Game one o rama

Well it begins. Pens v Wings. I think I might have mentioned this but for the first time I don't feel all stressed out over the outcome of this series. I'll be happy with either team winning. That's something new for me.

There are compelling stories on both sides: Ozzie being sent home in the season to 'find his game' only to be 4 games from back to back cups. That guy who was on Pittsburgh's team is now on the Wings team (I don't mention his name only because I am sick to DEATH of hearing about it). Babcock and Sykora being in Anaheim together. Sid in an ad saying "I never want to be in this picture again" and playing like he will uphold that statement. Lots of things to root for.

So I will sit back, have dinner and put on the two hours of pregame hype on NHL Network. And breathe easy because I know that which ever captain hoists that cup over his head, I will be happy for him and his team.

Well that was interesting....

Gonna start out this morning on a bit of a serious note, the NHL alumni lost one of it's own. Peter Zezel lost his long fight with a blood disorder. There is a lot of praise about him today and what sort of good man he was. It's too bad he's gone. "In his typical character of generosity, Peter donated his organs through the Trillium Gift of Life Network." Good to the end.

Now to the game: I had to work last night so I missed a large hunk of the game last night and came home in time to see Billy G score the third goal. With apologies to Friend of Chuckers Jenni...what a game. I know you were there cheering on your boys and I'm sorry that it had to end that way but at least they made it that far, right?

When Sid picked up the trophy I thought for sure he'd lost his ever lovin' mind. I mean really, last year when he skated up to the little table, he looked as if he was seeing Tara Reid covered with cooties (who would have thought those two things were not mutually exclusive?). But this year, he wanted it - took it with two hands and everything. Good on him for trying to change things up.

As Chucker Amy said (and by said I mean sent an IM as she is across the nation from me) to me while we were watching "Sid is kinda short." She pointed out this little tidbit as he was standing next to Geno and Gonch. Very astute! :)

Puck Daddy has a story this morning about a possible Craps/steriods link. I was about to get all "look, look, cheaters never prosper!!" but then thought, why bother? *shrugs*

Wings play tonight and with some luck they will close it out. If they do, game one of the final will be on Saturday. If the Hawks pull out a win, the Final wont start until THE FIFTH OF JUNE. What's up with that? Stupid NBC is up with that. Why do they have hockey if they don't care about it?

So to sum up: Hockey lost a good guy, the Pens are a decent hockey team, the Craps are funny, and NBC sucks.

HERE WE GO RED WINGS, HERE WE GO!! *clap clap*

Things!

Game three of the Penguins v Canes series is just about to start and unfortunately, I'm stuck with Versus. I don't mind it so much but Joe Benenati and Daryl "Razor" Reaugh are calling the games.

But listen, Razor? You are an idiot. The Pens head coach is not Dan By-Al-sma. It's BILES-mah. Hell, even Benenati gets it right. Take a clue from your play by play guy. Go back to Dallas games where no one cares if you butcher a name.

The Wings/Chicago game last night was interesting. The Hawks had the first; the Wings had the second. Sharp's goal was pretty sweet so I don't feel so bad about the loss.

A prime example of why I say I'm stuck with Versus (in an IM with my CaP cohort):

Amy: shit... it's loud in there [in Carolina's barn]
Me: that's what I hear.
Amy: are they showing it
Me: oh I had an MMA ad. *cries*

I really don't care about ultimate cage fighting or bull riding or that crap sports soup (or their new show the web cam ones? Ugh, people get a blog and get off tv)

But it's what I have and I shouldn't complain as a lot of folks don't even have Versus.

Alright. Game on!


ps- the most annoying ad out there right now has to be that click it or ticket ad where the guy beeps all day. I hate that. No really I do.

It's round three already?

Game one of round three is in 3 hours. We're just a bit on the late side round here.

Quick picks now with some explanation later. I see a rematch of last years final: Wings and Pens.

Amy edit this when you can with your picks! Though since you are rooting for the Hawks....maybe don't :P

Edit: Yes, I am rooting for the Hawks after watching them destroy my boys from BC. :D And I too think it's going to be a repeat of last year's Finals, but I don't see it being easy for any of the teams.

Momma, Look Sharp

I should have posted this Sunday, but since we were busy out celebrating, I will do it this morning.

It's a great thing that Mother's Day falls during the NHL playoffs and almost destined to be since it's from my mom that I get my love of hockey. She was raised here in the Northwest, like me, and her father liked sports; so she grew up watching the CBC and Hockey Night in Canada. Once she had her own household which included my dad and my sister and me, that tradition of watching hockey has continued.

This was before the Internet and the plethora of cable channels that carry sports as well as we didn't have hockey in Everett, so that one game a week made it more special or at least until ESPN started broadcasting the NHL. We would sit with her and watch teams from all over Canada and the States play and we didn't care who won, since the Canucks were usually only on maybe once a year being on the West Coast. It was a happy day at our house when I was in high school because after HNIC went to a double header that meant we could see the boys in BC that much more.

Well, my sister usually watched about a period with us then got bored and went up to her room as did my dad; but Mom and I watched the whole thing. One of our favorite parts was and still is guessing what hideous coat Don Cherry will be wearing that night and what asinine thing he's going to say. She would be out fixing a snack and I would call out "Hey... Don's on after this commercial!" and she'd hurry out with the bowl of popcorn or the cheese and crackers just as Blue was barking in the opening montage.

