Foxy Friday: Thanksgiving

- Posted in Foxy Friday, Pants Loves

Hurkey durkey, Turkey!  We know you’re all thankful for hockey, and this week’s Foxy Friday is just a reminder of all the things in the world there are to celebrate.

Dawn & Chuck are out shopping and Intern Jeff Skinner is making sweet potatoes with marshmallows (you should see his apron), so I’m going to kick things off with my 5 (or so) favorite hockey players:

1. Sidney Crosby – Come on back, buddy.  Bring your mustache, we don’t care.  We’re thankful for Sid’s career 215 goals/572 points, half a Rocket Richard trophy and one giant, shiny Stanley Cup.  He also gets my undying devotion and willingness to endure being booed in every arena that’s not Pittsburgh.  A year without him on the ice is far too long.

Yes, I ate a cookie.

2. Mike Green – If you have to ask why, you must be new around here.  Please refer to posts about hedgehogs, scooters, scarves and tattoos.  My condition has not been helped by a move to the DC-area.  Fidget has a career 82 goals/250 points, 2 Norris Trophy nominations, 2 national Geico commercials and a day of the week dedicated just to him.  It’s the smile.

3. Jonathan Toews – Captain Derpface is the shit.  Get on board, people.  Tazer not only plays the best straight-man to Kaner’s antics, but he’s been the heart and soul of his team since he was 21.  His goal with about 1:24 left in the playoff game 7 vs. Vancoucer last season to take the Hawks to overtime and possibly advance toward a Cup repeat was one of my all-time favorite NHL goals.  He just willed it into the net.  I cried.  Yes, I’m crazy.  Thanks for 124 goals/284 points, a Stanley Cup and my vote for MVP last season.  We award you squats, feel free to do them any time.

4. Steven Stamkos – Hockey paradise, they call Tampa Bay.  We might agree.  Stammer has 130 goals/251 points in just 3.25 seasons – you’d smile all the time too.  For all the hype, Stamkos was a slower rookie starter than Toews, Kane or Crosby, which maybe makes me love him more.  He struggled.  The Lightning struggled.  And then last season they steamrolled the Pens & Caps, only to lose a heartbreaker game 7 to the Bruins.  Make that a face-breaker.  For this (and for Gator), Stamkos forever.

5. Wild Card – This place has belonged to a lot of deserving players.  Nicklas Backstrom for keeping his head down and working so hard while everyone around him preens for the camera.  James Neal for fighting through overly high expectations and finally busting out.  Jordan Staal for playing with that severed foot tendon, for being so desperate to play on 24/7.  Fleury for standing in that net every night even when he sucked.  St. Louis for seeming 10 feet tall.

Honorable Mention . Jeff Skinner – For all his hard work around here.

Okay, let’s hear it.  Who are you Top 5 and why?  Try not to write a novel.  Or cry.  I totally teared up over Toews & Stamkos – fangirl moment.

 

WUYS Morning News

- Posted in Newsies, Shanabanned

Mike Green didn’t make the trip to Winnipeg with the Caps, but he did take his sprained ankle to the Kid Rock show in DC last night.  He wore his only favorite sweater (seriously, he wears this more than Toews wears that suit) and that hat that makes me want to throw snowballs.  Money was raised for Mike’s So Kids Can charity.  Gator is from the D and she wanted to go, but instead we worked, A.K.A. watched Breaking Dawn, ate snacks and yelled back at the screen.  Good times all around.

At least Kid Rock looks excited.

Chicago beat Vancouver (ooh, say it again!) 5-2 with a couple of wacky bouncers.  Kaner, Hossa, Montador and Toews all had 2-point games.  And for anyone who didn’t cringe when we made Patrick Kane a Foxy Friday, he’s got a new One Goal commercial [link].

Brendan starched another shirt and Shanabanned Blues’ Chris Stewart three games for boarding Wings’ Niklas Kronwall.  This one’s ugly.

NHL.com used my favorite phrase as a headline.  Sadly it’s about Ilya Kovalchuk.  I watched this hoping actual pants would fall, but alas there is only a very pretty goal.

