Well, tonight’s the night we get our first look at Brendan Shanahan, New Jersey Devil 2.0. We are not thrilled. You know how every sports fan has that first experience where you discover the sad truth that pro sports is “just a business” and the players you cheer for don’t care about you or the team you love? Well, that moment for us was when Shanny stripped himself of the C and demanded a trade from the Whalers. The first hockey game we ever attended in person was Whalers/Islanders, in Hartford. We spent much of our first season as hockey fans watching the Whale on Center Ice, totally charmed by the Whaler unis, the Forslund/Reaugh broadcast tandem, and the personable, foxy young Shanny. Then we opened our second season as fans with a harsh dose of the reality of professional sports, and we have hated Shanahan ever since. We hated that he then had heaps of praise dumped on him for being such a valiant champion in Detroit and hated him triply when he became a high-profile Ranger. And now he’s essentially functioning as a rental player with the Devils, and to add insult to injury, it’s Pando who’s getting benched to make room for him. That’s right — Pando is being benched to make room for Brendan fucking Shanahan. It’s like some sort of sick joke; Pando’s being replaced by the Anti-Pando. No, Pando hasn’t done anything this season to justify leaving him in the lineup (that only makes this worse), but if Shanny thinks it’s going to be an easy way back into our hearts, he’s living in a dream world. Hell, if Lou thinks it’s going to be an easy way back into our hearts, he’s also living in a dream world. We are not happy. At all. And it’s not like there’s even some shred of “Well, at least he signed with the Devils of his own free will, so supposedly he wants to play for our beloved team” goodwill for him. No, the reason Shanny’s a Devil is because they’re the only team in the New York metropolitan area that would take him. So… yay?
FIRST PERIOD
19:35 Paulie tries to get our flagging spirits up by doing a sassy little spinarama Houdini move to keep the puck at the blue line. Pookie has a theory that the Pando-being-replaced by the Anti-Pando storyline is like something out of a bad superhero movie, but worries that Pando isn’t superhero enough to win out in the end. Schnookie suggests that the rest of the team will have to avenge him. After a few more nice keeps by Paulie and Travis, Pookie says, “Maybe they really are going to avenge him!”
18:26 We’re hoping it’s just our TV that’s so bright, because if the ice in Nashville actually does look like this, it’s a miracle the players can see anything.
16:18 We fail to notice that Shanny was on the ice. It must have been the blinding-bright ice, because it’s hard to miss a hulking slow guy with horse teeth wearing a Brylin sweater.
15:26 Pookie finally verbalizes what it is about the Holik and Shanahan signings we hate so much: “They’re turning the Devils into Old NHLer Island.” We thought we were rid of Old NHLer Island after the second year after the lockout. Guess we were wrong.
14:34 The Pando avenging isn’t going well. Rolston lazily hooks a Pred at the Jersey blue line and gets the Predators fans doing that cute “air quotes meet fangs” thing with their fingers to signify an impending Nashville power play.
10:05 We are totally distracted by the lighting from the ice here. Schnookie: “I can’t see the players. All I see are black shorts floating around out there.” Pookie: “All I see is a fuzzy white nimbus around the ice.” Pause. “And that fan blowing that whistle repeatedly isn’t helping. This game is like someone using a jackhammer outside my bedroom at 7:00 on a Saturday morning.”
9:02 Just after we get a close-up look at Shanahan before an offensive-zone draw, Holik takes a catastrophically idiotic penalty and we cut to a close-up of him shaking his head at the official. Pookie: “Ugh! That last 30 seconds was the most disgusting thing I’ve seen on television since Zednik got his throat cut.”
6:24 Rupp and Belak fight.
Afterwards, they spend a ridiculously long time with Rupp down on the ice and Belak standing over him while two officials negotiate the process of the two letting go of each other’s sweaters. Pookie: “I have no problem with fighting in hockey, but I wish they could make a rule that guys have to let go of each other right away. We’re wasting 25 seconds here while they refuse to be the first one to let go. It’s a useless delay of the game.”
5:47 Clemmer stops a shot from a modestly bad angle, and the rebound gets away from him despite his posture of “I totally got that”. Schnookie: “That’s the second time I’ve noticed that he went to stop something looking all like he’s freezing the puck, and then all of a sudden the puck is in the corner.” Pookie: “He’d probably tell you it’s his superior acting skills, psyching out the opponent.”
3:17 After the Rupp/Belak fight, Chico mentioned that the game had “lots of energy”, thereby sending us off on a tangent about how the energy has been like surface-of-the-sun energy, retina-searing energy, blinding energy thanks to the brightness of the ice. That naturally led to a bunch of Pi jokes, about how we’d spend this game staring into the glare of the rink and then, at the end, we’ll know the total value of pi, but have to lobotomize ourselves with power drills. As the Devils work a not-tremendously-effective bit of cycling, Pookie sighs, “If you guys keep this up, by the end of this shift I’m going to know the total value of the angles in a triangle. Which isn’t very impressive, considering I know that already and I sucked at math.”
