Aw, bummer. No Paulie tonight again. Gel-O kicks off our game by telling us it’s the same line-up as Sunday’s, and if that lineup could beat San Jose 6-5, we can only assume they’ll mop the ice with the Panthers. Right? Right?
FIRST PERIOD
17:37 We’re busy talking about how many points it’s going to take to get into the playoffs in the EC this year, and kind of aren’t paying attention to the game really. It seems we have foggy memories of Langer not scoring on a great chance, but the first two and a half minutes have been a blur.
15:42 Okay, anyone who says that Clemmer has good rebound control is on drugs. The Devils give the Panthers a point shot, and Clemmer fumbles the rebound to Weiss, who is undefended in the slot. Weiss gets a week to turn and fire the puck past a now panicky Clemmer, and it’s 1-0 Panthers. We suddenly realize this is probably a major let-down game.
14:47 Schnookie, slightly tipsy still from dinner: “Oooh. Do you suppose Clemmers’ ‘turning back into a pumpkin’-ness is worse now because he’s on a road trip with Marty?” Pookie: “I hadn’t thought of that! Weekes is like, ‘AWK-ward!’”
11:44 Doc and Chico inform us that if the playoffs started tonight, this would be our first-round matchup. Hm. That makes the fact that the Devils don’t look like they’re going to score tonight look that much more ominous.
10:41 Clemmer turns the puck over to a forechecking Panther by whiffing twice on a no-pressure tap-the-puck-to-a-d-man play, and Boomer’s head explodes. Marty needs to come back soon, because she can’t take much more of this.
9:43 The Panthers get a mini two-on-one, and it is only a failure by the trailing Florida guy following up on the play that keeps the brilliant rebound control from ending up in the back of the Devils’ net. But, um, he’s really good, that Clemmensen guy. The Flyers should totally make him their number 1 next season.
8:04 Pookie, watching the Devils blunder around the Florida zone and then the neutral zone: “I don’t think we’re going to win tonight.” Schnookie: “I don’t think we’re going to score tonight.” Pause. “Top that.” Pookie: “Uhhh…”
7:10 MSG+ gives us a graphic screen that says the Devils are 27-7-0 against the Panthers since the 2000 first-round sweep. Schnookie: “No wonder I’ve always thought of them as our get-well team.” Pookie: “What happens if we’re already well? What then?”
5:54 Zach pounces on a turned-over puck behind the Florida net, and a flurry of amazing scoring chances that go un-scored-on follows. That is what happens when the Devils are already well and play their get-well team, apparently.
1:51 The scorched earth PP takes the ice…
0:43 …and Travis blows it by skating near a Panther who is falling over, and gets called for tripping. Poor Travis. He always seems to be getting caught on complete, utter, bullshit, the-official-really-wasn’t-paying-very-close-attention penalties.
0:00 We may have been distracted by other things during this period, so our assessment of it comes down to this: the clock has struck midnight on Clemmer. As the Devils skate off the ice, Pookie snarls, “I dunno, Clemmer. Your stem and spiky vine are showing.” (She didn’t mean that in a dirty way! Pumpkins have very spiky vines!) Boomer: “And your seedy interior.” (They have seedy interiors, too, but everyone knows that, right?)
FIRST INTERMISSION
MSG+ has a feature to remind us, in case we’ve forgotten, that the Devils’ season has been marked by a surprisingly good performance in Marty’s stead. No, we hadn’t forgotten either. (Hilariously, the feature includes interview footage of Weekesie going on about how great Marty is, and then Clemmer going on about how great Clemmer is.)
SECOND PERIOD
For reasons we can’t entirely understand, we have been having a fevered debate this evening about what size a Tastykake is. Boomer thinks five inches. Schnookie thinks closer to three. We find the specs for a Twinkie online, and it turns out to be 9.9 cm, or roughly 3.9 inches. HA! Schnookie wins! (Not that Twinkies are Tastykakes, but they’re a reasonably close facsimile, right? We… don’t often come in close contact with that oeuvre of foodstuff.)
17:23 Dude, the Devils are not going to score tonight. Dumbass Blobby gets a great scoring chance skating around Vokoun on the rush, and ends up shooting the puck out through the crease and the other way up the ice. Chico then shows us replays of this rush and a prior one by Zach; he says that the latter shows “the majesty” that is Zach Parise and the former would have been a goal if Pando had gotten to the goal mouth following up on the rush a little faster. PandoNation aims its sternest death glares at the TV. (We should mention that there is a Panther penalty on the Blobby rush.)
