Oh dear heavens – the MSG+ intro looks like someone in the truck just got some new software, and they’re playing with all the different special effects they can use on the highlights from the last game. Most of them make it look terrifyingly like one of those ugly paintings the Devils give guys to commemorate milestones have come to life.
Oh, and ugh. Gel-O’s got the call tonight. That can’t be a good sign.
FIRST PERIOD
19:04 Well, the Poppers look like the Poppers again, with a great forechecking shift, and nice work from the d-men at the points, but it doesn’t lead to a shot.
18:21 While Zubrus takes a colossal tumble at center ice, Gio leaps on the puck he’s just coughed up and then darts into the offensive zone. He looks like he’s added a new level of speed to his arsenal, but alas – with that increase in speed comes a decrease in aim. His shot attempt ends up hitting heavily against the boards in the far corner.
16:22 We didn’t miss anything, did we? We just had to get up to get dinner out of the oven.
15:38 Zach attempts a centering feed from the far boards, but Langer’s busy standing all the way over on the near boards, so it ends up turning into basically just an ill-advised shot attempt. Not a Poppers shift for the ages.
15:09 Clarkson had a typical Clarkaround attempt a few minutes ago, and now LaRose shows him how much he has to learn about turning “skating around from behind the net with the puck” into an actual scoring chance. Marty’s up to the challenge, though.
13:26 So what are the chances we can get through this whole period without a whistle? It’s looking pretty good right now.
12:16 Rats. Our dream of seeing this period played in real time has come crashing down to earth, as the Madden/Pando/Shanny line does its best Poppers impersonation, with the cycling and the scoring chances and the yoinking and whatnot, and Madden draws a roughing penalty to Cole.
We come back from commercial to find that Hooters and Whitey had a bit of a tiff during the break, but it’s Gleason and Whitey getting the coincidental roughing minors.
10:27 Chico assures us, as the PP isn’t doing much to, like, score and shit, that when professional athletes say they’re not nervous for big, but rather are excited, they’re lying. He then says he admires Ward for admitting when he’s nervous. Actually, that’s kind of charming. In a puppy-mill puppy kind of way.
10:14 Just as the PP expires, Brind’Amour goes to shovel the puck out from deep in the corner and ends up hitting Shanny in the cheek with his follow-through. Chico tries to tell us this is a bad call, but the replay makes it look like Rod the Bod speared Shanny in the eye.
9:40 The Devils put the puck in the net when Ward flips a rebound way up in front of himself, but it’s immediately waved off for a high stick. It goes to review, and if this counts, that’s just wrong. Oh good. It doesn’t count.
9:16 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that one counts! Paulie slaps a perfectly tippable shot from the point, and Zach, swooping around the high slot, tips it ridiculously artfully into the net. Zach’s puck-tipping skills are just scary – that shot basically ended up arcing gracefully just up over Ward’s shoulder, then dipping down inside the crossbar. It’s 1-0 Devils, and WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7:57 What the hell? We’re nibbling away on dinner, with half an eye on the game while the Hurricanes are attempting a foray into the Devils zone, and all of a sudden the Devils are heading back on the PP. Replay shows us it’s Ruutu, getting called for charging after he leapt several feet in the air while gently jostling Whitey in the corner. In other words, it’s the dictionary definition of “stupid penalty”. On the bench, Paul Maurice is perfecting his deep, deep scowl.
7:12 The Devils are working the puck from point to point, building up a head of steam, and suddenly the whistle blows as Travis gets nabbed for a wee spot of goaltender interference. He doesn’t argue much, but replay makes TravisNation quiver with rage. He barely touched Ward! They better call that at the other end, too.
5:49 Yeesh. It’s a close call as the Canes start their PP, but the shot from up high that beats Marty doesn’t beat the goalpost.
4:32 Marty freezes the puck with a Cane down on the ice in front of him, and after the whistle blows, the Cane kicks Marty’s glove. As the three of us become apoplectic, Marty just gives his a stern little whack with his stick, then returns to his business of languidly standing in the crease, leaning on the crossbar, and generally looking cocky.
3:44 A Cane forward decides he’s about to blow into the Devils zone with speed and the puck, but as he tries his swaggery power move past Paulie, he suddenly realizes he is now skating just with speed alone, as Paulie is coolly heading up the other way with the puck. Pookie: “Dr. Pancake is in the house. He’s hung out his shingle for this game.”
2:09 We get a stats screen showing us the impressive TOI, +/-, shot and hit numbers for the Madden/Pando/Shanny line in Game 1. When we return to live action, they’re on the ice and Madden is just going crazy, giving the Canes everything they can handle and essentially being an offensive dervish. Schnookie: “It’s like it’s 2000 again.”
