Um, Blackhawks?

by Anne

The only reason I felt I didn't need/want to put much effort into watching this series was because I assumed that beating Philly would be no problem for you. I do not like that this series is tied at 2. Do gooder when back in Chicago. NOW. That is all.

My sister will be in Chicago for her final weeks of grad school this summer, it would sweeeeet if when I visited for her graduation in the end of July, I could see all the "Woooo Stanley Cup champs!" banners and carryingson that are likely to occur throughout the summer. I would appreciate not having to see the losers and ne'er-do-wells of Philadelphia (my cousin included, but not his wife or son)* celebrating a cup victory.

Duncan Keith didn't lose 90% of his teeth just to lose in the Final. Brent Seabrook didn't sacrifice his beautiful face and resemble a yeti to give it all up against Philadelphia. Jonathan Toews doesn't look like Wolverine's reject sidekick to NOT hoist the Cup over his head. But for serious, when are we going to have a winning captain with a proper playoff beard? If Nick Lidstrom's is the most "impressive" playoff beard of the last three Cup winners (if Chicago wins, I mean), this will be sad. HOWEVER, that does NOT mean that I want Mike Richards to raise that Cup over his head. NO SIR. 

Niedermayer's was by far the best since the lockout:

2006 - no beard

  2008 - pittance of stubble, sort of a goatee.

2009 - Does that even count? At least you can see it?

2007- What a captainly face full of hair.

If Jonathan Toews winning keeps this playoff beard drought going for a third year, I can live with that. 

* For the record my cousin is neither a loser nor a ne'er-do-well, but don't tell him I said that.

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.

Paul Byron - Not a Poet, a Sabres draft Pick

by Anne

So 6th round draft picks tend to get lost in the shuffle. I couldn't even begin to tell you who we drafted in the 6th round this year. I'll say it was that Jokinen kid and call it a day. There are actually three Sabres draft picks participating in Team Canada's World Juniors Development Camp. Both of our first round picks this year: Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis and a dude we drafted in the 6th round in 2007 named Paul Byron.

Here are some odd similarities between Mr. Byron and another player you might recall: He lives in Gatineau, he's a forward, and he's damn small, he lead his team in goals to the QMJHL Championship. Sound like anyone we know and begrudgingly still love?

He is the highest drafted player to appear at the camp, the next closest is a Toronto prospect who was drafted 15 spots before him in 2007. That's pretty sweet. I enjoy higher draft picks because much less is expected of them so when they succeed its awesome and if they're not quite good enough, that's fine too. Although I do love higher picks as well, Pie-YAY! was a 1st rounder, as was Staffy, Pommer was a 2nd rounder. Although Goose was a 7th rounder. YAY GOOSE!

Moving on...

If I didn't love Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews so much, I think I'd kill them. Every time I open a hockey related website their little faces are staring back at me. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE! I understand that the NHL seems to think hockey is undergoing a "renaissance" in Chicago (its not, trust me, no one really cares) but must we constantly try to prove to the world that this original 6 team isn't a distant memory to its home city? Maybe once the 'Hawks start winning games the people of the Windy City will start to pay attention, but for the most part, hockey is non-existent in Chicago. Other than the 18,000ish people that come to the games, it's baseball and football. That's what they do. They have 2 baseball teams within like 10 miles of each other for goodness' sake. So as much as I love our hometown boy, I'm pretty tired of reading about him and his BFFL and their goings on in Chicago this offseason. I'm sure it'll only get worse as the Winter Classic approaches and we're innundated with Brian Campbell interviews. OY.

I put too much gel in my hair this morning so I've looked like I just got out of the shower for the last hour and a half. Whoops.

I am THIS much closer to getting a car. See here's the sitch for those who are newcomers:

Back on March 8th, I was awakened by my friend Lindsay who lived upstairs from me letting me know that someone had hit my car. What an understatement. Someone didn't HIT my car they PULVERIZED it. Person was drving in 4 inches of snow just after a snowstorm, there was a spare tire on the front of the car, he was driving the car home for a friend he'd just picked up from work, he was from the Dominican Republic and didn't have a New York State or any State driver's license and he might've been driving on the wrong side of the road. For the record, yes I know "might've" isn't actually a word.

AWESOME. So here's the other fun tidbit, because my parents basically bought me that car, the insurance money goes to them. Dad Jim is not one to willingly part with money and he has tried (in vain) to convince me that public transportation is the way to go. The bus is fine during the summer but once I have an 8am class. AIN'T NO WAY this girl is getting her butt down to the end of the street (like a block and a half) to catch a 7:30 bus in January. Sorry, ain't gonna happen. SO! It appears that by the end of August, I will have myself a car and yet another loan to pay off. AWESOME. BUT it's better than the bus. WOOHOOO!!

I should probably do some actual work since I've been here for almost an hour and haven't really done any yet. Booooo.

Its so nice out, I want to be outside!!