2:50 The annoying fan has not stopped; Pookie: “Dude, I am going to get in my car, drive down to Nashville, find that fan…” Pause. “And ask them politely to stop.”
0:00 We’re not going to lie – we didn’t pay very close attention to that period. Apparently shots were 14-8 Predators, and our vague sense of the game so far is that that sounds about right. Gel-O interviews Langer, and keeping with the mood, we don’t really pay attention.
FIRST INTERMISSION
Gel-O sits down with Zach to talk about the All-Star Game. He asks Zach what he took from the Young Stars game in Dallas, and we chorus, “A plastic star.”
SECOND PERIOD
19:44 Ah, the avenging begins now! Legwand takes a penalty to kick off the period.
19:41 Hamhuis wants to avenge Pando, too! He takes an interference penalty immediately off the face-off to start the Devils PP, and it’s two-man scorched-earth time. Do it for Pando, boys!
18:53 This power play is… not going well. Pookie: “I’m beginning to think triangles have angles that total 20 degrees.”
18:22 Wooo. The horse-toothed guy in the Brylin sweater scores, it’s 1-0 Devils, and yeah, we feel dirty. Pookie says of the replay, “It’s like the Predators are on the ice, the Devils are on the ice, and there’s Shanahan. And he’s just hanging out scoring goals for whichever team will pay him the most while being close to his kids’ school.” Yes, we’re glad the Devils have a goal, we’re glad they have a lead, if this is the final score we’ll be glad for the win, but we just can’t be happy about it right now. Especially considering the celebration on the bench is, as Pookie points out, on a Pandoless bench. Schnookie fights back tears. We’re not sure it counts as avenging Pando if it’s the Anti-Pando doing the scoring.
16:39 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Rollie carries the puck way up to the tippy top of the high slot, wheels around over it, cranks a giant slapper, and Clarkson is in front to tip it artfully into the net to make the game 2-0 Devils.
15:00 A bracket pops off the glass and we have a little delay, during which the camera pans back a bit at the Devils end… and we have a Frisby sighting! Hi Frisby!
13:30 The Devils are milling about the Nashville zone doing not much, and Pookie suddenly says, “Hey! I think someone is reading our diary – the ice is a lot less bright!” That would also explain why the Devils have scored in this period: they were finally able to stop trying to find the goal through their little solar eclipse goggles.
12:54 We get a long look at a dullardish Shanny on the bench.
Schnookie: “It’s so good that they have that guy in the prison over his shoulder there. Because that’s Pando.”
12:15 Chico is talking about Sullivan and his Devils career, and he mentions that Sully got 13 goals with New Jersey. Pookie and Boomer both marvel that the total is so low, and they would both have thought he’d done much better than that. Schnookie, an absolute fount of sunshine and puppydogs this evening, grumbles, “Meh, he sucked.”
11:47 We have a Frank Doyle sighting! Or rather, mention. Doc tells us that our favorite hard-boiled private dick from the Devils system was an AHL All-Star Game MVP once.
9:50 Dear lord! We have a Jim McKenzie sighting! He’s in the crowd at this game with his disinterested-looking kids. His legacy as a Devil is summed up well by Pookie: “This may be revisionist history, but I think I liked him.”
7:29 Jim McKenzie’s legacy as a Devil is further summed up by Pookie: “You know, when they first showed Jimmy Mac in the crowd I thought, ‘Huh. Steve Kerr is here.’ And then Doc said, ‘Every Devils fan should recognize him!’ and I was like, ‘Really? Steve Kerr?’”
6:53 The Patty/Gio/Zubrus line does not score on a four-on-two, and then Sullivan doesn’t score on a one-on-Paulie the other way, in large part because of a sweeping defensive play. Schnookie: “Was that Paulie’s helicopter move?” Pookie: “That was his ‘helicopter hitting water’ move.”
5:30 Pookie discovers, thanks to TG, that Predators fans apparently blow whistles when Tootoo is on the ice. Get it? Tootoo/toot? Yeah. Schnookie: “Well, I guess you’re going to have to find lots of fans and politely ask them to stop.”
3:59 The ice is doing it again. Aiiieee! It burns! It burns! That, and 3.14159265… [/power drill]
2:50 Doc tells us the Devils are third in the league in road points. The two teams ahead of them are the Bruins and Red Wings. Considering that the Bruins and Red Wings have way more points overall than the Devils, we guess those two teams are, unlike the Devils, also capable of winning at home.
2:02 Pookie: “Tootoo fans, can you do that somewhere else?”
