Typical Saturday for a single 20-something +hockey

by Anne

Friday was a nice reprise from hockey that meant anything. As much as I'd like to pretend I get work done during hockey games, it's not really true. I like to have my work open and occasionally will get a little bit of work done while I watch, but for the most part, I just watch the game.

Tonight the Sabres take on the Panthers and the Kings host the Islanders. However, tonight is the first night in a few weeks that I've been able to go out so I'm taking full advantage and subsequently will not be seeing much or any of the Kings' game tonight. Oh well.

Today was a friend's bridal shower and it was lots o' fun as far as bridal showers go. Not enough booze and a lot of gift-wrapped plates and mugs but all in all a good time.

Baby showers make me want to have a baby. However, bridal showers just make me want a KitchenAid stand mixer (does it come in green? If it does then that's the one I want). I've always been ambivalent about marriage but never about children and NEVER about KitchenAid stand mixers. There are just somethings that are essential for a complete life, am I right?

For the record, it does come in green but in an ugly shade of green. I'll settle for "boysenberry."

Oh yeah, hockey. Umm, the Sabres are currently winning 2-0. Woo! Pat Kaleta is a beast. I love him so.

Monday Night Hockey/Record Intact!

by Anne

This Sabres Wednesday - Friday - Saturday schedule, while mostly annoying, is at least helpful in keeping track of when the Sabres play  this month.

Monday is not one of the days listed above, therefore, the Sabres did not play tonight. However, the Kings did.

The Kings played the Florida Panthers in Florida tonight in a very back and forth game. The first period was close and scoreless and the second started much the same until the Pussycats potted two fairly quick goals to make the game 2-0. The Los Angeles Kings, more experienced this season and less prone to panic, kept their wits about them. Wayne Simmonds decided to help things out the best way he knows how. Beating the crap out of someone:

Simmer (as he punches): WHAT. KIND. OF. NAME. IS. KENNDAL. ANYWAY?

Ok, the fight was fairly even actually, but I'm giving Simmer the edge on this one. Not long after, Jack Johnson or JJ3 or JMFJ as he has been known (the first only by me) scored. Jarret Stoll made it 2-2 and Randy Jones, filling in for The Piece who is out with injury, scored a shorty to give the Kings their first lead of the game.

Then a fustercluck (TM Amy at Shots Off the Crossbar) of activity in front of Quickie Monster gave the Panthers the equalizer. Quickie lost his stick and in the scrum a Panther shot his stick into the corner. Yes, it was definitely deliberate. Isn't that some kind of penalty? Ugh.

Anyway, nothing doing in OT so it headed to a shootout, the Kings' fourth of the season. The first two came against the San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings lost both 2-1. The other was Saturday night in Tampa and the Kings won 2-1. Tonight, the Jon Quick was 3 for 3 and Jack Johnson scored in the shootout to give the Kings the win!

They finish this five game road trip 3-2. We are never speaking of that Thrashers game again.

The Kings next game is Wednesday night home against the Flyers. Ewww. Hopefully Mr. Jones can play against his former team. He's been pretty solid thusfar. I don't know if Scuds will be back by then.

Elsewhere:

The New Jersey Devils were vying for their 10th straight road victory to start the season, in an attempt to match the record set by our very own Buffalo Sabres in 2006. They faced the Phlyers. This is the only time in my life I have ever wanted to see Ray Emery win at anything. The Flyers won and the Sabres record still stands as their own. Woo!

Danny Paille scored his second of the year as the Bruins lost to the surprisingly not-terrible New York Islanders. I didn't say they were good, I just said they were not-terrible. They're quite like the 2008-2009 Los Angeles Kings. Not good, but not as bad as people were anticipating. Lots of youth, lots and lots of talent and a few veterans like Weight and Streit. They need more pieces, obviously, but the Islanders are treading water respectably.

Mouth open.

Perfect

I hate those yellow socks.

Vinny Lecavalier, a prominent Sunny Hedgehog Enchanter, remembered that he's really good at hockey and had himself a three point night (2+1) and was a +3 in the 4-1 win over the Coyotes. Fortunately, Vinny's Enchanters teammate Ilya Bryzgalov was not in goal.

Marty scored like that

Vinny helped

Tuesday night none of my teams play. Alas.

Lastly, enjoy this unmitigated FAIL from ESPN.com:

Oh ESPN.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

Sabres Defeat Kitties 5-2; Pie's debut

by Anne

The Sabres are the best team everz!

