USA Advances!

by Anne

For the first time since 2004, Team USA advances past the quarterfinals!!

Hooray!

I was doing my awesome Anne Happy Dance which I wish I could demonstrate on here so you could all do it. It involves a lot of hip shaking and and "raising the roof" style arm movements accompanied by a few well timed "aw yeah"s for good measure.

So I'm in my kitchen happy dancing away, scaring the cat and I have the following thought: "Woo! Semifinals! So who do we have to pl- oh. Damn." We have to play Russia. Friggin' A. Well it was nice to make it to the Semis.

During the game, Kyle Okposo missed on a wraparound attempt that he probably should've been able to stuff in and in the replay we were inadvertently treated to a super slo-mo version of Kyle saying "Eff me." It was pretty nice.

YO. What the hell. I'm looking for pictures while I'm typing this and the gallery is five pages long. Normally its three. Maybe its because it was Finland's final game? Whatevs.

Unlike the other games, I actually got to watch this one. Universalsports.com has a really nice high-quality streaming video of the games (its free). I thoroughly enjoy watching my team rather than just looking at a continually refreshing boxscore.

Because I was actually watching with my own to eyes, I got to see the Sabres fans in attendance:

They were moving way too much and so this picture quality is not so great.


Gerbe-Derby getting international love!

The game was definitely a seesaw. The first period was all Finland as the USA took a slew of penalties and played a lot of the 2nd half of the period short-handed. Finland fired 20 shots on Robert Esche in the first frame but Esche stood tall in net and kept his team in it. The Finns didn't solve Robbie until the first minute of the second at the end of a penalty that had been taken in the last minute of the first.

It looked like the Finns were ready to build on their lead until they took a penalty. Finally, Team USA got their heads together and managed to turn the game in their favor. The Finns took the next five penalties and even though they only scored on one of them, the rest of the game was all USA. All five goals were scored in the 2nd period and the USA won 3-2, mostly thanks to the play of Robert Esche.

Even the announcers were like "He's been in RUSSIA for the last two years. Can you BELIEVE it?" I mean he's not the greatest goaltender in the world but I think he'd be a good back-up. HINT. HINT. He's only 31. I'm not sayin'... I'm just sayin'.

Being in the Semifinals means if the USA wins (which they won't) they will play for Gold/Silver. If they lose, they will play for Bronze. Either way, they have a shot at a medal for the first time in many years. I honestly didn't expect this team to do better than last year's team but I was wrong, obviously.

Now for some photography:

Nick Foligno pushes Senator teammate Jarkko Ruutu to the ice
I like that Foligno kid, he's a good egg.
Too bad he's a Senator.
But HA, Ruutu


Dustin Brown scored the USA's first goal on a 5 on 3 after some beautifully crisp passing from his teammates
Hainsey shot it from the blue line, cross-ice to Suter just above the dot, to Brownie who was, well where he is in the picture.
It would seem this is a good way to score on Pekka Rinne, so TJ Oshie did the same thing on a 3-on-1 rush a bit later:


Nice.


Never fear, Little Foot's intense eyebrows showed up for the game


Let's discuss a few things.
1. How tiny is Jason Blake?
2. How tall are those boards?
3. Was Antti Miettinen hit by a sniper?
4. Why is he using his Minnesota Wild gloves? Is he just that particular? Would team Finland not foot the bill?
5. Could Team USA look less impressed by this game? Little Foot looks about ready to nod off, Nick Foligno looks like he's yawning and Joe Pavelski... well, he always looks like that.

Team USA takes on Russia Friday at 10:15 am EST.

Weekend O' Pictures

by Anne

I worked about a gajillion hours this weekend so I was a negligent blogger. Here now is a recap in pictures:

NHL:

Sighs.The Canucks lost a bad one to the Blackhawks. They blew a two goal lead and dropped Game 2 by a score of 6-3. Ouch. That one stung. I wasn't watching too closely as I was working and/or at a bar in which the game was on a TV that was very far away and there was no sound. Le sigh. The series is tied 1-1. On the bright side, this was the first loss of the post-season for the Canucks, and no one thought that this series would be a sweep.

