hello again

Hello again all.

I'm sorry I've been such a slacker on the blog lately.. We had a bit of a family reunion before my niece left for Japan for 3 years, and my sister who is currently stationed in Japan (air force) was in town as well. so woo lots of family time and not much internet-ness. But it's all good.

I did watch some hockey.. and what the what is wrong with the Canucks? Get it together boys! Y'all DO NOT WANT another game 7 in the finals. I do not want that. BOO!

And why isn't game 6 on Sunday? I have plans Monday night and I won't be able to watch it. GRR. (But interestingly enough, my plans involve a boy who is a PAVEL BURE FAN!!!! How great is that? I haven't met anyone recently who even knows who Pavel is, let alone is a fan of his.. WOOO!)

That's about all I have.. just checking in. I should possibly have some more coherent thoughts soonish. If I get around to it. (if anyone still reads this blog..)

inconvenient

Whose idea was it to have playoff hockey during the Easter Triduum? (Yes, that's a real word, it means Holy Thursday evening-Easter Sunday morning)

I have a tradition of going "internet dark" (and this includes tv dark) for the Triduum, but with game 5 of the Blackhawks/Canucks and game 5 of the Sabres/Flyers tonight and tomorrow, respectively, I'm a little sad about it. Still going to do my thing but it makes it much more of a sacrifice than usual. *which I guess is the point*

So, with that being said, I'll see you folks on the flipside! Luckily, I CAN watch game 6 of the Sabres, and Canucks (if it happens) on Sunday.. so until then..

Let's Go Buffalo!

C'mon Blackhawks.. I need to see you fellas one more time this year.

Oh, and congrats to the Red Wings for being the first team to move on. Some things never change..

I want to, I really dou

Hockey is about to matter again. YAY!

On the new jerseys- in general, I like them, but I think the yellow nameplates are ugly as heck and could do without the weird outlined numbers on the dark jerseys. I don't mind the funky stitching on the numbers though- that is kind of neat.

I feel like I have some poetic and meaningful post about hockey buried here somewhere but I can't quite say it yet. I've been a bit buried lately with work and a play that just ended and drama with our theatre group (haha insert pun here) and my sister leaving for Afghanistan in 2 weeks so it's there, I just can't find it. But I will. It's almost time for hockey again and I can feel it in the air and in my blood. It feels good. DAMN good.

And eventually I will make enough sense out of it to tell you more.

In the meantime, I'll be reading. :)

gross

I turned the game on in the 2nd period and it was tied 3-3. Then the Sabres forgot how to play hockey and Sidney Crosby "is Sidney Crosby" and suddenly the Pens are winning 5-3 and there are hats on the ice. (which a local boy scout collects *in Pitt at least*, washes and sends to needy kids. COOL)

The Sabres' puck possession in the 2nd and most of the 3rd was PATHETIC and rather non-existent. Guys, that is NOT a way to win a hockey game. It was rather painful to watch. The late rally was almost okay but still.. it never should have gotten there. Boo on you guys.

Ottawa on Wednesday and I'll be there. I think the Sabres won the last Sens (home) game I was at. I saw them twice last year at home and once on the road vs. Ottawa but I think they won the 2nd home game. So maybe there's hope. Probably not. I mean, it *is* Ottawa (Les Senateurs OF DOOM!) and they just got Spezza back and they're on a hot streak so I'm sure the Sabres will lose.

On the other hand, they are alright with me in attendance this year (I think they've only lost 2 out of 7?) and they may just surprise us. I surely hope so.

In the meantime, I finally finished my lifelong (well okay not lifelong, but at least something I've wanted for the last 15 years) dream of creating a skating surface in my yard! Long story but our pond won't freeze and I've tried various methods of rink-creation to no avail until this year.. the elements and my time schedule and some really intense hard work and perseverance came together and NOW I have ICE IN MY YARD! :) Happiness of this magnitude knows no words.

quite a few

Wow, it's been some days since the last post I made. Sorry for being a hockey-slacker! I'll try to get back into it. it's not that I don't care, it's just that I've been busy this week. I haven't seen a Sabres game since the terrible effort against the Flyers. I missed that pathetic show in Boston, as I was taking in the much more entertaining "Guys & Dolls" in Springville, was having a girls night (much-needed) with my friends on Wednesday, took my nephews to see the NU Purple Eagles (lose) on Friday and at a dinner dance for church last night.

