Tonight we get to find out if the debacle in Pittsburgh on Saturday was something a fan can just shrug off with a laugh and a “well, that happens,” or if that was a sign of greater problems with the Devils. You can probably guess, Gentle Reader, what we suspect is the case.
Of course, Patty’s back tonight, and with him comes the surprising news that the Devils have won only one of the six games he’s missed since the end of December. Who ever would have guessed? Also shocking? It’s Pando’s 700th game. PandoNation has rarely been more proud.
FIRST PERIOD
19:00 Okay, one minute gone, and still no score. Things are looking better since the last time we saw these two teams play.
17:43 The first huge defensive collapse happens here, with Malone getting in behind everyone on a great outlet pass from the Pens zone. He thinks he’s all that, though, and figures trying to get a good shot isn’t necessary. Marty proves him wrong.
17:18 The excitement of his 700th game is too much for Pando to bear, and he completely shanks a great opportunity in the slot following a very nifty shift by the Devils.
15:56 In a discussion of the third period in Pittsburgh, Chico goes out on a limb by saying it was the worst period of hockey the Devils have played all year. He says that the Devils were so awful for all twenty minutes of it that it looked like they were running to get out position the whole time.
15:51 Patty gets his first angry, glaring headshake from Sutter since his injury thanks to taking a moronic interference penalty while absolutely nothing is happening in the Devils zone. Great, Patty. We’re so glad to have you back.
14:42 Malone, having learned on his breakaway that just standing there with the puck isn’t enough to beat Marty this time around, gets a chance to one-time a shot in the slot, and buries it. 1-0 Penguins. We are not pleased to have Chico point out that giving up that shot is becoming a pattern for the Devils PK; as Pookie says, “I don’t ever expect our PK to be the problem, so it’s always upsetting when it is.”
12:37 Malkin gets tripped to the ice by Pando while carrying the puck over his own blueline, then gets slashed at twice by Gio. And, um, nothing is called.
11:55 Travis, Asham and Sarge all take turns looking puck-hungry and sassy in the offensive zone, but everything grinds to a halt when Asham tries to blindly cycle the puck back to the point… that Brookbank has just vacated.
10:55 Zach is running around a bit in the offensive zone, prompting Pookie to say, “That’s good. Zach looks like he’s starting to try to hit. Which means that eventually he will actually hit. Which means he will eventually score.”
10:30 Hossa looks like he’s going to bust through the D and get in alone on Marty, but Oduya is hounding him step-for-step on the rush, and then Paulie dives from behind him to knock the puck away with a sweeping stick check. All across PaulieMartinNation there is swooning in the streets.
7:56 Doc: “The crowd is not restless. Not bored. Just quiet right now.” As it is at stately IPB Manor, too.
6:59 There is a whistle when a Pens shot is deflected into the netting, and MSG+ gives us a graphic screen celebrating Pando. One of his notable stats is that he hasn’t missed a playoff game since 1998. Pookie: “That’s more than I can say.”
5:15 Travis does a great job forcing a turnover behind Fleury’s net, but Asham isn’t paying any attention in the low slot, and isn’t ready for Travis’ feed. Would it kill the Devils to practice being aware of their surroundings and the location of the puck when they’re going to the net? Isn’t that kind of the point of going to the net?
4:17 A very close offsides call is made when Mottau just barely fails to keep the puck at the point. After the whistle, Zach stands, minding his own business, at the faceoff circle while a Penguin absently-mindedly glides into him. Pookie is livid: “HEY! Zach was just standing there and that Penguin skated up to him and knocked him over. Whoever that Penguin was, I HATE HIM.”
2:02 Maxie gets called for a kind of phantom high stick on the forecheck, and the Devils PP – 2 for its last 20, apparently – gets to go to work.
1:28 As the Devils repeatedly try and fail to gain the blue line, Chico unironically remarks that the Devils should be doing well here because they have their “five best offensive players” on the ice right now.
0:32 Pookie: “All right. So our five best offensive players are… not that good.” The crowd is not being quiet anymore.
0:00 The fans are the loudest they have been all evening, showering the Devils with boos after the buzzer. And really, while it was hardly a period like the third in Pittsburgh, this was not a period for the ages.
FIRST INTERMISSION
Dano’s assessment of the first period has the same sort of vibe to it as a parent telling their young child that the beloved family dog has gone to live on a big farm where it can run and play all day, and eat ice cream and steak whenever it wants. Dano, we don’t believe you.
SECOND PERIOD
Before play resumes, we are treated to “vintage” footage (complete with smoke machine effects) of the “original” Chuck The Duck. As the Devils look more and more like a team that is going to slip quietly into the night, it is becoming increasingly likely that we will remember the 2007-2008 season as The Year Of Chuck The Duck. Chuck is sublime.
20:00 Zubrus and Orpik got coincidental cross-checking minors at the end of the first. Doc seems to think the Devils have been good at 4-on-4 this year, but we think he’s making that up.
18:53 As the teams mill about, Chico reports that the Devils had 10 missed shot opportunities (either from shooting wide or being blocked) in the first period, and the Pens had none. “The Devils really need to concentrate,” he says. This team? Concentrate? Pfft.
17:30 Vish-Dog gets a shot through traffic, and it is mentioned that he’s in the lineup tonight because Salvador is out. Pookie mumbles to herself, “Oh no. How ever will we play without the Iron Boar?” Pause. “The I. Ron Boar. Heh heh.”
15:25 Clarkson gets a shot from outside, but it doesn’t help. This really doesn’t look like a Devils team that is trying to win a hockey game.
14:02 It seems Patty is not the savior we were hoping he’d be, as he circles deep in the New Jersey zone, builds up a head of steam, looks like he’s planning to mount a dazzling offensive rush… then dishes straight to a stationary Penguin at the Pittsburgh blue line.
13:27 The crowd gets its first chance to buzz on a Devils possession in the Penguins zone, but the swirling sequence in front of the net ends up counting on Vish-Dog being able puck-handle through defenders and stay on his feet. Unsurprisingly, he can’t do either.
11:47 The Penguins are discovering that they can give the Devils their zone all night, and no ill will come of it. As we watch Oduya crank a booming point shot directly into the shin pads of the defender ten feet in front of him, Schnookie sighs, “This is going to be the easiest shutout of Fleury’s career.”
11:34 Brookbank puts the puck into a wide open net, but the official immediately waves it off, because the net was empty thanks to Asham having barreled into Fleury right before the shot. Now, we are huge fans of the concept of waving off goals without calling goalie interference, but in this case, we’re actually surprised there was no penalty on Asham to go with the no-goal call. If the teams had been reversed, we would have really wanted a penalty on that one.
8:57 There is some discussion at stately IPB Manor about whether the Devils are looking bad or good so far tonight. We conclude that they don’t look awful, but they don’t look great either. It seems that every time they do something good, it’s an isolated event; there’s no follow-up, or building on it, or anything like that. As a result, even while they’re not looking puke-tastic, the 0-1 hole looks insurmountable.
7:34 It’s been a while since the Devils have been pinned in their own zone, so the Malkin line takes to the ice to remedy the situation.
5:34 We watch, slack-jawed and glassy-eyed, as Rupper’s one-man foray into the Pens zone is effortlessly stopped by some stand-up work by the defenders. Pookie sighs, “It’s just so easy to push the Devils off the puck.”
4:34 Malone takes a tripping penalty. We do not perk up at the prospect of a power play.
4:15 Schnookie hits the nail on the head when she says, “I don’t feel like the Devils are bad. I think they’re weak.” We feel like “bad” is something you can try to think of ways to fix, but we’re not sure what to do with “weak”.
2:34 If the Devils – both collectively and individually – didn’t look so terrified of trying things on offense, that power play might not have sucked.
1:28 We’re told that Sutter is yammering at the officials, and Pookie suggests he’s saying, “My team sucks. The offense sucks, the defense sucks, the power play can’t do diddly-pooh…” She trails off, then, sort of absently, renames the team, “The New Jersey Diddly-Poohs.”
0:00 The period ends with a shot of Sutter on the bench wearing an identical expression to the ones we have. This game has completely and utterly broken our spirits.
SECOND INTERMISSION
Steve and Dano say they were surprised to discover there is a rule that allows for goals to be waved off when the goalie is interfered with, without a penalty being called. You know, this gets called regularly enough that there is no excuse at this point for the TV people to sound so amazed when it happens.
THIRD PERIOD
“Chico Eats!” starts tonight with some Marines asking Chico what he’s eating. Then we get to see Chico trying some chin-ups, and he hilarious can’t jump to catch the bar. He has a chicken and pesto panini that is the first foodstuff in quite a while on “Chico Eats!” that sounds tasty to us. Chico is very proud of himself for sharing his panini with a Pens fan.
18:23 Apparently Whitney has been moved up to play checking winger against the Devils’ “top line”. Pookie: “Why waste the effort? I mean, really.” Pause. “Oh look! The Penguins put an old ball of tape against the top line, and it’s working!”
17:11 Travis is tripped off the puck in front of the net, and it looks for a moment like nothing is going to be called, but the official at center ice finally calls it. Laraque is sent to the box, but it looks on replay like some other Pen was the guilty party.
