Don’t tell me the season is almost over. Don’t tell me there are 3 games left, you have a 3 point lead and I have to spend the next week trying not to throw up over whether or not you can hold onto a playoff spot.
And don’t tell me this just happens when you take off your helmet….
I have 108% faith in the Capitals right now. This hot streak, this hair and even that captain are going to make it happen. Now, how to get out of visiting family dinner tomorrow night to go to the game vs. Winnipeg?
Recently, Jess and I were quoting Sam from Love Actually and his brilliant, unintended summation of the NHL playoffs:
Worse than the total agony of being in love?
We’re almost there again. The gut-wrenching, screaming-into-a-pillow, obsecenity-laden euphoria and destruction of the post-season.
In past years, the NHL has come up with some great commercials to capture this emotional meteor shower.
Granted these are for the Cup final, but I’ve been moved and inspired. I’ve been fired up.
And I’ve wept like that time Professor McGonagall stepped between Harry and Voldemort in Deathly Hallows.
@Raedanda found these, the NHL’s first playoff commercials for teams that have clinched berths this year. I have to say… BLEH.
I love a good montage, but these are doing nothing for me. Not the Penguins, or the Toews/Kane bromance.
Not Foxy Friday Carey Price, not even Corey Perry’s overturned turtle goal-slide celebration.
I need blood and sweat, I need lowlights that I suffered through while my teams paid for their playoff berths in pounds of flesh. I need feels.
Meh. I am a hundred times more excited and terrified than these commercials let on. Here’s hoping for better as this shortstop season draws to an end…
Week # 3 of the Foxy Friday Fan Challenge brings us to a place we never expected to be – except for that time I admitted this during the Cosmo’s 30 Hottest Hockey Players debacle. Damn the internet, it never forgets!
This week’s winner is Cheryl (@c_S_C_D) in Oregon. We feel better knowing she struggled with it too.
__________________________________________________________________________
Let me preface this by saying: I am a die-hard Bruins fan. But this guy has had my heart since I met him in 2004 (another story for another day), so I will just confess without further ado. Ladies (and gentlemen)…
Foxy Friday: Carey Price.
We love part-time models.
Once upon a time, Carey was a baby goalie playing for the Tri-City Americans in the WHL . He was little more than a dream of stardom and frosted tips crying out for a boy band.
Also, he was a heck of a goalie:
In his final WHL season, Price went 30-13-1, with a save percentage of .917. Winning is foxy. He also appeared in the World Junior Classic. Again, impressive stats.
Even more impressive company:
Shiny things.
More shiny things.
The Montreal Canadiens drafted him 5th in the 2005 draft, behind former Foxy Friday Bobby Ryan (#2) and Foxy Everyday Sidney Crosby (#1, natch).
Carey’s had his ups and downs on the ice. The Habs reached the Eastern Conference finals in ’09-’10 (lost 4-1 to the Flyers). Last season they did not make the playoffs. Currently they are atop the Northeast by two points over the Bruins. Whether they go in 2nd or 4th, this year Montreal is going to the dance.
Even when he doesn’t play, Carey’s been known to make a stellar save.
Look how nonchalant. And don’t pretend the French isn’t making you swoon.
Sometimes he even practices as a forward, in case you’re into role-playing.
Don’t lie, it works for you.
Bruins fans, are you faltering yet? How about if Carey knows where to find Tyler Seguin in a dark place full of heavy things to push?
WUYS has made it clear that to be Foxy Friday material, he must love dogs:
Some of us like cowboys and rodeo (including Pants):
Add in some hockey to get Chuck and the rest of the holdouts.
Carey’s going as Raylan Givens for Halloween.
But mostly, I think Carey is foxy because he’s a dork!
No hands on the wheel.
Approximate measurement of foxiness, in Metric system of course.
In conclusion, Carey Price is foxy because he’s Carey Price.
He takes things like this:
And makes them look like this:
One last pic, with the King of Foxy Goaltenders, Henrik Lundqvist.
Wanna know more? Like 22:45 minutes more? It’s cool, you’ll be dead by the 8 minute mark. If you hold out for the bowling segment, you can meet Carey’s fiancée (sorry girls!).