When I walked into Cari's house and the Bruins' game was on, I nearly wept. I spotted Pie on the ice without seeing his number because I know his skating style and I miss it. :(

Anyway, that first period was a doozy and a half. It was all kinds of fun. Especially because each player I told a story about (almost) score while I was telling that story.

It started like this:

Kim: Who has the road A's

All of us: Roy and Hecht

Me: I don't get why Roy wears an "A." Well, really it's more that I don't understand why Mike Grier doesn't have one.

RJ: Scooooooooores! Mike Grier!

At the close of the 2008-2009 season, my list of favorite Sabres went like this: 1. Spacek; 2. Paille; 3. Rivet; 4. Butler; 5. Ellis

With 1 and 2 gone, I guess that bumps everyone up. Matt Ellis responded to his promotion by scoring a goal. Thanks, Matty!

Awwww.

Similar things happened for Myers and Ellis after recently being bumped up the ranks. Also, Derek Roy had a much better night in his own zone and made a particularly big in-the-crease save while I was telling a story about him.

Grizz had an interesting night. From the game recap:

Buffalo LW Clarke MacArthur suffered from flulike symptoms earlier in the week and wore a surgical mask on the team's flight to South Florida, but was in Buffalo's starting lineup Wednesday.

Hokay. I guess whatever works to keep the team healthy?

At the end of the 3rd, Dominic Moore draped himself aaall over Grizz, yet Grizz got a penalty. Perhaps he got a bit mouthy for the ref's taste so he was kicked out of the game. Patty Kaleta was already in the box for this:

Take THAT, Nathan Horton.

That'll teach people to start "Stafford-for-Horton" trade rumors

When Grizz arrived, all pissed off into the box and dramatically hit the door and the penalty box door holder guy with his stick, Patty gave him a reassuring fistbump to the Grizz leg when he got in there which seemed to say "It's ok Grizz, I miss Danny too."

:(

He got an assist!

Also, stop calling him "Daniel." It's Danny. :(

Woo!

Also, Big Bear scored and the Canucks won. Willie Mitchell also nearly killed Jonathan Toews :(

Finally, from the LA Kings trainer Joe Caligiuri's blog Offsides (link in the blog roll):

The most common of the pranks is the tie clipping. Make sure you have a good tie or its gonna get clipped. Last year, Kyle Calder had his tie clipped and as the circle of pranks suggests, someone must pay the dividends. As the team dress code requires, all players and coaches are to wear suits to all home games at Staples Center. With this rule in mind, Kyle Calder raced to Matt Greene’s house one morning after pre-game skate and stole every single piece of dress clothing out of his closet. Upon returning to his house, he had yet nothing in his closet but two dozen swaying hangers. Looking high and low, he managed to find an old suit, one that more closely represented his suit from first communion. Being his only suit, he squeezed himself into the little boys pants and suit coat and walked his way shamelessly through the Staples center corridors. Picture Pee-Wee Herman in a khaki suit – Priceless.

My favorite is the use of "shamlessly." Also, the suit was probably Doughty's, haha.

Good Luck Charm?

by Anne

This past weekend I spent with my 10 year old cousin Ellie. Her brother, James or Jimmy, of guest blogging fame, of course declared that yesterday when he had the day off from school we must spend time together. I, of course, obliged.

We went out for lunch and he bought his first packs of hockey cards. We started cheap. He also bought a Ryan Miller figure from Dave and Adam's that might now be his most prized possession. We discussed at length where he could ask Miller to sign it if he ever got a chance to meet him. I promised him that if the Sabres have another Puck Drop event next season to kick things off and the players have autograph sessions we would wait in the never-ending line to get Miller's autograph. All I can hope is that we meet him somewhere before then so we can avoid the line.

Then after he bought the cards (he's always been good about saving his money so he had some to buy the cards with) we went back to my house to sort them out. The highlight of the cards was the Afinogenov card he got in the first pack he opened.

Once back at my house he, of course, had to check out my standings tracker and was quite perplexed that the Sabres were nowhere on the board. In my frustration a while ago I took the slug off and put it in a mug on my armoire. Jimmy was quite indignant and put the slug back on the board, I just noticed in the circle reserved for #1 in the North East division.

And they won last night. Against the Panthers. 5-3. I'm sure you don't know what I'm getting at so I'll tell you. Last year Jimmy's first Sabres game was a 5-3 Sabres victory over the Florida Panthers, only this time Zednik only took a puck off the nose in this one and didn't suffer any life threatening injuries.

Jimmy is good luck. Plain and simple.

