What is this wonderful thing we see on our television? Can it be…? For reals? Is it… hockey??? Yes it is! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Of course, we’re still a little disgruntled, as this conversation we had during dinner would attest:
Boomer: “Is Pando scratched again?”
Schnookie, bitterly: “Yes.”
Boomer: “I didn’t realize he and Sutter had such big problems.”
Schnookie: “I’m not sure it’s that. I mean, the team is playing well – who else would you take out to make room for Shanahan?”
Boomer: “Shanahan.”
During the pregame, our conversation progresses from benching Shanahan to wondering what Gel-O would look like in drag. You don’t want to know, Gentle Reader. Trust us.
PREGAME
20:00 The Sens are wearing their version of the BOLTS! Sweaters. When we first embarked on this blogging adventure, we encountered someone saying that insiders in Ottawa know that the Senators do not go by the nickname “Sens”, so we endeavored during their run to the SCF to never call them that. Well, now we want all the time we spent spelling out “S-E-N-A-T-O-R-S” back, assholes. It probably totals up to about 15 minutes. You can make that payable to The Ookies, Ottawa.
17:57 We’re busy discussing how we’re never not going to call Ottawa’s team the “Lightning Sens” or “SenBOLTS”, and meanwhile, on the ice, the Lightning SenBOLT goalie shuts down a rush by Rupp.
16:10 It’s a torrid pace here to bring us out of the All-Star break – the shots are 1-1. Doc is snidely pointing out that the SenBOLTS are, like the Penguins, now buckling down defensively. Oh how he loves jabbing at teams that have loudly decried trapping, but succumb to the system when their run-and-gun fails them.
15:23 This is the first Brodeurless Devils game in Ottawa since Marty first debuted in the NHL. Pookie: “It’s going to be weird when he gets back.”
15:06 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gio darts up the far wing, whips a feed from a bad angle into the crease, and places the puck perfectly on Patty’s skate for a deft tip-in to make the game 1-0 Devils. The goal is reviewed, and during the delay we get to see how tan Patty looks after his Mexican vacation.
14:23 Some SenBOLT hooks a Devil. We don’t really know what happened, and Doc and Chico don’t tell us because Chico’s too busy snotting that Marty would have broken up Gio’s pass if he’d been facing the rush that led to that goal. That’s right, Ottawa – this Elliott kid is no Martin Brodeur.
12:23 That was one of the quickest two minutes of hockey in recent memory. And sure, the Devils didn’t score, but the sequence still prompted Pookie to stage whisper, “Ottawa’s not very good.”
11:22 We wiled away a few hours this past offseason watching That Mitchell And Webb Look, and they have a sketch in which a couple is unwinding after work by talking about the difficulties they’ve faced in their jobs that day. One of them goes on and on about how devastating it is working in the hospital ward for terminally ill children, and then the other feels pathetic having to gripe about his grueling job as a taster at an ice cream factory. In that same vein, Doc tells us about how Elliott is serving in the bright spotlight of the Ottawa hockey world while his girlfriend serves in the U.S. Air Force in the Middle East.
9:31 Pookie: “These SenBOLT unis look like court jester outfits.”
8:12 Schnookie: “This Elias/Elliott thing is confusing me.” Pookie: “Me too. Therefore, I think the SenBOLTS should not be permitted to have a goalie tonight!” Pause. Pookie: “The Devils would probably still not score.” Schnookie: “You do know how bad they are with empty nets.”
7:40 The play is pretty much permanently set up in the Ottawa zone, and there’s something goofy going on with the mics on the ice, because every time play goes down along the end boards it sounds like a slinky is unfurling.
6:42 The SenBOLTS finally get the puck into the Devils zone and one of their guys gets hauled down by Blobby. The fans try to roar their displeasure at the lack of a call, but this crowd is listless and sounds like their spirits have been well and truly broken. After all the unearned arrogance from their 2007 playoff run and the first half of last season, we’re not sorry to see them coming back down to earth. Heh.
6:39 Brankahan goes to hit Phillips in the corner to Elliott’s left and gets him in the head with his elbow and his stick. He gets called for high-sticking and Chico whines about it. Pookie, meanwhile, proposes giving him a game misconduct for the game passing him by.
3:58 Blobby gets called for high sticking, and just as we are all in full volcanic eruption of rage at how much we hate Blobby and Brankahan, and how having them on the same line is just concentrating our loathing into one huge, slow, ineffective penalty-taking machine, replay shows the call is pretty crappy. There is a long pause, and then Pookie says, “It’s his reputation drawing that call. It’s still his fault!”
0:00 The period ends, and we have to say, the Devils looked pretty solid there. Good puck possession, good penalty killing, and yes, even good goaltending (as much as it pains us to say that). We get an interview with Patty, and he credits the soccer warm-ups for his footwork on the goal. Surely he’s implying that if the team had done soccer warm-ups in previous years, he’d have scored more then, too.
FIRST INTERMISSION
We spend the intermission watching our Tranny Gentleman Callers on Versus.
SECOND PERIOD
CHUCK THE DUCK!!!! CHUCK THE DUCK!!!! Today he was hanging out on the Rideau Canal, sans cigar. Doc tells us the cigar is Cuban, so Chuck couldn’t bring it to Canada out of concern that he wouldn’t be able to bring it back over the border.
18:11 During a stoppage we look at Patty randomly shouting “FUCK!” on the bench while a stat caption informs us he had 55 points in all of last season, and now has 55 this year with his goal tonight.
18:01 Fisher hits Salvador from behind and gets called for boarding. Chico whines about the call. Chico, whose side are you on?
