Oh dear lord. Some of us here had forgotten this game is on the network that shall not be named (C-SPAN2); and what unholy combination has the evil C-SPAN overlords put together for us tonight? Doc and Darryl Reaugh. This can’t go well.
And speaking of not going well, we’ve got the Devils in Montreal. For as long as we’ve been Devils fans, this matchup has been money in the bank. Marty took a special pride in breaking every hockey-loving heart in his hometown to the tune of something like 7 billion consecutive wins there, but the Canadiens have done the unthinkable and won the last two meetings with the Devils. We guess it just finally got to the point where Marty lost interest in them. C-SPAN2 gives us an interview with Marty and his many chins, and we don’t notice what he says because we’re laughing too hard at how snottily he chirps that he knows nothing about tending goal for the Habs because he’s never played for them.
FIRST PERIOD
20:00 Reaugh’s keys to the game are for the Devils to stay out of the penalty box and for the Habs to “cut down on shots against”. That shouldn’t be a problem for Montreal tonight.
18:35 After looking a bit scrambly in their own end for a couple of shifts, the Devils get what will likely be their only shot of this period, a laboriously-established point shot from Rachunek. Price is underwhelmed.
18:09 Who are the Habs fans booing? As Gio skates up the ice with Madden, they voice their displeasure. Pookie: “Are they booing the Devils in general, or is it Gionta?” Pause. “The Habs fans hate these cans!”
17:17 Doc mentions how the Devils don’t have morning skates, and Reaugh wins us over a bit by gushing, “That’s something 29 other teams should adopt!” He then points out, and probably aptly so, that teams probably only have morning skates so the coaches can feel like they’re doing something.
16:20 For the umpteenth time, a Devil makes a defensive stop on a shot attempt by the Canadiens, but then leaves the puck behind for another Montreal player to continue the attack. It seems like a tactic that will probably not lead to good things. But who are we to judge?
16:05 Pookie complains about the way the rink looks: “Okay, there is a light on at center ice, and it looks like the ice – ” Schnookie interrupts, “Has urine on it?” Pookie: “I was going to say, ‘is tie-dyed’, but now I won’t see it that way. Thanks.”
15:09 Marty has not brought his A game tonight – Smolinski, who has been a bit of a Marty Killer this season, beats him over the shoulder from a terrible angle. 1-0 Montreal.
14:32 Reaugh, discussing the scoring play: “I just love that play on that goal!” Pookie: “That makes one of us.”
13:22 One of the Titses (Schnookie: “I don’t know how to spell his name.” Pookie: “Just call him Tits.” Schnookie: “One of them is Big Tits and one of them is Little Tits and I don’t know which is which.” Pookie: “Just call him Medium Tits. We don’t notice these things. We’re chicks.”) and the Iron Boar jockey for position on a Montreal dump-in, and Medium Tits decides to whack the Iron Boar in the face for his trouble, drawing blood. Yay. Four minutes of Scorched Earth.
11:05 Langer cranks a big shot from the blue line, and Price kicks a huge rebound out into safe space in the face of the “rushing” Devils. Pookie: “Oh. If only there had been a Devil there.” Pause. “Of course there wasn’t, because the Devils suck.”
9:51 It should be mentioned that if Paulie Martin was playing, the Devils would be winning right now. Oh right, and Colin White. CSPAN-2 has not pointed out that the Devils are playing without their top two d-men this evening.
9:22 What a shocker – the Devils didn’t score on the PP.
8:52 Apparently Larry Robinson’s extended absence from the team due to the Worst Sinus Infection Ever is causing the team to forget how to handle the puck in their own zone. Once again the Canadiens set up in the Devils zone, and once again the Devils scamper around putting on a virtuoso demonstration of the Butterfingers Defensive Scheme.
8:08 Some Habby McHaberson holds the puck in his own zone, and the boos seem to rain down again. Pookie: “Are they booing their own guy?” Schnookie: “Maybe he’s got an “oo” name.” Pookie: “Meh. I can’t keep track of that. They’re all just ‘Tits’ to me.”
6:52 It looks for a moment like the Devils are going to gain possession of a loose puck in the neutral zone, but half of them peel off absently for a change. Schnookie: “What the hell was that?” The puck remains in no-man’s land, though, and suddenly Patty drifts into the picture, and looks like he’s about to carry it over the Montreal blue line, but at the last minute he lackadaisically pushes the puck off his stick and straight to a defender. Schnookie: “[Strangled, gargling sound]”
5:40 Doc and Reaugh are talking about Komisarek, and Reaugh concludes, “Carbonneau says he’s the kind of guy who likes pain. He likes to deliver big hits and he likes to block shots.” Schnookie: “That’s the recipe for longevity.”
4:51 The Habs mount a scary-looking rush that ends with a Devils defender digging clumsily in front of Marty, trying to flub the play but not even being competent enough to do that well. Pookie: “Who is that?” Pause. “Oh. Andy Greene. Never mind. That’s just standard for him.”
3:03 We are discussing how we have been shocked by how functional and entertaining the Doc/Reaugh pairing is. Boomer points out that, no matter how bad they might be, at least they’re not Pierre McGuire. We decide to make a point from here on out of appreciating everything bad in our lives that is, at very least, not Pierre McGuire. It’s something we probably take for granted too often.
1:32 With Patty offering up the soft Butterfingers puck pursuit at the blue line, the Habs put together a dazzling bit of tic-tac-toe passing in the Devils zone, and Koivu ends up with a wide-open net. 2-0 Montreal. C-SPAN2 cuts to the Devils bench, and Sutter looks especially like he’s sucking on a lemon.
0:49 Kovalev gets a bit too handsy with Zach behind the net, and gets called for it. The crowd boos, but really, are they concerned about the Devils power play?
0:20 Patty and Zach combine for a well-conceived tip play in front of the net, but Price holds fast as Zach and Langer hammer at the rebound. Reaugh mentions our intrepid heroes are “closing in on 20 shots”, and we are stunned. Price probably would be, too.
0:00 It’s after periods like this one that we sit back and wonder how on Earth the Devils managed to get to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
FIRST INTERMISSION
If C-SPAN2 thinks we’re going to pay attention to their intermission show after the way they humiliated us with the Great Magnetic Playoff Tracker Board Fiasco of 2008, they’ve got another thing coming. (It should be noted that Boomer still thinks that every mail and UPS delivery to stately IPB Manor is going to be a playoff tracker. Every day she reports, “I got [X] in the mail today, but there was no playoff tracker.” Thanks, Boomer.)
SECOND PERIOD
Before the puck drops, Reaugh wins us over that much more by saying of Price’s butterfly, “If I’d known that all you have to do is drop down and stay in one place and let shots hit you, I’d have stayed in the league a lot longer.” BURN.
19:19 Applemotherfuckingsauce is going to lose his “motherfucking” if he keeps making passes out to the neutral zone from the PP point. (Meanwhile, Reaugh says the Devils need to work on sustaining pressure. Apparently he thinks the “one and done” approach to offense isn’t going to work. The Devils think, “But it’s gotten us this far.” We think, “Remind us again why we like this team?”)
17:53 We’ll be damned! Price uncorks a pass down three quarters of the rink, and it looks like he’s sprung a Montreal forward, but Greener manages to hold his ground while the Hab tries to turn the corner around him deep in the Devils zone. That will be his one good defensive play of this game.
17:26 As the Devils mill about along the boards in the Montreal zone, Pookie pipes up, “I feel like it’s been a hundred years since Clarkson last scored.” Clarkson does not respond accordingly.
17:12 Doc says of Vish-Dog, “He’s missed a few games lately… just because of numbers” (meaning how many d-men the Devils have). Pookie, oozing sarcasm: “Yeeeaaah… It’s just a numbers game, Vish-Dog. You’ve been doing great.”
16:19 Zach does his cannonball routine, diving to his stomach across the crease, and sweeping the puck back toward the net, but Price is currently playing out of his mind and is totally unflappable in the face of some honest-to-god offensive pressure.
16:13 After the first significantly good scoring-chance-generating shift by the Devils top line, Langer remembers himself and takes a tripping penalty in front of the Montreal net. We shouldn’t call him Captain Fuck This Shit. We should call him Captain Shithead.
14:13 Amazingly, the Devils PK holds fast in the face of the vaunted Montreal PP, although Kovalev did get a shot off at one point that made Pookie declare, “If Kovalev doesn’t get a hat trick tonight, I’ll eat my hat.”
12:33 Apparently the problem for the Devils tonight is that Price is “playing on a balloon”. Or so says Reaugh.
12:10 As the teams go up and down the rink directionlessly, Doc praises Price for not giving up second chances. Schnookie: “Of course, there are no Devils looking for second chances.”
10:53 Pando leads a listless rush after a Montreal turnover at the Devils blueline, and Reaugh points out that the Habs have now had back-to-back turnovers. He then cautions that teams can’t do that against the Devils, we guess because the Devils are supposedly opportunistic or something. Schnookie: “You’re thinking of the ’95 Devils, Razor.”
9:56 Patty has now completed his one good defensive play for the game, making a crazy, sprinting-back-into-the-play, backchecking strip of the puck from a Hab who is in the process of trying to unload a shot. We will not expect anything more like that from Patty tonight.
