And from your Captain…

- Posted in We Love

Perhaps the best website name ever is “Runs on Duncan“ and the banner is even better.  We bow and scrape to Kat’s hilarity.  And for Valentine’s Day, there is a special delivery:

I should stop laughing around lunch time. In your high school, did they have carnations on Valentine’s Day?  I bet Jon was the kind of guy who bought one for every girl in his class.

BleacherReport.com has an feature on the most lovable player from each NHL team.  I secretly think Dawn and Chuck broke into their offices and wild-posted this story: they picked Tim Thomas, Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla and Drew Doughty!  Cassy is ready to throw down over the snub of Patrice Bergeron and frankly, I can’t even think of any other Blue Jackets players.  At all.  They also picked Zach Parise, which is absolutely sad panda correct.  Everyone loves you when they can’t blame you for this season.  For NYRFan Steph, King Henrik made the list (they sure as strudel weren’t going to pick Avery).  Patrick Kane beat out Tazer, Keith and Sharp… see above, JT is not amused.

Crosby also made the list – arguable.  The favorite, yes.  But he has never spun like a ballerina.

Fan favorite.

They also included Squishy (yay!) and Kessler (that hair) and Ovi… WHAT?!  Mike Green Fan Club boycott effective immediately. A Vespa and scarves and moccasins and that hair – what does a guy have to do around here?!

Also selected: Intern Jeff Skinner for the Canes.  Eric Staal he has created a monster, is slightly jealous.

PROM?

To our loyal readers and hockey crushes…

- Posted in We Love

Happy Valentine’s Day

from the girls of What’s Up, Ya Sieve

Imponderable Conundrum.

- Posted in Dawn Loves

What do you do when your two favorite teams are playing each other? Who do you root for? That was the imponderable conundrum of the day when the Washington Capitals played the LA Kings today. At least for me. So what do you all do? I figure there are no losers! Either way I’m a winner! Which was sort of good because in my heart, I was hoping that the Capitals would win and they didn’t. The good news was, Mike Green played – YAY!

I'm baaaack ......!

Bad news, they lost 4-1. Boo – hiss. Varly gave up three goals (shocker – I KNOW!) in the third period after Ovechkin started the game off with a sizzler, scoring on my other honey, double D TBG in a mere 66 seconds into the game – 8 on 8 – awesomeness!

But that was the only Caps highlight to be had. When will the Caps get a real goalie? OK – I’ll stop asking that question. OK – no I won’t. But the good news, Mike Green played. I know, I already said that. What can a girl do? *sigh* Go Caps!

Hey Chuck…

- Posted in Chuck Loves

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hallmark never had it so good.

Tazer Cats!!!

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Randomness, We Love, We're Mental

If you’ve been reading this blog with any regularity, you’ve probably realized that we are mental.  Totally mental…but in a good way.

I give you this example…

Pants and I were GChatting yesterday about the Towes post that she was writing for the day.

Chatting about how our Tazer Foxy Friday post gets crazy hits, even though we posted it waaaaay back in October.  (Ladies love the JT!).

Chatting about how he’s so awesome at the hockey and  so *derpface* all the time and how his team is strugglin’ like Princess Buttercup in the quicksand of the Fire Swamp.

And then I had an idea.  A red, goal-light idea.

What if I combined one of our WUYS favorite players  with one of our other favorite things – cats with lasers? How many hits would those posts get?

I typed out the following words with so much giddy excitement that I got light-headed.

Tazer Cats.

Yes.  That is right.  Tazer Cats.

Jonathan Towes + Cats with lasers = Tazer Cats.

Cat with Laser courtesy of www.animalswithlightsabers.com

I’m thinking this is going to be a recurring feature…

Mental?  Totally.

Random?  Obviously.

Amazeballs?  ABSOLUTELY.

Cheap Trick

- Posted in Fight Club, Newsies

It’s been a wild week of fights in the NHL and we’ve been loving it.  Then something like this comes along.  People always argue about fighting in hockey.  I’m confident that those who know and love the game understand and respect the role that fighting plays.  But it’s like Russian Roulette and sometimes, you get the bullet.

There’s bad blood and retaliation, there are teams with long memories and little to lose.  There are days when you get rocked 9-3.  But there is absolutely no place for this kind of action.  Plenty of honest and reasonable fights broke out in tonight’s Islanders/Penguins game.  These were not among them.