16:34 The PP is going so well that Doc is spending his play-by-play time telling us that he was a bit disappointed that the All-Star jerseys only had numbers on one sleeve, thereby making it difficult for him to call the ASG. Considering Versus’s approach to having him call that was to ask him to chat randomly with Brian Engblom for two and a half hours, we’re not sure how a lack of sleeve numbers was a handicap. (He also takes this moment to bitch that Atlanta’s sweaters also only have one numbered sleeve. Burn! Take that, Thrashers!)
14:55 There is a steady snoring buzzing from the floor next to Boomer’s chair where Rollie the cat is curled up. The “action” in this game thus far prompts Boomer to say, “I agree with Rollie.”
13:18 We come back from commercial to hear Chico telling us that the Brankahan/Blobby/Rupp line, the Devils fourth line, has scored 1002 career goals combined. Chico thinks that makes them the greatest fourth line in NHL history. Schnookie: “Or the oldest.” Long pause, then Boomer’s head explodes: “They didn’t score them together!”
11:55 Before the period started, Doc and Chico tried to lure us into thinking this was going to be a kick-ass twenty minutes for the Devils, because the SenBOLTS were outshot 19-3 in the second of their last game. Of course, this is the Devils, so the SenBOLTS have had the puck pretty much for the entire frame.
10:45 Pookie: “Actually, this looks a lot like the second period of the All-Star Game. Only minus the talent.” Pause. “Tonight’s version of the second period of the All-Star Game will be performed by talentless hacks.”
10:36 The Iron Boar takes a hooking penalty immediately off a defensive-zone draw.
9:06 We are busy discussing the off flavor of a can of Diet Coke that Schnookie just opened, and when we look back to the TV, the SenBOLTS are scoring. Great penalty, Iron Boar! The goal is Picard’s, and it’s a 1-1 game.
8:28 Remember how Pookie stage-whispered earlier that the SenBOLTS aren’t very good? Psst – the Devils aren’t very good.
8:10 Our stats people spent the All-Star break looking up the state of the team in comparison to last year, and it seems the Devils had 30 more goals through the first 47 than last season. Of course, the Devils got shut out in something like 39 of their first 47 games last season, so it would be hard not to have that many more goals.
5:41 The Poppers step out on the ice to remind their teammates that there’s still a game going on, and after a long, feisty shift in the Ottawa zone (during which we can only imagine that Zach is telling Travis and Langer repeatedly, “You guys, Vinny and Marty were so much better than you two”), Oduya fires a point shot that gets the glass, and Langer is there to bank the rebound from the boards off Elliott and into the net. 2-1 Devils, and Doc and Chico point out that Marty would have leapt out of the way of the desperation shot from behind the goal line. That’s right, Elliott – once again, our announcers want you to know that you’re no Marty Brodeur.
1:00 Zach spends this shift showing off to anyone paying attention that he was an All-Star. He doesn’t score, but he’s still pretty fancy. We begin to suspect that Sutter was right, and Zach is going to need a bigger helmet after all.
0:00 The period ends with two cats snoring audibly in our living room. Langer talks with Steve and spends the first part of the interview looking like he’s not paying attention while undoing the fly of his shorts. He spends the second half of the interview telling Steve that now that Zach’s back with the Devils, he needs to go back to not expecting to get any passes on his tape. We’d laugh, but it’s true.
SECOND INTERMISSION
Back to the Tranny Gentleman Callers.
THIRD PERIOD
19:41 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Poppers start the third period as if they’ve been shot out of a canon, rushing the length of the ice, crashing the net, Zach leaping through the air headfirst toward the end boards while passing out to Langer at the side of the goal, and Langer whipping a shot through Elliott. That was snappy! 3-1 Devils.
17:24 A mild scrum in front of the Devils net turns into a Neil/Clarkson fight. The two swing wildly at each other, rarely connecting, and are an hilarious dichotomy between caricature-ugly and super-foxy. Pookie: “Neil looks like a psychopath. Or like a five-year-old whose toy was stolen. Meanwhile, Clarkson looks like he’s in a foxy bar brawl, fighting for my honor.”
Ruutu gets called for a penalty elsewhere on the play.
16:35 While the Devils mill about aimlessly on their PP, Chico tells us that the Senators players are apparently all wistfully jealous, and wish they could be Devils too.
14:19 During Brankahan’s last shift on the PP, Pookie wagered $10 that he’d take a penalty. He might not have done so then, but he makes up for it in spades here, waving his stick around Alfredsson’s face while lagging behind him and whacking him in the mouth. It draws blood, and it’s time for a four-minute kill.
12:12 The puck goes behind the Devils net, and one of the SenBOLTS actually lifts the back of the net up, pushes the puck in under the back of it, and then bothers putting his hands up to celebrate the puck being in the net. We are not making this up.
10:18 Thanks to a solid PK from the Devils and an emphatically awful PP by the SenBOLTS, Clemmer gets to spend the entire double minor sitting on a beach somewhere drinking pina coladas. The fans are drumming up the energy now to boo.
8:41 woo. Brankahan scores from up high on a snappy wrister off a feed from Rupp. It’s 4-1 Devils, the fans are streaming to the exits, and Schnookie remarks, “You know what I like about goals from Shanahan? They probably piss the hell off of Rangers fans.”
8:18 Ruutu’s a supergenius and takes a moronic slashing penalty behind the play. Good thing most of the fans are gone already.
6:23 Our ever-hopeful stats people tell us Langer has no career hat tricks. HINT, HINT!
