School's Out for Summer

by Anne

My horrendously terrible semester is over! It was basically a disaster and will have to be fixed, but that can't be accomplished until the Fall so I shall simply enjoy my summer and continue my job hunt.

In the mean time, I shall be attempting to give a hoot about the playoffs. The World Championships have been an utter disaster. I mean Team USA playing in the RELEGATION round? Good LORD. I knew they weren't going to win gold, but I thought they'd at LEAST win one of their first three games. Especially since they were up against such juggernauts as Denmark and Germany. Alas. They've won their games against Kazakhstan and France and just have to beat Italy tomorrow morning. Actually, the game will be over by the time this is posted. So, I'm going to go ahead and assume they won. 

I don't imagine Jack Johnson will look back on this foray into international captaincy with great relish in years to come.

In Sabres-related shenanigans, I'm looking forward to this summer extra hard. My lifetime of Buffalo sports fandom has done nothing to convince me that I should temper my excitement. Trade Stafford? Trade Connolly? What will happen? Where will they all go? Will Marty Biron be back in Buffalo?! Could my heart TAKE that?! Yes, yes it could. 

For the Kings, the only really big question mark is Frolov. I don't think he'll be back. I'd be ok with him staying but I don't think he will so I'm ok if he peaces out. 

As far as the current playoffs are concerned I suppose I'm cheering(?) for the Blackhawks. This is a huge surprise to me. I previously abhorred the Blackhawks. They're all annoying and smug and their fans have turned each player's facial tics into a "ZOMG BRB SHAKING AND CRYING" explosion on Twitter. However, they are by far the most palatable team remaining in the playoffs and their few annoying fans (the vast majority I follow on Twitter are funny and entertaining)  can be unfollowed, and for the most part have been. Besides. Seabs wants me to cheer for them. Isn't that right Seabs? 

 Come on, Seabs, open the door.

Look, I'm sorry I called some of your fans annoying.

They all love you.

FINE! I WON'T cheer for your team. 

Whatcha gonna do about it?

You make a compelling argument.

Also, at least we're not Cavs fans. AMIRITE? Or if you are, I'm gonna go ahead and assume you're revving up the engine to drive Delonte West straight outta Cleveland. Yikes.

Hey look! Other hockey!

by Anne

I don't like whining, I don't like bitching. Therefore, when the Sabres lost and that's all I could think to write, I opted to not write at all.

I won't pretend to have any solutions or suggestions for the Sabres moving forward but I'm just sick of nothing. ever. changing. We've been following the same system(barf) in management and on the ice for several years and the product isn't working.

I think Lindy Ruff is a nice guy but I question his effectiveness in this post-lockout, post-Chris Drury era.  Change for the sake of change isn't always grand but at least it will be something different. I'm fairly confident I've written something like this before, but doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity.

***************

Moving on. Now that the first round is over, the Team USA roster for the World Championships will be expanded upon today. There was no one worth mentioning on the first list and I had sincerely hoped to be busy watching the Sabres or Kings in the 2nd round instead of the Worlds. Alas.

To my joy and delight, both Jack Johnson and Matt Greene will be playing for Team USA in Germany. Andy Greene will also be playing for Team USA. I'm not sure, but considering the creativity of most hockey players, I'm guessing they both go by "Greener." Hilarity will undoubtedly ensue, as they are also both defensemen. Perchance they will even be paired together. I also enjoy that Kevin Allen referred to them as "The Greenes" in his blog post. How presh.

Tim Kennedy will play as well, yay! Nick Foligno will allow me a brief respite to like him once again. I am utterly terrified by our goaltending situation. Right now it stands as Scott Clemmensen and Ben Bishop. Good ol' Bish. He'll definitely make things happen... right? Really? Was Robert Esche not available? Conkblock? Fine. World Championship teams in Olympic years are wicked lame.

Round 2 of the playoffs start today and the Worlds start in a week. 

Sigh. I think I'm going to check out of the second round and wait until the Conference finals to give a crap about the NHL this season. 

It's so much easier to like the playoffs without your team if your team was never in the playoffs to begin with.

More Nominations

by Anne

Adding to the NHL Award nominations, the Norris trophy, given to the league's top defenseman, nominees were announced today.

Clearly none of the Sabres were nominated because when was the last time a rookie d-man was nominated for the Norris? Myers was the best rookie but not the league's best defenseman. I love him anyway.

But! One of these boys was nominated for the Norris: Drew Doughty!

Go get 'em tiger!

Tonight the Sabres hope to stave off elimination and the Kings look to regain the series lead.

Let's Go Buff-a-lo!

Let's Go Kings!