0:00 We paid more attention to that period and were, per the scoreboard, duly rewarded. But in our hearts, we’re still sad about half of it. Gel-O interviews Clarkson, but before he does, though, we get another “stats from Shanny’s interminably long career” screen that fails to mention that he was our inaugural Ring Whore.
SECOND INTERMISSION
Gel-O sits down with Weekesie and he is, per usual, the Anti-Clemmensen. (Read: we really like him.) He delightfully says of the road trip, “At home we all have commmitments, family and friends, and the days go by so quickly. But here, we just have each other.” Except for Pando. Pando has no one.
THIRD PERIOD
19:09 We shouldn’t laugh, but seriously, if you could pick one player to have had his new house burn down, Jason Arnott would be the one you’d pick, right? It is not even remotely surprising to hear that this happened to him – it’s the Arnott way. (That said, we are very glad to hear that no one was hurt.)
17:59 Pookie thinks the whistles for Tootoo are for how he always gets called for penalties. Schnookie stands by the “toot toot!” thing, though. Just in case you were wondering, Gentle Reader.
17:42 Chico tells us this arena holds great memories for Zach of getting drafted by the Devils. This sends us into paroxysms of laughter, as there is nothing in the world funnier than the sequence of pictures from the draft that show his little heart breaking into smaller and smaller pieces with each pick that passes him by. Pookie: “He was totally cat-carrier Zach refusing to come into the building tonight. He was like, ‘I say, I won’t go in there! You can’t make me go in there! No, wait, I was happy to be picked 17th. That’s totally what I wanted.’”
16:40 Paulie has yet another smooth, deft, sassy defensive play that prompts Pookie to say, “Paulie’s like really high-quality vanilla ice cream. In that he’s easy to ignore, but when you do notice him, he’s awesome.”
15:46 Applesauce pulls Legwand’s foot out from under him while he’s cutting a corner, and goes to the box. Meanwhile, Pookie is still worrying about something Chico said during play earlier: “Did he say ‘Che Weber’? Should I be worried that he’s going to lead an uprising of the BoxPanners against me?”
15:11 Travis gets a long shorthanded quasi-break up the wing, but isn’t able to cut around the goalie while the Predator backchecker gets back into the play. We take his not being able to finish as a shout-out to Pando. Which is fitting, considering TravisNation is a rogue state being formed by the corrupt ruling priest class in the Western Territories of PandoNation on the emperor-god’s land grants.
13:54 Whitey deflects in incoming slapshot up into his own face, and skates quickly off the ice, spitting copious quantities of blood.
13:21 Boomer, whose given name is Karen (she doesn’t even go by that in real life), has recently started reading the news on AudioVision, a radio broadcast for the New Jersey Library for the Blind. She was told to go by whatever name she wanted on air, so she chose “Karen Mott”, in honor of her Devils husband Applesauce. So when Applesauce gets back in the play after getting out of the box and breaks up the Preds attack, Pookie exclaims, “Great play by Mr. Karen Mott!”
12:07 Tootoo gets called for high sticking, and there isn’t a sizable uptick of whistles from the crowd, suggesting it’s a “toot toot” thing and not a penalty thing.
11:35 That power play didn’t last long, thanks to Captain Eh, Fuck This, who gets called for interference. There is much confusion on the call, and we get a long look at Paulie standing next to an official at center ice and gesticulating in bafflement. It looks like he’s thinking, “Vanilla ice cream? That sounds spicy.”
8:02 Zach yoinks a puck away from a Pred defender, then, with his motor going a million miles an hour, rips a shot past Rinne that clangs off the crossbar. He’s never going to score again.
6:32 Clarkson scoops the puck directly over the glass, then tries to argue that he shouldn’t really get a penalty for it. The officials have a little conclave that Rollie tries to crash, but to no avail. Predators power play.
5:48 The Predators finally break through, ending the Devils’ perfect PK string for this road trip. We see a fallen d-man in front of the net, and Pookie wails, “Oh no! Is Mottau hurt?” Schnookie: “Mr. Karen Mott!” Boomer: “He needs to get up – the visually-impaired seniors in New Jersey are counting on him for their news.” Replay shows it’s actually the Iron Boar going down, having taken a point shot in his Iron Bits. Chico tells us after the replay, “A timeout is being called by…” and he pauses while trying to figure out who called it. Pookie concludes for him, “Bryce Salvador.” It’s 2-1 Devils.
4:41 The Devils respond to the goal with a mightily furious offensive-zone shift, but manage pretty much just one little chip shot on goal.
4:36 The Predators goal is credited to Radek Bonk. Surely he died in Vegas?
3:14 If the Preds are having attendance problems, it might be because of all those whistles. Seriously. They should look into that.
