What you missed because of your internet connection, working late and a reasonable bedtime

U.S. beats Switzerland 3-1

Let me just say for every person at my office that stopped to watch the 3PM game vs. the Swiss at the TV near my desk there were 3 guys at the other end of the floor watching a soccer match. I hate my office.

I can't find any clips of the goals so I'll try to describe them.

1) Some Swiss defenseman turns the puck over and Bobby Ryan rips a shot from the slot past Hiller's glove. The puck was just sitting there and Ryan without hesitation ripped it upstairs. I imagine Hiller sees that shot everyday in practice.

2) Miller kicks away a pretty decent Swiss scoring attempt and Blackes scoops up the puck at the circle and carries it the length of the left side of the ice. He beats some Swiss D wide, cuts across the crease and pots the puck by Hiller. Jonas might have been afraid to poke because Blackes would have severed his arm. Total power move.

3) Ryan Malone (who was wearing shoulder pads so loose that you could see his upper body ink) knocks home a rebound through the legs of Hiller. Thankfully no one around the TV makes a "Swiss cheese" joke.

Thoughts:
- Blackes, Malone, and Brown were punishing people. Malone scored after a frothy forecheck and the Swiss couldn't control him in front of the net.

- Parise, Stastny and Kane is a ridiculous line. They weren't completely in sync but could really get it going when they cycled.

- All in all the US team looked sloppy. Part of me thinks they were trying to do too much with the puck. Instead of getting everything deep, banging away and causing turnovers they settled for forcing passes. Part of me (and I hope this isn't the case) thinks that they were freaking the fuck out.

- Drury and Callahan were awesome in the little ice time they got. I think Cally hit the pipe on a shot?

- Miller is a rock.

- Hnat Domenichelli has not dropped off the face of the planet. He played big minutes for the Swiss.

Canada beats Norway 8-0
They took a little while to get going but Canada opened up for 8 goals. Norway didn't skate any current NHLers but they were a little bit of a tougher matchup than the score showed.

- Iginla (had a hat trick) opened up the scoring with a one-timer from Sid. It was the prototypical Jarome goal and it helps to have Rich Nash screening for him.

- Crosby (3 helpers) and Weber were the most impressive Canadian skaters.

- Heatley had 2 goals but Marleau and Thornton were pretty unnoticeable.

- Getzlaf didn't look like he was missing a step from that ankle issue.

- During one of the breaks Milbury and JR were discussing Ovy in comparison to Sid. It is such a tired subject but they went for it and it gummed up the entire broadcast.

- Mike Richards scored off of his own rebound. If he and Patty Bergeron are killing penalties together it will be a huge problem for the rest of the world.

- The Canadian team is that good.

Russia beats Latvia 8-2
I didn't watch this. I don't want to ruin the mystique that has built up around the Russian team. I want Ovy and Semin to kill Carl Weathers on the ice and have Talia Shire scream at Joe Pavelski that he can't win. Plus this game was on too late and I fell asleep before the CAN/NOR game was over.

- Nemmy


- Nemmy

What you missed last night while you were shoveling

Canadiens beat the Capitals in OT, 6-5: The streak is over. Sick comeback by the Caps to force overtime, but sicker pass from Sergie Kostitsyn. I don't want to hear any talk, that the Caps still have a 15 game point-getting streak or whatever. It was a damn impressive winning streak, but its over. Also, how'd they disallow that Ovy goal... because Hal Gill is a pineapple with no balance?

Ducks beat the Oilers, 3-2: I think the Oilers would play better on the road if their jerseys didn't look like nightgowns. Also, I'm so glad Bobby Ryan is American. His snap shot, far side high was a deadly snipe.

Penguins beat the Islanders, 3-1: Matt Martin got into his first NHL fight with Tyler Kennedy. Does it still count?

Avalanche beat the Thrashers in OT, 4-3: Kyle Cumiskey's game winner in OT, was the most men's league goal I've ever seen in the NHL. After taking the puck on the wing after the opening face-off, he skated into the zone, turned to face the boards and then snuck in splitting 2 Thrasher d-man. It was pathetic - from an Atlanta perspective.

BJs shut-out the Sharks, 3-0: Steve Mason played freshman-like.

