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Written By: Mark ôThe Hard Hitterö RitterIf you thought things were bad in Leafland, just ask Vancouver Canucks fans how their season is going, and youÆll feel a whole lot better.Presently, the Canucks are sitting at 0-3 (which is killing my Red Hot PickÆs by the way!). Clearly, the Canucks and their fans expected much more from a team that is favored to contend for the Stanley Cup, this is ...
Toronto Through Two: Maple Leafs Look Terrible, Why All The Shock?
Posted: 5th October 2009 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark "The Hard Hitter" Ritter
So, through two games the Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked 26th overall in goals against per game. Where did the Leafs finish in that category in 2008-09? 27th...With that in mind, why all the hoop-la about the Leafs defense, or lack-thereof? Sure the Leafs did add defenseman Mike Komisarek to the mix, who coincidentally has spent about as much time in the penalty box ...
For What ItÆs Worth- RitterÆs Red Hot NHL PickÆsBy Mark: ôThe Hard Hitterö RitterSome people run away from the pressure, others step up and let their opinions be known. Me? I am the type of guy thatÆs likes a pressure cooker: I hide from nobody and I back down from no challenge.Clearly, NHL hockey is one of the toughest sports to predict. Fatigue, injuries, momentum, history, rivalry, and bad bounces ...
Ritter’s Rant: A Look Into the NHL and Early Thoughts
Posted: 4th October 2009 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark "The Hard Hitter" Ritter
Is it too early to be calling Joey MacDonald up from the Marlies? Ok, letÆs not go too far, Toskala, while unspectacular thus far, needs to work things out and heÆs not going to be able to do it sitting on the bench. Bottom line, the Leafs need to stick with Toskala, for better or for worse.Another option for the Leafs would be to ...
Montreal Canadiens’ Andrei Markov is Gone For Four Months; Now What?
Posted: 3rd October 2009 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark ôThe Hard Hitterö RitterFor Toronto Maple Leaf fans, the 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night left a bitter taste in their mouths. For Montreal Canadiens fans, the win came at a huge cost, mainly defenseman Andrei Markov.Markov, who is widely considered the Habs' best player, was clipped by the skate of Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, which led to Markov suffering a lacerated tendon in ...
By Mark: ôThe Hard Hitterö RitterSome people run away from the pressure, others step up and let their opinions be known. Me? I am the type of guy thatÆs likes a pressure cooker: I hide from nobody and I back down from no challenge.Clearly, NHL hockey is one of the toughest sports to predict. Fatigue, injuries, momentum, history, rivalry, and bad bounces can all contribute to a teamÆs collapse, but, ...
“Super Saturday” Is This Weekend: Did The NHL Miss Key Rivalries?
Posted: 2nd October 2009 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark "The Hard Hitter" Ritter
This Saturday, the NHL will continue the tradition of ôSuper Saturday," when all 30 NHL teams will be in action.ItÆs one thing to have all 30 teams in play, itÆs quite another to have the ôrightö match-ups. This Saturday the NHL will roll out the following match-ups:*Chicago vs. Floridaááá áááááááááááááá Vancouver vs. Colorado*Detroit vs. St. Louis ááá áááááááááááá Philadelphia vs. New JerseyPittsburgh vs. NY ...
Bad Moon Rising? Despite Distractions, Phoenix Coyote’s Ready To Attack the Ice?
Posted: 2nd October 2009 by Mark Ritter in NHL
Written By: Mark ôThe Hard Hitterö RitterFor the Phoenix CoyoteÆs players, staff, and fans, it has been a summer that theyÆd all rather forget. The bankruptcy proceedings took their toll, as did the departure of Wayne Gretzky, all and all, it has been a tough summer, one filled with more off-ice drama than actual hockey news.With the summer of discontent behind them, the Coyotes now turn their attention to what ...
Some people run away from the pressure, others step up and let their opinions be known. Me? I am the type of guy thatÆs likes a pressure cooker: I hide from nobody and I back down from no challenge.
Clearly, NHL hockey is one of the toughest sports to predict. Fatigue, injuries, momentum, history, rivalry, and bad bounces can all contribute to a teamÆs collapse, but, unlike some sports, there is ...
By Mark ôThe Hard Hitterö Ritter
Some people run away from the pressure, others step up and let their opinions be known. Me? I am the type of guy thatÆs likes a pressure cooker: I hide from nobody and I back down from no challenge.Clearly, NHL hockey is one of the toughest sports to predict. Fatigue, injuries, momentum, history, rivalry, and bad bounces can all contribute to a teamÆs collapse, but, ...