ARGH! We’re not in HD again??? But the Islanders are? This is an OUTRAGE! MSG has all its dumb commercials about how they’re not going to let anyone ignore Marty on his march to history, but heaven forbid they should have Marty in HD or anything.
By the way, we would like to take this moment to say that we were not responsible for Travis’s Wikipedia entry being vandalized. If it had been us, you’d have known it.
FIRST PERIOD
20:00 Before the drop of the puck, we get the goalie matchup. We suspect this Tordjman kid is about to get his first NHL 40-save shutout. The new guys always do against the Devils.
19:42 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Or not! The game starts off with a classic “we’re scoring in the first minute” shift by the Poppers, where Langer cuts across the crease to feed Zach for his 40th goal of the year! WOOOOOOO!!! 1-0 Devils, and we happily clink wine glasses to toast our very own superstar.
17:33 After Marty makes a stop while holding the post in the face of some scrambling, we get a look at Wayne on the Phoenix bench. Chico wonders aloud how much this losing season must be torturing Wayne. Schnookie: “Yeah. Another losing season for a mediocre coach. It must be terrible for him.” Chico isn’t listening, and just keeps blathering on about how the problem in Phoenix is that Wayne hasn’t been given any talent to work with. To which Tom Renney says, “Fuck you.”
17:04 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chico: “Well sure, there was some worry that the Devils would take this game lightly…” The Devils: “We are taking this game lightly.” But they just can’t help scoring. In this case, Madden is powering along down the ice, minding his own business, then he lunges to get his stick on an Oduya shot, and Tordjman has no answer. It’s 2-0 Devils.
13:25 There’s a bit of passive play in the Devils zone that almost leads to a good scoring chance, but Prucha tips the puck to the glass instead of on net. We kind of feel like the Coyotes have actually had the better of the play here.
11:37 Jovo takes Patty down behind the Coyotes net in a move that you could kind of consider a slew-foot. Schnookie: “Yeah, Jovo’s feeling pretty brave back there now that Brylin’s not patrolling the ice.”
11:04 Zubrus, the tall man’s Brylin, takes Jovo out with a butt-end to the eye socket. He gets four minutes for high-sticking.
10:26 Oh sure, the Devils are totally not taking this game lightly. The whole PK, from Marty on out, forgets what they’re doing, and Upshall sweeps a bouncing puck into the net while everyone in red stands around watching in horror. 2-1 Devils.
6:35 We’re all deeply immersed in our cheese dinner, and not really paying attention. That’s probably the problem the Devils and Tordjman are having.
5:22 Doc and Chico discuss how Marty’s seen 12 shots already. Only 12? We were just talking about how it felt more like 600.
2:50 Oh, there’s still hockey going on? We’re embroiled in a discussion of the Jon Stewart/Jim Cramer feud. We can’t even tell you, Gentle Reader, how much we’ve been enjoying that.
0:00 The good news here is that the Devils are up 2-1, and lately the first period has been by far their worst. We get an interview with 40-goal-scorer Zach Parise. He tries to pretend that he doesn’t think he’s hot shit now.
FIRST INTERMISSION
Gel-O and Dano talk to some guy about the NJ high school hockey championship, and things turn, as they always do, to Jim Dowd. Go Ocean County!
SECOND PERIOD
17:46 Doc and Chico are telling us to go to the alumni event at which Chico’s playing this weekend, and after talking it all up, Chico tells us that fans can find where the game is “by Googling it. Or…” Long pause. “Or… looking at… that other thing.” Doc tries to cover for him by saying that any search engine will do. Pookie, ever the kindly reference librarian, says, “Chico’s just being smart and knows Google Maps is better than Mapquest.”
16:11 Hey! Yesterday was Gracie Sutter’s birthday! And KtG’s! Happy birthday to both of them.
13:12 You know what? The Devils just don’t look like a juggernaut so far.
12:49 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! This game is totally shaping up to be one for the ages. The Shanny/Zubrus/Clarkson line lulls the Coyotes D to sleep, and Shanny feeds Zubrus in the high slot to make it 3-1 Devils.
11:32 Blobby decides to force Jovo to relive his Brylin misadventures, too. It’s the first time this season that we’ve liked something Blobby did.
10:27 Marty has to make a series of saves that he was probably not expecting to have to do tonight. When he looked at the calendar, we suspect he wasn’t circling the Coyotes as a tough night.
10:16 What??? No! Doc tells us who the next player’s dog pictures are going to be from, and it’s Shanny. Who does he think he is? He thinks he can just waltz in here, boot Pando to the press box, then win us over with pictures of his dog??? That bastard.
7:09 We are reminded during the course of the play-by-play that a certain ex-Ranger is in the lineup for Phoenix this evening. Schnookie: “Shit. We’re going to need at least another couple of goals before I’m comfortable with Nigel Dawes out there.” Certified Marty-killers are Marty-killers wherever they play.