9:42 Doc and Reaugh are saying that the Devils are now playing “as if the next goal is mandatory.” Pookie: “The Devils are saying, ‘Au contraire. The next goal is strictly optional.’”
8:03 A Canadien misses a big slapshot, and the puck kicks hard off the boards, giving Pando a chance to wheel down the other way. C-SPAN2’s camera angle makes it hard for us to see whether he’s in one-on-one with a defender, but it doesn’t matter, because Pando pulls up hard and dishes off to Madden just inside the blue line. Price stops the shot easily, and then kicks an enormous rebound off to the non-Pandoed point, the whole sequence seeming to unfold in excruciating slow motion as not a single Devil demonstrates an interest in following up on the play.
5:47 We have no idea what is going on anymore, as there’s a tangle-up in Price’s goal mouth, where a Hab and Langer have wrestled each other to the ice, and the Devils have stopped skating, and CSPAN-2, despite the fact that there hasn’t been a whistle, has decided to cut in for a close-up so we can watch Langer whining to the official. Maybe we should call him Captain Benched.
5:40 C-SPAN2’s cameras decide to engage with the play again in time for us to see Lapierre finish on a two-on-one deep in close on Marty (and it could technically be considered a two-on-none, what with Greener being the hapless d-man back on the play). It’s 3-0 Montreal, and replay shows the whole thing happened because the Devils collectively decided that playing hockey is for losers. That was quite possibly the worst line change they’ve had all season.
4:30 Reaugh says the Devils are going to have to try to do something positive “and get something by Price before the end of this period.” Pookie: “Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen.”
1:55 We love when the Devils show up and play well on C-SPAN2 games. Which is why we’re not really loving this one.
0:00 Despite Reaugh telling us the Devils have had a sufficient work ethic tonight, we beg to differ. Pookie puts it best when she says the guys all look like they’re sort of trying hard, but figure they don’t need to do more than that because someone else will pick up the slack for them.
SECOND INTERMISSION
CSPAN-2 tries to cheer us up by talking about how the Devils are so great because of the kick-ass combination of Lou, Marty, and the organization’s top-to-bottom sense of accountability. Aww, thanks guys. That does help. Also, Engblom shouts about Paulie and Whitey being out tonight, reminding non-Devils fan viewers at home that, yes, New Jersey does have d-men who are better than Andy Greene.
THIRD PERIOD
Before the puck drops, it merits mention that if the Devils keep this up, we will lose our will to live.
19:32 Doc tells us the Devils outshot the Canadiens 13-4 in the second. Is this one of those “rock bottom” games?
19:27 Will to live… slipping… away… Zubrus apparently gets called for holding, but C-SPAN2 is too busy giving us a sideline report about something or other to show us the infraction.
17:27 There is never a moment on the Montreal PP where we fear especially for the Devils. That said, the game still sucks. Pookie stops her complaining for a moment to remind herself, “It’s not Pierre McGuire. It’s not Pierre McGuire. It’s not Pierre McGuire.”
16:35 Travis slowly carries the puck over the Montreal blue line (while on a line with Zach and Gio), and we find ourselves wondering when the hell was the last time he scored a goal. Like Clarkson earlier, Travis opts not to rise to the occasion.
14:59 Our trivia question tonight is “Which goalie has Kovalev scored the most goals against?” Considering his long-ago ability as a Marty Killer, we were ready to put money on it being Marty, but Doc coyly tells us the correct answer is a guy who is not in the building tonight. Schnookie: “I’m taking that the answer isn’t Marty as a moral victory tonight.”
14:03 Reaugh breaks the shocking news that the Devils have lousy timing going to the net. If we’d been given the job of doing color on this game (and how awesome would that have been?), we could have pointed out that the Devils have had, in the last 13 years, exactly one player who went to the net effectively, and that was Brian Gionta six years ago. The concept of “going to the net” is anathema to the forwards in this organization.
13:57 The sideline reporter guy brings us back from commercial with a report about Price’s feelings about Marty, and leads into it by wondering rhetorically whether Price was aware he was facing off against greatness tonight. Schnookie, acidly: “No. He has no idea who Marty is.”
12:03 As Doc and Reaugh take us on a trip down memory lane discussing Marty’s former backups (J.F. Damphousse, anyone?), they chortlingly conclude that there’s never been any trouble motivating Marty, so he doesn’t need someone pressuring him from the bench. Boomer: “Aren’t we forgetting the pressure he’s facing from below, from Jordy Parise?” We all enjoy our jolliest laugh of the night.
9:39 We realize there is still a game going on.
9:07 It’s a Youppi! sighting! Pookie: “I love that his number is an exclamation point.” Pause. “He wanted to wear 84 but it was taken.”
6:29 Doc is super excited because both the Titses are on the ice. He does not call either of them “Tits”.
5:52 Reaugh and Doc are commenting that the Habs seem to have this one under control now (Pookie: “Now?), and have strangled what hope the Devils might have had. We don’t think the Devils ever had hope in this one, but whatever.
4:33 Mottau tries to take a shot that gets deflected and flips toward Price, who has a little trouble gloving it. Reaugh remarks that it “gave him as much trouble as any of the previous 36 shots he’s faced.” As is typical of big shot-total shutout nights against the Devils, we can’t think of more than three good scoring chances they’ve had.
2:55 The Montreal fans are singing “Hey Hey Goodbye”. Which seems weird, considering it’s only March 11.
2:21 Something crappy happens in front of the net, and Ryder scores. 4-0 Montreal. Reaugh tells us, “This one puts it completely out of reach.” Boomer: “I think the second goal did.”
0:50 The fans but on a good show, rising to their feet and roaring for the entire final minute of the game.
0:00 Well that was barftastic. Thanks, Devils.
Good news I’ll be going to the Coyotes/Ducks game shortly. So Zach should be fantastic once I leave.
Aw, KG, I’m sorry! He’s pretty predicatable that way, isn’t he? There’s an interview with him up on the Devils site (just in case you hadn’t already seen that). Have fun at the Yotes game tonight!
Yes I did see it but I didn’t have a chance to listen to it all. But I love that voice of his, his accent is so great.
Aw, MAN. Is this a Versus game? I don’t know if I can stomach two of these in a row. Poop.
Damn that was nice Zach. But Patty messed it up. :(
Wait, there’s a game on? Stupid spring forward *dozes off again*
Stupid spring forward
I agree. I don’t like driving to work in the dark.
Oh. Hello Blersus. Didn’t notice you there. It’s hard to tell where things are without Magnetic Playoff Tracker Boards, after all.
WOOOOOOOOOO!!! SLOWINSKI BABY!
Dammit Zach! :( I quit. I shall leave soon I promise.
I’m sorry, Devils fans. That was an ugly goal to give up.
Fuck this shit. That’s just RUDE. I woke up at 00:30 for this, you bastards.
It’s hard to tell where things are without Magnetic Playoff Tracker Boards, after all.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This game blows, I’m leaving!
That was an ugly goal to give up.
Yes. Yes it was. Sigh.
Hello, all! Break has allowed me to catch up on IPB and post now that midterms are over.
Aw, MAN. Is this a Versus game? I don’t know if I can stomach two of these in a row. Poop.
I freaked out when I didn’t see the game on the MSG channels, but then saw it was on Versus and freaked out even more. I love Doc, but I’m thinking of muting this game.
Hey, Genna! Yay Spring Break!
I would really like for us to not roll over dead in this game. Please?
…I’m going to be hated and ignored tonight, aren’t I? ;)
Don’t worry, IPB Irregulars…roomie wants to watch American Idol tonight and since we don’t get Versus upstairs it looks like I’ll be leaving y’all at 8.
Is it wrong that I’m finding it really funny that the non-Doc broadcaster just referred to a penalty as separating the [offending] player from the herd?
…I’m going to be hated and ignored tonight, aren’t I? ;)
Uh, what did you want me to say? Yay, I’m so glad the team you’re cheering for just made the team I’m cheering for look like a pile of puke? Such a drama queen tonight, CC! :PPPPP
…I’m going to be hated and ignored tonight, aren’t I? ;)
I was gonna tell you to hush it but I didn’t wanna be rude. So yeah. :P
Amy, that non-Doc announcer is Razor, the guy Patty and the Untypical Girls are so in love with! He’s funny, but he sometimes tries for the big words and… well, he’s not as smart as he thinks he is! That said, I loved him when he was the Whalers color guy.
Wow, that was sad. Four minute penalty and no goals? Though I’m not surprised.
Great, the Devils did nothing with a four minute power play, they got the Canadiens right where they want them now.
I know Montreal is Marty’s area of expertise and his hometown and he’s been on a streak and all, buttttttttt it seems that Montreal is starting to fight back. Maybe if we put that backup goalie that we signed over the summer between the pipes (what was his name?), they’ll be so confused that we’ll win.
I hope the Hockey Gods heard that..
I wasn’t saying I needed a response to my last comment, kids :P I was just predicting the next couple of hours of me commenting…wondering how much it’s worth it.
