We’re not going to lie, Gentle Reader – we never thought this day would come. It’s felt like a lifetime since we last saw Paulie, and now he’s back! WOO HOOOO!
Just kidding.
Seriously, though, this is the first game night since November 1 that feels normal to us. It’s been a great season, obviously, but we feel like we’re waking up tonight after four months of suspended animation. As Gel-O and Dano talk in the intro to the game, they mention the dreadful game last Saturday on the Island, and you know what? We don’t think anyone remembers that anymore.
FIRST PERIOD
19:23 Marty gets his first touch on a soft dump-in, and the crowd roars, then starts the “Mar-ty! Mar-ty!” chant. It feels so good.
18:06 Chico tells us this is a new situation for Marty, it being “almost March 1 and he’s only just getting his career started.” Wait, we thought the career was already really well-established. Well, we guess NHL.com needn’t get that all-time wins countdown up and running again, because he’s starting now from scratch.
17:08 Pando forces a turnover at the Devils blueline, then isn’t quite fast enough to beat the Av defenders on a race down toward the Colorado net. Schnookie: “If Pando scored tonight, I might die.”
15:50 Applesauce very calmly stands up an onrushing Av, then coolly swats the puck off the guy’s stick. It’s like having Paulie back on the blueline has caused the rest of the d-men to stop panicking and remember how to play hockey.
15:22 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Poppers decide to send a message that they’re capable of thinking offense even though Marty’s behind them. Zach springs Travis and Langer to chug up the ice on a two-on-two, Travis dishes to Langer, and he fires a wobbly, fluttering shot that gets through Raycroft. 1-0 Devils.
15:09 Marty goes behind the net and cleanly handles the puck. We nearly faint with excitement, and Schnookie triumphantly shouts, “Oh my god! We have a goalie who can stop the puck behind the net!” Pookie: “Yeah, that’s funny… those always got through Clemmensen.”
12:02 Pookie, watching happily as the Devils D carries the puck around behind Marty’s net: “Our HD looks crisper tonight.” Schnookie: “And the whole world smells better, too.”
11:35 Foote trips Langer, and puts the Paulie-powered PP on the ice. PaulieMartinNation expects great things to happen here!
10:44 After a long Avs clear, Marty stops the puck behind the net, then hands it off to Paulie for the five-man snooze-out. It has been months since we last saw a clean goalie-to-defenseman handoff behind the net! Pookie: “I bet Paulie wasn’t hurt. I bet he was just tired of playing with Clemmer. He went to Sutter and said, ‘I can’t work under these conditions!’ And Sutter said, ‘Fine. You can sit down at your dumb card table, punk.’”
9:35 Huh. That PP really, hugely sucked.
7:32 PaulieMartinNation is horrified. He turns the puck over on the near boards, and it turns into a pass to a wide-open Av in the slot, then a bunch of scrambling around the goal, and basically what we’re saying is that we’re never going to speak of this again.
6:26 Since the goal, the Devils have looked really sloppy. So much so that Schnookie says a bit smugly, “I still think they’re in their March Swoon,” and Pookie can’t disagree.
5:46 The Avs get their first official scoring chance, and it’s one of those stand-up-right-next-to-the-goalpost saves by Marty while the forwards whack away at his feet until he gets a whistle. Ahhh. Feels like old times.
4:27 Gah! Zach is never going to score again! The Poppers have another zesty cycling shift that leads off a few broken plays to a glorious chance that proves not to be easy or breezy enough for Zach.
3:22 There is a faceoff in the Colorado zone that Schnookie narrates thusly: “Oooh! Look at Pando totally showing up Shanny! Blobby got thrown out of the faceoff, and Pando scampered in to take it even though everyone was looking for Shanny to step in.” Long pause. “Pando backed off, though, at the last second.” Yeah.
1:25 The Zubrus/Patty/Gio line tries to do their best Popper impersonation, with some wildly good opportunities in front while the Avs D collectively piles up in a panic in the crease, but they’re still the Zubrus/Patty/Gio line, so they don’t score. Or even get any shots through.
0:00 Here is what we have to say about this period: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Marty! Marty! Marty! We don’t care about anything else about it.
FIRST INTERMISSION
We’re drinking it now — the eiswein. And you know what? Even at $7,133 per drop, it’s worth every penny. Phenomenally delicious, and perfectly matched to the occasion.
SECOND PERIOD
19:35 It might be a new age of Marty being back in net, but it’s the same old Rolston. He takes a flat-footed, lazy hooking penalty to start off the period.
17:50 And that is what you call rebound control. Marty makes a stand-up save on a sneaky-angle shot, then, with that Marty economy of motion, kicks the puck up to Oduya to send Johnny Handsome on a shorthanded three-on-one with Patty and Gio. Patty isn’t able to score on it, though. Because, well, it’s almost March.
15:50 Doc mutters something again about that time when Blobby chastised him and Chico for only interviewing the goal scorers between periods. We have heard this ten billion times already. Seriously, quit it, Doc.
15:23 Clarkson attempts a high-speed kamikaze Clarkaround that involves an inevitable wipeout, but he still manages to draw a tripping penalty to Raycroft. Chico remarks that the power play gets a second chance after a first-period attempt that wasn’t very powerful. Pookie: “I’d even say it wasn’t much of a play either.”
14:15 Any old time that the Devils want to start playing hard works for us. The Avs get a slow-developing shorthanded chance that turns out not to be a goal only by virtue of the initial shot hitting the pipe, and then some crazy-good backchecking by Zach. Pookie: “Zach is the bomb-diggity.”
13:23 It’s like the ghost of Perry Pearn has possessed the Devils PP or something.
12:15 We come back from commercial to see highlights from Patrick Roy’s career, and now our HD has gone away. We are not above blaming Roy for it.
11:47 After a wonky rebound from Raycroft yields a great chance for Patty at the side of the crease, which he, of course, doesn’t convert. That said, someone somewhere on the play draws a hooking penalty to the Avs, and the PP goes back to work.
