Stanley's Surprise Night On the Town

by Anne

There's a photo gallery up of the Pens surprising fans and taking the Cup around Pittsburgh this weekend. I, of course, decided to steal pics of my favorite Penguin acting goofy with the Cup:

As Mirtle said: "Don't drop the Cup, Jordan."


Friends! Pittsburghers! Non-countrymen!
Lend me your ears!
I come to drink from Stanley, not to drop him!
The evil that the Red Wings do lives after them
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Crosby. The noble Lidstrom
Hath told you Crobsy was ambitious
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Crosby answer'd it.
....

Ok, maybe that's just what I think he was saying because I'm currently working on a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and I'm a huge nerd. Also that speech would imply that Nick Lidstrom killed Sidney Crosby. Maybe that doesn't so much apply here.

However, if the Pittsburgh Penguins were the play Julius Casear, Jordan Staal would definitely be Marc Antony. Which makes Sidney Crosby Julius Caesar and I think that makes Nick Lidstrom Brutus and Chris Osgood, Cassius.

Most importantly: What the hell am I talking about?

While I feel I am safe in assuming Mr. Staal is under the influence of something a little more potent than adrenaline, in the entire gallery, he is not seen consuming alcohol. Also, Jordan appears to be holding the Cup in just about every group photo. Whatevs, I'm ok with it.

Yay! Enjoy it boys, you earned it.

The Cup Comes to Buffalo?

by Anne

Since we in Buffalo are obsessed with Buffalo and all things and people Buffalo-related, I am eagerly anticipating if/when Brooks Orpik brings the Cup to Buffalo for his day with the cup.

I didn't visit the Cup when Todd Marchant brought it to town because, while I was glad Anaheim won, I didn't feel nearly the attachment to them that I feel to the Penguins.

For some reason in all my years of hockey fandom living near Toronto, I have never been to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Therefore, I have never seen the Stanley Cup in person. My only hope is that if Orpik brings the Cup to Buffalo its not on one of the days I will be busy all day and won't be able to see it.

Hooray for Pittsburgh!

Bring it on home, Brooksy

PITTSBURGH WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Anne

I'm too tired to be coherent.

That game probably took a year off of my life. I was just sitting there pulling at my hair and covering my eyes and trying not to be sick at the end.

I like Sidney Crosby and I'm glad he's won his first Stanley Cup. Anyone would've been a fool to say that he wasn't going to win it at least once (or more) during his career.

Woooo!!!

Oh hey, whatcha got there, Staalsy?
It all changed with his short-handed goal.
No question.



I got a little choked up when they showed Billy w/ the cup
What a good guy
"Let's Go Daddy #13!"
Adorable

I really didn't think they would win. Things were really stacked against them. They hadn't won in Detroit the entire series. But I kept going back to November, to that OT victory. It can be done, they have won in Detroit in the past, and they did when it mattered most.

If they gave out the Conn Smythe just for Game 7, Marc-Andre Fleury would have that thing wrapped up. Also, the crossbar in the third period. Detroit came (literally) within inches of tying the game more than once. When that shot rang off the crossbar late in the game, I actually started to put my head down on the bar in despair before I realized it actually hadn't gone in. I don't think I breathed for the last 16 seconds of the game, certainly not during Lidstrom's last-second desperation shot and Flower's last second desperation save.

I did plenty of mocking of Marian Hossa when they showed him leaving the ice, but I have to say this was probably the worst possible way this season could've ended for him. Not only does he not win the Cup with the team he believed would give him the best shot at it, he lost to the very team he gave the proverbial middle finger to on July 1. Losing the Cup to Pittsburgh has probably flashed in his mind at least once since signing that contract and the sight of it probably will be burned in his memory forever.

My Staal shirt ends the playoffs 3-0.

I'm sorry our love affair will only last a few precious months. The Pens are just my hockey mistress team and the Sabres are my true loves. Its been an enjoyable affair, boys. I'll still love you.

And, with that, the 2008-2009 NHL season is over and we've crowned a new champion.

One last time:

LET'S GO PENS!!

Back in Buffalo

by Anne

Thank hey-soos I'm back in Buffalo, the land of wireless internet, only 75% humidity, and no central air.

That's ok, though, I'll take what I can get.

Oscar is none to happy with his mommy for leaving for a few days.

Ron Wilson is about to become the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Its well documented that Mr. Wilson and BIG BEAR didn't get a long to well in San Jose. Hopefully he won't use his krazee mind powers to affect Big Bear for 6 games next season. Booooo. It won't be official until like Tuesday though. Whatevs.

Whatev, I kind of enjoyed watching Toronto just miss the playoffs and be worse than us for the last several seasons. It was pretty awesome. I'm not interested in this possible resurgence of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although, it would be nice for Cap'n Mats to even taste the Cup Finals. Not at our expense, of course.

