When WUYS is suddenly mentioned in 47 new Tweets in an hour, there’s only one possible reason: Workout video.
When 46 of those messages are in ALL CAPS, I know without reading:
It’s the Blackhawks.
Here’s the video. It takes an extra moment to load, presumably because the internet paused to fan itself back into consciousness.
Between road games in San Jose and Phoenix, the Blackhawks thought an outdoor soccer and football workout would be fun. Nothing says internet sensation like a bunch of pale Canadians with their shirts off in February! (Plus Kaner and Stalberg, who must be in their somewhere.)
Blackhawks TV is the best media output in the NHL. They brought us Joey the Junior Reporter, ugly Christmas sweaters, everything.
Well, not quite everything – until now.
What was that?
Jonathan Toews would have been a QB if he were American. It’s just his style.
He doesn’t even use a resistance band, because none can contain him.
This workout was held at the University of Phoenix… yet I don’t see anyone around. No one suddenly joined the track team? Changed their major to stadium groundskeeping? Impromtu lemonade stand body shots? For shame.
The Blackhawks aren’t just gratuitously fit and camera-friendly. They are 8-0-2 on the season and lead the entire NHL with 18 points.
They have so much swag right now, they’re doing good deeds for other teams! This is like sending the girls to the bar in hopes they’ll attract the bartender more quickly. It’s practically a Blackhawks Bikini Car Wash.
If tonight’s game in Phoenix doesn’t have record ticket sales, there is literally nothing else the NHL can do.
To start the first period vs. the Islanders last night, James Neal scored his sixth goal of the season. To end the period, he took a penalty.
He’s too busy to fix his hair for interviews.
NOPE. It’ll be a sad, scoreless day in the ‘Burgh before Nealer doesn’t care about his flow.
This .gif is even better for it’s choppiness – it’s like he performs a magic trick and doubles the amount of hair with the wave of his hand.
A wonderful person even filmed it off their TV so you wouldn’t miss out: link.
The Pens won their 7th game of the season, putting them atop the Eastern Conference with 14 points. Look at these two – James is mesmerized by Kris, Kris is mesmerized by what I can only imagine is Sid off-camera, nose stuffed full of bloody cotton from a puck to the face, but still. They’re so googly-eyed they can’t even high-five.
Nealmobile was 1st Star of the game. Here he is being borrrrrrrrrring in a snuggly sweatshirt on NHL Tonight [link].
Read more about James’ recent success and how he honed that wicked shot from the Ellwood City Ledger. Frankly there is a limit to the number of times I can hear “stick” or “slot” without giggling.
Pens vs. Caps – Round 2 tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, on NHL Network.
No secret that Pants and I appreciated a good beard, especially come playoff time.
So you can imagine my utter delight when I saw this while watching the Stars vs. Avalanche game last night.
GREAT ODIN’S RAVEN!
Now that is a beard!
It redefines the term “Fear the Beard”. With the helmet on, this thing is perfectly symmetrically. His head becomes this oblong portrait of masculinity, sport, and ridiculousness.
And it’s GINGER!
Now some may say the beard is overcompensation for Zanon’s bald pate. I like to think that the hairs on his head realized where the real party was at.
I, for one, am glad to know that if his hockey career doesn’t work out, he can find work as any one of the following:
an extra in a Civil War epic
an extra in a movie about the impending Zombie Apocalypse
a home for baby birds and small woodland creatures
Penguins vs. Capitals should be a rough day for me, what with my love of both teams. Yet it never is.
Of course Mike Green had a goal ysterday – a lovely, wide open one-timer past former Caps goalie Tomas Vokoun to tie the game against my Penguins. Just flexing his muscles when my eye starts to wander.
Ignore the clip-maker who doesn’t know Holtby plays for Washington.
I was cheering for him on the inside, just a little. It’s like horizontal running. Then I hid my face when his official homeless-themed roster photo appeared on the scoreboard.
The goal was Mike’s second of the season, in 9 games played. Last year he had only 3 in 32 games, with the rest of the season lost to injury. Both of his goals this year have tied their respective games.
Also in yesterdays game, he and James Neal collided more than once. I felt that, let me tell you.