11:22 The PP might blow, but it’s brought our HD back!
11:17 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Paulie is a genius, firing a shot from the high point deliberately wide to get a fat rebound off the backboards for Travis and/or Patty to punch in from the top of the crease. Amazingly, it’s Patty who gets to it and shovels it home on his backhand to make it 2-0 Devils.
9:56 Marty’s back! Marty’s back! Marty’s back! (He makes a stop and freezes the puck on a scramble in front that, at this time last week, would have led to at least another minute of opponents hammering away while Devils d-men fall all over the place.)
6:56 A Frankenline of Shanny, Clarkson and Zubrus cycles for a shift, and Pookie sighs happily, then says, “There’s nothing to say about this game other than ‘*happy sigh*’.”
4:33 It took about a period and a half, but it looks like the Devils have finally arrived to play this game. They stage a sequence of shifts that are like relentless waves of offensive pressure that all lead to shots aimed at Raycroft’s head. Raycroft’s head is pretty good at stopping shots, though.
4:16 Chico gets talking about the wins record and says that he hopes Patrick Roy will be in attendance when Marty does break it. Schnookie: “Well, he is so gracious. I can’t imagine him saying no.” Pookie: “And he’s always liked Marty so much.”
4:02 Johnny Handsome takes a penalty, perhaps for being too handsome.
2:02 The PK is the kind that gets the crowd chanting “Marty! Marty!” In other words, life is grand.
1:41 Travis makes a totally sassy yoink steal deep in the Avs zone. Pookie: “Travis is the bomb-diggity.” Schnookie, watching as Zach joins the play: “He is. There’s a lot of bomb-diggity out there right now.” Pookie: “Yup. I’m going to start calling them the Z.Z. Bomb-diggiters.”
0:18 Schnookie: “I bet Lou sent Clemmer down because if he didn’t, Sutter would keep starting him. He had to be like, ‘If you don’t stop playing with that, I’m going to have to take it away from you.’”
0:00 *Happy sigh*
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! And we go into *happy sigh* overload because we get a Paulie interview. He gives Zach the credit for thinking of shooting that puck wide. We think he’s being modest, because that’s just the kind of PP mastermind he is.
SECOND INTERMISSION
Pookie is having a terrible allergy attack this evening, and we are now vaguely concerned that she might be allergic to a healthy Devils team.
THIRD PERIOD
It’s “Chico Eats!”! Tonight Chico’s showing off the restaurant ledge. Looks swanky!
18:05 Marty stops a sharp angle shot with another of his sassy stand-up kick saves that work as a pass of the rebound to his d-man (yes, Clemmer, his d-man). We channel our inner Faye Dunaway from “The Starlet” and say, “Now that’s acting!” What, no other “Starlet” fans here?
16:09 Zach barrels into an unimpressed Av at the end boards behind the Colorado net. The boards shake mightily, but we suspect Zach managed to contort himself to hit the wall on either side of the Av while not making any actual contact with the player.
15:17 Pookie: “There’s a very good chance Lucic broke Paulie and that’s why he had to miss all those games, but I’m not going to boo him. I’m not turning him into Boo-cic.”
11:54 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Okay, so Zach is going to score again! DAMN! That was AWESOME! Langer fires the puck down the side boards from the Devils’ zone, and Zach outhustles the Av defender to the puck, holds the guy off while cutting to the net, then, with an almost imperceptible flick of the toe of his stick, flips the puck up over Raycroft’s shoulder. It’s 3-0 Devils, and we’re in a deep swoon here at stately IPB Manor for our very own superstar.
9:16 Chico gets going in an annoying blather about how Zach’s like Ovechkin, and scores goals with flair, and that’s somehow so much better than Jeff Carter, who only scores because he has good positioning and strength, and blah blah blah, and we snarl at the TV, “Chico, we don’t want to hear it about Ovie, and we don’t want to hear it about Zach.” There’s a lot to be said for the subtle goal, and anyone who doesn’t love the sight of a Jeff Carter wrist shot is a moron. Sheesh.
8:09 The Devils are really warming to the task now, and with some more cycling forecheck, the dynamic dynamo that is Travis draws a hooking penalty to the Avs. Boomer: “It’s hard to say whether we’re playing better or whether they’re…” she trails off. Schnookie finishes for her, “Rolling over?”
7:25 The dynamic dynamo that is Travis fails to score on a wide open net. He’s never going to get another acorn again.
6:54 In keeping with the Ovechkin/Zach discussion, Chico now pipes up that they are two players who “celebrate their goals very differently,” and then passes judgment in that distinctly Chico way of his. We’ll leave it to you, Gentle Reader, to decide which one he prefers. (Hint: it’s not the one who he says “hot dogs”.)
3:13 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, that may very well be our favorite shift of the entire season. The Poppers, started off with a gorgeous steal in the neutral zone by Zach, proceed to stage a sequence of sheer dominance that culminates in a hard-earned goal by Travis. It’s 4-0 Devils, and have we mentioned tonight how much we love Zach, Travis and Paulie?
2:09 Needless to say, even though there’s a four-goal lead, we are very tense. Heh.
1:48 The “Mar-ty! Mar-ty!” chant is in full throat.
0:36 Pando gets tagged for tripping in the Devils zone, and Chico says the S-word while the teams line up for the faceoff. The Hockey Gods would be angered, but the fact is that we’ve been thinking it since at least the start of the second period, so they’re already probably cracking their knuckles and trying to figure out how best to ruin this.
0:04 The puck squirts out over the blue line and the building goes up. And we guess the Hockey Gods are sitting back and smiling, saying, “You know what? You guys have been through enough. We’ll let you have this one.” Thanks, Hockey Gods. It has been a rough few months. Other than the fact that the Devils have been winning…
0:00 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Marty! Marty! Marty! Holy flirking schnitt!!!! This was AWESOME!!!!
Happy Marty Day!!!