5:28 Doc sends us all into a panic by noting that Madden is out with Travis and Langer.
4:09 Chico exclaims, while we ignore the “Where’s Zach????” question eating at all of us, that Devils fans should be eagerly looking forward to Thursday’s game against the Bruins, which will show us all where the Devils really are. Schnookie: “Considering how well the Devils played last time against the Bruins, I’m totally excited.”
3:10 Where’s Zach????? Oh. He’s out now. With Zubrus. The hell? What’s Sutter doing?
0:20 Wait, no, the lines look normal now. Whatever, Coach Sutter. Whatever.
0:00 The buzzer sounds, Langer still doesn’t have a hat trick, and Clemmer is now a 20-win goalie. What a strange, strange season this is turning out to be.
Poor Vinny. He finally escapes the Montreal media after the All Star Game, he comes back to the peacefulness of Tampa. And tonight, the Lightning host… the Habs.
Oh that sucks for poor Vinny! I felt so badly for him this weekend.
Dear Vinny,
You would never have to deal with that shit in NJ, I promise you.
Love,
Pookie
Heh. I didn’t even think about that Grrrreg. And I checked out the site on streaming games. This is awesome! Although, I have to watch the Tampa Bay feed because I don’t speak French.
Dear Vinny,
Even Brian Campbell got laid in Buffalo. You would be a god among men.
Love,
mcguffers
And apparently in Tampa, they pronounce “Carey” like “Corey”.
Wooo? Is this goal going to count?
Yes, yes it is! WOOOOOOOOO!!!
Even Brian Campbell got laid in Buffalo. You would be a god among men.
I cannot even comprehend how much of my life would be spent on Chippewa/Elwmood/Allen if Vinny lived in Buffalo.
No seriously, I have mental images of me running around the City of Buffalo and its suburbs just screaming “VINNY! VINNY! VINNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! VINNAAAAAAYYYY!”
I won’t watch the game, I’m way too tired… See y’all!
WOOOOOOOOOOO! Markov, just before I turn of my computer! I’ll sleep better!
Damn the Dolans! Apparently due to some dispute between the NHL and MSG, I no longer get MSG HD hockey games on my Center Ice package. IPB power brokers, please use your vast influence to get my Devils in HD back. Once you’re an HD snob, it’s hard to go back.
Damn the Dolans! Apparently due to some dispute between the NHL and MSG, I no longer get MSG HD hockey games on my Center Ice package. IPB power brokers, please use your vast influence to get my Devils in HD back. Once you’re an HD snob, it’s hard to go back.
WHAT? No HD MSG?!? WTF? That blows! I’m so sorry! I wish I could do something about that for you!
Good night, Grrreg!
Anne, I’m pretty sure if Vinny were in Buffalo, Chippewa would come to him. Heh.
No seriously, I have mental images of me running around the City of Buffalo and its suburbs just screaming “VINNY! VINNY! VINNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! VINNAAAAAAYYYY!”
I’m moving to Buffalo in the Fall, so I can just picture myself unloading the moving van while some crazy lady runs past me screaming “VINNNNNYYYY” :D
There is some “Ole”-ing going on in Tampa. Did Montreal move down to Tampa Bay to continue stalking Vinny?
Okay, I’m watching the MSG feed of the Devils-Sens game and whoever this is doing the colour with Doc is awful…just awful.
Hi Sherry! What’s up? As for that color guy, that’s Chico! He’s the bomb! (Once you’ve become inured to him.)
Hey Pookie! Not much, just trying to chill out and enjoy the game. I’ve already set myself up to lose to night, so it won’t be a downer at least.
It’s not so much Chico is terrible, he just…has a tendency to randomly ramble about things that have nothing to do with the game.
Then again, this game is hardly all that interesting so far.
No seriously, I have mental images of me running around the City of Buffalo and its suburbs just screaming “VINNY! VINNY! VINNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! VINNAAAAAAYYYY!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It’s not so much Chico is terrible, he just…has a tendency to randomly ramble about things that have nothing to do with the game.
Then again, this game is hardly all that interesting so far.
Chico is a bit of a rambler, but I’m gonna go with a little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B on that one. This game is a TOTAL snoozer!
This game is a TOTAL snoozer!
It really is. This team had better start picking up or somebody had better be losing their shirt. All I’m saying.
Schnookie: “This Elias/Elliott thing is confusing me.”
It confused Doc too! Either him or Chico pronounced it “Elli-OTT” like “Elias”.
My favourite Chico ramble was him going on about some device used by kids to learn how to skate that Mottau has. I think he’s talking about those walker things that beginner skaters use.
We have a real game to play tonight, too! I’m so excited!
I spaced out during Chico’s rambles about Mottau’s kid’s skates — I thought that’s what he was talking about, but I wasn’t sure. :D (I’m doing such a good job of paying attention for the game diary.)
Even Doc couldn’t convincingly pretend to pay attention to Chico then.
I spaced out during Chico’s rambles about Mottau’s kid’s skates
Exactly. By “favourite” I meant “the one that put me into a coma the quickest”.
I also loved why they needed to explain why Peter Regin (Or Hottie McHotterson)’s nickname was “The Great Dane”.
The Sabres are lost in the wilds of Alberta and I keep forgetting they’re even playing tonight. Will this game NEVER start?! And I can’t even get this Devils game. I’m going to pout and watch American Idol.
Anne, you’re not missing anything. :P
First, I wasn’t supposed to get the away Sabres games, but due to major riots in Western NY, they’re back on. Then, Time Warner says, “Screw you mcguffers. We’re shutting down your cable/internet. HAHAHA.” My cable’s back on, but I’m afraid I’m not supposed to see this game. What’s next? A giant anvil falling on my head?
