Who'd Have Thought?

by Anne

I can't access Twitter or Facebook on my work computer but I can update my much-neglected little bloggaroo.

So it seems I've started a new job. Six months of unemployment was plenty, thankyouverymuch. We're fresh into week two right now and no end in sight. I'm temping in downtown Buffalo and it is LAUGH A MINUTE FUN. While this job might be wicked boring, at least it gives me time to update this. AND, if Iwork down here, which is right around the corner from the office I was working in when I started this precious little blog's predecessor, I will be a mere hop, skip, and a jump from HSBC Arena come fall. As it's not likely I'll still be working here then, I won't get my hopes up too high.

It's amazing how my playoff frenzied fervor immediately disappears when each and every team I have actual emotional attachment to is eliminated. First we said good-bye to the Los Angeles Kings, who lost in un-ceremonious overtime fashion at the hands of one Cap'n Joe Thornton. Then we bid adieu to the Buffalo Sabres who, it seems, could not recover from their back-breaking game 6 loss to Danny Briere and Pseudo-Pronger. Then the Penguins, who made it farther than anyone would've predicted without their two-headed scoring monster, were ousted by the bandwaggonable Tampa Bay Lightning.

The second round has almost entirely passed me by. Whoops. During the Bruins/Flyers series, I wasn't so much rooting for the Bruins as I was cheering against the Flyers... and a little bit for TimTom. Because, COME ON. It's Tim Thomas. How can you not love Tim Thomas? He CRAZY. And to think the Bruins almost parted ways with the crochety old net-minder last off-season.

It's hard for me to give a hoot about the Western Conference. The only team I actually WANT to win, is the Predators. However, if the Canucks defeat them, I won't exactly weep into my bowl of Special K the next morning.

The truth is, the reason I don't want the Canucks to win it all has nothing to do with the team or their fans or their city. The real reason is because I hate for the list of  "never won"s to get even shorter and my precious little Sabres and Kings are still sitting there, waiting for their turn to eat Special K out of Lord Stanley's cereal bowl.

Alas, if the Canucks win it all, I shall be happy for them and their fans. Totally jealous of course, but happy none the less.

Behbeh Alex Burrows thanks you for your time.



Free Agent Day is Going to be SO LAME

by Anne

With everyone running around trying to find things to prop up the cap ceiling so they can fit in more stuff and trading away all the UFAs, it seems as though the 2nd best day of the year is going to be hella lame.

Although there is serious potential for Nabokov to totally dick over the Flyers, and that I can't wait to see if I'm reading the reports on his trade/not trade/signing/not a signing. Any time the Flyers suffer I count that in my personal "W" column.

The Predators who no one really pays attention to most of the time, have shipped away several of their biggest names and aren't bringing back Dan Ellis meaning the team is one big ol' question mark for next season. But fortunately, it's the Predators so no one is really all that concerned about how they do. I'm not, especially now that Dan Ellis is gone as he is my favorite NHL player to follow on Twitter. Well, I suppose the Preds also have Shea Weber. Yummy, yummy Shea Weber.

Everyone is basically writing it off as a foregone conclusion that Kovalchuk will be a King on Thursday. I mean, I'd be okay with it, so long as he isn't the locker room cancer he's been rumored to be. Do you think Greener can keep him in line? 

I'm also pretty tired of all this "BRIAN BURKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?" Nothing has happened of any significance since that "okay, maybe if we switch out our entire rosters, no one will notice. Aaaaaand GO!" with the Flames a few months ago. I mean, where's this Kaberle deal? Where's the big shake-ups we've been promised. I hope they come soon.

A little sad to see Cheechoo and Kotalik on waivers. Well, Cheech more than Big Czech Al. Cheech was once a 50 goal scorer and now he'll be in the minors? Unreal. Big Czech Al is mostly deadweight. He'll enjoy playing in the KHL, I'm sure. 

In all the draft hubbub, I forgot to show my EXTREME DISPLEASURE that Big Bear has been dealt to the Florida Panthers. EW EW EW EW NO. I mean, he'll be closer to me and we'll play him more often but :( :( :(. I'm running out of ties to the Canucks, people. Kes and SOB are about all I've got left.

I miss the Sabres. When will they be coming back to us?

Howdy from Nashville!

by Anne

Howdy, y'all!