Mike’s goal and the Caps effort were not enough yesterday – and I am not sorry. There was much too much of this going on:
And this. Chris Kunitz had a hat trick, Crosby had 3 assists, Letang and Cooke each had 1 G/1 A.
I had too much cold medicine and the spins from watching the Pens warm up from the front row. You try to make it through 17 minutes of Nealer doing this, only closer.
Not from yesterday, still 100% accurate.
While I was cheering loudly and often for the Pens, they could have been better. The Caps played pretty well, except their power playis like watching that revolting Go Daddy Super Bowl kissing commercial for two minutes straight. Vokoun had to be very good in net, and he certainly was.
It’s not his fault iCarly scored the weirdest goal I’ve ever seen:
Crosby’s got a 4-game point streak going… and the tiniesthint of a mustache. No no no! Why can’t his superstitions run toward shirtless push-ups after every game? Don’t make me hate points, Sid. The Pens face the Islanders Tuesday night, then rematch against the Caps on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Will this still be going on (because you know it won’t be any darker by then)?
We are only two weeks into the hockey season and I’m already exhausted. I’ve also made at least two jokes about not knowing the Ottawa Senators. Both true.
So this week, we bring you learning.
Foxy Friday: Peter Regin
Peter is a 26-year old center from Herning, Denmark. He’s got an old-school Zack Morris thing going on, minus the teal varsity jacket (nobody’s perfect).
This is Peter’s fourth full season with the Senators. He had 13 goals in ’09-’10, then a disappointing 3 goal campaign in ’10-’11 cut short by a season-ending shoulder dislocation in February 2011. The injury, corrected twice by surgery, sidelined him for all but 10 games last season.
During the lockout, he earned 5 points in just 4 games with Switzerland’s SC Langenthal. Now, he’s back in the Ottawa lineup and hopefully healthy, because he’s got big skates to fill.
Originally destined for the Seantors’ third or fourth line [HockeyBuzz.com], the recent injury to center (and everyone’s boyfriend ever, says Jess) Jason Spezza creates an interesting space for Regin.
He’s already spent time filling Spezza’s spot on the Senators top-line.
Peter doesn’t have any points yet this season, but his 12 shots on goal show some promise. Spezza will be out two months for surgery to a herniated disk in his back [Puck Daddy]. This scary forecast for the Senators is Regin’s chance to step up his game.
Read The Ottawa Sun and Ottawa Citizen‘s thoughts on Regin’s 2013 season, written prior to Spezza’s injury. Then quadruple the expectations, pressure and need, and tune in when the Senators face the Hurricanes tonight.
Here’s Regin with Cosmo’s “Hottest Senator” Marc Methot. We think he gives both Marc and our pick Erik Karlsson a run for their money.
Time for my daily existential Danny Briere-related crisis.
The Caps are so frustratingly bad right now that I swore I would not go tonight’s game. Despite taking 8 penalties in the first 34 minutes of last night’s match vs. Toronto, they managed to drag a one goal lead into the third period… and still blew it. The postmortem is here – you’ve been warned.
So I’m boycotting. Save money, right? Make sound financial decisions while being warm and well fed in the comfort of my own home?
Trouble is, tonight is against the Flyers.
Pam is right, of course. I’m so weak! To make matters worse, the Flyers have conspired against me.
Danny will play on on Claude’s line tonight [link].
Supposedly it’s an attempt to kickstart the Flyers anemic offense, which is averaging just 2 goals per game and currently ranked 26th overall. Last year’s leading goal scorer Scott Hartnell is out 4-6 weeks with a broken foot. No Philly player has over 5 total points. They’re 2-5 on the year.
Okay, it’s bad. But it’s still just a cover story to make this possible…
… and to make sure I have to go. What does Claude think of this?
The trouble is that I don’t want the Flyers hugging! Not against the Caps, not against anyone – except the Rangers, and then I feel a general, tidal sort of rage that could swamp anyone in it’s path.
I don’t want to see a ‘strolling across your devastated defense’ arm-in-arm…
Or a ‘nice try, Jeff Schultz’ fist-bump…
Nothing. Not even reenacting this best gif ever:
Can the Caps get it together? Neuvirth was the one bright spot last night – he stopped a few beauties, kept his team in the game. Perhaps it’s the right recipe: the Caps biggest strength in goal vs. the Flyers biggest weakness on offense.
