Last night in or around Canada...

Fleury was Halak and Malkin was Malkin.

Thornton was alive and Rafalski, I think, misplayed the final 2-on-1:



What happened to taking away the pass?

I hope the Wings rip off 4 straight.

Weekend Wrap Up or the roller hockey season opener was a success!

There were no outstanding highlights from Friday's games.

However on Saturday, there was this:



I'm really amazed that Marleau has those wheels. I really like the celebration also.


This goal looks a lot better with the behind-Krejci view. He really picks out that top corner:



Also, the Flames suck.


This is a good save:



It definitely made up for the bouncer from Owen Nolan he let in.

Look up quick release in the dictionary:



Thats what you find.


What did I miss?

-Bress

What you missed last night while you were making sure all your relatives in Haiti were safe

Hurricanes beat the Leafs, 4-2: Eric Staal scored a sweet backhand five-hole goal. Where have you been all season? Nikolei Kulemein scored the goal of the game cutting between, maybe 3, Canes defenders and beating Cam Ward.

Predators beat the Oilers, 5-3: All the Oilers have to do for the rest of the season is get rid of cap hits (Souray) and decide whether to draft, Hall, Seguin, or Fowler. (When in doubt take the western canadien kid).

Thrashers beat the Senators, 6-1: Somehow, Ottawa is still in play-off contention. The only game I remember them winning is when Kovalev had 4 goals.

Sharks beat the Coyotes, 3-1: Marleau is stil the man in San Jose.

Islanders shut-out the Red Wings, 6-0: As an Islanders fan, that was fun to watch.

Devils shut-out and beat the Rangers in the shoot-out, 2-1: A lot of olympians were involved in this game. And then there was the shoot-out - just like the olympics! None of the Americans could score on the Swede, but the Czech did.

Lightning roll over the Capitals, 7-4: Downie and Ovechkin wanted to fight. Both took off there helmets because they wear half-shields and then Matt Bradley came in and ruined everything. I get it, you don't want your best scorer hurting his hands, but come on, he's the captain. Let him fight.

Flyers beat the Stars, 6-3: Turco sucks.

Blues beat the BJs, 4-1: Good game, good fights.

What you missed last night while you were

There were a lot of games, its already the afternoon, and since I want to mention Marty Brodeur, and because the Giants rolled the RedSkins last night, I'll name the "giant" of each game.

Devils shut-out the Penguins, 4-0: Martin Brodeur - I only turned on this game after it was already 4-0 and I just wanted to see if he would get the record. The last 2 minutes were interesting, with Pittsburgh really turning up the pressure. However, when it was finally over, the Pens crowd was classy, so were some pens players. whatever. Marty Brodeur owns most if not every important goalie record. He's played in 2 eras really, but been great in both. Nemmy still starts a team with Roy, but I think its no question Brodeur.

Panthers beat the Flyers, 4-1: Ian Laperriere - The guy fought three times and picked up 20 pims in the 3rd period alone. The Flyers are sicking and seem to think they can fight their way out of it.

Bruins shut-out the Senators, 2-0: Tim Thomas - This was a prototypical Tim Thomas shut-out. I don't think the guy made one save that didn't have a rebound, but in true Timmy fashion he just fought the puck all night and won.

Avalanche beat the Wild, 4-3: Niklas Backstrom - I think he's still getting used to his new/old equipment. There are some plays where he is completeley out of position. He looks like Tim Thomas before he knew to scrape up the crease. Thank god Finlad has Kipper.

Canadiens beat the Thrashers in OT, 4-3: Anyone who speaks english - This game was only in French on the center ice package. I guess it makes sense that the Atlanta station doesn't show it, but there has to an English speaking feed from Canada, right? Do they Canadiens sometimes broadcast only in French?

Sabres beat the Maple Leafs in OT, 3-2: Instant Replay - This game and the Canadiens game had the OT winners scored pretty much simultaneously. Of course I missed both of them live, but instant replay - old fashioned kind, not dvr - helped me out, so I could see Roy's backhand move.

Coyotes beat the BJs, 5-2: Mathieu Garon - Hitch made it public that there is no number 1 keeper and Garon makes sure that he lets everyone know that he's a back up.

Sharks beat the Stars, 4-2: Patrick Marleau - Guy just gets it done. 2 goals last night.

Rangers beat the Hurricanes, 3-1: Gabby or Henrik - I didn't watch the game and skimmed the highlights, but when the Rangers win its only because of either one of those 2.

Blues beat the Oilers, 7-2: The great city of Edmonton - Every time I come here it gets hard to leave. I bet they put something to the water.

Lightning beat the Islanders, 4-2: Dwayne Rolosson -

What you missed last night because you just couldn't watch anymore

Thrashers beat the Stars in OT, 6-5:
Peverley is the
waiver-wire pick up of
the decade. 2 goals!

Flames beat the Kings, 2-1:
Giordano
and Brown were throwing hits all
night. Great physical game.

Sharks beat the Ducks, 4-1:
Marleau doesn't give
a fuck about the C. He
just wants Ws.

Predators beat the Oilers, 6-3:
Arnott had a sick
one-touch, slap-plass to Hornqvist
for his goal. yea!

Penguins beat the Flyers in the shoot-out, 3-2:
Rupp and Asham fought
again. When will Philly make
the "shake-up" big trade?

Red Wings shut-out the Lightning, 3-0:
Drew Miller knocked the
puck out of mid-air, scored, then
flew over the goalie.

Rangers beat the Islanders, 5-2:
When Redden is in
the press box, the Rangers are
better. Who is shocked?

Wild beat the Canadiens, 3-1:
The crowd is better
at the Molson center than
any other place.

