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.

What you missed last night because only the west coast teams were playing

Sharks beat the Hawks, 3-2: Not to say that any of the goals that Huet gave up were soft, but he should have done better. He went down so early on Heatleys. I guess Thornton made a good shot. And Demers' release was quick, but I think that's a stoppable shot. And Nabakov was better. And right there, in 4 or so sentences, is the game.

Canucks beat the Predators, 4-1: Last night, when Paul Hornqvist beat Luonguo with a sweet backhand to ruin Lou's shut-out, Roberto did something interesting. He smacked the post with his stick. Well, thats not interesting, but I can't remember ever seeing him emotional mid or post game. I think this is a good thing.

Ducks beat the Avalanche, 4-2: Are the Ducks maddingly inconsistent or just shallow with flashes of brilliance? Was this a great comeback or a game they slept through and got lucky? Also, pick a starting keeper already and trade the other one!

Weekend Wrap Up OR Making my roller hockey comeback

After months of rehab and pain, I made my debut in net for a fall roller hockey game on Saturday. I didn't skate (that debut will happen in a few weeks). I played pretty awful, but it was nice to get back out there. Followed that will some towers of beer at the bowling alley and then hanging out with the Stuy-town legend himself, Johnny Dubs.

Needless to say, I only know about Saturday's games based on the ESPN mobile app on my black berry and NHL on the Fly on Sunday.


Is it too early for me to get excited about the possibility of Ovechkin getting 50 in 50? He has in 9 in 8 right now. When can I get excited? When this pace extends to game 25?

Here's his second from Saturday night. Is it better than the one-timer? Not so sure, but it shows that if you give him any kind of space he scores.



I thought Maxim Afinogenov went to the KHL, and then I saw this goal and thought, he's probably only playing inspired because that his old team.



Congrats to Matt Duchene on getting his first goal. Kind of a softy. Will Colorado keep up this pace? Who drafted Craig Anderson?



Cody Mcleod had a great game, 2 goals and a fight.



If he gets the hat trick and an assist is it a Gordie Howe Hat Trick Hat Trick?

Kovalev made his return to Montreal, was soundly booed and then made this sweet pass.



Thornton had 3 points (not 3 assists scotty) and the Isles lost again.

What else did I miss?

-Bress

What you missed last night while you were angrily watching Jim and Pam's wedding

Its Friday, so its back to Hockey Haikus. There were a ton of games last night.


Flames beat the Oilers in the shoot-out, 4-3:
Khabibulin has
problems late in the third. He
is probably drunk.

Sharks beat the BJs, 6-3:
Heatley got the trick.
Joe had four assists. The Sharks
need the same in May.

Senators beat the Islanders in OT, 3-2:
Okposo had a
sweet goal. Pascal Leclaire's pads are sweet.
Does anyone care?

Penguins beat the Flyers, 5-4:
Would you really be
surprised if Hartnell does like
the taste of humans?

Rangers beat the Capitals, 4-3:
After Henrik's brain
fart, Gabby scores. When will his
groin finally break?

Thrashers win over the Blues, 4-2:
The commentator
call Tkachuk, "Big Walt." That's the
Best. Nickname. Ever.

Red Wings beat the Hawks, 3-2:
This game wasn't close
to being sold out. Detroit
has mad problems, yo.

Devils beat the Lightning in the shoot-out, 4-3:
Stamkos will not have
a sophmore slump. His release
is "lightning" fast. HA!

Predators beat the Avalanche, 3-2:
Nashville has a real
sneaky home-ice advantage.
Duchene is mad fast.

Sabres win over the Coyotes, 2-1:
Is there anyone
outside of Buffalo that
cared about this game?

Ducks beat the Bruins, 7-1:
"Perry scored off his
head. Boston sucks,"says Nemmy
in text from last night.

Kings win over the Wild, 6-3:
So far this season,
the Kings get big leads, then lose
them, but win the game.

