Trade Talks?

by Anne

Every time I can, and remember to, I update the records of each team on the upper right and left corners of this blog. I'm much more likely to do it in a timely fashion when one or both of the teams have won, and I can increase that win number rather than the loss number.

I used to be a far more diligent blogger, I used to update every day, 5 days a week, now it's usually more like 2 or 3. Stupid work commitments making me do stuff during the workday. Psh. My old job, the one I was doing when I started this blog, left much more opportunity for blogging. Also, Twitter has made my random pithy thoughts I used to toss in this blog more readily available to the masses, and less likely to end up in here. 

Regardless, I read this morning a tweet from @DaveDavisHockey which indicated that there might be (read: probably won't be) a trade between the Ducks and the Sabres. According to Pierre Lebrun of ESPN, the Ducks are interested in a puck-moving defenseman. The Sabres really only have one (maybe 2) of those that they might part with; we're not exactly a hotbed of puck-moving defensemen over here. In the extremely unlikely event that this trade materializes, it seems most likely that the Ducks would not be acquiring a puck-mover from Buffalo. Andrej Sekera is pretty much the only puck-mover we'd part with., and unless the Ducks consider Andrej Sekera - our 6/7 defenseman - a commodity they just can't do without, it's not happening that way. It seems more likely that the Ducks would acquire parts from the Sabres to make a bigger trade with a team that has a more capable puck-mover on their roster. Therefore, I anticipate that if this trade happens (which it won't) the Ducks would be sending some Todd Marchant-type to the Sabres for a draft pick or two, or maybe one of the three of Sekera/Butler/Weber. Darcy Regier just LOVES 30+ veteran career 3rd liners. We can ALWAYS use more, right?

That's my prediction. Mike, my co-worker is hoping for Koivu, as the Sabres tried to make a play for him in the off-season. I find this extremely unlikely. However, anything is possible in the world of trades that will never happen.

Lame Tuesday

by Anne

Normally to re-cap a game I'll take my thoughts from the game and combine them with some photos  and toss in a chuckle or two for good measure.

I'm bored and tired so I'll just say this.

The Sabres came thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to tying the game after trailing 4-0 and then Jason Pominville was a bonehead and sent a pass right in front of Miller and someone I've never heard of scored to give the Ducks a 5-3 lead. Yoyo attempted to continue the comeback but the Sabres efforts were thwarted.

I like to call the window "Patrick Lalime with a hint of Pominville"

Then the Kings lost 5-1 to the Sharks. I didn't really watch but basically what I gathered was their special teams sucked donkey butt. They were 0-5 on the powerplay and 0-3 on the penalty kill. Please come back soon Matt Greene? TOMORROW?!?!

Pleeeeeeeeeez?

Both teams play tomorrow but I'm not sure who they're playing...........

Much better

by Anne

I must confess that I picked coffee with friends over watching the Sabres game last night. Based on the updates I got on Twitter, I gather it was kind of a snoozer.

However, snoozer or thriller, the Sabres kicked off their roadtrip strong with the all-important two points! Granted, they gave Atlanta one point, but that is of no consequence at the moment.

I may have been sad to see that Matt Ellis was scratched in favor of Pat Kaleta, however, I am pumped that Kaleta scored and I have yet to watch the replay to see if he did his obnoxious "roll the dice" celebration he does just to spite me.

Upon further review it appears that yes, yes he did:

The adapter for my laptop broke leaving my laptop powerless until just now when I bought a new one so I have some serious highlight catching up to do.

Those Sabres are just so darn cute and thoughtful, winning games and such and having such a massive lead in the division. They're so sweet. :)

I managed to watch a little bit of the Kings game which they won 4-0 over the Ducks! Woooo! They're now 11-3-1 against the Pacific division this season and have a tenuous hold on eighth place. They really need to put together some more wins here so they don't make me punch them in the face as previously threatened.

Jonathan Quick improved to 4-0-0 all-time against the Ducks, earned his fifth career shutout and first shutout of the season! Yay Quickie!

Bobby Ryan, Rhodes Scholar that he is, decided that with seven seconds left in the game he was going to unnecessarily pummel Oscar Moller into the boards and for his trouble received roughly 17 minutes in penalties. Idiot.

Good game, boys!

Keep it up!

Both the Sabres and the Kings  just kicked off crucial seven game stretches. The Sabres have seven straight on the road and the Kings are in the midst of seven straight at home. Including the game on January 21st which will be all at once the best and worst game ever. I'm guessing Greener will not be playing in that game :'( That is extremely disappointing to me. But his health is most important so he shouldn't rush back.