15:15 The Devils get an opportunity to hammer away at a loose puck at the side of the Panther net, but to no avail. We’re too busy looking at the Tastykake website to really mind too much. Apparently, if you like their “Juniors”, you can order a case of 24 individually wrapped kakes for $37.99. Pookie: “Schlittsy’s got his calculator out and is saying, ‘Those aren’t the numbers I’m getting…’”
11:27 Zach is motoring quite hard tonight, so after another good shot that Vokoun shuts down, we get a long look at a loogie-hocking Zach on the bench. Pookie: “I’m concerned about the soul patch he seems to be growing.” Pause. “I’m not concerned about a lack of secondary scoring. I’m concerned about Zach’s possible soul patch.”
10:26 The Panthers have no shots yet this period, which means the next one’s going in.
10:10 The Iron Boar takes a penalty for something. We are being terrible diarizers tonight, but the Tastykake website is just so fascinating! Doc is also not entirely engaged; during the stoppage after the penalty call, the arena is pumping insanely loud music, and he grouses that it’s inordinately loud, so much so that it’s making their table vibrate. “Of course, I’m from the William of Orange period,” he laughs, as he admits he’s probably just being a crotchety old man. It’s okay, Doc – we think the music’s too loud at most arenas, too. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we don’t enjoy going to live games very often.
8:33 Nice rebound control, Clemmer! And great coverage down low, PKers! Chico tries to say that Clemmer handles the rebound on a long shot perfectly and it was passed by a Devils defender directly to a Panther on the doorstep, but replay shows the goal is scored thanks to Clemmer putting the rebound right on a Panther’s stick, and that Panther then passes the puck to the open guy on the doorstep. 2-0 Panthers, and do we hear Marty cackling with glee somewhere? Or are we just projecting?
5:44 Barf. The Devils are now all thinking of Tastykakes, too, and decide, to a man, to stop playing defense, and the expected happens. 3-0 Panthers, and Boomer says, “For them not having any shots in the second period, they’re doing pretty well.”
4:03 On some planets we’d be excited that the Panthers have just taken a truly moronic holding penalty against Gio while he was skating through the neutral zone, but this is not one of those planets.
3:55 We’re now reading the Hostess website. On their FAQ page, they explain that yes, you can freeze Hostess snacks, but “the packaging is not designed for freezing. We recommend putting your treats in a freezer bag first.” Schnookie: “That’s sound advice for any treats.”
1:56 After Clemmer manages to successfully stop a shorthanded rush, Schnookie declares, “You know what? If I was going to freeze this game, I would not put it in a freezer bag first.” Pookie: “No. Because it’s the opposite of a treat.”
0:00 Oof.
SECOND INTERMISSION
During this intermission we take a stroll through the latest NHL news and notes with Gel-O. It’s all quite thrilling.
THIRD PERIOD
20:00 Before the puck drops, Chico tells us he was just talking to Paulie (who seems to think the Devils are playing well tonight, but just not getting breaks. Typical). Schnookie: “He talked to Paulie?” Pookie: “Why can’t we talk to Paulie?”
18:22 Chico says the Devils are working hard, but Pookie retorts, “Paulie says they’re hardly working.” Nope, nothing’s too low-hanging a fruit for us.
15:42 Chico tries to tell us that the Panthers are getting away with all kinds of uncalled penalties tonight. We don’t think that’s what’s causing the difference.
15:35 Zubrus hog ties and hauls down Horton, and Chico tells us Horton took a dive, and it’s totally unfair because Zubrus was tripped at the other end of the ice just moments earlier, but now he’s an innocent man stuck in the penalty box. Replay suggests otherwise.
12:45 We come back from commercial to see that sponsor feature where they show off what an HD picture looks like (it’s obviously money well spent by whichever sponsor’s doing it, because we have no idea who it’s for), and the video footage isn’t game highlights – it’s Chuck the Duck! Tooling around a roller hockey rink on a remote controlled car! And then driving into a goal, so Chico gets to say Chuck’s done something today that the Devils haven’t, and they need to take a page out of his book with the speed and finish. Chuck the Duck’s so dreamy.
11:05 Clarkson draws a holding penalty in the far corner. Replay shows Horton put a hand on Clarkson, and Clarkson toppled over like Doug Dorsey skating for the first time with toe picks. Chico politely refrains from grousing about what a lame-assed dive that was, and how it was very much like the lame-assed Panthers dives from earlier this evening.
5:37 The Devils, continuing to look like they’re not really a threat to accomplish anything good tonight, get another power play, and Sutter pulls Clemmer for the extra attacker. Boomer: “Why not? We’ve been playing with an empty net all night.”
4:58 A Panther gets the puck on the near wing, darts toward the empty net, and Langer trips him just inside the Devils blue line. It’s not called a goal, though, and Langer just goes to the box for a tripping minor. Clemmer gets back into the net, and not even interestingly on the fly or anything.