Whatever, I’m outta here for real this time – AI beckons. Have fun, kids! I’ll be watching the DVR delay of this one so maybe I’ll pop back in later, we’ll see. If you’re lucky I won’t. I know you all hate me.
I know you all hate me.
*eye roll* *shakes head sadly* *tut-tuts*
Have fun watching American Idol! Glad to hear you’re feeling better; I was worried for you there!
Oh come on guys. Do score some goals. Please don’t disappoint me and make me cry. It’s been a bad week.
A bad week? That’s terrible! It’s only Tuesday! Cheer up, though! Zach and Paulie are going to play in MN on Thursday! That’s exciting!
And…. that’s about all the positive, happy thinking I’ve got in me for tonight.
Amy, that non-Doc announcer is Razor, the guy Patty and the Untypical Girls are so in love with! He’s funny, but he sometimes tries for the big words and… well, he’s not as smart as he thinks he is!
Thanks for the ID. I couldn’t remember his name, since I really wasn’t paying attention to that point of the game.
Wow, that was sad. Four minute penalty and no goals?
Welcome to SabreNation, only instead of a four minute power play, it was a two minute five-on-three.
You know, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for the Devils to just play well!
Yeah it’s pretty bad when the week is already sucking on Tuesday. And yes I am pretty excited for Paulie and Zach but I’m pretty sure I’m going to the ‘Yotes game again on Thursday so I’ll miss it. But that’s probably good for the boys.
You know, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for the Devils to just play well!
It’s like asking them to do morning skates.
You know, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for the Devils to just play well!
Devils? Play well? Does not compute.
This is going to be an interesting night.
Whatever guys. I’m going to bed. Way to thank me for getting up.
BOO! Bad Devils! They must be punished, how shall we do this?
It’s like asking them to do morning skates.
Oh, I love that they don’t do morning skates! It makes so much sense! And it cracks me up that other teams haven’t followed suit!
For a very brief time (like 3 weeks) I got interested in NASCAR. Everything I heard was that Jeff Gordon was so good (this was back in 1996) because his crew chief was a genius. The example of why he was so smart that was most often cited? He had the pit crew practice pit stops. Unbelievable. I sometimes feel like the Devils are sitting there going, “I know, let’s practice pit stops!”
Also, this game sucks.
Sutter looks like he’s going to cut a bitch. That’s right, he’s bypassed dunk and headed right to cut.
That’s right, he’s bypassed dunk and headed right to cut.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Power play? Can we hope? Or is it just not worth it at this point?
Good god Zach almost had one.
Power play? Can we hope? Or is it just not worth it at this point?
Not for a damn second.
I don’t think it was ever worth it.
And Pookie, NASCAR, seriously?
What the hell is up with that buzzer? That’s just wrong.
And Pookie, NASCAR, seriously?
It was summertime and baseball was boring. What can I say? It was only for a very brief time. It’s actually a surprisingly well-televised sport. Of course, now I can’t abide by the environmental disaster that it is, but if you overlook that, some races are really exciting. Amy’s a race fan, right Amy? Not NASCAR, but some fancier stuff, right?
I sometimes feel like the Devils are sitting there going, “I know, let’s practice pit stops!”
But wouldn’t that go against Sutter’s “no game day skate” policy?
Amy, it’s tricky. It sounds like it would go against the no practice policy, since it’s got that whole “practice” thing in there. It’s like a mystery wrapped in an enigma. No, what’s missing in my analogy is the fact that the Devils spend too much time not practicing the important shit (like the PP and carrying the puck out of their zone) during non-game day practices. Stupid Devils.
I don’t know, I never got into NASCAR. Then again, I never got into any other sport than hockey. That was the only one that stuck after growing up with the then big four sports.
Amy’s a race fan, right Amy? Not NASCAR, but some fancier stuff, right?
Yeah, Indy-car racing. What I don’t like about NASCAR is how corporate-y they’ve made their drivers become. There’s so much money tied up in the sport that one wrong move or word from a driver could jeopardize a pretty big sponsorship deal. That’s why I like hockey. Podunk Tech on the endboards isn’t going to take their money and go home because a player shot his mouth off again.
Did y’all see that hit on Aaron Ward? I agree with the studio guys, the human body isn’t supposed to bend that way.
Allez, Habs! J’aime beaucoups les Canadiens, et mon ami Luc m’a dit que je peux venir a Montreal avec lui quand Les Canadiens gagnent Le Coupe de Stanley.
Besides, I want to see the Devils hate life so that maybe they’ll be too depressed to play well on Thursday.
*beaucoup
He then points out, and probably aptly so, that teams probably only have morning skates so the coaches can feel like they’re doing something.
Well, apparently Lindy likes to have such things as morning skates and practices so he can make sure his players get out of bed before 2 and eat breakfast and lunch. Clearly he really trusts the Sabres to behave like mature adults.
I’m sorry your game is sucking so far.
I’m sorry your game is sucking so far.
Thank you, Meg. I like that sentiment a lot more than “I want the Devils to hate life”. :)
HAhaha, well, the Wild have been sucking. I figure that’s the only way we will win…they can love life on Friday.
Well I’m fairly indifferent about the outcome so, while I do like the Habs a little better than the Devils, I feel like I might as well cheer for the Devils for this game. It’s a lot more palatable than having to cheer for the Sens and Leafs today.
We have to play division rivals seven times before the end of March…ew.
It’s a lot more palatable than having to cheer for the Sens and Leafs today.
The New Jersey Devils: It’s Better Than Cheering For The Sens Or Leafs!
:)
The New Jersey Devils: It’s Better Than Cheering For The Sens Or Leafs!
Also the Bruins, Flyers, Rangers, Islanders, and Caps. Among others.
“We have to play division rivals seven times before the end of March…ew.”
Woooo! I’m so pumped for this! It’s going to be a race right to the end to see who the division leader is! And you don’t have Cookie to bitch about anymore, plus Matty is still playing so you can boo him all you want. It always seems to backfire on Minny, but you can still do it.
Haha, I will be home for the game on the 28th, and I also get to see the Oilers the 26th. Sadly I will miss seeing Sakic, and my hope is that he doesn’t retire, because I’d have to cry if I missed seeing him for the last time because I wanted to be well rested for my classes.
This may seem daft (as I am listening to the NHL radio feed) but is Travis still on the right wing?
UGH. Maybe I should stop listening now…
That was just a painful play from start to finish.
That play was… wow. That was so unlike this team. Sutter had better rip into them during intermission. What was Brylin thinking?!?
Tricia, I believe Travis is still at wing tonight.
Sutter looked like he was trying to devise a way of getting fired.
Thanks Pookie!
Honestly, I turn to the Devils to give me some joy while procrastinating on essays and they give me this.
Ah wells, I can hope that they can turn it around. I’ll just wait for it…but I’m probably jinxing any hope they’ll recover.
Maybe that’s what has happened to the Wild. Lemaire wants to retire, and he needed an excuse, so he’s going to say that the team is just too much stress or something.
Pookie: “Are they booing the Devils in general, or is it Gionta?” Pause. “The Habs fans hate these cans!”
HEE!
Patty, you’ve got “A Jerk” beacon! If I ever need to talk you about something I’ll just shout out “my name’s in the phone book!”
*Sniff* I just read an article about how great a guy Nazzy is, but he doesn’t really have any one that suits his style to play with anymore, and he’s probably going to try out free agency. I want him to have fun, and play his game, but I’ll miss my Nazzy.
Sorry the Devils are being such bitches, Ookies.
Hmmm, Nazzy…how old is he now?
Amy, that non-Doc announcer is Razor, the guy Patty and the Untypical Girls are so in love with!
Hold it there, hotshot! I’m not in LOVE with him! (I think that’s Caitlin.)
I do prefer him to at least half the color guys, but I’m sure it’s mainly because I’m used to him. It’s like your mom’s potato salad. It’s just not quite right when somebody does it differently than the way you grew up with.
The thing he says that grates on me the most?
Lax-adaisical.
Sorry the Devils are being such bitches, Ookies.
Thanks, alix. I’m consoling myself with the knowledge that it would be a different game if Paulie were skating. And with the knowledge that in 20 minutes of playing time it will all be over.
Patty, you’ve got “A Jerk” beacon!
That’s what my mom says about the guys I’ve dated!
Ba-DUM-chee!
Happy birthday Mama Sutter! I hope you are doing better things on your birthday than watching this game!
The thing he says that grates on me the most?
Lax-adaisical.
It’s like being lackadaisical but worse, because your play is also lax. He’s a wordsmith, that one. :)
EEEE!! Margee did a Would You Hit it? about Milan Lucic from the Bruins! I LOVE that kid. He used to play on my cuzzie’s junior team.
“Hmmm, Nazzy…how old is he now?”
He’s 34. That hot old man :p
It’s like being lackadaisical but worse, because your play is also lax. He’s a wordsmith, that one. :)
You might have something there, Pookie! I always assumed he just didn’t know how to pronounce the word. He maybe be smarter than I think! I wonder how he pronounces, “asterisk.”
“Thanks, alix. I’m consoling myself with the knowledge that it would be a different game if Paulie were skating.”