Matt Martin is a goon. Fight a guy, sure.  You’re pissed because Max knocked out Blake Comeau last week (in a hit the League deemed legal, thanks).  I get it.  But jumping someone from behind away from the play?  Are you afraid Max would celebrate his birthday by landing 27 punches in a fair fight? Reckless and wrong.  Ask Todd Bertuzzi if he meant to break Steve Moore’s neck in ’04.  It’s just a punch, right?  Suspension.  (PS: Don’t search that clip.  It’s worse that you remember.)

But don’t worry, Martin.  Your buddy’s going to one-up you.

Trevor Gillies is a piece of s***.  Do not pardon my French. Maybe he would have gotten away with the questionable hit on Eric Tangradi.  But what follows is a disgusting display of complete barbarism.  If you did that on the street you’d be locked up.  Then he stands there and screams at a kid who is still face down on the ice.  Suspension.

[break time, getting really angry]

Look, I know we all laughed about Johnson dropping DiPietro with a single punch.  That was a fair fight.  Your guy  lost and Johnson did not hit him again.  It sucks to be out 4-6 weeks with a broken jaw, but if he didn’t want the risk he should have stayed in his crease.  Michael Haley (in the AHL last week!) decided to show what a big boy he was and fight Johnson.  You know Johnson wanted it too – at least he can defend himself.

Eric Goddard came off the bench to get involved in that fight.  It felt damned good but it was a stupid move. He’ll get 10 games, Bylsma will get fined and suspended and the Pens will also be fined.  As if they can afford to be down any more men, forget their coach.  Bad idea, guys.

I’m not making my case here as a Pens fan.  Matt Cooke is serving a 4-game suspension for a hit on Fedor Tyutin on Tuesday night vs. Columbus.  Cooke left his feet to dangerously board a guy = suspension.  One could argue that he’s a repeat offender, a dirty player who gets away with murder.  But tonight’s debacle was something else entirely.

I probably love this sport too much, because this stuff just makes me sick.  You can read this blistering recap by Shawn Malenich at BleacherReport.com.

Wrap Sheet

Birthday Boy: Max Talbot

- Posted in Birthday Boy, Pants Loves

Happy Birthday, Superstar! Once a Foxy Friday, always a Foxy Friday.  Max Talbot is 27 today and everyone but Dawn just loves him.  The reasons are simple:

1) Sometimes taking one for the team can change everything.

2) Max is the Pens’ class clown, which can only be pulled off when you are dead sexy.  He’s the little fireball every team loves to have.

3) When Max scores a goal, Pens fans cheer a little bit louder than normal.  He may not get one every game, or play 20 minutes, but he makes it count.  Like this.  I cry every time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX from all the Pens fans.  If you weren’t you, we wouldn’t be us.

You want this - cafepress.com

Foxy Friday: FOPPA!

- Posted in Foxy Friday, Newsies, Pants Loves

Shut the front door.  Peter Forsberg will play tonight when the Avalanche take on the Blue Jackets.  If you were me, and it was any year before 2005, you would be freaking out right now. ACES!

When I first moved to the west coast and experienced the annoying concept of time zones and TV schedules, the Avs became my adopted team. Of course, it was 2001 and they were kicking serious ass (all the way to the Cup).  Forsberg, Sakic, Foote, Tanguay, Roy.  And fresh out of Boston, Chris Drury and Ray Bourque! That was a good year.

Forsberg consistently rocked one of the best hair/beard combinations in hockey history.  More than that, he was (is?) the most incredible passer.  Watching him was like watching a dancer or an artist… maybe like watching Gretzky back in the day.  He could skate and score but he saw the ice in a way that no one else did.  And then he’d throw a check and knock you out.  He’s widely considered the most “complete” player in NHL history (say Wikipedia and I).

He’s won 2 Cups, 2 World Championships and 2 Olympic gold medals.  He’s got a career rating of +242.  Forsberg ranks tenth all-time in career points-per-game and fourth all-time in career assists-per-game.  In 1994, Forsberg scored the Olympic gold medal game-winning goal in a shootout against Canada.  Sweden famously put him on a stamp.

Plagued by injuries, Forsberg racked up his impressive totals in 13 NHL seasons.  Once forced to miss an entire regular season after having his spleen removed, he came back to lead the playoffs in scoring (’01-’02).  Beast.  He’s now 37 years old and his contract with Colorado goes through the end of this year.  He will likely play on a line with Milan Hejduk (34) and Matt Duchene (only 20).

A big WUYS welcome back to Peter Forsberg. Just when we were feeling old, you’re showing us how it’s done.

Something's 'Fishy' About This Trade.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Newsies

going to Nashville kids!