Thanks, kristin! Happy Marty Day to you, too! I’m sure you’re celebrating with all kinds of gusto. :D
Yeah, I might have to drink myself silly too! No eiswein for me though. Tequila will have to do.
Tequila’s good, too! :D
did everyone notice that rupp is a healthy scratch tonite and that pando is playing?
I sure did, don! Pando-riffic, Paulie-riffic AND Marty-riffic? Does it GET better than this? :D
Normally I’d say it could get better by being Holik-less, but since it’s Marty Day, I’ll just say, “WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”
Happy Marty Day! *tosses donut-colored confetti*
I should have said, “dormice-colored,” shouldn’t I?
Honey’d donut-colored confetti works too! :D
WOOOOOOOO! *Sprays Sprite everywhere!*
Man this game is filled with soooo much awesomeness. Marty’s back, Paulie’s back, Pando’s back. Travis hopefully isn’t sick anymore. :)
MAR-TY! MAR-TY!
PAUL-LIE! PAUL-LIE! (Hee!)
Wheeeeeeeeeeee :D
I have donuts, I have popcorn. Bring it on :D
Langer’s like, “OK, Mags, I’ll bring it!” :D
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
YAY :D The Poppers :D
I have a Popsicle and cranberry juice. I raise both to Marty.
WOO! :)
Marty’s like, “Can you at least dunk a donut or two in that cranberry juice? And stick some honey’d dormice to the popsicle? Or is it a mousesicle? If it’s a mousesicle, you’re cool.”
Man this powerplay started out crappy…and I love Doc. :)
It’s such a safe feeling having Marty back between the pipes
I also have a nice safe feeling with Marty in net! It’s like all is right in the world.
Can you at least dunk a donut or two in that cranberry juice? And stick some honey’d dormice to the popsicle? Or is it a mousesicle? If it’s a mousesicle, you’re cool.”
Sorry, Marty. No donuts or dormice at Casa di Amy.
Marty’s like, “No donuts? No dormice? Does not compute!”
Was that the first time this game a line other than the Poppers did anything relevant? Sounds like it on the radio anyway.
But yes, floating on clouds. It’s a nice feeling :)
Yeah, Mags, the non-Popper forwards were… sort of negligible in that period. And most Poppers shifts weren’t very good either, come to think of it. BUT WHO CARES, right? :D
Bad Rollie!
BUT WHO CARES, right? :D
Not me :D
ZACH! You’re my hero!
I bet Marty’s like crap now Zach’s going to want me to be his bff because I’m going to have to thank him for backchecking.
Marty’s like, “No way no how am I wearing that other half of your locket, Zach. Go talk to Travis.”
Poor Travis. Maybe we should all try to cloak Travis.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO :D
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Pauile’s a mad genius, shooting that puck wide!
Zach is never going to score again.
Zach BETTER score again!
Happy Marty Day ladies! I always get confused, but isn’t it if Marty sees his shadow, we have 3 more months of hockey?
Awe I love Paulie. :P He’s very quickly getting me to want to buy another jersey, this time with his na,e.
I always get confused, but isn’t it if Marty sees his shadow, we have 3 more months of hockey?
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Please, please, please let us have 3 more months of hockey!
Paulie sweaters are QUITE a foxy accessory. :D (The consensus here is that he seemed giddy in that interview.)
Please, please, please let us have 3 more months of hockey!
Even if it means three more months of Blersus!
Patty, that was some trade between the Habs and Stars. It’s gonna send shock waves throughout the NHL. Or, no. Maybe it won’t.
Patty, that was some trade between the Habs and Stars. It’s gonna send shock waves throughout the NHL.
:^:::::::::::::::::::
It’s mainly sending question marks throughout the NHL.
Even if it means three more months of Blersus!
As long as it’s the Devils, I’ll be happy. :P
It’s mainly sending question marks throughout the NHL.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wow. What a move and what a pass by Ribeiro. It’s stuff like that makes me forgive him for all the other pucks he let get stolen.
Only the coolest people wear Pauile sweaters.
I wanna get a Paulie sweater! But then get Mr.Pot Pancakes on the back. It’d be a major sweater foul but who the fuck cares! It’d be AWESOME.
It’s mainly sending question marks throughout the NHL.
No joke! I literally sat there for about three minutes with a blank look on my face. It’s like moving your living room furniture around I guess. It kind of makes it look like there’s new stuff, sort of.
Ooorrrrr, the conspiracy theory lover in me is thinking, the Canadiens’ office wants to get Janik there so he can tell Lecavalier how great it is.
But then get Mr.Pot Pancakes on the back.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I’d love to see the guy filling out that order form
Oh and,
He had to be like, ‘If you don’t stop playing with that, I’m going to have to take it away from you.’”
HAHAHAHA!! That’s what she said!
Thanks for beating the Avs! Don’t you feel soooooooo sorry for Foote not being on a contender at this time of year? *Groans* Karma’s a bitch foote.
Ok, you can all stop holding your breath: I’ve arrived in Calgary…Cold cold Calgary…0 on arrival -6 with wind right now..hooraay…
And would believe there is no hockey on Canadian telly tonight??!?!?!?!
However, I am listening to Matt and Sherry over the magic interwebs. It sounds like things are going well. How does it look in brilliant cable infused color?
How’s Marty doing, ladies?
But then get Mr.Pot Pancakes on the back. It’d be a major sweater foul but who the fuck cares! It’d be AWESOME.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! And seriously, there’s no such thing as a jersey foul. That’s just lame — you spend your money, you get the right to wear a Mr. Pot Pancakes sweater with pride! :D
Rats! Now I’m sad y Paulie sweater doesn’t say “Mr. Pot Pancakes”! I bet the guy who files the order forms was more shocked to see my order: “Let’s see, #7, Devils… Better get my letters for ‘pot pancakes’… Wait, does that say ‘Martin’?! WTF?”
Stalky, say hi to Canada for us!
Omy, Zach.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
WOOO! Zach did score again!! :)
Oh, okay, Zach is going to score again! WOOOO!! That was BEAUTIFUL!
