What a weird game

by Anne

Often I fall asleep before Kings games are over because they usually start at 10 or 10:30. Last night was no exception.

It's easier to fall asleep when the Kings are winning 5-0 over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's nice to wake up to see a 6-0 victory.

If you removed the team names and player names from this game it would've seemed like a Canada - Norway preliminary round tournament match-up. The Blue Jackets managed a grand total of eleven shots on goal in the entire game. If Quickie hadn't had a shutout his SV% would've been bad by even allowing only one goal. The Blue Jackets looked like an AHL team. They were terrible. Their penalty killing was pathetic. It saddens me that Nasher was the player in the box for a double minor when the Kings scored twice. Ouch.

I genuinely feel bad for Steve Mason. I want him to do well. I hate to see yet another Calder winning goalie become a joke (coughAndrewRaycroftcough).

Twelve different kings registered at least a point with all six goals coming from different players. Alexander Frolov had himself a four point night (1+3). He's really turned it around late in the season, particularly since the Olympic break. He's such a puzzlement. I want to keep Frolov but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Dean Lombardi is no slouch and he didn't move Fro at the deadline for a reason. I predict that if they don't sign him, they'll trade his negotiating  rights for SOMETHING in return between draft day and June 30.

Sometimes weekends when you stay home and do work can be the best. Was it fun? No, not really but I'm not having a panic attack about all my work that was due today like friends of mine are. Ahhh it's so nice to be responsibility-free (no kids, no job - ok but no $-, no spouse). I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts which will not be much longer, I guarantee it.

Parallel Universe

by Anne

The Sabres are supposed to be better than the Kings. This is unfamiliar territory. 

Thank goodness I was distracted by getting ready to go out during Saturday's Sabres game.

What is WRONG with them? They lose 4-3 to the Hurricanes and then 4-0 to the Blue Jackets? Come ON, boys. Miller looked really off-kilter on Friday. At one point after letting in a softie under his arm he looked at his glove as though checking for holes. No Ryan, you just let in a softie.

Words can't even begin to describe the Blue Jackets first goal. I mean, the puck did take an unexpected bounce off the boards back at Lalime but good LORD. That was just painful. Worst goal of the year candidate, right up there with Lydman's goal on Toskala. If you've been paying attention this season, you know which one I'm talking about. It's not fun to be on this side of those kinds of goals.

They haven't been the same since the West coast roadtrip slump. I think Lindy's tried the "rest" angle for recovering after multiple bad games in  a short span of time. Based on the sloppy passing and putrid transition game we've seen over the last few fiascos, I'm hoping they're getting solid "this is the system. the system is your friend. love the system and the system will love you." practice time in. They look like they desperately need it. 

Far more pleasant to discuss is the Kings current situation. After a horrrrrible first period on Saturday afternoon, the Kings rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Red Wings 4-3 in regulation.

It isn't as impressive as the Caps current 89 game win streak, but Saturday's victory over the Red Wings set a Kings franchise record for consecutive wins. Bailey wanted to celebrate in Bailey style:

Yay!

I never thought I'd say this but:

Sabres, you could learn something from the Kings about winning hockey games.

Also, yay Saints!!

Another "also:" A few months ago we were all debating whether or not the Maple Leafs would ever win a game, now we're playing the waiting game of "will they ever been scored on again?" Good on ya Jiggy. Maybe being back with Francois Allaire is really that crucial to your success as a goaltender? Whatevs.

TGIF? No, I have class at 8am tomorrow.

by Anne

Wooooooo!!

This whole having to be somewhere by 8:00 a.m. business is just not working out for me. It is true that one day 8:00am will be the norm or maybe even late for me as a teacher, but coming off of a six week winter break where I stayed up until 2:30 - 3:00 on average and slept until 11:00, being out of the house by 7:30 is no joke.

I've started rehearsing a show this week so while I was able to attend the game on Wednesday. (WOOOO!!! YOYOOOO!) but I was unable to watch the Kings game on Thursday.

The game on Wednesday was equal parts moderately fun and godawful mindnumbingly boring. The most exciting part of regulation was when Jamie Langenbrunner threw a hissy fit over his penalty for running over Miller in the crease. Overtime was exciting as was the mercifully short shootout. We so rarely win shootouts that this one was nothing short of a miracle.

It was close and low scoring as was to be expected when Miller and Brodeur duke it out. 

THEN on Thursday, the Kings rolled into Columbus. I wasn't able to watch any of the game but I gathered that the beginning of the game was not going well. Fortunately, the Kings were able to score first and didn't look back.

Oh who scored that goal?

Who?

Me?! 

Yay!

I'm trying not to take it personally that he's scored both his goals this season while I was not watching.

Let's be honest, the only reason he scored that goal was Frolov's fantastic pass to him aaaaaaaaall alone on the point and when he shot the puck he had a preeeeetty much totally clear shot at the net.

Dare we hope for a third goal this season? He has TWO multigoal season IN A ROW. Rarely accomplished. Also, he has a TWO GAME point streak going. Don't call it a comeback.

No, really, don't call it a comeback, it's not a comeback at all. Not even close.

Tonight the Sabres host the Bruins. Pie!!