I'm sitting in our hotel room while Moms takes a nap. We'll soon be heading out to explore some of what "Smashville" has to offer us this afternoon. The flight down was uneventful and the weather is gorgeous. It's a little cool but we Buffalo gals can handle it just fine. The hotel is really nice and very close to the Bridgesrone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

I don't have much nice to say about the Kings after last night's game other than to essentially BEG them to win because they never beat the Predators and Bernier needs the wins to earn him a roster spot.

Last night's Sabres game was far more pleasant and for once the Versus broadcast didn't really bother me. I have named the unlikely lone of Gerbe-Grier-Gaustad as the 3G Network. They responded to their new name by combining for a somewhat goofy but awesome Goose goal. A week or so ago I whined a bit about how it had been too long since Goose scored and he responded with his current three game scoring streak. Thank you, Paul.

It was nice but not altogether surprising to see the team's balanced scoring continue without Vanek and Connolly. Hopefully after seeing the zip in Ennis and Gerbe, those two will come back in fighting form.

Time to get ready to head out! Let's go Kings!!

Etiquette Question

by Anne

I have never attended an NHL game in another arena. The closest I've come was watching a game outside Mellon Arena during the 2009 Finals. While I was there, I was, of course, wearing my newly acquired Jordan Staal t-shirt and screaming my head off for the Pens.

This brings me to my question: on Tuesday I will be heading down to Nashville to watch the Kings play the Predators. I have never been a fan of the visiting team in an Arena and I'm not sure of the proper protocol. 

I have attended dozens of NHL games at HSBC Arena and encountered MANY visiting fans. There are some extremely obvious rules that I do not intend to break like heckling and taunting the seven Predators fans that will be there, drunkenly screaming, throwing things, etc.

My questions are more along the lines of: if the Kings score, can I jump up and cheer? Should I stay seated? I should probably keep the booing of the Predators to a minimum, right? How many Predators fans do you think will be there? I have no idea what average Tuesday night attendance is like in Tennessee. If they're playing like boneheads, can I yell at the Kings? Should I keep that to a minimum? If there's no one around me, I'm going to just scream my fool head off, k?

Nashville is not a hockey market I know much about. Are there any many diehard fans? 

I remember sitting behind a Red Wings fan in Buffalo once who didn't. move. the entire game. The Wings scored five times and she didn't move a muscle. Then at the end, she stood up, gave one irritating and obnoxious "WOOOO!" and left. It was probably more annoying than if she had just cheered for her team the entire time.

Those of you who have been to games in other arenas, help a sister out. Thanks!

School is kicking my behind

by Anne

Since I'm sick of being busy all the time, I decided to stay home and celebrate Pi day/ Daylight Savings Time Day by myself while my family goes to my sister's boyfriend's musical. He is not in it, he directs the pit orchestra.

Anyway. I haven't updated since Tuesday and since then the Sabres have had three games and the Kings have had two. I didn't watch any of them. :(

Here are some random uninteresting thoughts

• Tyler Myers had himself a four point night against Dallas (1+3). Woooo!
• Then against Minnesota only Thomas Vanek decided to score (twice). Is it that time of year already, Thomas? The time when you suddenly decide you like scoring goals and do it? Can every month be March/April in ThomasVanekLand? He scores a lot in those months, it seems.
• Then on Saturday against the Red Wings, only Yoyo scored (twice). At least this time the game went to overtime and we still managed a point.
• I appreciate the multi-goal games, boys, but you can allow the rest of your teammates to score.
• This Torres trade is looking Moore-esque from my standpoint. Awesome.
• Then the Canucks beat the Sens pretty handily to keep the Senators off of our heels for the time being.
• Jonathan Quick became a daddy the other day so Jonathan Bernier (No relation to Big Bear) was recalled and started over Erik Ersberg. Can someone explain to me why Ersberg is even in Los Angeles?
• Bernier won a 2-1 shootout game. Winning an NHL game on  a call-up is always exciting but what made it extra exciting is that it was a shootout game. Bernier is winless in five shootout games in the AHL.
• Today the Kings play the Predators. Of course they will lose. I love these previews for the game there on the 30th. If they don't win another game all season, can they win that one, please?!?

Surprisingly, the bulk of my major projects for school will be over after Wednesday, so I'll have a little more time to become reacquainted with my sanity. 

Wooo! Thanks for still reading this thing! I promise this is all just a phase and my regularly scheduled hilarity will resume soon!

Yay!