They both play tomorrow night too! Also I might have a date with a Sharks fan next week. I don't know how to feel about his allegiance. He's from California and he still likes the Sabres so I suppose I can let this slide... maybe...

8CZB4QJZZSBM

Thursday Night

by Anne

I didn't invest much emotionally into last night's game. Its too bad they lost but, eh. Whatevs. Its just pre-season.

The game went by really really fast, so I didn't get to watch much of it. Normally I get to watch a lot of it by standing in the aisles but without commercial breaks and all that jazz, and very few stoppages in play, the game flew by and I had to keep a-sellin'.

I'm really glad I'm working at the Arena again. I forgot how much I like a lot of the people I work with there.

Some stuff:

• Pie had the hit of the game. He did this:

Pie go boom.

• There was a moment where a player took a puck off his visor. I don't know who because I didn't see it. I only know it happened because it was SO LOUD I heard it up in the 300s. Imagine if that had hit his eyes instead of a visor?! Yikes

• TK's and Grizz's goals were classic examples of two basic hockey principals: #1 Just shoot the puck at the net, you never know what might happen (Grizz) and #2 Get to the front of the net and an opportunity may present itself (Kennedy)

• For the most part Lalime and Enroth both looked decent. Its a shame we probably can't keep Enroth for long. I'm sure he'll back up Miller in a few seasons but if he continues to develop as well as it seems he will, he'll be too good to be a back up in a few years. Oh well. We can still be Facebook friends, right, Jho?

• Royzie was wearing the C. Vanek was wearing an A. I didn't see anyone else. I assume Pommer? Yoyo was not.

• They took two penalties v. Washington's 5 or 6. Unfortunately, they were very untimely penalties as they occurred in the dying seconds of regulation which gave Washington their two man advantage heading into OT. Oh well, its only the pre-season.
  

Vancouver v. Anaheim:

• Big Bear scored!!!! :)x1,000

Wooo!
His goal was the opening and game-winning goal.

Los Angeles at San Jose

• I only listened to this one but both teams traded lots and lots of power play time. I believe the Kings PK was a perfect 8 for 8 while the Sharks PK was a still pretty good 7-8 or 6-7. I don't feel like checking.

• It was 1-0 Sharks until Brownie FINALLY scored on the power play with just 9.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

• Despite the two penalties they took in OT, Jon Quick came up big, and only allowed one shooter to score in the shootout. Unfortunately Greiss did even better and didn't allow anyone to score in the shootout so the Sharks won.

Yer doin' it wrong!

Elsewhere:

• Theo Fleury scored the deciding shootout goal for the Calgary Flames... I still have trouble remembering he's back. Its not that it makes a huge impact on my life, but my brain has become hardwired to read "Fleury" and think "Marc-Andre" not "Theoren" so I keep getting tripped up by this comeback.

• Dion Phaneuf was convicted for the attempted murder of Kyle Okposo in last night's Flames/Islanders game. Okposo was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Seeing someone laying on the ice, head in their hands while goalies and linemates wrestle for his defense is not something you expect to see in the pre-season. Okposo irritates me when he's on Team USA but Phaneuf irritates me all the time, so advantage Okposo. Get better soon.
  

Everything about last night's game from employees to the game itself felt very pre-season. There wasn't the usual amount of nervous energy you feel at most Sabres games. There wasn't as much shouting in the concourse, there wasn't as much beer consumed. But there was still a lot of excitement. Unlike games where the Sabres HAVE to win or they're screwed, people were genuinely happy. Even when they lost, people were ok with it. Everyone seemed just happy that hockey is FINALLY coming back.

And the Winner Is...

by Anne

The question was posed in a week long poll in the left sidebar of this blog:

"There's been a lot said about the Sabres' emotionless dressing room. Which of these players from the NHL known to play with emotion would you add to the team?"

The winner, with 17% of the vote was:

Mr. Wiz Wear himself, James Wisniewski

I have to admit I was surprised at the selection of Wiz. I really thought it would be Kesler, but he came in 4th behind Drew Miller and Matt Greene who were tied for 2nd. And I only voted for Greener twice, so others were giving Greener some love as well.