At 1-5-1 on the season, the Caps need something to go right. Tonight kicks off a 3-game home stand that includes the Penguins on Sunday (whoop!) and a rematch with Toronto. Tonight could be the night.
That’s what I’ll be telling myself later, from the Flyers side of the pre-game skate.
In this season’s first episode of the Penguins series “In the Room,” you can learn all about Joe Vitale, the very short pre-season and other fascinating hockey-related things.
Then forget them all in the last 10 seconds.
The next thing Sid will have to pick up off the floor is me.
You can watch the whole episode here. The Crosby Bend & Snap is here (gif) or here (very end). Haha, I said ‘end.’
The Pens face the Rangers tonight, with matching 3-3 records. Pittsburgh lost an awful – so bad that Crosby’s jeans couldn’t fix it – game to the Islanders on Tuesday. New York squeaked out a 2-1 win over Philly that cost them captain Ryan Callahan, who hurt his shoulder grappling with none other than Max Talbot. Luckily for the NYR, Cally will only miss 10-14 days [link].
Pittsburgh has lost 3 of their last 4 games, while New York has won 3 of 4. Their first meeting of the season ended in a 6-3 Penguins win that bounced Lundqvist in the second period.
James Neal scored two in that game vs. NYR… and only one goal since. Maybe since it was tight t-shirt time, he’ll get back on the board tonight.
The surefire way to break a streak is for me to post about it, so apologies in advance to the Sharks and/or Blackhawks. Blame NHL.com, they did it first.
The San Jose Sharks are 6-0. Surprised? So is Patrick Marleau.
HA! Actually, Patty always looks that way.
But we are impressed. Nine goals in six games for the former Foxy Friday. Last year he scored 30 times in 82 games – this year he’s on pace for 72 in 48.
Also putting up big numbers for San Jose are Jumbo Joe (Thornton) and Little Joe (Pavelski). Last night, the Sharks struggled through two periods and it took a late goal by Rookie of My Life Logan Couture to tie Anaheim. Marleau was held goal-less for the first time this year. But in the shootout…
Six straight wins is the best in Sharks franchise history. Recently the Penguins announcers were discussing whether 33-year old NHL players should be considered “aging veterans.”
What do you think, Marleau and Thornton (and Pants and Chuck)? Anyone older care to chime in?
San Jose has given up only 10 goals against, second only to the Devils (9, try calling Brodeur old). They play tomorrow night vs. Edmonton.
The Chicago Blackhawks are 6-0 too.
Stats, stats, stats, sweaty Viktor Stalberg blinking magnificently…
The Hawks have won a number of tight contests, including two one-goal games and two OTs. Six wins is also a franchise-best for this 85-year old team.
We talked about PKane’s hot start, but Chicago’s getting solid output from all their top players – Kane, Hossa, Sharp and Toews lead the team in points.
Wayne Gretzky said, “You build a pretty good hockey team around Kane and Toews and Hossa, and right now they’re hitting on all cylinders, they’re going to be a tough team to beat.” [Video]
They play tonight vs. Minnesota in a game the NHL Network would have you believe is a big time rivalry. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh.
So apparently Patrice Bergeron and Intern Jeff Skinner got into a “scrum” at the end of the Bruins/Hurricanes game last night.
This was our reaction.
I know. I can’t stop laughing either. So much hilarity.
My feed didn’t actually show the fight because it happened behind the play and Tyler Seguin happened to be on his way to score an empty-netter to seal the win for the Black and Gold.
Luckily for us all, I scoured the internet and DID manage to find some footage of this “fight”
Of course, we want the Professor and our intern to get along. It makes for a much more harmonious office atmosphere. But if they HAVE to fight, we much prefer this sort of fighting. Less chances of black eyes.
In other game notes…
Nathan Horton straight up embarrassed J. Staal. Like right out of his shorts. [Watch this pretty goal.]
Honestly, Jordan. Where you even paying attention? Or where you thinking “Man, I could really go for a sandwich right now?” Or did you momentarily turn into a cat and get distracted by a laser pointer on the ice?
I’m glad that Horton scored because I want him to score all the goals, but really, Jordan. You know better than that.
Dougie Hamilton is making everyone fall in love with him. The kid continues to reward the Bruins organization’s faith in him by playing like a big boy. Last night, he set up David Krecji with this salty, no-look dish.