I don't even want to talk about the tomfoolery with Chelios' restaurant and the Cup. All I have to say is: Hahahahahahahahahahaha D-Troit is totes CURSED now. Hahahaha. Hope you enjoyed these last few Cup wins.

And:

Hhaahahaha, I love when crap like this happens.

Nice going.

In tragic, tragic news, the Tampa Bay Rays have fallen to 2nd place in the AL East, 1.5 games behind Boston. Not. Cool.

Ummm, no major off-season re-signings that have drastically affected my HockeyLife as of yet.

However, tis widely expected that the Dominator is about to hang up his blocker this off-season. Considering the average hockey career is about 6 years, I'd say he's had his fair share.

There's going to be a presser this morning about it.

Awwww, Dom. Now will start the "He was probably the best individual player in franchise history... sooooooo.... about that #39 thing.... about that being a big jerkface thing......." YESSSSS. Bring it ON. I, personally, do not have a strong opinion about the ordeal, because I'm not 100% sure what went down when Dom left town. That rhymed, ha.

For serious though, peeps. Leaving Buffalo is a great way for me to be reminded of why its so great. The town I was in is just so small and small minded. To most people there, there's nothing going on outside of their county. It just doesn't affect them, in their minds. I SAW A BUNCH OF MENNONITES PLAYING SOFTBALL.

It's just a weird town, the accent is weird, the people are weird, the number of radio stations that's main airplay is NOT country or Christian rock is like barely countable. Gas is cheaper there, so that's a plus. It's not technically in the South, but it sure do feel like it is. Not the BAD South, but not the good South like Nashville or Atlanta.

Whatev, I'm just glad I don't live thar where thar's no hockey and whar thar's lots o' scrunchies and Aquanet's still in bizness.

NHL Awards on Thursday! Woo!

It's Really Over This Time

by Anne

Pens lost.


Boo.


Silver lining! Silver lining!

I'm glad it was the Red Wings and not, say, the Sharks or the Ducks, or good GOD, the Rangers or the Flyers. The Pens are the only team in the East that could've made that an exciting series, and they did. I hope that they're not feeling down about themselves. While I'm sure they're disappointed (duh), they put up a hell of a fight, and made the Red Wings work for it.

Oh well. RIP Ryan Whitney's POB 2008. How I loved thee.


More silver lining, from a Sabres' perspective:

Since the moment I saw that there is a Draft Day Party at HSBC Arena and decided to drag the young cousins and the Mom along, I've been feeling surprisingly chipper about our boys in blue and gold. It just served as a reminder that they're still here, and they really will be back next season. During the 9 WEEKS of the playoffs, it felt like I'd never see Derek Roy's shining face again. Since the Worlds ended I feel like Drew Stafford no longer exists. Pommer? Did you visit Mama Pup in Quebec? GOOSE! How's the hernia? Yoyo? The wrist? Ok? TEPPO!!! HOW IS YOUR HEART? MY HEART'S HEALTH IS SURPRISINGLY AKIN TO YOUR OWN. Timmy? Boned anyone worth mentioning lately? Petey! How are the wedding plans going? Britney! What have you had gold-plated recently?We all know how Millsey is, he tells is in is B-L-O-G. How kind of him. If he could only update us on the rest of his Sabre brethren, I'll be eternally grateful.

Anyone else going to the Draft Day Party? We should meet up and laugh at the players we mock/love so dearly. Now we find ourselves in the throes of the off-season. Just take a few deep breaths, it'll all be ok.

We all know Tri ain't comin' back, and Max might be on the trade block. Now in the clear light of the off-season, who do you think is gonna get the axe? I mean, if we all want Nathan Gerbe in the blue and gold come October, someone is, or a few someones are going to have to get their walking papers. Mike Ryan? (Sorry M.J.) Pie-YAY? (I think I'll die) Max? (WOO!).


Hope springs eternal for the Sabres fan.


Vote in our Klassy weekly poll, peeps!

FINALLY FINAL FINALS

by Anne


Thank God.

There's a tiny part of me that wishes, just for these finals, that we had moved back to Pittsburgh when my Dad finished law school (29 years ago) and I was a die-hard Pens fan. As it stands, I'm just a regular old hockey fan from Buffalo. If you've met me, you know that when I care about something, I throw all I've got behind it. Let's Go PENS!!!

I'd really like to tag Sid onto the end of that one in 2 weeks.


Game 1 in Detroit. Tonight. 8 p.m. CBC and Versus. DON'T MISS IT. I'm excited and anxious. This would be a thousand times more intense if it were the Sabres. I'd have the most awful hockey ulcer in the history of hockeykind. As it stands, it's nagging a little right now and it's not even 9:00 a.m. When that puck drops, I anticipate it to be making its presence known to all around.

LET'S GO PENS!