Mike Fisher was traded from Ottawa to Nashville today! Did you think that’s strange since he’s married to Carrie-Fisher (NOT PRINCESS LEIA)-UNDERWOOD of American Idol fame? She of many many Grammy’s fame and CWA fame and basically all-around cutie-patutie-talent-pie.

totes adorable together

Not that she didn’t land herself a hot hunk of hockey man meat. Jealously all-around please. When they married and she initially moved to Ottawa without batting one of those gorgeous eye lashes, I told Mr. Cherrie which surprised him, “I’d have moved to the arctic circle and live in a tent if that was what was keeping me warm at night.” But does Mike Fisher get tired of these kind of head lines from the Tennessean: “PREDATORS ACQUIRE CARRIE FISHER’S HUSBAND?” This will be his home newspaper. Will he be the Rodney Dangerfield of Nashville now? Will he care since he goes home to Carrie Underwood?

mike fisher of nashville?

So when Hilary Duff found out about the trade this morning, not wanting to be upstaged, she immediately told Mike to buy the Penguins and move them to Beverly Hills. She told him that when these details are finalized, they will be the Beverly Hills Penguins and their colors will be bubble gum pink with bedazzled sparkles and the mascot’s name will be Balthazar-Cadet-8-track the III. When Mike tried to explain that LA already had a hockey team, Hilary stared blankly at him. It was the first time in the marriage she was speechless. Mike had his moment of zen.

Balthazar-Cadet-8-Track the III

Hot Streak: Jonathan Toews

- Posted in Newsies

While I’m sending positive energy all over the NHL lately (Pens, Tanguay, Green…), I don’t want to leave out the Blackhawks.

The Hawks won 4-1 over Edmonton last night – they had to.  They’re 5-4-1 in the last 10,which is not going to get you through the tight pack at the middle of the Western Conference.  When you roll up on a team that’s 2-7-1, a win should be obvious.  Last night’s victory was led by the reunited Toews-Sharp-Kane line.  That is a lot of BOOM on one string.  Patrick Kane had 2 goals (was not in the 3 stars, how does that work?).  Jonathan Toews was first star with 2 assists – shorty has been an eenie-meenie-minie-mo lover lately with 2 goals and 8 assists in the last 5 matches.

Now that is point production.

Jack Skille was traded to Florida during warm-ups, which I imagine is very weird.  Toews said one minute he was there, the next he was gone from the room.  They’re getting two-time 20-goal scorer Michael Frolik.  The Hawks have the 4th-highest goals per game average in the NHL (3.13) but it hasn’t been enough lately.

No number of Oilers can stop Kaner.

Chicago has essential conference match-ups vs Dallas and Phoenix this week, plus the Wild and Blue Jackets next week.  I hate to say “must win,”  but it’s getting to be that time. The Hawks are currently 11th in the West, but only 1 point out of the 8th seed playoff spot.

Side note: Jonathan Toews Foxy Friday is an all-time top post on WUYS. Surprised?  Now send your happy thoughts to the Blackhawks for the next 10 days and if you’re a good girl, maybe you’ll come back in the next life as this shirt.  Or these pants.

Get lucky.

Your Moment of Zen.

- Posted in Dawn Loves

Boston Garden aka The House of Pain

- Posted in Chuck Loves, Fight Club

I’m exhausted.

Last night’s Canadiens/Bruins game was epic.  The craziest 60 minutes of hockey I’ve ever seen.  Seriously.  Ever.

Every game between these long time rivals is emotional charged but this was ridiculous.  Ridiculously AWESOME.  I started to write this post last night, but was too emotionally exhausted so I went to sleep to collect my thoughts.

After not so restful 8 hours of sleep, here are my thought about FightFest 2011…

The TD Garden, home of the big bad Bruins, will henceforth be known as the House of Pain.

Bring it.

  • This game had everything.  Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY! 14 goals.  41 penalties.  237 fights.
  • A PLETHORA of goals.  Between two of the top defensive teams in the NHL. The poor PA guy barely had time to catch up between all the penalties and the goals.  Get that man a Ricola STAT!
  • The massive 2nd period brawl – 34 PIM handed out.
  • Crowded house in the penalty box. At one point, 6 Bruins in the penalty box, 5 in the Habs’ box.  As Pants pointed out, it is like piling people into a phone booth.