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!
“I want to be here if it’s a good fit for myself and my family and the Canucks. If not, it’s time to go,” said Ohlund, who has spent his entire NHL career with Vancouver. “It’s not hard at all – it’s actually pretty exciting not knowing what’s going to happen here in the future.”
Oh noes, alix! But that doesn’t mean anything! He could still stay!
Maybe *Sniff*. But they’ve broken off contract talks until the end of the season. Oh well. At least Gillis said he doesn’t believe in making guys left their NTCs mid season.
Okay Travis is never going to score again.
WOOO Travis! It worked. :)
WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
KG, they just love proving you wrong :P
That. Shift. Was. So. AWESOME!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Marty, oh Marty. That was awesome.
WOOOOOOOO MARTY!!!! Number 99!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOO!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Holy shit, I cannot believe Marty got a shutout! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Honey’d dormice for everyone!
HAHA. I guess I didn’t have to warn you about a rusty goalie! *Glares at Lui sneakily*… :D
YAY!
Okay. Cam Ward is just getting annoying now.
Congratulations to Marty and the Devils and the Ookies!
What a return!!!
I’m going to go dance in the street. In my pyjamas.
See y’all tomorrow, have a good night, and here’s to hoping the Devils have no exhausted hockey awesome for today and the Sabres and Stars win too!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! This was AWESOME! I actually called 6-1 Avs before the game. HAHAHAHAHA! I should have known better. Marty was probably delayed getting in for this postgame interview because he was calling Clemmer in Lowell to say, “You had a really good year.” Heh.
G’night, Mags! Have fun dancing in your PJs! Tonight really calls for it! :D
he was calling Clemmer in Lowell to say, “You had a really good year.”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
i don’t wanna sound mean spirited, but for me it isn’t so much the shutout as it is playing 60 minutes without giving up a soft goal…which they did every game for four months except two weeks ago against the bruins…
don, good point. Heh.
but for me it isn’t so much the shutout as it is playing 60 minutes without giving up a soft goal…which they did every game for four months except two weeks ago against the bruins…
That’s exactly it, don! It was awesome to have a goalie who could play the puck, who never created a scoring chance for the other team, who seemed to understand how to work with his D (yes, HIS D)… WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
So. How’s everyone else’s night going? :D
You guys get a shutout, I get a shoot out.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Marty! Marty! Marty! Holy flirking schnitt!!!!
Indeed! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Just call me Katrina (and the waves)!
Marty was probably delayed getting in for this postgame interview because he was calling Clemmer in Lowell to say, “You had a really good year.” Heh.
Okay, now that’s just wrong. :P
Lame. You know, during my practices, I would actually teach my teammates how to shoot on me. It didn’t make practices more fun or easier, but it made me a better goalie, and it made my offense better in games. At some point throughout the season, it would be nice of Ryan or Patrick to just take these guys aside and let them know not to shoot directly at the goalie. He’s not a dart board. You don’t get points for hitting him.
I have a beef with the three stars of the game though. Not with who was selected but the order. I thought Zach was without a doubt the first star.
Okay, now that’s just wrong. :P
Heh heh heh. Did you expect anything less from me? :P
mcguffers, I SO don’t understand the guys who shoot straight into the goalie on the shootout. I mean, I realize the goalie is also somewhat involved in that process, but still.
I thought Travis could have gotten some star consideration. And come on — Zach the first star over Marty? Have you no heart, Frisby? :P
Zach could have been 1st Star and Marty 1stest Star.
mcguffers, I’m so sorry the players are being putzes about the shootout!
Did you expect anything less from me?
From Pookie, yes. But not from you, Shcnookie. ;)
Eh, I’m over it. I’m really glad Marty came back with a shutout. Clemmerchuk who? Or was it Clemmerstad? Clemmerov?
From Pookie, yes. But not from you, Shcnookie. ;)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did you hear that, Pookie? On the interwebs, you’re the mean one! MWA HA HA HA HA! :P
On the interwebs, you’re the mean one!
Nice! Since that’s case, I’ll drunkenly slur, “You’re all banned!”
Since that’s case, I’ll drunkenly slur, “You’re all banned!”
That’s a spot-on impersonation of me! :P
You can’t BAN ME! I QUIT!!!
(just kidding, please don’t ban me, please?)
Clemmerchuk who? Or was it Clemmerstad? Clemmerov?
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Marty doesn’t remember either. And Weekes will never tell. :P
I’m so sorry about the Sabres. There’s still plenty of Brahms left in the season, though.
You can’t BAN ME! I QUIT!!!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: You’ve been inside the hallowed walls of stately IPB Manor, Frisby. I don’t think you can legally be banned after that. It grants you lifetime nonbanitude. Or perhaps a No Ban Clause.
OK, fine, in honor of Marty Night, no one’s banned. But you’re all on notice!
It grants you lifetime nonbanitude.
WOOOOOOOOO!!!
That’s good. Hey, speaking of that, I might be travelling back to Mary’s land at the end of April. If a certain team is still playing (specifically at home) would you want to go to another game?
All I have to say is….
SQUEEEEEEE
That’s right. Squee.
Also, I watch games on the NHL online service, and they were only letting us see the Avs feed. I was pissed at first, but the Avs announcers showed 2 videos about Brodeur, had an interview with him, and spent the entire game fawning over the Poppers. In fact, at the end of the game they called them the hardest working line in hockey. They also showed video from Marty’s first career start in the christmas tree jersey with his red and green helmet! It was actually pretty good.
If a certain team is still playing (specifically at home) would you want to go to another game?
That is a very intriguing notion!
SQUEEEEEEE
This game was super-duper-uper squee-worthy! And that’s AWESOME that the Avs announcers basically made it a home feed for you. Granted, there really wasn’t much to say about the Avs tonight, but still! :D
The Avs announcers seem to loathe their team, since I remember watching them call a Flyers game and all they could do was wax poetic about Richards and Carter.
Good morning IPB!
