What is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup?

by Anne

Hey howdy hey.

So I got laid off from my job two weeks ago and raking in those interviews has been slowwwwww business.

It makes it tough to do a lot of things when you're preoccupied by finding a job. This blog has become a casualty of that because it hasn't been a scheduled part of my routine for at least 6-7 months at this point.

I have an interview on Friday for a totally lame job but it'll pay decently well and has the hours that I'm looking for so DO IT UP.

Speaking of "DO IT UP," the Kings are doing just that and sometimes, but far less frequently, the Sabres are too. 

I'm sure once the world no longer feels like it's dropping blocks on my head, I'll be back in regular game form. 

This Sabres/Devils game just has me shaking my head. WTF is with Kovalchuk? All that fanfare for THIS? He just missed the net completely on a breakaway. I love JhoBro but Ilya MFing Kovalchuk should be able to beat him if he can just hit the freakin' net. 

Would he have had these struggles as a King with Terry Murray coaching him?

Also, congratulations on game number 1,000 for Lindy Ruff! Let's hope these bozos can find a way to win it for you!

A Reminder, Please

by Anne

Next time I decide on a whim to pick up some Sabres tickets on StubHub, remind me of last night's game v. the Devils and promptly seat me back down in my chair. Thanks.

It was boring, frustrating, and mildly hilarious listening to everyone in the arena lose their minds, BEGGING for the Sabres to register their first shot on goal. There's three hours of my life I shall never recover. At least the game went quickly, not being hampered by raucous goal celebrations and whatnot.

The Penguins still haven't won in the Consol Energy Center. I wonder if Sid the Kid is curled up in the fetal position outside of Mellon Arena, rocking back and forth, begging for someone to open the door so he can go back in and play there. He appears to be that obsessive about his routines, this "brand-new-rink" ordeal probably took a lot of counseling and Xanax to ease his transition. 

Let's Go Buffalo.... or something.

SHAPE UP, BOYS.

Getcha Popcorn Ready

by Anne

Watching Kovygate from a distance is awesome. As long as the Kings don't get back into it, I'm enjoying this thoroughly from the comfort of my own home.

Watching people do a happy dance and then suddenly being punched in the face by news of the contract's rejection has been hilaaaaarious. I loved re-reading Dmitri Chesnokov's tweets about Kovalchuk's party and how happy he is AFTER reading about his contract being rejected.

Why Lou Lamoriello would accept such ridiculous terms is beyond me. Why the NHL chose THIS particular ridiculous contract to reject is beyond me as well. However, I'm glad it was rejected because of it's completely blatant circumvention of the rules.

I read a tweet yesterday in which someone said the NBA's collective bargaining agreement has a clause that allows for the rejection of contracts that circumvent the spirit of the cap rules, why doesn't the NHL have this? If it did, Pronger and Hossa's contracts would've been rejected immediately as it takes them both to 42 with a SERIOUS drop off in salary in the last few years of the contract. Lame.

Darcy Regier might be maddeningly cautious but at least he never gets the team into situations like this one. It's not Kovalchuk's fault the team agreed to this ridiculous contract, it's LL's fault for signing off on it.

Recap and preview-not-a-preview

by Anne

I'm in the midst of chapter 3 of my psychology book and it's just downright zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anyway, as school makes me sleep a normal person's hours, I did not make it through the entire Kings game last night. I dozed off when it was 4-3 Kings and woke up to find the final score was 6-4 Kings. Yikes.

My love/hate relationship with Jack Johnson continues. Last night he and Kopi each had four points, JJ3 with one goal and three assists, Kopi with a pair of each. However, While Kopi was a +3, JJ3 managed to be a -1. Will wonders never cease? It's because he pretty much only scores on the powerplay, but whatevs. My fantasy team thanks them both for their contributions.

The Kings are now 22-0-0 when leading after two. Woooooo!