However, it seems that the Sabres are back on track, at least for the moment. I heard the end of Friday's game, and I liked what I heard. :) I've read about the other 2 and it's good stuff. I am happy that the boys are playing with an edge and standing up for each other. Royzie finally seems to have remembered how to score goals, which is great, Miller owns everyone, and we are still getting scoring from all 4 lines. There is much to be thankful for, and I just hope the boys keep pushing and don't let up just because they got a couple of wins.

I watched the first part of practice on Thursday, as the boys were at the Pepsi Center, and I was there with my nephew, as we usually are on Thursdays. He is so into hockey.. it's just super cute. And he asks me to identify all of the boys as we see them.. it's pretty funny.

Some random observations from practice:
-before hitting the ice, the Sabres usually go to the upper level of the facility to lift weights or some other manner of off-ice warmup sort of exercise. It's ONE flight of stairs, BEFORE they do any work. Yet half the guys take the elevator. Seriously, dudes? The ELEVATOR? I think they crammed 10 guys into it on Thursday for one trip. It was a bit silly. All of you Gaustad fans will be happy to know that Goose is saving energy by taking the stairs. ;)

-James Patrick is extemely foxy. I have not really, properly noticed this before but it is so true. He is just suave and very good looking. I felt that I should share this since I was really struck by it on Thursday.

-You can tell that Patrick Lalime has children by the way he notices little ones. I had my nephew with me, and we were sitting in the rink near where the Sabres took the ice. Lalime was the first player out and he looked over and smiled and waved his glove at my nephew. It was really cute. Matt Ellis also noticed and waved. This is not to take anything away from the other guys, because I understand that they are there to work and they are focused, but those small gestures really meant a lot to me and the little guy.

-I hinted at it in my previous post, but it's time to come out with it. I AM TOTALLY INTO STEVE MONTADOR. I know next to nothing about the guy, and he's not even the sort of hockey player I typically notice/go for, but there is something about him that has captured me. I've been puzzling through it in my mind for days now and I can't quite explain it, but I can no longer deny it. Maybe it's the fact that he played right defence, and because our seats are 2nd row just inside the blue line, I see him up close and personal when I go to Sabres games, maybe it's the hair (I do like a man with good looking, long, hockey hair), maybe it's the hawk-eyed gaze and how focused he is on the ice- man lemme tell ya, that dude is SUPER tuned in to the game when he's out there and concentration is HOTTT-, maybe it's his crazy gap-toothed smile, but whatever "it" is, he's got it. And I'm in. I need to research him more, and I may post about him again soon but there it is. Y'all heard it here first.

That's all for tonight, but hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a fantasy hockey recap *I ignored my teams all week but actually had a decent showing* and then a very special announcement and possibly a hockey SAB. No guarantees, since this is the final week of rehearsal for a play that I'm in.. but I will try!

what do you know?

Blah. Who decided tonight's game was on VS? Lame.

I don't even know if I will be home for most of the game, but I will probably catch at least the end.

The Sabres REALLY need a win to keep up with everyone.

All you fellas with the flu- get better soon! It feels like half the people I know either are sick or know ppl who are sick. Enough with this already! Is it spring yet?

I'm going to NYC this weekend.. and of the 3 hockey teams in the NY Metro area, the ONLY game that is happening between Friday-Sunday is the Rangers and the Flyers. It does not get any more nasty than that. I would have a hard time watching that game even if was free- let alone paying money for it. So yeah.. not gonna see myself any hockey this weekend. LOL Instead we are going to see The Little Mermaid and Mary Poppins on Broadway. (or at least just off Broadway, close enough) I'm excited.