I’m glaaad you got to enjoy a shutout for Marty’s return. But this is kinda really frightening for the rest of the Eastern Conference, you know.
And about those Avs announcers, I think they’re the anti-bruins announcers: I’ve listenend to them against the habs, and they always praise the opposing team’s players, its fans, or its history, its building, its jersey and anything else they can.
I think they’re the anti-bruins announcers
HA! You’re so right! :D
Good morning, everyone! I’m still in a state of shock over how incredibly awesome last night’s game was!
Oh happy day, happy day.
as great as Paulie was with that wide-right shot, i saw Travis pointing with his stick, credit should go to him too.
that shift with Zajak, Parise and Clarkson was kinda interesting, would love to see a little more of that someday. just for giggles.
and watching the Marty save hightlight reel, it was scary to see how many of those had Mottau in them.
but hey, you say to Madden, I say to Mottau. a win is a win. a shutout is divine, and Marty is back.
a win is a win. a shutout is divine, and Marty is back.
Amen!
a win is a win. a shutout is divine
Word!! :D
I feel like the whole world is celebrating Marty’s return today — since Spring seems to have sprung just for today! One of my favorite understated things about last night was how many kick-ass highlight reels we saw of Marty’s career awesomeness. NHL Network had one on On The Fly to go with the one from MSG+, and I have to say, I loves me a good highlight reel set to martial music. Marty! Marty! Marty! :D
(Oh, and on the Paulie deliberately-wide shot, I bet he and Travis are both masterminds. There’s really no other explanation.)
As for the Avs announcers, I wonder if they’re being forced to atone for all the years they were unwatchably homeriffic during the good seasons in Colorado? Granted, those were the John Kelly years, too, but still. Peter McNab hasn’t gone anywhere…
Marty’s Better! Marty’s Better! No really, he’s feeling much better.
What a game. I can not add to anthing to that game, my words would only cheapen the moment sooooooo:
I was watching the pregame show, and when Paulie was being interviewed, my little guy Max looks up at the screen and says, “That’s Hadrian!” Hadrian is a one and a half year old boy in Max’s daycare. So its official, the Devils best defenseman looks like a toddler.
Marty’s Better! Marty’s Better! No really, he’s feeling much better.
Only Marty could come back from a heinous injury and have a shutout in his first game. Good show by him.
OK, Spring has sprung, right? We’re gearing up for the Playoffs now, right? This is the time of year when I can’t help but see signs and portents every where. Just now one of my least favorite patrons called on the phone. I was groaning and rolling my eyes and thinking, “Dude, don’t ruin my day!” So he says, “I’m listening to [x station] and I want to know what song is playing.” So I look it up, eyes rolling the whole way, and then I read the title:
Concerto for Violin in D by… JOHANNES BRAHMS!!!
It was all I could do to not shout, “JOHANNES BRAAAAAHMS?!?!!!”
So its official, the Devils best defenseman looks like a toddler.
Maybe Hadrian just looks like a kick-ass d-man? :D
Only Marty could come back from a heinous injury and have a shutout in his first game.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::
So its official, the Devils best defenseman looks like a toddler.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That’s awesome! Paulie’s like, “Hey, it’s an upgrade from ‘lesbian science teacher’, so I’ll take it.”
Concerto for Violin in D by… JOHANNES BRAHMS!!!
It was all I could do to not shout, “JOHANNES BRAAAAAHMS?!?!!!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Dude! If ever there was a good sign, this is it! :D
Only Marty could come back from a heinous injury and have a shutout in his first game.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::
I’d like to see Crunchy do the same thing when he returns, but he’ll probably get distracted by a shiny object in the final 20 seconds of the game and let in a softy.
but he’ll probably get distracted by a shiny object in the final 20 seconds of the game and let in a softy.
Perhaps the league should keep track of “Crunchy Shutout” stats. Where the goalie essentially did get a shutout, but only has a 58-minute attention span. :D
I have to admit, by the way, that I am HIGHLY superstitious about shutouts, and will cringe as soon as I even think the word. So last night, after the first goal, I voluntarily thought, “With Marty in, that’s enough to win.” Then I proceeded to spend the entire second period thinking, “Holy shit. After tonight, he’s only four away from Sawchuk’s shutout record…” Then I spent the third period thinking, “Crap, I shouldn’t have been thinking that. The Hockey Gods are gonna be piiiiiiiiissed.” (I am TOTALLY blown away by Marty creeping up on the shutout record. Three years ago the consensus was that it was completely out of reach. This is ASTONISHING to me.)
The best sign of the night was that the puck was in Marty’s glove when the buzzer sounded.
I’m sure every Devils player was extra crispy careful not to be the one to cause a goal against.
I spent the entire third period thinking “dont think pink elephants, dont think pink elephants” just to keep myself from thinking about shutouts.
and if the Iron Forehead would have said something during intermission i would have driven up there and slapped him silly or at least hard enough to break through his make-up.
also, a classy move by the Avs not to pull their goalie in the final minute. I dont think my heart would have held out for that.
I’m sure every Devils player was extra crispy careful not to be the one to cause a goal against.
Except Pando, who was like, “What the hell! I’m gonna take a penalty now! What’s the worst that could happen? I get benched? Oooh. I’m so scared.” (Just kidding. But PandoNation was a little like, “D’oh!” when he took that penalty. Like, come on, Pando. This is the most important totally irrelevant shutout in Devils history! You can do better than that!)
Boomer was also surprised at the Avs not pulling the goalie, but I think in a four-goal game, that would have been a supremely assy move. :D
oh and funniest interview of the night was with Travis talking about Marty, and “it was so nice to have him back, he’s such a great guy, and so much fun to be around and… ”
all the while he had that look in his eyes that he had no idea where he was going with this statement, but wherever it was going was definitely worse than where it was now, and even that was pretty bad.
all i could do was hope and pray he stopped before he mentioned how much fun it was to play Pretty Pretty Princess and what an honor it was to do Marty’s laundry.
all the while he had that look in his eyes that he had no idea where he was going with this statement, but wherever it was going was definitely worse than where it was now, and even that was pretty bad.
