Finally!

by Anne

The playoffs are over, the Chicago Blackhawks are the Stanley Cup champions!

Hometown boy, Patrick Kane scored a weird goal and clinched the trophy for the city with the longest championship drought in the National Hockey League.

Bring it home for a visit, Kaner!

Congratulations!

I may not like the Blackhawks, but watching the celebrations, their enthusiasm as first-time winners was infectious. That, and I hate the Flyers more than words can express.

Patricks Patricks Everywhere

by Anne

Dear Patrick Lalime:

Sorry that everyone everywhere was pretty sure that you were going to lose this game for us. Instead, you and your teammates played an outstanding, close game against a really good team.

I hope that you don't take it the wrong way, this is, after all, your first win of the season. But it was a win nonetheless and you did good.

Thanks, Pattycake!

Love, Anne

Ok, I'm coming clean: I don't like the Blackhawks. I don't HATE them, no, far from it, they just annoy me, much like the Washington Capitals do. Here's the best way I can explain how I feel about them:

There's this really cute guy that your friend knows and likes a lot and they think you two would hit it off because you have a lot in common. You meet him at a party and yeah, he's definitely cute and funny and sure, you'll go out with him.

However, once you're on that date you realize all he wants to do is tell you stories about him and his "bros" and laugh at his own jokes and drink pretentious Polish beer he heard about while studying abroad in Finland with the aforementioned "bros" and he also probably is a bad tipper and excessively uses your server's name every time she comes to the table. So, while there's nothing really wrong with him, exactly, and he has some redeeming qualities, he's just a little too immature and self-focused for your tastes.

Maybe some day he'll be your type, but he needs to grow up a little.

Anyway:

I'm not sure if you know this, but they kind of grew up together

In Buffalo

I know, RIGHT?

Sabres beat the Blackhawks 2-1 in a super close game. I'm honestly surprised they played so well with such a good team. Yay Sabres! Vanek and MacArthur both scored their ninth of the season! Woo!

Also: RIP Mama Grier :(

Idiot.

by Anne

What a friggin' idiot.

Thanks, Kaner, for bringing Buffalo some press. Too bad all anyone will remember about you this off-season is your douchebaggery, not whatever good you were planning on doing in your hometown. Great job.

I'm so proud.

Shedjwool

by Anne

The schedule comes out today!

Hooray!

I'm trying to make this more exciting than it really is!!

There isn't really much about the schedule that isn't to be expected. We know how many times we'll play each team, with the exception of the three at large games.

Mostly I'm looking for who is coming to HSBC Arena and when. Also, MK and I have kicked around the idea of going to Chicago for a game, and I've been thinking about heading to Pittsburgh for a game maybe.

The DRAMA going down in Chicago this off-season has been fantastic and I can't wait to see the fall-out next year when Kaner, Tazer and Keith(er?) are all going to be coming down the Free Agent conveyor belt.

Speaking of Kaner, MK's boyfriend Cory came back from Chicago and brought me a Kane t-shirt. Not being the world's biggest Blackhawks fan, I suppose if I had to choose a 'Hawk to support individually it would be Kaner.

3 1/2 hours til the schedule!

Woooooooooo.

Yay Stillers!

by Anne

And by "Stillers" I don't mean Ben.

I was raised in a football house. My Mother's touchdown celebration cheers probably register on the Richter scale as a low-grade tremor. Most people when watching football with Peg for the first time are often shocked by her vocalizations, especially when a player misses what should be an easy catch.

As a child of the early 90s in Buffalo, football was a BFD. Big Freakin' Deal. However, as is obvious to all, not so much anymore.

Peg and Jim lived in Pittsburgh before settling in the B-lo so my back up football team has always been the Steelers, like my back up hockey team is the Pens. We were supposed to move back to Pittsburgh about six years before I was born, but hey, look at that, here we are in WNY. Pittsburgh is my parent's hometown, so what's theirs is mine or something like that. Anyway, during the regular season I'm all about the Bills, but once the post-season starts in football and hockey and Buffalo is no longer in it, I'm a Pittsburgh fan.