Check out Carey’s official website (www.careyprice.com), on the Twitter (@CP0031) and coming soon to a playoff game near you.
I hope you’ll all indulge me for a moment with this post. It’s not entirely hockey related, but after these last few days, I just need to get my feelings out.
It’s been weird here in my city.
Every year, Marathon Monday has been truly one of my favorite days in my hometown. There was a tradition.
Wake up early (on my day off). Take the Red Line to Park Street Station. Contemplate taking the Green Line to Fenway Park. See massive crowds of people trying to get on the Green Line. Decide against it. Walk 40 minutes down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall to Fenway Park. Watch some baseball. Have some beers. Eat a Fenway Frank (or 2). Watch the marathon runners as they complete their grueling 26.2 miles. Go home, happy, content, with the memories of yet another awesome Marathon Monday.
When we were in college, Pants and I often shared this tradition. It included a “Marathon Marathon” Pub Crawl down Boylston Street the Sunday before the race, complete with t-shirts and general shenanigans and tom-foolery.
This year, much of my tradition remained the same…with the exception of the ending.
Instead of coming home happy, content, with great memories, I went home scared and unsettled, my eyes constantly on the verge of tears.
For reasons yet unknown, someone chose to shatter this amazing day in my city with two unspeakable acts of violence.
They chose to attack innocent men, women, children who were simply out enjoying a Boston tradition. They were there to cheer on their friends, family, and total strangers who had come from all over the world to participate in this most storied sporting event.
As the days have passed, the outpouring of love for my city has been amazing, especially from the hockey community and from you, our readers.
Without a doubt, hockey players (especially the Bruins) are the most humble athletes and the most ensconced in the community. I know that they feel our pain just as deeply and as acutely. They live in our neighborhoods, eat in our restaurants, drink at our bars, and get involved in the city’s charitable organizations. Although they might not be from Boston or even from the United States, they are ALL Bostonians.
Yesterday’s game vs the Sabres was a welcome respite from the relentless media coverage and a way to take my mind off of everything.
In the end, the Bruins secured a playoff spot despite the shoot-out loss, but what the game really represented was a way for our community to come together and find strength in one another through this sport that we all love.
For us, hockey is a part of who we are, not only as bloggers but as people.
And it will help us all heal.
The NHL wants to make up for the lockout, draw casual fans back into hockey and perhaps attract some new ones in a less turbulent year, because we’re still really mad at them. Right?
Not now, girls.
Er, we may be feeling warmer and fuzzier and playoff-ier…
Seriously! Hold it together.
Then someone says:
from NBC Chicago
OKAY, WE LOVE YOU AGAIN!
So much for being cool.
He should’ve known better.
Five outdoor games have been announced for next season, including Penguins/Blackhawks at Soldier Field, Chicago on March 1, 2014.
Also known as:
Or was it…
The show ain’t called Chicago for nothing.
Whatever they call it, we’re going. You’re invited. Get started now.
Don’t forget to pack your:
Because this trip is:
Apparently this is all still being finalized. Good luck with that, because you already yelled fire in a crowded room.
We’ve been razzing a lot of “part-time models” around here lately. Maybe I could be a Part Time Reporter?
For my real job, I do entertainment PR and was lucky enough to work with Joel Ward and the Caps on a special screening of the new movie 42. Joel wears number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, and hosted our event on Wednesday.
A handful of other Caps also attended: Erskine, Fehr, Laich, Wolski and my new favorite, Steve Olesky. All the players and staff were great! The event was a huge success that generated tons of publicity and made me look really, really good on paper.
Additional Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word.
I mean this kind of paper::
And I did okay on TV too.
Here’s the video, feature starts at 1:04
Turns out it’s much more weird to hear myself than see myself. We’d rather see Guerin, she is stunnnnnnning.
This feature played on the Jumbotron during the game vs. Tampa Bay on Saturday. Thank goodness I wasn’t there – that’s too much! Also the Caps blew a 5-1 lead and I having a meltdown. But Mike saved the day – he scored the OT game winner because he wasn’t about to let my game go out like that.
Thanks Fidget, this now doubles as Mikey Monday!