16:53 Chico cautions that the Devils can’t let this opportunity slip away, because they won’t get many more like it. Pookie: “That’s why the Devils are saying, ‘Oh, we can let this slip away. There are plenty more opportunities where this came from.’”
15:15 Patty makes a great backhand pass to Zach down low, and Zach flips a gorgeous saucer pass over a sprawling defender to find Langer all alone on the other side of the crease, but there is no way this team manages a quick shot after two good passes, so Langer takes plenty of time to let Fleury get across the goal mouth.
13:54 We come back from commercial to see Asham in the penalty box. We aren’t sure what the penalty is for, because MSG+ is busy showing us footage of the Pens giving up shorties in their last two games. If MSG+ thinks they’re fooling anybody…
13:03 Perhaps the best chance of the night for the Devils actually comes on this penalty kill. Fleury leaves a huge-assed rebound in the crease, but Langer, per usual, is too slow-witted to pounce on it.
11:54 That penalty kill was by far the best two minutes of offense for the Devils in this entire game. (Doc also tells us the call was for too many men.)
10:36 Paulie shakes a forechecker in the corner to Marty’s left with a few spin moves, prompting Schnookie to wake up and exclaim, “Nice! That was Paulie’s double-buttonhook! Paulie’s like, ‘I was going to do the triple, but no one’s ever successfully landed a triple in game action.’”
9:02 Mottau tries to make something happen by stepping up and skating through the defense, but when it looks like he’s beaten everyone back, he opts for a drop pass to Gio above the faceoff dot. Gio gets a decent shot off, but needless to say, there is no one trying to take advantage of Fleury’s struggles with the rebound.
8:13 Patty, Zach, Langer and Paulie finally realize there’s a hockey game going on. They manage some great work around the Pens zone, and even chip a few decent shots netward, but again, always with the not being quite in the right place to jam loose pucks home.
6:03 Patty is trying to do the whole “going into the offensive zone with speed” thing, but he isn’t watching where he’s going and gets operatically tripped ass over teakettle. Or, as Boomer puts it, “ass over handbucket”.
4:07 Pookie, sadly: “At the seven-minute mark, they actually looked like they might be able to tie this up. Now… they don’t.”
3:36 Zach gains the zone up the wing, then dishes to a Pen in the high slot. Pookie: “Zach needs to be benched for the rest of this game. I have returned my Zach goggles and demanded a full refund.”
1:05 The Devils have the extra attacker on. We’re engaged in a heated debate on how hard the Devils are or aren’t playing at the moment. Boomer is frustrated because she thinks the Devils are doing their standard “play hard only for the last five minutes of the game”. Pookie and Schnookie are extra-frustrated, because they think the Devils played their hardest at the ten-minute mark, and will have spent the last five minutes looking a lot less intense, as if not scoring during their “good” stretch of five minutes was so disheartening that they don’t want to bother anymore.
0:41 Hossa scores into the empty net after the Devils give up possession in the offensive zone without a fight. Nice fucking effort, assholes. 2-0 Pens.
0:00 And so the sun sets on the 10th game in which the Devils have been shutout this season, and the 10th easy shutout at that. That was one of the most depressing showings we’ve seen all year from an up-and-down team that’s given us plenty of depressing.
Woo hoo! I’m getting the Devils feed tonight. Hopefully, that won’t be the best part about this game, but my expectations are low.
Patty’s back!! :)
Frisby, I’m so glad you’re getting the Devils feed! I think there’s no way that isn’t the best thing about this game. Schnookie just predicted 5-0 Pittsburgh, and I’m inclined to agree with her. :)
Ugh, I don’t like the Pens.
Nah, the Devils will hold the Pens to only four goals, so that will make it 4-1 Pens.
I’M SCARED (of the Sabres game). Go Devils!
Noooo I hate having to kill off penalties.
Don’t be scared Katebits! It’s only Ottawa! Remember when they were stormtroopers? HAHAHAHAHA!
BOO! This game is over.
Still think it’s going to 4-1, Frisby?
Yep, well as long as they only take four penalties.
Frisby, :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Apparently Ottawa has been crap on the penalty kill of late. I’m fairly confident that the Sabres power play is the cure for what ails them.
I’m a Pens supporter, but I’ll keep my comments only pro-Devil. However, good God I hate my life as I watch this Sabres game. I hate this I hate this I hate this.
Wow, did anyone else see that crazy play by Big Bear on the draw?
Beautiful play by Paulie on Hossa.
KG, that Paulie play was outta this world!
I’m a Pens supporter, but I’ll keep my comments only pro-Devil.
Thanks! We appreciate pro-Devil sentiment over here! Needless to say, I hope the Sabres win big tonight! Or even just win.
AHHHHHH!!! The sound of that goal post on Roy’s shot is ringing in my ears. Ugh.
I’m fairly confident that the Sabres power play is the cure for what ails them.
The Sabres are the “Easy Level” in the Fun Power Play Practice board game. We’re the baby level.
Mwahaha, I’m crashing the Devils party! Go Pens! Whoo! ;)
I don’t often get the Devils feed, but I got to hand it to your announcers: they’re not that bad. It can be hard to listen to opposing teams’ broadcasting team sometimes, but the Devils are very non-abrasive. I actually like Doc.
The Sabres are playing the Candy Land version of Fun Power Play Practice.
Gio the objective isn’t to watch the puck fly by you, it’s to catch the puck on the tape of your stick.
Yo, Alfie is in DENIAL. He keeps talking about how solid their goaltending is. Uhhhh, have you seen your team’s numbers lately, Alfie?
The Sabres are playing the Candy Land version of Fun Power Play Practice.
We’re the Candy Land level for the blind and deaf.
P.S. Congrats to Pando!
Oh, Crunchy.
BBOOOOOOO. Stupid Schubert.
Mwahaha, I’m crashing the Devils party! Go Pens! Whoo! ;)
Watch it, Elly! :PPPPPPPP
I’m glad you’re seeing the light on the Doc front! Chico’s a bit nutso, but Doc is in his element here rather than on NBC or Versus.
Oh Crunchy, that was…ummm… 71 games in a row.
P.S. Congrats to Pando!
Pando: Thanks!
Note to Asham and Zajac:
You are on the SAME TEAM!!!
We’re the Candy Land level for the blind and deaf.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oh God, my only hockey outlet to escape the Sabres is the Rangers v. the Flyers. ACK! What a night. There’s always Scrubs on Comedy Central. Oh Lord, its the episode where they tell the guy he can’t return to the military. Oy.
Watch it, Elly! :PPPPPPPP
Mwahaha! :) I come bringing Penguin….love?
I’m glad you’re seeing the light on the Doc front! Chico’s a bit nutso, but Doc is in his element here rather than on NBC or Versus.
He is the bright light on Versus. My word, the announcing there, and on NBC, holy crap, it’s….well, you know, painful. And I think there is a law that says color commentary people need to be a bit nutso…have you listened to Bob Errey? I have no room to throw stones, and Chico is really rather calm in comparison to some of the teams I’ve heard (for some reason the New York announcers come to mind, minus the Sabres).
Anne: Scrubs is almost as good as hockey?
Heh…I’m loving Rob Ray right now.
Anne: Scrubs is almost as good as hockey?
It’s only better than hockey when the Sabres are trying to kill me by allowing the Senators to score first.
No giving up a short handed goal boys. Not again anyway.
Well that was a better start than on Saturday. Right? Right?
Heh…I’m loving Rob Ray right now.
Rob Ray is consistently/surprisingly awesome.
It’s only better than hockey when the Sabres are trying to kill me by allowing the Senators to score first.
Ew, that’s no good. Please don’t let them kill you, hopefully the Sabres will rally?
But on Saturday we were tied at one at the end of the first period. Now we’re down by one.
Rob Ray is consistently/surprisingly awesome.
I feel like he’s been particularly awesome this year, but I might not have enough experience with him to know if this year is extra awesome or not. He seems to have fewer looking at the wrong camera moments, but I could be imagining it.
He seems to have fewer looking at the wrong camera moments, but I could be imagining it.
I think mid-way through the season, Sylvie sat Robey and Rayzor down and talked them through what the red light on top of the camera means.
But on Saturday we were tied at one at the end of the first period. Now we’re down by one.
Good point. ALL IS LOST!!!
Please, someone tell me they just saw that Lindros commercial and that I am not laughing my ass off at something imaginary. (Although, you know, ouch and all for 88)
Crunchy’s hitting new levels of cranky during this interview.
Now we’re down by one.
So both the Devils and the Sabres are losing by one? This is going to be a fun night.
This is going to be a fun night.
Yeah, there’s no way either fanbase is happy tonight!
Please, someone tell me they just saw that Lindros commercial
I did see but had it muted. I find it an odd inclusion in the “Great Moments in Devils History”. I mean… “Significant Moment” yes, “Great Moment”?