6:57 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gio laces a gorgeous diagonal pass to Patty on a long two-on-one, and Patty puts a shot on net, it gets stopped, rattles around Tordjman’s five-hole, and then all of a sudden the puck’s in the goal. It’s 4-1 Devils, and we can’t help but think this isn’t really a case of the Devils playing that much better than the Coyotes tonight. It’s just that… well… Mickey Mouse. (And Patty is now within three points of the all-time Devils scoring record.)
4:11 Doc tells us that Shane Doan (who used to live pretty much in our neighborhood in Scottsdale, we feel compelled to add) has six relatives in the Rodeo Hall Of Fame. Except he says it like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Pookie: “Doan’s family is just classy that way.”
2:25 Havelid actually makes a good defensive play, stripping a Coyote of the puck deep in the Devils zone. Pookie: “He’s the Iron M now!” Schnookie: “Yeah, he’s earning back all the letters.” Pookie: “Yup. Sutter stripped him of his A-C-H-O.”
1:36 Salvador and Prust fight.
It’s kind of weird how frequently the Iron Boar fights, isn’t it?
1:25 Doc gets all excited as a Coyote starts bulling up the far wing, and shouts, “Here comes a chance for Shane Doan!!!” We all settle in to watch the amazingness, and instead Oduya just calmly angles him out of the play, and Doan ends up sliding into the crease while Oduya skates off with the puck. Pookie: “I feel like that was just Doan’s career in a nutshell.”
0:22 Chico is talking about Patty, and it’s just brilliant. First he goes on and on and on about how Patty could have been a Ranger, “skating with Scott Gomez” (in case any Devils fans have forgotten about an example of a Devil who signed with the Rangers as a free agent), but Patty stayed with the Devils because he’s loyal and hard-working and dedicated and committed and sexy and generous and handsome and perfect and dreamy (we’re paraphrasing). Meanwhile, the unspoken part is that Gomez is decidedly not any of those things. After finishing up with his passhole-aggresshole assault on Gomer, Chico then informs us that Patty is the UN ambassador from Czech. Pookie: “UN. ICEF. He forgot the ‘ICEF’.” Schnookie: “Sutter’s stripped Patty of his ICEF.”
DAMMIT! Shanny wins us over in his interview here! DAMN HIM!!! When Gel-O makes him watch his assist on Zubrus’s goal, he asks if it was a tough pass to make or a hard play to see. Shanny, totally deadpan, says, “Yes. That’s a very tough pass to make. Most guys wouldn’t see that. It’s a very hard play.” Gel-O, however, doesn’t realize Shanny’s joking, and, to his everlasting credit, Shanny suddenly looks like he feels bad for putting Gel-O in that position. FINE! Pando couldn’t have done that.
SECOND INTERMISSION
“Chico Eats!” tonight features a family that was there courtesy of Garden Of Dreams, and the kids got to shake hands with Chuck the Duck. It’s adorable.
THIRD PERIOD
19:03 Dawes tries to Marty-kill with a wrister from the faceoff dot to Marty’s left, but, shockingly, Marty stops it. Perhaps the magic hasn’t conveyed between teams?
18:15 Chico tells us he doesn’t think the Coyotes are going to score three goals in this period. Frankly, we wish he wouldn’t talk like that.
17:58 Blobby’s fired. He takes a tripping penalty in the neutral zone, setting only the second power play of the game in motion (although the last one was a double-minor). We joke that we’re going to spend the rest of the game complaining that the Devils haven’t had a power play yet.
16:22 Travis and Langer do everything in their power to fail to clear the puck at the high point, but the Coyotes refuse to take advantage, so Travis suddenly finds himself on a quasi-break that requires a hooking penalty by Upshall. We stop complaining about the lack of Devils PPs.
15:19 We really aren’t complaining now. A Coyote bats the puck from waist height over the glass, and the Devils go on the 5-on-3. Chico tries to complain that it’s a bad call because the guy didn’t shoot the puck off the ice over the glass. Boomer: “He played the puck off the playing surface directly over the glass, Chico.” Pretty much.
15:02 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After some workmanlike puck movement, the Devils get a point shot, and Travis is there to calmly make the game 5-1 Devils. Chico very seriously tells us that “Coach Wayne Gretzky” said just the other day that teams should score 100% of the time on 5-on-3s. Why hasn’t he won a Jack Adams yet?
11:12 We are WOOOOO!ing with glee at the news first from the out-of-town scoreboard that the Predators are currently leading the Rangers in their game, and then from Chico that the Coyotes are the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL behind – you guessed it – the Rangers. Oh, low-scoring Rangers. You’re so delightful. Pookie: “Welcome to New York, Gomez.” HAHAHAHAHA!
10:01 We get a look at Patty and Travis on the bench, talking animatedly, Patty’s arm draped over Travis’s shoulders. We hope he’s warning Acorns about the oysters at Sheremetyevo. Chico then goes off on a flight of fancy that Patty should end up in the Hall of Fame someday. If he does end up there, Schnookie will make regular pilgrimages to shout at his plaque, “Patty, you’re fired!”
7:52 Patty, you’re fired! He blows past the D with a giant burst of speed, looks like he’s about to swagger around Tordjman, but at the last minute gets the puck stuck on the goalie’s outstretched toe.