Thank God for YouTube. I didn't get to see Max's empty net goal or Craigory manhandling 2008 Sabretooth's House All-Star Keith Ballard. I was really tired last night and for some reason kept searching on YouTube for "Paul Gaustad Fight" and sorting it by date added and couldn't find the fight. It wasn't until this morning that I realized by "Paul Gaustad" I actually meant "Craig Rivet." I need more sleep.

Pie's game face


Hahaha Jay Bouwmeester

I can't believe Spring Break is almost over (sort of) I have so much to do. Boooo.

Toronto on Friday!

I'm Still Mad at Them

by Anne

On Wednesday I stuffed my jerseys and my Sabretooth hat into my "summer clothes" box and banished the buffaslug magnet from my standings tracker. He's sitting in my "Sports Crazy" coffee mug on my armoire. He is not going back on until the Sabres lose again.

Can Lindy still wear that flamingo hat? I would really love to see that.

I'm happy they won, but I'm not tossing my panties at them until they string a bunch of wins together. I'm also thrilled that there was no epic third period collapse and Danny scored the game winner. He won't even come close to last season's goal total, but maybe he's begun to figure out his game. (here's hoping).

I really have very little else to say. It was a great game but I'm still not even cautiously optimistic. I'm very much "wait and see" about this team right now.

Oilers WCB Ethan Moreau, who took that nasty hit to the eye about two weeks ago, was back in the line-up tonight! ... and the Oilers lost 4-3 to the Thrashers. Whoops.

In more news that no one cares about but me, the Canucks take on the Kings again tomorrow night. It will also be Sean O'Donnell's 1,000th game. He'll be honored by the team and their next home game. The LA Kings' Twitter was blowing up my phone all day with links to articles about OD and random factoids. I GET IT, LA Kings. I'm happy for Sean O'Donnell, but leave me in peace.

Relative of absolutely nothing, I really love this interview TSN did with John Tavares and PK Subban during the World Juniors this year. I would embed it but its been disabled.

I just looked up at my calendar next to my bed and Timmy is the month of March. He's wearing an "A." I have no recollection of him wearing a letter. It just seems wrong.

Also, he's growing the goatee again. Is the return of the fu manchu far behind?

I don't really like facial hair.
Scruff is fine but that's about it


Reggie's facial expression and mouthguard made me laugh
(click to enlarge)

Thrashers on Saturday, 7:00.

Kicking Off the Road Trip the Right Way

by Anne

Once again, Ales Kotalik won a game for the Buffalo Sabres. If for no other reason than that, we can't lose him as people have speculated we might this season. What is UP with these shootouts? Last season the shootout made me want to cry, literally. I feel like the only shootout we ever won was the one where Hank schooled the Saucy Minx. I'm sure we must've won more than that, but that's the only one I remember winning last season. This season we're a healthy 6-2 in shootouts. Maybe the first game of the season starting on a shootout winner was a good thing.

I KNEW Booth was going to score on that penalty shot. You could just feel it. Miller is still 1-8 on career penalty shots, but still, 0-9 would've meant a regulation victory... maybe.

It really sucks for Panthers fans the way our first goal was scored. Hey, at least it wasn't Bryan McCabe this time, right Leafs fans?

What a timely goal for Mr. Vanek. Power play, on the road, on his birthday. Its not as though Vanek has been playing badly, I believe he had something like 7 assists over the last 8 games or something like that, but its nice to see him moving back up in the goal column.

Derek Roy's goal was postively Kessel-esque. I feel for ya, Vokoun, that goal was bogus... but close up that five-hole if you're really that serious about it. Kotalik wanted to try his new "forehand" move he's been hearing is really popular with the ladies, but Vokoun was prepared, so Kotalik said "Oh yeah? Watch THIS. BACK HAND TOP SHELF BLOCKER SIDE." I may or may not have drunkenly screamed that phrase during a Devils shootout last season in which Mr. Kotalik had a failed forehand attempt. This may or may not have also been the same game in which I drunkenly named Martin Brodeur a Saucy Minx...and then called him DiPietro at one point in the game, not on purpose. What a night.

David Booth had a heck of a game, scoring on his first career penalty shot and nearly scoring a few times in regulation. Miller managed to redeem himself by denying Booth's attempt in the shootout... thank goodness. If we had lost 2-1, I was never going to say anything nice about Toni Lydman again. But, we won, so, Toni, you had a nice shot on net that gave Thomas the rebound to put in the net, thank you and please do that again. Also, you were in the middle of the fracas that gave Timmy his "goal", so thank you again. You have redeemed yourself.

Paetsch was "meh". He didn't screw up horribly and he had a few passes to keep the puck in the zone at important times so at least for now I can live with him in the line-up.

I really like the return of rough and tough little speedy scrappy Royzie. He's been back for a while but tonight I felt that old sense of relief that "Don't worry, its ok, Derek Roy has the puck." These days you know that whenever Royzie has the puck on his stick, something is bound to happen, be it on the power play, penalty kill or 5 on 5. Ok he's not always perfect, (he had at least one awful giveaway) but he's more reliable than some of his teammates *cough*Max*cough*.

Never fear, Royzie's here


I could really get used to this
BUT I WON'T
(think I undid the jinx?)


Timmy: You little punk, wipe that smirk off your face



Goose: Aw, Zeds, I'm just so glad you're ok
Zednik: Aw Paul, thanks. Want to let me have the puck then?
Goose: Hellz no.

Shanahan scored in his first game of the season with New Jersey, first goal of the game, and on the power play, as one has come to expect from Shanny. Good to have him back...?

Its nice to start to see a little distance between us and the teams behind us. Ok, now this streak is a total set up for a Sabres classic, we've now beaten two teams close behind us in the standings to keep them off our heels a little. Now we face a team that boasts within its record both the second lowest win total of any team in the league (15) and the highest number of overtime losses (10). Now they're tied with Ottawa for 15 wins but only because they beat the Stars tonight somehow. If ever there was a team we should beat, its the Tampa Bay Lightning. We've done it before. Please please PLEASE lets do it again? We have a chance to make up some ground on the Phlyers who are four points ahead of us right now, and to put some space between us and the Pens and Panthers who are three points behind us.

If we were in the West, we'd be in 4th place. Weird.

Happy Inauguration Day, America!

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

by Anne

Twenty-five years ago today, Jarmila and Zdeněk Vanek welcomed Thomas into the world, and now he's all ours. I hope for his birthday, he scores a goal... or two... or five.

Its kind of girly, but also probably more than kind of tasty

I would love to talk hockey but all I can think about is babies. There are at least five babies going to be born to girls that I know and love this year. Yesterday one of my sister's best friends, Nicole gave birth to her daughter, Brynn Elizabeth. 6 lbs, 5oz. Nicole was only in labor for 2 1/2 hours. Good for her but also bad because she didn't get any drugs. Her husband lives in Michigan for law school so he didn't make it in time for the birth. But he's here now so its all good. My sister and I and our friend Lindsay went to visit them today. She's so tiny and all I can think about is babies now. Girls and babies, its how we do. Also, I only have eight cousins, and three of them are having babies this year. That's a high percentage. And two of my cousins and one of my girlfriends are all due in June. What was going ON in September? Not much, apparently.

Anyway. Enough about babies. Panthers tonight. I tend to think of the Panthers as a team to write off these days. A lesser team that isn't much of a threat. That is until you look at the standings and realize that Florida is in 9th place... just two points behind us, with a game in hand.

If you look a the current playoff picture, its all the same teams that made the playoffs last year except we're in and Ottawa is out. Pittsburgh has won three of its last four and has managed to climb back into eighth place.

Also: Wooooooooooo!!!!!! Stillers heading to the Super Bowl to play the upstart Arizona Cardinals. Hines Ward was hurt early in the game but Limas Sweed managed to.... ok bad example, Willie Parker ran... ok how exactly did they score? Oh yeah, that's right:

Wooooooooo Troy.

Hoooray! I guess the Steelers pj pants and tshirt I was rocking worked out ok for them. Big Ben had a good game, making passes under lots of pressure, including a totally badass 65 yard pass to Santonio Holmes for Pittsburgh's first TD. Oh yeah, and this guy kicked some field goals:

Jeff Reed, Kicker
Be glad I didn't post the semi-infamous "self-portrait" he took a while back

Haven't heard anything new about Willis McGahee's condition after he had his life rearranged after a hit by Steelers safety Ryan Clark. I may hate him as a player and he's generally a douchebag, but it was a really tense few minutes that he was laying on the ground and there was no word on his condition. He has voluntary movement in his extremities and can speak so that's encouraging, but no word yet on the extent of his long-term injuries. Good thing the Ravens won't be needing his services in two weeks! Wooooooooo!

This Claude Lemieux thing has gotten ridiculous. They've actually recalled him. I guess when your team is on top of the world, you can afford ridiculous stunts?

900/1500 Ain't Bad

by Anne

I have to write a 1500 word paper today and I have almost 900 words so I'm taking a wee little break to bring you all some news:

Target brand "oreos" are not even a close approximation to real Oreos. The only good generic Oreos are Wegman's brand. You have been warned. Don't buy them just because an entire pack costs $1.75.