When y’all are looking at the Stars game, don’t give us too hard a time about the crowd. We’re in the middle of a devastating ice storm!
I’m telling you people! Run as fast as you can from Blime Blarner! Only misery awaits you with them!
I am so excited for hockey to be back! I didn’t even get to watch the All-Star game, so it has been approximately 8 million years.
And by the way, Rick Nash is made of awesome. Wooooooooo! (x2)
Blime Blarner seems to be consistently totally dreadful! Why the hell does anyone still use them?
Karen, I decided during the all-star break that Nash is my new hockey BFF on whom I’m slowly developing a crush. :P
I decided during the all-star break that Nash is my new hockey BFF on whom I’m slowly developing a crush. :P
You could certainly do worse, Schnookie. I think that’s a great choice.
For those who care, Jesse Winchester is my new Senators crush. Mostly because of his awesome last name?
I also loved why they needed to explain why Peter Regin (Or Hottie McHotterson)’s nickname was “The Great Dane”.
HA! Our play by play guys call <our Danish rookie “The Great Dane”. I think they need to get a littleee more creative.
I decided during the all-star break that Nash is my new hockey BFF on whom I’m slowly developing a crush. :P
I don’t recall when my crush on Rick Nash began but with his team’s penchant for missing the playoffs and generating no buzz other than when Mike Commodore is laying on his bed covered in money, or when Michael Peca is groping the officials, I tend to forget about him. Nasher deserves better from me.
Ooops. That was supposed to be our not <our. My italics skills seem to have disappeared like the Canucks hockey skills.
Okay, that rush was…almost exciting. But of course Vermette couldn’t score.
generating no buzz other than when Mike Commodore is laying on his bed covered in money,
Heh, that never gets old.
HA! Our play by play guys call <our Danish rookie “The Great Dane”. I think they need to get a littleee more creative.
People were also calling Mikkel Boedker the Great Dane during the Young Stars game.
WOOO! Okay, so I guess Picard is not completely useless.
Actually, my “favourite” Chico ramble was about how he bet kids wish Filip Kuba spelled his first name “Philip” because it probably messes them up on tests? Or something like that.
Poop. This game SUCKS!
As for Rick Nash, I’ve thought he was adorable since he got drafted. X, The Crazy Ex-Roommate, was very critical of the fact that Schnookie and I didn’t have a subscription to The Hockey News (we learned early on the content sucked and wasn’t worth the cost of the subscription) and, I guess, assumed because we had no access to THN we must not know anything about hockey. One night we were watching the Devils and I said something about Nash and X screeches, “You know who Rich Nash is?!?” Ah, good times. That’s what I think of when I think of Rick Nash. Constant surprise that I know who he is. Heh.
Heh, that linesman looked like he wet his pants [/10-year-old self]
YES, this is how uninteresting this game is.
Awe poor Zachy has a booboo on his face. Think Travis punched him for talking about the allstar game so much?
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! This game rocks! :D
Think Travis punched him for talking about the allstar game so much?
Would Travis risk Zach’s wrath though?
DAMMIT! I’M going to punch him in the face.
Alright, I know this is the only game I’ve ever watched with a Tampa Bay feed, but I’m seriously getting sick of Vinny. They’ve interviewed him three times already. WTF? Do they have other players besides Vinny, that short guy, the goalie and that Jeff dude?
Oh by the way, how desperately is Zach seeking for Ovechkin’s approval? Zach admitted to voting for Ovechkin’s dressup breakaway challenege thing and then was all proud he got a picture with him. I’m disappointed. Obviously a lot of people disagree with me but I don’t think that deserved to win, not like there was much else to win, but still. I may have been a little biased as well since I wanted Stamkos to win. :p
KG, I think Heather B said it best when she pointed out that once Ovie tossed the second stick away, the shot he took wasn’t that great. The whole thing was so stupid. STUPID! :D
Do they have other players besides Vinny, that short guy, the goalie and that Jeff dude?
Wait, wait, wait. There’s somebody on Tampa named Jeff?
Hey did anyone read that post of Martle’s about Jay Bouwmeester? Wow. I am totally crushing on him now.
I can name you all of Tampa’s prospects. But couldn’t tell you all of their right now players. Heh.
Sherry, I thought the same thing. I’m like, “Jeff Stamkos? Nah, that doesn’t sound right…”
“STUPID! :D”
THANK YOU! I could not believe he got like 80% of the votes for doing nothing. Plus then it proceeded to be followed with the constant need to bring up the stupid thing between Malkin and himself. So all around it was just an awful choice.
The whole thing was so stupid. STUPID! :D
Agreed. The Ovie act was the lamest thing I’ve seen in a while. Marty St Louis was robbed. I tell you, robbed!
Wait, wait, wait. There’s somebody on Tampa named Jeff?
I’ve heard more from him on the “Make Florida Smoke-Free” Commerical than I have in the game.
And I totally wanted St. Louis or Kovy to win the Breakaway contest.
The whole thing was so stupid. STUPID! :D
It really was! He won on style points alone. The whole thing was a popularity contest. I actually did vote, but I voted for the short dude on Tampa :P I didn’t really enjoy that as much as I would have liked. I didn’t expect much but I think Ryan Getzlaf’s bitch face during the shoot-out really took me out of it.
Sherry, I thought the same thing. I’m like, “Jeff Stamkos? Nah, that doesn’t sound right…”
Wait, are y’all pulling my leg? HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR LOVELY FORMER STAR, JEFF HALPERN, ALREADY!!!
