Crashing The Crease – Sept 19, 2013

Crashing The Crease is SenShot’s daily tour around the NHL bringing you some different stories and news.

Sep 18, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Jordan Eberle (14) scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

• The Sabres getting excited over a couple of playoff wins, and wondering if the club might have “turned a corner“, show exactly how far Buffalo has fallen.  Its ok to get excited about the progression of young players, but remember they are also playing against other team’s AHLers too.
• Two-time Flyer Simon Gagne isn’t happy with the way he was treated over the summer by the team. Just goes to show that loyalty isn’t a thing any more in pro sports.
• There is a lot of talk about the ESPN ranking of the top 100 forwards in the NHL. Who was snubbed, who is too high?  That could be debated forever, and a ranking is subjective.  But its food for though and a conversation starter.  Jason Spezza #33?  Talk amongst yourselves.
• After all the hype surrounding last year’s NHL draft, the pre-season top 15 rankings from TSN’s Bob McKenzie don’t exactly inspire awe or a tank for the first overall pick.  This could be one of those years where any of 10 players could go first overall.  Its early in the season, and last year Jonathan Drouin was nowhere near the top, so anything can happen over the next 8 months.
• He is typically a very slow starter, but in the microscope that is the Vancouver Canucks’ crease and questions about Team Canada’s goaltending in February, surely Roberto Luongo wanted to do better than a 4 goal first period in his season debut. Hey, he stopped all 6 shots he faced in the second, so maybe it was a bad 13 minutes.

Check back tomorrow for more news and notes from around the NHL.