Oh yes and last Saturday I got together with some my lovely lady blogger friends to watch the Sens game. The game was rough but the company was excellent. Anne and S(h)ara, Cari and Kim, Amy, Clare, and Frostee, were all in attendance. We had a grand time and I hope we can do it again soon! :)

Other than that.. well there isn't much. I will probably check in after tonight's game so stay tuned..

I am a terrible blogger

My life has been very busy of late. I haven't actually sat down to watch a Sabres game since.. the game against Atlanta? And even then I was only halfway watching it because I was cleaning the basement while it was on. The games since then have all been DVR'da nd watched in pieces or on fast-forward because they weren't worth spending the time to watch properly/and I didn't have time even then. yeesh. I *might* be able to see most of tomorrow's game, won't that be fun?

I have a date tonight (wooo!) so I decided to find a Hockey SAB early for you since it might be until next week if I wait- here ya go..



-Sergei Fedorov of the Capitals

AND



-Singer Gavin Rossdale.

Separated at Birth? You be the judge. :) ( I think that's an older pic of Gavin but I thought if it when I saw an interview with Sergei the other day so there ya go.)

You would be amazed (or maybe you wouldn't if you knew anything about Fedorov) by the amount of skanky pics that come up when you serch Sergei Fedorov. he's a skank magnet. Of course his associations with *gagpuke* Anna Kournikova (aka SkankQueenoftheUNIVERSE) will add to that total quite a bit. Yick. However, his hockey resume is quite impressive. He just became the highest goal-scoring Russian player in NHL history. Woo. he is also the 4th highest scoring Red Wing AND the most consistently booed ex-Wing since he gave them the big diss in 2003 to go to the Ducks. I'd boo him too.

In other news, Goose should be back soon! HONK!

And my sister saw Rick Nash at Panera today and made eye contact with him. She did not jump his bones or even ask for an autograph. Chicken. That's almost as cool (though not as amusing) as the day my other sister saw Fedorov at her tanning salon. She DID ask for an autograph, only because Sergei is our older sister's favorite player.

If you made any sense of that, you're pretty cool. And yes, I have a lot of sisters. (there is one more)

Time to get ready for my date.

Super excited

I love having hockey to write about again!

Let's see-

This morning we went to the Blue Jackets' morning skate. I love hockey all up close and personal. (Even if it is only practice.)

Then this afternoon, I got to see the Wright State Raiders beat University of Dayton. It was a crazy game- they actually had a fight. In college club hockey. That's very rare but I guess our guys just had to do it. The guys from UD were a bunch of yappy little jerks. But the final score was 4-3 WSU so that's all that really matters. Our goalie is pretty solid. There were a lot of fans there too, that's always fun to see. Woohoo for hockey at my college!

And when I got home it was time to check the Sabres score- I looked and it was 2-1 Toronto with a minute or so left.. I checked some other websites then got a text from the Sabres with a final score of 3-2 BUFFALO. WTF? Yeah the Sabres scored a goal with 5 seconds left to tie it then won in Overtime. Woot! Roy was credited with a goal (though the announcers thought it was Vanek) and he also had an assist. Good job Royzie. And Max busted 3 assists tonight. Is he back? That would be great because when he's on he's really on. He's just not a creative player- he doesn't use his linemates very well. And he doesn't think on the fly very well either- he is not a creative player so it's tricky for him to use all of that skill he has. It's very frustrating to watch but if he can play like he apparently did tonight then we might be okay.

I also see that Rivet had a fight- I would like more detail about that if anyone wants to share.

Man I wish I had been there. But never fear- I'm getting at least one game this year and probably more because my brother in law has a mini-pack for his office that I'm sure I can have some tickets from.. just don't know which games yet. That will be awesome.