Tight squeeze

  • Goalie fight! Thomas vs. Price.  Not as epic as Johnson vs. DiPietro but entertaining none the less.  Timmay smiling and laughing the whole time.
  • All five players on one line putting up their dukes.  Now that’s what I call teamwork, boys. You fight, I fight, We all fight!  YAY!
  • Nathan Horton has a 5 point game (1 goal, 4 assists).  Could he finally be living up to his potential??
  • Lucic the Love Doctor added 2 goals and an assist.  Ryder score 2 goal-scorer’s goals. Krecji had 3 assists.  With Savvy done for the year, these guys are really going to have to produce for the Bruins to have any shot at making a run in the playoffs.

On a side note, Tyler Seguin totally bumming that he missed this game.  The youngster was a healthy scratch last night because he hasn’t exactly been playing up to par recently.  Perhaps Coach Claude thought a night watching from the stands might light his fire.  After that fightfest, I bet Ty-Ty is hitting the weight room and skating at practice twice as hard.

Forget about guns. I got missiles.

You Guess, I Guess.

- Posted in Dawn Loves, Newsies

So what do the San Jose Sharks do on their one day off before handing the Washington Capitals a giant goose egg? Well, this is where the fun begins. You guess and then I guess. Then we discover together the correct answer of how those wacky fun loving Sharkies spend their valuable time off when they’re not singing Christmas songs for 8-track cassette players in ugly Christmas sweaters:

A. Go to any and all strip clubs, gentlemen clubs, casinos and bars in a 5 mile radius of the hotel.

Dude looks like a lady .. where do I put the $1?

B. Sleep the whole day, dude. That is one long ass flight and a 3 hour time difference! I need my beauty rest. Besides, hockey players are known for their naps. Jet lag sucks.

napping is for losers!

C. Go on an educational, team building museum tour of archival documents that tell of the United States’ plan of invading Canada that were declassified only in 1974.

Well, according to research the most popular answer WOULD be A. Evidently that is the normal past time of many hockey players. I did not know this but Mr. Cherrie gave me one of those, “Duh.” looks men give women when we say ‘those things.’ Note to self, read Maxim before I go to San Jose next week. But if you chose that answer for the San Jose Sharks’ day off in our Capital, you would be wrong.

Another popular answer and MY PICK, would have been B. God knows, I love a good nap. I envy my cats every day as I toddle off to work. And everyone knows – even me –  that napping is a popular past time for hockey players. But if you picked B, you would be WRONG again.

look ma, I kept my jersey on! And I'm smart!

So that leaves us with C. And yes, that is exactly how Jumbo Joe and the crew spent their one day off in Washington D.C. Boring you say? Not so. They got a VIP tour of documents that normal people don’t get to see and evidently that included ones mentioned above. If you want to read the whole article, here is the link. (link) It was arranged by the second cousin of one of the players who was sent down to the minor league AHL team on SUNDAY, the day before the trip. Talk about a suck-fest.

So I guess all that brain stimulation helped more than a nap did for the SJ Sharks since they beat the Caps. Note to BB, maybe more team building and brain stimulation and less napping for the Cappings?! Just a thought.

More Goalies Gone Wild – Sort Of.

- Posted in Dawn Loves

Timmy the Tank and Carry Price got into it tonight but it wasn’t exactly an epic throw down ala puncher-roo Brent Johnson and you couldn’t even call it a Mike Green-slapfest. It was more like a gigglefest between two teen-age girls who got carried away with some hair pulling. Because although all hell broke loose between Montreal and the Bruins with Timmy skating down to fight Price, it had to be hard for Price to take him seriously when he was already laughing by the time he got to the other end. What on earth do you call that? I mean really? God bless Timmy because he is certainly a ray of sunshine – who else laughs and throws punches all at the same time!?

BTW – the penalty box had more players in it than a can of oysters or the actual bench for that matter. Not a sight you see every day.

W.T.F.

- Posted in Epic Fail, Newsies

It’s no longer a question.  This is just crazy.

Flames’ Alex Tanguay is out indefinitely with a concussion.  No individual hit has been identified as the culprit, but Tanguay last played in the Flames win over Chicago on Monday night.  He missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday before the announcement was made.

Things were looking up.

I am the world’s #1 Alex Tanguay fan and I have been known to go on about him (this post, this post).  He is my lobster and we go back like Melrose’s mullet. And now Forsberg is making a return… this can’t be happening!  Aside from bad news for me, it’s really bad news for Calgary.  After a really rough start they have been on a roll:

The Flames are 12-3-4 in their last 17 games, and have climbed from 14th to eighth in the Western Conference, one point ahead of ninth-place Los Angeles. Tanguay has 5 goals and 11 assists in that span.  Tanguay has 14 goals and 28 assists in 55 games this season. – NHL.com

On the doorstep

We are very upset with this development.  I am probably having selective memory, but I don’t remember concussions being such a big problem in past years.  It seems like when they started making rules to avoid them, they started happening more.  It’s not true of course (paging anyone named Lindros).  It’s just a little closer to home these days.