Of course it would be! Everything is better with Paulie Pancake Pot Head around. Is he back any time soon? Speaking of injured defencemen, did I tell y’all that Matty’s playing with bone spurs? *Sigh* :p
34, he might still be worth signing at 34. The Wild could really use him right about now, and then I could openly admit that he’s hot…
Hi ookies…I’m Pam’s sister. She’s busy grading, which is probably more entertaining than the game, and I can’t take THEM anymore…BTW, your new kitchen is awesome.
“34, he might still be worth signing at 34. The Wild could really use him right about now, and then I could openly admit that he’s hot…”
Nooo! He better go to the east if he does go somewhere. And yes he is rather hot, isn’t he? :D
Speaking of injured defencemen, did I tell y’all that Matty’s playing with bone spurs?
I hadn’t heard that! Just kidding. Poor button. Poor buttons (you and him).
Is he back any time soon?
He was quoted in the paper saying that he won’t possibly let the team sit him out of the next game which is back in his hometown of Minneapolis. He wouldn’t want his 90 cousins going the game and then being disappointed!
Haha, it’s cause Minneapolis is the shit, but technically the Wild play in St. Paul…
Yes, rather. But you didn’t hear that from me. Nothing but Nazzy dislike from this kid.
“Poor button. Poor buttons (you and him).”
Hee! Poor Matty, indeed.
“He was quoted in the paper saying that he won’t possibly let the team sit him out of the next game which is back in his hometown of Minneapolis. He wouldn’t want his 90 cousins going the game and then being disappointed!“
Hooray! And no he wouldn`t want anybody disappointed. He will have to get someone to split the puck from his GWG into 90ths :p
Hi Val! Nice to meet you! Tell Pam we say hi! This game totally sucks. Makes me wish I was grading papers instead of watching. (And thanks for the kind words about the kitchen!)
“Yes, rather. But you didn’t hear that from me. Nothing but Nazzy dislike from this kid.“
I heard nothing. I`m still totally sure you`re filled with nothing but hate for anybody in the Canucks sweater.
Pam says Hi. We were watching the game and around 10 minutes into the first, Pam says “They’re not gonna score tonight”, and I said, nope. We turned it off at the intermission. Our theory is that we can’t turn the home games off, so we might as well enjoy it for the road games. I don’t need to be aggrevated right now. We refer to the devils as THEM during these times. Their name need not be spoken until the next game.
Everything is better with Paulie Pancake Pot Head around.
What exactly is Paulie Pancake Pot Head’s injury?
Our theory is that we can’t turn the home games off, so we might as well enjoy it for the road games.
Great point! (You’re reminding me why I’m glad we don’t still have season tickets.)
Their name need not be spoken until the next game.
That got a hearty laugh here at stately IPB Manor; it was really the only laugh here all evening, so thank you for that!
What exactly is Paulie Pancake Pot Head’s injury?
He took a shot off his foot in practice (if only they never practiced!) and it’s sore. I think they’re being extra cautious (or Paulie’s a bigger slacker than even we joke) and that if it were the playoffs now he’d be playing.
THIS GAME SUCKED.
Fuckever, Devils. Fuckever.
Im sure glad they have 9 defensemen. Why trade one for a goal scorer when we have all that offensive talent….Another question, why do all the fowards go ICE cold at the same exact time? It’s unbelievalbe…I hate THEM…
I am so sorry, Devils fans. That was a really bad one. You deserve better.
I’m so, so, sorry Devils fans. I hope they get their heads screwed back on straight soon.
I’m going to be humming that Ole Ole song for the rest of the night.
I am so sorry, Devils fans. That was a really bad one. You deserve better.
Aw, thanks, Katebits and Amy. (Great new avatar, Amy!)
Another question, why do all the fowards go ICE cold at the same exact time? It’s unbelievalbe
Ah, it’s all too believable with this team. Sigh. Oh well. There’ve been worse ones this season, so I think I’m going to try to overlook this one.
I feel like the who team just followed their captains life motto.
Great new avatar, Amy!
Thanks. When all else falls, go with the rally helmet.
I’m checking out for the night. See y’all tomorrow.
Poor Ookies. That one sounded dreadful.
yes yes…there have been worse ones…We are entering the time where we don’t think about THEM or hockey until thursday. Hopefully sometime in there they will learn that if they shoot the puck at the goalie, it will not go through him, and it will not count as a goal.
oh damn it, we need to do the dishes…Pam’s done grading…
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Amy, your avatar just brought joy and light to my otherwise miserable existence. Thanks for that.
oh damn it, we need to do the dishes
And I need to go find a soldering iron to gouge my eyes out…
Good night, Amy! Rally-helmet away!
The last win I saw the Devils play was their one win in the playoffs against Ottawa last year. They hate me to see them play well, so they play shitty on Versus. (So that guarantees a loss in Denver on Saturday, because I’ll be in the building. Sorry.)
I picked THIS up on the way home from work today, and I can’t even get excited about it.
Interestingly, if you order pro stock lettering at my local skate shop, it’s one set price for any player on a given NHL team, and the Devils are one of the less expensive teams thanks to their simple lettering style. So at least I got my money’s worth in jersey lettering.
Why don’t I see Amy’s new avatar?
So sorry about the game, Ookies! At least Razor wasn’t as bad as Pierre McGuire! That’s something, right?
Razor was a delight tonight. I think when you pair him with Doc his smarm gets a lid on it and his intelligence gets to shine through instead.
Razor really was in fine form. It was like listening to the Whalers again! I think he has a lot of respect for Doc and as a result reined himself in.
Of course the game itself sucked so bad that everything else seems good by comparison. Perhaps Razor bit. I have no idea. My sense of perspective is totally shot.
I think he does a good job telling both sides of the game, when he does the national games.
Sure, every guy seems like art compared to Pierre McGuire, but most guys seem like art compared to Edzo, too. :D
Pierre McGuire almost exploded with glee when Sid got “two” goals the other day. It was almost hilarious. Better yet was when Sakic winked at him.
Hola everyone…just checking in to register my two cents:
That sucked. Horrible to see the Devils get humiliated in front of the enormous Versus audience
Boy, Reading the recent entries as compared to entries past, the Andy Greene appreciation sure was superficial? He really and truly does have potential. They either needed to trade him or let him build confidence and let him play all the time. Thoughts?
Pam, you’re right. The GINORMOUS C-SPAN2 audience was probably really laughing at us tonight.
carlitos278, I have no idea what to make of Greener anymore. He seemed to have so much potential, and all of a sudden, he’s fallen off a cliff. He’s been just atrocious in the last stretch of games, and is only in the lineup because of the injuries in front of him on the depth chart. I have hopes that he’s like Oduya, and will somehow find it in himself to evolve from living joke to moderately-steady/not-entirely-terrifying defenseman.
I wonder if Greener would be well served to have played some games in Lowell. I know he’s on a one-way contract and all, but still. He’s taken a bunch of big steps back this season. I’m not completely giving up on him and when he does get his shit together I’ll surely claim that I was always behind him, but… He’s made some real bone-headed plays lately.
Good night everyone!
Good night, Pam and Val! (And thanks for dropping by tonight, Val!)
Good night, Pam and Val! Don’t give THEM another thought until Thursday!
Am I the only one who sees Brent Sutter on the screen and immediately thinks “Ruth! Ruth! Baby! Ruth!”?
Apparently Larry Robinson’s extended absence from the team due to the Worst Sinus Infection Ever is causing the team to forget how to handle the puck in their own zone.
Oh no, the Devils have succeeded in Assistant Coach killing!
Hold it there, hotshot! I’m not in LOVE with him! (I think that’s Caitlin.)
Erm, yes, that would be me. It’s the suits and ties. They make me all googly-eyed. That’s right! I said it! I heart Razor!
I’m glad Razor was good to y’all tonight. Someone has tried their hand at Caitlin-killing and has given me some sort of nasty cold, so I caught about five minutes of this game before I was like, “Nnngh, Kovalev…ergh, Parise…sleep time now.”
So I just woke up. Fun times!
Oh my god, Frisby, you’re right! And it’s the Assistant Coach they have now TWICE killed as a head coach! Poor Larry! (Oh, and if you’re still around here, how’s the offer on the house going?)
Larry’s like a cat, but he’s using up those 9 coach lives fast, isn’t he?
Good morning!
“Aren’t we forgetting the pressure he’s facing from below, from Jordy Parise?”
I meant to ask this last night, but if Marty’s backup isn’t going to play more than 10 games a year, why are they paying Kevin Weekes and not using Jordy? Is he really that bad?
Is he really that bad?
Methink so, ya.
*sigh* At least I got money out of this game. (My sister and I had a bet)
Slow day, eh?
why are they paying Kevin Weekes and not using Jordy? Is he really that bad?
In a word? Yes. He’s the back-up in Lowell (to Frank Doyle, the one who’s inspired all those great P.I. story comments from Stalky). Stan was trying to write a glowing article about Zach and in it is he said, “You’ll be seeing another Parise playing for the Devils soon as Jordan Parise has been playing adequate for Lowell.” Even a crack-pot like Stan trying to exaggerate Jordy’s abilities can still only bring himself to say he’s an “adequate” goalie. Heh. Poor Jordy.
Poor Jordy.