Also, we tragically learned that Big Bear has a neck beard:

I think I can get over it.
I think.
Just keep playing physically and I can get over it.
Maybe score a goal.

IIHF Worlds:

Team USA played Russia on Saturday and lost 4-1. Boooo. And Staffy cut his face in the game against France, it would seem (some of the pics from the game against France did not load when I wanted them to the other night):

Ouch.
But NOT a neckbeard.

But don't worry, Staffy and his uber-intense excited eyebrows were still available for Saturday's yicky loss to Russia:

Please don't grow a mustache Drew, those are gross.
Much like that game.

Team USA next faces Switzerland this afternoon at 2:15 ET. Woooo!

Team Austria has done quite well in the Relegation Round. They beat Hungary 6-0 on Friday and Sunday morning at 6:15 am ET they beat Yoyo and Germany 1-0. Vanek had the only assist on the only goal Sunday morning.

Britters is interviewed, probably in German.

Austria next plays Denmark today... oh wait, the game will have already started by the time this is posted. Whoops. I'll edit this to add the score, I'm sure. ETA: Austria lost 5-2 and will be demoted back to Division I. :(

Team Canada defeated Norway 5-1 Sunday afternoon. Team Canada remains undefeated thusfar in the tournament.

Royzie, dangerously close to being a dirty Swiss hooker



Dewey melts hearts internationally with this little Canadian fan
Look! He's holding a stuffed Cooly!
Where can I get a stuffed Cooly?

Team Canada next beats plays Finland at 2:15 today in the final day of Qualification round play. Team USA needs to win today to make it to the Quarterfinals.

USA Keeps Rollin'

by Anne

Team USA had the first game of the Qualification round today against France. The team started slow, a habit they seem quite comfortable with, but quickly dominated the scoreboard and won 6-2.

Truth be told, the two French goals were scored on the power play while Staffy was in the box Staffy.... no cookies for you.

Alvaro Montoya (my name is Alvaro Montoya, you killed my father...) made his first start for Team USA and ended up making 14 saves on only 16 shots. Team USA fired 41 shots on France's goaltender.

Fortunately Scott Clemmensen has hopped on board and will be a good third option (probably starting) for Team USA. Anything is better than the flaming disaster Craig Anderson was last year.

Never fear, Chris Higgins is here



Is that a chicken?
ARE THEY THE FRENCH HENS?!
Nice.

Thomas Vanek finally scored a point! Not only did he get an assist, he also scored a goal too! Yay! Team Austria defeated Hungary 6-0! Hooray!!

Austria plays Germany on Sunday. Yoyo v. Britney. Team USA plays Russia on Saturday at 2:15 ET.

Oh yeah and Boston and Detroit won. Wowwww?

Mourning the Death of a Playoff Beard

by Anne

St. Louis Blues goalkeeper Chris Mason was rocking a MONSTROUS playoff beard in Round 1 against the Canucks. Clearly Christopher had been cultivating this beast the entire time his team was pushing for the post season. Words cannot adequately describe, so I will let this Google Image photograph of a TV screen speak for itself:

Completing the look is his cueball head.

On Thursday, Chris Mason backstopped Team Canada to a 5-1 victory over the Czech Republic and was named Team Canada's player of the game and we got to see a shorn sheep:

A mere pittance of stubble
A dark day for playoff beards everywhere.

Team USA plays France today at 2:15 EST.

The two series I care the least about (Anaheim/Detroit and Boston/Butter Snaps) play tonight but I'll be working anyway. Textual updates will not be necessary.

International Collapse

by Anne

Yesterday I "watched" (checked the live boxscore) Team USA take on Sweden. Things were going great, Team USA was outshooting the Swedes 33-17 through the 2nd and at one point in the 3rd held a 5-2 lead. Yet they somehow managed to turn that into a 6-5 loss in overtime. Good to know its not just the Sabres who do that. Epic Third Period Collapse goes Global.

