This is Stupid

Gaborik should NOT be the captain! He's lazy, whiny, and only seems to play hard when he feels like it/plays on a line with his friends. The theory is that wearing the "C" will give Gaborik extra confidence. Really? If that's true, I don't think that's a good reason to give someone the "C". The best player on the team is not necessarily the best leader. The reason the team has to consider keeping Demitra this summer and run the risk of losing Bouchard is to keep Gaborik happy in the hopes that he will continue to play in Minnesota. Maybe I'm just angry with Gaborik about his comments during the All-Star Break, or maybe I've just really never liked him all that much. Whatever it is, I'm extremely displeased to see him get the "C", especially THIS month of all months. The one that when we make the playoffs, means they get to remain captain throughout the playoffs. A tradition started with Brad Bombardir, then Mark Parrish, both of whom are AWESOME. Long story short, I'm sure Jacques Lemaire knows far more about hockey than I do, but that doesn't stop me from being furious about his selection.

Anyways, the Wild won 3-2 last night on goals from Koivu, Burns, and Veilleux all had goals for the Wild. I got to watch the last 8 minutes of the game due to other commitments (too many early starts. Stupid East Coast bias.) , but Elise (18,568 Reasons Why...)kindly kept me updated. Thanks! I started to get really scared that they were going to blow the game and I was going to have to kill someone. Especially during the last three or so minutes when Backstrom had far too much to do. I flipped my calendar page today, and who should be there wearing the Captain's C? MARK PARRISH! WHOO!

Around the NHL:

• Montreal kicked some serious butt last night! Good for them! I'm not a fan of banana slugs, so it made me happy.
• Both Vancouver AND Calgary lost last night.
• Joe Sakic seems super excited that Adam Foote is back.

Next game: LA Kings on Sunday at the X. The Kings had a tough 5-4 loss to the Oilers the other day, so they might be out for blood. Ckim informed me that several members of the team went back to the minors to compete in the playoffs there. They are my adopted west coast team, so I will definitely be making time to watch this game, and it will be much easier since it's on a Sunday. Game is on 6 PM CT (4 PT) on FSN in MN, and I don't know what in SoCal. I'm looking forward to the game, and I'm sure kms2 of Purple Crushed Velvet, and Ckim of A Queen Among Kings are as well. RudyKelly, the Kings correspondent for Battle of California, will probably have something up as well.

YAY! WE WIN!

WHOOO! The Wild beat Tampa Bay 3-2 yesterday to snap their slide. I'm really stoked about the win, and hoping for another tomorrow. Fedoruk ( that goal was originally credited to Bouchard), Rolston, and Demitra all scored for the Wild. Ouellet and Halpern scored for the Lightning. That game was on too early for me to catch all of it due to other commitments, but Mikko Koivu was freaking amazing like usual, and his Personal Streak of Awesomeness has been extended.

I just got the copy of the Hockey News with Scott Niedermayer on the cover, and I scribbled all over the picture of FCP. Janessa and I are thinking up all kinds of mean things to do to him. Who knew a Sharpie and a picture could be so entertaining?

League:
Joe Sakic is back, he picked up a goal last night.
Dion Phaneuf got his SUV stolen, but sadly it was later found by the Calgary Police. KMS2 has a post up about it on Purple Crushed Velvet, and TSN and the Calgary Sun both covered the story.
Hossa got hit knee on knee tonight during the Pens game.
Stupid Brad Richards got five assists tonight.
Ckim and Finny did another podcast, this time about the trade deadline, and they gave me a shoutout! Check it out by visiting either A Queen Among Kings or Girl With A Puck.

Up Next: Wild vs. Panthers @ 6:30 CT on FSN. I'm sure Russo will have something up about it since he's still in love with Florida. I don't have much else to say except that we had better win this game.

What's Wrong With Winning in Regulation?

Pierre-Marc Bouchard and his brother, Francois. Posted because I can.

The Wild beat Nashville 5-4 in OT last night on a game winner by Gaborik. I refuse to say glowing things about Gaborik ever, so all I'll say is good job. To the rest of the team, why did you start sucking? You guys were playing so well!! Mark Parrish answers this question for me, but much as I love him, I'm slightly less than fond of his answer. "We love the drama," Minnesota right-winger Mark Parrish said. "We want our fans to get every penny's worth. We want to put them through all the emotions." -Quote courtesy of TSN

Parrish, Nummelin, Bouchard, Gaborik (2) all scored for Minnesota last night. Brian Rolston was out with the flu, and I was pleased to see Nummelin playing in his place. Foster is looking a little beat up again lately. Poor guy has it rough, even with a face shield. Maybe he should start wearing a cage....