7:33 Upshall charges Gio behind the Phoenix net, then tries to mix up with Patty, and then all three converge at center ice for the least scary shoving-and-shouting match in the history of the NHL. Patty and Upshall get matching minors.
6:14 Huh? We don’t really pay attention to what’s going on, and we guess we probably should have, because there’s a scrum in front of the Coyotes net in which three guys take on Clarkson, but Clarkson’s the only one who gets a penalty.
5:39 As the Coyotes mill about ineffectually in all the extra space in the Devils zone, Boomer says, “I wonder what Wayne thinks a team should do with a 4-on-3.”
4:20 Havelid tries to score by kicking a Coyotes pass back into Marty’s crease. Marty manages to cover the puck, then comes up laughing. Yeah, it’s all fun and games…
3:54 Clarkson and Prust have a fight that covers basically the entire rink and goes on for about 45 minutes.
This gets Chico going about the dialog in hockey about fighting’s place in the game, and you know what, Gentle Reader? We literally do not care. Keep it, ban it, whatever. Can we talk about something else now?
We come back from commercial and a Marty highlight reel with kick-ass martial music is playing. Yeah, the first of Marty’s big games could be Saturday night, in Montreal. As scripted. The part that’s going off-script? Doc’s not going to be there! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! No wonder Marty tanked that game on the Island – he didn’t want Gel-O getting the call for 552.
2:06 BOOOO! Reinprecht scores. 5-2 Devils.
0:12 A “Marty! Marty! Marty!” cheer goes up as the final seconds tick down.
0:00 And the buzzer sounds on a franchise-record ninth straight home win. WOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Zach’s 40th! And then also a Madden goal? Yikes!
This week’s SI has a nice article about Marty in it, just an FYI.
Really? Thanks for the heads up; I’ll have to get my grubby mitts on it before it gets stolen from the library!
So, how’s everyone else’s hockey going so far? Amy, is it terrible having to watch on your secondary TV?
The Marty article even mentions the in-game Sprite habit, and talks to Weekes, but not Clemmer.
is it terrible having to watch on your secondary TV?
I did some whining…er negotiating, (yeah that’s the word) and can have the HDTV until 9pm. Then I really have to go to the other room.
And Derek Roy is wearing a Vitamin Water sweater during a PSA. I’m ashamed FOR him.
Way to whine your way to happiness, Amy! I’m never above whining to get what I want. I mean, negotiating. Heh.
And Derek Roy is wearing a Vitamin Water sweater during a PSA. I’m ashamed FOR him.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: He’s like, “No worries! The life of a whore is a happy one!” :P
The Marty article even mentions the in-game Sprite habit, and talks to Weekes, but not Clemmer.
That’s because Clemmer was too drunk to answer the questions.
I’m ashamed FOR him.
Derek Roy’s like, “I’m used to it, no problem.” Heh. How’s your game going? I didn’t realize y’all are playing Florida. That game is huge, isn’t it?
I’m not getting the Brylin reference. Is there an incident that I’m forgetting?
I’m not getting the Brylin reference. Is there an incident that I’m forgetting?
Ages and ages and ages ago, back in what was probably our first season with Devils tickets, Sarge absolutely laid Jovo out. Jovo was, at the time, kind of the day’s Dion Phaneuf, in that he was the most overrated hitter in the league, and it happened right in front of us (we had seats in the fourth row) — Sarge just stepped into him in an open-ice hit and flattened Jovo. For a long time (like, years) it was on every Devils highlight reel, and I haven’t been able to take Jovo seriously since. :D
How’s your game going? I didn’t realize y’all are playing Florida. That game is huge, isn’t it?
The Sabres are up 2-1 in the first of many, many, many must-win games remaining this season.
Must-win games or Katebits’s “kinda must-win games”? Hee!
WOOOOOOOOOO!!! (I feel a little bad wooo-ing that much against this goalie tonight.)
Must-win games or Katebits’s “kinda must-win games”? Hee!
Hee! I would say that depends on whether or not they actually want to make the playoffs.
I would say that depends on whether or not they actually want to make the playoffs.
Heh. They’re like, “Um, could you not ask us that directly?”
And yeah, I have to say, the Coyotes do NOT have an NHL-caliber goalie in net tonight.
Heh. They’re like, “Um, could you not ask us that directly?”
Yeah, that is kind of an open question when it comes to the Sabres.
The Sabres are like, “That question… Um… We’ll take the last part first, please.”
Yeah, that is kind of an open question when it comes to the Sabres.
Hm. That’s never a good statement about a season, is it?
I say we just forfeit the rest of the games. Lot less trouble.
Well, I do like our playoff match-up today, so I’m all for it! :P
WOOOOO, Travis!
Oh, sure, Pookie! It’s GOOD for you! Hmph. :P
Well, soooo-ooooo-rrrry!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::
You can WOOO, I was just kiddin’!
We’re just trying not to hurt anybody’s feelings. We remember what it was like during last year’s playoffs when our lives sucked but your team was rockin’ along, Patty. Just keeping our heads down here… :P
We’re just trying not to hurt anybody’s feelings.
