I Like You a Lot Lot

by Anne

I watched the Skills Competition last night with a vodka tonic in hand. Sadly, the drinking game was not as successful this year, but the event was more entertaining.

I wish Vanek had done some more events, his goal in the Elimination Shootout was one of the highlights of the entire night. Being a Sabres fans, it seems logical I'd say that, but it was definitely one of the more creative attempts. Although, TV, I could really live without the fauxhawk. I love ya, but you deserve better than "The Royzie Special".

Marc Savard actually displayed a personality as he was mic'd up for the entire evening for Versus. I was shocked and awed, but plesantly surprised that he was actually more interesting than watching paint dry. I had anticipated he would not be a stimulating conversationalist. Zach Parise apparently decided to abandon ship on the mic and we were left with only Savvy. There was a moment after the fastest skater challenge when one of his teammates clearly thought Zach was talking to him and he had to gesture to his ear to be like "No, I'm talking to the voices in my head, er, ear, er, Doc." I wonder what Versus would have done if Savvy hadn't made it to the final round of shooters? Would he have had to hang out there until it was over? Most likely.

The Young Stars game was a hot mess. They kept showing replays while the game was going on and goals were being scored. I normally enjoy the Young Stars game so this was fairly disappointing.

The above title refers to one of those Young Stars, Luke Schenn. I know he's an icky Maple Leaf but I really think he's awesome. He's a great player, he seems to be a genuinely nice person and he's not too hard on the eyes. I cheered when he scored in the game and then laughed because he has yet to score in the NHL. Its ok, Luke! Give it time!

Schenn and Doughty
My new favorite defensemen.
(ETA: Except Matt Greene, of course.)
Why?
This is the first season I've given a hoot about defensemen and they're young and talented.



Work that -20 degree weather, boy


20?? Who's wearing #26?
psh! Marty St. Louis?!?!
That's BALONEY.
Thomas Kaberle won the "15"battle with Dany Heatley (#51)
Jay Boumeester (#3) lost the "4" battle with Vinny
Jeff Carter (#7) lost the "17" battle with Ilya Kovalchuk
Patrick Marleau (#10) lost the "12" battle with Iggy
Shane Doan lost the "19" battle with Jonathan Toews because Tazer is a starter
Joe Thornton also lost the "19" battle and went with "97"? Doan is wearing "18"


Soupy looks... really good.

These men have hockey sticks in their hands everyday, yet some of them look catastrophically awkward holding them while not in skates. I thought the stick was there to ease the awkwardness of the photo-takng experience?

Nasher, the only dual "Hottie" and "Skill" representative.



Yay!!


I love it.


Jeff: We gotta get that Stamkos kid to join. Then we'll get to Berglund.
Eric: Totally, we need all the blonde, nearly albino forwards together. We have to combat the Russian forwards some how. Kovalev can't join us.
Jeff: He's just not blonde enough.
Eric: I was talking to Vanek before. I think he's in.
Jeff: He's more strawberry than pure blonde like you and me.
Eric: I know, but we need to save him before the Europeans get him.
Jeff: Word. After this, want to go sit in dark corners and not get any sun?
Eric: Sure! Hey, what color was Keith Tkachuk's hair before he lost it all...

I will probably not watch the actual All-Star Game as I have class Monday morning. What's up with that? Anyway, if you watch the game, enjoy!

Sometimes Good Things Happen

by Anne

I got a call from my boss today at the arena telling me that I don't have to come in tonight! Woooooooooo! Its just because I'm the lowest ranked vendor and I made like $0.52 last night (figures estimated).

Whatevs, I don't care. After my bad night last night I really needed a pick me up. My BFF Adam and I have resolved to see all of the movies nominated for the Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards so we're going to see Milk tonight. We feel lame picking a winner having only seen one or two of the movies nominated. We've already seen Slumdog Millionaire and will probably see The Reader next, in spite of my irrational dislike of Ralph Fiennes. We're not sure when or where to see Frost/Nixon. Adam's friend's Dad votes as a member of the Academy so he gets the DVDs of all the nominated films and performances, so we're probably going to watch Frost/Nixon on his DVD because its not playing in Buffalo at the moment. We also might see The Wrestler, just to see what all the Mickey Rourke fuss is about.

Hockey: Sidney Crosby is not playing in the All-Star Game after getting a record setting 1.7 million votes in the ridiculous joke of a voting process. He has some concerns about lingering injuries to his knee and forearm and wants to take the time to rest. This is probably a good idea considering the poor situation the Pens find themselves in at the moment. Marty St. Louis will be taking his place on the roster. I'm not sure how I feel about the selection of St. Louis (17-29-46) over players like Phil Kessel (24-17-41) or Derek Roy (18-26-44) who have similar numbers on more successful teams, and Roy averages more ice time than either of the other two players. Whatevs, I just love Royzie. Also, who moves up to the starting line-up? The player who came in fourth in voting? I don't know who that is and I can't find the voting totals past the top three forwards.