The Islanders introduced their third jerseys, which are pretty standard.  They’re worlds better than this yellow mess Nashville adopted, but no amount of fashion changes the fact you are still the Islanders (sorry).

The red-hot Bruins put their 6 game win streak on the line tonight vs. Blue Jackets.  Seguin’s on fire (Chuck loves) and leads the NHL in plus/minus rating with +15.  (Don’t mind EStaal down at the bottom with -18.)  Speaking of bottom of the barrel, Columbus is 3-13-1 with only 7 points on the season.  Now that I’ve said that, they’ll probably win.

Team Jacob

The Penguins are in Tampa Bay tonight and Sid will not play.  Errrrbody calm down (obviously I mean me).  Disco Dan would not comment on Saturday’s game – could Sid return?  I want him back this instant, but am also willing to await a triumphant debut in DC on 12/1 when I’m getting booed for wearing my 87 at Verizon Center.  It would be like a romantic comedy: Sid taking the ice, me dodging flying food, then Pens winning.  I can see it now.

James Neal will of course play tonight, and he’s got a 7-game point streak going (ties longest of his career).  JStaal has three goals in two games.  Stamkos and Neal are tied will 11 goals, and I like to think this means bromance rivalry.

Now boys, don't fight.

Only 8 hours 10 minutes till game time.

And I'm Back in the Game!

- Posted in Newsies, Pants Loves

Sorry, what were you saying?  JamesNeal.com couldn’t hear anything over the Penguins scoring four goals in 10:30 last night vs. Colorado.

The Pens were down 3-2 when the second period began.  Then this happened:

Nealmobile was 1st star with 1 G/2 A and infallible facial hair grooming.  Can I tell you why?  There’s a guy at my gym who looks like James Neal (only not as tall), who always wears a knit hat.  Just before the game started, I saw him with his hat off for the first time. 200% increase in James Neal resemblance!  Poor Pants almost fell off the elliptical runner in a tangle of limbs and headphone cords.  Super win.

Obviously this powered James to another stellar performance.  It helped that Granato was being hilarious on the bench, keeping things positive even when the Pens were losing:

mattniskanen.tumblr.com taking photos of the TV FTW.

And referees were being stupid with their tripping calls, making Jimmy angry.  You won’t like him when he’s angry.

Another awesome cap by mattniskanen.tumblr.com

Geno had the sweet game-winner on a nice pass from Neal, then an even better pass from himself.  Tanger scored the prettiest goal of the night – seems fitting.  With this the Penguins are 11-4-3 and have 25 points to tie the Blackhawks atop the NHL standings.  Just the way I like the world to be.

Oh HI, NYR with your 7-game winning streak!

[For those of you stuck on the part where a guy at my gym looks like James Neal, you should visit me.  There are also guys who strongly resemble Eric Staal (srsly twins), Tyler Seguin (or at least his tattoo), Tyler Kennedy (back from a concussion, WOOT), Brooks Laich, one who kinda looks like Stamkos and a guy with a Movember fu manchu worthy of Max Talbot.  It’s hilarious.  Extra push-ups for everyone!]

Hi there, stranger.

- Posted in Bromance, Newsies, Pants Loves

While we have been busy with Mikey getting hurt and Tyler Seguin pouring it on and James Neal scoring daily, the Blackhawks are the #1 team in the NHL with 25 points (11-4-3).

Tazer was the NHL’s Third Star for last week, with two 2-goal games to help the Hawks win three in a row.  Jon has a team-leading 9 goals plus 6 assists on the season.

Here’s Jon talking about the 4-1 in over Calgary [link] and 6-3 over Edmonton [link].  How does no one mention the giant orange microphone?  It looks like a sneaker and it’s practically up his nose.  At least he smiles (eventually) – I almost fell asleep listening to that deep voice spouting sports cliches.

And just in time for the holidays, this perfect gift for (me) all your friends (me).  They should come as a 2-pack or buy-one-get-one or something.  And Kaner should have a mullet.

from ultravioletnina3.tumblr.com

Now get to it and vote Tazer for the All-Star Game.  Maybe he’ll get picked really late in the draft again and we can make fun of him for daysever.

Not this again.