GET WELL SOON, ALEX! Dawn is really counting on the Flames making something happen this season.  I’m really counting on seeing you vs. Foppa without having to ride in the TARDIS.

UPDATE! I love the internet.  In the time it took me to find that video, things have improved!  40 minutes ago Alex was out indefinitely with a concussion.  24 minutes ago the Flames said it was neck strain.  14 minutes ago he was listed as day-to-day. Don’t change the station.

Instant Improvement

Dammit Geno

- Posted in Dammit Geno

We knew.  Everybody knew.  And yet today, every hour on the hour I have the urge to throw something across the room.  It could have something to do with the POS performance against Columbus last night.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL and torn MCL in his right knee, the team announced Wednesday.  Malkin’s rehabilitation will take six months, and he will be ready for the start of training camp in September, General Manager Ray Shero said. – NHL.com

Apparently Geno texted Dan Bylsma simply, “I’m sorry.” That really makes me want to cry.  Then I found this gem and felt a little better.  Nothing compares to Malkin for goofiness.

Laser cat?

But still.  CRAP.

Intern Post: Jeff Skinner

- Posted in Intern Jeff Skinner

Hello!  Intern Jeff Skinner here, very excited to be writing my first post for WUYS.  In case you missed it I scored two goals last night.  We still lost 3-2 in overtime to the Devils, but that’s okay.  I don’t want the girls thinking that I can do everything around here all by myself.

Pants insists I point out that I have 20 goals.  Same as Ovechkin. Now she’s making me record it on Dawn’s voicemail.

Spot the Cane

Chuck says my first goal was awesome because it’s scored from way over here [video].  I think it was just a lucky opening and I got a great pass then the shot got up and… oh wait, she fell asleep.  I forgot to bring her tea this morning.  Well, I’m new.

FREE HUGS!

My second goal was more Pants’ style – right in front of the net, scooping up the rebounds [link].  She especially liked the hugging part at the end.  Then she asked if Eric is looking for an internship.  Maybe she doesn’t think I’m strong enough to lift the water bottle onto the cooler.

2 CUTE 4 U

I’m a little upset that I wasn’t invited to “Ask the Canes” this week to talk about my favorite Valentine’s Day candy [video].  How will the WUYS girls know what to buy me on Monday? I guess if I said “bite-size Snickers” there’s a chance 10,000 screaming girls will show up at the game and start tossing them onto the ice.  Would that really be so bad?  I’d totally share.  Pants suggests Whatchamacallit candy bars are her favorite.  In exchange, she & Chuck have promised to do an American Idol-style casting call to determine which prom I will attend this year.  Stay tuned.

Panic and the Pens

- Posted in Newsies, Pants Loves

I finally have to talk about Sid and his concussion.  I’ve been avoiding it hoping he would turn up at practice one day, bringing unicorns and wrist shots and 22-game scoring streaks.  I’d even take back the mustache.  As the silence becomes deafening and the Penguins are dropping like flies, it’s time for a post.

Sitting, waiting, wishing...

Crosby returned home to Nova Scotia last week.  He is in touch with Penguins medical staff regarding his symptoms and progression.  Coach Bylsma said Monday that he hasn’t “had a lot of contact” with Sid and has no timetable for his return.  I guess if there’s nothing to talk about, they don’t hang out on the phone watching Battlestar Glactica reruns like I do with my brother.  Sid will miss his 14th game tonight.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Multiple sources said over the weekend that Crosby would not resume normal exercise activity for seven to 10 days, and that the Penguins do not expect him to play against until at least March.

Of course, Malkin is out big time with tears to both the ACL and MCL in his right knee.  Surgery, season-ending – no one is saying.  But they don’t have to.  Mark Letestu is also out 4-6 weeks with knee surgery.  These two plus Sid have accounted for 34.8% of the Pens offense this season [link].  Yikes.

Once there were a lot of these.

Cue the panic. Sportscasters everywhere are screaming that the sky is falling in Pittsburgh.  The Pens are saying nothing; all they can do is play.  What do you think?  Is it time to count the Penguins out for 2011? Am I being willfully ignorant?