Wiz was a huge fan favorite in Chicago before being traded to Anaheim where, no doubt, he's quite popular. He's a solid defenseman and he gives a great interview, something every team needs more of, I'm sure. Here Wiz discusses his name's pronunciation, Adam Burish in a bar fight and the size of his noggin:

Here he is with Bur, Tazer and Soupy:

Also, Wiz is an RFA this summer. Drat. Let's convince Anaheim to sign him, then trade him and Drew Miller to the Sabres for... a 4th round pick. They'll totally agree to that, right?

Really, San Jose? Really.

by Anne

What the HELL is wrong with the San Jose Sharks? I know the long-running comment is that they choke in the post season. This isn't choking, this is imploding. This is throwing yourselves down a flight of stairs bad.

How embarrassing to be a Sharks fan. Do they blow up the team? I bet Patty Marleau would LOVE Buffalo, he and Craigory can be friends.

I guess everything really is different in the playoffs? Still, what the HELL San Jose? They're making Jonas Hiller look like the most incredible goaltender of all time. Now, Hiller is a solid goalie, that's not the debate, but he's putting up Luongo-esque numbers and he's not Roberto Luongo.

Ron Wilson at least got the team into the 2nd round last season, without much trouble, and he lost his job. So, does McClellan survive this? This is just embarrassing. How does a team go 53-18-11, losing only a TOTAL of nine times (0-5-4) on home ice and play this badly in the first round against a team that barely made it into the playoffs? They didn't dominate offensively in the regular season- they barely cracked the top ten in goals for- but they had the 2nd fewest goals against, meaning solid defense and goaltending. That is NOT what this series would lead you to believe.

At least when WE won the President's Trophy we made a go of it all the way to the Conference finals before figuratively throwing ourselves off a 10th floor balcony.

Un-freakin'-believable.

Moving on:

My playoff picks are so far picking the correct winners but I didn't predict any sweeps, nevermind THREE. I definitely thought the Blues and Habs would do better. Apparently they decided to prove me wrong. I think only Corey Perry's mom thought the Ducks would play THIS well against San Jose.

The Pirates lost Game 4 to the Providence Bruins and trail in the series 3-1. Mark Mancari scored first and two quick goals in the end of the second were all Providence needed to slam the door. Booo. The series moves back to Providence for game 5 and, if necessary, game 6 will be back in Portland.

Speaking of Portland and Buffalo and San Jose and Ryan Miller(?) Drew Miller scored an empty net goal last night to slam the door on the Sharks. He's also #3 in our poll so far.

Is is all just setting the Ducks up for a HUGE collapse in the 2nd round against Detroit which is who they will face if they make it through (psh-WHEN they make it). Vancouver will face the winner of Calgary-Chicago. This all changes if the Sharks put together an AMAZING come back and win out the rest of the games, which is not impossible... buuuuut... Ryan Getzlaf brought his game face... or something:

That, my friends is the face of a winner.

That Wasn't Fun

by Anne

Ok, this isn't fun anymore.

I was afraid this would happen.

When the Ducks scored on their first shot on net, everyone in Buffalo curled up in the fetal position and started repeatedly stabbing their Scott Gomez voodoo dolls in the left lower high ankle.

There are precious few things I hate more than giving up short-handed goals and we've now done it in two of the last three games.

Jaro was a -3?!

Whatever. I feel like I need to take another shower and get the stench of that game off of me.

On top of the grossness of the game there's this weird dude who works at a stand near me and decided to uncomfortably talk to me ALL NIGHT. Not just like making small talk, I mean saying weird things to me about how I'm doing my job as I'm walking past, clearly in a hurry. And he was a little creepy and had ginormous holes in his earlobes I have no idea who this dude is or if he's worked there all season and just decided tonight was the night to try and make a move. This is almost as bad as the guy who rammed a garbage tote into my hip and then started asking me how I was doing that night. What? Where's that dude who offered to fly me to Nova Scotia when I need him?

BUT. The highlight of the evening!

During the second period, an announcement roughly like this one came over the PA system throughout the Arena:

"Michael Callahan please report to the security desk, your wife has gone into labor."

HA!

The Canucks were shut out by the Habs so they got two more points. But, on the positive side of things, both the Panthers and the Hurricanes lost in regulation tonight. Thanks Ottawa and Boston!

Also, I got home in time to see the Kings win in the shoot out! However, because the Ducks won tonight over whatever team they were playing, the Kings still remain four points out of eighth place. Boo.

I passed a random Duck warming up tonight and I just looked at their roster and I still have no idea who it was. It might've been Bobby Ryan? Maybe Sheldon Brookbank? Maybe just a random dude in under armour doing some windsprints?