Sign ideas

by Anne

Hey y'all. You might recall that I mentioned a while back that Moms and I are taking a sojourn down to the wilds of Nashville, Tennessee to see the Los Angeles Kings play the Predators (duh) on March 30.

I'm not normally one for holding up signs, but I think with the right sign idea I could be easily convinced. This will be the first time I've sat in the crowd as a Kings game as a mere fan. The only other Kings game I attended was when I was working at HSBC Arena, so that doesn't count. This was also in the darker days of liking the Canucks more, but that has clearly worked itself out (Big Bear, Kes, SO'B, I still love you).

I will be sitting on the glass directly behind the Kings bench. Therefore, the proximity of my sign to the player's viewing range has increased exponentially compared to if I were seated in the upper bowl. Also, it will be Tuesday, how full will that place be? Anyone? I have no idea. Considering how cheap these tickets were, I'm guessing Tuesday nights aren't a big draw for Predators fans. 

Anyway, I'm soliciting sign ideas. They can be anything from professing my love for Matt Greene, an out-dated Olympic sign, a witty pun or 10. Something about the Kings likely being in the playoff hunt at that point. Plays on the word "Smashville." Whatevs, any ideas will be helpful.

Thanks y'all!

The Kings play the Predators tonight in what will hopefully be a preview of their TOTAL DOMINANCE. Right? Right.

Lindy's Nashville Game Plan

by Anne

Lindy Ruff's patented "How to Suck the Life out of every game we play in Nashville" plan:

• Charge in to the offensive zone alone, Max Afinogenov style and then pass the puck to no one, allowing Nashville to clear
• Charge into offensive zone and take weak shot on net
• Fall down a lot
• Don't hit anyone
• Don't take any penalties
• Don't fight
• Fall down some more
• A few more weak shots on goal
• Eventually, when the whole crowd has been drained of all energy, Mike Grier will score a goal.

WHEN DID THE SABRES BECOME THE MINNESOTA WILD? Is Lindy Ruff just Jacques Lemaire in disguise?

That game was hella boring for the first 55 minutes, give or take a few scoring chances in the middle somewhere that kept us all from nodding off.

They still had a billion and ten shots on goal but only one went in. Poor Pekka Rinne stopped 41 shots and lost. Why do we get so many shots on goal and so few goals? Oh wait, because they shoot directly at the goaltender's mid-section. He will not suddenly become permeable, boys.

At least Miller got a shut out and was all cute scooping up the puck at the other end.

Tim Kennedy got his first NHL point tonight!!

Matt Greene got his first point of the season!

I took a gamble and benched a goalie I thought would lose and I was wrong. He won. Whoops. Oh well.

When does Lalime get his first start?

I vote for against the Islanders at home.

Feel the love.

Reggie is hurt :( It seems to be a mysterious nondescript pain down his left side pertaining to his muscles. Hell, if I didn't know they drank gatorade constantly I'd suggest he was really dehydrated as muscle pain is a symptom of dehydration.

Once again, Myers looked pretty decent. He's really solid on the point in the powerplay. His reach and size and his always surprising mobility is really a benefit to the PP.

I'm surprised that Royzie and Yoyo have the "A"s on the road. I thought Grier might have one.

Lindy: Ok, I want you to crush them like this.

Jochen, stop meditating and watch.

That "A" is velcro you know.

The Pens won, the Kings won, the Sabres won and my fantasy team continues to OWN this week's opponent.

Now begins a solid week where at least one of my teams is playing every night. The next night off is next Sunday. Yay!

@Nashville Tonight

by Anne

See how it looks like a Twitter name?

Ha. ha.... okay. I'll stop.

Last night none of the teams I follow played. Tonight, three of them do. Awesome.

Tonight the Sabres take on yet another relatively unknown Western Conference opponent in the Nashville Predators. This is only the seventh time the Sabres have played in Nashville.

It's a little ridiculous to start looking at standings at stats but the Predators are 2-0 thusfar.

Neither the Sabres or Predators have scored a whole lot, over two game the Sabres only have three(!) goals. Ummm, anytime Roy, Pominville, Hecht, Stafford and the lot would like to start lighting the lamp, we'll be waiting with breathless anticipation.

When you can still hold the number of poins the vast majority of NHL teams has on one hand, it's too early to be looking at standings. I'm not even thinking about moving any of my standings magnets around until every team has played at least 10 games.

