Sunday’s Standings in Points Blown
In our new Western Sub-Conference, we have ten teams fighting for 5 playoff spots. SJS and CHI have been expelled for being too good, EDM and CBJ for being too bad and COL is out for the moment because they’re the first seed in the NW. In other words, we’re only going to deal with the 4th through 8th seeds, but we’re calling them 1-5. Ten teams, five make it, five don’t.
Two points “awarded” for every loss, one point for every OTL/SOL. Lowest point total is best. Second number (+/-) is number of points (in my system) ahead or behind Los Angeles.
- Nashville 35 / +4
- Phoenix 37 / +2
- Vancouver 38 / +1
- Los Angeles 39 –
- Calgary 40 / -1
- Detroit 40 / -1
- Minnesota 45 / -6
- Dallas 45 / -6
- St. Louis 45 / -6
- Anaheim 47 / -8
Tie breaker is games-played, except that the winner of the tie breaker is the team who has played more games. If this seems counter-intuitive, consider this: A team with a 10-2 record is better than a team with a 2-2 record, who is, in turn better than a team that’s 0-2.
SchoolYourPool.com | Jonathan Bernier, for real this time
Finally, the NHL is almost ready to call upon Jonathan Bernier. For real this time and he’s ready.
The Kings drafted the 6-0, 185 lb goaltender 11th overall in 2006 and expected that he would be the man between the pipes for the Kings for many years to come. While fellow highly regarded prospects Carey Price and Steve Mason have made an impact in the NHL things haven’t gone quite as smoothly for Bernier.
2008-09 proved to be a learning experience for the goaltender who saw things come so easily for him as a junior goaltender with the QMJHL’s Lewiston MAINEiacs. Posting respectable numbers (2.40 GAA, .914 SV%) with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, Bernier was solid but unspectacular and also somewhat inconsistent.
But the goalie with the hybrid stand-up/butterfly style has certainly turned a corner in 2009-10. Bernier has been electric with the Monarchs this season, posting a 17-10-4 record, 2.05 GAA, and .938 SV%. He’s been a brick wall, stealing games and posting shutouts (he has 4 this year so far).
It is clear that Bernier is as close to NHL-ready as an AHL goalie can be. Unfortunately for him, while he was grooming himself in the minors for the past year and a half, Jonathan Quick has emerged as a legitimate tender in L.A., and Erik Ersberg is dependable in a role as backup. Quick is under contract for another 3 seasons, while Ersberg has 1 more year left on his deal.
Eventually the Kings will have to make room for Bernier. While Quick has been solid, he’s no Martin Brodeur, Ryan Miller, or Roberto Luongo. Bernier has that type of upside and so he brings the real possibility that he could improve the Kings team if given the chance.
If Jonathan Bernier keeps this up the Kings will have no choice but to make room for him on their NHL roster.
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