In a rare turn of events… :D
I was pretty mean last season, wasn’t I? I’m sorry about that. You’re not hurting my feelings. I’m trying to keep from dragging your fun into the gutter. With all my whining.
I’m trying to keep from dragging your fun into the gutter.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thanks! Appreciate it!
I’m trying to keep from dragging your fun into the gutter. With all my whining.
Same here. Y’all should be turning figurative cartwheels over the Devils right now. Don’t worry about those of us having the life sucked out of us by our miserable teams. :)
Ignore me, because I’ll fail to keep from whining. :D
And WOOOOOOO!! Devils! Thanks for beating the Coyotes. We’ll need that later when we’re happy we didn’t come in last. DAMMIT! I did it again, didn’t I? :P
DAMMIT! I did it again, didn’t I? :P
:^:::::::::::::::::::::
We are hopeless.
Don’t worry about those of us having the life sucked out of us by our miserable teams. :)
Ignore me, because I’ll fail to keep from whining. :D
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I’d be the same way! Remember what a ray of sunshine I was during the March swoon and the first round against the Rangers last year? :P
And WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! The last few months with the Devils has been AWESOME! Honestly, I can’t BELIEVE the numbers this team is putting up right now. (As Marty is interviewed in the postgame saying “We haven’t won anything yet.” Awww, Marty.)
Wooooooo, Devils! (I am going to be a big Devils fan for the next several games, by the way. Why? Because I’m a sucker for false hope and they’re playing teams it would really help the Sabres if they beat. Even though the Sabres will blow it anyway.
Why? Because I’m a sucker for false hope and they’re playing teams it would really help the Sabres if they beat.
Whatever it takes! :D (That’s how it begins, you know. I was a big Tranny Bride fan last year just because I needed to see the Caps lose in the playoffs. AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ME! The Devils can be your Trannies, Meg! :P)
Otter just gave Myra a shoutout from the bench right before that latest goal. :P
Even though the Sabres will blow it anyway.
Oh, and relentless optimism: it’s the hallmark of the IPB Irregulars.
Meg, if the Devils start losing when you start cheering for them, we might have to ban you.
Um. I might have to keep whining out loud. We just got another one. We’re up 3-1 now. Surely to cough it up in the 3rd, right?
Yeah, Schnookie, except I can’t see any of their games on television unless they’re on Blersus, which makes it difficult. I actually like the Devils just fine to begin with, but I don’t think it would be much fun to have a Tranny Bride I can never see. :(
Oh my god, what is with our giddy Devils tonight? First Shanny gives the funniest in-game interview I’ve ever heard, now Gel-O asks Patty if he’s going to stick around long enough to score 1000 points, and Patty cracks up, “Who knows if the league would be around that long!”
but I don’t think it would be much fun to have a Tranny Bride I can never see. :(
That would be a waste of a Tranny. :P
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Way to go Devils!
Now, let’s go Pred-a-tors!
Hey Schnookie, how are those Tintats doing? ;)
Otter just gave Myra a shoutout from the bench right before that latest goal. :P
That was totally a “Thank you for all your support!” sticking out of the tongue by Otter to ME!!! HA!!!
It’s 3-1, Stars! I’m totally bewildered!
Go Predators, indeed!
Hey Schnookie, how are those Tintats doing? ;)
Well, after letting the Soldering Iron Boars win big last week, they’re still up 28 points in the standings on them. Why do you ask?
And unrelatedly, we just saw a commercial that the Hurricanes have dollar popcorn nights! That’s SO RAD!
6:14 Huh? We don’t really pay attention to what’s going on, and we guess we probably should have, because there’s a scrum in front of the Coyotes net in which three guys take on Clarkson, but Clarkson’s the only one who gets a penalty.
Okay, so it wasn’t just me. But what is the deal with Clarkson and his inabilty to stay on his feet? Does he need a new skate sponsor or what?
But what is the deal with Clarkson and his inabilty to stay on his feet? Does he need a new skate sponsor or what?
Seriously! The guys tried to talk him out of that mid-season inner ear augmentation, but no-ooo-ooo. He just HAD to go ahead with it…
Well, after letting the Soldering Iron Boars win big last week, they’re still up 28 points in the standings on them. Why do you ask?
Oh, just hoping their pride wasn’t hurt by throwing a week. (the check is in the mail) :P
that mid-season inner ear augmentation
He couldn’t find anything wrong with his face, so….
A shorty scored by the Rags? Crikey! I think I may have to drop the Preds and adopt the Blues as my secondary.
(the check is in the mail) :P
Heh. Yeah. It better be a big one, because that was an UGLY loss we suffered on your behalf. :P
He couldn’t find anything wrong with his face, so…
So true! :D
And the Rangers got a shorty? Gah! That SUCKS!
The Rangers got a shorty?!? That blows.
Dare I ask who scored it? Stupid Rangers! (I’m torn, I admit it.) (It’s just business, you understand.)