Flyers beat the Devils in OT, 3-2: I just hope Parise gets healthy before the Olympics.

Predators beat the Rangers, 2-1: Michael Del Zotto got 2 for hooking and then 2 for talking. The Preds scored on the power play because of a terrible clear that hit another Ranger to keep the puck in the zone. Tortorella screamed at Del Zotto and benched him. What a fucking hypocrite Tortorella is. If the Rangers miss the play-offs he's got to get fired, right?

Coyotes beat the Wild, 3-2: Backstrom made better saves, but lost.

What you missed last night because you ate too much

Its mid-week monster time.

Islanders beat the Rangers, 2-1: If Roloson got the shut-out, he would be the Monster of this game. Maybe I should give it to Tortorella for his awesome post-game press conference. But in all seriousness, it was a true team effort from the Islanders to win this game.

Panthers beat the Thrashers, 4-3: Michael Frolik - he scored the game-winner late in regulation on a sweet spin-o-rama backhand.

Hurricanes beat the Stars, 5-3: Tuomo Ruutu - he got his first career hat-trick. Granted his third was against an empty net.

Senators shut-out the Sabres, 2-0: Brian Elliot - he's filled in admirably for the oft-injured Pascal Leclaire. He made some terrific saves last night to earn the zero.

Devils beat the Canadiens, 2-1: Patrick Elias - he got the game winner, by going hard to the net. Kids, learn from that.

Ducks win over the Canucks, 3-2: Bobby Ryan - scored the games opening goal and had plenty of other opportunities. The kid is a beast.

Coyotes beat the Maple Leafs, 6-3: Vern Fiddler - I didn't even know he was still in the league. And he scored last night!

Blackhawks shut-out the Blues, 3-0: Cristobel Huet - his team makes it easy in front of him, but he made the needed saves

The Final 4... series that is

Bruins vs Hurricanes:

• Besides the Rangers, this is the best match-up the Bruins could have asked for. Cam Ward might be able to steal a game, but Eric Staal is going to face Zdeno Chara every freaking game, so who knows how much Carolina will be able to score.
• Bruins in 6

Capitals vs Penguins:

• The only guarantee besides Pierre Maguire creaming himself while being between these benches is that you will see some great hockey.
• The key to this series is Simeon Varlamav - Is he to dumb to realize where he is or will the pressure get to him. Caps fans, if you see Theodore in net, the series is over.
• Penguins in 7

Red Wings vs Ducks

• This series has all the makings for an upset for the Wings
• Hot goalie, physical team, and superhot scoring line on the Ducks might chase Osgood.
• I'm going to follow Scotty's logic though (I know) - In seven games can anyone beat the best?
• Red Wings in 7

Canucks vs Blackhawks

• Probably the best goaltending match up of the 4 series
• I like the youth and scoring of the Hawks over the experience and grit of the Canucks
• Blackhawks in 7

Here is the leaderboard after the 1st round (put your 2nd round picks in the comments)

Bress – 28

Cornelius– 40

Nemmy – 24

Mr. W – 22

Moe -31

Heals – 27 (swept the east)

Brando – 17

Lars – 16

Alex – 51

Mac – 24

Hark -31

What you missed last night while you were changing too slow

Devils shut-out the Hurricanes, 1-o (NJD lead series 3-2): Brodeur was one better than Cam Ward and thats all it came down to. A tip from David Clarkson - shot actually broke his stick - was all the Devils needed. I like how Brodeur, in the game after his meltdown, pitched a shut-out. Thats leadership and a veteran calm. Not much more to say about this game, except that between this and the Caps/Rangers series, its showing that 1-0 games can be exciting.

Ducks shut-out the Sharks, 4-0 (ANH leads series 3-1): The Ducks have one line. Really. Teemu Selanne is playing with Andrew Ebbits. Rob Neidermayer is a great grind guy. The Ducks only have one scoring line and Sharks can't keep up. Bobby Ryan (rookie stud), Corey Perry (freak stud), and Ryan Getzlaf (stud stud) roll through San Jose like they roll through SoCal. Is this really how its going to end for the Sharks? Also, Nabakov sneaky sucks this series.

Flyers shut-out the Penguins, 3-0 (PIT leads series 3-2): Holy crap, there were a lot of shut-outs last night. Not much to say about this game. Flyers did what they need to do. Penguins seemed slow. Back to Philly.