I miss you.
I hope that you come back before the next home game so I won't run the risk of passing you downstairs and crying a little at your Stormtrooper boot

They're Almost Home!

by Anne

Looks like Monday Wednesday and Friday mornings are just going to be a BLAST this semester.We spent an entire 50 minute class basically saying "damn whitey" and "Here's why we all suck because of what our ancestors did to the Native Americans." Then we switched to discussing how cows are killed in slaughterhouses and Americans are really good at genocide because there are so few Native Americans left.

GREAT. What a really superb way to start the day.

We also discussed why we should feel bad for the Irish. Ok so I feel bad about killing Native Americans and bad for myself for being Irish. Welcome to the great American dichotomy.

Anyway, Ducks tonight. In the Ducks we face potential Calder winner Bobby "The dude picked after Sidney Crosby" Ryan. Steve Mason, the new goal tending wunderkind (take THAT Carey Price) has announced he was making out with Phil Kessel and has mono so who knows how long he'll be out damaging his chances at the Calder. Although, its nice to have the Calder actually be a competition. Last season between Backstrom and Kane was close, which is fun. Just like that "Who ever will with the Hart?" feeling of uncertainty from last year... right? No? I was the only one who thought Iggy had a chance? Fine, whatevs. Be like that.

Right, the Brian Burke-less Ducks. Final game of the six game road trip and yet another Western Conference playoff team. The Coyotes were in the playoff picture when our road trip started, but are not anymore. Woo!

The Ducks are 25-22-5 but are not exactly dominating at home, going 13-11-3 so far this season. We have an almost identical road record, 13-10-3, and have scored the same number of goals on the season, 149. Their powerplay is strong but their penalty kill is middling, opposite of our special teams stats. Therefore, both teams should really be concentrating on staying out of the box.

Interesting stat: the Ducks have not won a SINGLE GAME this season when trailing after the first period. WHAT? That's pretty ridiculous. Its crucial that the Sabres get an early lead.

Therefore I predict a 2-0 Ducks score after the first.

The Ducks lost 2-1 to the Islanders before the break. Gross. That's really really sad. Of course we almost lost to the Islanders that one time but we still won and that's all that matters in the long run. Its not like that one point the Isles got is really going to hurt our playoff chances.

All games are "important" and "must win" and "blah blah blah" but we're four points behind Philly and they have a game in hand. Carolina is two points back with Pittsburgh and Florida hot on their heels. We really need to create some space in standings so I no longer feel like I want to vomit every time I see that one of those three teams has won a game.

Giguere has been playing very poorly lately and Hiller has made the last three starts. There was no decision as to which goalie would be in net tonight when the Sabres posted in the game preview. I really have no opinion on the matter so I'll say that I hope its Hiller because I don't want to be the team that Giguere has his epic turn around on and we lose like 8-0.

We're the only Eastern Conference team playing tonight.

So Yoyo and Sissy are out, Mairsy and Webby are in. I'd love to take a shot at defensive pairings but I just have no clue anymore. Who's even playing still? Rivet, Lydman, Paetsch, Weber, Butler and Gragnani. Oh wow. When Nathan Paetsch is like your #3 or #4 defensemen, things is not good.

Maybe:
Rivet - Butler
Lydman - Weber
Paetsch - Gragnani

Wow. I'm really sorry I decided to think about this in detail.

TEPPO WHERE ARE YOU? REGGIE?! HANK?! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

No, its ok, its ok. No really, its fine. We just need to play a Phoenix or Edmonton game again and things will be ok. We can't have a Calgary again. Remember how sweeeeeeet Weber was when he was called up last season? Its fine. No worries over here.

Its a late one tonight folks, so settle in. I don't have class until 1:40 tomorrow so I'll be able to watch the whole thing and then sleeeeep in. Woo!

Mike Green, I love you and your short neo-Flock of Seagulls hairstyle

Kids are Funny

by Anne

Anaheim Ducks' center and Buffalo native, Todd Marchant, sent his son, Tim, to the Ducks' locker room to ask them some questions for something called "The Element"*. Embedding videos tends to make my blog freak out, so here's the link.

I love watching this like 6 year old kid stttrrrreeetccchhhhingg to get the microphone near Ryan Getzlaf's partially toothless face. So cute.

Awwwwwwww

The Sabres have redesigned their homepage. Its not drastically different but the graphic at the top has removed Tim Connolly and Jason Pominville and replaced it with a picture of just Ryan Miller. Just because I LOVE being a sensationalist and jumping to outrageous conclusions based on nothing but heresay and innuendo so I'd like to point out that last year just before Soupy was traded, a new team video came out (for no apparent reason) that had removed all images of him.... just sayin'. Hahahahahahahaha.