Hugs for everyone!
More thanks to @raedanda for seeing this video first, and @jlrpuck for catching it in the arena. It was great to meet @rockinredbirdie and see @chelskiDC too!
Polish Connection: Wolski, @raedanda and Olesky
Guess who turns 20 today?
Wait, who?
Gabe, who has the best eyebrows in hockey?
And what does he tell “visitors” who want to stay past curfew?
Does that line actually work?
How often does he need an excuse?
Yeah, we can kinda see it.
As de facto stand-in Headmistress of #TeamRNH (until we find a full time hire), it’s really rude of my to almost miss Ry’s birthday. Now he’s the same age as Gabe…. again. Honestly!
The Oilers are off tonight. Have a happy and appropriately of-age Canadian birthday, Molly Ringwald!
Thanks to Lemya @TheSequinedPuck) for the reminder.
Things I love, in order:
1) Mike Green scoring goals.
.gif by nhl-highlights.tumblr.com
2) Mike Green’s hair like this.
Watch it: Post-Game 4/11 video
3) Mike Green taking himself SO SERIOUSLY.
Read it: Russian Machine Never Breaks
Of course it’s stupid to say your bad long hair affected your play, Mike! It’s also dumb to say that I haven’t worn any Caps gear to the last four games and you’ve won them all, but I’ll keep doing it because it’s working! It doesn’t hurt that it’s foxy as all get out too. You need to sell tickets – warm up without your helmet.
Mike played a great game last night – the latest in a row of great games for him. He had a goal and some stellar chances, plus strong defensive play and legs under him all night. He’s got 9 G in 28 games. Last year he had just 3 G in 32 games, and the year before scored 8 in 49.
More of this and you can be as serious as you want. I’ve got sugar and Twitter and not a single Caps logo visible anywhere. Play on!
Week #2 of the Foxy Friday Fan Challenges come to us from one of the 1st WUYS fans, Jessica (@jfrancesw).
We know it was hard for her to admit her love of David Backes, but we’re pretty glad she did it.
GIVE US ALL THE PUPPEHS!
I tried. I tried to resist. I tried to resist as long as I could. But as they say in The Borg: Resistance is futile .
Check out these gorgeous pictures from Carmen Mandato Photography.
Large, hi-res versions are on the website along with a few shots of other teams. People have asked if she’ll have prints available for sale. She’s on Facebook too.
God, don’t you just love hockey? And wish you had longer eyelashes? And feel relieved that no one will ever photograph you this close up?
Maybe it’s just me.
I’ve seen this one, but never with a credit. She should definitely get credit.
I wish I had photography skills. At this range, I’d have trouble keeping a hold on the camera.
Thanks to Heather Weikel for letting us know about these! Thanks to Carmen Mandato for taking such amazing photos. (I added a copyright to all of them – please be responsible with other people’s work!)
You all better get ready. Sweden is coming to Boston!
Swedish star forward Carl Soderberg and the Boston Bruins reached an agreement on a multi-year contract Tuesday.
Finally, I’ll get my very own Swedish!
While not on the level of say Viktor Stalberg, Henrik Lundqvist, Gabe Landeskog or the countless other ridiculously attractive Swedes that populate the NHL, he does sort of have an Eddie Redmayne/Heath Ledger-thing going on, which I am digging.
What I’m also digging that he is having his BEST season in the Smokin’ Hot Swedish Elite League – 31 goals & 60 points in 54 games.
At 6-foot-3 & 210-pound, Soderberg will bring some desperately needed size and scoring to the Bruins’ corps of forwards. *fingerscrossed*
By all accounts this looks to be a done deal with the only thing left to iron out was for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association to approve his transfer to the Bruins and the NHL.
But after the Great Iginla Caper of 2013, I won’t actually believe it is happening until the man steps off the plane, arrives at the Garden, dons a Bruins jersey, and gets on the ice.
Despite his potentially joining the team with about a dozen games left in the regular season, Soderberg would be eligible for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, provided that he play in one regular season game (Bruins already had his rights and on their reserve list.)
According to Bruins President Cam “Seabass” Neely, the team wants to give him a shot to prove himself. Most likely he’d see time on the wing, as opposed to his regular center position.