I loved Jerome Bettis, mostly because I liked his nickname and my Mom liked him. Most of my early sports tendencies were formed by my Mom, actually. She's not a huge baseball fan and neither am I. She hates Notre Dame for reasons I still think are ridiculous but for some reason I hate Notre Dame too. She went to the University of Pittsburgh and HATES Penn State and Joe Pa and therefore I feel the same way.

Here we find ourselves in yet another NFL playoff weekend with nary a sign of the Buffalo Bills I park myself in front of the TV to cheer on my would-be hometown team.

Happy to say that the NFL's #1 defense did not fail me today. It's nice when a team you're cheering for actually wins. That's pretty sa-weet. A healthy Roethlisberger and Parker combined for a 5 touchdown victory. Wooooo!!! Off to the AFC Championship game on the 18th against the Baltimore Ravens.

It all just seemed to click today. A punt return for a touchdown... I had to look it up, the last time that happened was in December of 2006. I'm not sure if the punt was bad, coverage was bad or the gods of football decided to smile on Pittsburgh today.

Anyway, I can still actually care about football next weekend! Last season the Steelers lost a heartbreaking almost come from behind victory during Wild Card Weekend and I stopped watching until the Super Bowl.

Come on! I'm going to wear my Steelers PJ pants and see if I can find my Mom's terrible towel she has somewhere.

The Stillers have won both of their games against Baltimore this season and with the divisional rivalry being what it is, next weekend's game should be a good one.

But before that, Sabres at Blackhawks on Wednesday. Can't wait for the all-but-guaranteed interviews with Soupy about his unwilling departure from the Sabres. Awww, Soup.

Happy Hallow(cough cough cough sneeze, sniffle)ween

by Anne

If you couldn't tell from my masterfully crafted title, I'm sick. I've been sneezing my face off all day. Seriously though, if anyone sees my face lying around the streets of Buffalo or on the Buffalo State College campus, gimmie a holler and I'll re attach it.

So I stayed home, handed out some candy, took a lengthy scalding hot shower and listened to the Pirates game. It was pretty entertaining. Sounded like an exciting game, especially the 2nd period in which the Pirates scored 3 goals. Kennedy, Schutz and HerbeGerbe scored and some dude named Slattengren, playing in his 2nd AHL game, scored in the 3rd. Jhonas Enroth got himself a shutout, stopping 29 shots. Hooray! 5-1-1 for the Pirates! WOOOO!!!!

I keep forgetting to mention this dude's name. I was listening to the Pirates play the Hartford Wolf Pack the other night and I had to investigate this player's name because I frankly didn't believe that the announcer was saying it correctly. It's Didiomete (dee-dee-oh-mee-tee) what a totally rad name.

The 'Hawks beat the Stars 5-2, Sharpie did not appear on the score sheet but Kaner had a goal and 2 assists. Yayyyyy!!!

OH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL THINGS:

BIG BEAR SCORED TWO GOALS IN LAST NIGHT'S SHOOTOUT WIN OVER THE DUCKS!!!! YAYYYYY!!! BIG BEAR!!!!

YYYYAYYYYY!!!


FEEL THE AWESOME LOVE OF BIG BEAR

Oh yeah and the shootout went to THIRTEEN rounds. At that point AV's gotta be considering taking a chance with the backup goalie and the equipment manager. Once again, I'm sure this 7-6 game was an exercise in defensive hockey.

There are about 90 kabillion other things I'd rather do than work tonight. One of them includes sleep, another would be shooting myself in the foot.

I HATE BEING SICK. :( :(

Haha

by Anne

Thanks to Amy at Shots off the Crossbar for pointing out the Getty Images gallery of the event held at the NHL Store in Manhattan yesterday featuring our very own Ryan Miller.

A few choice snapshots:

Ricky and Millsey discussing their disappointment over the season premiere of Gossip Girl
Ricky trying to explain that James is really Marcus and he's really British and not American.

Wow. That guy over Millsey's shoulder is the happiest looking person this picture and he looks more skeptical than happy.