*I edited that sentence because when I re-read it, it sounded like Tim Marchant was the Anaheim Ducks' center, whoops - he's like 4'2"

Detention for you both

by Anne

I love that hockey's greatest scandal in recent years has not been drugs, hookers, dog fighting, gambling or the illegal sale of exotic birds and animals. It has, in fact, been a not-so-private tête-à-tête between Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers and Brian Burke of the Mightily Mighty Ducks of Anaheim... Mighty.

Burke threw the right hook of calling Edmonton a washed up team (just over a year after they were in the Cup final...) and Lowe countered with a kick to the money maker by comparing, um, the number of Stanley Cup rings each team has. Hockey fans all over... Edmonton (maybe) were a-twitter. What will happen next? Will Brian Burke start insulting Kevin Lowe's mother? Will we need Ryan Miller to intervene with a few more killer "yo mama" jokes? Will Kevin Lowe start trashing Anaheim's school system's shortcomings? Will Chris Pronger have to be the voice of reason. If so: HEAD FOR THE HILLS, ITS ALL OVER, THERE'S NO SAVING IT NOW, PRONGER IS INVOLVED. IT CAN ONLY GO BADLY FROM HERE ON OUT!

But wait! What's that! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a widely despised anti-Candian labor stoppage facilitator and NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman! Never fear, Papa Gary is here. Bettman swooped in with patented "hey hey hey, boys, if you can't say anything nice..." argument that has worked to keep these vicious attacks at bay for the last 18 hours or so.

The NHL, so full of drama and intrigue. Startling.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Night

by Anne

Today we bid farewell to those teams that have departed from the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round.


First, we say good-bye to the Minnesota Wild:

I have nothing against the Minnesota Wild, and in fact, was sort of pulling for them to win this series. I know Minnesotans are great hockey fans so it's too bad they were elimidated. The first three games were quite exciting. I tried really hard to get into them, but the allure of J-Rome pulled me towards the station playing his game. Sidenote: Gabby, um, where were you in this series? You need to earn back your superman roster photo stance.


Faretheewell, New Jersey Devils:

I may think your logo is kind of lame-tastic, and I still remain almost entirely indifferent to your existence, but I really really wanted you to beat the Rangers. Booooooo! Yuck! However, even though you lost, I shall not mock you or your logo. Let's face it, the Buffalo Sabres logo is pretty damn stupid and, inspite of their knack for schooling us in the shootout I like that Saucy Minx, and Zachy P.

Enjoy the golf course, Nashville Predators:

I was going to draw tears or something on your logo to make the tiger look really sad, but then I found your third jerseys and they're so heinously awful that there is no need to deface them further. Yick.

Sleep soundly and train hard (but not too hard) this off-season, Boston Bruins:

I'm torn about the Bruins, they stole our playoff spot, but I don't really hate them. My Grandpa is from Boston...they have Phil Kessel (blech) but they also have Marc Savard (eeee!). I'm not sorry they're out, but I'm not over the moon with excitement that Montreal is still in it.

If you see Jarome Iginla, tell him I'm no longer speaking to him.

I'm really mad at the Flames. JEREMY ROENICK?! Ugh when I opened NHL.com this morning Brian FREAKIN' Campbell's face was looking directly at me from my screen while patting JR on the head. EW! Thanks A LOT!

And also from last night:

:'-(

Bye bye Caps.....no, stay strong, Maloy.....don't let them see you when you're hurting.....hold it together.....aw hell:

WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHH(gasp)AHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Joffrey Lupul is a Stinky face Stinky head.

And lastly, we bring you last season's Conference Champions...both out in the first round. Yikes.

2007 Western Conference and Stanley Cup Champs:

The Mighty Anaheim Ducks of Mighty Anaheim were mightily elimidated by the Dallas Stars in a 4-1 victory decided by one Mr. Stuart Barnes. The Ducks used to be my favorite Western Conference team. Then they pulled lots of shenangians. Then I became fully apprised of Chris Pronger's douche-itude and then they made him Captain, which annoyed me, then Nieds came back, and then Teemu came back in like February. That's stupid and they didn't deserve to make it farther. There were those who thought they'd repeat as Cup champs....I entertained the thought for a time, but clearly am glad they are going home to golf.

