Beefs enjoying hot start to the season

by **mc_homer** Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:40 pm

GM Homer has been on a self imposed strict silence since the season began as the superstitious bugger didn't want to trip up the Beefs strong start to the season. He had also banned all press from reporting on the games.

However that ban has now been lifted as the Boston Shamrocks have ended the 6 game winning streak.

The Beefs (7-2-0) and the Baby Beefs (7-2-0) have both come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. For the big team, this is a welcome sight after the shambles that happened last season where the Beefs were the not so proud owners of the worst GA through the first 20 or so games. As if that wasn't bad enough, at one stage they had double the GA of anyone else in the league. Changes were made and the ship was steadied somewhat however it was too late to make the playoffs after a spirited push to overcome the odds.

Homer moved to reacquire former playoff MVP and former Beef Miikka Kiprusoff from the Iowa Chops to shore up the goalie depth and Kipper has put in some of his best performances jumping out to a 6-1-0 record with a league leading 2.25 GAA and a save percentage of .929 which is good for 2nd behind Caps goalie Neuvirth. To make matters even better for the Beefs Deslauriers has also been very solid in his 2 performances owning a 1.51 GAA and .954 sv% giving the Beefs a solid net presence which ever goalie gets the nod.

Another welcome surprise to start the season has been the improved play of 2nd line centre David Backes. With 5 goals and 8 assist for 13 points he leads the team in each one of these categories and also has a team high 35 hits making him easily the most rounded player on the roster.

Michael Vernace was called up to start the season with the Beefs for his rookie season and he has also impressed. Putting up 4 goals and 4 assists in 9 games he sits tied for the rookie lead in the entire league with Taylor Hall of the Giraffes. Now when you consider that Vernace's main job is to prevent goals this is made all the more impressive.

The Baby Beefs have been equally impressive to start the season as they look to go the extra step to winning the playoff trophy.

Moller has carried on his excellent play earning 6 goals and 9 points through the first 9 games. Ryan Nugent Hopkins, this years 1st overall draft pick, has put in some solid performances to date earning 5 points in 9 games. Carey Price has regained some form after struggling for the Beefs last season and has gone 7-1-0 with a GAA of 1.35 and a .935 sv%.

Coming up over the next few days the Beefs face 2 of their next 3 games against last seasons Queens cup winners the Iowa Chops. The Chops have had a torrid start to the season going 3-4-1 but with a team that includes guys like Crosby, Green, Kane and Sexton they can never be counted out. The Chops will be a dangerous opponent make no mistake.

Will the Beefs hot start continue? Will they make a return to the playoffs for just a 2nd time? Will the team now go on a losing skid causing GM Homer to top himself for allowing any kind of press coverage? Only time will tell.

by **BuffonIdol** Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:55 pm

mc_homer wrote:

Kipper has put in some of his best performances jumping out to a 6-1-0 record with a league leading 2.25 GAA and a save percentage of .929 which is good for 2nd behind Caps goalie Neuvirth.

Mr Bryzgalov, owner of a 1.33 GAA and .947 save % through 4 games would like a word... it is not his fault that his team hasn't played enough games for him to qualify in the rigged 'individual leader' rankings Razz