Please, someone tell me they just saw that Lindros commercial and that I am not laughing my ass off at something imaginary. (Although, you know, ouch and all for 88)
Elly, we had it muted, and they’ve got that whole ad campaign with random people talking about great NY-area sports moments, so I was pretty much ignoring it, then all of a sudden, there was the picture of Lindros down on the ice. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t at least titter a little. Or, um, guffaw. Or, um, completely crack up. Heh.
Boo Asham. Travis is actually working hard to get out of the 4th line. Tonight is not the night to be absent minded!
Ha, Rayzor can’t contain his giggle at Neale talking about Gerber’s “obese rebounds”.
What is UP with Patty?!? He’s having a craptacular game!
Hey Zach actually made a play!
YIKES! That was intense!
This team is frustrating me. I hate the Penguins. Why can’t they just let us win?!
Tricia, I’m pretty sure our boys are asking the same thing. “Why can’t they just let us win!?”
YIKES! That was intense!
What’s going on? Did Staffy just eat someone’s brains on the ice?
Listening to the soundtrack to Sister Act II is surprisingly a pleasant alternative to Rick and Harry whilst one views a crucial Sabres game.
Stupid stupid stupid. I wanted a goal!
WHAT HAPPENED?! WHAT?! WAIVED GOAL! BOO! Oh my Sutter is pissy!
Sigh. That’s a good call. No goal.
Asham is blows. BLOWS. I want him out now. Where’s Pelley? Wait, do I want Pelley?
What an exciting night in the NHL, at this posting, every game is 1-0.
Sigh. That’s a good call. No goal.
I hate it when I have to admit that.
And I would be lying if I said I didn’t at least titter a little. Or, um, guffaw. Or, um, completely crack up. Heh.
Glad to know I’m not alone! I mean, it really is too bad that Lindros got smacked in the head so much, but…..well, (I had to pause right here to just yell at the tv for about 3 minutes) never sad to see Lindros put on his tush.
Oopsy – I obviously meant “Asham blows.” See, him being sucky results in me making grammatical/spelling errors.
No matter how Doc tries to explain it, I still don’t understand how you can disallow the goal for interference but yet there is not a penalty for interference.
Tricia, I actually liked the sound of “Asham is BLOWS”. It sounded more emphatic.
In an offensive EXPLOSION, the ‘Canes/’Caps game is now 1-1. Hold on to your hats, sports fans.
What’s going on? Did Staffy just eat someone’s brains on the ice?
I have to admit, I did a double take at that and my first thought, “Holy crap, zombies and hockey….cool!” I watch too many zombie movies.
Good grief. Well, at least when they lose tonight it won’t be for lack of trying.
Yo, SCREW this, I’m making roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Grumble grumble stupid Sabres distracting me from my dinner grumble scowl.
No, Chico, that explanation is still not good enough.
Well, at least when they lose tonight it won’t be for lack of trying.
Its going to be a shot wide / off the net / off the post kind of night.
Its going to be a shot wide / off the net / off the post kind of night.
Yup.
God dammit Zach, you’re objective is to score okay? We need a big goal here!
LOL – I try Pookie, I try. I think I’m just going to give up now. What is this? Travis has been moved? Blah, doesn’t matter. I’ll be shocked if we score. At all.
Alright people, have a good night with this game! I hope for everyone’s sake a Devil’s goal will be scored eventually.
WHOOO! Roy-Z on a nifty goal!
Ok, that was a really nice goal. Added bonus? It means we don’t have to see another Sabres power play.
WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Roysie goes FLYING and then scores an absolutely gorgeous goal #30!!!
WOOOOO!!!!!
Good night, Tricia! I think there’s not much chance of “having fun” with this game, but I’ll try. :)
Roy-Z scored? Yay!
Guys, this game could not possibly suck worse.
I bored and depressed by this Devils team. Zach hasn’t even done anything to mock, Patty isn’t playing well, and Pando has been fairly invisible tonight.
Guys, this game could not possibly suck worse.
Worse than the last game, or are we pretending that one never happened?
I bored and depressed by this Devils team.
Me too.
Worse than the last game, or are we pretending that one never happened?
Worse than the last game. Considering the last game, there’s really no excuse for them to be playing so poorly and with so little emotion. That last game is the kind of bad loss that happens to all teams a handful of times a season. Tonight’s loss will be because the Devils didn’t try at all in a huge game that had the added incentive of being a make-up for Saturday. It’s really well and truly awful. And as KG suggested, really disheartening.
Wow, is anyone else watching this extremely dramatic video about the Senators?
Tonight’s loss will be because the Devils didn’t try at all in a huge game that had the added incentive of being a make-up for Saturday. It’s really well and truly awful.
Aw, I am so, so sorry. That sucks.
Thanks, Meg. Sorry to whine so much.
The Devils are giving away signed memorabilia for something…I wonder if they’ll give away a signed Zach. Maybe that will get the guys to score if Zach isn’t around to scare them anymore. I wouldn’t mind a signed Zach :).
Maybe that will get the guys to score if Zach isn’t around to scare them anymore.
All this time the Diddly-Poohs have been like the Pens — they’d be better and score more without their best (non-goalie, in the Diddly-Poohs’ case) player!
I’m so sorry the Diddly-Poohs have broken your spirits!
I wonder if they’ll give away a signed Zach.
Where would one put a signed Zach? Its not like he can be placed on a shelf or in a glass case.
My team sucks. The offense sucks, the defense sucks, the power play can’t do diddly-pooh…
Poor Sutter. He’d better watch it or Lou might get tired of all the suckage and non diddly-pooh doing and fire him before the season is out.
Thanks, Kate. The Diddly-Poohs don’t see to be showing any remorse at all.
Sorry to whine so much.
Well, as you know Sabres fans never, ever whine. We are truly the most stoic of fanbases.
Seriously, whine all you want. Particularly on your own damn blog.
Seriously, whine all you want. Particularly on your own damn blog.
Hee! I think I will!
WHINEWHINEWHINEWHINEWHINEWHINEDIDDLYPOOHWHINE
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
YAY! I HAVE MASHED POTATOES!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!
Oh yeah, and Roysie scored again.
Pookie, do you want some cheese to go with that whine? ;-)
My cable just cut out for a goal and then came right back. That’s just sadistic.
Seriously, whine all you want. Particularly on your own damn blog.
I think whining is the most compelling reason to have a blog.
I think whining is the most compelling reason to have a blog.
I think you’re right.
WHINEWHINEDIDDLYPOOHWHINEWHINECHEESEWOULDBE
NICETHANKSWHINEWHINEWHINE
Nice whining everyone. ;P
WOOOOOO!!!!!
ROASTED CHICKEN!!
I mean, YAY POMMERDOODLE!!!
Neale described a two-goal lead as a “stranglehold.” How many years has he been watching hockey? Isn’t he like 150.
My cable just cut out for a goal and then came right back.
My mother’s having a conniption in the other room since the Fox feed of Idol just went out on both the regular channel and the HD channel. I don’t see the problem with this, since poor Freddie Mercury is now rolling in his grave after one gent took on We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions.
Pookie, your choices are cheddar or swiss. That’s all that’s in the fridge.
Amy, didn’t you say you guys were going to be unhappy tonight? All this cheering was so not part of the deal! Devils fans and Sabres fans were both supposed to be unhappy tonight!
How sad is it that the Devils are better shorthanded then even strength or on the man advantage?
I’ll take the cheddar. The swiss reminds me too much of the Diddly-Poohs defensive coverage. ZING!
WTF? They’re getting better scoring chances on the PK than on the PP!
We need someone to take a five minute major. Clarkson, I’m looking at you!
didn’t you say you guys were going to be unhappy tonight? All this cheering was so not part of the deal! Devils fans and Sabres fans were both supposed to be unhappy tonight!
I think Heather went down and threatened to beat them all senseless with her crutches during the intermission. That’s the only explanation I have.
Oh, and how does Staffy end up with a penalty when he’s the bitch Chris Neil dunked into the Senators bench?
I think Clarkie needs to get into a fight right now.
Heh! We’re 2nd in the league in fighting majors. That cracks me up.
We need someone to take a five minute major. Clarkson, I’m looking at you!
What!?! Clarkson’s line has been one of the better lines. It’s time for Brylin to show just how versatile he really is. Come on Sarge, take one for the team!
Oh, I forgot Heather was there again tonight! Well then, I guess you guys can be happy. :)
Sarge! Good call, Frisby. Come on, Sarge, elbow some guy in an extravagantly ugly manner! Preferably Zach!
Taylor Pirate fighting?!?!?
Apologies to any Penguins fans still here, but seriously. MAF? Not this good! Come on, Diddly-Poohs!
I think Heather went down and threatened to beat them all senseless with her crutches during the intermission. That’s the only explanation I have.
Indeed. Clearly we need to start a pool to send her to the rest of the season’s games. We should also perhaps send her down to the Devils’ games.
No one seems to care about my dinner, but you should all know that I make a mean batch of smashed red potatoes. My cat is enjoying them.
Taylor Pirate fighting?!?!?
Did he win? I recall him being a decent enough fighter if not a frequent one.
That was pretty hot.
It was probably a draw. He looked good though. It always surprises me he’s quite a good fighter.
AHHH!!! Why do they do that? Look really good and then take a stupid penalty five minutes into the game.