The 19-year-old rookie now was 4 points in his first 5 games of his professional career.
I will now refer to him as the Great Hambino.
Anton Khudobin is a-okay. While last night’s game wasn’t by any means a goaltending showcase, Bruins back up Anton Khudobin played very well, allowing Bruins fans to breath a small sigh of relief. Tuukka will of course be the Bruins #1 this season, but should he need a break, I think were going to be alright with the man from Kazakhstan between the pipes.
As a hockey blog, we would be remissed if we didn’t give a big, huge birthday shout out to the one…the only…the greatest of all time (aka the GOAT)…
Mr. Wayne Gretzky
The Great One turns 52 years young today! Born January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky is without a doubt the best player to ever play the game. The numbers that he complied in his 20-year professional career are simply staggering.
894 goals. 1,963 assists. 2,857 career points.
In the 1981-1982 season, Gretzky had 212 points. 212 points, people. 92 of those were goals.
I just can’t even comprehend.
18-time NHL All-Star. 10 Art Ross Trophies. 9 Hart Trophies. 5 Lady Byngs. 4 Stanley Cups. 4 Lester B. Pearsons. 2 Conn Smythes.
All this coming from a man who by any hockey standards, especially today’s, was not built for hockey.
Wayne Gretzky is what you might refer to as a….
His size, strength, and basic athletic ability were nothing exceptional. As an 18-year-old rookie in 1979, he weight all of 160 lbs. And I’m pretty sure that was soaking wet, holding the Stanley Cup while wearing all of hockey equipment.
Then he ate some sandwiches and got his weight up to manly 185 lbs. By his own admission, he always finished dead last peripheral vision, flexibility, and strength during team testing. Apparently, he could only bench press 140 lbs.
So how did this guy become the greatest hockey player of all time?
Simple.
He’s an alien.
Okay, so not really, but some have accused him of having some sort of extrasensory perception when it comes to hockey – “eyes in the back of his head” they called it. In reality, Gretzky’s intelligence and his ability to read the game was unparalleled.
He had an almost superhuman ability to anticipate the puck and where it would be on the ice. He was a creative player, an improviser able to make split second decisions on the ice and completely confuse his opponents.
He was an ellusive player. Denis Potvin once remarked that trying to hit Gretzky was like “wrapping your arms around fog.” Gretzky even has an area of the ice named for him. Forever more, the area behind the net will be referred to as “Gretzky’s Office.” (Which I also happen to think is an excellent name for a hockey bar.)
He had great flow, before flow was a “thing”.
He scored 50 goals in 39 games.
He inspires deep thoughts from movie man Kevin Smith.
Since retiring from the game in 1999, the Great One was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the only player to ever have this honor. His infamous #99 jersey was retired league-wide.
Gretzky has kept busy as a coach, businessman, husband, father, and of all things, a wine maker.
Cue Berserker Rage. The article earned a near-instant pile of negative comments and a Tweetspolosion. An hour later, it and the Ranger’s Twitter posting for it, were deleted.
Remember this commercial?
Yeah, that doesn’t work. Bless the Islanders fan who saved the whole thing.
People have always underestimated women and sports – even other women. Even Claude Giroux. (Really this Giroux article is gross. They didn’t even pick him as hottest Flyer though he lowered his standards for them. Let that be a lesson to you.)
This link title: How to Make a Sports Fan Like You
Sports Illustrated once did a “Puck Bunnies” slideshow gallery of female fans with signs, then quickly took it down. (Puck Daddy)
Girls have been trying to understand “guy things” forever. I started playing World of Warcraft when I met my husband, and I interrupted a few raids by loudly wondering how my manna got so low and why the eff it took an hour to run across the Alterac Mountains. Then I stopped, because I hated it.
It angers and frustrates me that a hockey team would publish this article. They quickly pointed out the author is a “contributor” not an employee, but I say: you post it, you bought it. The NHL struggles to win new fans (and not lose the ones they have) – can they really misunderstand so badly how to reach out?
Women might be unfamiliar with a sport, but we’ve been learning things for just as long as guys have. If we want to learn, we ask someone who knows. Even the Girl’s Guide encourages asking the boys. So why, in our quest to become fans, would we start with instruction from someone who admittedly is not one?