2:54 Just as the Panthers are scoring their fourth goal, Doc is saying, “If you’re a Devils fan, there’s just not much to say about this one.” Pookie: “That’s our cue to stop diarizing!” Schnookie: “Huh? I wasn’t listening. What did he say?” 4-0 Panthers.
0:00 This game was utterly wretched.
Just to answer to Amy, on the other comments thread:
What is going on with the Habs fans? Mirtle has an entry linking to blogs where people are freaking out about pictures of the Young Habs during a summer trip to Mexico.
I don’t really know what’s going on. Those pictures look pretty uninteresting to me, but some people made a big deal out of them, as usual. But tomorrow, it should be forgotten, as everyone is now overanalyzing the kovalev situation.
This is really the side of the habs I hate. It’s fun that they have passionate fans, but as soon as the teams is in a slump, I try not to read too much stuff on the internet, because everyone gets crazy, and shit is flying everywhere. It’s one controversy after another. There are way too many journalists covering this team, and way too many fans eager to parade/riot/jump off buildings depending on the results of the habs…
During moments like this, I’m REALLY happy to live on the other shore of the Atlantic. :P
Which also means it’s already late here, by the way. So good night everyone!
Grrrreg, I’ve seen worse pictures of some of the Sabres. But it’s the offseason, so what can be done about it? We’ve all got those kinds of photos in our closets.
And I’d like to point out to the Versus dudes that it’s pronounced Ger-bee or Ger-bay, not Gerb.
Grrrreg, it’s moments like these that I’m glad I’m a fan of a team that gets almost nonexistent media and fan attention. :D
Amy, “Gerb”? Really? Wow. John Ahlers needs to check out Doc’s guide to pronouncing hockey names.
Gerb? Does he pass the puck to Pommin and Staff?
Pookie, he also passes to Coat-a-lick, too.
Okay, I think we need to pull Clemmer RIGHT NOW, before his trade value plummets any further. Or, worse yet, before he loses his lustre so much that the Flyers don’t sign him in the offseason. I NEED the Flyers to sign him! :P
Awe Travis looks extra cute today.
And I love Keith Ballard. :P
the flyers must sign clemmer…biron will leave as a free agent and they must acquire a goaltender whose quality of play is as identical as possible to biron’s…
Travis DOES look extra-cute! I was just remarking on that to Pookie and Boomer!
biron will leave as a free agent and they must acquire a goaltender whose quality of play is as identical as possible to biron’s…
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Totally! Although I think Biron would actually be an upgrade from Clemmensen. Yeah, THAT’S how much I hate him. :P
Based on his play tonight, Clemmer wishes he were at Biron level! Yeah, I said it!
Ahhhh Patty! You’re fired! That was a beautiful feed by little Zach!
You guys are supposed to be BEATING the Panthers! You act like it’s SO HARD! I HATE the Devils!
Schnookie and Pookie, don’t look!
Poor Weekesie. He’s the one that should be in goal.
We’ll take him!
Patty (in Dallas) tell Heather I’m not speaking to her.
You guys are supposed to be BEATING the Panthers! You act like it’s SO HARD! I HATE the Devils!
Hey! Me too! (Right now.) Sheesh. You’d think they’re coming off a weekend where they beat the Bruins and the Sharks or something. :P
Patty, can I even BEGIN to tell you how right you are? GAH! Clemmer is such a stupid pile of puke. With $30,000 teeth.
Heather, Pookie’s not speaking to you.
Speaking of hating the Devils (not that I do!), they have not only stopped giving CI an HD feed, it appears, they’re not even sending a feed at all for the HD channel. It’s just black.
MSG is the most petulant baby I have ever seen! Except for Comcast, maybe.
Speaking of hating the Devils (not that I do!)
Nice save. *shifty eyes*
Nice save. *shifty eyes*
maybe Patty (in Dallas) should be in goal, not clemmer…
Patty (in Dallas), tell Pookie I CAN SEE WHAT SHE’S SAYING! NA NA NA NA BOO BOO!
maybe Patty (in Dallas) should be in goal, not clemmer…
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Pookie, Heather says she can hear you. I’m paraphrasing.
The Sabres had a major letdown game after beating the Sharks 6-5. Its so draining to beat the Sharks, that it makes the lesser teams vying for a playoff spot that you play afterwards seem beastly.
maybe Patty (in Dallas) should be in goal, not clemmer…
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Patty, tell Heather she’s a tewl. And ask her how the Sabres game is going. And tell her my HDTV looks awesome.
The Sabres are WINNING, thank you very much, Patty! Errr, Pookie!
You guys, my new “Swedes are awesome especially bald onez” tattoo looks so good on my teeny tiny bicep.
(Hilariously, the feature includes interview footage of Weekesie going on about how great Marty is, and then Clemmer going on about how great Clemmer is.)