1:07 TravisNation is shocked and appalled as its emperor-god takes a really stupid hooking penalty in the neutral zone. Pookie: “Travis is going to have to be benched at this rate.” Schnookie: “I have to say, that never happened to PandoNation’s emperor-god.”
0:24 Poop. Travis is totally fired. As the crowd is all het up about a Cane player falling into the Devils’ bench, the PKers forget all about their jobs. Everyone decides to ignore Hooters at the side of the net, and Whitney’s intentionally-wide shot kicks off the endboards directly onto his stick, and Hooters punches it past a helplessly sprawling Marty. 1-1 game.
0:00 It might not have ended the way we wanted it to, but that period was another fun one. We get an interview with Zach, and Pookie points out, “His hair-spiking device was set to ‘wild and crazy’.”
FIRST INTERMISSION
We flip on some other game action during the Dano/Gel-O portion of our programming this evening.
SECOND PERIOD
19:32 We’re all still a bit groggy from our lazy afternoons (read: hours-long naps), so as the PA announcer is giving the scoring from the Hooters goal in the background while play resumes, Schnookie starts drowsily saying, “Hoot. Hoot.” It’s a happening night here at stately IPB Manor.
18:18 The Poppers are working behind the net, and Pookie suddenly declares, “For a second there I thought Travis was Zubrus, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, he really did get benched. I was joking, Sutter!’”
17:32 The Poppers just will not quit on this shift, and the crowd starts to get to its feet to cheer them just as Corvo starts molesting Langer at the point. The ovation turns into an unhappy cry for a penalty to be called, but Chico suggests that perhaps the officials are “letting them play” now. Of course, it could also be the officials telling Langer that he was just as culpable on the play as Corvo.
15:14 Hm. The Canes are getting to all the loose pucks now. Coincidentally just as Gel-O and Chico are telling us that the Hooters goal was pretty much just a bad break. Yeah, a bad break in which no one was bothering to defend the other team’s 40-goal scorer. This game suddenly doesn’t seem as fun.
14:31 The Poppers try to make us feel better by sassily zipping up the ice and ripping a quick shot at Ward. In the ensuing scrum, Zach draws an extra penalty to Pitkanen. Replay shows it’s for a minuscule cross-check. There’s the even-up for Travis’s goalie interference call.
13:37 Travis mis-plays a pass attempt on the halfboards, and the Canes get head up ice shorthanded. Schnookie: “Travis is having a Hooters baby tonight!” Pookie, channeling Jack Edwards, “Oh the IRONY! HA HA HA HA HA!”
10:44 Travis tries to beat three defenders, but the terrible burden of his Hooters baby is too much for him to bear. Pookie, sighing: “I wonder how you can exorcise a Hooters baby?”
9:51 Patty unveils his fancy new Pattynado move, which involves him darting between two defensemen, then spinning to the ice after being hit simultaneously by both of them. It’s surprisingly ineffective as an offensive tactic.
8:24 You know what we love tonight? The Devils’ commitment to cycling. And you know who we love best at it? The Madden/Pando/Shanny line. They have been beasts out there so far.
5:44 Rod the Bod can’t handle Gio at all, so he has to take a hooking penalty off more Devils cycling. He complains the whole way to the box, but dude. That was textbook. Chico tries to tell us it’s a bad call, but he’s been a Rod the Bod apologist all night.
4:30 Langer has left the game with an injury. Well that’s discouraging.
2:36 The Hooters line finally gets the better of play in the Devils zone against the Madden/Pando/Shanny line, but as Chico points out, they don’t ever really get the puck away from the perimeter. But still. We like the game a lot more when the cycling’s down at the other end.
1:35 After relentless Canes pressure, Marty finally freezes the puck. Whew. This is getting tense.
0:26 Patty stands up an onrushing Hurricane and then suavely heads up the ice. Schnookie: “Ooh! That was nice! Patty just stole Paulie’s Dr. Pancake shingle.” Pause. Pookie has no response for that, so Schnookie adds, “And beat him with it.”
0:00 The national audience is totally missing out by not having a Blersus spotlight on this series, but we’re not complaining.
SECOND INTERMISSION
We go to the studio intermission show with Butch and Deb, and Deb voices over about things being “all tied up at The Rock” while MSG shows us an aerial shot of Madison Square Garden at night. Boomer: “That’s not The Rock.” Schnookie: “No. That’s the A-Hole Building.”