2007 Eastern Conference Buttheads Champions

Everyone's trying to be all "Woe to the Ottawa Senators" wah wah wah, things were so hard, you had a new coach, Ray Emery is a stinky face! TOO BAD YOU HAD BASICALLY THE SAME TEAM AS LAST YEAR! What the HELL Ottawa? Are your ch'is so easily thrown out of wack that Ray Emery showing up late to practice twice has ruined your team? Whoa. That's pretty damn intense. I shouldn't take such glee in their losing but I do!

The only team I'm excited about anymore is Pittsburgh! Go Pens! Ugh, and they're facing the Rangers. Yick.

I really wanted Sid and Ovie to meet in the playoffs. :( There's always next year? I really hate that sentence.

Is it REALLY still the First Round?

by Anne


Oy vey.


So, WHAT THE HELL, BOSTON? I don't even know how to feel about this series. Game 7? I, along with most others outside of the Greater Boston Area, gave this team 1 win at most and here they are with 3 heading to Game 7. Wowzas. I'm impressed.


That yicky Phil Kessel scored a goal. So HELP ME, MONTREAL IF PHIL KESSEL PROPELS HIS TEAM TO ROUND 2 I WILL NEVER SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT YOUR COMICAL ROSTER NAMES EVER AGAIN. Lantandresse? Brisebois? Dandenault? Forget it, you'll all be Jones, Smith, and Thompson.


Avs move forward. Woooooooooo? I don't really care. I know those who were pulling for Minnesota and they were my obligatory "You have to pick a team to pull for" team in that series. But apparently Peter Creepsberg has been just what the Avs needed. He's seriously creepy as all get out:

If I were dating Peter Forsberg, I 'd be this happy about it, too.

Why am I so creeped out by Peter Forsberg? I really have absolutely no idea.


This picture freaks me out (and, ok, kind of makes me laugh after the 3rd time you see it) far more:

AHHHHH!!!!

I save random pictures that I find on Google image and then come up with loose tie-ins to post them in my blog.


Just like this one:

My sandwich WAS THIS BIG!...uhhhhh, it broke Ryan Miller's teeth!

My tie-ins are sheer brilliance, I know. I love the expression on Pommer's face too.


All of tonight's series are 3-2 and of the Western Conference variety. I suppose I'm pulling for the Bizarro Sabres (Nashville), Calgary and I'm really on the fence in the Ducks/Stars series.


On the one hand, the Stars have our 1999 Stanley Cup...and the Ducks eliminated the Sens last season. But...the Stars make an excellent claim by having Stuuuuuuuuuu Barnes. Then the Ducks counter with Brad May. Hmmmmmm. I'm torn. I don't like the shenanigans the Ducks pulled with Niedermayer and Selanne this season. And I was sad when they traded Andy McDonald. We beat the Stars this season and lost to the Ducks. BabyCrunchy is on the Ducks...George Bush is from Texas... I don't actually know any Ducks fans, but I know 1 Stars fan...The Ducks did hang with Snoop. I'm not sure what to feel. Then there's the fact that I haven't actually been able to watch an entire game in this series. That seriously affects my ability to assign my loyalties. Hence the reason I'm so passionately devoted to the Calgary Flames right now.

Remember when you eliminated the Sharks in 2004?

Let's do that again.

Day 4 -or- How much longer does this go on?

by Anne

After last night:

MTL wins 3-2, leads series 2-0
DAL wins 5-2, leads series 2-0
DET wins 4-2, leads series 2-0

Yesterday was Daddy Maloy's birthday so my hockey viewing was intermittent. I watched some of the later games, and I was getting my hair cut during the Nashville/Detroit game.

Soooooo.... my thoughts about the games will be mere observations.

Anaheim/Dallas - apparently losing my love to the Calgary Flames and my WC official boyfriend being J-Rome instead of Getzy is detrimental to the Ducks. They actually scored their first 2 goals in the playoffs....in the 2nd game. Ouchies. Most people in Buffalo are over the 1999 Finals. We all still hate Brett Hull, though.

Detriot/Nashville - If Nashville didn't have a totally smokin' captain and J.P. Dumont, I wouldn't care about them at all.

Montreal / Boston- The NE Division match-up. I feel embarrassed for those who thought Boston would win any games. If Montreal doesn't sweep, I'll be SHOCKED. It's possible Boston could squeeze out a win at home, but highly unlikely. I keep saying "Just think! It could've been the Sabres!" but we definitely would've won and least 1 or 2 games, considering we actually beat Montreal at least two or three times this season. The same cannot be said for the B's.

