Here is what I just don't get

Toronto's Mike Brown was suspended for hitting Jovo in a game against Phoenix. Why? A blind side hit. In the play, there are a few players going for the puck (this is important actually). Brown comes in and delivers a wicked hit to Jovo in a way of getting in his way. Ok, the hit wasn't clean, fine. There was no penalty called although I'm thinking a case for at least interference could have been made. But no call was made and ok we go from there. But, to me, the key is, they were going for the puck. There was a reason for the contact

Lets jump into our way back machine and travel to January 1st. Sidney Crosby is behind the play when he was clocked by Dave Steckel. The puck was no where near him at the time of the hit.

Rule 48.1 reads as follows:

Illegal Check to the Head - A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principle point of contact is not permitted.

There was no reason for the Steckel hit. I'm not going to say he is dirty because I think it's far from that. However, it wasn't like two guys coming together for the puck. Stecks delivered a "lateral or blind side hit" to an opponent whose head was "the principle point of contact". I youtubed the clip again to make sure I wasn't talking fangirl shit. You can see it here. Please go take a look and tell me Sid's head didn't take the brunt of the contact.

Now, would league discipline have prevented Sid from getting hurt? No, but still. Maybe this is just a rant from someone who is tired of seeing # 87 out of the line up. Again.

Ouchie

Wow, scary second period for the Avs in Minny tonight when Ryan O'Reilly lost an edge and went awkwardly into the boards, head and neck first. He was taken off on a stretcher and then to the hospital for precautionary reasons, and he's moving his extremities, so very, very good news from the Avs' camp.

And I'm throwing this out there because, well, it's true. The Avalanche were stupid to let Andrew Brunette walk away. He kills penalties, works down low, and has been a general thorn in the Avalanche's side since he went back to Minnesota. There have been a lot of guys come and go, either by free agency or trade, but Andrew Brunette is the one I wish was still in the burgundy and blue. (And as I wrote this, Brunette scored to make it 3-1 Avalanche in the third, further proving my point).

Let's talk about sights for sore eyes: both Chris Stewart and Cody McLeod returned to the Avs' lineup tonight, and man, have they made a difference. They've given the Avalanche what they have been seriously lacking over the past few weeks - energy. The Avalanche are young and exciting, yes. But it's those times where the game just sort of plateaus where Stewie and Cody Mac can liven things up.

Alright, I need a little fantasy help: I have one roster spot open for tomorrow, my utility spot. So who do I play? Grabovski or Tanguay?

It's Friday.....ooh and a three day weekend

You know, I work as a government lackey and while there are not many perks in my line of work, Federal holidays are. WOOOT.

I am an avid reader of Puck Daddy over at yahoo and there are days when I find gems. The Jersey Fouls can easily go into my top ten favorite reads of a week. Not just for the photos but for the words that describe them.

Total, unmitigated, without-a-second-thought PASS. If only because we're pretty sure this guy is going to die with his sneakers on, in a room of other cult followers while a comet passes overhead one day ...

That was said about some oddball Kings Poncho style....thing. I laughed out loud.

I feel like hockey tonight:

Vancouver v Washington - ugh, can't they both lose?

Detroit v Columbus - fans have put "money on the boards" for their favorite charities if Columbus gets a win tonight. Good luck on that.

New Jersey v Tampa Bay - most. boring. game. of. the. night.

Philadelphia v Atlanta - rumor has it Pronger is back. Hide the children.

Calgary v Ottawa - I'd watch but that would involve watching Ottawa.

Colorado v Minnesota - I'll catch this one when I get home (lets hear it for the gamecenter dvr feature!). If Minny plays Colorado like they played the Pens the other night, I might have to make this the most boring game of the night instead.

Speaking of Columbus (No, really, I did, up there).... there has been some general bitching about why Rick Nash doesn't call more penalties. Nash, who personally I wish could be moved to a better team, is a big dude. I've seen him in person and you really don't get the impression he's that big on the ice (which I can't explain because on ice he should look BIGGER). He's also a big dude with gobs of talent and decent speed. So why isn't he getting the calls? Because he's Rick Nash that's why. He's quiet and doesn't bitch much to the refs... not that I condone it but I gotta think it makes a difference. The old adage of squeaky wheel gets the grease and all. Maybe the squeak/cranky player gets the calls? For what ever reason, Ricky will still take the abuse and not get the calls. That is, until he's out of Ohio.