What you missed last night while were getting checked out for swine flu

Blackhawks beat the Flames, 4-1 (CHI wins series 4-2): The best Flame on the ice last night was Todd Bertuzzi. That was the problem for the Flames. Jarome, really didn't show up for the last 2 games of the series. Patrick Kane showed up. Khabibulin definitely showed up. And Dustin whose last name I can't spell, really showed up last night. The Flames could be the new Sharks (if the Sharks weren't still the Sharks) if they don't win a first round series again. The matchup against Vancouver should be another exciting series. Both the Canucks and the Blackhawks are fast, young, and gritty.

Ducks beat the Sharks, 4-1 (ANH wins series 4-2): Great fight Thornton, how about scoring a point? Getlaf lost that battle, but won the war. The fake shot on the point during the powerplay, opened up the lane to get the puck on net, where Corey Perry got a goal. Later, Getzlaf got his passport to Snipe City stamped again when he ripped a goal to comple the Gordy Hat Trick and put the nail in the coffin. Up next is the Red Wings for the Ducks. I'll have to really think about who I want to take in that one.

Sahner Oil

Vancouver Spartans stats - 30 games in (Video Game Hockey)

Brad McGann - 75 goals, 35 assists - 110 points
John Giardino - 58 goals, 52 assists - 110 points
Matt Weindel - 75 goals, 70 assists - 145 points
Nemy - 5 goals, 65 assists - 70 points
Scotty - 8 goals, 56 assists - 64 points

Heals (goalie) - 30 wins 0.99 save percentage with 7 shutouts

Things have gotten wildly out of control.

I'd like to say something about the Washington-NYR series. To be honest I would like nothing more than the Rangers to lose, as an avid Islander fan it becomes just a natural part of the game rivalry to hate the opposing New York team. In this situation, you can't be a Mets fan and still not mind the Yankees. Hatred for the other side. Good fan friendly hatred not literally fighting or drunken abuse over it though.

However if the Rangers win, I actually would not mind it so much because it just keeps the playoff NHL spirit around NYC. Guys in my office that really could give a left testicle about the sport are all about it right now. I went to dinner with my girl and some friends last night and bumped into Paul Lenti (our college/men's league goalie) at Penn Station in his blueshirt. The energy is high...the team is poopy but it works and I get it so I officially cover my Ranger short in praise of the spirit around me for at least another series. If they go to the conference finals I may get a little over it but for now its ok.

I still think no one has a chance against the wings in 7 games. But hey stranger things have happened. The Bruins and the Wings look sharp as they should. Getting rid of those first round match-ups the way they did was very very professional.


This guy is me today.
He is also sneaky the opposite of everything.


On a different note but following the same theme...maybe


Does anyone even understand this?
Is it the ghost of Christmas Past?

Do you guys really think the Ducks will beat the Sharks? I think Jumbo Joe inflates and they open this thing up.

- Barnabus

What you missed last night while you were trying to get the last piece of apple pie

Rangers shut-out the Devils, 3-0: Avery was a good boy last night. I hope people paid attention to Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is an odd-style goalie. He plays super deep in his net and covers almost the complete bottom third. He is almost always beaten up high. Last night, however, Lundqvist made some nice glove saves. And when he does that and holds onto the puck, he's damn near unbeatable. Avery is important, but Lundqvist is the guy that makes or breaks the Rangers.

Coyotes beat the Stars, 6-5: Of the 11 goals scored in this game, I would estimate that 9 of them were of the ugly variety. I mean really ugly. Ugh. I can't believe that Versus chose this game over the Sharks/Flames. Seriously, why are you even reading a bad recap about 2 teams who will miss the playoffs. Move on...

Sharks beat the Flames, 2-1: Joe Thornton found Dan Boyle on the power play to get the sharks out to a 1-0 lead. Boyle put the one-timer high glove, back from where the pass came from. A very very very good shot. Later Jarome Iginla did a stop move that froze the D and Nabakov and then he ripped a wrist shot through both sets of legs. Great innovative skill. Cheechoo got the game winner. Simple, hard hitting, playoff-type game.