1:56 What is fucking happening to our team? Who are these guys in Devils sweaters? A Predator winds up to fire a shot from the center of the blue line, and not one but two Devils topple over to leave their feet to attempt to block it. Needless to say, neither stops the incoming shot, and all kinds of chaos ensues because no one’s in position anymore because they’re all splayed out up near the blue line. GAH! Stop doing that! (Replay shows one of them was Shanahan. No fucking kidding. This isn’t the Rangers anymore, Horse Teeth. Stay on your feet. Pando never leaves his feet. Pando’s a hero. Waaaah!)
0:13 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! What the hell is that? The Devils win a defensive zone draw, then Patty feeds the puck to Zach on their way out of the zone, and Zach scores. Into an empty net. An empty net goal! We never thought we’d see the day. 3-1 Devils.
0:00 WOOOOOO! The Devils win, and, as ridiculous as it sounds, they are in first place in the Atlantic Division. That seems sort of bizarre, all things considered.
Here’s a completely original and not re-posted comment, I swear on Sen John Blutarsky’s good name:
Steve’s nick-name shoulldn’t be Cangy.
I like Gel-o. Gel-o fits.
From now on I dub thee Steve ‘Cangy’ Cangilosi: Gel-o.
Arise Sir Gel-O!
Why Gel-O? WHY NOT!!
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! Fantastic!
(*psst* Did I sound surprised?)
Stalky, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! And I’ve never heard it ANYWHERE BEFORE! :D
(I’m all over “Gel-O”, by the way. That starts here today.)
As a wise person once posted: Timing is everything in this business. -rim-shot!-
This comment thread is giving me deja vu!
All over again!
By the by, I went to NasVetMemCol and saw the greatest player in hockey today. He is quite good, but a good high school team could beat the Isles currently.
Also on the by, Trotz is an unfortunate last name for anyone…
But the first name Pekka is just as poor…
Good Evening! It’s finally in the double digits temperature wise up here allowing my fingers to thaw out enough to type.
he is quite good, but a good high school team could beat the Isles currently.
I noticed you didn’t specify whether it had to be a high school hockey team.
By the by, I went to NasVetMemCol and saw the greatest player in hockey today.
Did you feel your soul welling up with exurberance? Were you thrilled to finally see a player who actually enjoys playing hockey as opposed to all the shlubs we’ve all been watching up until The Gr8 One’s arrival in this league? Gah!
mcguffers, are you saying a high school drama team, or Math Counts team, could be the Isles?
A hockey team or the Ward Melville HS Mathletes would suffice.
The Great 8 does look like he enjoys his ice time. He played every second of every power play (unlke Brendan Witt). Do you think Ovie has Thunderstruck playing through his head all the time? Or only when he’s awake?
Or maybe a high school cheerleading squad or jazz band. Now junior high is another story. Isles would have them hands down. err. maybe.
Isles would have them hands down. err. maybe.
The Isles are like, “Home or away?”
(Sorry, I shouldn’t have been cranky about Ovechkin. I’m taking my Shanny/Holik/Clemmer hate out of him.)
(Which isn’t to say that I don’t also dislike him for his own reasons.)
(But that’s not important right now.)
Sooooo, you’re saying you’re undecided about how you feel about Shanny?
Pookie :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The only goal in the Panthers/Sabres game so far came on a penalty shot. Hank hooked someone, then Lydman did his best impression of a bowling ball to take Booth off his feet.
I’m SO sorry Ookies! That’s terrible to now have TWO guys you can’t stand on the Devils! It’s cruel and terrible!
And I’ve hated Shanny ever since he said on Kukla’s that he felt like a bridesmaid in Big Baldy’s wedding. Pshhhh. Trying to blame his suckiness and lack of teams wanting him on Big Baldy. Whatevs.
Oh and I should have said three guys, not two. I forgot about Clemmer.
And I’ve hated Shanny ever since he said on Kukla’s that he felt like a bridesmaid in Big Baldy’s wedding
I have to admit, I find that kind of funny. I find Shanny simultaneously likable and repellent though, so I’m generally conflicted.
And I’ve hated Shanny ever since he said on Kukla’s that he felt like a bridesmaid in Big Baldy’s wedding.
I missed that. What a jackass.
And yes, I am undecided about him. Worst mid-season pick-up that causes Pando his roster spot? Or worstest mid-season pick-up that causes Pando his roster spot? I’ll put myself down for worstest.
Could be worse. I hear Sean Avery needs a job.
Maybe he’ll throw out his hip and you won’t have to worry about him for the rest of the season.
If the Sabres lose to the Panthers by 1 goal, I’m never saying anything nice about Lydman ever again.
Anne, Big Bear scored again last night! It was HOTT!
Wow, David Booth is ubiquitous today, isn’t he?
That’s the first penalty shot that Miller’s given up in his NHL career. LYDMAN.