This story suggests we’re somewhere between dumb and lazy, with really bad timing. That sports obsessions should be shunned as “alpha-male” because they’re “exhausting” and we need time to get really excited about “70% off sales.” Hmm, she’s already insulted the very people we’re trying to hang around.
It also says that being familiar with Henrik Lundqvist will make us want to watch him play. If all we know about Hank is that he plays guitar while looking flawless, watching him play is probably low on the list of things we’d like to do with him. Not to mention that stupid, giant goalie helmet is all blocking his face like the whole time.
Now, I know we are girly – even fangirly. But that’s our angle and you’re in on the joke. We’ll post pictures of Henrik and Co. all day then go home and watch two games a night. I’m watching one right now. It’s pretty impossible to understand a post here without at least a working knowledge of hockey. Our commenters and WUYS friends are some of the smartest, most loyal and observant fans we’ve ever known. Yes we appreciate the scenery, but we love the game. Girls can do two things at once.
If a woman wants to get into hockey, we welcome her. We love her. We might even open her eyes to some new, ahem, talent.
Here’s how we suggest she join in all this fun:
Don’t be afraid. You’re not stupid, you’re new. Everyone learned sometime. (Unless you’re me, I still can’t drive a standard transmission.) Channel your inner Stuart Smalley: You’re good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, you might like hockey!
Watch a game. A whole game, just you and the TV. Follow what you can. Remember what you can’t. Then try a second game with someone who knows hockey, and ask questions. Why start in a room full of howling super-fans? How intimidating. If none of those boys will sit through a game with you, lovely lady, reconsider your venue. There are plenty of guys who would.
Pick a team. Maybe they play nearby, maybe your dad likes them, maybe they’re the Penguins because you’re smart and awesome. Whatever works. Then look up your team – not just roster photos (God, no). Watch a few YouTube videos and highlights. Read a magazine feature, they tend to be written for a broader audience. Email us, we’ll make you a primer. Put a face, a goal or a fight with a name.
These Rangers fans know better than their team.
Keep asking. My husband likes hockey, but doesn’t follow it. Last night I flipped to the Oilers/Kings game during a 5-on-3 situation. He wanted to know, “If the power play team scores, do they get one man back or both?” Perfectly good question! Can they ever have a 5-on-2? A 4-on-2? Are you lost? So are a lot of other people, even some wearing jerseys. There are new rules that even the players hardly know yet.
Have fun. Don’t do this for the boys, or even snacks. This isn’t Mean Girls and you don’t have to like hockey just because other people do. If it’s not your thing, we understand. I hate basketball and Quentin Tarantino movies, that’s just the way it is. My husband still plays Warcraft. I still like hockey better.
Hopefully you’ll get hooked, proving yourself wiser and cooler than any guide that underestimated you just for being a girl. Then come on back here, because we’d love to have you.
But it was on the other day and I was enjoying some Upstate NY (represent!) vs. Toronto rivalry. Didn’t take me long to tell the otherwise empty room we’d found our next Foxy Friday: Marcus Foligno.
I’d like to officially announce a recount of my vote for Hottest NHL Player: Sabres. Kaleta’s out, Foligno’s in.
If Cosmo can make so many mistakes, surely I can have one.
Marcus is a 21-year old forward playing in (hopefully) his first full season with the Sabres. He tallied 14 NHL games last season and spent the rest of his time playing for the AHL’s Rochester Americans. His dad Mike played for the Sabres and Marcus was even born in Buffalo! All this Upstate NY love. His brother Nick currently plays for Columbus.
While the NHL was having a lockout, the Amerks were getting all their players to do the Gangnam Style dance. Sorry Troy Brouwer, you were game but Foligno’s freestyle wave takes the cake:
What’s that? You want to see it again?
Top quality.
Marcus is also a fighter… at least against Toronto. Last year in his first NHL fight, he beat up Matt Frattin (97.4% win on HockeyFights.com) and this week he took Mark Fraser for an 80.6% win.
Foligno had 10 goals in the first half of the Americans season, looking to outpace his 16 goal total from last season. We don’t think he’ll complain about not getting to finish the year in Rochester.