Get it together please, boys.

A brief overview of how the World Championships work:

Sixteen countries are divided into four divisions of four teams each. (A,B,C,D)

The top 16 countries in the world are divided into four Groups:
Group A: Canada, Belarus, Slovakia, Hungary
Group B: Russia, Switzerland, France, Gremany
Group C: Sweden, USA, Latvia, Austria
Group D: Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, Denmark

The first round (the one that just ended) has each team playing the other three teams in their division once. The three teams with the best records move on to the Qualification round. The #4 team in each division goes on to the Relegation round and the team that fares the worst is sent back to Division I.

Relegation teams:
Germany
Austria
Denmark
Hungary

In the Qualification round, the three teams from Groups A and D combine to make Group F and the three remaining teams from Groups B and C combine to make Group E. The teams play the three teams in their new group that they didn't play in the Preliminary round.

Group E: Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, USA, France, Latvia
Group F: Canada, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, Belarus

After the Qualification round, the tournament becomes single-elimination. The top four teams from Groups E and the top four teams from Group F move on to the Quarter finals. #1 in Group E plays #4 in Group F, #2 Group E plays #3 Group F and so on.

After THAT comes the semi finals. The four remaining teams will play to see who makes it to the Gold medal game and who to the Bronze. The two teams that win will meet in the Gold medal game and the two teams that lose will meet in the Bronze medal game.

Phew that took a while to explain.

Team USA started in Group C with Sweden, Latvia and Austira and is now Group E. They still have to play France, Russia and Switzerland, formerly members of Group B. Austria was the fourth place team in Group C and is facing relegation. :(

Team USA's next game is Friday at 2:15 EST against France.

Second Round is Almost Here!

by Anne

I still can't believe the way that Butter Snaps/Devils game ended last night. What the hell was happening at the Rock that distracted all the Devils? Did a girl take her top off in the upperbowl and they were all completely flabbergasted?

I hate to say this:

The Butter Snaps are advancing to round two to face the Bruins and the Bruins had better win. I'm looking at you, KESSEL.

Although, the Caps also won and we will all have the playoff match-up Gary Bettman dreams of at night.

I want the Pens to win. It will be a fun series to watch and, in truth, if the Caps win I won't be all that upset about it. Hopefully this much-hyped series will be everything it can be and more. Lots of Russian name-calling and cheesy graphics that try to make it look like Ovie is facing off against Crosby but he won't because Alex is a winger. Unlike the first two games of the Finals last year where Detroit and Pittsburgh were supposed to be INTENSE and evenly matched and Pittsburgh was shut out in the first game. Zzzzzzz....

ALSO. The Canucks and Blackhawks kick things off on Thursday @ 9:00. It feels like MONTHS since the Canucks last played. Hopefully they've been enjoying their rest but haven't gotten too soft without game situations. I ordered me a Canucks long sleeved tshirt the other day, it should be here soon, the USPS is tracking it for me, how thoughtful of them. I hope it gets here on Thursday.

This is a direct quotation of my Facebook status last night, but I just need to say it here too:

This is my new favorite quote. From NY Rangers GM Glen Sather's open letter on how the unfortified glass at the Verizon Center enabled fans to get the better of Rangers head coach John Tortorella:

"According to Rangers trainer Jim Ramsay, one patron was screaming at the team, in graphic language, about whether Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have a sexual relationship."

Wait, Glen, are you saying they don't?

I just love how oddly specific this quotation is. Is it really necessary for you to include the players by name to get your point across? Is the exact nature of these taunts and jeers relevant? We can use our imaginationsto deduce what kind of naughty words were being bandied about back there behind Torts. Also, are Marc Staal and Dan Girardi's psyches so fragile that they can't handle the harmless mudslinging of some drunk dude? I wonder how Staal and Girardi feel about being named. What if they really ARE having a sexual relationship? Or WORSE! What if they're in a relationship still in the early stages and now they have to have that conversation under such high-pressure conditions? Honestly Glen Sather, if you have a crush on Dan Girardi (and trust me I don't blame you), trying to take down his budding romance with Staal #2 just makes you look petty and childish.