THIRD PERIOD
20:00 Crap. Still no Langer. It looked during a replay in the intermission like he exploded something – either groinal or shoulderal – on an attempted point shot on the PP. Chico doesn’t think we’re going to see him again tonight. He says that in a tone that makes it sound like we’re never going to see him again. It’s the unspoken, “They’ve had to take him out behind the barn and shoot him.” That’s right: Langer’s had to move to a farm where he’ll have lots of room to run around and play, and they’ll feed him juicy steaks at every meal, and there are all kinds of other Langers he can play with, and the sun’ll shine every day, and hey, we can go to the pet store this weekend and get a new Langer – would you like that, kids?
19:22 Patty’s been promoted to the Poppers. It looks to be paying dividends right away as Zach and Patty get a long two-on-one, but Zach’s shot hits the goalpost.
17:48 Gio rags the puck a bit just inside the blue line while biding time during a slow line change, and after wheeling a dump-in softly into the corner, he gets to be on the receiving end of Pitkanen just completely losing his mind. Pitkanen is lucky Gio didn’t bleed after getting smacked in the face with a bunch of glove and stick, and he only gets a single minor for roughing.
15:48 That would have been an awesome power play if Patty was capable of not one-timing his glorious scoring chance wide.
14:37 Maybe Travis managed to exorcise that Hooters Baby himself during intermission? He scoops up a loose puck to the side of Ward’s net and swaggers in around a few d-men, but isn’t able to beat Ward’s sprawling leg pads. It’s a good start, though.
12:32 Ack! A skyhook of a dump-in bounces around in front of an oblivious Whitey and suddenly Cole comes streaking out of nowhere to snatch the puck up and fire it at Marty. Chico remarks that that’s the Cole we expected to see, but that it’s okay because Marty knew he was on the ice. Pookie: “That’s good that Marty did, because Whitey sure didn’t.”
11:03 Gel-O tells us “there is an eerie calm” at The Rawk. We’re not sure “eerie” is the word he’s looking for there, unless the sky is turning yellow and the birds have all fallen silent, or something like that.
10:43 Langer is now officially out with “lower body”. Bummer. Dano had assured us during the intermission that upper body would be the better injury.
8:58 Yay! Back-to-back icings! Just what the doctor ordered.
8:14 Zubrus smushes a Cane just outside the Devils blue line well after the puck has left the area. The crowd boos, but it’s PK time.
7:54 Dear Gel-O,
The Hurricanes player you are referencing is not Jarret Stoll. He’s Eric Staal. It shouldn’t be too hard a name to deal with, since there are oodles of other Staals in the Atlantic Division. Sheesh.
Love,
The Ookies
5:54 That was an awesome penalty kill. But the icing to follow it up was less cool.
4:51 Damn but Hooters is fast. He just blows past everybody, going essentially coast-to-coast, but Marty is calmly up to the task of stopping the shot, flipping out a teensy rebound, and then covering the puck before anyone can respond to it. If we weren’t so freaking tense right now, this game would be really fun to watch.
3:50 Oooh! The Iron Boar has speed no one knew about! The Canes are busting up the rink on a two-on-one, and Salvador turns on his jets and stuns the guy with the puck by coming up behind him and stolidly punching the puck away with a deft stick check.
2:41 Fuckety fuckety fuck. Pando slams inadvertently into Cole at the side of the net, and stays down. After staying down long enough to draw a whistle when his linemates start up the other way, he walks off with the trainer and heads straight down the tunnel. We get a look at Sutter letting out a long, aggrieved sigh, with which we agree whole-heartedly.
0:37 The Devils touch up on an icing. We are trying not to throw up.
0:00 OT, anyone?
OT INTERMISSION
Chico exhorts Devils fans to make sure they’re well-fed and hydrated before the extra session starts, because he thinks this could go a long time. Considering Marty’s career OT record, we’re not holding our breath for that. (Meanwhile, the fans in the bar are singing “Happy Birthday” to Dano, leaving him totally flustered.)
OVERTIME
20:00 Before the drop of the puck, we get some good news, some bad news, and some depressing news. The good news is that Pando’s back. The bad news is that Langer isn’t. The depressing news is that the Devils are, as a franchise, 13-23 in playoff OTs.
19:00 LaRose tosses a short-range shot into Marty’s feet, and he struggles to keep the puck out. Or even to have any idea where the puck is.
18:34 The Hurricanes are buzzing. Pookie: “Do they have a power play or something?”
17:41 Carolina is, so far, the significantly better team in this frame.
17:20 Make that 13-24. Marty has not even the remotest idea where the puck is as the Canes just hammer away, and with Hooters parked on top of Marty and Havelid parked on top of Hooters, a point shot comes in, Havelid deflects it perfectly and it’s 2-1 Hurricanes. It is astonishing at how terribly the Devils came out for that overtime. That was dreadful. We guess the brief renaissance was exactly that – brief.