I'll probably watch the Flyers @ Caps game this afternoon, but I won't really care that much. I don't want the Caps to win so much as I want the Flyers to lose. I'm sure Ovie and the Caps will get their run at the cup next season or the season after, they don't deserve it this season, but in coming seasons, I'm sure they'll be a better team. They did greatly improve with Bruce (Um, Jack Adams Award?) and Huet, but they're still not up there yet. Bruce had BETTER win the Jack Adams.

I'll probably watch one or both of the later games. I'll be more likely to watch Montreal @ Boston because the team I want to win is leading the series. New Jersey @ New York I probably won't because the team I want to win is losing the series. Side note, Sean Avery was on the TMZ "Star Catcher" celebrating his birthday. Wow. I guess the rest of New York's sports aren't doing much right now, so let's talk to the goon on the hooker's client list as he leaves a restaurant.

Day 5 starts at 2:00 Cookie Monster @ AO's House.

2 down...lots more to go

by Anne

I stay up waaaaaayyyy too late watching hockey and eating buffalo wing pretzels.

Day 2 of the 2008 NHL playoffs has come and gone and here's how it shook down last night:

BOS v. MTL (MTL wins 4-1, leads series 1-0)
NSH v. DET (DET wins 4-1, leads series 1-0)
CGY v. SJS (SJS wins 2-0, series tied 1-1)
DAL v. ANA (DAL wins 4-0, leads series 1-0)

I watched most of the Habs v. Bruins, I didn't care too much. I "Woo!"ed after a Montreal goal, but my heart wasn't really in it.

I watched most of Calgary @ San Jose. That sucked. J-Rome wasn't even TRYING to maintain hold of my vulnerable post-season heart. On a related note, I think the boys at HNIC get a looney everytime they say Brian Campbell's name.

I'm more than a little mad at the Flames for taking like 6 penalties in a row, even though some of them were totally bogus. Fortunately, they killed all but the last 9 seconds and Kipprusoff played out of his mind. HINC also enjoyed cutting in and out on me last night, mostly during commercials. Thanks for that, CBC.

I loved the moment yesterday when I realized that I do, in fact, get CBC.

I'd write about how I enjoyed the Habs win... but did anyone expect for a second that they wouldn't win on home ice? Habs fans is CRAZY. They were Ole-ing in the first 5 minutes. The team did go up 2-0 in about 2 minutes though. Watching their pre-game intro made me sad because it reminded me a lot of the Sabres pre-playoff game intro because Sabres fans is crazy too. We're just 38 seasons of crazy, they're like 70 years of crazy, haha.

Anaheim, my former favorite Western Conference team lost BIG TIME to the Stars. I did NOT realize that the Lundqvist on the Stars was the twin brother of Henrik Lundqvist. Seeing him on the bench totally blew my mind.

Much like Crunchy and BabyCrunchy, the skater brother is much heftier than the goal tender brother. The Lundqvist twins' hair is also completely different, making their identical-ness less obvious. If I didn't hate his team so much, I'd love to watch Henrik defend the net against his brother.

There weren't any good pictures from last night, just the standard players in awkward almost sexual positions, someone getting squished by Chara, a few "the puck is behind the net, let's watch players look at it" goal cam shots, players about to fall over, and the usual "Wooo! We scored a goal!!" Nothing remotely swoon worthy or chuckle inducing. There was one photo of a Wings' zamboni driver swinging around a gross Octopus, but that was just weird. Can anyone explain this phenomenon to me?

The highlight of my night was actually the crazy grocery shopping extravanganza Moms and I went on. She prefers Tops, while I've seen the light and know that Wegman's is vastly superior. Tops has self-scanners which are great if you bought like 1 thing but are TERRIBLE for a larger order. We had a larger order and I was ready to explode it was so annoying, and I was tired. A lethal combination. Then we went to Wegmans where they had TOP SHELF SUNDAE but no Breakaway Berrier. That 1/2 gallon was like a slap in the face. For those that don't know, Top Shelf Sundae is an ice cream flavor made last season to celebrate how awesome the Sabres were are were, and I was grossed out, lol. I quickly got over it after pledging a sit-in until I was personally brought a 1/2 gallon of Breakaway Berrier by Ryan Miller himself. I'll wait, I don't care if he's in Michigan or Nova Scotia or Anaheim or Beirut, I'll wait. I'll be in the frozen section of the Wegmans on Amherst St. I'll live-blog about the crazies that walk by.