Red Wings win over the BJs, 6-5 (DET wins series 4-0): Heartbreaker for the BJs. Not that they would have won the series or even the game if it went to OT, but to comeback (twice!) and lose it shorthanded because of too many men on the ice call. That hurts. Also, imagine if Steve Mason actually played like he did in the regular season. This could have been a series or at least one more game. For everyone else in the West, if you can shut-down that offense, Osgood didn't look too sharp last night.

What you missed last night because you were watching the Sounders debut

Canucks shut out the Blues, 3-0:
Lou stopped all the pucks
His team didn't play great D.
Luckily, they played Blues

Senators beat the Canadiens, 5-4:
Carey Price is so
inconsistent. Sens play great
with no Cup pressure.

Oilers win big over the Avalanche, 8-1:
Are the Avalanche
tanking for Tavares?
When is Sakic back?

Capitals beat the Lightning, 5-2:
I wonder if the
stupid celebration caused
Cherry to have stroke.

Panther beat the Maple Leafs, 3-1:
Stephen Weiss's goal
had the hardly seen move, the
self-saucer-backhand.

Ducks beat the Coyotes, in the shoot-out, 3-2:
I have nothing to
say about this game, except
Bobby Ryan - great!

Kings beat the Bruins in OT, 3-2:
The first Bruins goal
was great hockey, but the rest killed
Nemmy. He threw couch.

Sharks beat the Predators in the shoot-out, 3-2:
When west coast games
go to the shoot-out, bress goes
to bed. Recaps suffer

What you missed last night while you were making some last minute changes to your bracket

Flames beat the Stars, 2-1: After pretty much sucking on their long-ass road trip, the Flames returned home with a win. Eric Nystrom had the GWG. The goal was a nice wrist shot, but the play to keep the puck alive and onsides was awesome. With one hand, Dustin Boyd swept the puck to Nystrom who beat Turco.

BJs win over the Hawks in OT, 4-3: Currently, the Blue Jackets sit 6th in the west, meaning if the play-offs started today, they would face Calgary. I don't want the BJs to be a one(series)-and-done team, so I don't like that match up. Anyway in last nights game all the young kids scored. Patrick Kane off a great feed. Toews out-battled the BJ defender in front. And Nash scored a silly goal, that was equally silly and impressive (watch the overhead replay). Antoine Vermette scored the game winner when he outraced Brian Campbell and got to a pass and beat Huet in the 7-hole.

Hurricanes beat the Devils, 4-2: Sports Illustrated talks about how Erik Cole really changed or made the same again the dynamic in Carolina. Granted the Devils were coming off an emotional home game, but the Hurricanes have a lot of jump and now depth.

Ducks beat the Predators, in OT, 4-3: Bobby Ryan had a great power play goal - he found the rebound and then a sneaky little drag to get room to roof the puck. Selanne had the game winner in OT, when he deflected, on his backhand, the pass-shot from Pronger

Weekend Wrap Up OR Who didn't have a hat-trick?

A quick rundown of players that had a hat-tricks this weekend:

Ray Whitney - I loved all 3 of his goals, the great pass on this one...



But the walk in slapper top shelf. It doesn't get better than that


Eric Staal - the very next night! and he had 4. But in a 9-3 win, you don't get the video highlights

Sean Bergenhiem - 2 against Brodeur and 1 (the prettiest) against an empty net

Rick Nash - All unassisted

David Booth - Just got it done.


Some more questions about the past weekend?

How bad was Calgary this weekend?
Gave up 11 total goals to Atlanta and Carolina and only scored 3. 2 of those were from Iggy.

Will Scotty's little brother be in love with Bobby Ryan the way Scotty loves Mikey Mo?


Is this the nicest saucer pass you've ever seen?


I wish they showed the end-zone view.


Does Pierre Maguire fawn over everything?


How Guerin doing in Pitt?
Pretty darn well. He and Crosby have some chemistry:

And old-school billy black showed up as well:


This isn't a question, but Steve Ott is awesome. The Stars lost in spite of him yesterday. He drew 3 penalties... in the first period alone. And lets not forget about the offensive skills he has (from Fridays game):

AND



So, what did I forget?

-Bress