Also, the Devils were the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs, losing 3-0 on home ice in Game 5 to the (ugh) Flyers.

You're Welcome

by Anne

Raffi Torres clearly saw the grade he earned from my gradebook and decided to make himself useful. Granted, it wasn't on the scoresheet, but everytime there was a scrum, the Baby Beluga picked himself the biggest Bruin and had at it with him.

It's been said plenty but it can't be said enough: Chara is a douchenozzle and should be repeatedly kicked in the groin. Raffi, I'm looking at you. Bro Code be damned.

Craig Rivet was the happiest kid on Christmas morn when he scored that goal. It was completely adorable. In my slightly tipsy stupor I referred to him continuously as a DILF. Why? Because it is completely true... even though he's only like 10 years my senior. WHATEVS.

That game was about 10,000x more energetic and punchy than I expected it to be. 

The Kings lost. :( It was a fairly tight game until the 3rd and they lost it in OT.

Also, I don't know why people have a problem with this Sabres hip-hop anthem, I find it completely ridiculous in the best way possible. Can someone explain it to me why they don't like it? I think people just need to chill and enjoy the SabreLove pouring into and out of Buffalo.

Jumping In

by Anne

I was going to stay reserved but it's not going to happen.

I BELIEVE

LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!

Anne's Grossly Inaccurate Playoff Predictions: Round 1

by Anne

Here I will publicly proclaim my predictions for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I assure you each selection was a total random prediction based on nothing really deeply researched and analyzed:

Eastern Conference

#1 Washington v. #8 Montreal

Anyone who thinks Montreal is going to win is on drugs; will also be very rich if they're right.

Capitals in 5

#2 New Jersy v. #7 Philadelphia

The Flyers goaltending situation is hiLARiously awful. If Boucher can hold it together they might win one. But just one.

Devils in 5

#3 Buffalo v. #6 Boston

Injuries will be a huge factor and fortunately the Bruins have the worst of it.

Sabres in 6

#4 Pittsburgh v. #5 Ottawa

Anyone who bets against the Pens is outta their mind.

Pens in 6

Western Conference

#1 San Jose v. #8 Colorado

I know the Sharks are lame playoff first rounders but I don't think the Avs have what it takes.

Sharks in 6

#2 Chicago v. #7 Nashville

The Predators have the edge in goaltending btu that's about it.

Blackhawks in 6

#3 Vancouver v. #6 Los Angeles

I just don't know if Quickie has it in him. Luongo hasn't looked great. Both teams are deep.

Canucks in 7 :(

#4 Phoenix v #5 Detroit

As nice as it would be to see the Coyotes progress and the Red Wings lose, I don't see it happening.

Red Wings in 7 

It's the final countdown

by Anne

Here we are, folks, the final weekend of the regular season. For the first time in two years, the Sabres season will not end after Sunday, and for the first time in 64 years, the Los Angeles Kings season will continue on as well. 

Truth be told, I became a Kings fan for the basic purpose that they were toothless and hardly ever won. They were rather harmless and didn't cause me too much anxiety. Well, fast forward two years and they're also hitching a ride to the playoffs.

I'm just not sure if I can take two teams in the playoffs. My blue and gold fingernails clearly indicate where my loyalties lie first and foremost, but this will be a mighty stressful time. When most people's evenings of Sabres playoff hockey stress have ended, mine will be only just beginning.

This weekend I'm going to grade the Sabres regular season stats like I did last season because it was lots o' fun so I'll probably start those tomorrow night after the final game.

Speaking of those blue and gold fingernails, many ladies have said they were going to do it as well, to that I say: YES PLEASE DO!! It's fun and ridiculous but also somewhat socially acceptable, just like a playoff beard.

Two more games for each team, the Kings are at home against Edmonton this afternoon and close out the season with their final game in Colorado on Sunday. The Sabres are in Ottawa (ugh) tonight and finish up tomorrow in Joisey.

Speaking of Ottawa, I get more than a slight sense of excitement over the news that Kovalev will not be playing for the next several months. Not because of anything personal about him, but because anything that screws over Ottawa is gold in my book.

Can you feel the excitement?!!

Question

by Anne

The Sabres AND Kings have clinched playoff spots within the past few days, so...

WHY HAVEN'T THE PLAYOFFS STARTED YET?!

PLAYOFFS DANCE PARTY

by Anne

Join me and my closest friends as we celebrate last night's victory and consequent PLAYOFF BERTH.

 

There's lots to say about the remainder of the season and how they'll actually fare in the playoffs but we'll all talk that to DEATH later.

HOWEVER!

FEEL THE RHYTHM, FEEL THE RHYME, GET ON UP, IT'S PLAYOFFS TIME!!

WOOOOOO!!!