Bruins have courted Soderberg for a number of years, but he always elected to stay in Europe. Last year, they weren’t even sure if he’d ever play in the NHL.
So what changed?
Who knows? Don’t care.
What I do care about is how Soderberg adjusts his game for the NHL. He has the skill set but we all know the game is decidedly different in Europe.
How will he handle the physicality and the smaller ice surface? For sure, his size will help, as will his skating ability, but that all remains to be seen. Should that happen it has the potential to significantly help the Bruins in the playoffs.
Wonder how he is on the power play…
Gabe Landeskog is featured in McDonald’s presents Time Out in Sports Illustrated, the same one that featured Intern Jeff Skinner a while back.
We sent Jeff out of the office before watching this because he gets a little jealous.
Jealous of Gabe, I mean. Not our reactions to Gabe, which are mostly me giggling hysterically and Chuck madly pricing flights to Colorado.
Images from travcity.tumblr.com.
Then there’s some shouting: “Tights are not pants!” and “We need a new job!”
The culmination (climax?) of this campaign is the finished feature, side-by-side with this ad.
BAHAHAHA! Accidental fantastic-ary or not-so-subliminal messaging? Everything else I have to say is censored.
If that’s not enough, the Avs Charity Brunch will get you. During the fashion show, Gabe escorted this little lady down the runway and they danced.
Like at prom. Like the surprise bride & groom number at a wedding reception. Neither of which you need after dancing with Gabe Landeskog when you’re 9, because you’ve peaked and there’s nothing else to hope for.
.gif from mistfarer.tumblr.com
The Avs are last in the NHL and their season will end on Saturday, April 27. At least we can look forward to an entire summer of Gabe Tweeting photos and Sweden’s allergy to shirts.
Dear NHL,
If you do not use this song for any and all Stanley Cup Playoffs montages, then you’re just doing it wrong.
It’s perfection.
You know what? Just hire us and we’ll take care of it for you.
Sincerely,
Chuck & Pants
Honestly, sometimes the jokes write themselves.
I was going to talk about Danny Briere’s concussion and No Trade Clause, but I typed “No Trade Claude.” Why yes, that’s exactly what I meant.
It’s April, the Flyers are last in the Atlantic and I… won’t say anything mean. I still don’t like them and that’s all.
However, as you know, my traitorous heart does love Danny Briere. It’s beyond reason. Out since suffering a concussion in practice on March 23, Danny was back on the ice with the team yesterday. He could play as soon as Saturday vs. Buffalo. [link]
Danny talks about his injury and the process of returning here.
Stop it, stop being perfect.
Now, why do I even mention this?
1) Concussions can go to hell. For any player on any team… just the word turns my stomach.
2) I have a not-so-secret wish for the Flyers to make the playoffs and face Pittsburgh in the first round. I shouldn’t play with fire, but I’d love see the Pens redeem themselves for last year’s debacle.
3) Will Danny get traded to somewhere I can love him openly?
MOST IMPORTANT. There has been a lot of talk about Briere’s future with the Flyers. His contract is $6.5 million with two years left (Update: WRONG. Read comment below from KC!). Last season, Danny was way off his goal-scoring pace, despite personally terrorizing me during the playoffs. (Seriously – Briere got 16 G in 70 games all year, then 8 G in 11 games during the playoffs.) He’s also 35, which is NOT old because we are NOT old but we’re almost that old. In a few years.
Rumors flew that multiple teams were interested in acquiring Briere before the trade deadline, but Danny said publicly he would not waive his No Trade Claude Clause (UPDATE: It’s a No Movement Claude, which means no AHL either. Thanks Jess.). The man loves Jersey, okay? His adorakids go to school there, Gingeroux is there, it’s precious. There was speculation the Flyers might try to push him [link]. If there were ever a viable window to acquire value in exchange for Briere… it passed when he got hurt.
He traded one problem for another.
Now the best/worst solution is for Danny to come back and play well. He could still help the Flyers make the playoffs. At the same time, it may prove his viability to other teams. The better he looks, the more they’ll offer and the harder Philly might lean on him to accept. Late career trades and waived NTCs are the new dance crazes, don’t you know?