Boy, y’all weren’t exaggerating about Clemmer’s ego!
You guys, my new “Swedes are awesome especially bald onez” tattoo looks so good on my teeny tiny bicep.
Poo. Our only Swede has lots of lovely blonde hair.
alix, :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And I hate this game. I’m barely paying attention, but still! I hate it! :P
Any play where an opposing player puts Zach on his butt his a dirty place. Agree?
Pull Clemmensen!!!
Patty (in Dallas) get ready, you’re going in for clemmer…
Poo. Our only Swede has lots of lovely blonde hair.
But what dreamy (fragile) blonde hair it is.
alix, how are you going to explain to your grandchildren why Grandma has a tiny misspelled word on her bicep? :P
Granny alix: That’s just how we rolled back then, kids!
Kids: What do you mean, “rolled”? :P
alix, :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And yeah, Clemmer’s ego has been writing so many checks his body can’t cash that the National Bank of Clemmer has long since gone under.
Poo. Our only Swede has lots of lovely blonde hair.
Mmmmmmm. So do all the other Canucks Swedes.
Patty (in Dallas) get ready, you’re going in for clemmer…
Wait! Hold on! I left my helmet in my car!
I mean my mask!
Dammit!
This girl from Ronkonkoma talking about the 1980 USA team is actually charming. Unlike that bald dude in the other commercials.
alix, how are you going to explain to your grandchildren why Grandma has a tiny misspelled word on her bicep? :P
Granny alix: That’s just how we rolled back then, kids!
Kids: What do you mean, “rolled”? :P
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Back in the day, when the Canucks had only gone 38 years not winning the Cup, not 75! You could find hockey players in cabs that liked the number 3, and your granny was BFF with Mike Gillis.
Those are gonna be some great stories, alix! :P
You guys, be quiet about this whole Clemmer to the Flyers thing or the Flyers will read this and make it happen!
On second thought, he can’t be worse than Biron, right?
I tried to tell everyone there was a reason Marty didn’t win the starter spot here but nooooooooooo, no one in the Flyers organization wanted to listen.
I tried to tell everyone there was a reason Marty didn’t win the starter spot here but nooooooooooo, no one in the Flyers organization wanted to listen.
Marty seduced them with his crazy eyes. Plus he made them laugh.
Um, yeah. Devils, we’re gonna need you to go ahead and win this game, mmkay? Thaaaaaannnnks.
On second thought, he can’t be worse than Biron, right?
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (And Heather, I keep saying the same thing, but people just lose their minds whenever it comes to the Flyers and new goalies. I’ve been telling them since 1996 that they weren’t going to win anything with the guys they keep putting in net, but what do I know? I’m just a Devils fan. :P)
I’ve been telling them since 1996 that they weren’t going to win anything with the guys they keep putting in net, but what do I know? I’m just a Devils fan.
Wait, what? They had Garth Snow then! Are you telling me you didn’t think they could win the Stanley cup with Garth Snow?! What the?! Gosh, you are just a Devils fan.
Marty is very charming. I can see how that would win someone over, even a Philadelphian.
Whoa. Stamkos got a hat trick!
Are you telling me you didn’t think they could win the Stanley cup with Garth Snow?!
Not even with those pads.
YAY for Stammy!
Is it a natural hat trick if they’re all in a row, but there’s an intermission in there in the middle?
Not even with those pads.
He misunderstood that ol’ time hockey story Don Cherry always tells about taping the phone books to your legs, and instead taped a phone booth to his shoulders
My little Stammer got a hattrick?! Ahhhhhh! That’ll teach Melrose to say Steven’s not ready for the NHL. :p I’ll just have to watch that game after this one since I taped it. :)
Patty, yeah. As long as no one else scores a goal in between his goals, it’s a natural, intermission or no.
Awe look at Chuck the duck go!! Ah now I’m giddy because of cute Steven. :)
Sorry I spoiled it KG!
Thanks, Heather! That’s what I thought.
It’s all good Patty. :) It makes the whole Devils losing less painful.
Zach has ten shots on the night already. Good grief. With that many shots he should have five goals!
Zach is never going to score again. This game blows!
Booooo. Time to go watch a happy game…with the Lightning? Ha. Who would have thought? But then again it is against the Hawks with Toews and Kaner.
Holy shitty, Batman! That game bit!
Sorry about your game, Devils fans! I’m sure you’ll start a new winning streak with the next game!
Thanks, Patty. I’m kinda mellow about it. I mean, we have a pumpkin as our starting goalie. What was I expecting?
Meanwhile, it seems all our other teams are out kicking ass and taking names. Way to win, Sabres! WOOOOOOOO!!!!
