Playing Catchup

This is a bit what my brain feels like lately.
Photo taken from a random Google search.

I realize that I have not been blogging as faithfully as I should have been, but for some reason I'm just not feeling very creative/analytical these days. This might be due to the fact that I'm under a lot of stress right now at the end of the semester. I've been watching as much hockey as my internet connection and TV reservations will let me, and I've been especially reading what other people have to say about the games that I have to miss. I've been more than content to let others do the work recently, and that makes me a major slacker, so I'm going to attempt to say a few things about each series that I've noted so far.

Habs/Bruins:
Habs are up 2-1 in the series which is more than I expected from the Bruins. I feel like the Habs have been slacking off even more than I have these last couple of games. This is not good, they can't afford to take anyone lightly in the playoffs. Come back soon, brother of Mikko! The Habs keep getting me put on internet probation because I can't not watch, but the games are so early, and I need to watch my boys too.

Red Wings/Preds:
Wings are up 2-0 in the series, and from what I can tell they are just toying with the Preds and the slaughter and pain will be over in a few days and the Preds players can go off and play golf or whatever. I hear Zetterdouche shaved his beard for the beginning of the playoffs. He and his laziness should love the playoffs in terms of personal grooming... Steph will soon be happy again.

Penguins/Sens:
Pens are up 2-0 in the series, and boy do I have to hear about it constantly. I've decided that I care a lot less about this series than I thought I might. For Sherry's sake I hope the Sentators show some life and smack the Pens around a little bit next game.

Sharks/Shames:
Series is tied at 1-1. I admit, I'm blatantly cheering for the Sharks on this one, even though I'm not really a big fan of them, I just really, really don't like the Flames. I'm hoping this will be the year Joe Thornton decides to play in the first round, then he can disappear again. Sorry to Leanne.

Caps/Flyers:
Series is tied at 1-1. This series is more entertaining than I thought it would be, but I'm still finding it hard to care about this series since two teams I'm fairly indifferent towards are playing in it. I hear Ovechkin is up to his usual, dramatic tricks.

Wild/Avs:
Series is tied at 1-1. Obviously this is the series that I am watching most closely, and it's about to kill me. I'm hoping the boys in green red can pull this off, even though the Wild are plagued with injuries and Joe Sakic. I will keep my fingers crossed and my superstitious habits going.

Devils/Rangers:
Rangers are up 2-1 in the series. This is another series that I don't really care about, but for some reason I was disappointed to see the Rangers lose tonight. I have no idea why that is. It's starting to get more interesting tonight with the Devils' win.

Ducks/Stars:
Stars are up 2-0 in this series. I care a lot more about this one than I thought I would, and I have found myself paying more attention to it than I should. Two teams that I don't like so much, though I definitely hate the Ducks more at this point. The game almost got fun yesterday, but nope, another blowout. If the Ducks don't show some life in the next game, I say they are dead in the water.

Up Next: The Wild play the Avs on the road at 9 PM CDT. The game is on Versus, and I will be watching. The Wild need to come out ready to play, and play hard. Someone needs to contain Forsberg, and Sakic can't be allowed to wander around near our net at will. Laperierre shouldn't cause too much trouble, so if Parrish is going to be ok, I expect him to play and be the Wild counterpart to Ryan Smyth. Hopefully the Wild will remember that Bruno is wicked with the wraparounds. I as always encourage that you guys head over to the Avs blogs and trash talk a bit, then check out the other, less lazy Wild bloggers to see what they have up. They are trotting out some good stuff for the playoffs.

I Guess Scott Niedermayer Really is THAT Good

Photo Courtesy of Hockey Canada

We had beaten the Ducks twice on their pond, so I was optimistic. Granted this was before the return of the better Niedermayer, and since then everyone has been saying Scott Niedermayer this, Scott Niedermayer that. Earl Sleek did a big write up on the team before and after the return of the former captain. Not only did he do that, he had nice things to say about the Wild. At least I have the ookies over at IBP to cheer me up. They aren't exactly SN's biggest fans ever, and my favorite quote ever about Nieds comes from them. "Nieder totally looks on the ice as if he’s humming like a llama. Just this contented, slightly absent, animal-esque hum." -one of the ookies, I forget which. Thanks, ladies.

At the end of the first period, the Wild had three shots on goal. After their two goals, they then had five shots on goal. We did end up with 27 shots on goal according to TSN, but TSN and FSN are having shot total disagreements. Gaborik took that stupid penalty, and after that, I exploded a little bit. There was another bad one at the end of the game. The too many men on the ice penalty. This game just really didn't sit well with me. I was happy that Schultz got his first of the season, and that Koivu got a goal (assisted by Parrish! Both of them looked really excited), but as for the rest...notsomuch. I think what really rubbed the horribleness in my face was who got the goals for the Ducks. Todd "Hey Wild fans, don't bother buying tickets for game 6" Bertuzzi and FCP. Oh yeah, and Corry Perry, but whatever.

