Hockey Trifecta in pictures

I will keep words to a minimum because I’ve already bored you to death with the story.  That said, I do have to preface that my digital camera is a piece of shit when shooting hockey games.  I took about 1,000 pictures at the Sabres game hand had to delete 952 of them.  Which also happens to be why there are just a few pictures from the other game.  If I can get flicker to cooperate, I will most likely upload all of the pictures from the game into the set. 

Friday, Feb 27

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers 

The view from our seats

Marty: "Let me in coach, I'm ready to play!"

The awesome Philly fans. That place was ELECTRIC.

Bad picture, best Cheese steak

It doesn't look like the Spectrum to you?

Saturday, Feb 28th 1:00PM EST

Florida Panters vs. NJ Devils 

I liked Stevens. He was hot for an old guy. Daneyko has grown on me since he was added to the broadcast team. It's amazing what teeth can do!

Yeah Devil! Well, except for that year the Avs won the cup. I do love me the Avs and Ray Bourque.

Ok, I can admit, I do like you. Even if you are trying to pass Patty Roy's records. I still love him more.

Yes, we really sat that far away.

Dear Devils Fans, Before making fun of the opposing goalie you may want to review the goals allowed to shots on goal ratio. In this game they are almost identical. Now, I understand the Devils scored 7 goals but they had 48 shots. The Panthers scored 2 goals on 17 shots. Just sayin'.

Saturday, Feb 28th 7:00PM EST

Buffalo Sabres vs. NY Islanders

As you’ll notice, I have a lot of ass shots.  This isn’t because I have a fascination with hind quarters, but actually due to my crappy camera.  90% of my pictures are from a stoppage in play which is the only time I could actually get the players standing in one place.  See, the shutter speed on my digital camera sucks.  Ergo, most of the pictures I went to take, were not there when the photo was actually snapped.  The other 10% of my pictures are from when I accurately guessed where said Sabres would go and was able to have them skate into the picture I was taking.  Such is life I guess.  Oh, and I love Goose, but you’ll know that soon enough.

It doesn't look like THAT big of a shit hole from the outside.

Holy Teeny Tiny Arena Batman! This game was like attending an AHL game...really, it is THAT small.

This is what "on the glass" means to the Islanders. Don't try to "bang" on the glass because you will get yelled at.

That bright light is Kevin Sylvester. Squint and I swear you can see him! (I think)

Droy leading Pommer to the face off circle while he scratches his muzzle.

Derek and the Ho

Goose about 2 minutes before getting ejected for 10 minutes.

Goose about 2 seconds before he heads to the box and then off the ice. Sniff, sniff

The Zamboni entrance. I wanna drive the Zamboni.

Best part of the intermission. Nassau doesn't have "holes" in the ground in which to shovel the ice/water dropped by the Zamboni. So this poor guys job is to mop up the floor and then SHOP VAC all remaining liquids. Shop vac, I kid you not.

Oh, Patty! You deserved MUCH better then this.

Hank, not Honk, more Honk later.

Pie-YAY! I tried to get an action figure, because he really does skate around with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Careful boy, or you could lose that thing.

Cap'n Craig, Patty and Yo-yo

Jaro eat ref's whistle. mmmm, crunchy.

Last Honk I promise

Sparky the magic dragon, lives by the sea...

~Le Fin~

Chaz and Diebeige take on the Sabres

Diebeige and I would like to send out condolences out to anyone that was impacted by last evening’s tragedy. Lucky everyone we know are safe and accounted for, but there are many people in Western NY that can not say that today. Our thoughts are with you.

Pre-game – I have NEVER been so happy to see Kevin Sylvester before in my entire life. After weeks without Sabres coverage, Kevin means I’ll get the joy of RJ. That said, I will most likely NEVER be that happy to see Kevin Sylvester ever again.

19:20 – There are two 19’s on the ice. Connolly and Thornton. Umm, don’t even try to compare the those two. One’s made of steel and the other of glass

18:33 – Sekera!! Yeah!!!! I’m so happy your back.

16:58 – Um, I think Derek Roy may have been distracted by his boyfriend in the stands.

Wow! Pommers gets a decent shot on goal. He’s gonna score tonight, I can feel it! (Timestamp unknown folks. It happens when you aren’t used to this)

14:46 – Gerbe on a psuedo breakaway. Bummer, got checked.