One interesting story about Nashville is Patric Hornqvist who was picked last overall by the Predators in 2005. Hornqvist is one of only 8 last picks to play at least one NHL game. At this writing, Hornqvist is tied with Preds Captain Jason Arnott for the team scoring lead with four points (2+2). Dead last over all in the same year as Sidney Crosby and before tonight's game, he actually has more points than Sid the Kid (2+1). That's pretty cool. Let's keep is point total at four.

Also:

• Do the Sabres know they're playing the SMASHVILLE Predators? *eye roll*
  

• The Kings play in St. Louis
  

• The Pens play in Toronto where I'm sure someone is going to get hurt. : /
  

• Will Myers play another solid game in road barn?
  

• J.P. Dumont was hurt last game and might not play tonight. Hornqvist has been filling in his spot while he's out
  

• I can't believe this is only game three
  

• Let's Go Buff-a-lo! 

Oscar still hates hockey

It makes Mommy yell and then he can't sleep.

The Rest of the Pack

by Anne

I need to pick a Dallas Stars WCB because they clearly need my support.

No player needs my love more than one Mr. Marty Turco.

Poor, dear, sweet Marty is not doing well these days. His GAA is a TERRIFYING 4.20 and his SV% is a backup backup poor .841%. Ehhhhhhhh. Maybe the stress of baby #3 is getting to him?????

Regardless, Marty needs love, and I'm here to provide some.... from about 1300 miles away.

Marty! It's easier if you wear the pads!!
And stand in front of the net!
Try it out! That might help!!

Nashville:

I wanted to avoid the easy route of loving JP Dumont, but why fight my first French Canadian love?

JP, I'm an AWFUL skater,
can you help me??

And he has adorable little French Canadian daughters.

SABRES @ WILD TONIGHT!!!
Without Rivet
and Goose
and Hecht
and Timmy
COME ON PATCHES, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Wednesday is Today

by Anne

My glasses broke this morning. I think I fixed them, but who knows how long my "repair job" will hold. Basically the metal piece broke away from its plastic moulding so I basically smushed them back together. Move over, Maytag repair man "Anne's smush it back together and hope for the best" school of repairs is sweeping the nation.

Would someone PLEASE sit the new owners of the Lightning down and tell them to STOP signing players?!? They signed like 20 new players this offseason and they dealt one very promising young top 4 defenseman and a utility 6 or 7 defenseman AND a first round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Andrej Meszaros? Granted the first round pick was originally San Jose's so it'll probably be a 24+ pick but its still a first round pick. THEN they turned around and inked him to a 6 year deal. These men are CRAZY. They spent all summer signing forwards, so to address their need for defensemen they traded 2 defenseman for 1? Yes. This seems logical to me: address depth issues by getting rid of players. Capital idea.

In a shock to exactly NO ONE the Preds have suspended Radulov. Dude violated his contract to sign with Russia and was all like "Thanks Nashville for letting me sign with the KHL" and Nashville was all "Uhhh we didn't say you could do that, you best be comin' back next season or yous in deep doo doo." and Radulov was like "Peace out, Girl Scout." So tot he disappointment of Nashville fans, Radulov did NOT have a change of heart and is still a giant douchebag. Good. Riddance. I still say the Predators should be compensated in some way.

A WORD OF WARNING TO NON-HABS FANS:

I hope you're all battening down the hatches in preparation for the ONSLAUGHT of "YAY MONTREAL!" we're going to experience as the Habs celebrate 100 years of themselves. We all know how incredibly obnoxious highly devoted Habs fans are, and with their new goalie and some new talent coming in, just brace yourselves to be "Ole"d until you can't be "Ole"d anymore.
They're hosting the All-Star Game, the entry draft AND retiring Patrick Roy's number 33. The only thing they're NOT hosting are the Winter Classic and Jason Pominville's birthday party.

That is all. Class this morning then lots and lots o reading, as usual. Project Runway tonight!!! Woooo! Leanne is mah girl, just FYI.

Have a good one.

Radulov Peaces Out? No? Yes? No?

by Anne

This Radulov situation is confusing.

So he's under contract for one more season in Nashville. This is true. This is a fact.

Also, he's been offered a contract to play in the Continental Hockey League (KHL) this upcoming season. This upcoming season when he is contractually obligated to play in Nashville. This is a fact. There are sources that declare that he has signed said contract with the KHL and will be vacating his contract with the Predators.