What you missed last night while you were looking for sudafed you know you still have somewhere

Penguins shut-out the Flames, 2-0: It should have been 3-0, but Matt Cooke can't hit an empty net. I'm not really sure what he's doing out there anyway, protecting a lead. Malkin ran shit in this game. He was a beast, hitting, skating, etc. My favorite play was his end to end rush and when he made a move around a Calgary d-man, he high sticked him, just for good measure. Also, Pierre Maguire, described Crosby owning the end boards as "vintage" The kids 20, relax.

Hurricanes beat the Senators, 2-1: Is this the end of the Senators play-off run? Is Anton Babchuck the best-worst name in the NHL? Is Cam Ward a real goalie again? Lots of questions from this game.

Blackhawks win over the Sharks in the shoot-out, 6-5: This game was SICK. Early lead by the Hawks. Some nice goals in there. Comeback by the Sharks, capped by Jumbo Joe going hard to the net and tucking the puck somewhere. I don't think I've ever seen Joe put the shoulder down and drive to the net. Could this be a foreshadowing for the playoffs? If yes, and Joe turns up his game, the Sharks are scary.

Sabres beat the Panthers, 5-3: I feel for the Panthers. I want them to make the play-offs, but holy wow, they are playing awful the past 2 weeks. The Sabres get Miller, back so maybe they make a run.

Ducks killed the Avalanche and the Wild won big over the Islanders. Race to the bottom.

What you missed last night while you were trying to wrap your head around Kyle Okposo's move

In a scrimmage last night I tried doing the Okposo shoot-out move and failed miserably. I can't rap my head around that move.
Anyway, onto Friday's Hockey Haikus (sorry for the delay today, I had busy morning at the dayjob)

Devils shut-out the Avalanche, 4-0:
Parise's goal - WOW
Brodeur is back and got the
shut-out. Jers feels good.

Maple Leafs beat the Islanders in the shoot-out, 5-4:
Tambellini can
snipe, not in-game though. Blakes spin
is bush. Witts elbow - ouch.

Panthers come back to beat the Rangers, 2-1:
Shoulders hunched, arms crossed
that is the Tortorella
losing press meeting.

Hurricanes win over the Sabres in the shoot-out, 2-1:
For teams outside of
the playoffs, these three point games
must be killing them

Capitals beat the Thrashers, 4-3:
Ovy did not score
but tried to fight the wrong guy
when he got high sticked

Bruins shut-out and dominate the Ducks, 6-0:
Hard work always beats
skill. Example... Bitz outworks
Neidermayer, scores.

Sharks beat the Senators, 2-1:
Roenicks goal is hockey
Fake shot from point is pass to
Thornton, to slot, goal.

Predators beat the Coyotes, 4-1:
All of a sudden
the Predators can score or
maybe the Yotes suck

Blues win over the Stars, 3-1:
Steve Ott always does
something and contributes on
the scoresheet... sometimes.

Blues Jackets shut-out the Oilers, 1-0:
Big win for Jackets
and for Mason. He leads the
league in shut-outs, now.

Blog Survey

A little while ago ESPN conducted an NHL player survey and blah blah blah you've probably read it already.

The only question that was really interesting was Question 3: IF YOU COULD CHANGE LIVES WITH ANOTHER PLAYER, WHO WOULD IT BE?

The NHL players surveyed picked Ovy. We are more interested in what our 6 readers have to say.

Below are the results of the ESPN survey in order of number of votes. We've included a short description of the players to get the thought process started. Don't feel limited by the players on this list. The entire league roster is up for debate.

Ovechkin - best player in the league

Lecavalier - set for life, 6'4 220lbs.

Sakic - unquestioned leader, Cup champion

Lidstrom - 4 Cups, bunch of Norris trophies, Swedish girls

Thornton - 6'4 230lbs+, gets to play in San Jose

Crosby - face of the NHL, really good at hockey

Mike Fisher - dates Carrie Underwood

Modano - American hero, married to Willa Ford

Chelios - still alive

Comrie - dates Hillary Duff

Iginla - probably has a bigger dick than you

Kovalev - "most talented", flies planes

Lundquist - cleans up in NYC, probably kills in Sweden

S. Niedermayer - 4 time Cup winner (?), perma-playoff beard

I don't know how to post an actual poll so leave a comment if you want to opine.

-Nemmy