Oooh Schnookie, you just missed a long lingering shot of Crunchy running his fingers through his mangy hair.
Schnookie: With his bangs? Snicker.
She wants to know if he was pulling his bangs forward for a more stylish doo.
He was combing the bangs back.
So on Thursday we play the Rangers, that means five losses in a row?
She would have approved. I think he was trying to impress her.
Now why where they not playing like this in the first two periods? I’m starting to think that they are scared of first place.
He was combing the bangs back.
He seems to be wearing his bangs in a more flattering way of late. It’s, uh, better than it was.
So on Thursday we play the Rangers, that means five losses in a row?
Oof. That’s a sad song.
I think Ottawa’s scored plenty of shorthanded goals against the Sabres this year. I guess they figured hell, what’s one more?
Ewww! Tommy can you not talk up Celine Dion? He’s not a Canuck dude. You’re supposed to be a homer.
Don’t forget the Flyers on Friday. That’s 6 losses in a row.
Worst game ever.
Harry Blessed Neale jinxed the Sabres by saying a two goal lead put the game out of reach.
And there goes Neale’s stranglehold. Shocker.
Great. Just great.
Awe man. We’re not going to make the playoffs. And that’s the game. Stupid Devils. I hate you. Especially you Patty.
KG, this game was so bad I’m beginning to think we might all be happier if the Devils don’t make it.
ROYSIE!!!!
According to Mirtle the Devils should still make the playoffs…they might just not go very far…
that wasn’t a happy ROYSIE!!!!
I hate you, MSG! Don’t cut to commercial when Roysie’s hurt!
What happened to Roy-Z? I was looking at the computer, not at the TV. All I saw was him on the ice writhing in agony.
Ha now that’s sad the stands are almost empty already. They don’t even clear out that fast at a Coyotes game.
But would it really be better if they didn’t make it? I mean we’d be stuck watching other teams playing, that would just be awful.
roysie was squeezed against the boards and hurt his left leg
Nazzy!!!!!!! YAY!!! Nobody will be able to bitch about him tonight!!! Draws a penalty and then scores on the PP!
Oh for crying out loud. The Devils have to lose and now the Sabres go down by one?
Son of a….I hate hockey.
HA HA HA! This game is crazy! Danny Sedin just scored too!!
Sorry Devils and Sabres fans.
Guess what, Pookie, we’re going to get to be unhappy together!
WOW Crunchy looks pissed. SO AM I
Pookie look what Zach did tonight:
http://cdn.nhl.com/devils/images/upload/2008/03/Parise-032508.jpg
I have to say, tonight’s game gets my vote as my least favorite Devils game of the year.
Down by 2.
Can I make a reservation on the SS Not Making the Playoffs?
This is the worst hockey game in the history of the world.
Aaaand at 5-3 I changed the channel.
Schnookie, even least favorite compared to Saturday’s game?
Buffalo decided they really wanted to play like Tampa Bay in the 3rd period.
KG, that picture of Zach makes it look like he was moving or skating or something tonight. What an amazing trick of photography! :P
Sorry, Devils and Sabres fans!!
Schnookie, even least favorite compared to Saturday’s game?
Yeah, I look at Saturday’s game as “one of those games”. I look at tonight’s game as a “this Devils team just flat-out doesn’t care about winning hockey games” game.
Yes, this game was worse than Saturday’s. Again, Saturday’s was an aberration. Tonight’s was just flat out indicative of what this team is capable of, i.e. Diddly-Pooh.
I really think the hockey god don’t like IPB. When was the last time we were all happy on the same damn night?
Wow. The Sabres are officially dead to me. Baseball’s looking better and better.
Snazza farzza rassen frassen.
Morgan, I don’t think any of us could have said it better.
Ugh. I’m going to go do, well I don’t know, but something that does not involve thinking about the crappy hockey team I cheer for. Have a nice night, everyone.
Good night, Meg. Sorry about tonight’s game. And now I shall never speak of it again.
Meanwhile…down in Nashville, the second period is ended early due to a broken glass. The crew looks lost as they try to figure out how to replace it.
Sorry Meg! Good night!
The crew looks lost as they try to figure out how to replace it.
They’re starting by collecting a big pile of sand…
Good night, Meg! Maybe next time, right? SIGH.
I feel like tonight I’d go after my eyes with a soldering iron and discover at the last minute that the soldering iron doesn’t work.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
That was a lovely first period. 2 goals. Phaneuf got slightly humiliated twice. Good times.
“I feel like tonight I’d go after my eyes with a soldering iron and discover at the last minute that the soldering iron doesn’t work.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::
That’s so sad!
I feel like tonight I’d go after my eyes with a soldering iron and discover at the last minute that the soldering iron doesn’t work.
I’ve got my flat iron here if you want to render yourself unconscious with it.
I think I’m traumatized after seeing the commercial for “My Little Pony: Live.” I’m 26 and I’m freaking out at the thought of giant, colored ponies frolicking on stage. What will little kids think?
Phaneuf got slightly humiliated twice.
At least there’s that.
Vinny almost got a hightlight reel goal. Fancy deke move, but didn’t score. But he looked nice. Feel any better?
I think I’m traumatized after seeing the commercial for “My Little Pony: Live.” I’m 26 and I’m freaking out at the thought of giant, colored ponies frolicking on stage. What will little kids think?
Oh my god, that commercial TOTALLY cracked us up. That was the one bright light in my otherwise bleak and miserable night. Pookie spent her college years in a technical theater program planning to be a professional stage manager. So we always love the commercials for those awful tours of children’s shows, because we like to ask Pookie to imagine what it would be like to work them. She felt that working “My Little Pony: Live” would have not a single redeeming quality to it, other than maybe that it would pay the rent.
She felt that working “My Little Pony: Live” would have not a single redeeming quality to it, other than maybe that it would pay the rent.
I agree.
I feel bad for the person that has to play the pony’s behind. Do you put “horse’s ass” on your resume?
And with that, I’m going to go crash. Its been a long day. Peace out.
I feel bad for the person that has to play the pony’s behind. Do you put “horse’s ass” on your resume?
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, if you’re serious about your craft, you put “little pony’s ass” on your resume, but yeah. :P
And good night, Amy. Peace out, indeed. It’s got to be reassuring to think that it can’t get worse than this tonight, can it?
Guys, I found a silver lining
I just went to Wilson Farms for bottles of water and bought Breakaway Berrier and am currently enjoying it.
Wooooooooo! Preds score on the PP to make it 3-0.
Frisby, I’m so glad there’s something for you to find joy in tonight!
I like the change in the title. :p
But yes photography is an amazing thing. It almost looks as if Zach wanted to knock the guy to the ice, or as if Zach actually did it. I’m sure the guy fell and then they photoshopped Zach in.
The Devils are Killing me this year! :(
I’m sure the guy fell and then they photoshopped Zach in.
Yeah, there probably aren’t very many photos from tonight’s that show a Devil and a Pen in the same frame without some heavy doctoring.
And we really felt the title change was necessary. Stupid Diddly-Poohs.
Zach’s probably already printed that photo out to prove he “worked” in this game.
Yeah, at least my second favorite team can score more than one goal (or ‘a goal’ for that matter). Too bad they are not currently in the playoffs though, and even if they do make it, it probably means a first round matchup against the Detroit.
Awww geez. How can you look so good in the first and completely fall asleep in the second?
Awe, now that was cute. They were showing an interveiw with Arnott and his little girl interupted it to tell him about the Easter Bunny.
How can you look so good in the first and completely fall asleep in the second?
That’s the story of the first 60 games of the Devils season! Then they stopped bothering looking good in the first…
“That’s the story of the first 60 games of the Devils season! Then they stopped bothering looking good in the first…”
Ouch. Here’s hoping the Canucks don’t take it that far.
Wooo! Dan Ellis gets the shutout! The Preds are the bizarro-devils.
Hee! I don’t watch it, but apparently Weeksie was in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.
I finally got around to listening to the podcast. The Oduya cinder block thing, :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Awww… Weekesie. I love that guy!
Frisby, I’m glad the Preds were able to win for you, and that you enjoyed the podcast. :D
2 many men?!?! You gotta be shitting me.
Btw ookies, can I call you some time? You can charge me $2.99/min. ;)
I freakin hate my team. Except for Lui. Dear god. How do you take a two many men penalty, and then a tripping penalty, and then push the net off and get another a penalty?!!?! Fuck. And they score. Idiots.
And they score again. They’re fired.
Poor alix. Why can’t any of our teams do anything right? (Don’t say it, Frisby. :P )
Congrats, by the way, Frisby. I like to see Dan Ellis do well.
How do lead by 2-0 and then completely fall apart?
Looks like the Fighting Sioux play this weekend against Princeton on Saturday…And there’s another Zach on the team actually getting a chance to go far to win a championship.
Btw ookies, can I call you some time? You can charge me $2.99/min. ;)
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I used to hear that a lot… back when I was answering phones in my summer receptionist job at my elementary school. :P
Well that was a fucking joke.
Aw, alix, I’m so sorry!