Mikey Monday: &*$#*^@%!

- Posted in Mikey Monday, Pants Loves

Mike’s hurt.  Again.  The guy cannot catch a break.  At the game in DC on Saturday, Gator declared it’s not as much fun to watch the Caps when Mike doesn’t play.  She’s right.

.gif by Jasper's Rink (thanks!)

The Washington Post’s Katie Carrera reports: According to a league source, Mike Green strained his right groin muscle in Friday’s game against the Devils. The groin injury is what is preventing Green from making the trip with the Capitals, who depart for Nashville later this afternoon. [link]

Yeah, I’m a “league source” now.  I used to just be a volunteer locker room candystriper.

At least Mike looks like this.  When there’s no news, I can still talk about it.

Nicky seemed really lonely at the Saturday warm-up skate without Pooh Bear.  Then he started singing along to Pitbull and I almost had to switch teams.  I felt like Bella in that tent, choosing between freezing to death and making my boyfriend mad.  But these shades are tipping the scales back toward Mike.

And since Mike’s fingers are fine, he’s re-Tweeting.  Let’s hope he’s laughing and not crying while he heals his wounds.

Independent Study

- Posted in Intern Jeff Skinner, Like a Boss, We Love

I went to look for this video and I typed “Intern Jeff Skinner” into Google. Hahahahaha.

And then Pants screamed like this and I said, "No, I am not calling James Neal for you. Give me back my phone."

Well Intern Jeff Skinner set his dimples to stun on Saturday night and had 3 points against the Penguins.  If I didn’t love him, I’d hate him.  He scored a scrappy little backhand lifter, then served up a pass to Tuomo Ruuto that was almost as cute as he is.  The third point was sheer determination – look at him trying to go through Nisky! – he would have scored it himself in another second.  Finns & Skinns, they are called.  So much cute.

 

Jeff leads his team with 7 G/10 A and 2 game-winning goals.

The Canes were 2-8 for their last 10 games and EStaal was having a very rough go of it.  He hadn’t scored in 10 games and was -16.  Saturday he moved to wing, off his usual center position, to shake things up and it worked:  EStaal had an assist and the GWG.  He’s still -17, but it’s a start.  Best part?  He watched Skinns to learn!

“I felt OK on the wing,” said Staal after the game. “It was a little bit of an adjustment, but watching [Jeff] Skinner a little bit in the first and second, I kind of figured it out in the third.” [link]

So while I never want the Pens to lose, I felt a little okay about this one.  The Canes really needed it.  Maybe it was the crap-tastic Capitals game we were at while this unfolded – at least the Pens were trying.

For. The. Win.

- Posted in Hot Like Fire, Pants Loves

Between this weekend and the Hunger Games trailer [link] I am seriously dying over here.  Then Brittany sends us this gem!  Remember the Friday post where you were all jealous she got to meet Rick Nash?  You don’t even know.

Is that scruff?  Is that almost a mustache, Crosby?  Because we have had this talk before.  And don’t think your untucked shirt is going to distract us enough not to mention it.  Okay, it is.  Or just the sight of you in general.  We surrender.

So Brittany got to meet everyone and all I did was see red pandas at the zoo with Chuck & Gator!  Way to show us up, B.  You can read all about her evening at the Evgeni Malkin Team Lokomotiv Benefit here [link], if you make it past the photos.  (It took us a few tries.)

She looks pretty composed, eh?  We would be all:

 

The Nashstache

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Glamour Shots, Newsies

Movember claims another victim.  Chuck’s not going to be happy with me.

But I didn’t make Rick Nash do this.  The camo jersey… since it’s a tribute to Veteran’s Day we’ll declare it okay for the day.  It’s the stache.   Ricky looks like he’s wondering just how much barbed wire he needs to keep you Pinko-Commie-Liberals out of that bunker he dug in the holler.

Maybe it’s better without the camo, right?  WRONG.  See how scared Tazer looks?  He’s signalling you with his eyes – “Help me.  Yes, you.”  Even though in this photo Rick looks more fit to sing ’50s rock about whitewall tires and rollerskating diner waitresses.