Also on Columbus: I can't put a rational meaning behind this but it tickles me to no end that Mike Commordore has cleared waivers and is in the AHL. I used to really like him but it seems that he's been a problem for Columbus from damn near day one. The GM was quoted as saying something about [very paraphrased] they look at the whole player, how he is on the ice and off the ice and in the room and we made our decision based on that. To me that screams a diplomatic way of saying Commie was a cancer type in the room. So be it.

Holy cow! The sabres won! Ok, that's not nice but you know what? I blame a certain goaltender's recent announcement for ALL OF IT. Derek Roy has nothing to do with their downfall (ok, missing your leading scorer and having to depend on the likes of Tim Connley will not get you wins but still). Crunchy, you know what I mean.

Introductions and other things

I should be at work, but instead I'm sitting in the waiting area of a hospital as I wait for a co-worker/friend to finish having an ultrasound. She didn't have a car today, so I brought her to the appointment. If you wouldn't mind sending some good thoughts out Erin's way, I'd appreciate it.

Anywho, being the new writer on the block, allow me to introduce myself. Lisa affectionately refers to me as Nutmeg, hockey and the Colorado Avalanche are my life, and that's pretty much me in a nutshell.

So, to hockey related matters. Look, I get that the Avs played a terrible game last night against the Blackhawks, but color me baffled if that surprised you.

The Avs embarrassed the defending champs in the first two games of the series with comeback wins; one in OT and the other in the final minutes of what was a crazy, fun, exciting game. And then, in the third game, the Avs dominated. Tell me you expected the Hawks to come out and let it happen again. The Hawks came out prepared last night and completely took away the Avalanche's game.

Here's what bugs me though. I'm reading the Denver Post's website today and one of the footnotes in one of the articles was that John-Michael Liles was a -3 on the night. (Full disclosure, I like Liles and I think he's ridiculously underrated.)

I'll have to go back and look, but I am pretty damn sure that not one single player on that roster for the Avs last night was even. And if Liles was a -3, my logic says that Ryan O'Byrne was at a -3 as well.

Here's what I also didn't see. Where is the article that asks where Paul Stastny is? While no one was effective last night, I shouldn't have to ask whether or not the Avs' $6 million man ever touched the ice. The guy making that much money should be a little more influential in a game like that. Because, while I like guys like Galiardi, it's sad when I notice them more than #26.

And brilliant move to start Budaj again, Sacco. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but that would bring the number of consecutive games in which Budaj has given up at least 4 to how many again?

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The Guardian Project

What bastard was on drugs for this? I get that Stan Lee is a comic icon but not only is the idea terrible but the guardians are rehash of crap I've seen (and trust me, I'm not that big of a comic reader). The Olier? Spewing oil at bad guys? The Saber? He can manipulate water.... and is a "product of a hydroelectric experiment gone awry." I can't tell what offends me the most - that the NHL thinks this will draw in fans (regardless of how the oh, I don't know CURRENT fans think this blows) or that they paid Stan Lee a crap ton of money to be a laughing stock of the professional leagues. Personally, I like these guardians better.


It makes me sorta sad that it's come to this. And don't even get me started on the new all star format.

Oh yeah, there was hockey last night too. Pens won (their first without Captain Sid; and Flower is a rock star; pose all you want buddy after a win like that); Avalanche sucked against the Hawks; the Craps lost (always a good day); And St. Loo continues their free fall as they travel the west coast.

Ok here is where I say "Holy Crap, it's been a while." Thanks Kevin for pointing that out. But Puck a Chuck is back. Yep.

And we dragged a new writer along with us. You'll see her work soon - wickedly smart about our game and a snifty writer too. Welcome aboard, Nutmeg. :)

In the next few days, I'll come out from the pile of work on my desk and have a proper post.

The big award show recap and other news

First of all, since I live in a tv free zone, thanks to my super super bud, aka my partner in crime in these parts for hooking me up with a streaming feed of the awards show in the first place so I could actually SEE the damn thing.

Secondly, if you are looking to fill dead time in the middle of the award show, instead of trotting out bands for a crappy tune or a mediocre bumping and grinding circus act (that alone was tres disappointing) or the gold v silver ducks clip, how about, oh I don't know, allowing the players to actually get more than a "gee, this was unexpected" and let them thank the people who got them there? It's a disgrace that the league thinks people need such entertainment. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, people tune in to see the players out of uniform and being their gracious and humble self (exception noted below). I did however dig Michael Rosenbaum (who looks nice with hair on his cue ball head) busting out the Zarley Zalapski reference.