Why didn’t I start drinking before this ended? That was horrible. Well it will be a quick first round exit at least.
Thanks, Schnookie.
Btw ookies, can I call you some time? You can charge me $2.99/min. ;)
First pee porn and now cinder block porn. We’ve got it all covered.
Alright, I’m going to go drink myself silly/find a soldering iron. Hockey sucks, eh?
alix, I am so sorry. I think in a parallel universe somewhere all our teams won tonight.
That must be it, Pookie! Somewhere our teams are actually playing their asses off…
I just. Urgh. Fuckit. Nothing went right last night, did it? (well, except the Preds for Frisby, but that is about it, no?)
It was an ugly, ugly night of hockey. That’s for sure.
I promise to invoke all the good karma I can think of to help them win the next game. Sabres, Stars and ‘Nucks too. This is completely pathetic.
(And it was so ugly I dreamed Clarkson was in Japan playing baseball for the BoSox and did his postgame interview about the Eugene Melnyk. Nightmare if I ever had one.)
Morning, all. Do we all need to start sacrificing things to the hockey gods? All our teams have been ridiculous lately.
I just went to Wilson Farms for bottles of water and bought Breakaway Berrier and am currently enjoying it.
I will agree that Crunchy’s ice cream is good. Unlike his play of late.
Do we all need to start sacrificing things to the hockey gods?
At this point I’ve given up Diet Coke and chocolate. I don’t know what else they want. My love of crappy afterschool TV?
I figure I sacrifice enough of my time and happiness to the hockey gods. That’s plenty for me. If it’s not enough for them, well… tough. :P
figure I sacrifice enough of my time and happiness to the hockey gods. That’s plenty for me. If it’s not enough for them, well… tough. :P
I think that’s a good attitude to take. :)
I figure I sacrifice enough of my time and happiness to the hockey gods. That’s plenty for me. If it’s not enough for them, well… tough. :P
That’s probably much more emotionally healthy than my way…
I don’t know what else they want. My love of crappy afterschool TV?
Nah. Don’t give that up. Crappy afterschool TV makes school worthwhile.
I figure I sacrifice enough of my time and happiness to the hockey gods. That’s plenty for me. If it’s not enough for them, well… tough. :P
Hear, hear!
So.
How is everyone today?
(I feel like Michael Ian Black in the “Coffee Shop” episode of Stella: “I’m… I’m good!!” *Face falls* “I’m not so good.”)
Schnookie, that is exactly how I feel this morning. Can I just say, uncool, Ford dealership, uncool? I had a flat tire, had to drive into my dealership early this morning and promptly spent two hours fighting with them to get something accomplished.
Luckily, my bosses understood, but man. So. stressful.
(I feel like Michael Ian Black in the “Coffee Shop” episode of Stella: “I’m… I’m good!!” *Face falls* “I’m not so good.”)
Ugh, you know it! Unfortunately last night’s game wasn’t like Saturday’s. I can’t just write it off as an aberration. I don’t really feel like dwelling on it, but I can’t help it!
Argh, sorry about the flat tire and the assy dealership people, Caitlin!
I’m bored. And every once in a while I feel a lot of anger bubble up and I throw something across the room. So. mad.
How is everyone today?
I’m better. I had my venting last night and am going to watch the Sabres last six games just to enjoy the hockey.
I had my venting last night and am going to watch the Sabres last six games just to enjoy the hockey.
It’s very freeing to get to just be like, “Fine. There’s nothing on the line, and now it’s just about how I’m a fan of this game, and more importantly, a fan of this team.”
Caitlin, that sucks about your flat tire! I’m so sorry!
Caitlin, that sucks! I’m so sorry! I live in such fear of flat tires.
I’m better. I had my venting last night and am going to watch the Sabres last six games just to enjoy the hockey.
I thought it was really sweet of one of the commenters on Top Shelf to remind Heather (and all of us, really) of the whole “high highs, low lows” discussion. It’s one I’d done a really good job of keeping in mind all season, but last night was so soul-killing I’d forgotten about it.
It sounds bad, but considering I’ve put five brand new tires on a two year old car since I’ve bought it, I’m used to the flat tire thing. The irritating thing was the astonishing way the dealership had of making everything significantly more difficult than it needed to be.
And I’m sorry, Devils & Sabres fans! I know how you feel. I feel like quite possibly the oft passed around soldering iron may just not be enough if the Stars lose tomorrow.
How is everyone today?
I’m really sorry to hear that yesterday wasn’t so great for everybody here. My day yesterday was one of the best I’ve had in awhile (I’ll keep the gloating to a minimum, I promise). Not just because of the game but I got the second highest mark in my class on one of my mid-terms that I swore I was not going to pass. Whoo!
Fine. There’s nothing on the line, and now it’s just about how I’m a fan of this game, and more importantly, a fan of this team.”
Right. Now don’t make fun of me if on Thursday night I’m bitching to high heaven about this team. :)
I live in such fear of flat tires.
Same here. I almost drove off the road when my tire pressure monitor light went on. Turns out I just needed air.
I got the second highest mark in my class on one of my mid-terms that I swore I was not going to pass.
Wooo yeah! Congrats!
Now don’t make fun of me if on Thursday night I’m bitching to high heaven about this team.
I would never DREAM of it! I mean, just because you’ve come to grips with the thought of the Sabres missing the playoffs doesn’t mean you’re not going to be pissy if they suck! :D
Congrats on the exam, Sherry! I, um, have nothing else to say about your day. :P
Haha that’s okay, neither do I :P and thanks everybody.
Today has barely started and I have coffee, so…so far so good!
Congrats on the exam, Sherry! I’m glad it went so much better than you expected. :)
Way to go on the exam, Sherry! That’s awesome!
Thanks again everybody! I have to go to class now but I’ll leave you guys with this gem from the NHL Shop…
Alexander Ovechkin’s “61 Goals” t-shirt.
I know the Ookies are just lining up for it :P
I’ll just put that Ovechkin 61-goal shirt in my collection with my Pavel Bure 60-goal shirts. Yeah, I said it!
I’ll just put that Ovechkin 61-goal shirt in my collection with my Pavel Bure 60-goal shirts. Yeah, I said it!
What are you saying, Schnookie? Ovie’s a hero! Pavel Bure’s a washed up old loser. That will never happen to Ovie!
Actually, to be fair, I think Ovie’s a significantly better player than Bure ever was. I just… don’t get all hot and bothered over 61 goals, I guess. It just… meh.
Actually, to be fair, I think Ovie’s a significantly better player than Bure ever was.
I know, I was just kidding. Sheesh.
I just didn’t want anyone thinking, with the way I have grown to hate Ovie this year, that I was marginalizing him, too! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like I thought you were an idiot, Pookie! (Even though I do think you’re an idiot…)
Same here. I almost drove off the road when my tire pressure monitor light went on. Turns out I just needed air.
I had a blowout one time on Central Expressway here in Dallas — an extremely busy highway — that scared the hell out of me. Nowadays if I walk out and see that a tire’s flat, I’m like, “At least it didn’t blow out while I’m driving! Awesome!”
Now don’t make fun of me if on Thursday night I’m bitching to high heaven about this team. :)
Yeah, don’t make fun of me, either, please. :/
(Even though I do think you’re an idiot…)
That’s it! I quit!
:P
I’d buy that 61 Goals shirt. EXCEPT IT’S HIDEOUSLY UGLY.
Nowadays if I walk out and see that a tire’s flat, I’m like, “At least it didn’t blow out while I’m driving! Awesome!”
Yeesh! What a nightmare, getting a blowout! I would also just be happy to see a flat before getting driving on a highway. We had a run-in with an airborne chunk of blown-out tire rubber on our cross-country drive from AZ, and it knocked the alignment out of whack on my car. We drove from Knoxville, TN to Fairfax, VA on it, and when we got out and looked at the damage to the car, we discovered the tire had been driving unevenly and had rubbed down to the cloth. I can’t believe it held up.
Well, the effing Panthers are now tied with the Sabres. What a craptastic game last night.
What do you guys think? Six games to go, seven points out of 8th…was last night the final nail in the coffin? I’m hoping against hope that there’s still a shot, but the way we’ve lost the last two…I don’t know.
I have to say, as much as Ovie’s overexposure has annoyed me this year, I totally loved the interview with him Japer’s Rink posted a few days ago. I do find him really entertaining so I wish the hype machine would just shut up and let me enjoy him.
“I do find him really entertaining so I wish the hype machine would just shut up and let me enjoy him.”
Me too. I like Ovie! I want to keep liking him. Ditto for Crosby. The NHL spin machine makes it tough. If I have to read one more headline that says, “Crosby-less Pens Defeat …” I’m going to lose it. I swear.
What do you guys think? Six games to go, seven points out of 8th…was last night the final nail in the coffin? I’m hoping against hope that there’s still a shot, but the way we’ve lost the last two…I don’t know.
I tend to think, “yes” on the last nail in the coffin front. They just haven’t been good enough within their own division this year for me to hold out much hope that they can win the 5-6 games I think they’ll need to in order to make the playoffs. I mean, I think they can afford to lose 1 game now. Maybe only one in overtime depending on how the other teams perform. If they could do that I’d be happy. Failing that, I’m just fine with all the other crappy teams passing them by.