Alix, I know! I saw the highlights!! He’s so foxy in Vancouver.
And I’ve hated Shanny ever since he said on Kukla’s that he felt like a bridesmaid in Big Baldy’s wedding.
Dude, Shanahan, maybe there would have been more interest in you if you hadn’t limited yourself to teams in the New York metropolitan area. What a douche.
YAY! A long interview with Zach!!!
Um, I’m not sure what Gaustad was trying to do to Weiss, but I think he owes him dinner and drinks first.
IHAVENOIDEAHWHATJUSTHAPPENEDBUTTHESABRESGETAGOAL WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Greg Cambell just scored for the Sabres!!! Wooooh Hooo!
A long interview with Zach!!!
We were laughing at his false modesty about how he hopes that Team USA will select him for Vancouver.
OMG, MJ is going to be so excited that Campbell just did that.
That was a hilarious goal. But from now on the Sabres are going to be all, “We don’t have to shoot, right? If we just hang out in the offensive zone the other team is going to score for us.”
We were laughing at his false modesty about how he hopes that Team USA will select him for Vancouver.
Yeah, I think that he can probably count on that one.
Go Sabres!
Anne, the last Canucks game my sister went to she got ridiculously hammered and waited outside after the game for autographs, and after she took a picture with AV, she got Big Bear’s autograph and she said he was sooo crazy sweet and friendly.
Zach can totes stay with me in Vancouver if he needs to :D
“We were laughing at his false modesty about how he hopes that Team USA will select him for Vancouver.”
Yes that was fairly cute. He has such pretty eyes.
And seriously, Shanny scoring already? :/
Anne, during his interview, all I could think is “Wow, MJ is right. This guy’s a dumbass. He’s making me go cross-eyed while listening to him.” Figures he’s Derek’s friend.
Anne, the last Canucks game my sister went to she got ridiculously hammered and waited outside after the game for autographs, and after she took a picture with AV, she got Big Bear’s autograph and she said he was sooo crazy sweet and friendly.
AHHHHHHHH!! I’m so jealous of your sister!!!!!! Why couldn’t I have these same magical experiences?!?!
It’s hard to despise Shanny when he scores… It’s a terrible conundrum he’s putting me in…
“We don’t have to shoot, right? If we just hang out in the offensive zone the other team is going to score for us.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::: Those are the kinds of good habits you want instilled, right?
And as for Shanny’s goal, well, I’m happy the Devils are winning. I just don’t feel like Shanny’s a part of the Devils, you know?
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Now that one I can cheer for!
We have a Frisby sighting! WOOOO! Hi Frisby! *waves*
Shanny scored his first game back? Big Baldy robbed me! All he gave me was a game costing penalty. Heh.
He had a freakin swwwweet goal last night though. Made Mason his bitch. Too bad the Canucks forgot they actually have to play defence.
AHHHHHHHH!! I’m so jealous of your sister!!!!!! Why couldn’t I have these same magical experiences?!?!
I know! I was too! One day, Anne. One day. He`ll ask you how you feel about being a fan of a Buffalo Sabres and he`ll tell you he`s been walkings his dogs every day.
Wow. In the battle of aging, late-signing free agents, Shanahan >>> Sundin
I know! I was too! One day, Anne. One day. He`ll ask you how you feel about being a fan of a Buffalo Sabres and he`ll tell you he`s been walkings his dogs every day.
Do you think?!?! I HOPE SO!!! A girl can dream!
Mats is kind of dreamy though…
He knocks defenders over one handed and tells me useful things like the Canucks needing to keep pucks out of their own net.
If you guys keep this up, by the end of this shift I’m going to know the total value of the angles in a triangle. Which isn’t very impressive, considering I know that already and I sucked at math.
I started doing a crossword puzzle to keep me awake until the last 10 minutes of the game when the Sabres will start to play. I’m completely cheating and researching the answers online because it’s way too hard for me. But, thanks to this game, I now know who wrote the script for “The African Queen.”
We have a Frisby sighting! WOOOO! Hi Frisby! *waves*
You actually saw Frisby in the crowd or is that code for something.
The Stars/Tampa Bay game has been an odd one.
Yup, Frisby’s in the crowd in the first row behind the net!
Too bad you can’t text him to hunt down the fan with the whistle.
WOW! Who`d he sleep with to get those seats?!?!
Oh wait…this isn`t Vancouver…heh.
Oh man, Myra, I’m so wishing I could sic Frisby on that dang whistle!
Who`d he sleep with to get those seats?!?!
They look like really, really sick seats!
Yeah! The Sabres got a goal scored by a Sabre!
The Birthday Boy scored his 28th of the season!!
Yay! The Sabres can score all by themselves!!! Yay!!!