Tonight the Sabres take on the 'Canes. Cam Ward is out and Ray Whitney is going through an existential crisis now that Kovalchuk is off the market. He's all but guaranteed to be traded, but to where? Meh. It's the friggin' Hurricanes. They're turrrrrrible, please beat them? Pleeeeeease?

I realized that I mention my abundance of 8am classes in like every other post. But, for the record: 8AM CLASSES STINK. 8am classes on Saturday are surely the work of the Devil. Oh yeah and speaking of the Devil(s):

Like, Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to the Devils and junk. From a Kings perspective, this is fine with me. Dean Lombardi was not about to give away the future for a rental player. No, Don Waddell, you canNOT have Wayne Simmonds.

To summarize: Jack Johnson torments me, the Hurricanes are terrible and I still think Ilya Kovalchuk is a punk and I don't like his anti-backchecking ways. Also, Greener, don't move:

 

 

Sabres v. Canes tonight, puck drops at 7:30! Wheee!

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

Monday WTF

by Anne

Ok, look Buffalo, it SNOWS, get over it and drive like NORMAL PEOPLE DRIVE WITH OUT THE SWERVING AND THE PANIC AND THE CARRYING ON LIKE THE APOCALYPSE IS NIGH.

It took me friggin' forever to get to the Arena tonight. I'm supposed to punch in by 5:30 and be on the councourse peddlin' my wares by 6:00. I walked into the Arena at 5:55. And I left a few minutes earlier than normal. Downtown Buffalo was a madhouse. It's like we've never seen snow before.

Then, to make matters worse, most of the Sabres were also stuck in traffic and didn't show up for the game.

Hey, looky there, Martin Brodeur got himself a record-tying shutout. Good thing most of the Sabres weren't there to see it.

So, the Kings played tonight as well. They hosted Jarome Iginla and the Flames. The last time they played the Flames, Iggy had a hat trick and they lost 5-2. Ouch. However, this time, things were different.

The Kings welcomed Rob Scuderi back from his ankle sprain with a 2-1 victory. Hooray! Davis Drewiske sat this one out, so Greener was paired with OD to start the night. By the end of the night things were quite jumbled, but I've always enjoyed the idea of a Greener-Sean O'Donnell pairing. I expected Greener and OD to play in the usual 16-17 Greener time zone, but OD played 23:04 and Greener played 21:41. More than usual ice time for both. Well done, boys. I'm not sure I'd want to skate in between those two. OD is 6'4" 237 lbs, and Greener is 6'3" and also 237lbs. Ouch. Greener was out on the ice against Iggy a number of times and it seemed effective. Iggy was a -1 but managed 4 SOG and 0 points on the night.

Jonathan Quick made 26 saves, Scott Parse and Jarret Stoll scored for the Kings. The defense was solid tonight as several players including Rob Scuderi and Brad Richardfail bailed Quickie out on a few messy rebounds.

I won't even bother looking up Sabres photos considering none of them played tonight. Although Lindy did mention making up for some kind of lack of work after the game. I'm guessing those players that were stuck out in snow banks finally made it for the after-game practice. Oh well, wonder what happened to them?

Also, I love Wayne Simmonds. Just putting it out there.

It's ok Greener, someone will high-five you, right Dewey?

A Night of Win (Mostly)

by Anne

Wooo the Sabres are the best team everrr!

Just, please, please PLEASE, no one inform them that they're playing well. They play so much better when no one's talking about them.

The Sabres beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1! Tim Kennedy scored his very first NHL goal :) It was of the game-winning variety as well. Yay Tim!

 Fighting to keep that roster spot!

(In a frightening note: Tim Kennedy's goals: 1; Derek Roy: 0)

Pommer upped the population to three, Grizz took hold of the team goal scoring lead with his fifth, and Goose flapped home his 2nd. Huzzah!

