EA Sports NHL Season Simulation: Week 11

Here is the link to the article on the 11th week of the EA Sports’ NHL 13 Season Simulation. This week of the simulation included games scheduled from December 17 to December 23. The Anaheim Ducks entered this week with a record of 10-13-6, 26 points, and coming off a 2-0 week.

Dec 16, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Ducks had a busy week, continuing their road trip with stops in Long Island, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Chicago. On December 18, the Ducks got shutout by the New York Islanders by a score of 3-0. That’s what happens when the hottest goalie in the league, Evgeni Nabokov faces an offense that consists of one and a half lines. Two nights later the Ducks took a tough loss by blowing a 2-0 first period lead to the Lightning and losing in a shoot out. Nick Bonino and Corey Perry scored the first period goals. The Ducks then headed back up the coast for a night game against the Hurricanes and got shutout for the second time this week, 1-0. Jordan Stall of the Hurricanes scored the game winning goal in over time. The Ducks finished the back-to-back with a game against the Blackhawks and captured their lone win of the week. Saku Koivu scored for the Ducks in the first period and that would remain the lone goal in the game. Seems the Ducks’ hot streak finally came to an end with this 1-1-2 week. That brings their record to 11-14-8, 30 points. However, the Ducks did jump two more spots in the conference, into 11th in the conference, jumping the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues. The Ducks have the least amount of wins in the conference, but are tied for the league lead in overtime/shootout losses.

The offense, which was buzzing the last two weeks, finally ran out of steam this week. The Ducks only scored three goals in the four games. Only eight players registered points this week. Only one player registered more than one point, and it is not who you would think it would be. Forward Matt Beleskey registered two assists. Defenseman Cam Fowler added yet another assist to his already stellar offensive season, and Luca Sbisa also added an assist in a stellar season as well. The RPG Line registered points again this week when Corey Perry scored against Tampa, and Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan both got assists. While the offense was anemic this week, goaltender Jonas Hiller was phenomenal. Besides a rough start and then being injured, Hiller has been good enough to be ranked third in the NHL in GAA (1.91) and Save Percentage (.937). So, I’m only going to name two stars of the week, this week, and they are Jonas Hiller and Matt Beleskey. The leaders in goals for the Ducks remain Ryan and Niklas Hagman (10), Teemu Selanne (8) and Koivu/Perry (6). The leaders in assists for the Ducks also remain Fowler/Sbisa (12), Hagman/Perry (10) and Getzlaf/Ryan/Selanne (9). Also, the top three in points for the Ducks stay the same, Hagman (20), Ryan (19) and Selanne (17).

photos via NHL.com

The Ducks, once again, suffered no significant injuries this week.

Here are this week’s league-wide headlines:

Week Eleven (Dec.17-23) Headlines

• Vancouver Canucks now lead the NHL with 51 points.
• Washington Capitals jump the New York Islanders to take first place in the Eastern Conference; Ovechkin now leading the NHL in Points, as well as Goals.
• Los Angeles Kings overcome an extremely slow start, winning 5 of their last 6 games, to climb to 8^th place in the Western Conference.

Injury Report:

• Struggling Penguins lose Marc-Andre Fleury to upper body injury until mid-March; playoff hopes slipping
• NHL’s top goalie Evgeni Nabokov (9 SO, Best SV% – .941) out with herniated disc until late February
• Mikko Koivu out 2-3 months with MCL sprain
• P.K. Subban out 2 months with leg injury

Three Stars of the Week: Presented by Hockey Ultimate Team

1. Pekka Rinne NSH (4 W, 1 SO)
2. Zach Parise MIN (3 G, 2 A)
3. Alex Burrows VAN (3G, 2 A)

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