imagine. Right from the start Carolina players showed huge determination to put an end to the terrifying start of the season, blasting twenty one shots on Tomas Vokoun’s net and holding Panthers to just four. However, it just wasn’t meant to be as the Czech goalie stood firm carrying Florida to a 3-0 win at the end. The mental factor can be seen in the Canes second and third period drop. Massively outscoring their opponent in the first, they managed just eleven shots in the remaining two, actually without Florida stepping their game much. It was that early determination to change things around, great game plan to step up even without the main persona but simply loosing it in the process.

And that is NHL at its best. Big names, firm leaders, arising heroes, team efforts and spirits. So who runs the show in the best Ice Hockey league in the world? There is no pattern, even though there will always be great players making the difference in the game, but it will come down to those huge team efforts and great characters to grab the trophies.

Article by Mike Moah