Speaking of the IIHF(?), Team Austria's leading scorer(!) Markus Peintner is even crazier looking off the ice:

I always find it amusing when non-native English speakers have English writing on their clothes
Although its kind of like that craze of having Asian lettering on EVERYTHING a few years back

In spite of his unusual personal style and the fact that he looks like he fell out of an episode of Miami Ink, he seems like an interesting gent. Here's the article. Do you think he and Staffy could be the best of friends? I do. Austria v. Latvia is currently underway. Come on, Britney! Try to avoid relegation! Ohhh your teammate took a delay of game penalty 8 seconds into the opening period... ummm... ok you can bounce back from that.

There's a new poll up on the left sidebar. There's not much else to talk about in SabreLand other than whether or not we're going to re-sign Jaro :'( please? So focusing on free agency seems to be the way to go. You can vote as many times as you like, you just have to click "Return to Poll" after you vote.

Team USA v. Sweden this afternoon!

Look! He's Really There!

by Anne

Today Royzie, Lindy and Team Canada played Reggie and Team Slovakia and Canada won 7-3:

Lindy's really at the Worlds! Look! I found him!


Royzie opened the scoring at 4:50 on the power play
He played 21:36, the 2nd most minutes on the team
Shea Weber, also pictured, played 21:37
Liiiindyyy, are we playing favorites?
There were no pictures of Reggie who played 20:01

Today Yoyo played France and lost 2-1.

Yoyo and Germany lost, but Yoyo scored Germany's goal!
All three goals were scored in the first period
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Yoyo played 20:44, 2nd most minutes on the team
Well done, Mr. Hecht

Tomorrow Little Foot and Team USA take on Sweden at 2:15 p.m. and Britney and Team Austria take on Latvia at 10:15 a.m.

Round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs ends today too! Woooo!! Let's go Caps! Let's go Devils!

Vanek Admits Helmet Affects His Play

by Anne

Thomas Vanek updated his blog on Monday.

He's obviously disappointed with the way the team has played, but another Austrian with NHL experience is joining the team, so he's optimistic.

The last few sentences of his entry:

My helmet also bothers me a bit. Especially when I try to stickhandle I tend to lose the puck more easily because my vision is hampered.

That's basically what we all thought, but no one really wanted to admit it in Buffalo.

Fortunately, he'll be able to ditch that thing by next season.

Wooooo!
The pride of Austria

In the Battle of Little Foot v. Britney, Little Foot Wins

by Anne

See glossary below for nickname references.

This morning, Teams USA and Austria met in Berne, Switzerland, with Team USA coming out on top.

The game started out fairly even with the teams each scoring once in the first, then the USA scoring once in the 2nd. However, Team USA exploded with four goals in the third period that did in the Austrians.

Team USA outshot Austria 38-26, but were actually outshot 12-7 in the 2nd frame by the Austrian team.

Three of the US goals were scored on the power play, two with the two man advantage.

Team USA's next game is Wednesday against Sweden (yikes). Austria must win its next game against Latvia to avoid the relegation round. The two teams meet Wednesday.

Staffy scored the game winning goal


Little Foot charges the net, but is denied


Brownie, yer doin' it wrong

From the recap from the IIHF website:

Austria cut the deficit to 2-1 at 14:26 thanks to a gaffe by Esche. The goalie came out of his net to clear the puck off the sideboards, but gave it away to Peinter, who shot it in from inside the blueline. The cheers from the drum-beating Austrian fans were as long and bold as Peinter's beard.

Long and bold, indeed

ETA: This picture of TV was not yet posted when I wrote this post originally:

Jackie boy, Brownie, it would've been OK if you had let Britney score

Vanek on the World Stage

by Anne

Today in my usual Monday-Wednesday-Friday routine at 10:00, I hopped on a computer in the school lab to kill some time between classes. However, its really nice out so I may not be back for hour #2 at 12:00.