When a coach or GM is fired and then hired by someone else, is the old team still on the hook for their salary? Or does the new team buy that out?
Oh, and uh, go Devils!
I’ve got no clue on that one, sorry. And that “go Devils” didn’t sound like an afterthought at all! :P
Oh, good! I was afraid it would :P
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;
Of course, you couldn’t even answer my question so I should just take that “go Devils” right back. Hmph.
Of course, you couldn’t even answer my question so I should just take that “go Devils” right back.
Well, you didn’t mean it, so it’s a hollow gesture. :P
Hmmm… Well, I can’t argue with that! Although you ARE playing the Canes so I DO want you to win.
Although I DID pick the Canes to advance. This is all VERY confusing.
you couldn’t even answer my question
Well, sorry! I’m not in the business of doing other people’s homework! :PPPPPPPP
I tried to Google it but funnily enough “who pays a fired NHL coach’s salary?” didn’t get any pertinent hits. Oh, well. It’s not like it’s ever going to be an issue in Buffalo, I guess.
Try Googling “NHL Coaches CBA” or something like that. Don’t they have a union?
Largely, I think it depends on the specific contract. Some have buyouts, some don’t.
Awe Zach is getting pissy in this game early. Did anyone read about the cribbage tournies last night? :P
I don’t know, Pookie. I’ll try it though, thanks. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. I was just wondering for some reason.
Eh, after saying I don’t do other people’s homework, I tried Googling it. There is an NHL Coaches Association, but they appear to have zero web presence. Sorry.
Here’s an article about college football that seems relevant: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1676108
<Did anyone read about the cribbage tournies last night? :P
I did and it was funny because not two hours before I came across our cribbage board — Ol’ Cribbagemaster — and was like, “Man, I have the strangest urge to play cribbage!” It was very out of the blue. Clearly, it was a sign.
Haha. I love Cribbage. It’s so fun. :P And I love how Zach got all defensive and quickly pointed out that HE and Travis won the doubles match. I’m thinkin’ he’s a little too competitive. He probably tries to race guys in the lockerroom with who can get undressed/dressed the fastest and things like that.
Ever since Rollie figured out the Clarkaround, I’m starting to really enjoy watching them work together. It’s got a little eau de Lenny and George.
It’s got a little eau de Lenny and George.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Heather, I think (probably not right about this) but I would think that the team doing the firing would have to buy out or pay a certain amount of the contract. I don’t think it would fall onto the new team because there are some coaches or GMs that don’t necessarily go to another team right away. But I’m not sure.
Does anybody else have trouble with NJDTV?
I was trying to watch the team awards but it keeps playing the audio for something else over top of it.
CBC is using footage of the Zamboni surfacing the ice at Mellon Arena as the background behind Ron McLean. It’s oddly hypnotizing.
Are the Devils sequestering themselves at a hotel during the playoffs? Otherwise, I can’t imagine them gathering to play cribbage on their off night.
Frisby, I often have that problem with the various NHLTV sites. I think if you close the window and start again it might work.
Are the Devils sequestering themselves at a hotel during the playoffs?
Of course! Sounds like they get to go home on game nights these days, unlike back in the day.
Goal or nay?
“No complaints from Zach.”
Yeah right Chico. Zach’s definitely crying on the inside and you should know that.
Y’all, I feel like I need to learn cribbage before next season. The local sports station (The Ticket) is taking over the Stars broadcasts next season and they’re already having a contest.
If you win, you “sign” a deal with the team and you get a practice, a home game, tour, suite, etc, and THEN you go for a road game on the team plane, in the team hotel, etc.
I have a feeling I’m gonna win. So I need to learn how to play cribbage.
WOOOO Zachie!
That one counts! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
!
KG, I was assuming if the coach/GM fired doesn’t get hired by anyone else then the old team goes on paying him. I just didn’t know if they got paid by both if he was hired by someone else.
I’ve never played cribbage. But Patty it sounds like you totally need to learn how!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patty, we can teach you cribbage when you come to visit! It’s the bestest card game ever!
Patty that’s such an awesome contest. You have to win that! It’s really not hard to learn Cribbage. I learned to play it just by playing online.
If he gets paid by both if he was hired by someone else then that would be awesome for him.
It’s really not hard to learn Cribbage.
The only hard part about it for me is remembering what adds up to 15. I used to have a regular cribbage night with a friend my senior year in college (I know, I’m the coolest person you know) and the whole subway ride up to her apartment I’d do mental flashcards of which cards at up to 15. (I’m very, very, very, very bad at math.)
If he gets paid by both if he was hired by someone else then that would be awesome for him.