When the playoffs started, the fun got even more fun. In the 80's it was the Oilers that we rooted for. Well, she rooted along with me since I was in love with Wayne Gretzky then Mark Messier, or I was before he became a complete crybaby douchebag and tried to kill Trevor; but even when that happened, my mom was there for hugs and cookies. Then once we fell in love with Trevor and the Canucks, there was even more cheering and hooting and hollering. Dinner during Stanley Cup playoffs were the best because not only were there games almost every night; but we had a routine for what we would eat in front of the TV. Games 1 and 7 were Chinese, 2 was pizza, and 3-6 were very often an appetizer buffet, spaghetti or hamburgers; and it was so fun to look forward to it.

I guess my point to all of this rambling is not only to put some history on how my love of the game came to be; but that I would like to thank my mom for introducing me to the game. If she hadn't, I'm not sure I would have met the whole bunch of incredible people that are now in my life. I also want to thank her for being there for me when the whole world comes crashing down whether it's hockey related or not: from bad relationships to getting fired to that night fifteen years ago when the dream of my Trevor getting that big shiny bowl was crushed. Even last night she called to commiserate after the games were over. I think she knew that I was in no mood to talk after all of the bad things of the evening were done but in her own way she wanted to make sure I was okay and let me know that she was there.

So, thanks Mom... and let me know whether you want a #5 or #7 for game one of the Conference Finals. :)

Hi there old friend

Here is my brief recap of the weekend hockey:
1. Chicago scored lots of goals. Vancouver did not.
2. Marc-Andre let in a softie and I still don't like the Craps.
3. I should have stuck to my "no watching OT games in the playoffs" rule.
4. Never underestimate a team with Ronnie Francis behind the net.

Today, I'm looking at the NHL annual award presentations. There are a lot that I don't agree with but I'm gonna just take a look at a few.

Jack Adams award (coach of the year). Nominated are Todd McLellan, Claude Julien, and Andy Murray. I like Todd I really do. I thought he took a talented team and went far with it. Same goes for Claude (who I don't have a personal preference for one way or the other). This award has to go to Andy Murray. Was there a coach out there who did more with less? No. Getting the Blues to 6th in the West was no fluke. This cat can coach.

Bill Masterton Trophy (The player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey"). Nominated are Chris Chelios (who contrary to popular, not ever Wing fan loves him. I can't stand him - am I the only person to remember how he used to abuse Stevie? Plus I find his frat boy behavior to be a bit much. He's just gross. That's it. Chris Cheligross. But I digress), Richard Zednik, Steve Sullivan. Honestly if you get your throat sliced open by a teammate on the ice, have the wits about you to make it to the bench so you DON'T DIE, and come back to play the game again.... no matter what anyone else does, you can't top that. Zednik in a landslide.

Calder (rookie of the year). Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason, Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan and Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg are all up for this award. As much as my counterpart loves her Bobby, I gotta put my vote (like I have a say) toward Mason. His record alone puts him up there as top 'tender but the fact that he's a rookie and had ten shutouts? Has a rookie goalie since Roy done that? Did Roy do that? Yeah, I'm plugging for Mason.

Hart (writers MVP). I'm really not liking the candidates for this one. Way back when, this award was not automatically to the best player in the league, but to the player judged to be most valuable to his team. I mean props to Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Pavel Datsyuk, but I don't think they were the most valuable to their teams. All important to their teams, yes. That's a given. But where would the Bruins be without Thomas? Where would Chicago be without Kane or Toews? Nashville without Sullivan? The Devils without that goalie not named Marty (Clemmensen, I know.)? I mean really, those teams had guys who were more important overall. I'm not going to pick a winner here because it's sadly become a popularity contest. I'm more interested in the Pearson award anyway.

Norris (Top defenseman). Again this award has changed in meaning. No longer is the best defenseman always nominated. When Lidstrom wins, I think it's fair. I'm not being a homer here. Find me a better defenseman and I'll listen to the argument. But Lidstrom is rarely out of position and makes the game look easy. Games where you don't hear about him just means he's doing his job. This year, he's nominated again along with Chara and Green. While I have no problems with the baby eater Chara, it's Green I do. On most nights, he's a disaster on the blue line. Yes, he gets his points and his plus ratings but I just don't see him as one of the Top DEFENSEmen of the league. Offsensman, sure. Give him the Paul Coffee award or something, but not the Norris. It's a toss up for me between Nick and Chara.

Vezina (best goalie). Steve Mason, Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom, and Tim Thomas nominated. There is that Mason kid again. I think it's a feel good story for Thomas to be nominated and I'd be ok if he won. He back stopped a team that vied for the President's trophy all year. He's one hell of a goalie. I've pitched my thoughts for Mason as MVP, I think it's safe to say I'd be ok with him winning the Vezina. I honestly don't know about Backstrom as I found the Wild just painful to watch this season.

There are other awards out there but I don't really have an opinion one way or the other. Have an opinion, share it please. I've probably picked all the non winners but hey, that's what blogging is all about right?

See that tag called "overtagging"? That's what happens when you have too many tags. I had to edit my tags. What the frak?

Until next time, happy hockey!