That’s my favorite thing about Travis interviews — he always seems to reach a point where he gets that look. I’m not convinced there’s a lot going on inside Travis’s head. Heh. But yeah, he came THISCLOSE to inadvertently blurting out the Pretty Pretty Princess and laundry stuff. Poor guy.
Oh, another new hab!
Montreal picked up Glen Metropolit, who was waived by the flyers. I don’t really know him, but I wonder if he’ll play tonight against… Philadelphia.
And the Canucks picked up Ossi Vaanannananen.
Hey anyone know anything about Ossi Vaananen from the Flyers? The Canucks just claimed him off waivers…
alix, I know he’s Finnish and that’s about it. I looked it up to see if he was another Swede to join the group of them that the Canucks seem to have.
Awwwww. Sami Salo will be happy he has another Finn. Heh.
What I know about Vaananen amounts to this: when I was looking through the Flyers’ photo galleries from their preseason stuff in West Point, I kept going, “Oh, hello shapely ass!” And then I’d be like, “Wait, Vaananen? Her?” In short, I think you’ll like him, alix. :D
Oh he’s a 6’4” defenceman. YAY. I love giant European defenceman. Probably a good idea since our defenceman seem to get injured when the weather changes.
HEE! That’s very good info to hear, Schnookie!
“Oh, hello shapely ass!”
I’m choking on my iced tea now.
He’s very blond, too. I would get all excited to see such a shapely derriere in the West Point pictures attached to a body with a blond head, thinking it was dreamboat Farter. Then I’d realize it wasn’t him at all. I bet Farter’s caboose is hideous. :P
Mmmmmm I like him already! He likes to hit too. Nice.
I bet Farter’s caboose is hideous. :P
:^:::::::::::::::
Farter probably has the only flat ass in all of hockey!
I’ve always loved Glen Metropolit’s last name. But that’s all I know about him. And I picture him in his Thrashers uni.
Farter probably has the only flat ass in all of hockey!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, he’s so ashamed of it!
Farter probably has the only flat ass in all of hockey!
Well, something has to balance out the ginormous caboose located at the other end of Pennsylvania.
EEEEE! I get to watch Vinnay tonight!
Well, something has to balance out the ginormous caboose located at the other end of Pennsylvania.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: You’re so right! The state really was very lopsided. :D
Gah! The Flyers waive Metropolit and Vaananen, who both get picked up immediately, and they still can’t fit Tiny!Briere back into the lineup. WTF Homer and company?!?!
WTF Homer and company?!?!
WTF, indeed. They should trade Briere. To the moon.
There still isn’t room for Briere? Dude, Homer somehow manages to be an absolute genius and a complete dundering dolt all at the same time.
WTF, indeed. They should trade Briere. To the moon.
Yes. But not to Buffalo, Buffalo.
I guess Briere’s not as tiny as he looks. Maybe if he crouched down he could fit in under their cap.
They’re cap is much smaller than you’d think. It’s a child’s yarmulke.
Their cap is the size of Celine Dion’s brain.
I loooooove saying Ossi’s name. Osssssi Vaananennnnnnn. He will be my squishy.
They should trade Briere. To the moon.
Yes. But not to Buffalo, Buffalo.
Briere will not fix what’s wrong with the Sabres. And, he has an NTC of all things.
Amy, that cracks me up. I understand why Briere requested the NTC but I can’t believe Philly actually gave it to him on top of the ridiculous years and money.
Oops, I meant “their” cap. Damnation! Banned from my own blog!
They’re cap is much smaller than you’d think. It’s a child’s yarmulke.
Or, a cap on a bottle of your favorite imitation extract. That’s pretty small, right?
That’s pretty small, right?
I’d say that’d be about a teaspoon! :D (:^::::::::::::::::::::::::, to you, Amy!)
Awwwwww! Someone just sent me pictures of a baby giraffe at a vet hospital. And OH MY GOSH. It’s ridiculously adorable. I want to nom it.
I loooooove saying Ossi’s name. Osssssi Vaananennnnnnn. He will be my squishy.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(That is pretty much my favorite line from Finding Nemo.)
Aww, I just watched an interview of Seve Begin, and he was on the verge of crying when he spoke about Montreal and the fans. But you know, in a cool way, not in a Mark Messier way. I’m sure you’ll like him, Dallas fans!
Oh, and apparently, Metropolit WILL play tonight against his former teammates. This is gonna be so awkward for him.
I mean, is he supposed to reveal the flyers gameplan to Carbonneau? He’s like a cold war Russian defector. I already imagine him showing Gainey the pictures he took with his fake pen in the flyers coaching staff office, and answering mysterious phone calls with his shoe soles.
Sutter said that Jay Leach and Mike Rupp will again be the healthy scratches on Saturday.
i trust all members of pando nation read the above today in gulitti’s blog :D
Or, a cap on a bottle of your favorite imitation extract.
:^:::::::::::::::::
And it’s stuck on there pretty good.
I’m sure you’ll like him, Dallas fans!
Awwww! Poor button! I already do like him, Grrreg. They interviewed him last night and he gave a shoutout to Penalty Killing! And he’s pretty foxy, from what I can tell.
Where did you see that interview, Grrrreg? Was it online?
Hey, is anyone out there a Center Ice subscriber on DirecTv who’s by their tv right now? If so, what are you getting on channel 770?
Nevermind! DirecTv knows about the problem! Just ignore me!
Pookie – I have comcrap but my center ice isn’t working. If that was what you were hinting at…
We’re subtly hinting that we’re getting every friggin’ channel on DirecTV EXCEPT the Tranny Brides. This is a TRAVESTY! And an OUTRAGE! :P
Hahahaha Schnookie… I’ve been looking forward to this game all day and I just get that music that drive me nuts on Center Ice. BOOOOOO.