I've been unfaithful to the Sabres

by Anne
Ok, so I have to admit, I've been stepping out on the Sabres. Not to the same magnitude as the All-Star weekend where I was like a 45 year old divorcee at a singles' mingle. But, I have been peeking a little more frequently at my #2 and #3.

So, inspired by Katebits recent rundown of her feelings on the Eastern Conference, I thought I'd enlighten our readers as to which teams are distant 2nd and 3rd in my heart and why.

#2 The Pittsburgh Penguins

I grew up in a football household. My uncle and cousins played football in high school and college and now coach it, same with my grandfathers.

My mom grew up an avid football fan, my dad the same, although his was more of a baseball household.

Both my parents were raised Pittsburgh Steelers fans despite my mother's close proximity to the Washington Redskins.

No one in my family before me was really a hockey fan. So, why, might you ask, do I give a hoot about the Pittsburgh Penguins? They were mostly terrible when my parents were tots, so no one in Pittsburgh even cared about them. My parents were married and lived in the city during the dreadful declaring of bankruptcy 1974-1975 season, so, city-wide morale for hockey was at an all time low.

So, why, might you ask, do I cheer for them?

This man

Mario Lemieux.

Until recently, I was anti-superstar. I can't stand Wayne Gretzky. I fully acknowledge that he was one of the greatest hockey players of all time, and many of his records will probably stand forever, in spite of Sid the Kid's attempts to break them. However, as he was considered #1, by most of the NHL, Mr. Lemieux was considered #2. I found this offensive, and therefore like him better. Nevermind that Gretzky has said nothing but great things about Lemieux and how he admired him. Phooey.

Lemieux was the Ovechkin to Gretzky's Crosby. Still widely regarded as one of the greatest, but could never quite break fully from his shadow, didn't create the media frenzy of his more highly publicized rival. Most people outside of hockey don't know who Sidney Crosby is, NONE of them know who Alexander Ovechkin is.

Only Lemieux, Gordie Howe and Gretzky have won the Art Ross 6+ times. Lemieux even beat out Pat Lalalalalalalafontaine for the award in 1993. However, Lemieux was coming back from being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, and you can't help but be impressed. He missed 24 games that season while battling the disease, and STILL won the Art Ross. Bitchin'.

I think its this way I feel about Lemieux that makes me an Ovechkin fan instead of Crosby, inspite of the fact that Sid the Kid is a Penguin. I still like him but I'll take Ovechkin.

When the Pens won yesterday, I was super stoked because it was good for them and better for us that the Pens beat the Caps. Sorry Ovie.

#3 The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Ducks

I like them for very few reasons:

1. They realized their name was totally LAME and dropped the word "Mighty".

2. They have Ryan Getzlaf.

3. They were featured in one of the funniest reality show moments of all time: Snoop Dogg ice skating.

3.5 They also have Drew Miller

4. In every interview with them, they all seem like a really fun group of players, so on top of being on the ice good, they're off the ice likeable.

Is it just me, or does Chris Pronger's wife appear to be about 6'1"?

5. They embarrassed the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. WA-HOO!

Getzy and Giggy hug it out after winning the Cup

I managed to get 3 pictures of Ryan Getzlaf in one post. SWEET.

Of course, above all other teams, I couldn't even cheer as hard for a hockey team as I do for my hometown boys:

It was after this goal that I started calling him The Soviet Bomber

(does anyone else get why the ref is keeping Kalinin away from Max?

I will never forget where I was when he scored that goal. I skipped out on the beginning of Act 2 of a show I was seeing to stand in a disgusting dive bar in North Tonawanda, because the game was on. When he scored it, I was so excited I jumped up and down and everything flew out of my purse but I could not have cared less.

I miss that feeling, but I'm sure one day we'll have it again. Maybe not this year, but soon.

What's next?

By Anne

He wins the "you know what" before Millsey. Fine, whatev, he lucked out on that one by being on the Ducks roster at the right time, and I'm happy for him. Drewzer also got engaged first. Being wholly indifferent to Millsey's marital status, this doesn't truly bother me. All fine, but now, Drewzer gets to add another list of things he's done that Millsey hasn't:

Being the first Crunchy to hang out with Snoop Dogg.

Well, unless Millsey or his other siblings have rap recording contracts we don't know about, he's the first.

Fine, Drewzer, be that way. You're my 2nd favorite Drew in the NHL. And my 2nd favorite Anaheim Duck. And my 2nd favorite Miller brother. So there's three things you aren't first in! Boo-ya.