What is wrong with that girl? Unless PKane is repeatedly kicking the back of her seat and repeatedly demanding that someone buys him pretzel bites with that nacho cheese sauce because he spent his entire contract on comic books and porn, how could anyone look that unhappy when in such close proximity to Rick DiPietro? More importantly, how can any female that close to Rick DiPietro refstrain herself from touching him in ways most would deem inappropriate for the public arena? Granted she may be forced to restrain herself because PKane is there, and can't handle such displays. THIS may be why this lady looks so displeased. It is truly the only logical explanation for such a sour puss

With the exception of 1 shot where the two of them are alone, and one where they're talking to kids, Ricky and Millsey didn't smile at all in these pictures. Too much partying the night before? Did someone just tell you that you'd be missing that nights episode of Project Runway?

So many questions, so few answers. I have to go to class now. Boooooooo. Check ya later.

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!!

Chi-Town Day 2

by Anne

So yesterday was my first full day in Chicago, and as MK went about her merry studential ways I struck out on my own to see the sights.

My first plan was to head to the United Center where the Blackhawks and the Bulls play.

So it started out at the L:

The station is literally right behind MK's building, so its pretty awesome

Then, without the aid of a map because there is apparently a massive map shortage in the City of Chicago, I found my way to W. Madison St., where the United Center is located.

Much like HSBC Arena, there isn't much surrounding the United Center.



Ok it wasn't quite that hot really but it was darn hot. There was a breeze so it wasn't too bad



A monument commemorating 75 years of Blackhawks hockey
They listed like every player on the monument, but it stops at 2003



That fence in the corner is the fence around the Blackhawks statue

Oh yeah, in case you forgot about him:


They have a statue to Michael Jordan



His feet are big. I wanted to put my feet in there, but you cant, its inside the little fence



I love ridiculous quotes that have nothing to do with athletes or sports that are used to honor them. It's awesome and totally ridiculous.

I was unable to locate the glowing, electric spinning tribute to Kaner and each of his 72 points this season, but I'm sure it's just inside the United Center's doors that we weren't allowed into. PHOOEY.

Then I decided to head into downtown. The Sears Tower seemed so close, but I wasn't sure if it was like the time I was in Denver and the Rocky Mountains seem so close but they're actually like 100 miles away and you have to drive up some crazy roads to get to them. I learned that this was not actually the case but I hopped on the train anyway.

This is super zoomed in and standing next to the MJ tribute

Anyway, I got back on the L. However, I didn't know where to get off so I got off at the station that looked busiest. I then found myself it what I learned was the Illinois State Building. Here's the ceiling:

Thus began my quest for a map. Neither the Hallmark store nor the newsstand in this building had one. I went to City/County Hall, nothing. I went to another Hallmark, nothing, then I was directed to try Walgreens just down the block where I purchased the last known map of the City of Chicago. I shall treasure it always.



More precious than gold.

So after reading the map backwards, I found myself in Millenium Park, next to the Bean:

When MK mentioned the Bean I said "What is it?"and her response was "Its just a bean, that's all its for."

Here's what it looks like standing in the middle of the Bean looking straight up:


WHOA.

So I wandered some more and chose to rest my feet and get out of the sun and finish the liter of water I bought along with my priceless and rare map. So I sat down next to the Crown Fountain. Basically its these 2 roughly 2 story tall glass(ish) structures that sometimes broadcast peoples faces. Thankfully, not today. Also, when its hot enough they spray water and every child in the state comes to splash around. In true form, I chose which child I would kidnap as my own:

This kid in his Finding Nemo Pull-ups was all at once terrified by and fascinated by the water. Every time his dad would splash water at him he squealed with joy, but if he got too close on his own, he screamed and ran away like he was being tortured. I will call him Marlin.

Then I decided to venture to the Sears Tower. What an exciting time... eh. It was pretty sweet

My ticket. Sweet.


The people who designed the observation deck decided that just looking at Chicago was not enough to do, so they put up stuff about the city for you to read. Like this thing about how the Blackhawks haven't won the Cup since 1961. Yikes.


That's the United Center. I am showing you this building from all conceivable angles. It's what I do.


Soldier Field. Rockin'


I've added to the list of crazy extravagances I will own one day when I'm a billionaire: a rooftop pool


There is also a photo of my personal favorite lifetime member of the stone cold fox club. Harrison Ford will be 97 and he will still be sexy.