Do you guys get the games in HD when they say “HD” on the Center Ice page? ‘Cause on Comcast, I don’t. Sometimes the feed ends up looking like, well, I don’t have an analogy, but it’s really bad.
OH THANK GOD! The game’s on now!
No, we totally don’t always get HD games when they tell us they’re going to be HD. It’s kind of a crapshoot. I’d say they’re actually HD maybe 50% of the time.
Needless to say, this TSN feed from Montreal looks like sludge. We might as well be listening on the radio. :P
That was just Niittymaki giving Flyers fans a taste of what it’s going to be like when they have Clemmer.
Boy, that was entertaining! I REALLY enjoyed that first period!
I’m off to bed now. good night!
Oh, Patty, the Begin interview was on the RDS website (it’s in French) the interview is divided in 5 short parts.
Part 1
http://www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?video=24438
Part 2, 3 4 and 5:
http://www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?video=24442
http://www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?video=24449
http://www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?video=24446
http://www.rds.ca/video/visionneuse.html?video=24447
(sorry, copy and paste I didn’t have the courage to deal with that many tags!)
Good night!
Schnnokie, wordpress doesn’t want me to answer Patty and post the link to the Begin interview. It ate my two last comments, maybe you can find them back… Sorry about this mess…
No problem, Grrreg — I’ll see if I can’t wrestle Senor Spam into submission.
OK, if we still had numbers on our comments (grrr!) I could direct you to the specific comment, but since we don’t have numbers on the comments any more (grrrrrrrr) just look a few comments above this for the interviews. (Grrreg — we limit the number of links that can be included in a comment to catch spam; 3 or fewer is the way to go.)
Oooh I see… Well thanks, and good night again. But for real this time!
G’night, Grrrreg!
Thanks, Grrrreg! I’ll go check them out!
Doesn’t it seem to y’all that we had a lot more HD games on Center Ice the first half of the season? For example, I used to get the Devils games in HD and now suddenly they’re not. They even had the channel blank a couple of games ago and now they don’t even put a title on the HD version of that channel.
Gosh. Dude is foxy.
Definitely, foxy. I checked out some of the video from Grrreg. Of course, I didn’t understand a word and didn’t really care.
Patty, did you see where he was amused that there was only a handful of reporters at the game last night. Welcome to Dallas. :)
Have the Ookies come down off Cloud Nine yet?
Have the Ookies come down off Cloud Nine yet?
Never! WHEEEEEEEEE!!! *runs around in circles*
I also feel we’re getting less HD now than earlier. Of course, it seems the Cablevision people have yanked their HD from Center Ice, so that would be why you’re not getting Rangers, Islanders and Devils in HD. We get them all on our sports package, so it’s all good there. :P
And Myra, we’re definitely still on Cloud Nine! Life is GRAND in Devilsland!! :D (I had to laugh at the comments on the “Are the Devils Cup Favorites Now?” post on Puck Daddy, where someone was like, “I just checked and the Devils’ top seven forwards have only missed, like, three games this season. Let’s just wait and see when the odds catch up to them.” I’m like, “Dude, the whole point of this argument is that the odds DID catch up with us, and we just spend FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT MARTY BRODEUR. And everyone else on the team who isn’t in our top seven in forward scoring missed significant time this season. Maroon!”)
Speaking of foxy, I finally saw Osssssi’s mug shot. Rawr. Dude looks like he went to the Finnish Harvard and spends his summers on a yacht and plays tennis and has drinks in the garden.
alix, don’t forget that while at Finnish Harvard he majored in “Sculpting a Perfect Caboose”.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What a FABULOUS major!
It’s a grueling major. I tried it, and totally dropped it in favor of Art History. I figured since it was way too academically demanding for me to sculpt my own perfect caboose, I’d instead look at perfect cabooses in art through the centuries. :P
I’m so happy for all in Devilsland! Are you having a trist with your Tranny Brides this evening? (What will Marty think?) Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
I’ve caught a flu-like bug, that is not the flu. I think it’s payback for all the comments I’ve made in the past about the Stars having flu-like symptoms. And Patty, I swear I have not gone near Modano or Lundqvist. :P
I figured since it was way too academically demanding for me to sculpt my own perfect caboose, I’d instead look at perfect cabooses in art through the centuries. :P
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A worthy cause indeed!
Awwwww. Vinny has a bruised heel. Too bad I’m not in Vancouver to lick it better.
Myra, that’s why you never, ever make fun of the flu guys! :D (I am really sorry you’re not feeling well! Feel better soon!)
I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well, Myra! Did the Kid give it to you? She should be tending to you! (And I would never let that stop me from laughing at flu-ridden hockey players. Heh.)
And yes, we are trysting with the trannies tonight (that might have to be the title of my autobiography). Their goaltending is hilariously awful. :D
Vinny has a bruised heel. Too bad I’m not in Vancouver to lick it better.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Patty, did you see where he was amused that there was only a handful of reporters at the game last night. Welcome to Dallas. :)
No, where’d you see that?
You can blame the goaltending on Hub. He put in a request to Nitti to let in some goals. He’s playing against the Ice Trolls this week. Now Mike Richards just needs to get some goals to make up for it. He is the captain for the Trolls. :P
And yes, the Kid totally gave me what she had. She was pretty good to me this afternoon but as soon as Hub got him, she has pretty much ignored me.
Myra, I’m so sorry you’re sick! When I was sick, all I wanted was orange juice. Want me to bring you some?
(I actually thought about trying Sprite, and could only find a 7-UP at the store I crawled to, and it was NASTY. It’s been years. I still plan to try a Sprite next time, but I’m not optimistic.)
He is the captain for the Trolls. :P
Oooh! Good choice!
I can’t believe Kid is being so rude to you, Myra! What an ungrateful wretch. :P
Patty, I like 7-Up so much more than Sprite. :P
Schnookie, at that point EVERYTHING tasted nasty, so maybe I shouldn’t be too quick to judge. (It wasn’t like I remembered, that’s for sure.)