Oh my god I hate Jonathan Toews! Okay not really but he totally stole Steven Stamkos’ spotlight and scored two goals. He tried to get his first career hat trick too but he didn’t and yet Toews ends up with the number one star?! What is this?! It’s in Tampa for crying out loud and the number one draft pick just got his first hat trick and the media doesn’t give Stamkos the first star?! I demand a recount!
Thank you for the venting space. :)
But are you outraged by this, KG, or just fuming mad? I can’t quite tell… :P
Toews only got 2 goals because I just dropped him from my fantasy team. That jerk.
I for some reason KNEW we were gonna lose this one. After working hard and beating the two best teams in the league, you know the Devils were thinking they could just glide through this one. I guess they hadn’t payed attention to the standings lately because the Panthers have become shockingly good.
I don’t even know how I watched the whole thing. So frustrating!
Good morning!
I saw on Puck Daddy this morning that Zach is only one of three members of the 30/30 club this season. Good for him. :)
*sigh* Devils. You make me sad.
I saw on Puck Daddy this morning that Zach is only one of three members of the 30/30 club this season. Good for him. :)
Plastic stars for everybody! Yay!
I don’t even know how I watched the whole thing. So frustrating!
roshacla, I’m with you on that. And you’re right that this was one of the more predictable stinkers — it’s amazing any of us tuned in at all!
Amy, that’s so awesome of Zach! WOO HOOO!!!! He’s totally gonna go swimming in the river tonight with his plastic stars, because that’s how superstars roll! :D
Good morning, everyone!
Zach is such a superstar! I’m so proud of him! And yeah, roshacla, that game was a loss on the board before it even began. But whatevs, as long as they don’t make a habit of it, Clemmer, it’ll all be okay. I hope.
Good morning!
I looooove hockey so much.
Good morning, alix! I think I like hockey, but after last night, I’m not entirely sure… :P
Heh. Yeah, that’s rough, Schnookie. No one will hold the Devils down for long though. Don’t you worry.
Last night just had me totally ready for playoff hockey. It was one of those games. I hope the Canucks/Flames meet up because it will be epic.
Oh and I love Todd Bertuzzi. He’s the gift that keeps on giving.
The Sharks game on Sunday had me feeling that playoff-ready awesomness, too! It’s so fun when regular-season hockey gets to that point, but before you really realize how stressful and awful the playoffs are. :D (It helped that it was warm and outrageously sunny here. Today, of course, after losing miserably to the Panthers, it’s cold and effin’ snowing. Look, snow, I was really excited to see you before, but now I’m ready for the playoffs! It’s time for warm weather, and chirping birds, and stuff like that!)
Yeah, it’s really nice in Vancouver right now. But then I’m going to go back to -10 in a few days.
Heh. I haven’t had playoffs in so long. I had forgotten about how stressful and awful they are. Hee.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a good playoffs, too. I think we’re due this year. No more Ducks championships or boring wire-to-wire Wings-esque stuff, please, Hockey Gods! :P
It’s time for warm weather, and chirping birds, and stuff like that!
I agree. We need some nice weather asap.
But at least Buffalo’s getting our chirping bird back. Goose is back from is shoulder separation. HONK!
Honking birds are even better than chirping ones!
Yay for Goose!
Awwwwwww. The Canucks are doing a mummy’s trip in March. That’s so adorable!
It’s about time someone did a Mums’ trip! I’m so tired of the dads all the time! :D
Yeah, they did the dads last year. Hee. But it’s about time the mums got some love. I wonder who Matty will bring. I think I heard last year his mum died :(
I think I heard last year his mum died :(
That’s so sad!
I felt sorry for Bouche earlier this year when the Pens were on their Dads trip. Not only was he without his dad, but he hardly knows anybody on the team. And I assume they’re all real mean and stand-offish to him. Heh.
Those jerky Pens, Patty! (Except for Geno and Sid and Letang)
You know how we were talking earlier about Tobias Funk type sentences? Check this one out about Ryan Kesler.
The truth is Kesler has long thought his game was pumping with untapped potential. The Canucks are just now beginning to tap it, and they’ve discovered a gusher.
HAHAHAHA.
alix, that Tobias quote is PHENOMENAL! Holy schneikie! Do people proofread this stuff? :D
And Patty, I have no doubt the Pens were TOTAL mean girls to Bouche. They are SUCH jerks.
Dude, I’m watching the radio on TV right now, the tape-delayed NHL Live broadcast, and some moron called in to ask if Marty coming back is a “lose-lose situation” for the Devils. He was a Rangers fan. People are SO stupid!
What, a stupid Rangers fan? Really Schnookie? That’s unheard of!