No Danny, use the STICK

The STICK

7:30 puck drop tonight

So let me get this straight

by Anne

• Teddy Purcell who has spent time on all four lines and in the press box this season and has been accused of having no identity gets slated into the top line with Smyth and Kopitar? I'm all for attempting to re-ignite his game but from press box to top line in one day seems like a strange turnaround. Simmonds for Willy's spot!
  

• Tonight the Kings play the Wild for the 2nd time this season. The last time they played them was October 8th when the Wild were struggling mightily. They've since righted that ship and have played much better since then.
  

• The Caps traded their Captain and Milan Jurcina to the Blue Jackets for Jason Chimera. Now begins the "Who gets the C?" rigamarole. The two nominees on Twitter were Ovechking (hurl) and Laich (yes, please) with a few nods to Mike Knuble.
  

• The Caps are teetering on the edge of falling into the "ubearable" category currently only occupied by the Chicago Blackhawks. If they pick Ovechkin, they'll be firmly entrenched and probably more unbearable than ever before, far more so than the Blackhawks.  

• But let's be honest, I can never hate the Caps. I still like them. I can talk a big game but they are fun to watch.
  

• Staffy is back playing on a line in practice. Hopefully the message was sent that he needs to step up his game and play the way he's shown he can in the past. Festivus or no Festivus.
  

• Only 92 days til the Nashville game :) :) :) :) :)
  

Steve Mason: Blogger

by Anne

Steve Mason, the Columbus Blue Jackets wunderkind and Calder Trophy nominated goaltender is experiencing a lot of firsts this year. First NHL stint, first Blue Jackets playoff series, first trip to Vegas, first NHL awards show, and, most importantly to me, first time blogger.

You can read all of Steven's exploits over the last two days in Vegas here at the Blue Jacket's website. The highlights include him listing everyone traveling with him, which is how we learned his girlfriend has the rare and complicated name of Amberleigh, which sounds like a beer to me; the limo driver sort of locked the keys to the limo in the trunk; there was no movie on the five hour flight, Steven was rather indignant and passed the time reading his "girlfriend's" gossip magazines (whatev, Steve, we see your mailing address and name on the front. You can admit to reading Star magazine, its ok); also the usual "Vegas is crazy, yo." that first timers often experience. Steven just turned 21 on May 29 which is quite a relief because he wasn't sure they'd allow him into the Palms if he was only 20. I think they'd make an exception, Steve, but its cute that you were concerned.

I wasn't aiming to find a picture of Steve Mason shirtless but I found one
Our readers rejoice
Also, interesting tattoo, Steven.
He's from Oakville which you drive through/past to get to Toronto from Buffalo.
Sweet
The dude on the other table is Kyle Turris, btw

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

JUST WHEN I THINK I'M OVER IT I'M NOT

by Anne

YO. Why must TSN constantly torture me?

GOD I'VE MISSED HIS ADORABLY BROKEN ENGLISH!!!! COME BACK, BIG BEAR!

And, Stefan Legein is probably like sick or never actually wanted to play hockey, it sucks for the Blue Jackets that they lost him, but if Legein lost the drive to continue to challenge himself and grow in the sport, then you don't want that type of player on your team. It's too bad. I don't really know where he ranks on their promising young prospects list, it'd be interesting to see the Sabres comparison.

I'm super pumped about the possibility of Buffalo hosting the 2010-2011 World Juniors. It probably won't happen because awesome stuff like that never happens to Buffalo, but I'm excited that we're on the short list. It'll probably go to St. Paul, MN because its Minnesota, which is like the United States hockey capital.

I'm hopeful that the attention would make Buffalo seem better and less "dying" and "decaying". I always get paranoid about these things because you never know how its going to turn out. If by some miracle we are awarded the games, we need to TURN IT OUT and make sure that we trick out the city for the event. What's the city-wide equivalent of spinning rims? There are lots of less desirable situations right around the Arena and Dwyer isn't exactly in the middle of a bustling metropolis. What about the fact that HSBC Arena is obviously an NHL rink, not an international hockey sized rink? Dilemmas, dilemmas. Also, not my issue to resolve. SWEET. OMG IF I STILL WORK AT THE ARENA THEN (which I probably won't) CAN I SELL BEER TO SWEDISH MEN?!?!?!?! LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN BOYS AND GIRLS!!

Classes start on Monday. BFF Adam and I went shopping for cute school supplies. We're 23 and (almost 22), he's starting grad school and I'm returning for basically a 2nd bachelor's/beginning of a master's degree and he'll be carrying a High School Musical notebook to one of his classes while I'll be rocking a Chuck Norris notebook/folder combo as well as a "Shane" from Camp Rock duet. WE'RE NOT SO SECRETLY RESENTFUL THAT WE WERE BORN IN '85 AND '86 AND NOT '95 AND '96. He loves Hannah Montana and I love the Jonas Brothers, he thinks Zac Efron is straight and I think Selena Gomez is a way better match for Nick Jonas than Miley Cyrus is. This also stems from the fact that we teach high school students and we can't help but get involved in such super fun trends. WE'RE REALLY NOT ALL THAT COOL BUT TEENAGERS THINKS WE ARE AND ISN'T THAT REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT?