Well, well, well... at last we meet again

by Anne

Why hello, people who have not removed this blog from their blogroll.

It has been 2 1/2 months since I last posted in this, what once used to be a daily+ blog.

I'm sure you've all missed my witty banter with myself.

Anywhoozle.

When the All-Star weekend arrived, it occurred to me that I had missed out what has truly been the greatest part of the hockey season for me for the last few years: choosing the All-Star hotties team. Spending what usually totals HOURS pouring over Google Image results pages and NHL "Let's send the players into the real world and take photos of them with babies" galleries, I compiled a list of hot, hotter, and hottest players from each conference.

Reflecting further, given the free-for-all style of team selection this year, I have no clue how I would have selected my nominating pool. It used to be East v. West. What this year? Blondes v. Brunettes? 5'11" and under v. 6'0" and taller? The hockey players of Twitter? Perhaps I dodged a bullet this year.

YET I HAVE RETURNED IN TIME FOR THE MOST SACRED OF ALL HOCKEY DAYS:

Trade.

Deadline.

Day.

My lingering bout of the affliction known as "unemployment" means that I will be 100% available to sit on my duff at my computer, checking the tweets, and hitting "refresh" on various trade tracking websites, tuned in to NHL Live to hear the dulcet tones of EJ Hradek waxing poetic about the careers each player is leaving behind at their former teams, and the "give it to me straight, I can take it" trade reporting style of TSN's James Duthie. Makes you feel alive.

Ah yes, like Christmas morn, my birthday, and the day your tax refund appears in your bank account all rolled into one, trade deadline day is truly a time to appreciate the things you have.

Remember, 'tis far better to give Tim Connolly than to receive him. 

GO ABOUT WITH CONFIDENCE, CITIZENS

by Anne

I have no computer to use other than my parents so I was UNAWARE of this development until almost 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time:

After three months of rehabilitation and countless hours of skating and practicing, Matt Greene will be back in the Kings’ lineup tonight.

WHAT'S THAT YOU HEAR? A CHOIR OF ANGELS SHOUTING OUT WITH JOY? 

YES, PEOPLE OF EARTH. IT IS. YOUR EARS DO NOT DECEIVE YOU.

You can now conduct your lives with confidence because this man is BACK IN THE LINEUP:

GROSS.

BUT ALSO AWESOME

It's Here! It's Really Here!

by Anne

Today, Friday October 8, 2010, the Buffalo Sabres will play their first game of the season! Wooo!

I don't read season previews, but I read people's tweets. So many people have the Sabres barely making the playoffs or missing them entirely. The highest I saw them ranked (by someone other than TSN) was 5th in the East. Most predictions were 8th place or not in it at all.

Figuring out the answer starts tonight! :) :) :) :) :)

Wheeeeeee!








*unfortunately the Kings don't play their first game until Saturday. Boo.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?

by Anne

IT'S OCTOOOOOBERRRRR!

WOOOOOO!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Yay! Yay! Yay!

It's Almost HERE!

by Anne

Players are reporting for fitness testing and physicals and happy fun times because it's TRAINING CAMP! Which means it's almost pre-season which means it's almost October which means it's almost the regular season!!

Wooo!

I had planned to go to Puck Drop at HSBC Arena tomorrow but a friend of mine just moved back home from grad school at Penn State and we're doing breakfast on Saturday morning. I suppose that takes precedence over the Sabres... or at least that's what I'm telling myself. I'm sure I'll see tons of pictures and read tons of tweets from the day so I'll feel like I'm there while I eat some delicious breakfast. :D

Adam Mair has gone the way of our previous most recently departed tough guy. Yes, he's following in Petey's footsteps and going on a PTO with the New Jersey Devils. Farewell, Mairsy, farewell.

Everyone please call or text my Mom and remind her that I still need to be in possession of the tickets to the Kings game on November 19 or I may hyperventilate. Just a possibility. Not a guarantee, but a definite possibility. You don't want that on your collective conscience, DO YOU?

Now that hockey is really back (!!!) I'll have more motivation and inspiration for blogging which makes me happy.

If you aren't already, join in on the Twitter fun, click up on the left and give me a follow. Hilarity is sure to ensue.

LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!

Wooo Awards Show!

by Anne

In moves that surprised exactly no one, Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller won their respective awards last night at the NHL Awards show. They were both adorably excited in their acceptance speeches, Millsy was more nervous than I expected he would be, and both wrote down their speeches. I'm not sure if Tyler got to thank everyone but I hope some day he'll have the chance to thank more people when he wins another NHL award some day. ;) I loved the personalized shoutout to Patty Lalime from Miller at the end of his speech.

Millsy also won the NHL Foundation award which gave him an engraved glass block and $25,000 for the Steadfast Foundation. 

Sadly, Drew Doughty did not win the Norris. On the plus side, he looked really good, like maybe he's working out (imagine that!). I'm sure that Dewey will win the Norris at least once, if not many more times in his career, so I'm not worried. He and Tyler can alternate winning it for the next 20 or so years. :)

Props to Marty St. Louis for having his notes on his Blackberry instead of on paper. Props to Duncan Keith for thanking everyone he's ever met and running WAYYYY over time. When Duncs went back to the media room he realized he didn't get a chance to thank Seabrook and he felt bad. Their bromance is unending. Jose Theodore won the Masterton and told people that GM George McPhee told him he wasn't be re-signed. He has all the makings of the Sabres' back-up. Good looking, French Canadian, great starter for a short time in the past, but now stinks. Perfect.

The show itself wasn't as awful as in previous years. That stupid bit with Jamie Kennedy and D.B. Sweeney before the Vezina was announced was unnecessary, but that video with Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf (feat. Scott Niedermayer) was fantastic. It was fine until Jay Mohr started doing impressions, really.

Some of the performances were a bit... unexpected, but that's why God invented the mute button.

So proud! Congrats boys!

He Likes Us! Hey Mikey!

by Anne

Mike Grier and the Sabres have reached an agreement for him to stick around next year.

Yay! Yay! Yay!

Hooray!

Good news!

Ok, I never doubted that they'd re-sign him, but it's good to see it made official. He gets a slight raise from $1.2 million to $1.4 million. $200K well spent, Darcy.

Question

by Anne

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

WHY HAVEN'T THE PLAYOFFS STARTED YET?!

The best part about the playoffs

by Anne

PLAY. OFF. BEARDS.

Gandalf is a Sabres fan.

Let's get something clear first off: I am a lady who likes her men clean-shaven for the most part. Some men look better with beards or a little stubble, but for the most part, I like my men clean-shaven with short hair. The 1940s and 1950s kind of neat and tidy look really works for me. Three piece suits are also pretty foxy.

But I digress.

There is only one type of facial hair that I enjoy on all men at all times, and that would be playoff beards. NO matter how gross the playoff beard (coughSidcough), it's what that playoff beard represents that makes it foxy. That beard means that your team is IN the playoffs and have at least done something right that season. 

Throw those razors away! Aftershave be damned! Let that peach fuzz start to come in, Tyler!

Craig Rivet in a playoff beard? YES PLEASE.

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!!!

Wheeeeeee!

by Anne

That game was so much fun it was totally bonkers.

I'm all heart-bursty with pride over our little American sweethearts.

It's so exciting that the whole world is getting just a taste of the Ryan Miller brand of badass.

Also, Canada, wtf? Marty? Not good.

I got the Dustin Brown/ Drew Doughty 1-on-1 match-up I'd been hoping for. I'd call it a draw.

SO EXCITED CAN'T EVEN TAKE IT.

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

U-S-A! We're in first! Take THAT, CANADA.

by Anne

It's been a ridiculous few days but things have settled themselves down a bit as I've caught up and gotten ahead on some work for some of my classes. PHEW.

Here's a weird stat: The United States is currently AHEAD of Canada in their group because the Swiss took Canada to a shootout today and team USA has won both of their games in regulation.

This does not, of course, mean that the USA/ Canada game on Sunday is going to be any less of a bloodbath. I predict a 6-2 Canada victory, being kind to team USA.

Anyway to recap Team USA's first two games:

Game 1 v. Switzlerland did not start out so strong. I wasn't completely surprised considering the recipe for a winning team is not "put in equal parts skill and size, add water and BOOM." Still, they managed to win 3-1. Hiller played well, he's no slouch and the Swiss defense did help him a little bit.

 

It's no secret that my love for David Backes is unconditional

His end-to-end goal was a thing of pure beauty.

A situation Jonas Hiller is not altogether unfamiliar with: Dustin Brown all up in his grill.

These boys don't mess around with "keep your eye on the puck."

That's focus right there.

Thursday Team USA took on Norway and finally seemed to figure out how to play like a team in the final five minutes and they won 6-1. I'm sure part of their late-game success is also related to the fact that the Norwegians were worn down by the high paced competition.

Ok I know he hasn't been THAT busy these past two games but this is the only photo on IIHF.com in which you can see all of Ryan Miller.

And he's being scored on.

Shorthanded.

Jack Johnson fail.

So so so excited for the game against Canada!

The other Sabres or Kings photos in the tournament:

 

Reggie v. Czech Republic

The mullet.

Oh man.

I assure you, that's Henrik Tallinder

Sadly, no photos of Yoyo and Hank battling along the boards.

HA.

Some things don't change

Fear the Fin

Dewey defending against Mats Zuccarello Aasen

Yes, both of those last names are on Mats' jersey.

Awesome.

Other news:

My Google Reader is so backlogged it's BONKERS.

Khabibulin was arrested?! His mugshot is better than his roster photo, maybe he should call the Edmonton PD and see if he can trade.

UNNECESSARILY EXCITED

by Anne

Matt Greene is playing tomorrow against the Sabres!!!

Wooooooo!!

I realize how lame it is that I'm this excited but my favorite teams only play each other once a year I want them all to be there!!

Withdrawal

by Anne

Don't worry, the Sabres are playing tonight.

You'll get your fix.

Ya addict.

Goin' to Nashville

by Anne

Part of a Christmas present to myself is that I decided that during my Spring Break I want to go to a Kings game.

Fortunately, the Kings have so generously decided to play a game in Nashville during the week of my Spring Break. They're so thoughtful that way.

I was hesitant about the whole idea until I realized that Tuesday is cheap ticket day in Nashville and I managed to score (super cheap) tickets in what I'm fairly sure is the first row behind the visiting team's bench. (It's row "A," I think I'm safe in assuming it's right against the glass?) Whatevs, I'm sure it's close enough!

My artistic rendering of what the game experience will be like

Moms and I are going because she rocks and no one I know likes the Kings and/or will want to/ can afford to go to Nashville with me, haha.

This will be my first NHL game in an Arena other than HSBC Arena here in Buffalo.

I'M SO SO SO EXCITED!

Peg should expect to see this face a lot while we're in Tennessee

Oh yeah and the Sabres are going to lose to the Senators tonight. Oy. Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas!

by Anne

I hope you all have a happy holiday and have everything you need and want! Thank you so much for following me over to this ridiculous blog. I don't know what it is that keeps y'all coming back but it means a lot to me that you do!

I'm sure I will get hockey-related presents or just sweet presents in general and I'll update this bad boy to let you all know how festive and jolly my Christmas was!

Yay!

He's baaaaaack

by Anne

and he's looking to right this ship.

Ok, actually in the ten games he's been gone we're 7-3-0

STILL

We require Goose.

Welcome back, Paul Gaustad

:)

Sabres Switch things up, decide to win 3-0 instead

by Anne

Wooo!

Sabres won!

3-0!

Miller's 16th career shutout!

Only 87 till he catches Brodeur's current record!

Also, called it.

Oh Toni.

So happy he finally scored!

Sabretooth knows we are not worthy.

Sorry about that weird faded thing from the website.

It's like a ghost.

Oooooooooo!

Or not.

Also, Tallinder and Montador scored.

Awesome.

But when your total offense is those three, thaaaaat's not ideal.

Whatever.

Woooo!

He's a Star!

by Anne

Not that we didn't already know that he was, but Ryan Miller was named one of the Three Stars of the Week by NHL.com. Woo!

Here's the blurb:

Ryan Miller  -- In a season that has seen several goaltenders get off to blazing starts, no one has done more with less than Miller, who won all three of his starts last week while allowing only four goals -- even though his team scored only six non-empty netters. He leads the League in wins (12), goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.939)

Love.

Hopefully getting pimped by NHL.com won't make him too FAMOUS

What a night!

by Anne

Last night the Pittsburgh Penguis rolled into the Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Kings.

The reigning Stanley Cup champs v. a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 25 years (figures estimated).

Both teams played a tight, close game through two periods. The Kings were outshooting the Pens, but the Pens took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd period.

That's when this game kicked into overdrive, the kind of overdrive that all fans (of the winning team, anyway) can enjoy: lots of goal scoring to clinch a victory. Not the overdrive where players just start beating the snot out of each other or anything like that.

No fights tonight, which makes me happy.

Anze Kopitar continues to dominate teams from all over the standings. He had another two goal night to up his season total to 13 and put some space between him and those trying to catch him in the scoring race.

The Kings also got goals from Wayne Simmonds, Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown. They fired lotsa shots on goal, played with lots of speed, and shut down the Penguins top players.

This game, particularly the 3rd period was just what the Kings needed to really draw some attention to themselves on the East coast. They didn't do so well in their Eastern trip in October, and playing this well against the reigning champs sends a statement to the rest of the NHL.

Major props to the Pens post-game analysts who were full of praise for the Kings, unlike the Sharks analysts who ripped them apart when the Sharks were defeated by the Kings. Yes, the Pens were playing without Gonch, Geno, Talbot and Kennedy, but the Kings played them the way they should play a team that depleted. The Pens have been on the other side of that score many times so I'm sure this was unfamiliar territory for most of these boys.

This was the Pens first road loss of the season which is still pretty damn impressive.

Jordan scored the Pens first goal at 1:10 of the first period

Which was actually the second goal of the game as Kopi scored at :27 of the first

Greener didn't score, obvi.

But he had some good passes(!)

And was used by Craig Adams as a battering ram to break some glass.

The Canucks won last night by an identical score but the game wasn't as crazy and exciting because the Wild aren't very good at hockey.

Darcy Hordichuk of all people opened the scoring. Raymond scored, Henrik added a shorty, Matt Pettinger scored his first of the season and Burr added an empty netter to seal the deal. Andrew Raycrot has been solid in relief of the injured Roberto Luongo. Raycroft improved to 4-1 on the season. I picked him up on my fantasy team and all four of my goalies won. Sweeeet.

 

 Somehow, Kyle Brodziak scored two goals

Christian "The Hoff" Ehrhoff's crazy face shows his disbelief

Big Bear has the flu and didn't play. Poor Big Bear, I'll be right there with Cold-Eez, soup, tea and tissues. Never fear!

What a fantastic night of hockey it was!