We recompose ourselves after a loss to Latvia and then a less than inspiring win over Germany at the World Junior Championships.  What does the classic New Year's Eve game vs the USA have in store? We're concerned. We review some interesting stats from the calendar year 2024 and then give our thoughts on some novel ideas to improve the game.  As always we have Guess the 5th and Connections!    Listen Here:  Apple Podcasts   Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player - Ryan Whitney - 481 GP

News 

Dallas practice on boxing day - big no no. - $100,000 fine 

Latvia beats Canada!

Spengler Cup - seems like fun

Derek Lalonde out in Detroit, MacLellan in - 4th coaching change

Crosby passes Lemieux for Assists with Penguins at 1034

Avalanche sign Blackwood for 5 years, $26.25MM

Kaprizov hurt - 

Winter Classic - Chicago vs St. Louis -   

St. Louis has been in 2 of last 4 - why?

16 Winter Classics, only 2 Canadian teams

Teams that have never played. 

• Edmonton Oilers
• Calgary Flames
• Vancouver Canucks
• Winnipeg Jets
• Ottawa Senators
• Florida Panthers
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• New Jersey Devils
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• New York Islanders
• Colorado Avalanche
• Los Angeles Kings
• Anaheim Ducks

• San Jose Sharks

Guess the 5th 

Going Streakin’

CHI 4L, NYR, SJS 3L - Rangers in 8th in Metro - 2-8-0 in last 10, 7 pts out of playoffs, with 5 teams ahead

VGK 6W, COL 4W, BUF 3W

NHL Stats for 2024 - see guide

27 3+ goal comeback wins

EDM 16 game winning streak 

AZ move to Utah

Ovechkin - 25 goals to Gretzky  - RS+PO - Gretzky 1016, Ovi 942 (-74) 

82 game average goals - both at 49 

Combined PO + Reg including WHA 

Howe 1071G + 1518 =2589 

Gretzky 1072G + 2297=3369 

GP 

Gretzky - 1695 + 93 = 1788

Howe - 1924 + 497 = 2421  (633 more) 

Crosby - 600G, 1000A, 1600 PT, 1300 GP 19th PPG regular season - matching Gretzky record 

McDavid 900 / 1000PT 

Matthews - 69 G - highest since Lemieux in 95-96 

McDavid and Kucherov - 4t, 5th players to get 100A in a season

Most KM Skated - McDavid - 605km  (378mi)

Connections 

John Gee, Nora and Paul Stewart, David Huyben all gave answers. 

Ideas to Improve Hockey / NHL

Vary rink sizes  - length from 210’ - 190’  - Boston Arena, before 1924 was 220 x 90 but in 1924 was 200 x 80 feet when Bruins moved in. 

Width from 80-95 wide - 

Boston garden was 191 x 84

Chicago Stadium was 185 x 85 

Buffalo - 196 x 85 

 

Player benches across, centred so no “long change” 

 

1934-40 - Penalty shot circle - 20’ Diameter 38’ from goal line 

1943 - Red Line added - to speed up game and reduce offside

 

Penalty shot for defensive zone stick infractions - hooking, tripping, slashing, cross check inside the house. Shoot from circle, puck live if a rebound. Players line up behind circles. 

 

No crosschecks - none

Eliminate standing with puck behind net to reset - defensive team must move puck - can be side to side or backward, but can not stand still waiting for line changes 

Presentation - more conversations with players when prepping - similar to F1  - not scripted - just have reporter walking around, talking to equipment managers, maybe get a quick chat with a player if they happen to be standing around. 

Stats done by reg+po

 

Ask for listener ideas - and rationale

Crazy Stat

DOPeS