This routine usually entails checking email and blogs and then hitting NHL.com or TSN or Sabres.com. Nowadays it entails IIHF.com. This morning I was greeted by an article about Austria's hottest export since Arnold Schwarzenegger, our very own Thomas Vanek.

There's a brief interview with TV about Team Austria playing in the big show and hoping to avoid relegation. Last year, Tommy Boy helped the team move back to the top division and he hopes to help keep them there. Unfortunately he's got a huge target on his head because he is the only NHL player on Team Austria and he, ya know, scores a lot, and has that crazy face shield. Basically he hasn't been productive because his opponents have been mainly focusing on containing him.

He (humbly) admits that the main reason he's playing is because he knows he's the best Austrian hockey player out there. He doesn't use those exact words, but he says that if there were 10 NHL players he'd probably sit it out, but he's the only one so he wants to help keep his country proud

I hope Team Austria can stay up in the top division, but I hope they have to fight to stay there without Thomas next year.

Team USA v. Team Austria is about to start. Drew, don't pick on Thomas too much, he seems to know about what you guys have been doing in Berne... ;)

Picture Show!

by Anne

The IIHF always posts comprehensive galleries of each game played, and as I am wont to do, I've decided to scour them for snapshots of our Sabres hard at work representing their countries:

Derek and his reserved celebrations with those ratbastards Spezza and Heatley
Like Staffy, he has learned to celebrate with his enemies.


Royzie had a goal and an assist in Canada's 9-0 victory over Hungary
This is the first time the two countries have met at the Worlds in over 70 years


Reggie for Team Slovakia against Belarus


TV and his fancy face-mask-dealie
Austria didn't do so well


YO.
Thomas.
What is up with your teammate?
Please do not start rocking this goatee.


Yoyo and Kalinin (?!) get involved

Lindy (of whom I found nary a snapshot), Royzie and Team Canada are 2-0. Royzie has three points (1+2) and is a +3 in only 15:58/game.

Reggie and Team Slovakia are 1-1. Reggie has 1 assist, no PIM+3.

Tommy and Team Austria are 0-1. TV has no points, no PIM, -1.

Yoyo and Team Germany are 0-2. Yoyo has no points, no PIM, even and a team-high 5 shots on goal.

Good times.

Unrelated to the Sabres:

Hi Shea Weber
;)

I Could Not Be Multitasking More Right Now

by Anne

Yes, readers, I'm blogging while walking up on the treadmill. Wow. Who AM I?

Oscar seems to have gotten over his fear of the loud noise the treadmill makes and is now merely laying in the hall, eyeing it suspiciously.

Upon perusing the Team USA Media Guide, it would seem the teams definition of "Personal Information" is "NHL Transactions." Basically everyone's is when/if they were drafted, and when/if they were traded and other signings. Interesting. Nothing about wacky antics, nicknames or anything funny. Lame. It also lists date of birth in "Personal" but that is also listed at the header on the top of each player's page in the guide.

Camp Morningwood blows this year. Remember the paintball? The soccer game? Adam Burish explaining that lobstermen were men who caught lobsters for a living and not half-men half-lobster creatures roaming the streets of Portland Maine? They might be having these happyfuntimes but for some reason USA fans are not allowed to hear about them. What, are you traying to be all "Team Canada?" Psh. Lindy Ruff >>>> Ron Wilson.

I thought Zach Bogosian's page was comically short until I got to Alec Richards/ Ryan Shannon's SHARED page. Burrrrn.

I just realized I have no idea who the Captain of Team USA is but I think its Dustin Brown based on this picture:

You have to enlarge it, but I think that's a C beind his teammates helmet.
Also, J-M Liles looks so teeny.

Shane Doan is named captain of Team Canada and its front page news on TSN. In order to learn Team USA's captain I have to scour game photos with a magnifying glass. I know a lot of Americans don't care so much about this stuff, but maybe if there was more coverage, more American hockey fans would care.