Hm, good point, Patty. You really can’t judge flavors when you’re flu-y, can you?
7-Up is way better than Sprite. Both are pretty nasty, though. When I’m sick I like grapefruit juice.
Patty, did you see where he was amused that there was only a handful of reporters at the game last night. Welcome to Dallas. :)
No, where’d you see that?
Tracey mentions it on #5 in the blog post below. In my fevered state I don’t know if this will work but it is on the Five for Fighting Blog.
http://startelegramsports.typepad.com/five_for_fighting/2009/02/tras-top-10-blues.html
I’m halfway through a 2 litre bottle of gingerale. My mom totally believed in the power of Sprite and Saltines. But I’m going for gingerale and Sociables. (Because that is what we had.)
Mmm. Grapefruit juice. That would have been good!
My dad makes ice cream floats with vanilla ice cream and grapefruit soda. I’ve been meaning to try it for years and never think to when I’m there. Sounds kinda fun.
But I’m going for gingerale and Sociables.
Moving up in the world!
Ooh, a Fanta float? Awesome!
But I’m going for gingerale and Sociables.
Moving up in the world!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The last time I had an upset stomach I did a test, because we had a whole bunch of bubbly beverages on hand. Ginger ale was a million times more restorative than 7-Up, Sprite or seltzer.
And that’s my story.
I never remember ginger ale. I’ll have to keep that in mind. I think as an adult, I’d like it better, since it’s not quite so sticky-sweet.
it’s not quite so sticky-sweet
exactly
Wait. Roman Hamrlik’s on my team? When did that happen?
Thanks for being a -3, dude!
Hey Patty, what are you doing Sunday afternoon. Do you want to be me for the Penguins game, if I can’t go?
Bummer. Poor Tranny Brides.
Myra, I can’t on Sunday, but thanks so much for asking! I’d love to see Sid play. It’s too bad Bouche isn’t playing now, or we’d get some interviews with him. I have a picture in my mind of him staying in Dallas after his surgery, then being forced to ride back to Pittsburgh with the team after their game against the Stars.
I feel sure you’ll be back to health by Sunday, Myra. Especially since you’re eating Sociables instead of saltines.
Poor Tranny Brides.
Poor Paddlers! I can’t BUY a win out of my goalies.
I have a picture in my mind of him staying in Dallas after his surgery, then being forced to ride back to Pittsburgh with the team after their game against the Stars.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’m sure that’s how it’ll play out. :P
Especially since you’re eating Sociables instead of saltines.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, that means you’re going to get better at least 75% faster.
I feel sure you’ll be back to health by Sunday, Myra. Especially since you’re eating Sociables instead of saltines.
Sociables and Gingerale.
Well, I’m really hoping the Z-pak the Doc prescribed will do something. But they weren’t sure what I have so they said the antibiotics may not help. Joy.
Sociables.
Sociables?!?! You play drinking games when you’re sick?! You’re hardcore, Myra.
Hockey totally sucks tonight! First the Tranny Brides lose, then we turn on the Hawks/Pens game long enough to see the Hawks have a go-ahead goal disallowed and now the Pens have scored. Come on, Blackhawks — don’t make my evening of hockey a total waste. :P
Actually, I just looked at the box again and they are “Socials” by Ritz. I don’t know what the difference is. What is the drinking game with Sociables, alix?
I could have sworn they were Sociables, too!
That Blackhawks goal was funny! Toews gets the goal, making it a hat-trick, then the fans all throw their giveaway plastic hardhats on the ice. Then it’s called back. Now they have neither the giveaway nor a hat trick.
Now they have neither the giveaway nor a hat trick.
Heh, yeah, those heirloom plastic hats, lost forever. And for what? FOR WHAT, I ASK YOU???
Sociables is a card game. Every card has some kind of drinking thing attatched too. Usually it gets dirty. It gets you very drunk very fast.
alix, very drunk, very fast might almost be a good thing with the way I feel right now. Having it get dirty, not so much, right now. ;)
WOOOOOOOOOOO!
Oh, I mean hey all, good evening.
Just back from your Tranny Brides vs my Tranny Brides. *sigh* Kovalove….
Just back from your Tranny Brides vs my Tranny Brides.
Stupid Tranny Brides! What’s up with Schlittsy taking such stupid penalties lately?!
Y’all. I had big plans to take my sister (in Keller) to the game today. I saw that the game is at 2pm, but I could have sworn it was at 1:30. So I went to check my tickets to see why I thought that and found a pair of tickets to the Canucks game TWO WEEKS AGO!
They sent me the wrong pair of tickets and I NEVER NOTICED! I’m such an idiot! How could I be so stupid?
Patty, that’s TERRIBLE! I’m so sorry! That blows! I would never think to check the tickets, either. Can you call the box office? Would they have a record of the transaction?
I emailed the ticket guy, but it’s Saturday, so I don’t guess he’ll see it.
I didn’t think to call the box office. Now I’ve kind of made new plans. Heh.
I probably have the receipt around here somewhere. I never throw that stuff away, but I also never file it.
Patty, that’s AWFUL! I’m so sorry! That’s a DISASTER!
I probably have the receipt around here somewhere. I never throw that stuff away, but I also never file it.
Me neither. I toss it all on my bedroom floor next to the file cabinet. In related news, Boomer’s cat Roy loves to eat paper. He only just recently discovered my bedroom exists. The past two days I’ve discovered piles of little bits of chewed up bills and paystubs. I… hope they weren’t important.
Cheaper than a shredder! :D
It’s times like these, when I’m vaguely relieved that I get to watch the game on TV, that I wonder if season tickets are really for me.
But they put the STH names in a hat and draw a winner for a road trip on the team plane! I must have that prize.
It’s times like these, when I’m vaguely relieved that I get to watch the game on TV, that I wonder if season tickets are really for me.
After five years with season tickets (and never winning anything, might I add, in those drawings), I concluded that it DEFINITELY wasn’t for me. :P
(there’s a new thread, by the way.)