He had 6 goals in 14 games with Buffalo last year. So far none this season, but his 4 shots in the Sabres loss yesterday to Carolina predict that drought won’t last long. Chances generated by the Foligno-Ennis-Stafford line have been “encouraging” news for Sabres fans [link], despite a lack of secondary scoring in this young season.
According to Twitter, The Source of All Verifiable News, Marcus liked Silver Linings Playbook and watches USA Network’s Suits. Am I the only person NOT watching Suits? I see more Tweets about that show than about Manti T’eo.
Most people love it. There are some complaints that it’s too much, too showy, that goal scorers should “act like you’ve been here before.”
Guess which side I’m on?
LOOK HOW EXCITED HE IS!! He’s 19 years old, has played 3 NHL games and this was his second-ever goal. He tied a super-tight, messy game with under 5 seconds left to send his team to overtime. Which they won. GO CRAZY!
Afterward, he Tweeted this:
The Oilers website got in on the fun, with a nod to Yakupov’s exuberant overuse of social media parenthetical smiley-face emoticons:
You can see them at @Nail10_1993, or just take Taylor Hall’s word for it:
Based on Twitter, we should have anticipated this kind of overjoyed meltdown.
Yakopov was the first overall selection at the 2012 draft. Yes, that means the last three #1 draft picks all play for the Oilers. My future children will be watching these guys someday, and I can tell stories like this while they ignore me and fly around on hovercraft sneakers.
More pumped than everyone else combined.
To detractors, I say: Last night I was at the Caps 4-1 loss to Montreal. It was like after-school detention on the nicest day of the year. The team was atrocious, the crowd anemic. Booing started halfway through and no announcer or music crew could stem the tide. I would have given my nachos for a single rush with Yakupov’s energy or a single player with his spirit.
I am Nail-excited about the return of hockey. I am Nail-excited about amazing plays, my team having heart and never giving up. This isn’t unsportsmanlike conduct or excessive celebration. It’s just the kind of buzzer-beating, heart-stopping, throw your popcorn in the air thing we were missing all along.
When it comes to the Blackhawks, it’s not easy to be the prettiest anything.
You’re well-dressed… till Patrick Sharp walks by. Feeling reliably heroic… then you see Jonathan Toews. Rugged? Try Viktor Stalberg. Good hair day? Ruined by Brent Seabrook. You can’t even walk a dog without being upstaged by Duncan Keith and forget being adorable with Joey the Junior Reporter around.
But if you’re Patrick Kane, you can still have the prettiest pass in town.
No-look, cross-ice backhand to the wide-open top scorer for the OT winner? Stunned. The Stars commentators are stunned.
Time for Jess’ favorite thing: a Patrick Kane Flying Hug.
The Hawks are off to a 4-0 running start, led by Kane’s 7 points. I know it’s only 4 games, but PK’s play demonstrates what teams were hoping (praying) to see from guys who went overseas during the lockout. No rust. Solid conditioning. Sharp passing, good rhythm and raising the play of everyone else on the ice.
Check out this 3-on-nobody the other night. Goalies wake up sweating in the middle of the night thinking about things like this:
Cue another Patrick Kane Flying Hug.
At their home opener, the Hawks did one of those red carpet player entrances. These events apparently don’t require approval by the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Tell me the velvet rope creates a safe distance here:
Patrick Kane, feeling like a boss until…
Patrick Sharp, Life Ruiner arrives. Only to be outdone by:
Last night, the Bruins squared off against the Rangers for the 2nd time this young season. Unfortunately, the Bruins lost (or fortunately, the Rangers won, depending on how you look at it) in OT.
This game had it all. A hat trick. Saves. Blocked shots. A geek fight. And a boy named Dougie.
Thing #1 – A hat trick for Marion Gaborik
Gaborik was salty last night and gathered up his first hat trick of the season. He’s partnered with Rick Nash and Brad Richards on the Rangers’ first line. With that combination I’m thinking that there are going to plenty more of these to come.
Especially impressive was the hand/eye coordination on his OT winner.
Not impressive was my failure to put him in my fantasy hockey line up last night.
Thing #2 – Tuukka Time
Two Us. Two Ks. All saves. Tuukka Rask played an exceptional game last night, thwarting a number of Rangers’ chances that looked like sure things.