A-HA! Jason Blake is rocking an "A":

He's the oldest, he gets a letter.

Team USA/ Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Al Montoya's first name is Alvaro. That is completely awesome. Way better than Albert or Alfred or whatever I thought it was before.


Also:

Feel the Staaly-love, Flower

Hooray! My Playoff Mistress team (2008 edition), the Pittsburgh Penguins, rallied from a 3-0 defecit to beat the philadelphia Flyers and advance to round 2!! Wooo!

Tonight will tip the series advantage in either Calgary or Chicago's way and could see those upstart Anaheim Ducks upset the San Jose Chokemasters. I shall be at a birthday party and will not see these games.

Yeeee-haw! It was almost 80 in Buffalo today and it was hella awesome. Gotta go and actually work out, its hard to type while running. Check ya later.

USA Wins First Game of Tournament

by Anne

The United States Men won their first game against Latvia 4-2 this morning!

It would seem that only current and former Los Angeles Kings are able to score in this tournament, but Brown, O'Sullivan and Johnson were kind enough to let this gent score too:

Nick Foligno and Drew Stafford put down their Sabre/Senator masks to celebrate Staffy's goal

Woooo! Drew Stafford scored Team USA's 2nd goal!

Jack Johnson (LAK, duh) scored twice and was named the Team USA player of the game, which means he was photographed with the awesome cow mascot:

Nice.

Goaltender Robert Esche who made 18 saves on 20 shots declared this was the best that Team USA has ever played against Latvia in his eight years playing in this tournament. Apparently Matt Niskanen was really freaked out about playing Latvia (click to enlarge):

Just close my eyes and SHOOT
Images from IIHF.com

Team USA fired 38 shots and were 0-4 on the power play.

Also, for those who might not remember, I'm very pro-Robert Esche. Here's a sentence from the game recap about Robbie:

"Robert Esche won his eighth career game in World Championship play. He has a 1.87 goals against average and a .938 save percentage in 13 career games played at the World Championship"

Well done, sir. How's Russia?

Their next game is Monday against Thomas Vanek and Team Austria at 10:15 am EST.

Writing Things in Lists is Easier

by Anne

• Team USA lost their first exhibition game yesterday by a score of 5-2. Dustin Brown scored both goals. Robert Esche stopped 16 of 17 in about 30 minutes of ice time and Al Montoya stopped 13 of 17 in about the same amount of time. Thank goodness its only an exhibition game. I'm not hopeful for a medal this year like I was last year and they finished 5th
  

• Calder Trophy Nominees (top rookie in the NHL) were announced today. Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks, Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks. I'd give it to Mason. Being a goaltender is tough enough, nevermind being a rookie and posting 10 shutouts to bring your team to the playoffs for the first time. They're probably going to be swept out but Mason was the one who snagged them the invite.

• Why wasn't Dewey (Drew Doughty) nominated for the Calder? :(
  

• In case you missed my last post, the Canucks won last night in OT and swept the first round series against the St. Louis Blues. Just prior to the game I watched Steve Bernier cook a pasta dish and my life became that much more complete.

• Our poll is quite close and at last count Matt Greene, Ryan Kesler and James Wisniewski are all tied for first. I love that you are all obviously influenced by this blog because who the hell has ever heard of Matt Greene outside of Edmonton and LA and perhaps his hometown in Michigan(?) This is really bad, I should really know where he's from. I'm a bad fan. Yes, its Michigan, I checked NHL.com.

• The Sabres REALLY want you to tune in at 12:30 for the Lunch Express with Kevin Sylvester. I'm in a computer lab at school so no dice. And its about 12:23 while I'm typing this.

• I wrote a paper in 50 minutes a few weeks ago. I wrote 5 pages on Ibsen's A Doll's House, including citing an article on the subject in 50 minutes. I walked out of class the day it was due and managed to write it in the hour between when that class ended and my next class began. I got an A. I have wasted so much time writing papers before it seems.
  