Mirtle has released a list of the top defensive defensemen in the league up to this point in the season and WCBs M-E "Pickles" Vlasic (9) Nicklas Lidstrom (11) and Matthew Greene (20) have all made the cut. Woooooooooo! Normally I am all about flashy offense and captains and the like, but this season has gotten me appreciating defensive hockey more and more. I know I was SHOCKED that no Sabres defensemen made the cut.

Speaking of Sabres defensemen... we are royally effed. Trade? MATT GREENE? Let me live this pipe dream, people. But for serious, everyone is hurt. I'm suspicious that Craig Rivet may be playing with a wooden leg and Toni Lydman might actually be seriously concussed, but they can skate backwards, so they're still in. Just point Toni in the right direction and tell him to shoot and we'll be fine.

Danny Briere has "nerve entrapment" and will miss ANOTHER four weeks of the season. Poor Danny. I just tried to look up a little bit about nerve entrapment and it appears that obturator nerve entrapment is a cause of chronic groin pain in athletes and athletes with successful surgery often become symptom free after recovery. Apparently this is a fairly new development in the study of the causes of groin pain and groin injuries which could spell good things for players with chronic injuries. Oh Hasek, if only... if only...

Martin Gerber was put on waivers. That sound you hear is every hockey fan rolling their eyes as the Senators goaltending woes soldier on, this time with Alex Auld and newcomer Brian Elliot. The Senators sound more and more like the LA Kings with each passing day.

While working on our All-Star Roster post (almost finished, I SWEAR) I discovered something.

When did David Backes get so pretty?
Or
Why have I never noticed how pretty David Backes is?

Thomas Vanek: All-Star

by Anne

Just announced, Thomas Vanek will be representing Buffalo in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal.

Do us proud, Tommy Boy.

ETA: Yes, people, that is Thomas Vanek as a wee bairn, its from his official website, you too can borrow baby photos of our beloved Thomas "Britney" Vanek

Prospects Tearin' it Up, All-Star Games and Ruutu Gets Tuu

by Anne

Its been a great couple of days for Sabres' prospects.

First Team Canada, featuring Tylers Ennis and Myers, wins a 5th straight gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa. The Jolly Blonde Giant finished the tournament with 1 goal, 2 PIM and a +5. His smaller teammate, Tyler Ennis finished the tournament with 7 points (3+4), 0 PIM and a +1. Congratulations, Tylers!

Ennis battling for the puck against Kazakhstan


The Jolly Blonde Giant calmly moving the puck against Germany

Also, Mark Mancari has been named to the Canadian All-Star team for the AHL All-Star Game. The AHL All-Star Game is Canada v. Players from Everywhere Else. Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy have been named to the PlanetUSA All-Star team. If y'all remember, last year at the AHL All-Star game, Mancari broke the AHL hardest shot record. Can't wait to see what these guys do! Hooray!

Tim and Nate: Uh, yeah, Mark, weeeee're not on the same team.

In other All-Star news, the Western Conference reserves were announced today and WCBs Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla and Ryan Getzlaf were named to the team. Hooray! Eastern Conference reserves are announced tomorrow and I'm hoping there's at least 1 slug on that roster. I know the All-Star Game is stupid and voting is lame but I enjoy the ridiculousness of the festivities and the feeling I get that I'm having a wild weekend fling with the rest of the NHL while watching the goings on. I'd rather watch this all with at least one Eastern Conference player I won't feel dirty about cheering for (other than Ovechkin).

Also, voting closes soon for our All-Star Rosters. Things are getting close! Don't let your favorites go unappreciated!! Its Wednesday, which is apparently usually the day I update these standings, so here they are:

Eastern Conference Forwards
1. Gaustad
2. Lecavalier
3. Eaves
4. Laich
5. Upshall

Eastern Conference D-Men
1. Ference
2. Schenn
3. Rivet
4. Komisarek

Eastern Conference Goalies
1. DiPietro
2. Lalime
3. Price

Western Conference Forwards
1. Berglund
2. Sharp
3. Nash
4. Toews
5. Cammalleri

Western Conference D-Men
1. O'Brien
2. Liles
3. Souray
4. Weber

Western Conference Goalies
T1. Boucher and Raycroft
3. Huet

There ya have it. Some of these races are extreeeemely close.

Oh yeah, and Ruutu got 2 games for gnawing on Petey, and is now considered a "repeat offender".

I'm convinced no one edits articles on NHL.com. From the above linked article:

It is the second time this season that Ruutu has been suspended this season. On Nov. 12, Ruutu earned a two-game ban for an elbow he delivered to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre in a Nov. 11 game.

Really driving the point home, aren't we "Staff"? I write bad sentences, but I don't write for the NHL.