I know, right? I’m pretty sure that won’t happen if I get fired.
I think if I were on the plane with the team, I’d be trying as hard as I could to be invisible. :D
I wonder if they’d let me blog about it all! I could take pictures of them being all themselves and stuff.
(I do this whenever I buy a lottery ticket, too. Make elaborate plans for when I win.)
And Woooooooooooooo!!
Clarkson: Tell me about the playoffs, Brian
Rolston: *sniff* We’re going to play a bunch of teams. There’ll be Bruins, and Penguins, and Hurricanes.
Clarkson: And Ducks, right Brian?
Rolston: That’s right Clarkie. Ducks. Just think about the Ducks, Clarkie. *sniff*
“I’m pretty sure that won’t happen if I get fired.”
Yeah they’re definitely lucky if they get fired and get paid two salaries.
Pookie, I’m not very good at adding in my head anymore either. Too much complex math (Calculus sucks) ruined my ability to add basic numbers in my head. Strange, huh?
Travis is still reeling from losing to Jamie in the singles cribbage match. But his “beard” is looking pretty hot.
Nerds. My bracketed “Rolston whacks Clarkson over the back of the head with his stick” got eaten by html taggery.
I think if I were on the plane with the team, I’d be trying as hard as I could to be invisible.
I’d be freaking out. Not only because I’ve never been on a plane, but also just from being in close proximity to the guys. They seem so much more grown up than me, even though most of us are in the same age range.
Then again, the immature part of me would want to sit next to Chris Butler and see just how chivalrous he really is. (He stayed with the Peters’ this past season and would get up every time Mrs. Peters left the table or left the room.)
“Rolston whacks Clarkson over the back of the head with his stick”
Poor Clarkson. Poor, poor Clarkson.
(I do this whenever I buy a lottery ticket, too. Make elaborate plans for when I win.)
I don’t see how that plan could fail!
They seem so much more grown up than me, even though most of us are in the same age range.
I have the opposite problem. I’ll be like one of their mom’s friends. :P
What the hell Travis? Two penalties in one period?
Poop.
CBC just shared the saddest little Sid story. They asked him about Bill Guerin and Sid replied that Bill helps him out off the ice and teases him and makes Sid feel like he is a part of the team. Did Sid sit alone in the corner before Guerin came along?
Is it possible Zach and Travis are in a fight? And that’s why Travis keeps taking penalties so he doesn’t have to sit next to Zach on the bench.
They were just saying on Versus how much more relaxed Sid is these days.
Oh Dan-O. I wish you were still playing. How I wish someone would pound Ruutu like a ton of bricks. How sad that you’d be about as quick as a ton of bricks.
Hey Patty, I just know you are gonna win the Stars contest! How good are you at Word Scrambes? Isn’t that part of the game?
“We get an interview with Zach, and Pookie points out, “His hair-spiking device was set to ‘wild and crazy’.””
At least it was with Zach and not some random Devil like Shanny or something. And Zach definitely had a little peach fuzz on his chin. He’s probably been growing it since February.
And Zach definitely had a little peach fuzz on his chin. He’s probably been growing it since February.
I’m guessing he’s been gathering up Shanny’s shedding since he arrived. He’s probably got a big ziploc of the stuff so that he can superglue a little more to his face each day.
From playing fantasy hockey on Yahoo!, I thought Rutuu had a permanent scare from Elias slicing his face in half last year. But it looks like Rutuu has actually healed quite well.
Huh, so I guess it’s a legal play to body slam Langs.
That was a loud Rangers Suck chant.
He’s probably got a big ziploc of the stuff so that he can superglue a little more to his face each day.
Poor Zachie.
And Travis looks a little lost tonight. I think he either needs to get smacked upside the head by Jamie or take a puck to the head to knock some sense into him. But I’m worried he will get hurt if we put him in front of a Rollie slap shot.
I’m getting really, really nervous. I’d love for the Devils to get a quick goal or five or ten.
Boy, it’s amazing how much leaving the Ducks can improve a guy’s personality. :P Chris Kunitz looked downright cute!
He might not be a Duck, but he’s still a Penguin. :P
How are the Devils playing? Even when I’m watching, it’s hard for me to tell.
I’d say the Devs are playing a little tight. Martin’s little PP cruise behind the Canes net looked like an act of desperation.
This game is starting to take a bad turn. I need some funny stories to make this better. Ones about Devils would be awesome but I’m thinkin’ there’s not too many left.
As usual Zach is playing out of his mind, but the fact that Travis is having a Hooters Baby game is making things tough. The Canes are playing MUCH better tonight, but the Devils still look okay. They looked swaggeriffic up until Hooters scored but now they look evenly matched to the Canes, I think.