I know Grrrreg! It’s RIDONK! I would never have expected it from a Rangers fan. Heh. (I thought this moron was notable because he’s from the same town we are. I was like, “WOO! Princeton! Representing! Oh. Wait. No, that’s not representing ANYTHING good…”)
Some of the callers on NHL-Live are brutal aren’t they? I feel bad for the hosts sometimes because the questions are so bad.
The Devils recalled Salmela today because the defense is becoming some-sort of M*A*S*H Unit. People are freaking out like he’s the second coming of Bobby Orr. I’m not saying that he isn’t a good prospect but I remember his time in NJ filled with indiscriminate, inaccurate slapshots and a particular tendency to forget that he was a defenceman. Am I that out of touch with reality?
Tim, I’m totally with you on Salmela. I don’t understand the commentors over on Fire & Ice getting all excited for him, but those are the same people who were all giddy over Vrana (Vrana, Vrana) too. I dunno. I have no idea what Salmela’s been up to in Lowell, but his time with the big club was hardly inspiring to me. In fact, Pookie and I started calling him “Batshit Crazy” because of his odd approach to playing at the points. So I guess we should be excited that Ol’ Batshit’s rejoining the fold. :P
(I really hope Paulie’s okay.)
I’m very troubled by Paulie’s recurring muscle pull problems. Dude needs to start stretching! Gah! :D
I’d forgotten all about Ol’ Bathshit’s point play. Wow. Erm… Who’s excited for tomorrow’s game?
As for that NHL Live caller, he was the same one who called in on Monday and referred to Drury as a sniper. HAHAHAHA!
Thanks Schnookie… Sometimes I have to question myself because I read the stuff at Fire & Ice and I wonder what galaxy they are on but then I end up questioning myself…
Salmela has done well down in Lowell, 8 Goals and 15 Assists, but he’s a -6. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing that he’s up with the big boys but a little perspective here people.
I too hope Paulie is ok. When either he or Colin “The One Eyed Wonder” White are out of the lineup my expectations immediately diminish. They are beyond vital to the club’s success.
I used to think that SURELY all Devils fans thought about the team the same way I did, and then Fire & Ice came along and thoroughly disabused me of that notion. :P
They are beyond vital to the club’s success.
Dude, the Devils are sunk without either of those guys. I’ve kind of rolled my eyes for most of the season at people saying the Devils need to trade for another veteran d-man, just because that commentary is normally coming from people who just look at our roster, think, “I’ve never heard of these guys,” and declare we need bigger names. But in the last few weeks I’ve begun to agree with that thinking. Which means that, for the first time I can recall, Lou won’t make a deadline move for veteran depth on the blueline. :P
Okay, would it KILL the Islanders to beat the Rangers tonight?
Okay, would it KILL the Islanders to beat the Rangers tonight?
Everybody else seems to be able to! What’s with them?
I know! This is just unthinkable! This is the last time I bank all my hopes and dreams on the Islanders. :P
Yeah, well… see there? That’s where you went wrong. :P
Yeah, looking at that statement, I’m thinking, “Well there’s your problem…”
Sometimes you just have to step back and take an assessment of your hopes and dreams.
Can St. Louis come back and beat the Jackets?
It looks like we’re all coming up losers tonight. Except Karen. She’s probably happy. :P
Damn Blues. Oh well.
The photographer along for the Canucks Canadian road trip is really doing the lord’s work. He deserves a medal.
alix, :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I’m beginning to think the Devils are all witches and don’t show up in photographs. :P
Well people do say Paulie’s pot brownies are magical. Hee.
How about the Kings, Schnookie? Can they beat Anaheim?
There are some good pictures out there, alix?
I don’t have a lot of hope for the Kings/Ducks game, the way things are going tonight. :D
Oh yes, Patty.
Like this one. Matty’s good at reading.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296692@N04/3291259511/
Is that the one where he’s reading to his kids? I’ve seen that one before a while back, haven’t I?
Or this one. Pretty Pyatt.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296692@N04/3291272635/
Or ahem. Matty reading again. I didn’t lick the screen where his bicep is or anything. Heh.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296692@N04/3292096756/
Hee. I pimp out Matty a lot on here, don’t I? Nah. This one is him reading by himself. In shorts.
Oooh, alix, those are lovely! And totally slurp-worthy!
Okay, Pookie just looked at the conference standings, and I want to freeze them RIGHT NOW and start the playoffs this way. Sure, the Rangers would be in, but all four EC pairings seem genuinely interesting (unlike last year). I hope the Hockey Gods can keep this up. I don’t want to have a potentially entertaining first round slip through our grasps at the last minute… :D
Hee. slurp worthy indeed!
I was just thinking that yesterday, Schnookie! About the WC pairings as well.
Last year ended up with the worst possible pairings across the board. I’m now focusing all my mental energies on it not shaking out this way again. Hmph.
Mmmm… nice knees!
(The first link didn’t work so I just wandered into your photostream and picked one.)