• It seems like MONTHS until the 2nd round of the playoffs start for the Canucks

• I can't ignore the Pens. I want to hate them, I really do but I loved them so much last playoffs and I don't hate Sidney Crosby and I can't quite understand why so many people dedicate so much energy to hating him. So LET'S GO PENS!

• Next semester I will only have class on Monday Wednesday and Friday. Words cannot fully express how awesome that is

• San Jose actually managed to win a game. San Jose, you know the team that won the President's Trophy and Anaheim the team that *squeaked* into the playoffs. Wow.
• The 'Canes scored the game-winning goal with .2 seconds left in regulation. What a punch in the face to the Devils and their fans.
  

Burrrrrrr
Barrett Jackman's face says it all
Its over

This is the 2nd post in a row I've closed with a picture of Alex Burrows
Nice.

Tuesday Tidbits

by Anne

• After that article about the silent Sabres lockerroom, some sweet bloggers were chatting and I decided to post a poll for people to select a personality player to add to the roster. The list is a conglomeration of many people's nominations, over on the left sidebar. Its open for a week, until Apirl 27.

• Team USA, seriously lacking the happyfuntimes from last year, have their first exhibition game this afternoon at 2:15 EST against host nation Switzerland in Zurich.

• Team Czech's roster was announced and Big Czech Al will be representin' his country again this year, along with Jaromir Jagr and Ales Hemsky.

• The Caps FINALLY won, and won handily. Simeon Toast Crunch™ got a shut out and managed to casually brush off being punched in the face by Sean Avery.

• I only put ™ there because I just learned how to do it I may do it after all STH nicknames just because I can ™ and its fun ™
  

• The Flames also won and Adam Burish forgot that Jarome Iginla is the manliest man on the planet and the two attempted to engage in fisticuffs. They're almost exactly the same size so it'd be interesting to see who'd take that fight. But clearly it would be Iggy.

• A really great story about a terminally ill Columbus Blue Jackets fan getting to attend the first ever playoff game held in Columbus tonight. God I hope they win for him tonight. This kid got to sign a 1 day NHL contract and as part of a charity event the club was selling his jersey and its the 3rd highest selling jersey behind Rick Nash and Steve Mason. Also, Jason Chimera is now my #2 favorite Blue Jacket. Its one of those rare "More than just a game" moments.

• No! I am totally not tearing up over here after that story... ok maybe a little... *sniff*
  

• Friggin' Hasek is un-retiring... again

• Kevin Divine, Sabres Director of Amateur Scouting hates the draft, or at least he hates the first day of it. So do I, Kevin. It takes like 4 hours to get through round one. There's a video on Sabres.com. I don't like embedding those videos, they slow things down too much.

• This entry needs a picture...

perfect &trade

The Regular Season is Over but There's Lots of Hockey to be Played

by Anne

In the battle of the Russians, its basically a tie. Alexander Ovechkin wins the Rocket Richard for most goals scored during the season with 56 for the second straight year and Evgeni Malkin takes home the Art Ross with the most points on the season with 113 (35+78). Ovechkin had 110 with 54 assists. Congratulations to both, I really hope your teams face each other in the playoffs.
Also, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez will share the William Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed... although Manny did the duo no favors Saturday in Buffalo, giving up six goals.

And once again, the playoffs begin again without the Buffalo Sabres. Here are the match-ups and my predictions:

#1 Boston Bruins
v.
#8 Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Boston in 6

#2 Washington Capitals
v.
#7 New York Rangers
Prediction: Washington in 6

#3 New Jersey Devils
v.
#6 Butter Snaps
Prediction: New Jersey in 7

#5 Philadelphia Flyers
v.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins (really? they made it to #4? Wow.)
Prediction: Hmmmmm Philly, no Pittsburgh...yes Pittsburgh in 6

Western Conference

#1 San Jose Sharks
v.
#8 Anaheim Ducks
Prediction: San Jose in 6

#2 Detroit Red Wings
v.
#7 Columbus Blue Jackets
Prediction: Detroit in 7

#3 Vancouver Canucks
v.
#6 St. Louis Blues
Prediction: Vancouver in 6

#4 Chicago Blackhawks
v.
#5 Calgary Flames
Prediction: Chicago in 5

I'm ALWAYS wrong about these things and I just realized I didn't predict any upsets... there aren't always upsets but the ones I could see upsetting are the Butter Snaps over the Devils, and Rangers over Caps. We'll see how I do in the first round. I'm thinking "not well."