I agree. His brother’s an NHL superstar in the making, his dad was a not-so-bad player from what I’ve read, his BFF is also a superstar in the making, and he’s languishing as an AHL backup goalie.
Yeah, but Jordy knows he’s the badassest of the bunch. So maybe that counts for something?
Guess what, everyone . . . Andrew Peters is suspended! So now Lindy can’t be stupid and play him. Unfortunately it looks like it’s only for one game.
What do you think the NHL would make of Sabres fans petitioning to have Peters suspended for the remainder of the regular season and any applicable postseason?
Guess what, everyone . . . Andrew Peters is suspended! So now Lindy can’t be stupid and play him. Unfortunately it looks like it’s only for one game.
Aren’t there worse things the NHL can/has suspended a player for?
So, assuming Kaleta comes in for Peters, that could leave the team down two forwards, assuming that Mair doesn’t play and Pommers has to play the blue line.
Aren’t there worse things the NHL can/has suspended a player for?
Well sure, but even setting aside the fact that it’s Peters, I have absolutely no problem with someone getting suspended for punching someone from the bench. It’s completely unsportsmanlike.
“So, assuming Kaleta comes in for Peters, that could leave the team down two forwards, assuming that Mair doesn’t play and Pommers has to play the blue line.”
It’s a rediculous number of injuries, but over the past couple of yseasons it seems like the Sabres have gone out and played their best when they’re written off as having no chance.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next 5 or 6 games.
What I really want to know is, Amy, is there a bigger version of the Goose Rally Helmet picture? Cute!
Mara, there are a few pictures of it here.
there are a few pictures of it here.
Awwww, Goose is so endearing :D
Sid’s not playing tonight (lingering ankle pain).
Goose is so endearing
I love Lindy’s expression. Its a cross between what the hell and smelling a fart.
Guess what, everyone . . . Andrew Peters is suspended!
Steve Ott was suspended, too. For THREE games. For a hit that didn’t even make the Avs media mad. Or draw a penalty.
Slew-footing Modano at the opposite end of the rink from the play the game before was no problem, though. That’s just hockey. Same goes for smashing Morrow into the “turnbuckle”. I guess Modano and Morrow should have snapped in two, like Leopold, if they wanted any penalty on their hits.
I hate the Avs so much.
Thanks for the link, Meg!
‘Endearing’ doesn’t even come close to covering it. Is there anything wrong with the dude?
And for some reason, I only see your usual throwback Sabres logo in your avatar, Amy. The Ookies might have me on some kind of probation. :D
Is there anything wrong with the dude?
I can’t think of anything right off the top of my head.
Patty, the avatar didn’t show up for me on my home computer, either. But at work this morning it’s changed to the new one. Maybe it’s in the internet cache and needs to be cleared. (I think my work computer’s cache is cleared automatically.)
Is there anything wrong with the dude?
He refuses to wear a visor despite the fact that he keeps getting hit in the face with sticks?
I can’t think of anything right off the top of my head.
People who actually know him tell me he’s kind of a dingbat.
But I just find that even more endearing.
He refuses to wear a visor despite the fact that he keeps getting hit in the face with sticks?
Yeah, that’s not so smrt.
He refuses to wear a visor despite the fact that he keeps getting hit in the face with sticks?
God, I wish they’d hurry up and just grandfather in a visor rule like they did with helmets. Take the macho factor out of it completely. It’s inevitable, so could we get it done before another couple guys aren’t as “lucky” as Berard and White?
People who actually know him tell me he’s kind of a dingbat.
But I just find that even more endearing.
That does kind of make him more endearing. Dingbat is several steps up the ladder from “dumber than a box of rocks,” which is what I’ve heard about a couple of players.
And, he doesn’t come up in discussions of “team’s biggest manwhores.” So that’s a plus.
So, as nice as taking a couple vacation days to randomly have a four-day weekend was, I hate this whole “coming back to the office and making up the two days worth of work I missed” crap. Would it have KILLED the Devils to at least have given me the lingering fond memories of a game well played last night? *SIGH*
There are two kinds of jobs, Schnookie. The kind where all your work is waiting for you when you get back, and the kind where you have to beg people to cover for you while you’re gone. They both have their pluses and minuses. :D
Sorry about your wasted vacation days. Stupid Devils, making your day back at work even more miserable.
Would it have KILLED the Devils to at least have given me the lingering fond memories of a game well played last night?
It probably would have killed them. They only know how to use their killing powers on other people and not on themselves.
Oh, no worries! The days themselves were wonderful, and I don’t regret even A MINUTE of them! :P (I am vaguely encouraged that my absence caused the sky to fall in some regards here at the office. That’s an indication of job security, right?)
And yeah, Amy, you’re right. Playing well last night would have probably killed the Devils, and they’re all about killing hockey. Their priorities just aren’t in the right place for what I wanted from them yesterday.
Here’s our chance!
Dear Lou,
Which Devils can’t swim?
Hugs and kisses,
The -Ookies
Oh my god! Pookie! That’s awesome! There’s NO WAY Lou wouldn’t answer that! (He’d probably cast his answer in an orchestra analogy, but whatever.)
Dear Ookies,
None of them. As swimming doesn’t involve playing defense, the organization has no interest in allowing it’s players to engage in such frivolous activity.
Regards,
Lou
P.S. Technically, I guess you could say Marty swims. But it’s really just “controlled floating”.
Touche, andrew, touche.
Dear -ookies,
You’ve seen them playing in their own zone this year. You know the answer. None of them can swim.
Love,
Lou
I was just kidding, I’m sure there’s a few swimmers in there. Hey, ask Lou if he has an ETA on Mogilny’s return! That would be pretty funny.
Technically, I guess you could say Marty swims. But it’s really just “controlled floating”.
The human buoy?
That does kind of make him more endearing. Dingbat is several steps up the ladder from “dumber than a box of rocks,” which is what I’ve heard about a couple of players.
The same people immediately rush to assure me “but he’s not dumb or anything.” So I’m left with this image of Goose working out theoretical mathematics on his bathroom mirror in the morning, a la Good Will Hunting, and then getting lost on his way to the arena so frequently that Lindy assigns him a carpool buddy on game days.
—
I firmly believe that Travis can’t swim, and Zach mercilessly mocks him, despite the fact that Zach still wears floaties.
Hey, ask Lou if he has an ETA on Mogilny’s return!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
That’s a great idea!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! An ETA on Mogliny’s return!!! TOO GOOD!
So I was watching the Sharks/Preds game last night and I learned that Christian Ehrhoff’s nickname is “Ice”
That is such an 80′s movie/Steven Segal/Top Gun type nickname that I can’t decide whether it’s awesome or rediculous.
Ridiculous.
Sorry!
It’s so ridiculous it’s redicilous!
I think “Ice” is a FANTASTIC nickname! It’s no “Acorns”, but not everyone can be as tough as Travis. (Travis is probably thinking, “What the hell? My nickname isn’t ‘Acorns’…”)
Travis is probably thinking, “What the hell? My nickname isn’t ‘Acorns’…
Watch it be like ‘jacksie’ or something like that. We know how hockey players love their -sie suffix for nicknames.
Watch it be like ‘jacksie’ or something like that.
As far as I know it’s something like Trav. Which I think is even more spectacularly boring than -sie nicknames.
“I think “Ice” is a FANTASTIC nickname!”
It definitely has a Patrick Swayze type vibe to it.
Poor Ehrhoff. They were talking about how he’s always been lauded as the Sharks future #1 offensive defenseman. He’s got a wicked shot and fires it off 15 times a game. The problem is that he can’t hit the net to save his life. This year, finally, Zettler and Hunter had to sit him down and break it to him that he’s actually not an offensive defensman, he’s a puck moving defensman. Broke his little heart, but he’s playing much better now.
I wish I had heard that conversation. “Um, Christian….we realize that you’re supposed to be our goal scoring defenseman of the future, but do you think you could stop shooting the puck? You see…the thing is, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Maybe you could pass it a little more often?”
It definitely has a Patrick Swayze type vibe to it.
I feel like if there were strippers in G.I. Joe, one of them would be named “Ice”. Which makes it a good nickname in my book.
You see…the thing is, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Maybe you could pass it a little more often?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There are times I think maybe Sutter has had to have that talk with the entire Devils team. “None of you guys can hit shit. Have you considered passing to someone with better aim than yourself?” Then he realized the team was just passing to their opponents all the time, and it was back to the drawing board.
Well, it’s Wednesday, and the Panboxers look like they might have a date with destiny. The SFH’s are resting up, getting primed.
Schnookie, are you going to be able to close the gap by the end of the week?
What’s the score? (I can’t access fantasy sports at work. GAH!) I think the Marauders picked a bad week to not have anyone playing any games.
“What’s the score?”
6-2, but it looks pretty close in each category. Should be an entertaining finish!
“I think the Marauders picked a bad week to not have anyone playing any games.”
Talk about a bad week! The Horcoffs had 2 players score 5 goals on Monday and we’re not even playing anyone! Save that production you sonsabitches!
So quick question for everyone. I need some help with my fantasy league 50 in 50, anyone think Zach will be able to score tomorrow night in Minnesota? What about Paulie?