There is also the new CBA’s Amnesty Clause, which the Flyers could use to buy out Danny’s contract this summer. He’d still get $6.5 mil/year, but the Flyers would free up that amount under their salary cap. [link, link] They’ d rather have something to show that money, but at least the Amnesty Clause would let them spend it twice.
I don’t know what to feel.
Does anyone know: If the Flyers buy out Briere under the Amnesty Clause, does he become a UFA (like with a regular buyout)? Could he get $6.5 mill/year AND play somewhere else? If that’s true, I wouldn’t waive my NTC either. I’d make the Flyers play me or pay me, because I know I can get paid to play somewhere else when it’s over.
(Best we can figure, he’d get 2/3 of $5 million. See below.)
That’s crazy.
Now we’re past the trade deadline, and Danny is still a Flyer. If he storms the playoffs again, maybe he convinces the Flyers not to use the Amnesty Clause. He could scrape into next season and get another crack at… what? Being worth $6.5 million? It seems unlikely. The Flyers need that money and they need it this summer, when teams are more willing to negotiate.
Of course, this Flyers’ summer might be only 10 games away. Philly fans have had a rough year – we know a few, and like them anyway. Lord knows we’ve all been there. So here’s Captain Claude saying nice things about them in perhaps the most orange environment even caught on film.
If Danny gets a buyout or waives his NTC, I promise you a very Persuasive Power Point Presentation on why he should come to one of my teams, co-written by @linzerellak (as suggested by @alisonsykora).
As predicted by science, fate and what he looked like to begin with, post-jaw surgery and probably mid-dental work Sidney Crosby looks…
Better than anyone you know in real life.
This is from the party after the Honor Society show in Pittsburgh last night (says Tumblr – which is how rumors get started). I’d apologize to this young lady for not knowing her name/crediting her photo, but I don’t think she cares. (UPDATE: Her name is Candace, and she’s very nice!).
If you can go to shows and parties, maybe you can smile and play hockey soon?
Let’s have some Monday morning Caro Emerald in celebration, shall we?
Update: Alison found another, RT’d by the band’s @RiskyBusinessMB:
That is almost a smile.
Update #2: Talking to the media at Pens practice… sigh.
Remember that time in late January/early February 2012 we went a little crazy and named a bunch of New York Rangers at Foxy Fridays?
Yea, well this guy wasn’t one of them. We’re idiots. Thank goodness, WUYS fan Brenda (@wishinonehand) is on top of it. She is this week’s Foxy Friday Fan Challenge winner! Check out her ode to Dan Girardi and his face below.
Nothin’ but a G Thing
To all 30 NHL GMs who failed to draft Dan Girardi, who’s laughing now?
The New York Rangers signed Girardi as an undrafted free agent on July 1, 2006 and since then, all he’s done is play his damn heart out. From 2007 through 2012, Girardi played an astonishing 408 out of 410 regular season games (plus 42 playoff games, but who’s counting?). Danny’s minutes are hard minutes: he regularly plays over 25 min/game, mostly against opponents’ top lines and during the PK. He blocks shots like a boss and comes back the next shift like it never happened, causing some to wonder: Is Dan Girardi a Mutant?
Super indeed.
Danny G made his first All Star team last season, which was very well-deserved. He may only be 6’1″ and 203 pounds and had just 5G / 24A last season, but especially when Marc Staal was out with a concussion (and now with a horrible eye injury – get well soon, Staalsy!), Girardi is the absolute backbone of this team. Did I mention that he’s also an Alternate Captain when Staal is out?
Congratulations, Danny!
But I’m getting distracted. You came here for foxiness. Where do I start?
Gorgeous big blue eyes that make the crystal clear Caribbean waters weep?
Check.
A cleft chin that Cary Grant (Ask your moms, whippersnappers!) would envy?
Check.
Lips that are absolutely perfectly… ahem, I don’t think I can even finish that sentence on a family-friendly blog, but… CHECK.
Oh, did I mention that he’s a doting father to the cutest son ever? Commence ovarian meltdown in 3, 2, 1…
I mean, I don’t even want kids and I turn into a complete puddle over this.