Is the Devils game really as chippy as the highlights make it seem? CBC is setting it up as Carolina playing rougher to throw the Devils off their system.
Amy, it is pretty chippy. It’s had great pace the whole game. This is shaping up to be a fun series.
It’s chippier than Game 1, but anything would be. It’s actually got great tempo, lots of skating, lots of cycling. It’s a well-played game.
Random Devils anecdote for the sake of distraction:
Back in the late 90s when my brother and I went to games together, when decided that any player with a propensity for having his helmet fall off suffered from Bill Guerin’s Disease. I swear Guerin once went ten straight games where his helmet popped off at least once. For a while Pando was infected, but he seems to be cured now.
I guess it’s not chippy per se, but the play is more physical than last game. But it’s not dirty plays or stuff after the whistle. It’s in-game chippiness! If that makes sense. I’ll stop talking now.
It is sort of natural chip. Maybe you’d call it mulchier?
Mulchier, yes, that’s it! :D
Why are there more left handed shots than right handed? That’s never made sense to me.
BTW: Can someone explain to me why the Devils have a playoff ad that features players in a shootout?
Um, why is a commercial for the playoffs showing replays of shootouts?
Katebits: http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/archives/2006/09/why-do-most-nhl-players-shoot-left.html
Frisby… that was eerie. We shouldn’t do that again.
It’s in-game chippiness! If that makes sense.
That totally makes sense. The chippy is organic to the game and not necessarily because the players feel a need to add the chippy to the game.
Good God, Paulie! I think he wants to be interviewed by Stan Fischler again. That’s the only explanatin of his dominant defensive play for the second consecutive game.
That was a nice story. Thank you. :)
I can still remember in 2003 I was in California with all of my family during the Stanley Cup Finals and of course they were all rooting against me and cheering for the Ducks. At the time I despised Paul Kariya (Still do) and I can still see that Scott Stevens hit on Kariya that knocked him out at the Pond in Game 6. I miss Scott Stevens. :(
I agree EJG. I consider that to be more proof that the shootout is evil.
Zach totally would prefer Travis do the dirty work like being crossed checked across the crease while he just stands back door and knocks the puck into the net and takes all the credit.
BTW, Langs is hurt? Did I hear right?
Game 6 against the Ducks has the distinction of being the Second Worst Devils Game I’ve Ever Watched. (Game 6 against Ottawa that playoffs being the worst.)
I wonder if Captainbrunner’s FTS attitude carries over elsewhere. Do you think if an MRI takes too long, he just pushes the tech out of the way and runs it himself? If a taxi misses an exit, does he make the cabbie pull over so he can drive himself?
I always thought that the worst Devils game was game 7 in 94 against the Rangers. I mean, I still wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat whispering “Mattau”
Thank you EJGRunner! That was exactly what I was looking for!
Do you think if an MRI takes too long, he just pushes the tech out of the way and runs it himself?
Oh man that would be great. I definitely want to see him stitch together a cut on his face.
Langs is just taking the rest of the game off for “maintanence”.
Oh man that would be great. I definitely want to see him stitch together a cut on his face.
I think we’ve found a fun new game- funny places for Captain FTS to take over.
Picture him in line at a Bakery when they run out of muffins. He stomps into the back mumbling. Growls as he puts on a smock and starts kneading dough like a motherfucker.
Langs is just taking the rest of the game off for “maintanence”.
:) Or maybe he’s just tired of having to deal with Zach and Travis.
I always thought that the worst Devils game was game 7 in 94 against the Rangers.
Ah, good point. But that was before my time.
I missy Scotty Stevens too, KG. Even five years removed from his retirement I still feel terrified every time I see him on television, even if he’s wearing a suit, like he was when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, or has on those weird Sarah Palin glasses like, he did during his interview for the NHL Network’s special on Marty Brodeur in celebration of 552. He was that scary. I remember the first round series against Carolina in ’01 when he knocked out, like, four different ‘Canes, including Ron Francis? I always kind of wish he’d gotten Brind’Amour. He irritates me. And his nose is unreal.
Langs is just taking the rest of the game off for “maintanence”.
Growls as he puts on a smock and starts kneading dough like a motherfucker.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: to both of you!
Growls as he puts on a smock and starts kneading dough like a motherfucker.
Oh god that would be great.
And dammit. I want a Chico Eats shirt!
Even five years removed from his retirement I still feel terrified every time I see him on television
It’s just so awesome how intimidating he can be. A friend of mine asked me last week if I like Scott Stevens and I was like hell yeah. And then he proceeded to tell me that he keeps going to youtube and types in Scott Stevens and keeps getting Stevens’ greatest hits videos when he’s really trying to find some skater. :P
“Or maybe he’s just tired of having to deal with Zach and Travis.”
