Rafalski named second star of the week

[j.hoop 64]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=402155

NEW YORK -- Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Rick Nash, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending Jan. 4.

FIRST STAR -- RICK NASH, LW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Nash led all NHL scorers for the week with nine points (two goals, seven assists), helping the Blue Jackets (18-17-4) post three wins in four road games. He recorded one goal and one assist in a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 29, notched one assist in a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 31 and posted a season-high four points (one goal, three assists) and a +4 rating in a 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Jan. 2. Nash finished the week by notching a pair of assists in a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues Jan. 3. The Blue Jackets captain leads the club in scoring with 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games.

SECOND STAR -- BRIAN RAFALSKI, D, DETROIT RED WINGS

Rafalski recorded six points (one goal, five assists), including five in Detroit's home-and-home sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks, as the Red Wings (26-7-5) went 3-0-0 and increased their Central Division lead to eight points. He recorded two assists in a 4-0 home victory over the Blackhawks Dec. 30, tallied a goal and two assists in the 6-4 win over Chicago in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day and posted one assist in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 3. Rafalski ranks third among NHL defensemen in scoring this season with 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 38 games.

THIRD STAR -- CAM WARD, G, CAROLINA HURRICANES

Ward posted a 3-0-0 record, 1.33 goals-against average and .944 save percentage, helping the Hurricanes (20-15-5) climb to seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. He made 20 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Dec. 31, stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues Jan. 2 and posted 17 saves in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 3. Ward improved his season record to 15-9-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout in 28 games.

doesnt really seem like he is sucking when you look at his stats. i believe he was brought here to be an offensive d-man, and besides some under par defensive play, is doing alright.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

His play was purely average at the quarter pole of the season but more recently he's taken off and is playing very well, a metamorphosis we can also tag the majority of the team with.

[BeeRYCE 2]

It's been like 2 months since people were criticizing Raffy... Things have changed.

[j.hoop 64]

It's been like 2 months since people were criticizing Raffy... Things have changed.

no has bitched about him since october? HA!

[BeeRYCE 2]

no has bitched about him since october? HA!

No, early to mid November actually.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

It's been like 2 months since people were criticizing Raffy... Things have changed.

Pretty much. Its kind of funny how some folks get the memos late, like the one a month or two ago when someone slammed the board for bitching about Sammy. Kind of funny.

At any rate, what people need to understand about this board is that the fans here are very smart and very analytic. When a player is doing poorly, he'll get flack for it. When a player plays well, hes praised. I'm sure Babcock does the same thing with the guys.

And for the record, yeah Raffi was crap for about the first 20-25 games or so, but in the last 10-15, hes really picked up his game defensively, which is what most people around here care about when it comes to defensemen.

[Chase 0]

Yep. Rafalski has been playing very well, especially of late. Our top d-man as of right now.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Wow, so people around here give someone crap when they aren't playing up to their potential? What the hell is wrong with the lot of us around here?

[Doggy 130]

Pretty much. Its kind of funny how some folks get the memos late, like the one a month or two ago when someone slammed the board for bitching about Sammy. Kind of funny.

If you're gonna be a smartass you should cover yourself so you don't look like a dick. There have been a few retarded posts recently trashing Rafalski that I know of. Note the dates, YG and BeeRYCE.

I'm not panicked about the Wings, but there is certainly reason for some concern in their play... there are some guys who have been total crap most of the year.

Our 4th line is horrible... Draper, Malts and Kopecky are awful. Rafalski has been horrible. What's wrong with Flip? Sammy... well, I just think the guy is overrated and a ******. No idea what to say about goaltending... serviceable at best.

That said, I will worry when we are one game from elimination in the playoffs (if/when that ever happens)...

Regular Season = tune up for the playoffs

Playoffs = only thing that matters

Rafalski needs to go. He is below average defenseman without Lidstrom. And he makes 6 million Without Rafalski there might be a chance to keep Hossa.

Our defense would be:

Lidstrom Stuart

Kronwall Lilja

Chelios Ericsson

Lebda Meech

Luckily, frootloops like these are in the minority and their dumb posts were counterpointed with commonsense.

[edicius 3,269]

His play was purely average at the quarter pole of the season but more recently he's taken off and is playing very well, a metamorphosis we can also tag the majority of the team with.

I'll concur that his play wasn't up to par before recently. And like you said, same with the rest of the team. Raffi's been playing much, much better lately.

Nice avatar, BTW.

[55fan 5,133]

To those who acknowledged that Raf wasn't playing up to par and commented on it: I agree. He certainly has picked up his game and, as some have said, the whole team had some improvement to do, and most have. It's good to see him getting the recognition. He has been playing well as of late.

To those who were panicking about his NTC because it meant that we couldn't ship him out at that moment, which meant the Wings were Doomed! Doomed, I say, Doomed! : I would like to take this opportunity to rub your nose in it. This does not apply to those who merely speculated that we might wish to trade him if he didn't come around.

In any event, it's always worthy of a celebration when a Wing is honoured. Let us rejoice. It's as good an excuse as any for a party. Congratulations, Raf.

[j.hoop 64]

To those who acknowledged that Raf wasn't playing up to par and commented on it: I agree. He certainly has picked up his game and, as some have said, the whole team had some improvement to do, and most have. It's good to see him getting the recognition. He has been playing well as of late.

To those who were panicking about his NTC because it meant that we couldn't ship him out at that moment, which meant the Wings were Doomed! Doomed, I say, Doomed! : I would like to take this opportunity to rub your nose in it. This does not apply to those who merely speculated that we might wish to trade him if he didn't come around.

In any event, it's always worthy of a celebration when a Wing is honoured. Let us rejoice. It's as good an excuse as any for a party. Congratulations, Raf.

that was my main purpose, to post the article showing him as second star, no to say "everyone here thinks rafalski sucks and heres proof he doesnt", i guess i should have wrote it out differently.