Oct 23, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette (50) carries the puck past Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Santa’s Nice List:
1. Antoine Vermette. I don’t know what Vermette puts in his Wheaties before shootout games, but the guy is 3 for 3 on his shootout attempts this season — a mind-blowing feat that even Wild captain Mikko Koivu hasn’t managed to achieve thus far. He recorded a goal in the game in addition to his shootout goal, so this center — whom I had suggested trading after his lackluster performance in Dallas on November 20th — belongs at the top of Santa’s nice list. He finished the game with a hearty +2, recording one goal and one assist on two shots, then rounding it all out with two hits.
2. Nino Niederreiter. The guy has been easily one of our most controversial hot topics here at Howlin’ Hockey, and he showed us why last night — not every player in the NHL is able to take a power play in the early minutes of the game and score, but El Nino did. Combine that with some high-powered skating all night, and this spunky winger deserves all his presents this year.
3. Devan Dubnyk. DOOOOOOOOBBBBIIIEEEEEE! (Seriously, I can’t calm down. Dubnyk fan club president, reporting for duty.)
I appreciate the way that Dubnyk has stood behind Mike Smith all season, but I also appreciate that he hasn’t let it affect his play — and he didn’t let a really bad start to the game against Boston let him down last night. He looked a little frustrated during the shootout, but the fact that he even got them to the shooutout in the first place puts him on Santa’s nice list — and the way he absolutely ROBBED Koivu on the second shot attempt was worthy of our praise.
Hopefully, Smith is going to start getting some support from his on-ice teammates, too … but for now, Dubyk deserves the start against the team that drafted him on Tuesday.
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