The New York Rangers blocked 5,157 shots. Okay so maybe wasn’t nearly that many, but this aspect of the game is something the Rangers defensemen (and the forwards, to some extent) have on LOCK. They are not afraid to sacrifice their bodies to prevent pucks from getting to Lundqvist.
It is frustrating as an opponent, exciting as a fan, and surprisingly kinda sexy.
Thing #4 – Darth Quaider vs. Inigo Montoya
We like Brian Boyle. He seems like an affable, goofy guy and we appreciate that. But damn is he annoying. He’s like Brad Marchand…if you exposed Marchand to intrastellar radiation resulting in a genetic mutation, comic book-style. Boyle is not shy about getting right up in there, getting under your skin, and taking some shots to frustrate you.
Be careful, Inigo. The force is strong with this one.
And Thing #5 – Welcome to the NHL, Dougie Hamilton!
Everyone, all together now! DOUGIE, TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE!
You’re all still dancing right now, aren’t you?
That’s cool.
We’ll wait.
……..
All set? Got it out of your system? Okay, let’s move on.
Dougie is our newest member of the HFC – the Hockey Fetus Club. He is only 19, which is just “inconceivable” and in three games this season has proven himself to be a poised, controlled presence on the Bruins’ back line. As our friend Pez from Days of Y’Orr said “Dougie is wearing big boy pants now”. And they fit him quite nicely.
Hamilton moves the puck well and has apparently impressed Coach Claude enough to earn some time on the PP and PK units. Best part of the night – his first NHL point. DH27 had an assist on Brad Marchand’s power play goal. The potential with this kid is scary good. I predict an influx of Hamilton 27 jerseys in the TD Garden stands very soon.
It is not entirely out of the realm of possibility that these two teams could meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. This game had an incredible playoff-like intensity from start to unfortunate finish. It was on like Donkey Kong from the moment they dropped the puck. Rangers dominated in the 1st and then the ice tilted to favor the Bruins in the 2nd. The pace of the 3rd evened out as both teams looked to control the play and secure the win.
Although the Bruins lost in OT, they did get a point, bringing them to 5 and first in the Eastern Conference standings. The teams will face off again on February 12th in their final meeting of the 2013 season.
One might have assumed my lockout-induced honeymoon period would last longer than four days.
WRONG.
Greetings from the StruggleBus. Last night’s Capitals home opener looked a lot like their season opener in Tampa Bay. As in: I reminded myself that the upside to losing is ticket prices stay low.
The Caps are not, by any means, the only team aboard this bus. They are not even surprising. Very early in this abbreviated season, the Flyers are having a breakdown as well.
Philly has a league high -8 overall goal deficit. Their goaltending problem is a problem, but not if they can’t score.
The Rangers also bought a ticket for this ride. They’re 0-2, gave up 6 goals to the Penguins and pulled Lundqvist in the 2nd period. Tonight they rematch against Boston, who beat them 3-1 in the first game of the year.
People expect a lot from Philly and NY – rightfully so. What about Carolina?
The Hurricanes have scored 2 goals, while giving up 9. That is not the #11 we were hoping for down south.
It’s too soon to panic, right? Teams are just shaking off the rust, getting their legs underneath them. We hope. The Caps issues last night were reminiscent of last season – bad outlet passes, no one in front of the net, sloppy entering the offensive zone – but magnified. They’re operating under a new coach and a new system, with new guys on the ice.
Well, not all new guys.
Matt Henricks vs. The World went 3 rounds last night – 2 fights and 1 goal.
But some. The Caps called up Tomas Kundratek on Monday to replace Jack Hillen, injured in the first game.
HELLO. Also, how did you get on the ice when I’ve never heard of you? Originally a Rangers prospect and most recently of the Hershey Bears, Tomas played 5 games for the Caps in 2011-2012… while I as on my actual honeymoon. That explains it. No one aces every class in the first week of school.
Out west, the Kings, Flames and Coyotes are all winless thus far.
Derping to Donuts
No one wants to raise the banner and get spanked, but it happened in LA. The Kings had real goal-scoring issues all of last regular season, and have just three on this one. The Coyotes have scored 7 and still lost both games.