I think that’s totally what it is. Zach was rubbing the fact that he’s scored two playoff goals thus far into Travis’s face while Travis has scored none because Travis still won’t let him back into Shot Club. So they started pulling one another’s hair, Jamie strained his groin while trying to seperate them and left the bench muttering “F*ck this sh*t – I’m blowing this popsicle stand” darkly to himself.
Travis probably won that hair pulling fight and left Zach blubbering on the bench and trying to make sure he didn’t lose any hair. All the while, Sutter is yelling at him to get on the ice.
I do not understand why that’s not a double minor. I realize no blood was drawn but dude. That was a nasty bit of stickwork.
I do not understand why that’s not a double minor.
Maybe because the refs decided the Devils can’t do anything with a PP anyway so why give them four minutes to try?
Seriously. What was Pitkanen trying to do? Decapitate him?
So they started pulling one another’s hair, Jamie strained his groin while trying to seperate them and left the bench muttering “F*ck this sh*t – I’m blowing this popsicle stand” darkly to himself.
Sutter: No wonder this organization goes through coaches so quickly.
And the Trannies are going to OT.
*bites nails furiously*
*bites nails furiously*
*fires up soldering iron furiously*
And the Trannies are going to OT.
Thanks for the update! I’ve been watching the little “real time” scoreboard thingie from NHL.com and it’s been cracking me up. It tells you who shot, from where, and what happened. So out of the corner of my eye I’ve been seeing “Coburn, 41′ wide of net”. I’m like, “Schlittsy fired a shot 41′ wide?!? Wowza!”
Come on boys! Win it for Langer! Or just win it because otherwise I’ll be in a bad mood.
*fires up soldering iron furiously*
*furiously fires up matching soldering iron*
Goddamnit it’s tense…
Picturing Langer going FTS while donating bone marrow.
This is why Dainius Zubrus is like a younger, bigger, slightly more attractive version of Blobby Holik. He’s really, really stupid.
Every minute that passes with it still tied, I fire up a bigger, badder soldering iron.
Every minute that passes with it still tied, I fire up a bigger, badder soldering iron.
How many soldering irons do you own?
How many soldering irons do you own?
As many as are necessary.
How many soldering irons do you own?
We got a great deal at Sam’s club. :P
How many soldering irons do you own?
As many as are necessary.
Weridest. Kink. Ever.
I think the refs are just about to swallow the whistles.
Anyone else thinking about the fact that we’re the oldest team in the league right now?
Nope, that wasn’t a penalty on Corvo against Travis. That was Travis just falling because he’s Travis.
Langer’s had to move to a farm where he’ll have lots of room to run around and play, and they’ll feed him juicy steaks at every meal, and there are all kinds of other Langers he can play with, and the sun’ll shine every day, and hey, we can go to the pet store this weekend and get a new Langer – would you like that, kids?
That just made this whole game totally worth it.
Playoff OT just cannot be beat.
Creepy — andrew totally called our final score! I hope he got the winning team right…
I’m trying to calm myself by looking at a Canes message board. They’re just as anxious as we are.
Did chico really say we didn’t give up scoring chances?
…FUNFETTI
Fuck. That. SUCKED.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
*drops into fetal position, sobs uncontrollably*
Havelid, that funfetti is going to make our OT record look even more like ass.
HAVELID! YOU SON OF A BITCH!
God, I can’t wait till the Rangers sign Nicolas this summer.
Oh, Frisby, I feel your fetal position pain! God, this sucks.
I now have a theory that we cannot win without Langer so if he is out for any length of time….
Fuck Langer. We can’t win with Havelid in for any length of time.
Mets just won a walk off…. if that helps at all.
Baseball is so stupid. I went to a Mets game at Shea Stadium with my brother last October and I remember the home crowd cheering when one of their batters was hit with the ball and got to walk to first base. I was like, “Why the hell are you cheering? He didn’t even DO anything! It was physics!”
I hate this St. Louis/Vancouver matchup (sorry, alix). This series is like killing time on a boring Saturday night when I’m waiting for a better game to come on. This is NOT making me feel better.
Poor Schnookie. I suppose the fact that Billy Guerin offed the Tranny Brides in OT isn’t exactly alleviating the post-defeat-the-Devils-suck downer. I can’t believe he actually scored twice during that game. He must really want to stay in Pittsburgh and ride Sid Crosby’s wing to playoff glory.
Meh. Tranny Brides are a secondary team. The minute you get upset when your secondary team loses is the minute you’re not doing it right anymore. I’m just pissed that the Pens are winning.
