SMC 1/7/2018 COFFEE BRUIN! Back from the holiday break with coffee a-brewin’! You know what else is brewing?  More like percolating; the Boston Bruins!  Don’t say we didn’t warn you a few weeks back. Hard to believe that Patrice Bergeron only scored his second career hat-trick on Saturday.  He means so much to that team. The big, bad Bruins really pasted Carolina goaltending on Saturday. Jake Allen doesn’t fare well against Philadelphia. An o-3-0 record with a 3.45 GAA and a save percentage of .890.  Geez coach, let someone else start against the Flyers for Pete’s sake. Edmonton had a dog day afternoon against Dallas on Saturday giving up 3 first period goals and losing 5-1.  Tampa Bay did the same thing.  Came back to tie the game with three unanswered goals then gave up three to the Ottawa Senators to waste their comeback effort. Colorado is starting to score goals in bunches lately as they beat Minny 7-2 on Saturday and 6-1 last Sunday versus NY Islanders in their 5 game win streak.  Not as bad as last year, but how could they be. Tampa Bay goalie Andrej Vasilevskiy had some stretch the past few games until he met up against Ottawa.  2 shutouts and a 2-1 shootout loss against Montreal before that lopsided loss to the Senators. Vancouver almost beat Toronto with most of their stars missing from the lineup.  The Canucks have been playing spirited hockey this season but are a few years away still. I am going to say that Las Vegas is for real now.  There!  Now they can go on an extended losing streak since I jinxed them. The Golden Knights are tough to play against with all that speed and tenacity.  I have a few players on my fantasy teams. I said this last time I think but the NY Rangers have a good shot at the Cup this year because it looks like it’s anyone’s game. The Rangers need to start scoring a little more than 1 or 2 goals a game though.  They last scored more than 2 goals in a game 7 games ago.  But thanks to G Henrik Lundqvist they got 7 points in last 6 games. Now it’s Anaheim’s turn to start putting together a long winning streak or winning stretch with all their players back in the lineup.  I’m thinking the same thing for Minnesota.  So, if it’s too late to grab some Bruins, go Duck hunting or go Wild! I’m just thinking that Los Angeles could be so much better once Jeff Carter returns from his freak skate injury. Is Dallas Stars offense starting to heat up? They scored 4 or more goals in a game in 6 out of last 8 games. This week is going to be a rough one for some fantasy teams with lots of teams getting their break.  Lots of teams with just 1 or 2 games for the week. Look out for the Nashville Predators now that Ryan Ellis is back in the lineup.  He already has a goal and an assist in 3 games back. Welcome back to the scorer’s club Mr. MacKinnon.  We have been waiting for your return. You just have to love this Brock Boeser fella on Vancouver.  22 goals already. Was at the Winter Classic last week as it was practically in my backyard.  Froze my butt off and ended up at McFadden’s pub downstairs where I got the pleasure of meeting Boo Nieves’ sister before she and her friend headed up to the luxury suite to meet up with family and friends. Such a pleasant person.  Had fun chatting with them.  And the Rangers won to boot! I can’t believe Buffalo is this bad.  Will Phil Housley last the season? Happy New Year to all and hope all your fantasies come true in 2018!