I don’t know who it was. When I went out to the living room to see, it looked like the Rags were giving a certain slag faced whore a pat on the back though. And yes, just business, I understand.
And yes, just business, I understand.
*Through clenched teeth* Right. Business. I understand too.
Surely it helps that I hate the Rangers and not the Preds in the grand scheme of things. Right?
Surely it helps that I hate the Rangers and not the Preds in the grand scheme of things. Right?
Whatever, beeyatch. :P
Patty, I think you should stop while you can still type.
Whatever, beeyatch. :P
What’s the guy equivalent of beeyatch? I feel I’m gonna need it.
Whatever, beeyatch. :P
Patty, I think you should stop while you can still type.
Heh. What they said. :P
I think you should stop while you can still type.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What’s the guy equivalent of beeyatch? I feel I’m gonna need it.
Bastage?
No matter. Ladeis, let’s set all of our differences aside and concentrate on what’s most important. And that’s making sure that Andrew’s fantasy team misses the playoffs. ;)
I love that the Coyotes suck. And I love Travis. :) Zach’s okay I suppose. :P
Heh. What they said. :P
Wait. Why are y’all mad? Oh, right. The Rangers.
I really should change the subject, huh.
Soooo. Those Devils are AWESOME, aren’t they?!
Ladeis, let’s set all of our differences aside and concentrate on what’s most important. And that’s making sure that Andrew’s fantasy team misses the playoffs.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Good point! I can’t believe we were letting our petty differences distract us from what really matters in life! The TinTats are doing their part!
Bastage?
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Yeah, ya bastage, ya.
The Paddlers would like to help in the SuperLeague, but I think they all went home already.
I really should change the subject, huh.
Soooo. Those Devils are AWESOME, aren’t they?!
Excellent conversation topic! Did I mention yet tonight that we’ve won 20 of our last 25? And Pierre LeBrun said on ESPN that the Devils are the best team in the east lately, but probably not the overall league. I’m like, “SHOW ME THE TEAM THAT’S WON MORE SINCE JANUARY!” But not too loudly. I like it when the Devils are good, but under the radar.
If the Superleague playoffs started today, the BoxPanners would be facing andrew’s Puppydogs and Ice Cream. Or as I like to call them the Poopydogs and Poop Poop.
The Paddlers would like to help in the SuperLeague, but I think they all went home already.
It’s never good when the players start deserting.
Ahhh I wanna know what Travis’s dad has to say about the whole Terry Sawchuk thing.
I wanna know what Travis’s dad has to say about the whole Terry Sawchuk thing.
He was probably like, “I didn’t know anything about that. Your mother has some explaining to do!” Poor Travis. :P
Soooo. Those Devils are AWESOME, aren’t they?!
Totally off the wall comment:
I have a confession, I have always liked Shanny. My only problem with him this year is that he’s wearing Brylin’s number. No, I don’t think it should be retired, but at least make it off limits for a year or two.
Or as I like to call them the Poopydogs and Poop Poop.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Woo. Stars win. (I’m not fallin’ for it, though.)
http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2009/3/12/795254/parise-zajac-autograph-sig
Did you guys hear about this? Poor Travis is only worth $15 while Parise is worth $35-50. First he doesn’t know about Terry and now this? Poor kid is going to have to go get comfort from Paulie.
My only problem with him this year is that he’s wearing Brylin’s number. No, I don’t think it should be retired, but at least make it off limits for a year or two.
Yeah, his addition to the Devils has certainly improved our lineup, but the trappings of it left me very disgruntled, what with the wearing Sarge’s number and Pando’s roster spot. :P
On the flip side, though, I love that Lou handed out 23 as soon as he had a chance to.
I love that Lou handed out 23 as soon as he had a chance to.
And 27!
I feel all dirty tonight. Now I’m cheering for Colorado.
It’s amazing what the Stars can reduce us to, Patty.
Patty, that’s TERRIBLE! You’re a wreck!
The Sabres won! I left with both my shoes! (mostly because Derek Roy wasn’t in front of me too often. But why are the Islanders winning? Seriously. If I was an Islanders fan, I’d wonder what happened to the first 3/4 of the season.
I feel all dirty tonight. Now I’m cheering for Colorado.
WTF??
I cannot believe the Islanders beat the Habs last night. That’s almost enough to make me forget that every team that the Sabres needed a loss from went out and did the opposite.
That’s almost enough to make me forget that every team that the Sabres needed a loss from went out and did the opposite.
Amy, I remember last season I kept up pretty well with the Sabres scoreboard watching, until the end when it was like, “Well, the Sabres lost, but if the Devils win, and the Capitals beat the Hurricanes for first place, and the Flyers don’t tie, and the moon lines up with Jupiter, and nachos outsell hotdogs, and we all jump backwards, then we won’t get pregnant. Er, I mean, they’ll make the playoffs.” I’m already lost this season. I was watching out of town scores last night, and I just couldn’t remember what was good and what was bad anymore.
I’m already lost this season.
I never know how people keep up with that stuff. Of course, 2006 (I think?) taught me that it’s not really worth getting too wrapped up in it until the horn sounds to end the last game of the season.