We ate dinner at a place called FoodLife. It's awesome. I had nachos. I recommend it.

Some people might not be aware that the greatest clothing store of all time s H&M. I have purchased clothing at H&M stores in Toronto, Rochester, New York, Madrid and Milan, and now Chicago. I bought a bag and two tops. I'm super pumped.

Then, we of course had to stop into the Ghirardelli ice cream parlor to get some tasty dairy deliciousness, and free samples:

They were already cut open for us. Yes, my two favorite things: free chocolate and being lazy.

Then we sat outside of some water tower that like didn't burn down in that big Chicago fire or something like that. They have these chairs you can sit in outside this kind of small fountain. Every park square/ monument isn't complete without some kind of water being sprayed around artistic-like. And, of course, what did we see but a man that seemed a little "not all there" was repeatedly almost diving headfirst into the fountain. It seemed as though he was trying to get some coinage, but each time, he came out empty-handed. He did this at least 6 times in the like 15 minutes we were sitting there.

Then we came home (it took like forever because apparently the southbound train wasn't working or something, I don't know, it was confusing. And then we slept in cuz MK doesn't have class until 10:00 am.

Today I think I'll do Navy Pier and maybe try to find Second City.

Woooo.

I Think That Game in Dallas Might Still be Going On

by Anne


Bye Habs! Thanks for coming! Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!


I'll admit, I picked the Habs to take the Flyers, but I was the most on the fence about this series. I almost went with the Flyers in 6, but decided I'd go with the #1 team over #6. I picked wrong. Whoops. I'm already over it.


WOOOOP!!! PENS ELIMIDATE THE RANGERS!!!


Um, but blowing that 2 goal lead was NOT cool. Good thing you won it at home, or Sidney the 9 week old penguin at the Pittsburgh National Aviary would've been very very upset, as would I.


I love that Jarkko Ruutu's taunting of Jagr drew a kissy face from Jagr. I laughed a lot. Jarkko Ruutu PWNS Jagr and his vag-esque facial hair. They have such on-ice malice for each other that I bet they're secretly pining for each other off the ice. They're only angry to hide their feelings. They can't let it be seen in public, the world isn't ready for their love. Some day boys, some day.

This picture just sent Ruuts over the edge:

This picture hangs in Ruuts' stall. He says it's cuz he hates him, but when no one looks, he kisses it and calls it "heila"

It was a little disconcerting how bothered I was by seeing Slaggy bleed all over the place. Props to Slaggy for sucking it up. Too bad he couldn't be clutch with stitches in his cheek. Ohhhhh! Burn. Wish you were back in the Little League World Series? Boo-ya! Also, props to Brandon Dubinsky for attempting to help the ice crew scrape up the blood with his skate. Gross.


OMGAH A PHILLY/PITTSBURGH ECF. Wow. That's going to be INTENSE. Fortunately, there are no sexy Flyers, so there will be NO Flyers playoff boyfriend. I have a boyfriend on the other 3 teams, so ONE of them will make it in to the Finals.


I seriously love my cat a lot. He's totally adorable and freaks out during hockey games because I'm blogging and yelling and not playing with him.


The video of Brenden Morrow being the worst soccer player ever was pretty awesome. I was already taking a shine to Cap'n Morrow but that video pushed me close to the brink of new Dallas Stars boyfriend. Brad Richards still has that title, but Cap'n could take it.


And then he went and FINALLY SCORED IN THE 4TH OVERTIME WHICH I STAYED UP TO WATCH. WOOOOOOO!!!


I really thought that game wasn't ever going to end. Is there a point at which the NHL would just end the game because it's gotten totally ridiculous? I mean, I'm sure the answer to that question is NO! Someone eventually is going to literally fall asleep on the ice and the game will just end.


It was really amazing watching the fatigue build on the faces of those players, but, I'm sure, never once did any of them consider quitting. Playoff hockey! Wooooo!


I'm highly conflicted about how I feel about the outcome of these Conference Finals series. Ok, that's not true at all. I want both Dallas and Pittsburgh to win. However, I've taken such a shine to Dallas, that if they do manage to face Pittsburgh in the Finals, it'll be difficult for me to cheer against them with any kind of real feeling of malice.