Six games to go, seven points out of 8th…was last night the final nail in the coffin? I’m hoping against hope that there’s still a shot, but the way we’ve lost the last two…I don’t know.
I know that you need a TON of things to happen in your favor for the Sabres to make the playoffs, and it’s highly unlikely, but I do like to point in times like these to the Atlantic division race two years ago. The Devils were six points out with three games left, with the Flyers and Rangers ahead of them. The Devils ran the table, the Flyers and Rangers both lost all their games, Devils had all the tie-breaks, and they won the division on the last night of the season (on a shootout, no less). I remember having resigned myself to third in the division (which was still in the playoffs, so obviously it’s not really all that comparable to gunning for 8th), and then suddenly one of the newspaper writers pointed out that, mathematically, the Devils weren’t really out of the running for the division title…
“They just haven’t been good enough within their own division this year for me to hold out much hope that they can win the 5-6 games I think they’ll need to in order to make the playoffs.”
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Their divisional play just hasn’t been there this year. To think, I used to love it when Boston came to town…
“I know that you need a TON of things to happen in your favor for the Sabres to make the playoffs, and it’s highly unlikely, but I do like to point in times like these to the Atlantic division race two years ago.”
I remember that….what an absolutely insane divisional race. I wish those were the circumstances this time around! I’m feeling like seven points is just too big a margin. And let’s not forget that the Panthers are 8-1-1 over their last ten. In all reality I feel like they have a better shot than the Sabres right now.
I’m feeling like seven points is just too big a margin.
I agree. Especially looking at how the other teams are playing. But… I guess for once in my life I was trying to be positive. I don’t know what came over me! :P
In all reality I feel like they have a better shot than the Sabres right now.
I really wouldn’t mind seeing the Panthers make it at all. I think it would be nice for them to get back in after so many years. And I like them better than a lot of the teams in it right now. Which is to say that I have no opinion on them at all but at least I don’t actively dislike them.
“But… I guess for once in my life I was trying to be positive. I don’t know what came over me! :P”
What the hell, Schnookie!? Never do that again!
In other news, the Sharks lost last night too. But it was an overtime loss, so they grabbed a point. Plus, they came back from a 3-0 third period deficit, so that was sweet.
Plus, they came back from a 3-0 third period deficit, so that was sweet.
Didn’t JoeTho get a hattrick too?
But it was an overtime loss, so they grabbed a point. Plus, they came back from a 3-0 third period deficit, so that was sweet.
Yeah, that doesn’t sound all that soul-crushing. Did the Sharks not get the memo? Last night was supposed to be all about the soul-crushing. They must be so embarrassed now.
“Didn’t JoeTho get a hattrick too?”
Yeah. 3 out of 4 third period goals for the Sharks. It was pretty wild.
In other news, the Sharks lost last night too. But it was an overtime loss, so they grabbed a point. Plus, they came back from a 3-0 third period deficit, so that was sweet.
And if they’re going to lose they might as well do it to a Western conference team that has a chance to pass the Sabres in the standings thus improving their draft pick if they should miss the playoffs.
“Did the Sharks not get the memo? Last night was supposed to be all about the soul-crushing.”
They tried! They went out and lost…to Phoenix! That had to count for something, right?
“And if they’re going to lose they might as well do it to a Western conference team that has a chance to pass the Sabres in the standings thus improving their draft pick if they should miss the playoffs.”
Haha…Meg, your focus is unflappable! I like it.
Plus, they came back from a 3-0 third period deficit, so that was sweet.
Wait. Were they playing the Stars?
Haha…Meg, your focus is unflappable! I like it.
I have a very obsessive personality–I need to focus on something.
Wait. Were they playing the Stars?
Funny awwww, not funny ha-ha.
Hey y’all.
The Canucks are MEAN!
Funny awwww, not funny ha-ha.
Yes. Definitely not funny ha-ha. :D
The Canucks are MEAN!
Sooooo, what’s new?
“The Canucks are MEAN!”
Good morning alix.
What a bruiser of a game last night. I guess soul-crushing really was the theme du jour.
Ugh, looks like no Roy-Z tomorrow night. He skated before everyone else today, in sweats no less.
I just had lunch with a group of people who thought we shouldn’t re-sign Miller because he sucks. I’m just going to be over here beating my head on my desk.
“Sooooo, what’s new?”
Good point.
“What a bruiser of a game last night. I guess soul-crushing really was the theme du jour.”
Soul-crushing is definitely the word.
So, is it Sutter, Lou or the team that has determined they want to try and prove you can win without scoring a goal?
I just had lunch with a group of people who thought we shouldn’t re-sign Miller because he sucks.
Poor Crunchy! He needs my tender loving in this terrible time of doubt and recriminations. (Of course, it would probably help him to, I dunno… suck less, too. :P)
I just had lunch with a group of people who thought we shouldn’t re-sign Miller because he sucks.
Sounds like a good time!
Urgh, I keep getting calls from telemarketers today. SO ANNOYING.
Poor Crunchy! He needs my tender loving in this terrible time of doubt and recriminations.
As one fellow Sabres blogger put it, his interviews lately sound like he’s got a bad case of PMS.
Sutter, Lou or the team that has determined they want to try and prove you can win without scoring a goal?
Maybe that was one of the suggestions put into Rupp’s (it was Rupp, right?) suggestion box?
Maybe that was one of the suggestions put into Rupp’s (it was Rupp, right?) suggestion box?
I would laugh, but I’ve actually reached a point with the Devils where I’ve lost my sense of humor. I mean, they haven’t looked, for a single minute in any of the last four games, like a team that is actually trying to win. I mean, there are goal-scoring droughts, and then there’s what they’re doing right now. They are making last year’s team look offensively dynamic and emotionally engaged. I am a broken and beaten fan today, guys. Broken and beaten.
On the bright side, though, we planted some lettuce seeds on Sunday and by yesterday afternoon, they had already sprouted. I am assuming, though, that the Devils game last night didn’t kill them. It may very well have done that. I’ll have to check them when I get home.
Huh…headline over at MSNBC today?
“Crosby-less Pittsburgh blanks N.J. to close in on Atlantic crown, clinch playoff berth.”
Oh my god, that’s it. I’m heading for the nearest clock tower.
Poor Crunchy! He needs my tender loving in this terrible time of doubt and recriminations. (Of course, it would probably help him to, I dunno… suck less, too. :P)
It would indeed help him to suck less than he has of late. Bucky actually implied that the amount he would get in negotiations would be too much. I just about passed out when I read that this morning. Of course if Bucky thought he’d get 25/5 he’d be totally fine with that.
“Crosby-less Pittsburgh blanks N.J. to close in on Atlantic crown, clinch playoff berth.”
Oh my god, that’s it. I’m heading for the nearest clock tower.
NOOOO! andrew, it’s not worth it! Just internalize the hate until you’ve become a bitter old shrew like me! :P (That really is too funny about that headline, though.)
“Crosby-less Pittsburgh blanks N.J. to close in on Atlantic crown, clinch playoff berth.”
Did you have to do that? I just finished putting my phone back together after another devils+telemarketer induced rage issue. (funny though. And don’t jump!)
“(That really is too funny about that headline, though.)”
It would be a lot less funny if they hadn’t already used it for the past 8 games. Sometimes the AP just drives me up the wall.
“Crosby-less Pittsburgh blanks N.J. to close in on Atlantic crown, clinch playoff berth.”
Ahhhh!!! That is not helping my “my hockey team is a useless pile of puke who can’t keep a lead” mood. Yes, imagine that, a team can actually function without Crosby.
“Did you have to do that? I just finished putting my phone back together after another devils+telemarketer induced rage issue. (funny though. And don’t jump!)”
Sorry Mags, no Devils hate here…they just happened to be the last team to lose to the CROSBY-LESS Penguins.
And hell no, I’m not jumping! I’m going to Big 5 to buy a high powered rifle. And a soldering iron.
And a paddleball game.
no Devils hate here…they just happened to be the last team to lose to the CROSBY-LESS Penguins.
*vomit* I am DONE with these Crosby-less Penguins. It’s no fun calling them Penguins instead of Sidguins! Come back Sid!
And hell no, I’m not jumping! I’m going to Big 5 to buy a high powered rifle. And a soldering iron.
And a paddleball game.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It’s the paddleball game that lets everyone know that you’ve really snapped.
It’s the paddleball game that lets everyone know that you’ve really snapped.
I could use a paddleball game right about now.
I could use a paddleball game right about now.
I could use a heavy bag to do some boxing right now…but it’s as much the clients as the Devs. And that’s saying something about the clients, considering the way NJ is playing.
I’m sure all of you will be thrilled to know that Top Shelf is back to it’s blue and gold self. Thanks to everyone who commented last night in my time of need :-D
Gah, no apostrophe in that “it’s.” I know no one cares but I do know the difference.
I cared, Heather, so I’m glad to see you catch the apostrophe error. :P
Hmmm… Was IPB not ready for me to quit mourning? I didn’t mean to bring things to a halt.