The Predators have a statement up about it that also references an IIHF decree regarding the situation. The IIHF is where the buck stops between the NHL and the KHL. The NHL and the KHL are like a 6 year old and a 4 yead old brother fighting over their G.I. Joe (Radulov), I guess that makes the IIHF their Mom. The IIHF intervenes before things get ugly, it's like the UN of hockey. Basically, it declares that Radulov will be in Nashville next season, and that he cannot be lured away to Russia.

However as of this writing, TSN still had an article up about Radulov heading back to the USSR as though it were an impending truth.

This will lead to some problems. A young player with promise who doesn't want to be playing where he's playing (clearly or he wouldn't have signed the contract) and has opportunities elsewhere (his home country). Combine that with a team that isn't in a strong hockey market (although during the SCF, at times they were #4 in ratings in the US), and you can easily forsee the issues that can arise, especially if he doesn't perform up to snuff. He played in all 82 games last year, scoring 58 points (22+36). He also gave Jason Arnott a concussion after celebrating a goal Arnott scored in the playoffs. He might be a liability too. If he doesn't produce similar numbers, there will be a general crying out for his head, well, if people in Nashville get that worked up about it, I honestly don't know if they would. You better BELIEVE Buffalonians would. We'd have run Radulov out of town by now if he was a Sabre.

Anyway, the KHL and the NHL have supposedly reached an understanding to stop the NHL from hemorrhaging current European players under contract. And, I suppose, non-European players too. There is no official agreement in place, but there is an "understanding". I just hope this doesn't get messy. This could lead to some serious tension around the world.

There's also hope to increase international play. I'm just not 100% sure when all this international play would happen, considering the NHL schedule lasts the majority of the year, much to NHL fans' delight. I do enjoy international play, so I wouldn't be upset if this were to happen.

Ahhhh the tangled webs we weave.

MAX! DO NOT CREATE THIS KIND OF DRAMA FOR US!! PLEASE?!

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.

ELIMINATION

by Anne

What a CRAZY SHOCKEROO. Who saw that elimination coming? I thought that elimination would come MUCH later. I'm totally at a loss for words:

RYAN WAS TOTALLY ELIMINATED FROM TOP CHEF!

He started out so strong! Did you see his deep dish pizza in week 1? Bangin'!

He had all the potential, but things just started to go down hill. He switched back to his old knife set that made him great in weeks gone by, but that didn't seem to help. He traded in his chili pepper apron for a more serious one, because big trades like that always give people a huge late "elimination challenge" boost, right?

What happened to Ryan? Shameful, shameful. I was so distraught, I don't even remember anything else that happened last night. Let's seee...... Oh yeah, there was that other thing:

I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN THE SENATORS WERE ELIMINATED THAT I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO MY PLAYOFF TRACKER TO MOVE THE PENS FORWARD AND THREW MY SENS MAGNET UP IN THE AIR AND THEN SPIKED IT LIKE A FOOTBALL.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I can't lie, towards the end I wasn't that excited, but it was only because I was afraid Daniel blessed Alfredsson would net one at the end and tie it up, but he DIDN'T!!! WOOOOOO!!!!! YAY #2! YAY SID! YAY RUUUUTUUUUUUUU! YAY GENO! I DIDN'T SEE YOU CHEWING ON ANYTHING LAST NIGHT! YOU'RE IMPROVING!

Yo, what HAPPENED to the Senators? I've been saying it for a while, they're the new Tampa Bay Lightning. One solid line, a decent goaltender and 1 or 2 OK defensemen.

Congrats to the Preds! I honestly thought you'd be swept (ok I don't follow the Preds or Wings much, so this was based solely on the teams' standings), but you've totes proved me wrong.

Harry Neale (woo!) was talking about if Jason Arnott wore his Stanley Cup ring around or not. He claims he doesn't. If won the Stanley Cup I'd wear that shiz EVERYWHERE. Every outfit, every occasion, no matter how inappropriate. I don't care if I was the backup backup goaltender, I'd totally wear it ALL THE TIME.

On another Preds note, they're like the bizarro Sabres, just not as awesome. Their colors are VERY similar to ours, Harry Neale was doing the color last night, their head coach is 2nd only to Lindy in most games coached with one team, and at one point last night, our powerplay song was playing in their arena. It was a surreal moment.

See you on the golf course, Sens! We'll totally give you all the crappy tee times.