Good times were had by all.

Firefox and I Are At Odds

by Anne

Firefox and I have not gotten along for sometime now. For example, if anyone's blog loads a video or 2 from the NHL Network, Firefox cannot handle it, and frequently shuts down. When I had to get my keypad replaced I asked the guys if there was something wrong with my computer and they said no, so basically Firefox just doesn't like me. Sometimes when I open this site, my blog looks like this:

Thank goodness I can still see the foxy beasts in the upper corners.

I assume it doesn't normally look like this for you guys. However, I have to use Firefox to update this thingydingy if I want to post pictures. Safari just doesn't seem to understand this concept of pictures. Its darn near impossible to move the pictures or format them. So unless I want all the pictures to stay at the top of a post, its not a good time.

This "starting lineup" for the All-Star game is Grade A baloney. I have no interest in the top line-up. I'm far more interested in seeing which players are named to the rest of the team, ya know, the players that SHOULD have been voted in because they DESERVE to be there. They like to name players from as many teams as possible so I'm thinking Vanek probably gets a nod, and maybe (but probably not) Miller. I hope at least one of our boys goes so I have some reason to wear my jersey while watching the festivities and getting wasted (hopefully) like last year. Last year we made the skills competition into a drinking game and it was one of the best decisions of 2008, right behind electing Barack Obama and bailing out the auto industry.

I realized today that I'm going to be in school forever. I won't be finished and ready to teach until I'm 25. OK, I'm already 23 but still that just seems like a long time away.

Other people have mentioned this but I keep forgetting to. There's been talk that Brian Burke is looking at Paul Gaustad for Team USA for the 2010 Olympics in his attempts to put together a more physical and tough team. They don't get much more physical or tougher than Goose. This makes me very excited. We all know about his long road to the NHL and how much of a longshot he was to even play one game in this league. Fast forward 9 years from when he was drafted and he's an integral part of the Buffalo Sabres and could be an integral part of representing our country in the Olympics. He was supposed to play for Team USA in the World Championships this summer but had to have surgery so had to withdraw. The World Championships are made up of whichever players' teams did not make the playoffs or were eliminated in the first round so its not as big of a deal to be selected. I'm sure its still an honor, but its not as competitive. The NHL season ceases for the Olympics so basically everyone is available. Therefore, to be selected to the 25ish so player roster carries much more weight. Basically all that rambling was to say that I really hope Goose is selected for the team with Miller, who is clearly a lock for the goaltending job, and they make us all extra proud.

Brian Burke, you know who else is gritty and physical and tough and American?

Santa Claus

.... oh yeah, and Matt Greene

TEPPO

by Anne

There's a widget at the top of this screen OR you can go to fanballoting.nhl.com, enter some basic info and VOTE. The drop down menus are kind of annoying, I liked last year's ballot better, but it matters not:

VOTE OFTEN


VOTE TEPPO


DO IT.

TONI LYDMAN WANTS YOU TO.

Christmas Already?

by Anne

This afternoon I went shopping with my sister as she started on her Christmas gifts. She's making fleece blankets for people. Not for me, but if she is, why would she buy the fabric with me there?

Anyway, it made my head hurt to think about the fact that, yes, indeed, I should be thinking about Christmas presents.

If I don't get a 3rd jersey for Christmas... *shakes fist at friends and family*

Sabres Not Slugs is reporting that Larry Quinn has stated that the death of the slug may come as soon as the 40th Anniversary season, 2010-2011. We can dream, can't we? There was mention of the switch hinging on how well the 3rd jerseys sell. Considering the third jerseys were the #2 seller on NHL.com last month, things are looking up to bring the slug down.

The Sabres are promoting Teppo For All -Star like there's no tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, that's when voting starts. Vote often and VOTE TEPPO!!!!

Face-off advice from Paul Gaustad via Clarke MacArthur:

“There is more to it than dropping the puck and swinging your stick at it."

Really, cuz that's what most of them look like to me, hahaha.

Trying to teach a 10 year old girl how to shuffle a deck of cards is difficult. She refuses to acknowledge that part of the problem might be that her hands are a little to small to shuffle them the same way I do, being 23 and a grown up and all. Although she did just tell me I know everything, so, the kid's judgment isn't too far off, haha.

Danny Briere scored today in a Flyers victory, just his 2nd game after returning from a torn abdominal muscle.... and left the game due to injury. Sigh. Oh, Danny.

Pens at Red Wings tonight, should be interesting. My money's on Detroit.

Finally a game tomorrow!

Yay! NHL All-Star Ballot Nominees!

by Anne

4 of our men have been named to the NHL All-Star Ballot!!

Let's send Vans, Millsy, Roysie and TEPPO to the game in Montreal!!!!!

WOOO!! VOTE OFTEN! STARTING NOVEMBER 12!!!