Ryan Miller continues to be totally badass. It's an amazing feeling to know that your team is totally secure between the pipes as long as your #1 netminder remains healthy. The back-up situation is still not so great, but it's hard to get a good back-up when your starter is going to play so many games. That's why Marty went to the Island. He considered Buffalo but ultimately he chose to go where he would get more playing time. Now, what happens when Rick DiPietro comes back (if he ever does) remains to be seen. Watching other teams go through their cycles of goaltenders, never finding one that's really all that great, makes me feel so lucky that the Sabres have an elite goaltender who plays every night with conviction and calm. It's pretty darn awesome.

Does it make anyone else nervous that his eyes are frequently closed in photos like this?

Open your eyes, Ryan!

Or, wait, don't.

Just do whatever it is you do, you do it well, sir.

The only Sabre I'm unhappy with at the moment (other than Patrick Lalime - sorry Patty),  is Derek Roy. Whenever you feel like scoring, Roysie, the rest of us will be right here, waiting to cheer for you. Thanks.

Elsewhere:

The Pens demolished the Habs 6-1. Sid scored a hat trick, and Chris Kunitz finally found the back of the net. Huzzah!

Sid looks like he and Kunitz are at a bar, just chillin',

not being rained upon by baseball caps.

Sid: Yeah, Chris, you know how it is, scorin' goals and whatnot.
Chris: Yeah Sid, no, no I don't.

But he did later!

Congrats, Sid!

:)

BOYS.

Mouthguards work better to protect your teeth when they are actually in your mouth

I've never been able to understand this mouthguard thing so many players do

What an odd habit.

It's quite remarkable watching them move those things around without their hands, though.

I'm going to swallow all the "that's what she said" comments that I'm thinking if I continue in this line of thought.

Yay, Pens!

Kings lost 2-1 in the shootout to the Sharks. I fell asleep during the 3rd. Sad times.

But! They still earned a point in the loss and haven't lost in regulation in five games. Alexander Frolov continues to respond well to this benching a few games ago. He had a goal tonight and has seven points (3+4) in his last four games. Oh well, they have to lose sometime, I suppose.

Lovely jeté, Brownie
Maybe work on the landing.

Tonight the Kings play the Canucks. I'm not sure how to feel. Puck drops at 10:30 at the Staples Center :/

Sabres in New Joisey

by Anne

Tonight I have a show, so of course, tonight the Sabres are playing a game. This time, the season's first match-up with the New Jersey Devils.

I have no strong feelings about the Devils. I like Zach Parise, Marty Brodeur, Paul Martin Travis Zajac and PETEY!

Petey hasn't played since last Friday. Think Jacques will let him get in on this one, especially with Jay Pandolfo out?
 ETA: Petey's out for tonight according to Sabres' Edge. Guess this will have to wait:

Please don't try this tonight, Petey.

Goose and Mairsy would turn you inside out.

No one wants to see that :(

For some reason, I have noticed I have an affinity for (some, not all) players that went to UND. I have no particular affection for UND, but clearly I like the hockey players they turn out. If you're not sure who I mean, Parise and Zajac went to UND, along with Drew Stafford, Matt Greene, James Patrick, and Mike Commodore. T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews went there as well but I don't have strong feelings about either of them. I feel badly about Ryan Johnson's injury (UND alumni) but before that I didn't feel too strongly about him, so I won't pretend that because he's injured I've adored him all long. Current Sabres prospect Corey Fienhage attends UND so I'm sure it won't be long until I love him or am indifferent about him. Portland Pirates goalie JP Lamoureux wen there as well. Hot.

Back to the Devils: I'm deeply ambivalent about David Clarkson: he's pretty but he can be kind of a dbag. But mostly he's pretty, so I'm ok with it. He's a little Goose-like in that respect. They don't really have any players that I strongly dislike, now that Bobby Holik's NHL career has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

I hope Petey doesn't try to start anything if he's playing tonight. I love Petey and that would make me love him a little less. I do, however, hope that he messes with Royzie a little, and maybe messes with Millsy a little, just to ruffle his feathers and loosen him up.