“Buffalo Sabres
Have games last 10 shots on goal”
That just appeared on the screen on MSG….what does that mean?
WAIT, there’s supposed to be an apostrophe
“Have game’s last 10 shots on goal”
Punctuation is important, people.
YAY! They`re big boy Sabres!
SQUEE! I`m going to practice at 11am on the 2nd. I get to write for the FanZone and I`m going to be chaperoned at all times by Canucks staff. Probably a wise idea so I don`t drool all over Matty trying to tell him he`s a tough Swede. But still. SQUEE! I can`t wait!
alix, that is sooooooo beyond cool! It’s even beyond cook!
Alix, one of my friends says “Swedish” instead of awesome. I think that’s appropriate in this case!
I should totally steal that, mcguffers. That`s hilarious
Beyond cook! That is good indeed.
I am really not a fan of the Panthers’ announcers.
Alix, if you see Big Bear, tell him I love him.
My sister is literally jumping up and down with excitement because she just found out New Kids on the Block will be in Buffalo on her birthday.
The Panthers got a goal for the Panthers this time. That’s not cook or swedish.
The Panthers got a goal for the Panthers this time. That’s not cook or swedish.
No, not either.
If something’s super-duper cook, it’s Swedish Chef! alix, I think you should ask all questions at practice in the form of the Swedish Chef.
Well, the Stars game sucked, big time.
Sorry, Myra! What was the final?
Ok, here comes the pillow to bury my face in during the shootout.
Maybe the Panthers will start skating the wrong way and score for us on the shootout.
Someone in Florida is wearing a powder blue Penguins jersey. This game is getting weirder and weirder.
Awe Zach is so cute, going over to help out Whitey when he was hurt.
And seriously Travis is becoming my new favorite penalty killer.
alix, I think you should ask all questions at practice in the form of the Swedish Chef.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::: And please bring a plastic fish to use as a microphone if they let you interview anyone
Holy Muthafreaking Woah!! They won!!! I LOVE shootouts!!!
4-2 “Bolts”
Vinny’s Neck scored twice.
The Stars were just one big turnover and I don’t mean the pastry. Pathetic.
If I were playing a Florida-announcers-praise-Booth drinking game I would be dead right now.
That was a Kessel vs. Miller shootout goal right there.
God, I loathe the fucking shootout. The Canucks are 1-6 now. (Matty got the lone shootout winner)
Pookie, I LOVE Swedish Chef as beyond cook!
Surely I`ll totally be asked back to cover Canucks practice if I bust that out!
I LOVE shootouts!!!
BANNED!!! (I’m glad the Sabres won!)
Derek Roy. I love you and your “I totally did lost control of that, but shhhhhhhhh!!!’
Woooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t worry, Pookie. I’ll go back to hating the shootout the next time we have to do one. I’m just in that post shootout bliss.
I remember last season, someone (sarcastically) saying that teams are going to start keeping a player on the bench who does nothing but shootouts. Meet Ales Kotalik.
teams are going to start keeping a player on the bench who does nothing but shootouts.
The Devils did that with Kozlov the first season of the shoot-out. It was so stupid.
The Sabres could make Kotalik a healthy scratch for half the season, and I probably wouldn’t notice until we went to a shootout.
What the hell? The Devils scored an empty netter? Well I’m shocked. But yay for Zach.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! A win! and it’s only slightly tainted by Shanny! And first in the Atlantic! Wowza!
We have a Frisby sighting! WOOOO! Hi Frisby! *waves*
*waves back*
Was I really on TV? Huh, huh, was I? I don’t know because Center Ice lied to me about what channel the game was on and I ended up recording four hours of Center Ice’s schedule for January 19th.
Well anyways, here’s my pic of the glass support, er lack thereof. If I remember correctly, it came off when the Iron Boar and some Predator crashed into the boards there.
And here’s one of my better pics. I missed a good chance to get a pic of Clarkson with his face being plastered up against the glass.
I don’t know if players are just that focused or what, but I couldn’t get anybody’s attention. There was also one part near the end of the third where it looked like Shanny took a couple of crosschecks to the arm, and I started screaming at the ref who was standing directly in front me, his eyes didn’t shift or nothing.
Frisby, those pictures are awesome! I’m so glad you got to see a good game! WOOOOOOO!!!
And good morning, everyone! My office email has been migrated today to Outlook. My whole computer looks different, and frankly, Outlook sucks. This is AWFUL. I’m in such a bad mood now. How are all y’all doing?
I’m in such a bad mood now. How are all y’all doing?
Alright, I suppose. Middling, I guess. I’m so sorry they migrated your e-mail over! I’ve only ever used Outlook in an office setting, so I wouldn’t know what to do with anything else!
I’m in such a bad mood now. How are all y’all doing?
I’m thirsty, but otherwise not too bad.