Sniff.
GAHHH SLGKNAERTGJNRTILBH???
translation:
WTF? Staffy just score 9 seconds into this game!!!
Staffy scores 20 seconds into the game, then the Lightening score in their game. So WOOOO Sabres! Habs, let’s get our head out of our ass (es?).
I can name you all of Tampa’s prospects.
Oh, right! They have that James guy… :D
WTF?? Anne, we should so play the Oilers EVERY game!
BNSLDUGHNS’GDOHNAETIHUANETHADGBMVKNLAMDIUHBN?!!!
Oh, excuse me.
two goals on three shots?!?!!
alix, I’m also crushing on Bouwmeester, now that I know that still waters run deep. :P (Of course, I thought that was hilarious how Martle was all, “As one tall, strapping, studly Western Canadian to another…” Nice try, Martle.)
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR LOVELY FORMER STAR, JEFF HALPERN, ALREADY!!!
We haven’t forgotten! We’d just rather…not acknowledge the fact that he actually plays for Tampa.
Go Sabres! Beat the Oilers! Now, Toronto and Detroit? Get on the stick and beat your teams.
(Toronto has a hard row to hoe.)
we should try to convince vinny of the benefits of being traded to the devils…he could use the valet parking at The Mall at Short Hills, go to neiman-marcus and all the time, not a single person would ask him for his autograph…or even know who he is, for that matter…oh, by the way, fire and ice journalist/blogger has stated “i strongly dislike the senators’ third jersey” so i guess this makes it unanimous…
I’m really not sure who this team is wearing these Buffaslug jerseys is. Did Lidstrom and Datsyuk object to suspensions so they decided to play a game in Edmonton?
Oh, right! They have that James guy… :D
I hear he’s like kind of good and stuff… :D
Oh and by the way, my cousin’s team has already secured a playoff spot. It was a WHL record. They have like 5 regulation losses all season. I’m like, “Huh, Canucks, wouldn’t that be more fun?” CLEARLY I’m following the wrong Vancouver team. Hee.
(Of course, I thought that was hilarious how Martle was all, “As one tall, strapping, studly Western Canadian to another…” Nice try, Martle.)
HAHAHAHA!! That was HILARIOUS! Oh Martle. (Although I do find him a little bit fetch) (Just not Jay Bouwmeester hockey player fetch)
Oh and YES! Suuuuuck it, Oilers.
Shit, the Sabres game started at 9? I thought it was 10. I better head to the room with the television.
Eeeeeeeee! Baby Staffy with Mark Messier!!!
Awww, Uncle Barrie Stafford is the Oilers equip manager, so he gets to watch his nephew from the Oilers bench.
… and his nephew gets to watch from the penalty box.
Staffy just couldn’t handle the pressure….?
I went to go iron one shirt and this happens? Dang.
(Of course, I thought that was hilarious how Martle was all, “As one tall, strapping, studly Western Canadian to another…” Nice try, Martle.)
That was too funny. Although I agree with Alix that Martle is not at all bad looking. But he doesn’t have that studly-Amish-farmer-who’s-awesome-at-hockey look going on.
OK HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I BEEN LIKE “NO, TIMMY, DO NOT BE THE FIRST ONE IN THE SHOOTING LANE CHALLENGING THE DEFENSEMAN ON THE PK?” And there goes blocking a one timer from SHELDON SOURAY.
Cra-ap. Like we can afford another hurt defenseman.
Although I agree with Alix that Martle is not at all bad looking.
Stop, you’ll give Martle a big head!
(And unofficially, I agree.)
Hey, the Edmonton fans are applauding Rivet–certain teams in the East that I can think of could learn from that.
Ooh! How’s Sheldon lookin’ tonight? Tell him I said hey.
If I got to sit next to Souray, I wouldn’t mind getting pulled. But maybe Roloson doesn’t look at him the same way I do.
Ok, I need someone to pinch me, its 3-0 Buffalo and a goaltending change. Who ARE these guys?
*eye-twitch*
Shut up, Chico.
How’s Sheldon lookin’ tonight?
A little grouchy seeing that he thought he was playing the Sabres tonight, and some good team showed up.
Although I agree with Alix that Martle is not at all bad looking.
I am very suspicious of the fact that I’ve only ever seen that one picture of Martle. I bet that’s BY FAR the best picture ever taken of him. :P
The “action” in this game thus far prompts Boomer to say, “I agree with Rollie.”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wooooooooooooooo!!!
It is no wonder he is the Jackets boyfriend/crush of so many, Nash is awesome! Especially since the neck-shaving lesson someone apparently gave him. Yay hat-trick!
I am very suspicious of the fact that I’ve only ever seen that one picture of Martle. I bet that’s BY FAR the best picture ever taken of him. :P
Once upon a time, I had Martle on FB. He pretty much looks the exact same as that picture.
Okay, I don’t think that should have been a double minor. Not that it would make a difference. I think I’m going to go get some fruit.
Nash got a hattrick?! AWESOME! I hope I didn’t have him on the bench tonight…
Yay Nasher! He’s so dreamy.
Komisarek’s contract is up after this season. I was going to ask if it’s too far fetched to wish for him in a Sabres jersey, but then I remembered I’d be asking a group of people who already have Vinny on their team’s roster.
Ahhhgggghhh!! Some guy got high sticked and knocked part of his front tooth out. It wasn’t Vinny though, so no penalty was called.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, mcguffers, we’re not the group to ask! :D
I’m sure Komisarek can’t wait to sign in Buffalo, mcguffers! Him and Bouwmeester. For league minimum, naturally. We’re going to have such a good (and hott) defense next year.