Doof has made the journey to Florida. Wooooooo!!!! Time to bust out one of those pictures that kicks around on my hard drive until I find a reason to use it:

Make our defense better, pleaseandthanks

Normally I'd be all "Psh its the Panthers, we'll be fine." But they blanked the Rangers the other night and are 3-0-2 in their last 5.

Since when does the cross-eyed leaping cat have a broken stick in its paws?


See?:

On their site today


Actual Logo

Is that like the "scrambling to make a deadline 3rd logo?"

Designer #1 "CRAP! Jim! We forgot to design a new logo for the jersey! Its due in ten minutes!"
Designer #2: "Eh, just put a hockey stick in the panthers' paws and we'll work on the logo when they reject that one."

Whoops.

I am on PINS AND NEEDLES waiting to hear about Sean Avery. And by "on pins and needles" I of course mean "have a normal human amount of interest".

Labor Day. Pie. Stuff

by Anne

Well hey there, folks.

So here's a recap of the latest from this weekend.

I spent the entire weekend doing one of the following:

1. reading
2. sleeping
3. eating
4. playing video games
5. moving stuff around the house with Dad Jim
6. watching all 3 X-Men movies

It was QUITE a weekend. I read an entire novel cover to cover on Saturday. It was quite a feat....ok in reality it was a novel meant for like 14 year olds but it was assigned reading! I swear! I'm in a Young Adult Lit class and we had to read it! I swear! It was good though, I enjoyed it a lot. I'm awesome. I also took Jarome out for a few spins... and for those who may not have read the previous post, Jarome is the name of my new car. I also bought him an air freshener that smells like oranges.

ALSO! ON SATURDAY!

This picture is completely adorable

I went to Wegman's, that HOTBED for local Buffalo celebrities and I was greeted in the produce section by the smiling face of one Mr. Daniel Paille and Fiancee. PIE! YAY! He really was all happy and smiley looking. He made some joke about green bananas to his lady. I couldn't see her for her reaction, but one can only assume she laughed uproariously at Pie's witty banana repartee. Awwww. He's not as tall as I thought he'd be. I mean, he's tall but I was expecting him to be more giant-like.

On the real important news: analyzing the future Mrs. Pie based solely on passing her a few times in the produce section. Some definite plusses from this observation. She is not the typical tanorexic blonde barbie that is so frequently loved up by our dear beloved Buffalo Sabres. Don't misunderstand me, Mrs. Pie was quite pretty and dark featured, but was shockingly NORMAL looking in a "she will probably age well and won't suddenly look like a leathery foot when she hits 50" kind of way. I approve, and clearly my approval is PARAMOUNT.

I also noted that I didn't encounter Pie in the prepared foods section where I normally encounter Sabres. This is probably because Pie has a ladylove that cooks for him OR he can cook for himself. Awwwwww. It was warm fuzzies all around in Wegman's on Saturday afternoon. Or was it Sunday? Wait. I'm confused. Actually, it was Sunday. I'm full of lies. Sunday afternoon at Wegman's with the Pies.

Um, yes, other than that.... S(h)ara has a Sabres-related encounter from this weekend as well, but I'll let her tell the story.

In other news:

Bryan McCabe is shipping off to Florida and it'll be announced today at 11:00 am. The state of Florida is LOADING UP with new older residents from colder climes.... hmmmm maybe the retirement community has had some effect on the way GMs in Florida are signing... there could be something in this... Buffalonians do love our "blue collar work ethic" types... although the Red Wings really like their Swedes and, (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't recall there being a HOTBED for Swedish immigrants in the Motor City... I'll look into it... ok no I won't.

I am not mentioning any of the following for the time being, because I think I'll wear out my keyboard trying to analyze all my thoughts:

1. Jason Pominville's contract
2. Mats Sundin's career
3. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?
4. Sarah Palin's baby not baby but it is her baby and then her pregnant daughter
5. Hurricane Gustav
6. The fact that I have an 8 am class and I'm still not over it

Anyway, I hope everyone had a grand old Labor day.

IT'S SEPTEMBER WHICH MEANS ITS ALMOST TRAINING CAMP WHICH MEANS ITS ALMOST PRESEASON WHICH MEANS ITS ALMOST THE REGULAR SEASON AND I'M ACTUALLY STARTING TO GET EXCITED AND I RARELY GET EXCITED FOR THINGS MORE THAN 20 MINUTES OR SO BEFORE THEY HAPPEN! I WILL BE RELATIVELY INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE BIRTH OF MY FIRST CHILD UNTIL THE DOCTOR SAYS "PUSH"! WOOOOO!!!!