Thirdly, how about instead of actors we don't care about and comedians who are not funny, lets have former players (other than Lucky Luc and the original Flower) hand out awards. Get Cam Neely out there. Bobby freaking Orr for Pete sake. Yeah, and like I said, give the players more than 30 seconds to accept and thank everyone in their past.

Fourthly, someone REALLY needs to tell Patrick Kane to look with your eyes and nto your hands. Could he look any more foolish?

Now, on to the actual awards

Calder: I had a buddy pulling for Matty Duchene but I'm pleased that Tyler Myers won it. I got to see a lot of his big ol' body playing for the slugs this past season and man, he was really stinkin' good. I think there is a reason he won it running away (and no, I don't think a west coast bias was in play either)

Selke: Say what you will, but there are not many forwards who play better defense than Pavel Datsyuk. If you doubt it, watch him in a game. There are times when he's not on the score board, but paying attention you'll know he controlled the game. Plus I think Kessler is a giant douchebag (Sorry Amy. Just saying it like it is).

Adams: Not a real shocker here honestly. Yes, all were very qualified to win the award, but Tippett totally turned a wayward team around making the Yotes a playoff team. Hats off to him (and also to Shane Doan for his awesome plug to the free agents out there and the Army bit was sorta nifty too).

Norris: All I can say is thank the gods above that Mike Green didn't win. I blame his association with the cavemen but I digress. I think that when you play on a run and gun team you really shouldn't be up for the best defensemen. Now if your team averages 1.2 goals a game and you are still a winning team, Norris votes SHOULD go your way. Green is not that awesome of a defenseman. Would I take him on my team? Sure, but I'd pair him with someone who could back up his ill timed pinches and flubbings of play.

Masterton: I don't know if this award can hit home until much later for most winners. You're praised for getting through something generally tragic and devastating in your life. Kudos to Jose Theodore for keeping it together for his acceptance speech. I know I didn't.

Now my favorite Vezina: Crunchy ruled the day. And rightfully so. Sure Marty had better numbers, but you take Marty out of the Devils line up and you still have a pretty good team. You take Miller out of the Sabres? You have a team trying to figure out if they want Taylor or Tyler. I think Tippet winning the Adams screwed Bryzgalov.

The Ted Lindsay award: I think it's about time the league did an award name change. And to honor Terrible Ted with this award just makes sense. Without him, there would be no 8 and 9 million dollar contracts. I'm just sorry Ovechkin won it.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a fan of Ovies. Period. I think he's a hot dog and show off and generally a fucknut who doesn't deserve the attention he gets. Is he talented? Of course he is. Ten of me don't match up to the talent he's got in his eye lid, but that's not what I'm talking about. I grew up watching guys like Stevie Yzerman and Joe Sakic. Those are the models I look to for how a hockey player should act. Ovie spits in the face of that image. Deeming yourself so important that you don't exit the stage like you're supposed to to get out your thanks even after the show went on is just annoying. Plus wear a damn tie. Maybe it's because of the work I do or maybe I'm just nuts, but I'd like to live in a world were composure and grace mean something. Apparently, nhl players don't agree.

Hart: Not to take anything from Henrik Sedin and his fine season, but I don't think he should have won. Call me a homer or call me anti-Canucks I don't really care. Sid had my vote all the way on this one. Pft, going into why is pointless at this time but still, I stick with my belief.

So much for the gala event.

Now for something completely different.

As seen on a headline (I just can't remember where) Let the dismantling of the cup champs begin. Who saw this one coming so soon? Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta? Enjoy the heat Dustin. That's about all you can look forward to.

The Sharks, while letting their goal tender Nabby out to pasture (should have kept Kipper I guess)...they signed PattyMarleau and Joe Pavelski. A small part of me wanted to see Marleau leave SJ because I think no matter what they do in the playoffs (wait, what?) he will take the blame. Now that Rob Blake has retired, what will that team do? Give Barfight Joe Thornton the C? Not bloody likely. I'm thinking Boyle.

I really want training camps to open tomorrow.

I finally joined the rest of the western world (or so it would seem) and got a stupid Twitter account. But really, it's only for one thing and one thing only: July 1.

Hey that killed some serious time. I should go forth now and be productive or something.