I’m sorry, Meg, but which Bouwmeester are you talking about? The Amish farmer one is going to be a Devil…
Psssh. He’s from Western Canada. He’s totally coming to the Canucks.
Psssh. He’s from Western Canada. He’s totally coming to the Canucks.
No, you guys can have Martle.
Nope. Bouwmeester wants to play for the Devils so he and Paulie can be the most tall, blond, be-spectacled, unassuming D-pairing ever!
Psh Bouwmeester totally wants to escape the beaches of Florida for the blisteringly cold winds of Buffalo. Who wouldn’t?!
Meg, I think I saw them discussing it during the skills competition. Bouwmeester all like, “They have a great arts community” and Komisarek’s all, “Chippewa baby!”
Nope. Bouwmeester wants to play for the Devils so he and Paulie can be the most tall, blond, be-spectacled, unassuming D-pairing ever!
No way! Bouwmeester and Komisarek totally want to be the most tall unassuming D-pairing ever… to play in Buffalo. Just think of Tallinder and Lydman! There will be SO MANY blonde defensemen in Buffalo! Tyler Myers down in juniors? Bouwmeester’s a LOCK for Buffalo.
I’d say Bouwmeester should come to Ottawa, but apparently that’s where good D goes to die so…maybe not. He deserves better.
No, you guys can have Martle.
Hmmmmm…can he play D?
Bouwmeester wants to play for the Devils so he and Paulie can be the most tall, blond, be-spectacled, unassuming D-pairing ever!
We could call them the Twin Teacher Towers.
After reading Martle’s piece on Bouwmeester, I’m convinced he is totally coming to Dallas. He could play here and never have to do an interview or get recognized ever!
We could call them the Twin Teacher Towers.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, we’re leading the league in lesbian science teachers with Paulie and Patty — we need another to make our collection complete!
Mmmm, the guy I’m crushing on right now at school has glasses. I love glasses.
He could play here and never have to do an interview or get recognized ever!
Yeah, but he could do that even moreso in Jersey!
Schnookie :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::: Do you want Lydman?
Do you want Lydman?
Hm… what’s the word I’m looking for here… Oh, that’s right — No. :P
Tampa Bay announcer: “Earlier we were talking about St Louis and Lecavalier…” That’s a fucking understatement. If by earlier you mean 28 seconds ago, then yes. Earlier.
Yeah, but he could do that even moreso in Jersey!
Somehow, I doubt it. Out side of Modano, all other Stars players are invisible here.
Schnookie, Lydman can do lesbian science teacher better than anyone. And you won’t even know he’s there. (Really. You won’t.)
Mmmm, the guy I’m crushing on right now at school has glasses. I love glasses.
Haha, at least you have a type!
All right everybody, it was fun hanging out with you guys but it’s off to bed for me now because work has turned me into an old lady.
I do just have to announce my surprise at actually being 2nd in the Superleague right now. Who woulda thunk it!
Hub is delighted by y’alls love of bespectacled men.
Haha, at least you have a type!
Yeah, he’s actually so not my type. He’s actually nice. Heh.
Night, Sherry!
Yeah, but he could do that even moreso in Jersey!
Somehow, I doubt it.
Honestly, Myra, I doubt even Brodeur gets recognized with any frequency in Jersey. I know it’s hard to believe that any players would be as anonymous in the Tri-State area as they are in Dallas but it’s true!
Y’all, I’m getting sick! Hacking up a lung on Matty on Monday is sooo not cute. :(
Oh, no, Alix! Rest and drink lots of clear fluids (not Vodka).
Wow, that is surprising. Ok, but can he drive a really big pick-up truck in Jersey? :P
Ok ok ok, one more rip on the Lightening announcers: “There’s a penalty for too many men on the ice. They need to get Price off the ice, so they can get an extra man on the ice for Price. And they did. Only they couldn’t get Price off the ice.” I’m not kidding. The spirit of Dr. Seuss does color analysis for them.
Myra, it is true. I’m under the impression Marty’s resigned with Jersey so many times partially because he can be completely anonymous here in Jersey. Strange but true!
alix, feel better!
Night, Sherry! It was nice to see you again and I hope work is treating you well (other than turning you into an old lady)!
lots of clear fluids (not Vodka).
Heh. You know me too well, Meg.
Thanks, Pookie!
The spirit of Dr. Seuss does color analysis for them.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The big pick-up might be a little impractical for tooling around on the Garden State Parkway, but it can be done!
The big pick-up might be a little impractical for tooling around on the Garden State Parkway, but it can be done!
Heck, I see the occasional Hummer in New York City (less so of late). These people are batshit, but whatever.
I think I dozed off for a second. The Sabres are winning 6-1. Uh, nope, now it’s 7-1.
This is my favorite game ever. Buffalo 7-1?!?! In the SECOND? 4 goals in the second period?! We love giving up goals in the 2nd! Not SCORING them!
HAHAHAHA. Ahhhhh. I love when the Oilers get destroyed.
Anne, all I can think is that they’re still on Buffalo time, and the second period feels like the third period for them.
The only way this game would be better is if Goose had more points than Patches, not vice versa. (hint hint, Paul…)
Patty and Myra, the Sabres are totally doing this for you guys.
One of our biggest gripes is that the Sabres D isn’t scoring. Now we’ve got 2 goals from defensemen. PAETSCH has a goal AND an assist. Rivet has 2 assists and Spacek has a goal.