A reminder from very lucky WUYS friend Brittany (@blettany) of what Rick Nash usually looks like:

You are SO jealous.

We love Thanksgiving and fall and buying winter coats, but we’re now officially ready for November to be over.  Dear Santa, please bring us anything you want as long as it is clean-shaven or has a full beard.  We promise to be very good (until the All Star break).

Foxy Friday: 11.11.11

- Posted in Foxy Friday, Intern Jeff Skinner, Pants Loves

That is, Happy Jordan Staal Day everyone!

You may insert your own favorite #11, from this list of all active players wearing today’s lucky number:

There’s a legitimate campaign around WUYS to make it Zach Boychuck day, but we told Intern Jeff Skinner he can’t vote for his own roommate .  Especially when said roommate gives away all his secrets on Twitter.

Plus if you don’t pick Jordan, he’ll be pretty sad.  Don’t make Jordan sad (he’s already got the pretty locked up).

I Drove All Night

- Posted in Randomness

Gator and I are like a married couple who have the same argument all the time, over and over.  It goes like this:

Gator: “I can’t believe you like Mike Green.  He’s so….”

Pants: “… Mike Green.”

And that is the only explanation, besides falling down and looking so relieved when he scores a goal.  Case in Point:

Caps Breakaway – “Who Drives the Worst Car on the Team?” [link]

Call us old. Get bad picture.

Troy Brouwer says it’s Mike with his white SAAB.  Then he calls Mike a “middle aged man.”

Be adorable. Get adorable picture.

Mike cites his own white SAAB.  Then brings up the scooter.

Meanwhile the winner is really Brooks for some old car he had…

Drive crap car. Still get girls.

that is apparently from between WWII (says Nicky)…

Smile. It distracts people while you make fun of them.

 and Ovi’s grandfather’s birth.  In 1968.  When they made Escalades.

Show only bottom teeth. No one notices gap on the top.

Points for This

- Posted in Newsies, Pants Loves

JamesNeal.com here, reporting for duty.  James has been stuck at 9 goals for a while – Kessel Cartman has 11 and Stamkos has 10.  Do you think Steven chirps James about passing him in the stats?  What if they did it on Twitter?  We would die, that’s what.

Nealer has 14 points in 15 games, and we love every one of them.  (Stammer was 15 in 14, showoff.)  We also love that James is participating in Movember:

from mattniskanen.tumblr.com

He’s trying to make up for cutting his hair.  It’s okay, you’re forgiven.

If you were wondering what James wore for Halloween, he went as Ryan Kesler.  Right?  Feel free to recreate the ESPN Magazine “Body” Issue shot while you’re at it!  (Really, I have no idea what this is from.  Anyone?)

As always, we remain grateful for those not participating in Movember.  Not everyone can pull of the ‘stache… hey, not everyone can even grow one.  But we enjoy your hair too, Jordan.

And if you’re saving us a seat, I think we know where you can squeeze us in.

The Penguins don’t have a game till Friday, but we think there should be points available for things like this.  At least assists, right?  A third column to be used for tie-breakers, like shootout wins?  Then Stammer & Nealer could compete for who does more workout videos and we would all win.

They're Sexy and They Know It

- Posted in Boych Meets World, Chuck Loves, Glamour Shots, Hot Like Fire, Newsies, Well OBVIOUSLY.

If it wasn’t for WUYS fan Carter, aka @thekitchenette, I totally would have missed this.

And that would have been a real shame.

Rask, McQuaid, Boychuk, and Marchand channel their inner Hansel.

Darth Quiader and Tuuuuukkkkkaaa showing us all why we should cast them in the remake of “Newsies”

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

How much you want to bet Seguin has a matching fedora?  They are in a serious bromance, after all.

He's got the swag sauce. So he dripping swag goo.

Hello Johnny Boychuk.  You be looking all sort of right.  Call me.

What the Warblers would wear if they were hockey players. And not in high school. And not a glee club.

Photos by Conor Doherty from the Improper Bostonian 

Hi, I'm Tyler Seguin and I'm a boss.

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Hot Like Fire, Like a Boss, We Love, Well OBVIOUSLY.

Yes, you are, Tyler Seguin.  