What are your predictions?

If I can't have Sabres in the playoffs, I can at least have Sabres in the IIHF World Championships.

Lindy has officially been selected as Team Canada's head coach for the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland! Hooray! Dave Tippett of the Dallas Stars and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators will back Lindy as assistant coaches. Hooray! Congrats Lindy!

Also, congrats to the Women's USA hockey team for defeating Canada and taking home their second straight gold medal! Wooo!

Now that the regular season is officially dunzo, I'm sure we'll hear players names trickle down as they clean out their lockers around the league. :(

ETA: Staffy announced on The Drew Stafford show on 97 Rock this morning that he'll be playing for Team USA in Switzerland! Yay!!

Also the draft lottery is tomorrow! Hooray! Playoffs start Wednesday!! Calder Cup Playoffs start this week as well for our Pirates! Hooray!

Around the League Last Night

by Anne

David Backes, somewhat recently discovered pretty boy of the St. Louis Blues, scored four goals last night. In one game. Against the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit Red Wings 4 - David Backes 4 (plus he allowed Andy McDonald to score as well, he's very thoughtful that way). It was also his first hat trick. Congrats, David! You've definitely tilted the battle of Berglund v. Backes in your favor last night.

Your move, Patrik Berglund


Ah, the black polo.
Well played.
This isn't over yet, sirs.

Between them, the Canucks and Ducks (ha! that rhymes) scored about 47 goals and the Canucks lost in the shootout. BUT! They got the one point they needed to clinch a playoff spot! Hooray! Confetti and balloons!!

Hooray!
Playoffs for the Canucks!!
Good boys!

The Kings lost which all but eliminates them from the playoffs. :(

Clearly Anze Kopitar and I were the only ones who thought they had a chance a few months back.
But still.
:(

Dear Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick and Matt Greene:

Join Team USA?! You know you waaaant tooooo.

Love,
Anne

Be honest with me, people. Do any of you care about the World Championships? If the answer is no, I'm fine with that. I just want to know if I'm the only one who loves international sports over here. I get just about as much enjoyment out of the World Championships as I do from the Stanley Cup playoffs, unless the Sabres are in, then the playoffs rule, of course.

Sabres play tonight at Washington. I don't have a good feeling about this. 7:00 puck drop. I don't want to talk about it.

I See You've Finally Come Around

by Anne

NOW can we all accept that the Sabres are a genuinely bad hockey team that is not going to make the playoffs?

Life is so much simpler this way. I've been content for days, dear ones. Join me, won't you?

Just over five weeks away!

Congrats to Marty Brodeur for win #552. Quite an accomplishment, sir. Maybe only slightly more impressive than your stat as the only NHL goaltender to score a game winning goal. That is pretty darn awesome.

Also, since Mr. Brodeur beat the Blackhawks, the Canucks were able to move into a tie for fourth place in the West!

The Canucks won again on home ice! They beat Dallas 4-2 for their 10th consecutive win on home ice which sets a new record for the team. Psh, NHL.com doesn't seem to care about THAT record being broken, MARTY.

Kesler, Sundin, D. Sedin and BIG BEAR scored, but not in that order. Hooray!!

Ales Kotalik scored the game winning shoot out goal tonight! Too bad he plays for the Edmonton Oilers now.

Fundamentals time:
The game is best played with sticks on the ice


Is it possible for Danny Paille to have any other facial expression?
I hope not.

Good night.