The Fifth Liners

It's time to grade the NHL teams' overall performance for 2014-15. The grades range from A* to E-. Meanwhile in Toronto, this happened, three times in one game. THREE TIMES. You can throw a hat on the ice, that's cool. In Detroit it's tradition to throw an octopus, but throw a jersey in the Air Canada Centre and not only will you be ejected from the game, but the Maple Leafs will press charges.  Seriously, when fans are that unhappy with your performance that they'll throw away their $169.95 jersey in disgust, pressing charges is just plain wrong. Tip of the cap to the fans who demanded better, and got worse.   Disappointed sad face to the whole damn franchise. In 2014/15 the Maples Leafs were an insult to hockey and its fans. That's all I have to say about the Leafs. For 2014-15, the Toronto Maple Leafs score an E- . 

It's time to grade the NHL teams' overall performance for 2014-15. The grades range from A* to E-. Another tail of woe, this time from north of the border. There are two fundamental  rules in hockey: the first is 'don't try and fight Zdeno Chara', the second is 'score more goals than your opponents'. The Oilers average goals per game was a paltry 2.35, 24th worst in the league (or 24th best if you're an optimist). Meanwhile at the other end of the ice, the team conceded an average of 3.37 goals per game, officially the leakiest defense in the NHL. The goalie situation at Rexall Place is dire, in 2014-15 Ben Scrivens, Victor Fasth, Richard Bachman, Laurent Brossoit and Tyler Bunz all clocked up ice time for the Oilers in front of net. With the lack of consistency at the back, coupled with a defensive corps who couldn't manage a single positive +/-, it's a wonder the Oilers were able to finish higher than Arizona and Buffalo. There were a...

It's time to grade the NHL teams' overall performance for 2014-15. The grades range from A* to E-. The only award the Arizona Coyotes won this season is Most Home Losses. The team from the desert lost 25 at home in regulation. Coincidentally they also lost 25 on the road in regulation. Prize for consistency but nothing else. The only factor that saved the Coyotes from the ignominy of sitting bottom of the standings was the Buffalo Sabres being worse on the road. Wins against Los Angeles, Edmonton and Florida in October gave fans a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't to be. Dismal performances meant that the team wouldn't even be a contender for silverware. Defensive failings saw the team concede at least five goals in 18 games. An unsustainable performance by any standard. Tip of the cap to Keith Yandle for 37 assists in 63 games.  Disappointed sad face to Kyle Chipchura for his 82 penalty minutes.  For 2014-15, the Arizona Coyotes score an  E- . Must try h...

It's time to grade the NHL teams' overall performance for 2014-15. The grades range from A* to E-. The Buffalo Sabres are a team locked in perpetual rebuild. Like a child with a tub of Lego, the team continues to go through change after change both on the ice and in the front office. 2014-15 was no different as it was announced yesterday that former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was to take over at the First Niagara centre. The glory days, and I use that term lightly, of the late 90s are but a distant memory. 2014-15 started badly for the team who won only two of their 11 games in October. November and December fared slightly better, including a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.  January was horrific for the Sabres who won none of their 12 games who were now becoming the NHL's whipping boys. The heaviest defeat was at the Minnesota Wild who put seven past the Sabres for no reply. Bet that was an awkward journey back to Buffalo. The rest of the regular season...