Racing to the Sin Bin (Dec 22)

The PIM pool is starting to get interesting, as Wes' team has yet to really chuck any knuckles after the Waiver Draft and really start to run away with it.  I wonder if that is redemption for his panned decision of dropping Jeff Carter for more minutes.  Have the poolie gods gotten the best of his team (again)?

Nothing says Christmas like a black eye under the bright lights of the last games before the break.  Derek Dorsett, the league PIM leader, will try and get Derek & Dan back into the race fully, as the Canucks are in Tampa to take on the Lightning.  Derek & Dan start the night in 5th place, 15 minutes behind 2nd place and 47 minutes behind 1st, so he's hoping for some sort of raging beast tonight in Tampa.  Hard to think it would happen, the Lightning are not sporting much in the way of goons on their end.

The pool's third duo will have both of their acquired goons going, as Chris Neil and the Senators are in Florida to take on the Panthers, but this appears to be another game where there isn't much for him to take on these days, as the Panthers' top PIM producer is Jussi Jokinen (Grant), with only 24 minutes in the sin bin.  Has there even been a rivalry to rekindle here?

This could be a good night for Jordin Tootoo and the Devils, which could finally make Wes happy he chose him in the Waiver Draft.  New Jersey is in Detroit tonight , but it isn't quite a divisional battle.  Still, the Red Wings have a few players that won't back down is something was to go awry, which has it's benefits.  I'm sure Derek & Dan would love to throw Justin Abdelkader out there to take care of some business, if necessary.

Brian's 2nd place team in the PIM pool has some real potential as well, with his top occupant of the box, Boston's Brad Marchand, is in St. Louis to take on the scrappy Blues.  Marchand has been getting under the skin of many these days and the Blues are running on some short fuses, as usual, which has the potential of some fireworks.

Last week's goon team belonged to Dale C., but his big minute guy played last night with nothing to show for it.  He does have a couple of Blues, which likely won't take exception to Marchand's antics, but they could defend themselves into some minor penalties.

Dale B. has a team that has been quietly doing a good job of staying with the group and his Waiver Draft pick-up of Antoine Roussel has worked out well for him thus far.  The Stars will host the Blackhawks before the break and that could be good for everyone involved.  Dale is only 4 minutes back of 2nd place and Roussel could find a dance partner, possibly in Andrew Shaw, giving Dale double minutes.