Thus is my plight. If Philly manages to squeak by the Pens and the Wings defeat the Stars, I don't think I'll even bother watching. I'd have to try waaayyy too hard to muster some sort of playoff goggles for the Red Wings and that's just not something I'm prepared to do. And, as much as I love Marty and still have HockeyFeelings for Danny, I can't in good faith cheer for Steve Downie, Jeff Carter or Scott Hartnell.

---

Anyhoot. On to the WC (and by WC I mean World Championships, not Water Closet):


Canada won 7-0 with Roysie getting an assist! Wooo! Rick Nash, Dany Heatley and Getzy are a wicked intense line. Is anyone surprised? They're all on the top or near the top of their teams' stats every season. You know a team has a lot of offensive talent when Roysie has only 1 point when 12 goals have been scored.


Anyone who thinks Canada isn't going to win this thing needs to go home and think about things for a while.

Roysie!!
Chris Kunitz is 6' tall? Yeah, right. And Roysie is 5'9". Pah.

Kotalik scored a PP goal in a 5-4 loss to Russia. Wooo Kotalik!


Um, Dmitri Kalinin leads all of Team Russia in ice time and shifts. He has 2 assits and is a +4 with 0 PIM. So who exactly is wearing Kalinin's sweater and masquerading as him? Anyway, well done, Dmitri.

This appears to be Dmitri Kalinin...

Woo! A 5-1 win for Team USA!


Kaner opened the scoring and Staffers and Pommer each had an assist! Wooo!

It's hard to see, but Staffers and Pommer are bench buddies

Thank goodness Team USA finally scored even strength. It shows that they actually can, lol.


From the game blog: Stafford also tossed a Slovenian into the bench with a big hit. Haha, he does that a lot.


From Adam Burish's blog: I hope I don’t get Kaner too mad in saying this because he was pretty good out there too, but Tim was our best player that night.


I can imagine Kaner having a huge diva-fit "What do you mean you think Tim Tom was BETTER? I was the first over all pick! I'm only 19! He's OLD! Look at those forehead wrinkles! BAH! Forget you, Burish! I'll be in my luxury first-overall suite with Ovie watching our highlight tapes with the hookers. Gilbert! Call me when you want to get cheap pizza!"


Team Latvia has yet to score a goal in this tournament. They were blanked by Team USA on Friday and were blanked again today by Denmark. Ouch.

Yo, Tim Tom's pads TOTES clash with his uni

---

Private to Paul Gaustad:

Some dude offered me your phone number on Saturday night and talked about how he calls you when you do something good. I declined his offer. I think that goes above and beyond the call of duty to have your personal information at my beck and call.

Love and I told you I wasn't a Stalkers,
Anne

---

Private to Brian Campbell:

At least it wasn't "puck over the glass" this time.

Love,
Anne

Nathan Gerbe and I are now Frenemies

by Anne

Dear Dallas:

NOT. COOL.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Brenden Morrow:

You basically had a natural hat trick last night. Unfortunately, only 1 of them counted. Please review how to cleanly and legally put the puck in the net.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Nate Gerbe:

Thanks for rejecting my Facebook friend request. There's no way you could even know about this psychotic blog, so its either that you think I'm just a rabid Sabres fan OR you have this bizarre practice of not friending people you don't actually know. Whatev. You're dead to me. STAY IN BC FOR ALL I CARE!

No! Gerb-man, I don't really mean it, please come to Buffalo ASAP but don't reject my love when I stalk you downtown. Thanks.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Pat Kane:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Love,
Anne

---

Dear Team USA Powerplay:


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Love,
Anne

---

Dear Team USA Even Strength:

Yyyyyyeah, uhhhhh could you try that again? I mean excellent work on getting the powerplays, but even strength goals are just as sexy, if not sexier.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Tim Tom:

I'm glad you're as focused on your age and deep forehead lines as I am.

Love,
Anne

Here we go Sabres, et al. participating in the 2008 IIHF World Championships, here we go!

by Anne

I really need to work on scaling down my cheers and chants. They're a little lengthy.

I wrote this as I checked the scores throughout the day and wrote each team's paragraphs before the others had been played, except Russia and USA which overlapped.

There were 4 games yesterday.