Lemme just say, compared to Thunderbird, Outlook sucks. I mean, I have no idea about the backend stuff, and I suppose Outlook is a big money saver or something, but it is giving me fits and it’s made my computer slower. GAH!!!
it is giving me fits and it’s made my computer slower. GAH!!!
I hate Outlook’s contacts set-up. Drives me crazy.
Also driving me crazy? A supposed past due invoice from 2006. That’s what I’m having to spend my morning on, instead of, you know, a move.
Outlook is a nightmare when it comes to slowing down computers. It takes so long to start up too.
Hey everyone!
Schnookie, I’m so sorry you’re stuck using outlook. Bummer dude.
Can we just not play the Sharks tonight? *Whines and hides under covers*
Good morning everyone!
We should all just use Gmail for business email! It’s so much better than stupid ol’ Outlook!
So I taught an Excel class this morning and made up a little scenario where we’re selling candy and need to make a spreadsheet tracking what we bought, what we sold, and what our profit was. We’re talking simple 3rd grade word problem here. We bought 500 pounds of candy at $.56 a pound and then sold 487 pounds at $1. What’s our profit? Easy, right? Everyone’s happily going along until some dude (who already knew Excel) starts nickpicking that in accounting the cost to us isn’t the same at paying $.56 a pound for a whole 500 pounds. I’m like, “OK, dude, so pretend you’re selling candy for the Little League bake sale. There’s no accounting there.” But he still kept badgering me that I was totally wrong to not be factoring in accounting and economics to my “let’s learn how to multiply” spreadsheet. Gah!
My company said they were going to stream the inauguration live on our internal online TV thingie, which is pretty cool, but then it crashed on my computer (not surprising), so I had to watch in the break room instead. Everyone else in there talked through most Obama’s speech. Sigh. But I guess that’s what memories of historic moments are all about — years later I’ll be able to say, “Ah yes, the Obama inauguration. I didn’t hear a word he said because everyone was talking about Starbucks. Good times!” :D
Fortunately I was able to watch the inauguration on a big screen in our meeting room and no one talked at all. There was even some applause, which was cool. At one point one of our less bright regulars did wander in and ask loudly if there were still cookies left from the refreshments, but fortunately it was during some down time.
Pookie, at that point, I think he is a lost cause. If you can’t understand just using something to illustrate a basic point, then…you are going to die lonely and sad.
Schnookie, I didn’t even get to SEE Obama’s inauguration. We don’t have TVs in the office and my cell phone wouldn’t load any video. At least there’s YouTube, right?
I got to see the oath taking via the internet feed, but it starting puttering out during his speech. Oh well, at least I got to read the text online.
YES! AMC reached an agreement to keep the creator of Mad Men around! I think it’s all because Obama was sworn in today.
some dude (who already knew Excel) starts nickpicking that in accounting the cost to us isn’t the same at paying $.56 a pound for a whole 500 pounds.
Actually, it totally is. What you bought it for is the price for your inventory. Unless you bought it on credit, with discount terms, but that wasn’t mentioned in the example. So, dude, YOU WERE WRONG.
The TV dubbed all of Obama’s speech in Dutch. And I get the impression they messed with it. So I have no idea what he actually said.
Thank you, Mags! I feel less like an accounting dolt now. :D
Fortunately I was able to watch the inauguration on a big screen in our meeting room and no one talked at all. There was even some applause, which was cool.
Yeah, we had applause and some cheering (and a lot of laughter at Rick Warren pronouncing the Obama children’s names) but almost no talking at my work so that was cool. And what little talking there was was inauguration-oriented.
Good morning everybody, happy Inauguration Day!
Looks like Claude Lemieux will be completing his NHL comeback tonight. The Sharks are dressing him for the game in Vancouver. Unreal.
Oh good! Burr and old Claudy can have a grand old time!
Good morning, andrew! Happy Inauguration Day indeed!
That is madness about Lemieux. I figure he’s who we’re going to trade Pando for, at the rate Lou’s been going lately.
Looks like Claude Lemieux will be completing his NHL comeback tonight.
So what you’re trying to tell me is that the end is very fucking nigh, no?
Oh good! Burr and old Claudy can have a grand old time!
Seriously! That’s a pest battle for the ages. up-and-coming Contender vs. fresh-out-of-retirement Champ.
I figure he’s who we’re going to trade Pando for, at the rate Lou’s been going lately.
Ha! I know how you feel. DW has now brought back four players from the dead (or near-dead): Ozolinsh, Roenick, Blake, and now Lemieux. I’m just waiting for one of these experiments to backfire.
Anyone watch the Sharks/Wings game on Saturday night? That was one of the best non-playoff games I have ever seen.
We caught the last period of that game, andrew — it was awesome!