I LOVE behind-the-scenes pictures! Last night I watched a feature on Ilya Kovalchuck that was all KINDS of adorable. I even got to see his trainer give him some stretches and massages (a little awkward to watch). :P
When he first got to the arena he walked into the dressing room and the camera followed him and he was like, “Um… I’m going to change clothes now. I’ll be out in a minute.” :P
Yeah there’s tons of the guys on the plane sleeping, and playing cards and stuff. And the stretching ones. Those ones kind of make you feel dirty. Heh. Good stuff.
I love Ilya Kolvachuk. I’m still hoping he’ll somehow become a Canuck without us having to give up any of my favourite rookies/players/prospects. Hee.
I hope that works out for you Schnookie!
Pookie just looked at the conference standings, and I want to freeze them RIGHT NOW and start the playoffs this way. Sure, the Rangers would be in, but all four EC pairings seem genuinely interesting (unlike last year).
Some of those matchups look like fun. I think the Sabres matchup would probably result in Roy-Z being backhanded across the rink by Chara after annoying him one too many times.
It looks like we’re all coming up losers tonight. Except Karen. She’s probably happy. :P
Darn tootin’! I haven’t really been able to pay as close attention the past week or so (no baby yet, just falling asleep at 8:30), and frankly they’ve been doing a lot better this way! The one game I managed to watch all of? The OTL to Dallas.
Thanks, Patty. :-p
Okay, Pookie just looked at the conference standings, and I want to freeze them RIGHT NOW and start the playoffs this way.
Yes please! My grand plan was to boot out the Ducks and the Flames, and as of right now, we are good to go! No need for those pesky 22 other games remaining.
No need for those pesky 22 other games remaining.
Exactly! Maybe we could play four or five just get Marty back in game shape, but then just get this party started! (And then tack 22 exhibition games after the Cup so that we still have hockey to watch into June.)
(And then tack 22 exhibition games after the Cup so that we still have hockey to watch into June.)
Right, exactly. I didn’t mean that I wanted less hockey, of course. :D
And good morning, everyone! I’m now really looking forward to that Roy-Z/Chara playoff series! Heh.
Karen, you’re pretty close now to having that baby, aren’t you? When are you due? Is it just a matter of days now?
I’m now really looking forward to that Roy-Z/Chara playoff series!
Same here. Poor, unloved Roy-Z.
Hey, Roy-Z brought it on himself! :P
I was about to complain, by the way, that I feel like the Devils haven’t played in forever. Then I remembered they “played” on Tuesday night, and it just happens that I deliberately tried to forget that game. Me so smrt.
Cheer up all, Weekes is starting tonight!
Mike, WOO HOOOOO!!!! Although I worry with Paulie out, and, more specifically, Salmela in. Heh. I’m not in too much of a tizzy about it, because we’re at T-minus one week until Marty, aren’t we? :D
I’m a little late on this, and I don’t want to sound picky, but I wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to watch the habs get destroyed by the devils in the first round of the playoffs. (if Montreal makes the playoffs, that is)
Oh, um, Grrrreg. Hi. I, uh, didn’t see you standing there. :P
(Psst, guys, don’t tell Grrrreg that when Pookie looked at the standings last night, she said, “Sweet! We’d get Montreal!”) (Just kidding. I long ago stopped hoping for specific playoff opponents, because the Hockey Gods will ALWAYS smite you for it. I just like the other matchups at hand, and hold no grudge with the Habs that would make playing them seem especially annoying. :D)
Although I worry with Paulie out, and, more specifically, Salmela in.
Weren’t there hints earlier today that the Iron Boar might also be out tonight? If so, I’m going to say Tampa 9,000, NJ 0.
Actually, I was kidding too.
I just think it would be a little awkward to celebrate the end of the devils season on this blog… ;)
I just think it would be a little awkward to celebrate the end of the devils season on this blog… ;)
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If things turn out anything like they did last year, I’ll be happy to see the season end. :D
Pookie, I don’t think BOLTS! 9,000, Devils 0 is that far off base.
I just think it would be a little awkward to celebrate the end of the devils season on this blog… ;)
Well aren’t we feisty today.
I just don’t want the Sabres and Devils to play each other in the first round (although I imagine it being a fairly uncontroversial series on the ice, since the teams never seem to have issues with each other).
although I imagine it being a fairly uncontroversial series on the ice, since the teams never seem to have issues with each other
You’d think that would be a fairly tame series. But that might work out well, as the team to advance would likely be relatively healthy (as compared to playing a team likes the SENS! or the Flyers, anyway.), so that’s kinda cool.
Hey everyone! Just stopping in between days off. Got another furlough Friday tomorrow. Man these three-day work weeks are killing me!