On a team stacked with an embarrassment of foxy riches, Girardi is a standout.
Note from Pants & Chuck: asdfghjkl!
Seriously, can we please insist on full face cages? It would be irresponsible to destroy all this beauty.
Ssshhhh… Don’t talk. Don’t ruin the moment.
Do you need a glass of water? We’ll wait.
Girardi’s hotness will stop for no woman. Don’t believe me?
What’s black & white and covered in grease paint? Girardi’s foxiness, of course.
Putting the “classic” in Winter Classic.
Put him in your Aunt Joan’s ugly holiday sweater with a pair of cheesy shades – he’s still hot like fire. Bonus if you’ve got SKIN TIGHT RED JEANS!
Merry Christmas, indeed.
Does he even sweat during workouts? If he’s not, I am.
Dan’s foxiness extends to his sense of humor and being OCD about neatness. All this hotness and he puts away his clothes, too?
How can you not swoon over a boy who loves Swedish Fish and Frosted Flakes?
I’ll wait while you watch that pelvic thrust a few hundred more times…
…
Dan Girardi, this week’s Foxy Friday. #5 for the New York Rangers, but #1 in your heart.
Pants & Chuck Note: Halloween? Get us a phone booth, a cape and DG. Stat.
Your post didn’t get chosen? Didn’t get a chance to submit ?
Don’t worry! There are still three Fridays left, so keep those submissions coming. Entries sent for this week are still eligible too, while Pants and Chuck, relax, take long lunches and watch Intern Jeff Skinner rearrange the office.
There was a moment in last night’s Caps’ game when Mike Green scored and I yelled, “I love you, you crazy looking hipster!”
Now I see this and it’s all OneRepublic in here, “Is it too late to apologiiiiiiiiiize?”
Deb (@DLF1021), what would I do without you sending me things?
Mike is featured in this month’s DC Modern Luxury Magazine (Page 81) as one of DC’s Men of Style. Based on this, I’m buying it. Do not adjust my vision. Do not make me wait for Monday!
We called him a Part-Time Model… THIS IS NOW VALID EMPLOYMENT.
It’s still not my favorite Mike Green look, but I can evolve. There’s a lot going on here – stripes in every direction, 50 shades of pink, is that the Avengers logo on his pocket square? – and it ALL works. As long as he’s combed and clean, it’s a far cry from the caveman roster head shot!
“We usually have blood all over us after the games.” Stop it, Mike.
As for the aforementioned screaming, Mike had two goals in the Caps’ win over Carolina. The first was assisted by Nicky B, giving Piglet his 400th NHL point. IT TIED THE GAME.
The second was, of course, also assisted by Nicky. That’s how bromances work. IT ALSO TIED THE GAME.
Henceforth, goals scored by your OTP (or just OTP for that team) shall be known as: THE ADORAGOAL.
Robin (@rockinredbirdie) is like Shakespeare, coining her own terms.
The Young Guns were all firing – Ovi had 2 G, Mike had 2, Nicky had 4 As. Just to stick it to us, Sasha Fierce stopped Ovi’s shot toward the empty Canes net with under a minute to go, looking for that hat trick. Hahahaha, JERK.
GAME TIED. Somebody hug me.
Have you ever wanted to write for What’s Up, Ya Sieve?
Well, here’s your chance!
This month, we’ve decided to change things up a bit and let you write and submit your own Foxy Friday posts. We’re calling it the “Foxy Friday Fan Challenge”.
Each week, we are asking you, our loyal readers, to write and submit your funniest, cleverest, and foxiest posts about who you think should be named the week’s Fan Foxy Friday.
Here’s how it’ll work:
I promise that Pants and I will review all the entries with objectivity and an open mind…but if you write about anyone on the Canucks or the Canadiens, you better have the goods to back it up.
Any questions? Email me at chuck@whatsupyasieve.com or hit us up on twitter at @WhatsUp_YaSieve
You’ve all seen what happened in the Penguins/Islanders game on Saturday. I feel obligated to talk about it, so you know I’m not weeping in a ditch.
It started out so well. We were all distracted by shiny things:
Then 87 seconds in, Sid got a friendly-fire puck to the face. Yes, 87 seconds.