14:09 – They keep talking about Butler and for some reason I have him and Weber mixed up in my mind. Every time they say Butler, I think, but they sent him back to Portland. Don’t worry I won’t have that problem with Gerbe.

13:18 – WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MAIR!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-0 BUFF-A-LO The grinders get a goal!

12:11 – Diebeige and I are both cheering for Stonehand Stafford to score. (on the ice) Good god, hell is going to freeze over.

TV Time-out – Diebeige realizes she has a something to show me. It’s one of those re-useable bags. It has the Sabres logo on it. It’s blue and gold. Um, Sabres, remember it’s Blue and Gold make GREEN. The bag should be GREEN. Oh, Harry Neale how I don’t love you. “Rivet got the goal tipped by Mair.” Waaaaaaaa? How does that happen?

11:00 – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! Harry Neale – “Stafford was in front of the net, do you think he got his stick on it?” RJ – “Whatever! ” We’re with RJ, who cares who scored, they scored! Although, congrats to Jaro! 2-0

9:23 – Diebeige is impressed with Gerbe’s hockey sense.

8:18 – Hot Damn, Claude Lemieux.

7:48 – Huh, Sabres have 12 shots on goal.

7:40 – Diebeige notes “You know a team is in trouble when they hook Tony Tone Toni.

6:31 – Pommer, Gerbe , Roy and Connolly on the ice. I wouldn’t be upset to see any of those dudes scores.

5:35 – DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!! 3-0BUFF-A-LO That beauty was top shelf where Mama hides the cookies! 2 goals on the Powerplay! Your boyfriend must be SO happy.

5:19 – The telestrator draws a heart around the Sabres logo. Harry Neale and RJ begin discussing duty free. Diebeige and I share a common love of duty free. (alcohol)

2:24 – Icing on the Sharks…during their powerplay? Uh, I’ll take it.

2:00 – RJ – “Miller grabs it and hangs on it” Diebeige adds “in bed”. RJ “CheeChoo’s having a hard time scoring” Diebeige adds “in bed”. I think the wine is starting to set in.

1:20 – Marleau scores – Miller doesn’t see, neither does RJ, Chaz or Diebeige. Harry Neale’s take? It’s the best radio shot he’s seen this year. You could hear it but didn’t see it. 3-1

End of the 1st review: Solid period by Miller, Nabby…not so much. One bottle of wine has been polished off…number two coming up. 

Picture representing the first period:

Diebeige and the duty free booty

Thoughts going into second period -
Chaz:··· ····”Any thoughts going into the third?
Diebeige··· “Um, you mean second?”
Chaz:··· ····”Uhh, yeah, that’s what I meant.”
Diebeige ···”Maybe we hold off on that third bottle of wine.  Oh and my fantasy team is kicking your fantasy team’s ass.”
Chaz:  ······I’m going for that third bottle, thank you very much.

This is going to be interesting.

Start of the <strike>third</strike> second.

19:42 – Damn you Stonehands!  That would have been an awesome goal.

19:09 – Crunchy’s looking good tonight.  (in bed)

18:32 – Holy Shit we almost scored again!

What is it about become a coach that makes you look old?  I know Jeep isn’t old, but he kind of looks it.  ::sniff, sniff::  Does that mean I’m old?

17:17 – I think Nabby’s looking like shit.  Diebeige thinks Hecht has been as effective as the prayer method of birth control.

15:38 – Fuck I thought that was going in.  Thanks Crunchy!  You’ll be rewarded handsomely later.  (in bed and not by me…by DRoy…hmm, maybe)

14:25 – Hey, that fucker hit Crunchy.  Someone take his head off!

14:18 – Rob Ray says it’s a matter of time before he comes back.  We all have a good laugh at that.  Harry Neale calls him a Chippendale.  He did have a nice set of abs.

12:30 – Diebeige and I have a good laugh over “Connolly couldn’t get it out.”  I’m sure that’s what they all say.

11:40 – Bad Rob Blake.  (Yet, thank you!)

11:33 – Alice finds the rabbit hole!  Powerplay goal! 4-1 BUFF-A-LO!

10:41 – Let’s go POMM-IN-VILLE!

10:21 – Fuckers, Marleau scores again.  4-2  We think it’s time Gerbe takes “things” into his own hands.

9:48 – Good news, there’s a penalty coming up and apparently we’re good at scoring on those.

8:55 – Vanek who?  Now, is when I image how good they would be if they were healthy.

8:15 – Crunchy!  Stops Greir twice.