But that might work out well, as the team to advance would likely be relatively healthy
I don’t know if I’d go that far. Both teams were chomped on pretty heavily by the injury bug this year.
And I think Vanek might be in the team’s doghouse for discussing his recovery time on his blog and not through the team. The team had no idea he had a blog and was posting updates such as “I might be out longer than the 4 weeks estimated.”
I don’t know if I’d go that far. Both teams were chomped on pretty heavily by the injury bug this year.
I hear ya. I was only referring strictly to the amount of physical abuse the players would be taking based on the teams they’re up against. I just don’t see a whole lot of guys on the Devils roster who would be trying to turn a Sabre’s head into bread pudding, like say, Neil or Schaefer.
Man these three-day work weeks are killing me!
Hardy-har-har. :P
I just don’t see a whole lot of guys on the Devils roster who would be trying to turn a Sabre’s head into bread pudding, like say, Neil or Schaefer.
You CLEARLY have not noticed the fearsome Blobby Holik on our roster. He’ll make teams pay the price, by gently running their goaltenders all the time! FEEL OUR WRATH!
And I’m not interested in playing the Sabres in the first round. I have too many friends who are Sabres fans now! That would get ugly! :P
Hardy-har-har. :P
Sorry! I have to joke about it because the 10% paycut is significantly less funny.
He’ll make teams pay the price, by gently running their goaltenders all the time!
Ooohh! What a merciless son of a …..
I just don’t see a whole lot of guys on the Devils roster who would be trying to turn a Sabre’s head into bread pudding
Oh dude, you know Staffy and Zach would be having a bread pudding-off. Anything one can do the other can do better and all that jazz.
You CLEARLY have not noticed the fearsome Blobby Holik on our roster. He’ll make teams pay the price, by gently running their goaltenders all the time!
It’s all fun and games until Blobby gets whomped by Crunchy’s trusty blocker or Craig Rivet.
The team had no idea he had a blog and was posting updates such as “I might be out longer than the 4 weeks estimated.”
Heh. That’s kind of funny, actually. I’m sure he thought that what he was saying was perfectly innocuous.
Oh dude, you know Staffy and Zach would be having a bread pudding-off.
It’d be like a brain-eatery out there.
It’s all fun and games until Blobby gets whomped by Crunchy’s trusty blocker or Craig Rivet.
Well as long as it’s Blobby the -Ookies would probably be cheering them on. :P
I have to joke about it because the 10% paycut is significantly less funny.
No kidding. What a total bummer… But, on the bright side… Three-day work weeks! Sigh.
It’s all fun and games until Blobby gets whomped by Crunchy’s trusty blocker or Craig Rivet.
No, no, that’s not how it happens. That would result in an even-up penalty, and that’s not how Blobby rolls. No, he just knocks the other team’s goalie over in a totally non-injurious-but-still-penalizable way, and then the other team scores on the PP. He has a system and he wants everyone to stick to it. Don’t go giving Crunchy and Rivet ideas about shaking things up. :P
Amy, Harrington once told me that he asked Vanek about something he’d written on his website and Vanek seemed stunned. “You read that?” Uhhh, yeah, Thomas. That’s how the internet works.
I did like Lindy’s crack that Vanek must have been talking in Austrian time. He really didn’t seem like he was very willing to wait more than 4 weeks.
No kidding. What a total bummer… But, on the bright side… Three-day work weeks!
Meh, it’s really not that big a deal. I’m cool with it.
On the really bright side, I leave for San Diego on Monday. I’ll be “working” there for most of next week. Woo hoo! Two day work week, next week!
He has a system and he wants everyone to stick to it.
Is Pommers aware that the system is cheating on him with Blobby?
Harrington once told me that he asked Vanek about something he’d written on his website and Vanek seemed stunned. “You read that?” Uhhh, yeah, Thomas. That’s how the internet works.
*headdesk* At least Crunchy is somewhat aware that he has a blog following. Then again, Crunchy’s webmaster probably let him know the number of blogs and such that link to him. (/media geek)
Is Pommers aware that the system is cheating on him with Blobby?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Poor Pommers! What a terrible person to find out is the Other Man. I mean, of all people, Blobby?
Karen, you’re pretty close now to having that baby, aren’t you? When are you due? Is it just a matter of days now?
Less than two weeks, in a perfect world.
Well, in a perfect world tomorrow, ’cause I am pretty tired of being pregnant.
Hopefully tonight is full of joy, except for the other teams in the Western Conference (sorry folks.)
Hang in there Karen! I remember how you feel all to well!
Hopefully tonight is full of joy, except for the other teams in the Western Conference (sorry folks.)
The whole Western conference? Uh, sure ok, Karen, whatever you want dear.
(Pssst, remember, never cross a seriously pregnant woman.)