Heather, I haven’t been brave enough to go to any blogs yet today, so I had no idea you were in mourning. I’m sorry.
Mags, I’m over it. Stick a fork in this season, sit back and enjoy not having a horse in the playoffs, and ignore all media in Buffalo for the next year. That’s my plan.
Heather, I really am really really sorry. That’s a lot of “really”s but…oh, man. A hug, a high-five, four gold stars and a cookie to you, madam!
Oooh, gold stars! Thanks, Caitilin! (Don’t tell Buffalo but I’m kind of sort of pulling for the Stars.)
Heather, I think ignoring the media is going to be a big, very healthy step for next season. That was a quick mourning period, though! It was a very striking statment to go make — seeing Top Shelf black like that was really quite jarring.
Don’t tell Buffalo but I’m kind of sort of pulling for the Stars.)
It’s okay. (And thanks, but I should at least inform you my team is a worthless pile of puke right now.) Does it make you feel any better to know that I spent 60 minutes mocking Brett Hull endlessly wherre he could actually, probably hear me if he skated by? If not, I’ll be sure to kick Hullie next time I see him, say, “That one’s for Heather, creep!” and then run away.
Pookie, I know I said I wouldn’t read Sabres Edge (The Buffalo News blog for those of you unfamiliar with it) but I went over there this morning and people were so over to edge and over the top that I think it actually helped bring the mourning to the end. Because no matter how shitty this season was I really do think the team is a good, young team. People are crazy over there, yo.
“That one’s for Heather, creep!”
:^::::::::::
I know you guys aren’t playing very well right now but the beauty of cheering for a team I’m not that invested in is that I don’t really care! No offense! I mean, that in a totally good way :P
(Don’t tell Buffalo but I’m kind of sort of pulling for the Stars.)
Me too. The Stars have crept up on me and now I actually think I might like them. I’m still not sure how that happened.
As a side note, there are days when my job is really weird. Today? Totally one of them.
Heather, no, I totally understand that. I just want to make sure your expectations of my team are as low as possible — then if they’re decent, it’ll be a pleasant surprise.
People are crazy over there, yo.
Sabres Edge is like the Stars message boards, I guess. I don’t go there anymore because I got sick of hearing “trade Turco” repeatedly.
As a side note, there are days when my job is really weird. Today? Totally one of them.
Oh? Have you gotten some good books to look at today? Do tell!
I was so angry/drunk last night I couldn’t see straight, but now I’m pretty much over it. If the Canucks get into the playoffs, great. If they miss them, fine. They’ll probably sneak in at 8th and get crushed by the Wings. This season was supposed to be a write off anyways with all the injuries we’ve had. But hey if they randomly get their shit together and go on a run, I’ll be the loudest Canuck fan in the prairies.
Oh? Have you gotten some good books to look at today? Do tell!
Word! Did you get someone who thinks their book is divinely inspired again or something?
alix, forget Hank and Matty, I think maybe it’s time you and I rent a cab and go cruising. We deserve it! :-D
“alix, forget Hank and Matty, I think maybe it’s time you and I rent a cab and go cruising. We deserve it! :-D”
HAHAHAHAHA!!! Do we ever! Great idea, Heather. :D
Stick a fork in this season, sit back and enjoy not having a horse in the playoffs, and ignore all media in Buffalo for the next year.
I’m ignoring message boards for a long while. The one interesting and rational tidbit is so not worth the 40 posts of crap to deal with.
Oh? Have you gotten some good books to look at today? Do tell!
Heh. I’m just making copy changes to some period romances that have stepbacks (that’s the page of color art that’s sometimes put after the front cover, usually on mass markets) and these stepbacks are like full-on soft porn. I mean it’s less bare-chested men grasping chesty women to them and more bare chested men having sex with ladies who have their dresses hiked up around their thighs on the couch. My sixty-or-so-year-old boss and I just had this whole, “Well! These are…rather sexy…” conversation.
I think I’ve have a searching-for-romance-excerpts day coming up shortly as well. Our freelancers always choose things with too little sex.
Did you get someone who thinks their book is divinely inspired again or something?
I don’t get those at my current job, unfortunately. I kind of miss the crazies. :(
I kind of miss the crazies. :(
Take client intake calls at a law firm, you’ll never miss the crazies. Meg, that is so funny about the art stuff. That’s not…awkward or anything!
Meg, that sounds SO MUCH BETTER than my day! Hee hee!
Meg, that sounds like a fun kind of crazy day.
Meg, that sounds like a fun kind of crazy day.
It is. And it’s fun to see final products and what the other departments like Art are putting together. I love seeing the whole process of turning a manuscript into a book. :)
I just read on Fanhouse that CBC is going to be producing “The Don Cherry Story,” a two-part made for TV movie that will chronicle Cherry’s hockey career and the start of his HNiC career. The target date to air is next year’s playoffs.
They canceled MVP but are producing this? *headdesk*
Amy — that is…ungodly and depressing. WTF, CBC, I’m so glad I don’t get you.
I love seeing the whole process of turning a manuscript into a book. :)
That would be really, really cool, so I always like hearing about your neat job!
Meg, that’s too funny about the cover art! And I learned something new today — “stepbacks”, eh?
Stepbacks beat my medieval history course for sure! Hee.
Dudes, I just remembered my sorry excuse for a hockey team plays AGAIN tonight. I know I said I was totally ok with whatever they do at this point, but I was kind of hoping for a day off to recover from the crap that was last night.
alix, I’m so sorry. I could not be happier that tonight is ANTM and no Devils.
Thanks, Pookie. Maybe I should just watch ANTM instead….But then I bet they’ll play the game of their lives. Because they’re jerks like that.
alix, that sucks. I at least get a night off and I’m watching the next game with Kate. (I don’t feel Kate should be watching this team alone :P)
Sven, I season-passed ANTM so you don’t have to remind me every week. Unless you want to!
alix, I’m so sorry. I could not be happier that tonight is ANTM and no Devils.
I’m going to go home and watch some slasher movie tonight, that’s what I’m doing. You know, in case it was vitally important for you to know.
Aren’t the playoffs here yet? [/whine]
Thanks, Heather. That’s sweet of you making sure Kate has a chaperone :D I kind of wish I had someone watching the game with me last night, because I was not pretty :P That’s what I get I guess for saying out loud that the Canucks were playing well last week. I should have known better. The Canucks are legendary for getting your hopes up and then crushing them in amazing fashion. It’s like an unspoken Canuck fan rule. Those bitches.
alix, I’m so sorry. I could not be happier that tonight is ANTM and no Devils.
I’m going home and reading a book and just chilling out.
I don’t feel Kate should be watching this team alone
Have fun! What a crash course in hockey fandom Kate’s getting.
Bummer alix. I know how important a day to decompress can be after a pooh-fest like last nights game.
As I will most definitely not be watching ANTM, and I am far too lazy to get any work done at home, I will most likely end up watching a horror movie while waiting for the little lasy to get off of work. It just feels like a horror movie kinda night.
Little lasy! Ha!
I meant little lady, of course.
It’s like an unspoken Canuck fan rule. Those bitches.
“Those bitches” tacked onto the end of anything never fails to kill me dead, alix.
Heather, that’s so cool that you’re going to watch the next game with Kate!
It just feels like a horror movie kinda night.
Word! My disc of Lucio Fulci’s Zombie has a crack in it (::gasp::) so I Netflixed it and it should be here today. Mmm, Zombie.
After that, I’m thinking A Nightmare on Elm Street Part III sounds like a good idea. Or Part V. The deaths are good in V.
“Heather, that’s so cool that you’re going to watch the next game with Kate!”
It is cool! I’m jealous of all you hockey fans who actually live near each other. Buffalo, New Jersey, Dallas! Shoot, I had to fly to southern California to hang out with IPBers!
Little lasy! Ha!
I meant little lady, of course.
I’m TOTALLY telling her you called her a “little lasy”. Heh.
I’m super excited because I left work early today (I love when my boss is on vacation) and when I got home my prosciutto was waiting for me! I just got my annual bonus and I decided to splurge on an heirloom-pig prosciutto. Now I have to order a meat slicer to go with it. Heh. (And see, Devils? I like a piece of meat more than you losers! LITERALLY!!)
“Those bitches” tacked onto the end of anything never fails to kill me dead, alix.
Hee! It’s the only entertainment I’m getting from my team right now. Calling them bitches.
“It is cool! I’m jealous of all you hockey fans who actually live near each other.”
Word! I’m surrounded by mostly Lames fans *shudder*. Until I go home for the summer.
I decided to splurge on an heirloom-pig prosciutto
I’m so lost. I have a general idea of what this is (prosciutto) but what the heck is an heirloom pig?
I’m jealous of all you hockey fans who actually live near each other. Buffalo, New Jersey, Dallas! Shoot, I had to fly to southern California to hang out with IPBers!
Well, it was a 7-hour drive for us to hang out with Katebits, Heather and Amy…
(And see, Devils? I like a piece of meat more than you losers! LITERALLY!!)