Paulie Martin has broken his arm and will be out for a month. He's one of the Devils' top defencemen so: point in our favor.

The Devils are third in the Atlantic and are coming off of a three-game winning streak including one in MSG and one at the Igloo. The Sabres are undefeated on the road this season. The Devils are 6-3-0, the Sabres are 6-1-1. Marty Brodeur, that Saucy Minx^TM, is looking for his NHL record 100th shutout. I feel confident that the Sabres can help him out in that regard.

Puck drops at 7:00!

You too may have your very own Zach Parise UND Fighting Sioux bobblehead

Enjoy it, this is their last season as the Fighting Sioux. I vote they go back to "Flickertails"

In other news:

The Kings are playing in San Jose and the Pens are hosting the Habs. Sa-weeeet. The Kings host the Canucks tomorrow and I'm not ok with it. This is the first time this season any of my four teams are playing each other. Basically, when it's not the Sabres, my loyalties are confused :(

The Games Last Night

by Anne

Last night's games went as follows:

Philadelphia Flyers 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 4


That's what Rob Scuderi thinks of your "physical style" Flyers' Darroll Powe
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0: Good
Next game: April 17 @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 pm


New York Rangers 4
Washington Capitals 3


I blame you
No, not YOU, Nik Antropov,
YOU Joe-zay Tay-uh-door
New York leads series 1-0: Bad
Next game: April 18 @ Washington, 1:00 pm

New Jersey Devils 4
Carolina Butter Snaps 1


I love the enthusiasm, Zachary.
Please don't lose any more teeth this year
New Jersey leads series 1-0: Good
Next game: April 17 @ New Jersey, 7:30 pm


St. Louis Blues 1
Vancouver Canucks 2


Lui doesn't want you in his crease, thanksverymuch Alex Steen
Vancouver leads series 1-0: GREAT
Next game: April 17 @ Vancouver, 10:00 pm


Portland Pirates 3
Providence Bruins 0


Marek Zagrapan with two goals
Jhonas Enroth with the shut-out!
Portland leads series 1-0: TOTALLY AWESOME
Next game: April 17 @ Providence, 7:05 pm

Tonight's games are:

Montreal Canadiens (8) @ Boston Bruins (1) 7:00 pm
Columbus Blue Jackets (7) @ Detroit (1) 7:00 pm
Calgary Flames (5) @ Chicago Blackhawks (4) 8:30 pm
Anaheim Ducks (8) @ San Jose Sharks (1) 10:30 pm

Woooo!!!

Who To Cheer For Come Playoff Time?

by Anne

My Western Conference playoff team to follow is clearly the Vancouver Canucks, that's all taken care of. Also the Kings if they pull off the surprise of the century and miraculously make the playoffs. This seems unlikely but not completely beyond the realm of possibility.

However, for whom do I cheer in the East? (Yes, yes, I know the Sabres aren't eliminated yet but in my mind they are so I can spare myself the April 11th heartbreak).

Unlike my affection for the Sabres, I require that my playoff mistress team actually be poised to make a strong push toward the finals. Last season with the Pens was pretty exciting. Therefore, I look to the top three teams. Not that finishing in the top three necessarily guarantees success, but its a good place to start for the casual bandwaggon playoff fan.

I immediately eliminated the Bruins because I just can't cheer for them. I love Tim Tom and Andrew Ference was one of our All-Star defensemen this season, but I just can't cheer for a divisional rival. Sorry Beantown. I know my Grandpa was raised in Boston and he went to games at the Boston Garden all the time with Eddie Shore and all that but its not going to happen. You need fans who don't enjoy watching you lose and I need a team that doesn't have Phil Kessel on it, unless that team is Team USA.

That leaves the Caps and the Devils.