Sorry, I wandered off for a second, but I have to third that hockey players can be WAY more anonymous in Jersey than they would be in Dallas. Totes. And they can drive whatever they want, too. Yup — it’s much better for Bouwmeester here. :D
Patty and Myra, the Sabres are totally doing this for you guys.
Thanks, mcguffers! If only stupid Detroit and Toronto were so nice!
Myra! You know what this means?!! We won two in a row! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I love Steve Ott. I love that he wears the same jersey number that I used to. I love that his nickname is Otter. I think all the Stars should have a nickname from Animal House.
OMG!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! A shutout and two in a row?!?
And thank you, mcguffers and Buffalo!
I know mcguffers! Otter is a sweetheart off the ice and his name suits him so well too. Otter got the number two star for the night. WOO!!
I think all the Stars should have a nickname from Animal House.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Myra, did you get to see the video on the Sabres site with Mike Weber and Butch Ott? I want to be a hockey player and go stay with the Otts.
tears of joy! Staffy with the hat trick!
I fully understand that Ott is a complete and total jerk on ice to everyone else, though.
Ok, maybe we need to watch Animal House and see what fits for everyone else. I haven’t seen it in so long, I can’t remember everyone anymore.
I think I love the Oilers announcers. One of them just said the lead “may be insurmountable now.” Because there’s such a huge difference between an 8-1 lead and a 9-1 lead with less than 10 minutes left in a game.
Ric Renner just tried to tell Ribs that it’s too icy for him to drive the Bentley. Ribs: Uh, I’m used to winter weather, Dude.
Yay, Staffy!!!
mcguffers, Heather B. emailed it to me. :D It was a pretty sweet story.
I would have said Mo would be Tim Matheson’s character, and maybe Richards is Peter Riegert’s character. But I just looked it up and Matheson was “Otter” so I’d have to rethink. :D
tears of joy! Staffy with the hat trick!
Now imagine being his uncle and watching this from the enemy’s bench :D
Ric Renner, I don’t know how he survives those interviews. You would think someone would have taken him out by now.
Wait, Matheson was Otter? I can’t believe how much I have forgotten in my lifetime.
I think I love the Oilers announcers. One of them just said the lead “may be insurmountable now.”
I love “Finish strong” after that second goal. Yes, scoring to make it 9-2 with two minutes left is a definite strong finish!
10-2. Not such a strong finish anymore, huh?
Could you imagine if we couldn’t have watched that game, Sabres fans?!?!!!
There’s D-Day, Bluto, Hoover, Pinto, Flounder, and Boon. There’s gotta be more, but I don’t remember them. And I think Hoover was actually just his last name.
Could you imagine if we couldn’t have watched that game, Sabres fans?!?!!!
Blime Blarner tried to take away my cable an hour before the game, so yeah, I would have been a bit batshit! (I still have no idea why I lost it. There’s no wind or snow. What did the cables freeze??)
I think the real Otter is more like D-Day. If I remember correctly which one he was. I should watch it again, too.
Neil looks like a psychopath. Or like a five-year-old whose toy was stolen.
Hee! But remember, he invented having babies a couple of years ago, so he can’t be all bad.
And Staffy must have gotten an extra brain infusion during the All-Star break. Dude was amazing last night.
HA! Amy, how could I have forgotten? Well, considering how much I hate babies, I think I’ll hold his invention of them against Neil too. :P
And it sounds to me like Staffy maximized his Oiler-killing powers by perhaps sampling a bit of Uncle Barrie’s brains before game time…
Good morning, everyone!
Hm. I appear not to have a snow day today. Harumph! Although I suppose there is still time for work to call me before I leave at noon to tell me the weather is considerably worse on the other side of the state… Keep your fingers crossed, people!
Pookie, I’m ever so hopeful that the weather’s WRETCHED closer to the shore…
I’m ever so hopeful that the weather’s WRETCHED closer to the shore…
It’s pretty dismal on the shores of the North Sea right now, but somehow I think that’s not the shore you’re referring too…
Hm. I’m not sure the North Sea is going to help us much… :P
Rats! If only I was commuting to the North Sea!
Hey, can’t say I didn’t try to help :P
Heh. Thanks, Mags! :D
We were iced in this morning, so no school for the Kid this morning! :)
I’ll probably end up having to go in this afternoon. :(
Lucky Kid! My boss came in really early today, found the place deserted, and left, assuming no one else was coming in. I came in at the usual time, found everyone here as normal, and stayed. Now the people I was supposed to meet with this afternoon are all emailing me to say that they’re working from home, and blah blah blah, and I’m like, “Wait, so why am I still here?” My life is so difficult. (The snow and ice have decisively turned to rain here, but I’m going to want to hit the road before it gets dark before everything freezes again…)
Rats! If only I was commuting to the North Sea!
It wouldn’t be that much worse than your actual commute!
(Our office opened at 11. In the sun, the ice is melted, but in the shade it’s still pretty scary. I just went slow. I got a little distracted coming through the High Five looking at the giant icicles hanging from the bridges hundreds of feet above me. If one fell, I figure it’d go right through the roof of my car and into my head.)
Schnookie, you should get out of there right now!
Sometimes having a flexible boss is a curse, because now I’m thinking I should really go in for a while, but I don’t have to go, but I really should go, but I don’t want to go, but it would be responsible if me to go but…….
Hub’s usual hour commute was closer to two hours today. He is way more dedicated than me. I’d be all, shoot, what are they going to do fire me if I don’t show up? Oh, wait, they already did that, so why bother.
