9 games in...

With 9 games played of the new 606HL season, the Milton Keynes Giraffes find themselves in a familiar position. Languished just below the playoff places in 6th, the MKG started strongly with a 6-1-1 record to raise hopes that this year may be different. A 3 game losing streak has dropped the Giraffes out of playoff contention, and behind key adversaries The Ant Hill Mob, Colombia Steves and the Scarabs. Penalty were a big problem in recent years, and while in part that has been addressed with an average of 7 and a half minutes shorthanded (good for 3rd in the league), the woeful penalty kill rate of 74.3% will need to be improved to stand any chance of playing hockey beyond the regular season. The powerplay, usually so powerful with Semin, Carter and Zherdev, has dropped to last in the league with a dismal 7.3%. No players stand in the top tens of any discipline, unheard of for such talents as Alex Semin and 2 time top scorer Jeff Carter. Improvement is a must, beginning tonight against the Good Doctors Suprise of Lovestinks.

Down on the farm, a quite different story is being told. While expectations were not high for this current crop of youngsters, the Machine sits 3rd in conference and 5th overall. The young Russians have been performing well, but the standout performers so far have been Al Montoya in the pipes, despite being backup to Thomas Greiss, and Jeff Fairweather, who sits in the top tens for both points for centres and hits. Fairweather was pencilled to maybe make the top team, but a poor training camp and good play of Michael Frolik limited his chance, however down at Moscow he is turning into the consummate 2 way centre.

Todays tip of the day: Hall to score first vs DLMS (14/1 @ Longtallbet.com)