Should be an entertaining finish!
I think the PanBoxers are soft. They start strong, but have no finish. I’m confident the Horcoffs are going to be suffering a serious Marauder smackdown next week. (Especially since they’re busy wasting all their scoring this week. Heh.)
KG, I would put good money on Zach not scoring. I mean, have you been watching the Devils lately? I smell shutout. I also worry about Paulie — he’s talking a big game about playing, but who even knows? I’m calling that Paulie doesn’t dress and Zach gets benched. 2-0 Wild on a goal early in the first, and then a waning-moments empty netter. And I’m going to lose my will to live.
Thanks Schnookie. I’d agree though, Zach has too many people coming to watch him play, he’s going to choke. I do hope Paulie dresses though, we need him to play defense.
“I’m confident the Horcoffs are going to be suffering a serious Marauder smackdown next week.”
I wouldn’t be so confident! After all, remember it was the Horcoffs who demoralized an up-to-that-point undefeated Marauders team back in week 6 with a 9-0 ass kicking!
They definitely know how to handle McCrotch. Wait….that came out wrong.
They definitely know how to handle McCrotch.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
After all, remember it was the Horcoffs who demoralized an up-to-that-point undefeated Marauders team back in week 6 with a 9-0 ass kicking!
That was then! This is now! And now I look at the Horcoffs and think, “Wait, is that the Ottawa Senators?” Meanwhile, the Marauders are comfortably settled into a role of relentless mediocrity. I like my chances.
“That was then! This is now! And now I look at the Horcoffs and think, “Wait, is that the Ottawa Senators?””
While I will admit the Horcoffs stumbled a bit down the stretch, we held onto our first place spot and weren’t blown out (save for a 6-1 loss in the final week), and we re-tooled the roster for the playoffs.
No longer with the squad are Rick “Washout” DiPietro, Vinny “Ice Cold” Prospal, and Jaro “Somebody Please Get Me A Chest X-ray” Spacek.
We’re a team on a mission!
We’re a team on a mission!
A mission to lose to the Marauders! TAKE THAT!
I think the PanBoxers are soft. They start strong, but have no finish.
Yeah, well, I think the Mauraders are a bunch of panty-waisted doilymakers, so there!
Bring on the Horcoffs!
KG, today in the paper it sounded like there is doubt that Paulie will play tomorrow. I’m trying to keep it together, but, but, but… PAULIEEEEEE!!!! WAIL!
I don’t like this “Paulie being out” thing. I don’t like it ONE BIT.
Jaro “Somebody Please Get Me A Chest X-ray” Spacek.
:^::::::::
It could be worse. You could have Timmy “My Hip Hurts WAAAAAH!” Connolly on your team.
“It could be worse. You could have Timmy “My Hip Hurts WAAAAAH!” Connolly on your team.”
Timmy “Hey Doc, Inject This Into My Junk” Connolly? Yeah, he didn’t quite make the team this fantasy season
Everyone has forgotten that I was begging people to pick up Timmy at the beginning of the season, right? Or that I half-heartedly petitioned for a rule change so I could pick him up? Because I’m pretty sure that never happened.
“Or that I half-heartedly petitioned for a rule change so I could pick him up?”
HAHA!! Remember I reminded you of that one a few weeks back, Heather? Too funny.
Next year, we’ll have to make it a rule: If you want to pick up your BFF from the opposite conference because no one wants him, you have to keep him on your roster for the season. No matter what!
Noooo. Stupid papers. I need to watch Paulie play. I’m going to hyperventilate without him. (Not really but I love watching him play D)
If you want to pick up your BFF from the opposite conference because no one wants him, you have to keep him on your roster for the season. No matter what!
We’ll call it the “Heather Hearts Timmy” rule, and in honor of it, Heather always has to have Timmy on her team.
Next year, we’ll have to make it a rule: If you want to pick up your BFF from the opposite conference because no one wants him, you have to keep him on your roster for the season. No matter what!
Even if he’s on the IR the whole season?
Actually, it doesn’t matter. I’d still pick Bouche. I am perfectly allowed to have him on my roster in the other league and he’s been on IR the whole time. And I never considered dropping him.
Sorry about Paulie!!!!!!
Reaugh wins us over that much more by saying of Price’s butterfly, “If I’d known that all you have to do is drop down and stay in one place and let shots hit you, I’d have stayed in the league a lot longer.” BURN.
I noticed he did this a lot while in Hamilton too and I’m quite surprised it really hasn’t burned him more often.
Uh, that’s all I have time for actually. Bye!
It’s a little slow around here today, huh?
By chance, anyone watch the Sharks game last night?
Thanks for dropping by, Sherry!
andrew, it is slow around here! I wish I had something to add to spark conversation but I’m numbing by brain by printing out and collating handouts for a class on using Excel to track household budgets. That’s not really very interesting.
By chance, anyone watch the Sharks game last night?
We had it on for a while but I didn’t pay much attention. The final few minutes were certainly exciting!
“We had it on for a while but I didn’t pay much attention. The final few minutes were certainly exciting!”
Ah, I see. Well the SJ feed was pretty funny because they had JR up in the booth for a while talking with Randy and Drew. I figured if anyone did see it, the JR hate would be flying today.
Did he say anything interesting?
“Did he say anything interesting?”
Some of it was good, some bad…the usual JR.
The best part was his commentary on Tootoo. He was talking shit like crazy. I couldn’t believe how frank he was being. I wonder if Frisby heard it. I would have been pissed if I liked Tootoo, which I don’t, so I wasn’t.
That’s not really very interesting.
And I though my copy changes were bad!
I would have been pissed if I liked Tootoo, which I don’t, so I wasn’t.
People like Tootoo?
Oh, wait, nevermind…I was thinking of Nichol. I have less of a problem with Tootoo.
“Oh, wait, nevermind…I was thinking of Nichol. I have less of a problem with Tootoo.”
Trust me, they’re both punks.
I hate Tootoo! Instead of fighting Luc “I’m a rockstar on my days off” Bourdon, after Tootoo nailed Aaron “I was the only healthy Vancouver d-man” Miller, to the boards, he cross checked Luc in the face and then sucker punched him while he was falling to the ice. So klassy that one.
“…Luc “I’m a rockstar on my days off” Bourdon, after Tootoo nailed Aaron “I was the only healthy Vancouver d-man” Miller…”
Nice! It’s fun making up nicknames isn’t it?
Hee! It is very fun. Thanks for the idea.
Jordin “I knew Robidas was coming at me so I sucker-punched him” Tootoo.
andrew, it’d be hard to agree with JR in most circumstances, but if he were saying that Tootoo is a talentless punk then I’d have to agree. Even if it’s JR.
Jordin “Thank God he plays in the WC” Tootoo.
Yeah! How the heck did we end up with Tootoo AND Chris Simon? Boo! Although I guess the east has Sean Avery…
Hee! Check out this picture of Bieksa. He looks like he stole Patrick Sharp’s lunch money, and is calling him a baby.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_V5XIbaAr_lE/R9a3oxbFqsI/AAAAAAAAASs/U8u64Iu-NsE/s1600-h/capt.cb51d49402244be18d4441ce153dd80a.canucks__blackhawks_hockey_cxa105.jpg
Sean Avery doesn’t hurt people though (generally speaking), he’s just an asswipe. I’ve never seen Scott Nichol punch anyone unless they had their back to him. I’d rather play Avery.
Crap, Bieksa is scaring the crap out of me with his “worthless peon” look. Don’t do that stuff dude!
“andrew, it’d be hard to agree with JR in most circumstances, but if he were saying that Tootoo is a talentless punk then I’d have to agree.”
I was thinking that if you or the Untypical Girls had been watching someone’s head would’ve exploded. JR basically called him a classless diver who runs around cheap-shotting other players. And also he called him an “idiot” and a “dum dum” like 4 times. It was kinda comical.
“Sean Avery doesn’t hurt people though (generally speaking), he’s just an asswipe.”
Yeah, for what it’s worth, Avery’s a turtling little bitch.
Wow. That’s pretty bold for an official broadcast, andrew! The other guys are probably like, “Um… should we dump that?” :D
Hmmm…that might make me like JR a little bit.
Yeah, but no one ever says that Tootoo is the heart and soul of the team and the only reason they win. We’ve been hearing that about Avery from the NY media since he came to town.
Also, anyone else here read the transcript of that State of the Kings over at FanHouse? That’s awesome! Lombardi’s my hero if he really did say that when offering a contract to Gomez he’d have to pick the salary he’s worth and then add $2 million.
“That’s pretty bold for an official broadcast, andrew! The other guys are probably like, “Um… should we dump that?””
It was quite the entertaining broadcast.
“Hmmm…that might make me like JR a little bit.”
It made me like him a little more, because believe it or not, he spent almost the entire interview heaping praise on the other guys. I was shocked. Shocked!
Yeah, but no one ever says that Tootoo is the heart and soul of the team and the only reason they win.
I’d still rather play the overhyped, turtling dumbass than the guy who punches my players in the back of the head and is likely to actually hurt someone. (I don’t have to play the Rangers 8 times a year and watch my team play on a Rangers-centric station however so I’ll give you that we’re probably coming from slightly different points of view.)