For the record (though it should be obvious), I say hell no.  Everyone told me Sunday to “bet with your smarts, not your heart,” but I don’t care.  Remember when the Capitals were coming apart in 24/7 with their 8 game losing streak?  Remember how hard and sad that looked from the inside on HBO?  This is much worse and the Penguins don’t need fans getting scared.  They need us to stick it out no matter who they can put on the ice each night.  They’ve got a lot of heart and any Boston Red Sox fan can tell you that can be magic.  Think positive, boys. I love you.  You can have my $20 anytime.

Rupper, Staalsy and Tanger (Dawn, look how short Kris' hair is!).

And if you haven’t heard the Story of the Week: Mike Rupp knocked over a fan’s beer from inside the glass, taped $10 to a puck and tossed it to the guy.  This from the man who wore the elf costume.  LOVE. [link]

UPDATE: Really?! Every 3 minutes another Pen gets hurt.  Kunitz out, day-to-day with a lower body injury. They’re going to call me up to the NHL any second now, stick a shirtzee on me a send me out on the ice.

Birthday Boy: Steven Stamkos

- Posted in Birthday Boy

Way back in November, we posted that Stammer should call us when he no longer needs a fake ID.  Well that day has arrived.  Happy 21st birthday, Steven Stamkos! Okay, we’re a day late.  But I totally invited Steven Stamkos to Vegas for his birthday.  Maybe next year.  We’re really happy about Steve coming of age, since we’ve already asked Jeff Skinner to the prom.

Excited their arena is so close to that Yuengling brewery.

Stamkos had a goal and 3 assists on Sunday night vs. St. Louis, clearly making his last days as a youngster count.  Oh, and he leads the NHL 72 points and 40 goals. Crosby’s been out 14 games, so Stevie is running away with the goals title.  D Sedin is hot on his heels in the points category, but Steve’s not slowing down.

Next up: action figures.

The Lightning aren’t sure how to feel about Steve turning 21, so they unveiled their new childlike superhero-inspired uniforms.  Maybe they’re making a comic book movie starring  Stamkos the extremely blond hero and his sidekick, Squishy.  Either way, this new logo will definitely end up on Underoos and kids footie pajamas.

(Remember those tents attached to a single fitted sheet, so you could put them on your bed when you were little?  Okay, when WE were little.  Stamkos won’t remember those.  But they were awesome and we want them back.)

Baby Stammer!

I hope Stamkos wished for a scoring title as he blew out 21 candles yesterday.  Of course I’d like to see Crosby come back and battle him for it right to the end, but I love that these guys are keeping Tampa Bay on its path to a great hockey market.  They’ve got 71 points and look to take it a long way this season.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STAMMER!

And many more.

Update: Mike Green

- Posted in Newsies

I watched Sunday’s Pens vs. Caps game at 9:30 AM in Las Vegas. Do you know how hard it is to organize 10 people before breakfast at a bachelor/bachelorette party?  For hockey?  My dedication knows no bounds.

Mr. Pants insisted I bet on the Caps, which I did not.  It’s sacrilege.  Of course now the Penguins owe me $20.

I only yelled at the TV a few times (yelling being frowned upon so early after a late night), but once was definitely for Mikey.  Poor guy.  We could have done without 200 slow motion replays of the puck to the head, thanks NBC.  As Dawn said, Mike did talk to the media after the game.  He’s looking pretty James Bond for someone who almost got decapitated by a slap shot [video].

That girl is praying for the strength the remain professional.

Mike did not practice yesterday, citing “concussion symptoms,” but he was in today’s morning skate.  He’s still TDB for tonight’s game vs. San Jose.  He says “If I feel good, I’ll play.”

Concussions are the talk of the town this season.  I even listened to Bettman bore everyone to death at the All-Star Game news conference.  You can read more about the testing and return-to-lineup requirements in this Washington Post story, but here’s the gist:

Protocol for the treatment of concussions in the NHL is that a player must first be symptom free while at rest and symptom free during exercise and other physical exertion. Then the player must undergo neuropsychological testing, and if the results of the evaluation determine there are no abnormalities, the player is eligible to return to play. – Katie Carrera, Washington Post

Close shave.

That’s a really scary place to get hit.  After tonight, the Capitals have 3 days off before playing LA on Saturday, so I won’t be too worried if Mike doesn’t play tonight.  As much as Dawn says the Caps can’t win without Mike, don’t rush it Greenie.

UPDATE: RT @Real_ESPNLeBrun Caps GM George McPhee tells me via text that Mike Green won’t play tonight but should be fine for Saturday.