I wouldn’t make it long as a Caps fan if I got down about every few bad games. What about you other fans? Are these growing pains, or symptoms of a larger illness? The Rangers and Flyers aren’t in danger of losing butts in seats over a shaky start. The Kings can ride the Cup train for a bit. Calgary will obviously be fine even if they’re bad. The Coyotes obviously won’t even if they’re great. The Caps weren’t full last night, and tickets for tomorrow start at $23 on StubHub. Those are middle-of-the-season, ennui-and-frustration prices.
Not what we want to see squashed on the windshield of our shiny new season.
Top line of Tyler Seguin, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand looks great, especially the Squirrel, who was all over the ice, collecting up all those acorns.
That’s cool.
Tuukka Rask played well and looked sharp in the shoot out.
Word.
But, people, not all was well.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! Do I see stitches on Patrice Bergeron’s face? STITCHES?!?!
I weep.
What horrible person had dared to mar his perfect face with these Frankenstein stitches?
If I find them, we will have words.
It really should be a crime against humanity. It’s like going to Florence and shooting paintballs at the statue of David.
Hopefully, Bergeron will heal quickly, his plastic surgeon can work his magic, and we can all get back to this.
Moving on….
I know we are only two games into the season, but so far the Bruins have looked strong. In addition to the Bergeron line, the 2nd like of David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Nathan Horton has also played well.
Additionally, the Bruins’ 3rd and 4th lines have done their part. It is important not to underestimate the importance of those other lines in the overall success of your team. They are the guys that go up against the other teams’ top players. They are the ones that muck and grind and create opportunities to put more points on the board.
Bruins have just about the best 3rd and 4th lines that you want – Chris Kelly, Danny Paille, Rich Peverely, Shawn Thornton, Greg Campbell, Chris Bourque.
Side note: I got to see all the Bruins, in their glory, in person on Saturday when I was at the Bruins home opener vs the Rangers. I was able to secure tickets through a friend and then as an added bonus, I was able to gain access to a suite thanks to my new hockey friend, Mike.
My happy place.
I will admit that when Rick Nash was on the ice, my attention was diverted but can you honestly blame me? It was the first time that I’d seen him play live ever so I just had to look. ( And in case you were wondering – yes, he looks like a beast out there. But oh so silky smoove on his skates. )
Bruins won that match up. Lucic, Paille, and the birthday boy Johnny Boychuk scored. Shawn Thornton fought Mike Rupp. Literally three seconds later, Greg Campbell dropped the gloves. Bruins face off tomorrow against the Rangers at MSG.
Shout out to Steve at Adaptive for letting me hang in the suite and take in all the action. Hello to all the nice people I met, too – Cathy, Jackie, Pat, and Ryan. Hope to see you at a game soon!
For those Bruins fans out there, click here for a video of Saturday’s player introductions.
All hockey, all weekend long. Did you enjoy it? Did you camp out on the couch/floor, eating pizza and compounding four-letter words at the top of your lungs? Did your husband say, “I forgot how crazy you are?” (Mine did.)
Because hockey is back.
It didn’t matter how old they were:
Or how young:
It didn’t matter how long they’d been in the NHL:
Or if they were brand new:
It was all about the veterans…
The rookies…
And this Panthers’ Player of the Game hat.
One-ups the Rangers’ Broadway Hat and the Capitals’ hard hat for sure.
If you were lucky, your team is 2-0:
also Buffalo, Boston and St. Louis
If you weren’t, there’s plenty more hockey to play.
The bad news is the Caps lost their season opener vs. Tampa Bay.
The worse news is they lost 6-3 and got dominated by some old(er) guys (Brewer, Lecavalier, St. Louis) and a kid fresh off the AHL bus (Conacher).
But the worst news is this:
Mike Green used to style his hair with a mascara wand. He once tossed his helmet before a fight just to show it off [video, never gets old]. Now he looks like a broke backpacker who woke up on the Jaipur train platform just in time for that 20 hour ride to Mumbai.
Mike did play nearly 27 minutes, a good sign for early-season conditioning and proof that he is, in fact, finally healthy. He had two shots and ended up -1.
The Caps home opener is tomorrow night vs. Winnipeg. I’ll be there, and this hair will be too. It’s going to take some great MG52 on-ice performances for me to stop missing the last time he was nominated for the Norris…
Baby Mike, circa 2010
(Apparently it was too optimistic to expect the Caps to give me something to talk about after only one game.)
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