“Lombardi’s my hero if he really did say that when offering a contract to Gomez he’d have to pick the salary he’s worth and then add $2 million.”
Sounds about right…ditto for Drury. And look at the one team dumb enough to do that for both of them! Gawd I’m glad I’m not a Ranger fan!
“Crap, Bieksa is scaring the crap out of me with his “worthless peon” look. Don’t do that stuff dude!”
Hee! Bieksa is so badass. And it was all explained when the Canucks had their dad’s road trip. Juice’s dad:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296692@N04/2329144119/
Yeah! How the heck did we end up with Tootoo AND Chris Simon? Boo! Although I guess the east has Sean Avery…
It should be noted that we also have the Flyers. :D
“And it was all explained when the Canucks had their dad’s road trip.”
HA! Look like the apple didn’t fal far from the tree.
Reminds me of back in the day when the Sharks had Link Gaetz on the team, running amok and generally being wild (fighting, drinking, etc). Team management decided to call his mom to fly down to California to move in with him…hopefully provide a steady, calming influence.
When they picked her up at the airport she was tatted up, smoking non-filters, cussing like a sailor. They realized that the plan might not work.
“It should be noted that we also have the Flyers.”
And Chris Neil.
When they picked her up at the airport she was tatted up, smoking non-filters, cussing like a sailor. They realized that the plan might not work.
HA! That’s fantastic!
“It should be noted that we also have the Flyers. :D
And Chris Neil.”
Both good points. So, players should be scared for their lives in both conferences.
“When they picked her up at the airport she was tatted up, smoking non-filters, cussing like a sailor. They realized that the plan might not work.”
That is SO funny! And awesome!
I’ll give you that we’re probably coming from slightly different points of view
Fair enough. I’m coming at this from the right point of veiw and you from the “classless beeyotch” point of view. :PPPP
Fair enough. I’m coming at this from the right point of veiw and you from the “classless beeyotch” point of view. :PPPP
Broduer is a baby! And Toni is a better pothead than Paulie!
And Toni is a better pothead than Paulie!
BANNED!!!!!!
Broduer is a baby! And Toni is a better pothead than Paulie!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Marty also has to drink diet Sprite :p
Awww. Alex Burrows had 9 points last season. He has 29 this year! Never drafted and making league minimum. Isn’t that a nice story? Too bad Jeff Cowan’s making a million and has 1 point.
The worst part about Paulie being hurt (okay, not literally the worst, but you know what I mean…) is that, like MSG denying the world interviews with Hank in a suit, we never get to see Paulie in a suit either. I mean, Pando went a gazillion games on the IR, and we barely ever saw interviews with him updating on his condition. Come on, FSN NY (or MSG Plus, or whatever your name is now) — throw us a bone!
Isn’t that a nice story?
Awww… it is! (I’m a sucker for those “under $1M” guys. Like Pando. :D)
That Jochen interview was a total tease. I’d never seen them do that before and now that they’ve whet my appetite, they’ll never do it again. Jochen was just handsome enough for me to want to see the guy I REALLY want to see in a suit in a suit.
I’d never seen them do that before and now that they’ve whet my appetite, they’ll never do it again.
I KNOW! It’s like the Devils doing that video feature with the players saying what Halloween costumes they’ve dressed up in. In 13 years of watching the Devils I’d never seen ANYTHING like that, and I was all hopeful that we’d entered a new age of spunky, playful Devils. HA. They just did that to further exacerbate that they never do it.
Jochen was just handsome enough for me to want to see the guy I REALLY want to see in a suit in a suit.
That really was especially cruel of them.
“(I’m a sucker for those “under $1M” guys. Like Pando. :D)”
Pando’s making under $1M?!?! Wow! I like him even more now. He pretty much had me sold with his accent and defensive forward dealio, but that just makes even more loveable.
I never got IR Matty in a suit either. It’s a travesty the league must rectify!
Pando’s making under $1M?!?! Wow! I like him even more now.
Yeah, Mirtle had a post earlier this year that there were only something like four or five guys in the NHL over 32 who were making less than $1M. Pando was one of two of them who gets any kind of serious minutes (I don’t remember who the other guy was). Poor, undervalued Pando.
Good evening, folks! Is anybody as excited to watch the Ovechkin-cam as I am?
Things like this make me sad I bought center-ice.
I know Trev Linden makes less than a million. But he’s been a healthy scratch or on the 4th line most of the year. Poor button.
Sorry. Technically, they’re calling it the “Ovech-Kam”.
And damn, that was a mighty quick Backstrom goal.
What channel is the Ovech-Kam on? I’ve got my laptop in front of the TV, I’m IMing with Pookie, and I’ve got the sound off. This is the only way I could possibly stomach even 10 seconds of Ovech-Kam, but I probably should at least LOOK at it. Because that’s the kind of blogger I am.
I’ve got Calgary-Washington on ch. 418, the Ovech-Kam on 419. I think that’s center-ice channels 3 and 4. It’s pretty annoying. They split-screen unevenly, with the larger pain a camera that’s just always pointed at him. Maybe he’ll pick his nose or something interesting…
Er…. split screen with the larger “pane”…, but I kinda like it both ways. =)
“And damn, that was a mighty quick Backstrom goal.”
Which net did it go into?
ZING! HAHA! Oh boy…
It’s definitely about pain, not panes. This is DREADFUL! What the HELL? Who would want to watch this? I should be diarizing.
12:55 Ovie is still sitting on the bench. Watching.
12:36 Things are getting exciting because an official is now standing in front of Ovie, who is still sitting on the bench. Watching.
12:08 We go to commercial with Ovie still sitting in the same spot on the bench.
Which net did it go into?
ZING! HAHA! Oh boy…
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;
And there you go ZING!ing yourself again…
11:42 Ovie’s sitting (in the same spot) on the bench, but now he’s mouth-breathing.
10:32 Ovie’s standing still in front of his own net, watching everyone else skate.
9:42 After throwing a hip-check to cause a turnover at the boards, Ovie gets stripped of the puck and goes back to the bench.
9:09 Now he’s drinking from a Gatorade bottle and watching the Jumbotron.
8:54 Mouth-breathing again.
Seriously, why don’t they do this for every game?
Watch out, Schnookie. You might pull a muscle being shocked when he turns around and talks to the trainer!
I am shocked–shocked!–that the Ovech-cam sucks. Soon I can switch over to the pain of the Sabres game instead though.
“And there you go ZING!ing yourself again…”
It’s a bad habit.
See ya all later. Have a good night and remember one thing: The Sharks are in first place in the Pacific. Woo!
I’m an Ovie fan, but that does sound dreadfully boring.
WOOOO!! Go Sharks! See ya, Andrew!
You might pull a muscle being shocked when he turns around and talks to the trainer!
I know! This has the potential to be really dangerous to watch. (I wonder what it sounds like. No, I don’t wonder enough to actually turn the sound on, but I do wonder. Passively.)
Aw, Meg, maybe it will only be the pane kind of pain/pane for the Sabres tonight?
See ya, andrew! Enjoy first place! In my experience, it can be fleeting. :P
I am shocked–shocked!–that the Ovech-cam sucks. Soon I can switch over to the pain of the Sabres game instead though.
That’s the only reason I was watching it… to get used to excruciating dullness and severe eyeball pain. That way I can be nicely insulated for the Sabres game…
I wonder what it sounds like.
They don’t even have him mic’d up. It’s just the normal pbp. =(
Ovech-Kam also prepares you to watch hockey players stand around a lot. For whatever that’s worth.
They don’t even have him mic’d up. It’s just the normal pbp. =(
WHAT??? That’s RIDICULOUS! So we’re watching him talk to the equipment trainer about his sticks, but we’re not hearing what he’s saying? How idiotic! Gah.
WHAT??? That’s RIDICULOUS! So we’re watching him talk to the equipment trainer about his sticks, but we’re not hearing what he’s saying? How idiotic! Gah.
Makes me wonder what McDonald’s was thinking by sponsoring the damn thing… until I realize I dislike McDonald’s as much as I dislike OV. Then I switched the channel to The History Channel. Hurray for Modern Marvels!!!
Aw, Meg, maybe it will only be the pane kind of pain/pane for the Sabres tonight?
I’m not getting my hopes up. We’re not even getting Pommers on D!
Hrm… no Hockey Jesus tonight. I wonder if they’ll still find a way to fellate him on TV…
We’re not even getting Pommers on D!
Lindy’s such a tease!
Lindy’s such a tease!
I know…damn Paetsch for being able to play tonight.
Just made the mistake of checking scores. Who let Toronto gain the lead? As much as it pains me to say it, I’m glad the Northern Tree Appendages are winning.
Anybody else have a exceptionally low-def feed tonight? Or is it just me?
My TV is so bad it makes no difference, Matt, so I couldn’t tell you.
And the pain starts.
Well we’re off to a sparkling start!
“Hrm… no Hockey Jesus tonight. I wonder if they’ll still find a way to fellate him on TV…”
Of course they will.
Oh SNAP! I didn’t realize my fantasy leagues all started playoffs yesterday. DAMMIT!