Last year I enjoyed the Caps Cinderella story immensely. Nicklas Backstrom, Ovie, Mike Green, Brooks Laich, Matt Bradley, Coach Boudreau coming up from the minors to win the Jack Adams? It was all good and warm fuzzies and happy times.

However, it seems sooo trendy to like the Caps now. I suppose it was trendy to like the Pens last season but that affiliation comes from my parental units' hometown pride and not necessarily from the media telling me to like them. Although, the media lovin' them up didn't hurt their case to be my playoff mistress while Jason Pominville was wearing the red, white and blue in Nova Scotia.

Its hard to ignore the swagger of a record-setting Brodeur-backstopped Devils team with Zach Parise having a career goal scoring year. David Clarkson, Travis Zajac, Paul Martin? Good times to be had by all.

How to choose, how to choose.

The Caps have "Scarlet Caps" which is, in my opinion a check mark in the "Cons" column. Although they boast Ovie and his Eastern Motors commercial which is worth about five checks in the "Pros" column. BUT if there happens to be a Caps/Pens playoff series I will be forced to boycott it. I refuse to be subjected to anymore overblown hype about rivalries between Semin/Ovechkin and Crosby/Malkin. These rivalries and "hatreds" do not exist. They were a few comments made in passing that writers, desperate for a story have jumped on and blown up. Frankly, I blame it all on Alexander Semin running his Russian mouth earlier in the season. I hate you, Alexander Semin. However, it will not be known until playoff time if there will be such a match up, so I can't totally hand the Caps an early playoff rose. They are still in the running to become Anne's Next Top Playoff Team.

Then there's the Devils. Apparently, according to the email I received the other day about the Pirates' 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils' AHL team in Lowell, the Lowell Devils are the Pirates "bitter rivals." I would definitely mark that in the "Cons" column. Also, the possibility of a Rangers/Devils playoff series makes my head hurt almost as much as a Caps/Pens matchup. One of the other "BIGGEST STORIES EVER" of the season was, of course, dearly beloved Sean Avery.

I'm sure we all remember what Sean did last year in the playoffs with Marty Brodeur and that awkward fat-joke-laced rivalry. I don't think I can handle any more of that. But, like the possible Caps/Pens match-up it will not be known to the Devils will face in the playoffs so I still have love for New York Jersey. Can Jame Langenbrunner wear a clock around his neck? That would really push things in the Devils' favor.

I don't have enough of an emotional investment in either the Caps or the Devils to be able to put up with their crap is basically what I've concluded.

The Sabres can shill out the same six stories about Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad and I'll eat it up. Tell me MORE, NHL Network. I need MORE. Pat Kaleta is from Buffalo!?!? Wow! Craig Rivet didn't want to be traded here? Great! However, that is because I'm apparently a semi-sadist. I can't get enough of Adam Mair giggling at the word "motorboat" in that "10 Stupid Questions" segment earlier in the season. Also, watching him yell at Jarkko Ruutu never gets old. Basically, I'll take whatever Adam Mair is serving up seems to be the point I'm trying to make in this paragraph.

So pretty much I'll have to wait until the playoffs actually start to pick a team to root for. Then again, my allegiance might change.

I can't forgive the Flyers for trading Scottie the Hottie to Phoenix (really, that's the ONLY reason you can't cheer for them?) so that rules them out. The Panthers are just not interesting and the Hurricanes make me feel unclean. The Rangers are still the Rangers even if I do adore John Tortorella and the Canadiens are still in our division. Maybe I'll just rule out the Eastern Conference all together this year and watch the World Championships instead.

I think this is blasphemous to say, but I'm even more ok with the Sabres missing the playoffs as long as some of them play in the World Championships. I absolutely love international sports so this is totally fine with me. This is also why D2 is my favorite Mighty Ducks movie. If none of them opt for the WCs then I'll be sad, but I'll watch anyway. That's how I developed my random and inexplicable affection for Matt Greene, who knows who I'll suddenly love this year? Maybe I'll cheer for a random Swede... probably not.

