OTHL - - The pre-season is not the regular season, but it dosen't prevent some teams to strike fear in there division rivals or around the league. The Phoenix Coyotes have started with a bang, winning twice against the San Jose Sharks. Last night the Coyotes crushed the Sharks on away ice, Phoenix won 8-2 after an impressive display of offense from the entire team. Markus Näslund, Matthew Barnaby scored two each while Bryan Berard (who was a Shark for a few weeks), Alexei Zhamnov, Ladislav Nagy and Michael Nylander scored one each.
The Bruins have also put ut an impressive start to the pre-season. Boston is the team with most goals scored so far, they have scored 12 in 3 games. The Bruins lead by defender Sergei Gonchar (6 points) and Joe Thornton (4 points) is looking like they could challange for the top spot in the east this season. Along with Tampa Bay and New Jersey. Two other teams that have started the pre-season on a high-note.
When it comes to players that has impressed so far, then we must start with the Thrashers duo Ilja Kovalchuk and Dany Healtey. Kovalchuk leads the entire league with his 7 points, all goals. Healtey is right there though as he also have 7 points, but in the form of 1 goal and 6 assists.
"The duo of Kovalchuk and Healtey is down right scary. If the Thrashers decides to play them together, then teams around the league will have a big problem on there hands when Atlanta comes to town." - A anonymus scout said.
In the goaltending deparment it looks like Martin Brodeur wants to become the first Vezina winner in the OTHL. The newly signed goalie has started the pre-season with 2 wins and just 1 goal against in the 2 games played.
Will the regular season feature the same top teams and players. Nobody knows, but it sure looks like we will have a very interesting season on our hands in the OTHL.