Oooh, Martle put up his list of best defensive-defensemen and Paulie was #2! Swoon!
Yeah, I remember hanging on every single point every single night in 2006, and our division (and playoff matchups) was all decided literally on the last day of the season. We’re still too far out for me to be trying to count everyone’s points…
Oooh, Martle put up his list of best defensive-defensemen and Paulie was #2! Swoon!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! He was??? Martle’s been quite the vocal member of PaulieMartinNation for quite a while, hasn’t he? He makes up for basically all the Devils fans who don’t read IPB, doesn’t he?
I cannot believe the Islanders beat the Habs last night. That’s almost enough to make me forget that every team that the Sabres needed a loss from went out and did the opposite.
Actually, last night was a good night on the win-loss front for the Sabres. Sure the Rangers won (boo, hiss) but all the other teams the Sabres needed to lose did. Carolina and Pittsburgh both lost in addition to Montreal. It’s just unfortunate that a couple of those were 3 point games.
But why are the Islanders winning? Seriously. If I was an Islanders fan, I’d wonder what happened to the first 3/4 of the season.
What they need to do is find a way to convince all the kids on the Island at the start of next year that it’s the last month of the season and they’re 40 points out of the playoffs. And then just play out the whole season that way. And don’t bother with any veteran additions to the lineup, because talk about addition by subtraction when they started losing their “leaders” out there… :D
And don’t bother with any veteran additions to the lineup, because talk about addition by subtraction when they started losing their “leaders” out there
So Pretty Ricky would be relegated to the role of benchwarmer or press box resident?
So Pretty Ricky would be relegated to the role of benchwarmer or press box resident?
HAHAHAHAHA! They should! And actually, in all seriousness, Chico went on a rant about that last week when we were getting thumped on the Island. He was going on about how if the Islanders really want to be building their fanbase, they need to leave Pretty Ricky off the cover of the media guide next year, and they need to start promoting the players who are actually going to be doing some good for the franchise. It was almost a little uncomfortable, actually. Chico’s not normally that hard-edged with his criticisms.
if the Islanders really want to be building their fanbase, they need to leave Pretty Ricky off the cover of the media guide next year, and they need to start promoting the players who are actually going to be doing some good for the franchise. It was almost a little uncomfortable, actually. Chico’s not normally that hard-edged with his criticisms.
Ouch. Not that Ricky doesn’t do good, but when is the last time he’s been able to play a significant string of games without injuring himself?
What they need to do is find a way to convince all the kids on the Island at the start of next year that it’s the last month of the season and they’re 40 points out of the playoffs.
I can only imagine what a pre game locker room speech sounds like in that scenario. “Fuck it. We’re not making it anyways. Let’s get this game over with and get our drink on.” And yet somehow, it works?
Not that Ricky doesn’t do good, but when is the last time he’s been able to play a significant string of games without injuring himself?
Exactly! I think Chico was starting to err toward the “put a fork in Pretty Ricky” side of things. Which I’m inclined to agree with. Being a doctor and all, I can definitively say that Pretty Ricky will never be durable enough to be an NHL starter. :P
Actually, last night was a good night on the win-loss front for the Sabres.
For the second time recently, everybody we needed to lose lost, but in OT. Fortunately, this time we won.
Pretty Ricky is also pretty much a stand-in for all the Islanders management’s stupid decisions. I mean, it’s not like Islanders fans liked that contract to begin with much less now.
Pretty Ricky is also pretty much a stand-in for all the Islanders management’s stupid decisions.
That’s a pretty fair assessment, I think. And probably what Chico was driving at last weekend. The sooner management can pretend Pretty Ricky’s not still there, the sooner fans can get back on board with the franchise.
Malcolm came through again for the Jackets! They tried to give the game away (they tried really freakin’ hard) but in the end they got the win! Woooo!
I started to get obsessive about points last month, and then I forced myself to count the number of games left and stopped. And now I can’t concentrate long enough to count that high, so no more stress!
And now I can’t concentrate long enough to count that high, so no more stress!
HAHAHA! It seems Malcolm’s good for a lot of things — good-luck charm and worthy stretch-run distraction! :D
(I was watching the score of the CBJ game and worrying about his track record, by the way. I was like, “NOOO! They can’t lose! They’ve got Malcolm!”)
Pretty Ricky is also pretty much a stand-in for all the Islanders management’s stupid decisions.
Big style. They’ll be morons if they don’t put Okposo on their media guide cover next year. At least pretend they have a bright future!
Until the Islanders trade Okposo for a first overall pick and select the next can’t miss franchise goalie.
Hm. Good point, Morgan. :D
Until the Islanders trade Okposo for a first overall pick and select the next can’t miss franchise goalie.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BURN!
I like Okposo! He’s a Paddler!
(That’s all I know about him.)
Okposo’s also a Marty-killer, so I wouldn’t mind if the Islanders traded him…
Until the Islanders trade Okposo for a first overall pick and select the next can’t miss franchise goalie.
Thanks Islanders! How I love you so.