Coyotes beat the Blue Jakces in the shoot-out, 2-1:
What is wrong with the
BJs? Is it Hitch? Is it
Mase? Seriously!

What you missed last night while you were drinking away the pain of getting older

Sooo, I'm going to change this week's Mid-Week Monster to today, just because there were so many damn games on last night.

Islanders beat the Rangers (in regulation!), 3-1: Dwayne Roloson - the guy made the necessary saves to be the first star of the game and then did a post-game interview with his mask on. He must be a Ricky Williams fan.

Avalanche beat the Flames, 3-2: Craig Anderson - maybe he was supposed to get a day off, but the swine flu got to Peter Budaj, so once again Anderson won. The first goal he let in was a bit of a softie, but he made the difference from there as Wolski scored a sweet game winner.

Penguins beat the Canadiens, 6-1: Sidney Crosby - he had a hat trick. His first goal is what will eventually be termed, "vintage Crosby." He sits on right post and even when the keeper anticipates, Crosby sneaks that one-timer inside the post. His second goal was a spin around back hand that he ROOFED. He might have kicked the third one in.

Sabres win over the Devils, 4-1: Ryan Miller - I didn't watch this game, but since he only gave up one (Scotty hates him for never getting shut-out), I'll assume he deserves it.

Stars beat the Maple Leafs in OT, 4-3: James Neal - He got the game winner, but he's also the guy that when you say, "howd the stars win the puck in the corner?" it was him.

Sharks beat the Kings i n the shoot-out, 2-1: Patrick Marleau - his slap shot goal, literally put a hole in Jon Quick. Seriously. Also, does the HP Center have the worst camera angles in the league? Its an arena that only has hockey and they couldn't do a better job setting up the cameras? For shame, sharks. For shame.

Blues beat the Hurricanes, 5-2: Andy MacDonald/Scott Walker - these 2 guys had the bests goals of the game. Scott Walker batted his own rebound out of mid-air. MacDonald took a sweet pass from Big Walt and cut in on Ward and scored.

Coyotes beat the BJs, 4-1: Robert Lang/Keith Yandl - its duo because of the sick goal. Yandle on the point on the PP, walks in and does a fake-slap-shot-pass. This is different from a slap-pass because in the slap-pass its all in one motion. In the fake-slap-shot-pass, Yandle turned his body, because he found Lang away from the goal and some how Lang on no angle, tucked the puck in the top of the net.

Senators beat the Panthers, 4-3: Pascal Leclaire - even though he got hurt. he has sweet pads.

Predators beat the Wild, 4-3: Jerred Smithson - game winner and short handed, you sir are a Mid-Week Monster (to be said in booming voice).

What you missed last night while you were

Sharks beat the Rangers, 7-3: I guess highlights for the Rangers would be that they did keep on pushing. They have confidence that they can score, but Valiquette in net just couldn't get it done. None of the goals scored were particularly nice. It must have been a frustrating game for the Ranger fans to watch; having the lead then losing then almost coming back then Marleau snipe and over.

Kings beat the Stars, 4-1: Seriously, there were more posts hit than goals scored in this game. After the sweet no look pass from behind the net from Morrow to Jamie Benn, the Stars hit at least 4 posts.

Oilers beat the Canucks, 2-1: Holy crap, can Rick Rypien fight. He pretty much dominated Zach Stortini who had to resort to an eyes-closed swing away method. The game almost had a ridiculous ending as Kyle Wellwood cut through the entire Oiler team and just missing tying the game by about a second.

What you missed you last night because you have DirectTV

Every game had great energy last night. Usually, Friday is reserved for hockey haikus, but since its the first night of games, I'm just going to bullet point the best parts of each game.

Capitals beat the Bruins, 4-1:

• Ovechkin had quite the game, 2 goals and an assist
• His assist started off that pretty passing play for the first goal
• His second goal was pure STRENGTH as he beat Lucic's stick check in front and somehow converted the pass.

Canadiens beat the Leafs in OT, 4-3:

• What the hell was Ron Wilson wearing?
• Great fights in this game. Is Jay Rosehill a Jew? He sure doesn't fight like one.
• Both Stajan's and Metropolit's goals were super sweet tips. Stajans was more the result of a great slap pass from Kaberle. Metropolit's was pure coolness, through his legs
• It was weird to see Gomez with number 91

Avalanche beat the Sharks, 5-2:

• Take the C off Marleau and he responds with 2 goals. They should have done that during the play-offs

Flames win over the Canucks, 5-3:

• Those throwback jerseys look awesome
• The Calgary D is probably the best in the League. No one talks about Mark Giordano made a sweet move on point and scored the first goal of the game and later had an assist.
• Kiprusoff should always, always have a beard

What you missed last night because you got drunk and fell asleep

Canucks beat the Flames in the shoot-out, 4-3: Did anyone see Pavol Demitra's shoot out goal? It was like Kipper was a street hockey goalie. It also reminded me of Roman Checkmanek.

Sharks beat the Oilers, 4-2: Patrick Marleau leads by example. Stick down hard to the net.Boom. Score a goal.

Avalanche beat the Senators in OT, 3-2: Both awful teams. Both with poor goaltending.

Sabres win over the Maple Leafs, 4-1: Everytime the Leafs call up Justin Pogge, they get killed. I was going to blame the defense, but time after time after time, maybe Pogge ain't a savior.

Blackhawks beat the Lightning, 5-3: Steve Stamkos gets his first hat trick and can't even enjoy it. Also, how bad is the crowd in Tampa? I couldn't even tell if this was a Lightning home game or not.

Bruins beat the Hurricanes. 5-1: There is no way 3 teams are making the playoffs from the SE, so enjoy your golf season, Hurricanes.

Panthers shut-out the Devils, 4-0: I didn't see that coming. Perfect time for Marty's return.