And now I will critique the Sabres' fashion choices during their "red carpet" walk before the game. Slideshow can be seen here.
1- Kotalik looks like a greaser. And his shirt and tie totally don't match.
2- Vanek looks like he put on some weight. But his face was kinda gaunt before so it's not a bad look. He also looks happy. Good.
3- Royzie- what is up with the white suit? I don't hate it but really- you can't go wrong with a dark suit- ahem Ryan Miller I'm talking to you too- and the shoes. Oh the ugly shoes. WHY Royzie, why? I hate those shoes. But otherwise it's okay. And Millsy looks so much less scary and skinny.
4-Goose is sexy. The gray is dark enough to be acceptable. Well done. I love the walk too, Millsy is pimpin.
5- He looks rested. Unbutton the jacket my dude.
6-Royzie has a hot profile. I enjoy the beard scruff. and I love his ears. Don't ask. Note the girls behind him going- WTF is up with the shoes my man? They feel me.
7- Teppo manages to look happy and terrified at the same time. Well played. And that's a good suit and shirt. Teppo is the man.
8-Kaleta looks good. Like the tie, it's fun but stylish. And he's got the sharpie in the left hand- is he lefthanded? That's hot. ;)
9-Max has kinda creepy eyes. Love the hair though. Looks like he's rockin the classic black and white suit combo. Works for me.
10- I'm not too sure about Sekera's suit/shirt/tie- it looks pretty crazy from here.
11- Is Rivet running late? He seems in a hurry. The suit is good. His feet are HUGE!
12- Staffy has his zombie grin on. And he wears black to play up his pale pale skin. It's not flattering.
13- The caption has Phillipe Gogulla- but which guy is he?
14- Tyler Myers. Nice suit, conservative but good tie. He looks terrified.
15- Marek Zagrapan- Holy hell that guy was drafted into the NHL? Are you SURE he's 21 years old? He looks about 12.
16- Felix Schutz- Not hideous but not great on the suit. I love his name though.

And that is that. :)

Oh and this has nothing to do with hockey but my parents are watching football and they keep having commercials for "Swagger deoderant by Old Spice" and they are HILARIOUS. You should go find them on youtube if you haven't seen them.

And that's all she wrote- for now. There will be more to come I'm sure. Maybe I will be able to watch tomorrow's game because I should be back in Buffalo by gametime. Maybe I'll bust a live blog. See ya then!

bits

Soo my fantasy hockey team is called "Into the Boards" because face first into the boards is too long. Fair enough. :) I'll be sure to post my lineup after the draft on Friday. Wooohoo it's almost hockey time!

I really have nothing exciting to talk about. Life is very busy and that's not about to change any time soon. But I guess it's okay. In 11 days I'll be in Ohio for Dannie's birthday and hockeytime with friends! Wooooo! Friday is the Blue Jackets game, then I guess there is an open practice for the Jackets on Saturday morning- will probably check that out. Saturday at 5:40 (weird time, but okay) there is a Wright State hockey game vs. University of Dayton so I will probably check that. Gotta go rep for my boys! *that would be WSU, for those of you who don't know- it's my alma mater*

Man, speaking of Ohio, there were 2 million residents without power today because of that insane windstorm- leftovers from Ike. WHOA. My mom told me last night that they were powerless at home, and my friend Heather still didn't have power tonight. She was told that it could be 3 or 4 days 'till they get service back. I didn't talk to Mom and Dad today to find out if theirs was restored or not but there was no school today or tomorrow in Huber Heights. Madness! Who knew that a hurricane could hit Ohio? (well it wasn't the rain just the hurricane force winds) It was pretty ugly here last night, the power was flickering and did go out completely at some point but was back by this morning so that was good. We had some tree limbs down and stuff but not too much damage. Phew.

Enough babbling. Time for bed!

This week's SAB

Sorry we missed it yesterday- I was at the office all day, then went straight to Darien Lake to hang with the kids and drive the little ones home. my older nephews, niece and sister stayed for the music of the Kingdom Bound festival.

Anyway enough about real life. Here is a silly hockey separated at birth. This week involves another minor leaguer.

We have

Chad Starling of the Cincinnati Cyclones

AND


Sacha Baron Cohen as "Borat"

Separated at Birth? YOU be the judge!

And now I'm off!