Thanks Islanders! How I love you so.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, you guys have nothing to complain about the Islanders up in Vancouver, do you? :D
They’ll be morons if they don’t put Okposo on their media guide cover next year. At least pretend they have a bright future!
Speaking of the future, did you see the jersey fail on Puck Daddy where the gentleman was wearing a Tavares Islanders jersey?
did you see the jersey fail on Puck Daddy where the gentleman was wearing a Tavares Islanders jersey
Heh. Yeah, gotta love that.
Yeah, you guys have nothing to complain about the Islanders up in Vancouver, do you? :D
That we do not! Hee. I should really start sending Mike Milbury Christmas presents.
So apparently the concession people are striking tonight at GM Place. I’d be pissed if I couldn’t get my beer in a sippy cup and my veggie burger!
So apparently the concession people are striking tonight at GM Place.
Wow, really? That’s brutal!
Ooh, not cool! I hope that concession strike problem gets fixed quickly! I’m still in a state of shock over the $1 popcorn promo in Carolina. It’s about time someone offered $1 options for non-hot-dog eaters!
1 dollar popcorn IS amazing! wow. Yeah, I never touch hot dogs. Obviously. Heh.
I’m still in a state of shock over the $1 popcorn promo in Carolina. It’s about time someone offered $1 options for non-hot-dog eaters!
I’d be a fan of $1 pretzel night. I wouldn’t even be greedy and ask for that price to be extended to the fancy stuffed pretzels, either.
Yeah, I never touch hot dogs.
That’s what she said. :P
I wish the AAC would have $1 sugared pecans. Not only are they SIX dollars for a handful of (admittedly awesome) pecans, they’re cash only! So I never can have any.
Oooh, those sugared nuts were delicious!
And yes, that IS what she said.
$1 sugared pecans would be the BOMB.
And you know what’s NOT the bomb? The schedule tonight! What’s with me having to eat dinner in front of NON-HOCKEY PROGRAMMING? This is a travesty.
And you know what’s NOT the bomb? The schedule tonight! What’s with me having to eat dinner in front of NON-HOCKEY PROGRAMMING? This is a travesty.
We’re even playing, but got bumped by the A10 conference game! Talk about travesties.
What??? You’re not getting the game tonight, Karen? That’s AWFUL! I feel like it’s being wasted on me now…
(And unrelatedly, I just made rice pudding, and it is SO good. That’s my story.)
The great Mike Heika was talking to Krys Barch today at practice and asked him about the fact that he wears number 13, since it’s Friday the 13th and all. Barch explained that 10 and 3 were both taken so he took 13. Heika writes:
Then Barch added, “Oh yeah, and my son was born on the 13th, so that’s a good sign.”
Really, I asked, what year?
“No, today, this morning at 4,” Barch replied.
Isn’t that cute? For some reason, I can’t get over that.
And that’s my story.
What kind of a cable company bumps hockey for college basketball?? (I assume that’s what you meant, Karen.)
That’s so cute about Barch!
Ack! Our feed of this Hawks/CBJ game just got hung up on a frozen frame from that AWFUL Center Ice commercial with the guy building a penalty box for his TV. It just sat on that frame while the sound from all the other commercials played. I thought for a moment that I had died and gone to hell.
Hahahah! Mine froze for a second too, but it was game action so I wasn’t too upset.
It never occurred to me that Patrick Sharp’s nickname would be Sharpie. I LOVE it. There’s gotta be a ton of jokes in there.
After that Kane/Toews collision and Eddie’s response to it, I feel compelled to mention that I have ZERO sympathy for guys who get hurt because they don’t wear their mouthguards right.
And that’s my story.
RAWR. Mats is totes trying to flirt with me tonight. I won’t fall for it though until he scores again…
Yeah, alix, play hard to get!
EEEEEEEEE! 21 goals for Burr! Fuckin luff him! 500 000!
Something was bound to happen to Kane with that mouthguard always hanging out. I was thinking the other day that the first time he gets a big hit, he’s going to bite right through it.
Fuckin luff him! 500 000!
Heh. Not for much longer. :P
Hee! True. But 2 million ain’t too shabby either. :D
These refs are grinding my gears.
YAY! I don’t have to play hard to get any more!
Meatballs for everyone!
I’m so excited for you, alix! You and Baldilocks will make SUCH a cute couple!
Hee! Thanks, Schnookie!
alix, what in the hell is going on in this game? It’s BONKERS!
I didn’t realize Henrik Sedin was capable of that! I thought Daniel was the good one! Go Box Panners!
Wasn’t it TOTALLY weird?!
I was just about to exclaim how dull it had gotten and then BAM! Heh. Hank Sedin. I didn’t think he had it in him either! He’s usually the assist man!
Hello Ookies, are you ready for tonight’s game?
I think I’d rather see Brodeur tie Roy’s record next tuesday at home, in front of his fans, rather than tonight in front of a hostile crowd in Montreal. You know, for his own good. I think he’d enjoy it better. Right?