Yes. You. Are.

TS19 scored his first career hat trick in the Bruins 7-o rout of Cartman Phil Kessel and the Maple Leafs and it was glorious.

Goal # 1 – One-timer from the left circle.  Great cross ice pass from Peverley and Seguin SNIPES it. 

Goal #2 – Truly thing of beauty.  After making a mistake in the offensive zone, Seguin doesn’t panic.  Comes back into the neutral zone.  Makes a smart play, kicking a loose puck up to Bergeron.  Bergeron comes in, down the right.  Seguin in the slot.  Bergeron flips it to him, it gets deflected and Seguin bats it out of mid-air over the sieve’s left shoulder.  My reaction? “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” Hand-eye coordination perfection.  Sick mitts.

Goal #3 – Again a smart play from the Professor (would you expect anything less?), with a little help from Marshamont and Seguin nets his first hatty of his career.

This is only the beginning, people.

There is a reason why he went #2 Overall.   And you’ve just seen it right there.  Yes, he may be young, but there is no denying the talent he possesses.  Is he the next “face” of the NHL?  We certainly hope so.

from drinkbeerandpetcats.tumblr.com

Side note: Seguin may be a natural centerman but there was something so beautiful about the way that he played with Bergeron.  

Just like Biggie and Puff Daddy – Bergeron laced the track.  Seggy rocked the flow.

Mikey Monday: Missing Mo

- Posted in Mikey Monday, Pants Loves

Somewhere, Mike needs a hug.  He twisted his right ankle during his 2 goal, 4 point night vs. Detroit and hasn’t played since.  No word if he’ll play tomorrow vs. Dallas.

Of course we miss seeing Mike on the ice for his skills.  But we’re also missing quality unshaven Movember time.  Normally we offer to donate money for Mike NOT to grow a mustache – with good reason:

But right now, we’d take it just to have him back.  May we suggest alternatives for December, January… heck, every month?  We’ll keep donating, promise!

Glasses Every Day December

Winter Scarf-a-Thon

Belt-uary

Suggestions welcome – we can make a calendar and raise even more money.  And please come back, Mike, we’re obviously going a little crazy without you.

Kris Letang on Drew Doughty

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Hot Like Fire, Randomness

come on in, the waters fine ... don't mind if I do

Forget Foxy Friday … Here comes Sexy Saturday when the two hottest defenseman in the league go mono-e-mono in a rare denfense-fest meeting! It’s hard out there for a Penguin, sister – and this will be happy feet 58 meets Immortal 8– Get your tickets now! Because I’m hoping that one or both lose their jersey.

Here's hoping something like this happens! But will Shannahammer fine them or stuff a benajamin in their gear?

Oh hockey Gods – here me now. I want to see some rimming in the corners, some going hard against the boards, maybe see Drew/Kris bang a couple dirty ones in. Or hey, they could go after each other like rams. Can you tell I’ve been saving these quotes for a post like this? Or they could go hard on hard.

I got it! Oh yes you do ....

Here are a few more, “Maybe Flower could show Drew his five hole and then close the door.” “His shot was swallowed by the flower.”

Or if worst comes to worst and the game ties, we will go to a hair flipping/ fashion contest:

Either way, work or no work, I’m not missing this meeting of defense men hotties. My two favorites going at it – oh god. It’s better than, well, no, I can’t think of anything actually except for being there to bang on the glass (eh hum) and cheer them on in person.

Joe Thornton. A Beard. And a Baby.

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Hot Like Fire, Randomness, Well OBVIOUSLY.

No secret that I heart me some Joe Thornton.

It all started in 1997…

With the #1 pick, the Bruins select....Big Bird.

Just ask Pants.  She knows ALL about it.

The mop top.

The sesame bagel incident.

The white-boy dancing to “Brickhouse” by the Commodores.

Me and Jumbo go way back.

The other night, Joe was honored by his current team, the San Jose Sharks, for the awesome accomplishment of playing in his 1,000th NHL game.

There was a requisite love-fest before their game vs. the Penguins, with the applause, whistles, and well deserved cheers. Joe and his family were there – including what I can only assume is his brother who happens to have THE MOST GLORIOUS BEARD EVAH!