And on the 6th Day...

by Anne

Pens v. Sens (Pens win 4-1, lead series 3-0)
Wings v. Preds (Preds win 5-3, Wings lead series 2-1)
Wild v. Avs (Wild win 3-2, 1st OT, lead series 2-1)

Pittsburgh at Ottawa:

Waaa-hooooo!!!!! Take THAT, stupid Roman Gladiator! So I ended up being wrong about both Alfie and J-Spezz. They both played and both sucked. At the beginning of the playoffs if you'd asked me to pick a series that would be a sweep, I would've probably picked Montreal over Boston or Detroit over Nashville. Not that the Pens are guaranteed a sweep, but they have just completely pwned the Sens thus far. Congrats to Boston and Nashville for pulling a one game David and Goliath. Most likely neither of you will win your series, but good on ya. You look better than the Sens!

I enjoyed the shot of the Pens in Scotiabank Place warming up next to the giant wall-sized photograph outside their dressing room of the Sens eliminating them last season. Ha-ha! (Nelson style)

Congrats! Sid the Kid gets his first goal of the playoffs! And, like his Russian rival, it was of the tie-breaking, game winning first goal variety. Now its guaranteed to be all anyone will talk about until something else crazy happens. At least this'll take some focus away from Avery and his new rule. HA! What a toolshed.

Dear Evgeni Malkin,

As much I as enjoy you and your vacant facial expressions and penchant for goal scoring, there is one thing about you I don't enjoy: your oral fixation problem. Why must you chew on everything in sight? Your sweater's right sleeve, your sweater's left sleeve, your necklace- why don't you have a mouthguard or some gum? What's next? Your stick? Gloves? Teammate? Its more than kind of gross. Work on that.

Love and smooches,
Anne

Ok, who forgot to pick up Geno?...

Congrats to my temporary "we" team! Woooo! Hossa scored his last playoff goal exactly 4 years ago to the day, and he was a Sen at the time. Sweet. Thanks for that tidbit, CBC.

Predators v. Red Wings

I watched the last 8 minutes or so which was enough time to watch the Preds tie it and then win. That was cool. Thats the only 8 minutes I've watched this series and I brought good luck to the Preds.

Hasek had to be so pissed when he was screened in by his own teammates and the Preds scored. He likes being able to see the long shots. Whoops. I don't miss Hasek. I miss old school Hasek, not his current crotchety incarnation. I do miss the hot sauce though.

Wild v. Avs

This game was kind of boring, not gonna lie. I hate games with 1 goal leads that drag on and on, because, usually, and especially in the playoffs, 1 goal leads quickly become ties or 2 goal leads.

I watched until it became 2-2. I would've watched the end, but then I remembered that I don't really care who wins this one, so I went to bed. I am glad to see the Wild win, but that's only because I had to choose a team to root for.

On the Sabres front:

Dear Darcy,

The Coyotes signed their Hobey Baker winner to an entry level contract yesterday. I know you like to keep these things close to the vest until they're final, and I appreciate that, but COULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE SIGNED RUNNER UP AND MVP OF THE FROZEN FOUR, NATHAN GERBE TO AN ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL ASAP?!

Thanks, that'd be super.

Loves and kisses,

Anne

Tonight it's Montreal at Boston (MTL 2-1) Washington at Philly (Tied 1-1), Anaheim at Dallas (DAL 2-0) and San Jose at Calgary (CGY 2-1).

Go Habs! Go...Caps? Go...Stars Ducks Stars? Go FLAMES!

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.

Another Highly Anticipated Player Return

by Anne

I think with all of this hulabaloo over Brian Campbell, we all have failed to recognize the magnitude of tonight's game.

Standings? Bah. Points? Phooey. J.P. Dumont returns to HSBC arena for the first time since leaving to play for Nashville in 2006? Exactly.

You were also a part of that 2005-2006 team that I loved so dearly and for many years previous. I also felt the Sabres mishandled your contract as they did JKee's. You scored that overtime goal to win one of the playoff games against Ottawa, I don't honestly remember which game it was, but you rocked it out.

Welcome back to the best #17! (No offense Gragnani, but you've done absolutely nothing to be memorable except give that sheepishly adorable pre-game interview the other day.) Wait, Mike Foligno wore #17 for 10 years...ok it'll be a toss up for favorite #17 between Doom and Foligno. Upon investigaion of previous wearers of #17, Cunneyworth wore #17 when he randomly came back to the Sabres for like 17 games in 1999. Oh, who cares about Randy Cunneyworth? He's the head coach of the Amerks? Oh. Well, we're not gonna be associated with them anymore after this season so I'm back to not caring about him.