Heh! Paulie’s all “Um excuse me! I”M a fine piece of meat. Mmmm…meat. Dang. I’ve got the munchies again.”
“Word! My disc of Lucio Fulci’s Zombie has a crack in it (::gasp::) so I Netflixed it and it should be here today. Mmm, Zombie.”
Awesome. I’m going straight for Opera. It’s one of my “go to” flicks….I love it.
“I’m super excited because I left work early today (I love when my boss is on vacation) and when I got home my prosciutto was waiting for me!”
Now that is wonderful. I’m unbelievably jealous. I’m grilling up some prosciutto wrapped filets tonight, which will be great, but the pork sure as hell isn’t from an heirloom! mmmm…pork.
Happy ANTM Day, everyone!
Can we agree on a meeting place and time to discuss tonight’s episode?
I’m so lost. I have a general idea of what this is (prosciutto) but what the heck is an heirloom pig?
Heirloom pork is pork from rare and traditional breeds of pigs, unlike the more “engineered” breeds on factory farms. They’re normally raised organically and humanely. The prosciutto I got is from La Quercia, which is big into traditional Italian meat-curing recipes. I got a sampler of some of their products for Christmas, and dude, it was INSANELY good. I am SO EXCITED for my prosciutto.
Awesome. I’m going straight for Opera. It’s one of my “go to” flicks….I love it.
Oooh! That’s a good one!
I’m grilling up some prosciutto wrapped filets tonight, which will be great
Wow, you people are fancy! I’m having Kraft macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles for dinner, probably.
“Well, it was a 7-hour drive for us to hang out with Katebits, Heather and Amy…”
Well yes, but you two have each other and Boomer there, and Morgan’s in Jersey, right? So there ya go!
I’m unbelievably jealous. I’m grilling up some prosciutto wrapped filets tonight
Well, I’m unbelievably jealous that you’re grilling tonight, so there you go! :D
(And Morgan’s in Brooklyn, which means he might as well be on THE MOON! [We're terrible friends. We never see our friends in the city because we're SUPER lazy.])
Margee, we’re on a long TiVo delay with ANTM tonight because Pookie’s at work. We probably won’t be wrapping it up until 11:00.
Wow, I never knew that about pork. Huh. That’s cool!
I am SO EXCITED for my prosciutto.
I am so excited for you, too! Woo! The only time I’ve had prosciutto I was fairly fond of it, so there you are.
“Wow, you people are fancy! I’m having Kraft macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles for dinner, probably.”
Hee! And I’m having prison food. A friend of mine found out last week the same company that does our Rez food also does prison food!
“Wow, you people are fancy! I’m having Kraft macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles for dinner, probably.”
Not so much “fancy”…it’s just a great way to pass the time! I think of cooking as a hobby more than anything.
“I am SO EXCITED for my prosciutto.”
As am I! What are you going to do with it, Schnookie?
A friend of mine found out last week the same company that does our Rez food also does prison food!
Hah!
I tried to make vegetable soup this weekend and it was decidedly not successful (I probably should have found a recipe) but I made a ton so that’s what I’m eating this week. I did make some good challah to go with it at least.
A friend of mine found out last week the same company that does our Rez food also does prison food!
The company that does the cafeteria at my workplace has one of the biggest prison-cafeteria contracts in the US. They’re kind of the top prison-cafeteria provider in the game. And you can really tell! ZING!
A friend of mine found out last week the same company that does our Rez food also does prison food!
Not all prison food is bad food! I had a friend that worked in the accounting department of a company that supplied commissary food to prisons and she used to get surplus food and hand it out to friends.
First of all, if they can afford to buy it off the cart, prisoners eat better junk food than I do. Secondly, the packaging is ninety kinds of awesome. Everything has to be a certain way, so the prisoners can’t craft weapons out of the wrappers or smuggle things in them.
The chip bags, for example, are almost totally clear. And the peanut butter and jelly, while extremely tasty, comes in these plastic wrappers where you have to squeeze out the PB&J with your fingers!
Aw, Meg, that sucks! I’m so sorry you have to eat unsuccessful soup all week! But good challah goes a long way to curing what ails, so… there’s that. :D
But good challah goes a long way to curing what ails, so… there’s that. :D
True! You don’t happen to have a good vegetable soup recipe you could email me, do you? (should I ask that on the other -Ookie blog instead?)
“I tried to make vegetable soup this weekend and it was decidedly not successful (I probably should have found a recipe) but I made a ton so that’s what I’m eating this week.”
Don’t you hate that? I have this thing about not throwing any leftovers away. So if I make a dish that turns out awful, I have to man-up and eat it for three days because I can’t let it go to waste and Tracie’s smart enough to not eat it.
That’s pretty awesome about the packaging, Caitlin! But this is most definitely not GOOD prison food :D
So if I make a dish that turns out awful, I have to man-up and eat it for three days because I can’t let it go to waste and Tracie’s smart enough to not eat it.
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And Meg, I actually don’t have any veggie soup recipes on hand. I’m not very good about making veggie-riffic soups at all (SOMEONE I live with doesn’t like many vegetables), so I’m a terrible one to ask for that. Sorry!
Actually, Meg, if you find a vegetable soup recipe that you do like, let me know! :D (By the way, I should probably ask this on your blog, but since we’re talking about recipes… Would you be able to share the recipe for the carrot and potato stew with quinoa that you mentioned the other day?)
No worries, Schnookie. I can ask my sister. I only didn’t before because she’ll probably be all, “oh I just throw a bunch of stuff in a pot and it turns out GREAT!” Or I could, I suppose, learn from my mistakes. That’s a pretty radical idea though. :D
Would you be able to share the recipe for the carrot and potato stew with quinoa that you mentioned the other day?
Sure, I’ll email you the link when I get home.
But this is most definitely not GOOD prison food :D
Aww, I’m sorry, alix! That is terrible! I wish you had better food. :(
Or I could, I suppose, learn from my mistakes. That’s a pretty radical idea though.
Oh man, don’t bother with THAT! Just find a good recipe somewhere. Learning from mistakes is for LOSERS! :P (That’s too funny about your sister, though. It reminds me of the time I asked my host family in Russia for the recipe for the kick-ass pierogies they made. The answer? “You make the dough, then you put the filling inside it.” Thanks, host family. Thanks a bunch.)
Sure, I’ll email you the link when I get home.
Thanks a million! :D
I asked my host family in Russia for the recipe for the kick-ass pierogies they made. The answer? “You make the dough, then you put the filling inside it.” Thanks, host family. Thanks a bunch.)
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“Aww, I’m sorry, alix! That is terrible! I wish you had better food. :(”
Awww thanks! It’s ok though. It sucked at first, since my ma is great cook, but now I’m kind of used to it. Mostly I survive on coffee and vending machines…kind of a good thing I have a good metabolism :D
Wow, you people are fancy!
Word. I had applesauce and cheese for dinner. Yeah, that was it. This lack of proper food may have contributed to my crappy hockey practice.
That’s so odd about the prison food, Alix.
I haven’t had apple sauce in AGES! Yum! But sorry you had a sucky hockey practice.
“I had applesauce and cheese for dinner.”
Mags, that really is more of a breakfast meal.
Just kidding, hey…I ate crappy food when I was in school too. I feel your pain.
If it’s any help, I’m hardly breaking into the prosciutto for anything fancy tonight. We’re having leftovers. (And Caitlin, there’s a very good chance I won’t even want to bother with that, and we’ll go the Kraft mac & cheese route, too. :D)
Mags, that really is more of a breakfast meal.
Dude, I know. I paid for my extended DL today and I’m basically broke. So it’s probably going to be breakfast too. Sho healthy! Fricking depressing when you consider I’m already underweight.
Schnookie, Kraft Mac ‘n’ Cheese sounds good to me! We could have the leftovers on Thursday! (I don’t want to package up lunches tonight when I get home, so I’m all over slumming it.)
Pookie, I just won’t bother making enough rice for lunches. We need to eat up some of the stuff in the fridge. :D
We need to eat up some of the stuff in the fridge.
Um… There isn’t anything in the fridge except the stew which I thought needed rice… That’s cool, though. I’ll just eat of the garbage can for lunch the rest of the week. I’ll beat off the hungry crazies that hang around here.
Schnookie, Pookie, I vote take out for you two, then! :D
Hee! Thanks, Caitlin!
No, I’m not good enough for take-out. I’m only good enough for eating out of the garbage can. I mean, look at the hockey team I root for! I don’t deserve anything good in life.
Pookie, I’m glad you admitted that, because I really didn’t want to have to be the one to say it first.
I mean, look at the hockey team I root for! I don’t deserve anything good in life.
What does my hockey team say about me, then? God, we have won ONE game in March! I might as well be a hobo!
My team gives up 2-0 leads and can’t put more than one win together! What does that say about me? I’m easy? (because they’re easy to play against. Har!)
Well, at the very least, none of us, based on our team choices, are worthy of any food that didn’t just come out of a garbage can.
YAY! My Cousin scored his first playoff goal last night and his team leads the Bruins 3-0! Good news.
At least one team I support is freakin competent…grumble grumble.
Hooray for alix’s cousin!