We caught the last period of that game, andrew — it was awesome!
I thought it was pretty sweet. Marleaus breakaway goal in the third was a thing of beauty. Apparently Wings fans are in a tizzy over it because they thought he was offsides, but hey you know what they say…death, taxes, and a-hole Wings fans.
Caitlin, did you see? Robi got a spot in the ASG.
Caitlin, did you see? Robi got a spot in the ASG.
I did see! Man, he deserves it and then some. It’s been the one bright spot in my week, I think. (Incidentally, fuck today, man.)
andrew, I missed the Sharks/Wings game, although I probably wouldn’t have watched even if I knew it was on. It…It just Red Wings, you know?
Man, he deserves it and then some. It’s been the one bright spot in my week, I think. (Incidentally, fuck today, man.)
For sure. He and Marleau both.
Sorry your day is being so crappy. Hope it gets better!
I missed the Sharks/Wings game, although I probably wouldn’t have watched even if I knew it was on.
Understandable. I myself have a hard time mustering up the energy to watch any game that doesn’t feature the Sabres or Sharks.
I tried posting a comment twice now, but I keep getting spun off into oblivion. Senor Spam is up to his old tricks again.
Senor Spam is up to his old tricks again.
That happened to me the other day! Blasted Senor Spam.
Aww, guys, my nephew Ethan is scheduled to arrive February 2nd! I’m so excited!
Senor Spam is such an a-hole! I retrieved your comment, andrew. There was also one from a few days ago from someone who’s name I didn’t recognize but who wasn’t spam. I hope some poor soul didn’t think we were like deleting comments or something! Oops!
February 2nd is a great sounding birthday! 2/2! When he becomes a famous hockey player, he can wear number 22. 22 is the new 87.
Speaking of numbers, I was just in a dept meeting in which we were discussing the answers we got to a pop quiz. The answer to one of the questions was 19. One of the more colorfully wacky of my coworkers said, “I got 623.” When it became apparent that the answer was, instead, 19, he said, “Oh no! I read my answer wrong, sorry. I got 4.” First of all, why point out that your read your answer wrong if it’s still wrong, and secondly, how do you mistake 4 for 623?
First of all, why point out that your read your answer wrong if it’s still wrong, and secondly, how do you mistake 4 for 623?
Did someone slip crack in your coworker’s coffee? Dude, if the answer was “19″ I would feel like an idiot shouting out “623!” Talk about way off. And then amending yourself? Good Lord.
I have no idea how you misread “4″ as “623″ unless you’re blind and coked out of your skull at the same time.
“I got 623.” When it became apparent that the answer was, instead, 19, he said, “Oh no! I read my answer wrong, sorry. I got 4.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Good morning, everybody! (I just woke up.)
unless you’re blind and coked out of your skull at the same time.
Or a buffoon.
Are you feeling better today, Patty?
Slightly, Pookie. Thanks! I think I have the actual flu. I haven’t had the flu since I was 11 years old. Fever is no fun. I went to store to get orange juice and then forgot to get orange juice. I might be delirious. :D
I’m sure I’ll live.
So if Zach wins the fastest skater contest at the ASG Skills Competition, does he get another plastic star?
February 2nd is a great sounding birthday! 2/2!
That is a very fun birthday! Hooray! My baby is due in early March and I am totally holding out hope for its birthday to be 3/6/9. Second choice is 3/3/9. :)
I am having to watch all our Canadian Road Trip games on tivo the next day, because sadly 11 is way past my bedtime, much less 1am. I will be cheering the BJs on against the Oilers while I sleep!
Having a cool date for a birthday is fun! Mine’s 8/8 and I never fail to point it out to people! :D
WOOOOO! I just booked my flight for Feb 2nd!
Sorry. Carry on.
Wooo, alix!
Wait, Zach’s in the fastest skater?!? You’re kidding, right? Because he’s like the slowest skilled player EVAH.
Wow! All these babies who will get to wear totally cool numbers in the NHL to represent their birthdays! I think 22 and 33 (or 3/6/9, depending…) are totally the new 87. :D
alix, I’m SO excited for your trip!!! I can’t believe you’re going to get to see Matty nekkid! :P
And Zach is making a terrible mistake. I hope he misheard them and thought he was signing up for Slowest Skater. (Seriously, he is unimaginably slow. We have a friend who was on a recreational swim team in NYC several years ago, and there was one guy on the team who was just a KICK-ASS swimmer, like, phenomenal form, amazing shape, the whole thing. But he was ridonkulously slow. No one could figure it out. So one day his coach tells him to get out a kickboard and show how he kicks, and when the guy does that, it turns out his kicking propelled him backwards. Pookie and I think Zach’s got something going on in his skating stride that does the same thing, because he’ll be there in center ice chugging away full steam and be totally stationary. :P)