I'll still count this game in the streak of awesomeness, even though it certainly could have been more awesome.

NHL Notes:

• Mark Parrish didn't lost a tooth last night


• The Red Wings lost their 6th straight game last night


• Forsberg has decided not to come to the US after all. Surprise surprise.


• The Wild are now at least five points ahead of Calgary and Vancouver in the standings.


• Rob Blake now wants to stay in LA


• Lecavalier apparently doesn't want to be traded either. That's too bad...


• Marleau and Brind'Amour are both on the IR


• Staios got fined, not suspended for slashing one of the Canucks.

Up Next: The Wild vs. the Canucks, possibly for the last time this season. The game is on at 7 CT on FSN. Remember Wild players, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY POINTS! You guys need to knock off this giving the other team a point crap and just win the game cleanly. There are times when it is not appropriate to be Minnesota Nice. Remember, they are nothing more than a bunch of karate chopping jerkwads. Koivu: I want to see you do something awesome and rub it in their faces!

Wild Win and so do I

See, he's happy about it too.

The Wild won in a shootout with Koivu being the hero. His Personal Streak of Shootout Awesomeness has been revived. What is it about Finnish players and their mad skillz in shootouts? Whatever it is, Koivu's back, and vs. the Canucks too. How fitting. Take that and shove it, Ohlund! Too bad he wasn't petty enough to rub it into the Canucks bench again. I suppse in a shootout win he wouldn't have the opportunity, which is a bummer, cause I have to say that was awesome.

It was a good game up until the part where the Canucks tied it up, we didn't win in overtime, and I saw Koivu's name get called. I was nervous since he had been 0-3 this season...but clearly I did him a disservice.

Enough about the game, onto what I'm really making this post about. Teebz sent my prize as promised, and it's really, really, really effing cool. I got a Martin Brodeur mini stick, a Sidney Crosby action figure, a North Stars t-shirt, a Team Canada hat, and two Don Cherry DVDs. This is beyond awesome. A HUGE thank you goes out to Teebz for this generous prize, and for putting up with the highway robbery that the Canadian Postal Service charges these days. Thank you, Teebz!

NHL notes:
The Red Wings lost again!

Ryan Smyth is back two or so weeks early

Jagr is not doing well any more. Is this his last season? TSN wonders the same thing

Zach Parise had two goals tonight.

Random note about life: Honey flavored ice cream is really, really good.

Up next: the Wild play the Preds at home. I will try to watch the game, but I have an econ midterm to study for and an endless supply of French essays to write. Elise of 18,568 Reasons Why will be at the game, and so will my family if they make it back from Wisconsin in time. For those of us without tickets, the game is on at 7PM CT on FSN.

Sucks to be the CBJs

Now please do another signing so that can be MY sweater.

I get the feeling that Ken Hitchcock does not take losing all that well, but to his credit he has done good things with the Blue Jackets.

I would like to wish Mark Parrish a very happy 31st birthday. Glad they got a win for you, buddy! Hopefully the guys will buy you a few beers to celebrate, and the Twins will buy you a third baseman.

The Wild beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 on the road to continue their Streak of Awesomeness. Nick Schultz is the captain again, and I'm going to grumble about that fact, but concede that the Wild played very well in January. Foster got a goal tonight, and it seems like every time I see him play he has one, so why is he suiting up in the press box so much? Stupid Marian Gaborik got two goals tonight, and Rolston got one too. Mikko Koivu! had an assist on Foster's goal, and Gaborik's life partner (you are so right on that one, Margee), Demitra had an assist on both of Gaborik's goals. Michael Peca!, whose name I adore saying, also had a good game, but only Derick Brassard (and I'm not sure who that is...) had a goal for Columbus.

In other news, the Habs clobbered the Islanders, and I hear if it weren't for DiPietro, it would have been much, much worse. The Leafs actually beat the Sens and Jason Blake (WHOO MINNESOTA) had a goal.

Teebz, over at Hockey Blog in Canada, has a rather insulting post about the Gophers up, though he promises to make UND look bad in the near future.

The Widget I have to the right I stole from Double D(ion), run by HockeyGirl. Thanks, chica! I'm glad to see that you're back in the blogosphere!

Up Next: The Red Wings at the Xcel Energy Center. Game is on KSTC at 7 PM Central Time. Bring it on, Steph, bring it on. Let's hope for a repeat of that awesome game where we beat you guys, k?