No, no, Grrrreg! He’d rather BREAK the record in front of the home fans. :P
I would love to see him do it tonight, just to get it done. He has a history of faltering in the chase of records (okay, just the 48 wins in one season record), so I would really appreciate if he could just reel this one off and be done with it. No offense to whomever we have to mow down in the process. Heh.
Oh, and Montreal is NEVER a hostile crowd to Marty. :P
But, but… you don’t REALLY need those two points, do you? The habs could totally win it in OT if you still want one point.
And besides, I think it would be mean to ruin Patrice Brisebois’ big night: he’s playing his 1000th game tonight!
And I think Montrealers are too traumatized to be hostile to Marty. In front of him, they’re catatonic, in silent awe, waiting for the worse to happen (pretty much like when Brisebois touches the puck, by the way).
And besides, I think it would be mean to ruin Patrice Brisebois’ big night: he’s playing his 1000th game tonight!
Lemme think about that for a sec… Um, no. I’m not very concerned about ruining that. :P
In front of him, they’re catatonic, in silent awe, waiting for the worse to happen (pretty much like when Brisebois touches the puck, by the way).
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Wait, no, I mean, I’m so sorry! That’s awful! (I love the Montreal fans’ relationship with Marty. That’s what they get for assuming all those years that all Marty wanted was to play for the Habs, just they way they are now with Vinny. That’s what they get for assuming that no one would ever actually WANT to play in New Jersey. Heh.)
I think it would be mean to ruin Patrice Brisebois’ big night: he’s playing his 1000th game tonight!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
4 for 4! Puck Daddy was trying to claim the glory for Vermette, but I know better.
4 for 4! Puck Daddy was trying to claim the glory for Vermette, but I know better.
WOO HOOOO!!! And what does Puck Daddy know? Clearly NOTHING!
WOOOOOOOO!!! Go Tranny Brides!
it was fun watching the gomez goal waved off by the ref and not overruled in toronto…go flyers!
The best part about the Gomez no-goal was Micheletti going on and on about the replays. “It looked like that got tipped in by the goalie’s stick… Or maybe it got tipped in by Gomez’s stick… How did the puck end up going into the net?” Boomer: “It was hit in by Gomez’s HAND, Joe.”
Okay, Tranny Brides, let’s buckle down and get serious.
aaron asham scores a big goal…who knew? wow…with the goaltending that they’ve had over the decades, i can see how having to cheer for the flyers as one’s ‘primary’ team could cause one to have a drug or alcohol abuse problem… :D
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! What a pleasantly surprising goal for the Trannies!
Go Trannies Go!
Happy Saturday, IPB. I’m STILL giggling over that game last night. What a strange one.
i can see how having to cheer for the flyers as one’s ‘primary’ team could cause one to have a drug or alcohol abuse problem… :D
Word. I’ve recently gotten in too deep with the Trannies, and was like, “GAH! Biron and Niittymaki, you’re KILLING me!” Then I took a step back, realized what was going on, pointed at myself and laughed and laughed.
and aaron asham starts to imitate zack parise with a nice shot for his second goal of the game…can we save one of those for tomorrow afternoon?
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Keep it coming, Trannies!
Boooo! That sucked!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! That’s the way, Trannies! WOO HOOOO!
gee, this was fun, flyers…can you guys do this again tomorrow afternoon?
WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I love when the Rangers lose!
I love when the Rangers lose!
Same here. Especially when it benefits the Sabres.
What an added bonus!
So, the Canucks feed had a special on Anze Kopitar last night, and it was totally adorable. He moved his parents into his house. Oh and he has Homer Simpson slippers and I have the EXACT SAME pair. I think we’re soul mates.
Oh and I meant to add that every time the Rangers lose an angel gets its wings.
alix, we were totally swooning about that Anze Kopitar feature! That was SO adorable! We were like, “See, NHL? It’s not hard. Find something a guy likes to do off the ice that you can show on TV, and show it to us!”
every time the Rangers lose an angel gets its wings.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: SO TRUE!
I completely agree with everything Grrrreg said. I was thinking about it today and why would you ruin such a momentous occasion on the same day as Breezer’s 1000 game? You wouldn’t want Brodeur’s effort to be shadowed (as it most definitely would!) Plus, the Devils aren’t selfish enough to take 2 points that they don’t even need!
We were like, “See, NHL? It’s not hard. Find something a guy likes to do off the ice that you can show on TV, and show it to us!”
Derek Roy: “Hey, we do something off ice you can show on….”
Crunchy: “Web cam doesn’t count, dude.”
DR: “No, I was talking about…”
Crunchy: “Neither do DVD’s distributed by Red Light District.”
DR: “Sonofa…”
Wasn’t it, Schnookie? I was almost getting out my fainting couch. I can’t believe I had managed to go so long without having any idea how adorable Kopitar is.
mcguffers, :^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
alix, Kopitar was adorable! His brother looks shockingly just like him.
mcguffers, :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And the Devils TOTALLY need these points! Boston won again today! We’ve got to try to keep pace!
Yeah his brother could have been his twin almost. Awwwwww.
bKzluM comment5 ,