Want to touch.

Seriously!  Look at that thing.  I’m obsessed with it.

It looks soft.

But the really presh image of the whole thing was this one…

I'm bored. Where's my binkie?

So adorbs that I can’t even stand it.  She’s killing it with that side ponytail.

Guys with babies is always cute.

Hockey players with babies…and I’m spent.

Foxy Friday: Viktor Stålberg

- Posted in Foxy Friday, Hot Like Fire, We Love, Well OBVIOUSLY.

Chuck here…

You know what time it is…

Foxy Swedish Hockey Player Time.

from wambachmeonit.tumblr.com

Oh...hai there. You're pretty.

Two weeks in a row with the Swedish guys.  Totally un-intentional but hey, we work with what we got.

There are oh so many reasons why #25 deserves this honor (the use of the letter Å definitely being one of them) but here are some of the others…

He’s 25 years old, 6’3″, 209 lbs solid.

It's real serious up underneath this t-shirt.

In back to back games on the 29th and 31st of October, he scored the game-winning goal.  He’s 5th in the league in GWG.

ABBA Dance Party!

Played 3 years at the University of Vermont – same school that has produced some other okay hockey players.  Martin St. Louis?  Tim Thomas?  Ever heard of them?

Favorite player growing up?  Fellow Swede Mats Sundin.

There’s not many who can pull off the beanie.  Or the cowl neck sweater. 

But Baby...it's cold outside.

His hair is almost as awesome as Henrik Lundqvist’s.  But he’s still young.  He has plenty of time to learn HL’s Jedi ways.

The Force is strong with this one.

The Force is strong with this one.

Oh and he has two younger brothers – Alexander and Sebastian, who happens to play for the University of Vermont.

Plenty of Stålbergs to go around.

How do we feel about that?

Shanabanned: Patrick Kaleta

- Posted in Hall of Shame, Newsies, Shanabanned

4 games for headbutting Jakub Voracek.

Yup, that one’s pretty obvious.

PS: How many white shirts do you think Brendan has?  Will he ever go nuts and wear a blue one?

Birthday Boy: Luke Schenn

- Posted in Birthday Boy

This is a day late.  Sorry!  But we’ve had a few requests for some Leafs love around here and I didn’t want to miss the perfect reason.

Happy 22nd birthday, Luke Schenn!

For his birthday, Luke had a fight in the game vs. New Jersey last night.  It’s pretty much a draw, but the Leafs won it 5-2 – Joffrey Lupul even delivered a natural hat trick.  Everybody loves presents.

Luke is a stay-at-home defenseman (he can stay at our home anytime) who will drop the gloves if the situation clearly calls for him to smack someone.  He had 7 NHL fights in his rookie year, but has slowed a bit.  So far this season he has two bouts.  At 6’2″, 229 lbs, we’d take that action – in a bet, you pervs.

He’s from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (say it, it’s fun), loves ice cream, Family Guy and Garth Brooks.  Somebody tell him we’re taking more intern applications.  Schenn also has a program called “Luke’s Troops” that provides military families with tickets to Leafs home games.

Let me be honest about something – it really bothers me that they’re the Toronto Maple Leafs with the plural is “leaves.”  My inner OCD English class nerd just twitches.  But for Luke, I will put my grammatical complaints aside.  In September, he signed a 5-year, $18 million contract with Toronto.

Luke’s little brother Brayden is in the Flyers organization and the two played against each other on October 23 (Philly won).  They are best friends who talk daily and account for some of the 75 texts Luke says he sends every day.  Hey, we have unlimited texts.  Add us to that list!

So, even one day late, get yourself a cupcake and enjoy it while watching this adorable interview from last month and wearing a party hat:

Intern Jeff Skinner Gets A Day Off

- Posted in Like a Boss, Next Generation, Randomness, We Love, Well OBVIOUSLY.

We work Jeffy pretty hard around here, what with all the photocopying and heavy lifting and runs to the store to get our supply of twizzlers and mexican coca-cola.

But today, we decided to give him the day off.

Because when you work THIS hard, you deserve it.

Go Jeffy Go!