Fate, you are a bitch.
Maybe Sid should just sit out vs. the Islanders forever, since he seems to always get hit in the face during these games. [The last time.]
I was watching the game on my phone, at a Greene Turtle sports bar. My waitress, a Flyers fan, must’ve heard my muffled scream because she came rushing over and we huddled around the little screen watching while my lunch got cold. Even she was worried. I left her a huge tip.
For all the times I’ve said “NOT THE FACE!”, I primarily mean one face in the entire hockey world.
But Sidney Crosby cannot catch a break. He had “extensive” dental work and surgery to repair a fractured jaw. He’s out of the hospital but still swollen, can’t chew and can’t talk. That would put me over the edge, but Sid is reportedly in good spirits. Because he’s awesome.
Crosby wrote that he’s resigned to a diet of “soup and shakes for a while” and that verbal communication is pretty much out of the question “for another couple days” because he is “pretty swollen right now.” – Pittsburgh Post Gazette
I was a little embarrassed by my level of concern on Saturday. I’m not that worried about his face because:
He’s still going to look like this when it’s over. Maybe a scar, a few fake teeth. We like hockey players, remember?
Gah, I’m just torturing myself now. I also barely avoided a ragestroke over the number of people who feel an injured player is either the result of karma or the punchline of a joke. Just walk away, Pants.
Obviously the true concern is any concussion-like symptom that an 85 mph puck to the face could cause. It looks like we’re clear on that front. Outlets are reporting that Sid intends to be back by playoffs, and many are saying don’t be surprised to see him sooner.
The Pens have him listed as “out indefinitely” – that doesn’t mean FOREVER. It means THEY DON’T KNOW. The caps lock is for myself, so I don’t freak out.
Pittsburgh still has everyone else (except Letang and a starting Fleury), a 15-game win streak and the lead in the East. They’ve been getting it done with holes in the roster and I expect the last 12 games of the season to be no different. They’re home vs. Buffalo tonight – let’s assume Sid will be on the couch with an ice pack of frozen peas and a milkshake. watching this happen.
I will be doing the same.
This weekend, the artist formerly known as GAME OVER changed his name to GAME TIED. And that’s okay with us.
How I looked Saturday night, only with a scream of joy.
On Saturday, after hitting the post earlier in the game, Mike banked one in behind Jhonas Enroth to tie the game with 42 seconds left in the third period.
The Caps later won the game on a shootout goal from Ovi that caused Matty Perreault to have the greatest celebration in history:
Closer?
close up .gifs by cadetsandkings.tumblr.com
More?
I could/will/have watch(ed) that a thousand times.
Here’s Mike on the post-game… if he were blond, I would be shipping a Dread Pirate Roberts Halloween costume so hard right now.
Mike even got a little sassy on Twitter post-game, calling out someone who called out his early-game play. While I’m not generally a fan of revenge chirping, it had to feel SO good. And it earned the rest of us this:
Love you too, Mikey. But don’t scroll back through my Twitter feed, ‘kay?
Sunday the Caps played again, this time vs. the Flyers. I might have driven up for the game, but I couldn’t behind my steering wheel after Easter lunch. Just as well, I would’ve fainted when this happened:
As it was, I launched off the couch for the kicking equivalent of a Matty P Party. Mr. Pants was both alarmed and impressed by my sudden outburst of energy. Alas, the Caps got back into the game just to let it get away. They scored 2 more (In 26 seconds! Both on the PP!) early in the 3rd, then gave up 2 and went to OT.
Damn Flyers won it in extra innings.
Someone on Twitter called it an “unacceptable loss” and I have to agree. With this state of the union, they can’t be letting leads get away and momentum die a terrible death.
The promising news is, the Caps are tied with Carolina. The two teams play tomorrow in Raleigh. Please, please, please let the Caps bring their A game. They need to hopscotch over the Canes then worry about NYI and NYR for that 8th spot, all while setting their sights on the Jets for 1st in the Southeast. The only way in is to win, a lot, from here on out.
What do you think? Here’s the Caps’ schedule for the rest of the season. Can they pull it off?