It’s not helping me either. I think I’m going to pull this soldering iron out of my eye, fire up the PS3, go online and shoot total strangers.
That’s the spirit, Frisby.
I think I’m going to pull this soldering iron out of my eye, fire up the PS3, go online and shoot total strangers.
That sounds PERFECT! Shoot some for me, will ya? :D (It’s time for us to clean out the tivo. Catch up on the Daily Show and Colbert…)
Hockey sucks. I’m going out for the rest of the night to try to salvage this night.
Well. That sucked.
I’m not all that upset at the outcome. They had chances but couldn’t CAPITALIZE. Oh well. Sunday’s a new day.
Really excited to have to be at school tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Really excited to have to be at school tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Ugh. That’s awful. Pookie’s got to work tomorrow, too. SUCKERS! :P
That’s terrible for Pookie! Don’t these people know it’s the playoffs?!?!?!
Well, it’s kinda sorta my fault. I switched to work this Saturday instead of next because there was potentially more interesting hockey on next Saturday afternoon than this. *ahem* Heh. Sigh.
Pookie, it’s never your fault! It’s the man keeping you down! This is the playoffs! I tried to come up with an excuse for my thing, but “NHL Playoffs” just didn’t seem to fit the bill…
I actually warned my coworkers that if I come in some morning and inexplicably punch them in the throat, it’s just because it’s the playoffs. I figure that means I’m not accountable for my actions, if I’ve forewarned them, right? I should make sure I’ve got a record of telling them that, in case HR has a problem with me.
Yeah, it is the Man! The Man who said I can go to work 30 minutes early tomorrow and take off 30 minutes earlier some other time. Stupid The Man being so reasonable!
I just got back from the Rock….my very first playoff game. I got a towel instead of a win……. doesn’t seem very fair.
Schnookie – I’m not a lawyer or anything, but I’d think you’re totally in the clear… I mean, they’ve been forewarned right?
I got a towel instead of a win……. doesn’t seem very fair.
No, it really doesn’t. I’m so sorry!
And Tim, I’m so glad I have your legal advice! I’m going to take that to the bank. :P
Schnookie, you’re crazzzzzy! But that’s OK. Whatevah floats your boat!
This was the most beautiful game I’ve ever seen. Hockey RAWKS!! WOOOOO!
Hee hee! I’m so happy for you, alix! It’s a great time to be a Canucks fan! :D
Morning all.
Why are today’s games at such odd times?
Why are today’s games at such odd times?
Because the schedule makers have partaken in Paulie’s cooking?
My sister is here for a visit and she’s got me passively cheering for the Rangers. I feel like I’ve sold my soul.
The schedule today really is wacky, isn’t it? I am so puzzled by that 6:00 start. (Can you even imagine being someone who has tickets to that? How do you work your day around a 6:00 hockey game?)
And Mags, I’m not-so-passively cheering, well, against the Caps. Which, if you read between the lines, is, I guess, for the Rangers. You can come sit over here with me. :D
You can come sit over here with me. :D
Hee. I guess it wasn’t so bad after all. At least the Rangers gave us what we wanted, sorta *sliding down slippery slope*
At least the Rangers gave us what we wanted, sorta *sliding down slippery slope*
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Nah, I’m cheering with confidence because they are going to be MAULED by the Pens in the next round.
I’m cheering with confidence because they are going to be MAULED by the Pens in the next round.
If that matchup happens, the stars of that series will probably be Ma and Pa Staal, who probably will get more camera time than their sons.
I did like the flub during today’s game where Pang was caught on his Blackberry instead of being ready to present a segment sponsored by Blackberry.
I’m cheering with confidence because they are going to be MAULED by the Pens in the next round.
Somehow that doesn’t appeal to me very much either. I don’t know why, but I got so turned off by the Pens at one point. Not as much as by the Rangers, heck no, but they’re still pretty loathsome.
If that goes down the way you hope though, the team that manages to squish the Pens in the next round… well, they’re going to get the Victory Butt Dance of Joy.
Shit. No Langer for two games.
Shit. No Langer for two games.
Doomdoomdoom.
Ah, that felt good.
Yeah, I hate the Pens this year too, but unlike the Caps, I hate this year’s Rangers more. The ONLY way I can like the Pens, in fact, is if they’re mauling the Rangers. So if they’re interested in a redemption story arc, that’s the way to do it. :P
And all I have to say about Langer is SIGH. I can’t say I had much hope for the Devils going into the series, they stunned me with Game 1, and now I’m back to where I started.
Poor Langer! Have they said what his injury is? Maybe he should come sit by me and I’ll kiss it better.