Oooh, I bet the High Five is SO COOL covered in ice! I mean, it’s way cool even when it’s iceless… Of course, yeah, a giant icicle falling off of it probably wouldn’t even notice your car as it plunged through it toward your skull.
I’d be all, shoot, what are they going to do fire me if I don’t show up? Oh, wait, they already did that, so why bother.
Dude, SERIOUSLY. I heard recently about a colleague who’d been working here 20+ years and got laid off. She was given two weeks notice, but because we’re in a hiring freeze, couldn’t use it to search for a new position. So she set her email to respond to every incoming message something along the lines of, “After 20+ years of dedicated service to this company, I’ve been laid off. If you’re emailing me about work, don’t bother, because I don’t care. If you just want to socialize, though, I’ll be drifting in and out of the office for the next two weeks and will probably get back to you.” Heh.
If one fell, I figure it’d go right through the roof of my car and into my head
Patty, I think about that too, when I see icicles hanging off overpasses and such.
Wait a minute…it snows in Dallas? I was there on New Year’s and it was 70 degrees…what the hell?
Patty, I can’t imagine how big the icicles would be on the High Five. You’d really think they would need to knock them off to keep from being a road hazard.
Schnookie, I love that lady’s response! Can’t blame her one bit.
Pam, it isn’t snow. It’s just lots and lots of ice on everything. It couldn’t be fun snow. :(
The temps were around 20 this morning.
…a giant icicle falling off of it probably wouldn’t even notice your car as it plunged through it toward your skull.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Schnookie, I’ve long dreamed of doing something like that lady did in that situation! That’s so cool. (Sorry she got laid off, though.)
Pam, there’s really no telling what the weather will be like around here in January.
We haven’t actually gotten snow yet, either. Maybe we’ll get some with the next cold front. It should be back in the 70s on the weekend, then we’ll see what we get next week.
I left my house at 6:40 today. Time I got into work? 8:15. Number of times I almost got run into by another car? Four. It was a scary morning this morning. (And I got to my office and discovered I was one of three people here. Woo.)
It’s after noon here, and none of the ice has melted off my car! Drats.
I mean, it’s way cool even when it’s iceless…
They were showing it on the news this morning with warnings of, “DO NOT GO ON THE HIGH FIVE UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!” With ice, it’s like a giant slide! I’m so glad you made it to work okay, Patty!
whoa…I’m glad I didn’t stop by when it was in the 20s!
We were oustide in the morning on New Year’s Day, and people were wearing ski caps and winter coats, and I’m thinking “what the hell is wrong with these people – it’s like 55 degrees.” We even had our sweatshirts off! Later it was in the 70s.
“DO NOT GO ON THE HIGH FIVE UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!” With ice, it’s like a giant slide!
I’m now thinking of how cool it would be to use the High Five as, like, a giant inner-tube water slide.
It was freezing rain at 10:30 or so so I called work and said to not put me on the reference desk at 1 so I wouldn’t worry about getting there late if the roads were bad. So I left early to account for scraping the car off and for the roads being bad and… I got to work at 12:50. That’s earlier than on a normal day! This is the worst snow event ever! And as for that whole “leaving before it freezes” crap I don’t get to leave here until 9! I’m going to pretend that the roads will freeze at 4:30 — so Schnookie, you should leave earlier than that — but then unfreeze at 8:30. That’s likely, right? Right?
I’m going to pretend that the roads will freeze at 4:30 — so Schnookie, you should leave earlier than that — but then unfreeze at 8:30. That’s likely, right? Right?
That’s exactly what’s going to happen! Also, the roads probably aren’t going to be that bad. I’m just being a drama queen. :P
Schnookie only the side roads would be bad, right? I assume roads like Route 1 and Route 27 are fine.
Yeah, based on the highways I was on this afternoon, they’ll all be fine. But Schnookie should still leave early! :D
I’m so glad you made it to work okay, Patty!
Thanks, Caitlin! Fortunately, I don’t have to do any interchanging there. Just straight through, east to west. There was some ice on it, even at 11am, but I just coasted through. If I’d had to take one of those flyovers, I’d have turned around and gone home. :D
Okay, so I came in today because I had to meet with someone from 2-4 to go over this massive metrics project. He just called from home, it took us 15 minutes to do everything, and now I’m like, “Well, that was my day…”
Go home, Schnookie! Flee! Flee!
I should… :P
I second Myra, Schnookie, go home!
Seriously Schnookie, go home. I’m sorry everyone skipped work on you.
You know what’d be cool? If multiple choice exams actually had the right answers available in the multiple choices. S’all I’m sayin’.
Um. Mags, that is an interesting exam style you got there. Do they have d. right in your own answer ?
Unfortunately, no. I wrote a note next to the question that the formula they gave didn’t lead to any of the available answers. We’ll see.
Mags, that sucks! I hate those “Well pick the one that’s the most right” on multiple choice. Uggh.
Schnookie, I third (or fourth) the going home thing.
I just finished watching Forever Faithful the Canucks movie. That I got for free. From the Canucks. YAY!
I just finished watching Forever Faithful the Canucks movie. That I got for free. From the Canucks. YAY!
Envy. I has it.
alix, the Canucks are taking such good care of you! Free movies, trips to practice… Wowza!
I’m a lucky girl, Pookie!
I mean not so much with my team actually winning anything, but their staff sure does take care of me. :D
alix, I can’t believe how awesome the Canucks are being to you! That’s so rad!
(And I’m home now. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. :D)
Your trip to the Canucks is going to be so fun, alix! I still can’t get over it!
“woo”
Heh…heh…