7:17 – Hmmm, the Sharks are looking sharky.  (You know all circling their prey and shit.)

6:23 – Um, boys…WAY TOO MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF CRUNCHY.  We need to be at the other end rink. 

4:23 – Is it too early for 1-2-3-4 we want 5?

3:38 – I don’t like all these guys jabbing at Roy from behind.  He might not mind, I do.

:42 – Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, they scored! 4-3

Yes, it was THAT kind of period.

Onto the third -

My how the sentences get shorty as the wine consumption increases…  It’s just dawned on me how this game is just like college, except we’re all wearing clothes.

Diebeige and I are discussing our upcoming trip to Philly, NJ and the Islanders.  We are in the first row behind the Isles goalie meaning we will make it on TV.  We’re trying to come up with a good sign to hold…the problem…I had a great idea before I started drinking and now I can’t remember.  =(

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndd, we’re underway.

19:27 – Wait, Nabby’s still in net?  I thought we took care of that problem already.

18:44 – Hey, Razor’s in!  Oh, oops, RJ’s mistake.

15:28 – Greeeaaaaaaaaaatt, Sabres are going to be short handed.  Dude, that’s a rip-off now that the refs know there should be a make-up call shortly.  “Briiiiiiiiiing, Briiiiiiiiiiiiiin, Avon calling?”

13:55 – Well, that sucks.  We’re tied.  4-4

13:32 – I think it’s time for a LET’S GO BUFF-A-LO!

12:57 – Fingers are MUCH slower after wine.

12:42 – It’s about time they started LET’S GO BUFF-A-LO!  Time to be the seventh man, or woman, in DRoy’s case, in.

11:24 – This is going to a shoot-out.  Mark my slurred words.

10:02 – Awesome hit, by a Sabre.  I’d fill in a name but the number was blurry.

9:42 – You have to be fuckin’ kidding me.  Really?  Where were the two D?  Oh, that’s right, just standing there.  5-4 SHARKS.

Side note: Sabres games are MUCH more fun when drunk.

Private to Crunchy:  YOU’RE KILLING MY GOALIE STATS. 

7:40 – POMMER, how did you not score?

6:48 – Dear Sabres, Must.score.N-O-W.

I loove Goose’s new commercial.  It’s probably not new to you, but it is for me.  And I think he’s looking foxy goosey.

5:13 – Harry Neale comments that Butler looks groggy.  We think Butler looks like he’s had two bottles of wine and we would know.

3:57 – Let’s go GERBE! 

3:26 – I love Gerbe!  He’s standing up to Thornton who’s a good 3 feet taller than him.

2:50 – Shooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot

1:30 – DRoy – that shot was weak, as WEAK as your claims to heterosexuality I say.

1:15 – 75 seconds to tie it guys.  Have I mentioned we still haven’t gotten our make-up call, REFs.

:50 – Well, this is sucking…big time.

:30 – I think I’m going to cry, we seriously need the points

:03 – RIVET SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy!  5-5  Harry Neale with the words of the night:  We don’t know if anyone tipped it, and truthfully, I don’t think anyone in Buffalo cares.

Start of OT – Pommers tipped the tying goal in.  Didn’t I say somewhere he was going to score?  I love being right.

4:28 – DRoy how did you not score! 

2:50 – Gerbe!  Oh, bummer.  It would have been awesome if you scored the game winner.  Maybe next time, or in OT, kid.

1:55 – C Riv!  Man, we’re totally controlling OT. 

Hmm, generally very good cycling by the Sabres.

:26 – Shit!  Knee on Knee to Gerbe.  Gerbe! Gerbe! Gerbe!  I hope he’s alright.  How about we win this in the next 25 seconds for the runt, eh?

End of OT – Wait, ROY is going after Pickles?  Whaaaaaaaaaa.  Oh, DRoy, stop with the Bullshits and fucks.  We can read your lips.

Start of the Shootout!

For the Sabres – Up first, Alice.  No goal.  =(

For the Sharks – Next, Dan Boyle.  Come on Crunchy!  And Crunchy with the save!  =)

For the Sabres -  Stafford?  Whaaa?  And, no goal.  Quelle surprise kids.  =(

For the Sharks – Pavelski – Crunchy Save!!!!  =)

For the Sabres – Connolly for B’lo, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, no goal.  Dude, seriously.  =(

For the Sharks – Setoguchi – Crunchy save again!  =)

For the Sabres – Pommers!!!! WOooooooooooooo-hooooooooooooooooooo!  He scores!  =)  I’ve heard that clink before, but it’s usually when my head hits the toilet bowl.