Kicking things off was:

Denmark v. The Czech Republic featuring Kotalik

Czech Republic wins 5-2

Radim Vrbata, whose name is crazy fun to say, had like 87 points in this game. Ok so it was 3 (2+1) including the game winning goal. Woop!

Kotalik scored a powerplay goal, what a SHOCK! Gasp! He does that a lot. Well done, Al.

It's really amazing how players I don't spend much time thinking about during the Sabres regular season are suddenly the most important player in a game to me, lol. Although, now that I know the Czech Republic boasts a player named Zbynek Irgl, my life is that much closer to being complete. WHERE ARE ALL THE VOWELS? Huh, apparently he was drafted by Nashville but opted to stay in the Czech Republic

And he's kinda cute:

If it weren't for Sissy Spacek, I'd have a new Czech Boyfriend

Denmark's goaltender does not appear to be very good, he let in 5 goals on only 17 shots. That's a .705 SV%. Yyyyyyeah, and we always rag on T-Bone for being .869. That's like astronomical compared to this dude.

Next game for the Czech Republic is Sunday against Russia.



Next up:

Derek Roy v. Anze Kopitar (Slovenia)

Canada wins 5-1

There's so much lovin' to be found on Team Canada, Mike Green, Getzy (former Pacific Division boyfriend), Jonathan Toews, Louie. But also so much yick: Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley. Do you think Roysie is totally cool with Spezza and Heatley or does he like not talk to them because they're Senators? Does Getzy pick on them because the Ducks Mightily pwned the Sens last year? Does Roysie yell mean things at Spezza and then hide behind RickNash? Nasher will totes protect you, Roysie....he looks out for his wee teammates.

Roysie was on a line with Rick Nash and Patrick Sharp. Woooo!

Anyhoot, Heatley got a hat trick and Team Canada had 65 shots on goal. Wowzas. I've been saying it since the roster was announced, I bet Canada will take Gold with Russia giving a good run. Maybe Finland, and probably not the US. They'll probably finish in the 3rd-5th.

Next game for Canada is Sunday v. Latvia.



Next up we have:

Kalinin and Afinogenov v. The Team that Sabres' goaltending coach, Jim Corsi, is working with

Russia wins 7-1

There are apparently no Italian citizen hockey players in the NHL.

Kalinin and Afinogenov were not in a unit together. So, Afinogenov was wearing 61 but Kalinin was wearing 7. Random. No one else was wearing 45, but then again, maybe he's always wanted to wear 7, but it's retired so he couldn't wear it in Buffalo.

Ovie scored a goal and Semin scored 2. Caps reprezentin' woop woop!

Italy also boasts a goalie whose last name is "Gunther Hell". I don't know if Italians realize what that means in English. They might. Regardless of how bad their team might be, Italy can say they can "Give 'em Hell in net" and they're totally right.

Max tries to score, doesn't succeed, but still looks good doin' it

Next game for Russia is v. The Czech Republic.

Finally, rounding out Friday's action is:

Team from Camp Morningwood v. Latvia

USA wins 4-0!

We all know who's tearin' it up on Team Morningwood. However, Molly from Boston College has informed me in her comment a few posts ago that Gerbe-Derby was cut from the team: (I'm not surprised, Pommer was cut from Team Canada when he was 20 and there he is today! Woo!)

Staffy and Pommer are on a line together. Staffy's rockin' Timmy's # and Pommer has stuck with good ol' 29. I like it when players use the same number. Kaner is wearing 83. Peter Mueller got 88. I'm guessing an epic battle of rock paper scissors decided this one, that, or Mueller is a few months older.

Kaner had 3 pts in the game (1+2), Pommer and Staffy were point-less, but, um Staffy got a penalty!.....? Pommer had about 14 minutes of ice time and 1 shot on goal. Stampy didn't score on his penalty shot he was awarded when he was yanked down on a breakaway.

The live blogger at the game said that Kaner would've been the star of the game with Tim Tom comin' in 2nd. Yay!!! Wooo! Although, on the IIHF website the "best player" was Paulie Martin. Whatevs! It was the only shutout on a very lopsided day of hockey. Yay!

Kaner scored a goal! And had an assist! Yay!