LOL! They’re calling Ty “Vezina-worthy”.
BWAHAHAH!
I would really, really, really like Ty Conklin to go away. And if he won’t, then I want him to be next season’s Ray Emery.
A drug-addled failure with a selfish, pissy attitude? Or do you just mean a disappointment?
A drug-addled failure with a selfish, pissy attitude? Or do you just mean a disappointment?
Both of those things, along with being the nationally-reviled scapegoat for the epic collapse of a team considered a top Cup contender.
Both of those things, along with being the nationally-reviled scapegoat for the epic collapse of a team considered a top Cup contender.
That’s pretty rough. To what does he owe the honor of your ire? (I happen to like Conky)
To what does he owe the honor of your ire?
Oh, no reason, other than that I’m a petty, mean bitch and I don’t like when the Penguins do well for reasons other than Sid. Why do you ask? :P
Oh God. Mike Weber was born the same year as Hockey Jesus? And that year was 87? I feel old and decrepit now.
These guys are terrible at the color commentary. Ruutuu speaks fin-glish?
**headdesk**
I feel old and decrepit now.
Yeah, I worked in an elementary school while I was in college. It is very distressing to me to realize that many NHLers are the peers of the kids I used to work with. I don’t feel like I’m getting any older — they just keep getting younger. :P
You know, one reason I chose to watch the Sabres feed instead of the Pens on was to see LESS Ryan Malone. And yet… here’s Ryan Malone. BARF!!!
I don’t feel like I’m getting any older — they just keep getting younger. :P
Second superb reference today!
I chose to watch the Sabres feed
Damn you, south Jersey! I want that choice!
**jealous**
Second superb reference today!
Heh. Thanks. I keep saying that around here, and no one ever notices, so I appreciate that you appreciated it. :D
I get the choice between feeds because I’m on DirecTV. Our Comcast Center Ice doesn’t have an option, and would be all Pens tonight.
Damn. Philly tied it up. I hate these lose-lose games. If Toronto wins, I feel dirty and used. If Philly wins I feel dirty, used and farther out of the playoffs. =(
If Toronto wins, I feel dirty and used. If Philly wins I feel dirty, used and farther out of the playoffs.
Don’t look at that as a lose-lose! Because when given those options, just “dirty and used” is a win.
Oh no! Not Pastry!!!
The Pitt guys are saying that clear elbow to the face from Laraque “looked so innocent”. BULLSHIT. Laraque threw it up intentionally as he passed him cleanly otherwise. =(
Don’t look at that as a lose-lose! Because when given those options, just “dirty and used” is a win.
And here I was going to say that being further out of the playoffs is probably a good thing for the Sabres.
And here I was going to say that being further out of the playoffs is probably a good thing for the Sabres.
I was thinking the same thing, Meg. The way they keep sucking ass but staying a hairs-breadth from contention is driving me nuts.
And here I was going to say that being further out of the playoffs is probably a good thing for the Sabres.
Well, with the Flyers in the mix… :P
You know, I think I need to readjust my expectations. I’m actually disappointed by that awful power play.
This power play is embarrassing. I am so ashamed. Where is my sirloin steak to use for Hari-Kari when I need one?
Shit.
Hudson: That’s it man, game over man, game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?
Burke: Maybe we could build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh? Why don’t we try that?
And you know what? I’m going to go read a book. Catch you guys later.
Read a book? Meg, are you insane??? (Although I’d be lying if I said I was still watching the Sabres game now…)
They actually woke up. Getting shots. Hitting back. Clearing the zone. They’re still gonna lose, but at least they’ll look decent for 30 minutes.
And then they bite a 3rd. Ok, time to play some Katamari.
but at least they’ll look decent for 30 minutes.
There’s plenty to be said for moral victories! Right? Right? Sigh…
Now I understand why you hate Conky, Schnookie. He likes to handle the puck a lot and you see that as a threat.
He likes to handle the puck a lot and you see that as a threat.
I think you have me confused with a Rick DiPietro fan.
If Conk gets the Vesina this year I will cut a bitch. It’s a great story and all. But come on.
You know, if the Sabres keep playing like this there are a ton of teams that could easily pass them. This could make the draft super fun.
I know it’s classless to boo an opposing team and all, but how about if I boo the Ducks at the draft?
(I’m just pissed because I get two feeds of the Canucks/Ducks game and they’re BOTH ANAHEIM!) (GAH!)
Awww, sorry, Meg! It IS a very deep draft, so even if you don’t get like top 3, you’ll still probably get a very good pick.
Eww! I have Anaheim too, Patty. It sucks.
EEE! Mo just came back! Don’t hurt him!
SHIT! What the fuck was that! Lui. Dear god. That was disgusting.
I know it’s classless to boo an opposing team and all, but how about if I boo the Ducks at the draft?
Go for it. You’re going to be there with some Sabres fans remember and we’re as classless as they come. I’m looking forward to being able to boo Bettman and who knows who else.
It IS a very deep draft, so even if you don’t get like top 3, you’ll still probably get a very good pick.
I think it’s unlikely that they get into the top 3 but they might be able to get pretty far up there. And two of the organizational needs are high-end scorers and right D (they’re deep on D but it’s almost all left D) and this is a good draft for that.
Oh yeah. This draft is filled with stud d-men.
Huh. This is really not how I saw this game going…
I’m looking forward to being able to boo Bettman and who knows who else.
I LOVE BOOING BETTMAN!!!
Oh yeah. This draft is filled with stud d-men.
Thank God! We are desperate for some D!
I LOATHE Rod Neidermayer! This game sucks y’all!
Thank God! We are desperate for some D!
Not in our prospect pool, we’re not! We’ve got loads. We need scoring (and some size among our scorers) much more. But they should take the best pick available in the early rounds and if that’s a talented, right-shooting defenseman it would also fill a need.
WOOOO!!! Mason Raymond!! Thank goodness. 3-1.
Yay, Canucks . . . no shut out for you, Anaheim!
Not in our prospect pool, we’re not!
I think we need some better defensive prospects.
Gragnani? Not ready yet. Needs another year in the oven.
Funk? Same. He could really use another year of AHL and maybe a couple game call-up, but not ready for prime time.
Weber is probably the best of them all, but I wouldn’t want to depend on him. At best he’s not offensive (which is better than some of our D).
At best he’s not offensive (which is better than some of our D).
Clarification: He doesn’t offend the senses. I’m not drawing Campbell comparisons.
Matt, you’re looking at defensemen in Rochester which, excepting Sekera and Weber, isn’t where the Sabres more likely D prospects are. And if you’re just looking at the guys in Rochester, check out that (lack of) scoring talent.
Anyway, In the NCAA Chris Butler is quite possibly a future top-4 guy and Biega is really talented although small. Brennan and Schiestel are both having good years in junior. Admittedly, Persson is a bit of an enigma at this point. The likelihood of them getting a defenseman in this draft that they’ll want to jump directly to the NHL and expect to make an impact is minimal. Not having defensmen now who are “ready” isn’t really something that they can address at the drafting table.
I’m sure they’ll pick up some defensemen in the draft because they do every year, but it’s not really where the organizational need is.
There might be a few guys in the first round ready to step up right away.
The Canucks need scorers too. If we get another defenceman I’ll scream.
There might be a few guys in the first round ready to step up right away.
I know that a couple are supposed to be pretty NHL-ready, but it’s just not the Sabres style to bring up guys that quickly, particularly with a defensive group that’s as young as theirs is looking to be next year. Particularly guys coming out of Junior as opposed to the NCAA. I think Sekera will be in the top 6 next year. Possibly Weber as well, although I’m less sure of that. They won’t go with 3 rookies and they won’t want a rookie as the 7th.
Yeah, that is a lot of rookies.
Ahhh. This game is killing me. The Canucks are not bringing their A game. But the refs aren’t helping either. The last two power plays were pretty phantom looking. They couldn’t even show us a replay…
They couldn’t even show us a replay…
I hate it when they don’t show replays.
“I hate it when they don’t show replays.”
Totally. Usually I can catch it, but the odd time I don’t, I like having the replay.
I’m sorry the Canucks have decided to make like the Sabres tonight, Alix. I’m heading to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be a happier hockey day. And by that I mean some teams will pass the Sabres in points.
Yeah the Canucks suck tonight. Oh well. Night, Meg!
Sorry about the Canucks, alix. I’m glad I didn’t lash out at your for cheering for the Sharks earlier. I’d have felt pretty bad.
And I couldn’t bring myself to lie and say I was going to cheer for them. Poor kids.
Wait. That didn’t come out right. What I meant was that I was going to jokingly claim to cheer against the Canucks but I couldn’t bring myself to do it because obviously I would be cheering for them, if for no other reason than they’re playing the Ducks! Sheesh!
Hee. You can lash out about the Sharks if you want. I kind of expected a loss tonight, because I knew the Ducks wouldn’t want us to sweep them. I just wish the Sedins would get out of their slump tonight…even if we lose…that would be so nice. It’s also a bummer because the Flames lost tonight and we would have taken the division lead if we had won tonight. Oh well. There’s still 20 minutes left. You never know.
Hee! I got ya, don’t worry!
Twenty minutes is a LOT!