The Wild need to start winning these games. Teams can gain or lose places in the standings within hours in the league these days. We need all the points we can get. We play all division rivals on the road until the All-Star game, and then the Ducks again. They had better get it together.

Let it be known before baseball season begins, that I am officially in support of the Colorado Rockies as my western US team. I was given a sticker to signify my new fanship of the team. I figure they don't really clash with the Twins at all, and Bert likes their field.

Sidney Crosby is out four weeks with a badly sprained ankle, according to TSN, various announcers, and several of my now gleeful friends. Sucks to be him, but not the rest of the league. Lecavalier is probably practicing his Hart trophy pose right as I type this.

Tomorrow I will answer Sherry's challenge that she posed on her blog and correct all the errors I made typing this at almost 11 PM.

Complete Crap

Before I rant about the game, I would first like to rant about the NHL. They have a rule that prohibits teams from traveling on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. That's fine, it's nice of them to observe a major Christian holiday, but it is a death sentence for all visiting teams on the 26th. If they want to have that rule, they should not put any games on the 26th, allowing teams to travel the day before the game and get their legs under them a bit better.

I don't know if the NHL's travel rule is completely to blame for the Wild getting smoked 8-3 by the Stars last night, but I'm sure it didn't help. Josh Harding had a rough night, as did Brent Burns. We were keeping pace with them goal for goal, but then something just exploded/died/self-destructed/etc. The score was 3-2 Stars at the end of the first. That was managable, but it all went to hell after that. I now present to you the game in pictures.

First they scored like a minute in..

Demitra had two goals on the night...

Then they lit up Harding

This is what the team looked like at the end of the game...

And this is what Coach Lemaire looked like.

Notes: Mark Parrish clearly pissed off the hockey gods. He had more good chances and didn't score, but then again no one else on the team really did either, so it's ok.

There might be some light blogging upcoming as I had elbow/wrist surgery yesterday. I'll see how it goes. I should be at the game on Saturday if anyone else will be there. Yay Oilers, even though I kind of don't like playing them, because it's hard to choose. I like the Oilers, but we need to get points in the division.

Oh It's THEM Again...

Captain Grumpy had another rough night. No wonder he's grumpy.

Well, the Red Wings killed us once again. The score was much closer than it should have been, Backstrom made 47 saves. He was pretty good last night, but the rest of the team disappeared. I'm not even sure how the Wild managed to get one goal in the 4-1 loss. I was texting with Steph, and she was kind enough not to gloat, even though the Wild deserved it they played so poorly. The Wild just let them make passes uninterrupted, and hesitated before shooting. The Awesome Dude who sits next to me, his buddy, and I were making bets as to how many shots the Red Wings would get. The final shot total was 51-19. I doubt I need to tell you who that was in favor of. I'm really, really glad we only play them four times a year. They are by far the best team in the NHL right now.

Next up: the hated Stars on the 26th in Dallas at 7:30PM CST.

A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Random Tidbits of life

The Wild against any remotely good team

So there was a game on Tuesday apparently. I went to a concert instead of watching it, and it sounds like I made an excellent decision. (besides the fact that it was an amazing concert) The Wild got destroyed 4-1 by the Sharks. Oops. C'mon Captain Grumpy( so named because his teammates call him Grumpy, it's written on his sticks and he's the captain for the month), you need to make a Wes Walz speech and kick the team into gear. We need some road wins.

Coming up the Wild will swing through SoCal, but I unfortunately will be studying for/taking an exam during both of those games, so I would ask you to seek out Finny of Girl With a Puck and Earl Sleek over at Battle of California for their takes on the game. For the Kings: kms2 at Purple Crushed Velvet, Ckim at A Queen Among Kings (she's going to be at the game), and RudyKelly also of Battle of California. These fine bloggers will give the enemy opinion on the games in addition to the Wild Blogosphere listed at right. I will be mostly MIA until Sunday when I fly home. I have calculated that I have an 11 hour travel time, so I'll be bored hanging around in airports. Here's to hoping that Scott Niedermayer doesn't make his season debut against the Wild.

Manny Fernandez will need knee surgery and is likely out for the season. DR, I know I give you a lot of crap and say that I think you suck at life quite frequently, but getting rid of Manny seems like a pretty genius move just now.

Joe Sakic is still out with a groin injury, and I'm really hoping this doesn't mean he's slowing down. I know he's the type of player that will retire as soon as he feels he isn't playing at the same level anymore, and I'd really hate to see him go.

Mikko Koivu looks doubtful for the SoCal swing, but I'm REALLY, REALLY hoping he will heal quickly and rejoin the team. They need him like nobody's business.

Photo idea borrowed from Elly @ No Pun Intended. Thanks!
All news reports used can be found at TSN.ca