Next game for the USA is Sunday v. Slovenia, Woooo!

Hockey is Complicated

by Anne


What an evening of hockey THAT was.


WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! The only down side was that Versus and HNiC were broadcasting the Pens game, and neither of them broadcasting the Stars/Sharks game. I had to watch on Yahoo.com.


I really bring the Pens good luck, lol. The last game I started watching 1/2 way through it was 3-0 and they came back and won. Tonight I went out to dinner and came back 1/2 way through just to see the Rangers tie it at 3. Then they won this one. If only I had the same effect on my boys in blue and gold. Ahhhhhh. The Penguins are my regular season "other woman". It's nice to show my love for my hockey mistress this time of year, but we all know where my heart belongs.


And:


WOOOOOOOO!! Go Stars! YO, SHARKS! Do NOT mess up StUUUUUuuuuuUUUUU BARNES. Norstrom will eff you up by scoring a goal, which he's never done in the playoffs before this series. HA! He's got Nabby's number.


I haven't missed a Pens game thus far and they've won them all. The Stars have won every game that I've watched at least part of...iiiiiiinteresting.


Montreal has let down Sabres fans across the board. Most Sabres fans have been pulling for Montreal, which makes sense to me (they don't constantly wipe the floor with us, they for the most part aren't dirty players, etc.) and if the Pens weren't in this, I'd probably be pulling for them too. Yo, Montreal, what is the DEAL? You were so scary and good in the last part of the season and now you're falling apart....wait, are you secretly San Jose?


Oh yeah, the Avs lost to the Red Wings. I'm only disappointed because I thought the Avs might do it, based on how much Detroit struggled in the first round.....apparently not.


It was like I forgot Peter Forsberg played for the Avalanche. He was out for the first 2 games and I couldn't remember why I disliked the Avs so much. Then they showed him on the bench last night and I shuddered. I definitely should've picked the Red Wings. If for no other reason than I might get to hear more interviews with Zetterberg.


Thank goodness Ryan Miller was named to the NHLPA Goalie Equipment Working Group so I have something mildly Sabres related and relevant to discuss. I'm enjoying reading about Team USA, but mostly I'm grasping at straws over here.

On a related note: Here's a nice article about Kaner over in Camp USA. My favorite quote:

“Growing up my favorite player was Joe Sakic, and the game I scored my first goal, I was named first star and he was named second star,” Kane said. “Things like that hit you, and after that you’re like, ‘Wow, is this happening?’ ”

Yes Kaner, it is.

Anyhoot, does the name of this committee Millsey's on sound like a category in some sort of bizarre ice hockey themed dog show to anyone else?


Basically its 3 goaltenders (Brodeur, Pretty Ricky and Millsey) and 2 forwards (Heatley and Cammalleri) plus 3 people who aren't players including Brett Hull (ugh). They'll yammer on about the size of goaltender equipment being scaled back or being made out of tashcan lids or whatevs. They really should have J.S. Giguere on this committee. It looks like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is in net for the Mightily Mighty Ducks that are Mightily of Anaheim.


See?:

I am proud to announce that Iggy was nominated for the Hart Trophy.

This is his 3rd nomination. He came in 2nd in his previous at bats. There ain't no way Iggy's gonna win. Naming a 3rd nominee was almost a formality it seems. Most commentators have basically gift-wrapped the Hart and handed it to Ovie already, with a couple tossing it Malkin's way. It's ok, they had excellent seasons, but then again, Iggy did too, just not in the same explosive way. 50 goals ain't nothin' to sneeze at. It's ok, Iggy, you'll win my Heart! (Ha, see what I did there?)


If Bruce Boudreau isn't nominated for the Jack Adams Award, I will be irate.

Do I need to elaborate all the statbit-istical reasons he needs to be nominated? Look at his little face! He's so cute! He is without a doubt the most adorable coach in the NHL. Er, um, no offense Lindy.

: None taken, I know you think I'm tops.

: It's true, Lind-o, I do. You're still my main man.

: Thanks...is that you as a South Park character?

: Why yes, yes it is. Thank you for noticing.

: Any time. What are you holding?

: It's a Sabre....duh.

: Wow.