I'm In Love

by Anne

Things to take away from this game against the Devils:

• The Devils may or may not have a player named after a food borne bacteria
• Watching Patty Lalime dance like a sprite in front of Ryan Miller whilst celebrating his shut out has basically done me in.
• Millsy's 2nd consecutive shutout - first time in his career
  
• Pat Kaleta's deflection from like 20 feet out was positively Thomas Vanek-esque, blocking shots, playing on the penalty kill = love.
  
• Love love love love love, did I mention all the love I'm feeling?
  

I do look pretty foxy in red.

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.

Bittersweet

by Anne

Half the Game 1s have come and gone with the following results

Sens v. Pens (Pens win 4-0, lead series 1-0)
NYR v. NJD (NYR win 4-1, lead series 1-0)
Avs v. Wild (Avs win 3-2, 1st OT, lead series 1-0)
CGY v. SJS (CGY win 3-2, lead series 1-0)

Interestingly enough, only 1 team won at home last night. This whole "not having home-ice advantage" thing doesn't seem to phase teams in the bottom part of the playoff standings.

Anytick, that was a bee-you-ti-full win last night by the Pittsburgh Penguins. I liked it a lot, we had good chemistry, I'd definitely go out with it again. If it had been a Sabres win, we'd already be on our honeymoon in Cancun.

Sigh, I don't care how many times we all try to say it'll be nice to watch the playoffs without the emotional investment, it's not true. With each goal that the Pens scored, I got a little more into it, but I didn't come within a tenth of how gleeful and elated I would've been to watch those goals being scored by Sabres. Good to see Gary Roberts recovered from his broken leg resulting in a collision with Timmy...I know, right? TimmyHo actually crushed someone and skated away, unharmed. I still can't believe it either. I kind of love Gary Roberts right now, he's pretty old, ha.

Then they had to go and show Mario up in the press box and remind my why I love them. Awwww, Mario. I loves him still.

I hope Ottawa is as embarrassed as they should be. Bryan Murray did NOT look happy about that brawl in the last 11 seconds. That team has been soooo badly mismanaged in the last few months its scary. Their D looks turrrrrrribull.

Congratulations to Marc-Andre Fleury for the first playoff shutout since April 26, 2001...ironically it was when the Sabres were shutout by Johan Hedberg. Whoops.

Congrats also to the Calgary Flames. I watched the first period of that game in my intermittent watching of both that and Top Chef (Zoi's gone, she made underseasoned mushrooms, but Richard left scales on his fish, discuss). It was my first non-Sabres Brian Campbell experience. I really could've done without the commentators on HNIC verbally lovin' up Soupy. They just went on and on about how great he's been for the team and how he and Big Joe are childhood sweethearts and soulmates.

It makes me sad to hear Soupy say bad things about Buffalo. Well, ok, it's not Buffalo, it's Larry Quinn and Darcy Regier, but still, when he and Brownie and Mikey Grier get together and start talking about how Buffalo could've kept them and they're all resentful it makes me sad.

Whatevskis, we don't needs 'em! On the plus, in the 2 games I watched, both the teams I wanted to win, won! Unforch, in the other 2 games the team I wanted to win, lost. Boo. What was UP with Marty mis-handling that puck? It's like he got stuck in a position and for a split second his priority was moving his feet and not moving the puck, he clearly didn't see whatever Ranger snuck up on him and tapped the puck home. Whoops.

I don't really care about the Avs v. Wild but Jose Theodore and Peter Forsberg annoy me. Peter Forsberg downright creeps me out, actually. I like Marian Gaborik for his Superman pose in his roster photo and because they do, indeed, look like elves, and because Minnesotans love their hockey... and their elves.

See?:

Tonight I get to pretend I care about watch Detroit at Nashville at 7:00 and Dallas at Anaheim at 10:00 while Boston plays at Montreal at 7:00 and Calgary plays at San Jose again at 10:00.