For the Sharks – Marleau – Bastard scores.  =(

For the Sabres  – DRoy – He scores!!!

For the Sharks – Michalek – and CRUNCHY makes the save!  Sabres win!  Wooo-hoooooooooooooooooo!!!

That game was awesome.  Too much wine, you might say.  But me, nope never, it made a game they should have won in regulation tolerable.  It’s hard to remember their complete deconstruction after 4 glasses of wine.  Way to go BUFF-A-LO!

Why do you do this to me?

Really, DRoy?  Did you think I could resist posting this picture?  I see you there in your PINK boa and coveting blondie’s headdress.  You stole it after the show didn’t you? 

In other news – LET’S GO BUFF-A-LO!

Hell hath frozen over

Before I get into what I feel were last nights’ “good, bad and ugly”, I want you to know I won’t see Saturday’s game.  I will be getting pampered at the hair salon.  You can’t imagine how long I have been waiting for this, and I’m not upset I’ll miss the game.  I know that should be wrong, but right about now, it’s just not.  The experience this year has been like potty training a small child.  Some nights, they’ll make it through the night without wetting the bed but most nights not so much.

What’s totally awesome?  That Goose is on the Team USA Olympic watch list.  I think that rocks.

Now onto our regularly scheduled programing:

Hell hath frozen over moment 1. 

Twice in the last week I’ve agreed with Harry Neale.  Twice. 

1. “When a goalie misses a poke check, you know where the face-off will be.”
2. Staffy got ripped off.  That was totally a good goal.

I really don’t know what to do with myself, because this should never happen. EVER.

Hell hath frozen over moment 2.

I spent 48 minutes playing Wii Fit which makes me feel MUCH better about sitting on my ass watching the Sabres game for 2.5 hours. 

Hell hath frozen over moment 3.

After Goose ruffled the leaves feathers it was Alice and Max that came to his defense.  Alice and Max, folks.

Hell hath frozen over moment 4.

Pommer and DRoy scored two goals, each. Oh wait, the goals were against CuJo.

Hell hath frozen over moment 5.

YES, my fantasy hockey team NEEDS a shut out.  (Thank you Crunchy!  This fantasy lasted all of 5 minutes.)

Hell hath frozen over moment 6.

My mother said NOTHING when I told her of my hockey weekend out of town.  I think most of you know, I’m living with my parents while I save money and search for my dream  house.  I love my parents, but I’m going stir crazy.  A while back diebeige had suggested we meet up for a full on hockey weekend.  I’d gone back and forth because I am trying to save money here.  I’ve now gotten to a point where I seriously need to get the hell out of dodge for even a wee bit.  Anywho, I seriously thought my mother would flip a wingnut.  Its not so much her opinion that would bother me, but the fact I’ll hear about it 10 times a day, every day until I move out.  That gets really old, really quick.

Anywho, a few months ago, I mentioned I wanted to see a game in each NHL City before I die. 

Well, on this little excursion we’ll see the Habs vs Flyers in Philly 2/27, then we’ll cross the border and spend the night in NJ.  On Saturday we’re attending the 1pm Devils vs Panthers game and then head to the Island for the 7pm Sabres vs Isles game.  I can not tell you how excited I am.  ::happy dance::

To top it off, I’m being sent to Raleigh and Greensboro for work.  Which gives me Panthers/Canes and BJs/Canes or Bruins/Canes.  My initial reaction is Bruins/Canes but then I get the tug of Ricky Nash…hmm, BJs.  Anywho, that means I’m seeing 4 games in 4 different cities in February.  My new games in different cities total is 36.666666666666666666666666%.  Yippee!

As a side note, I was SUPER psyched to be seeing the Habs in Philly cause Tanguay is my favorite non-Sabres.  Did I mention someone killed his shoulder and the probability he plays in this game is next to nothing?  Did I mention this happens the NIGHT diebeige and I buy our tickets?  Nice, eh.

When I’m right, I’m right

As soon as my plane landed in Newark yesterday, I made my way around the terminals looking for a bar/restaurant with the Devils/Sabres game.  There must be some sort of contract between the Newark Airport and ESPN because there wasn’t one TV showing the game….not one.  This made my decision to drive home, much easier.  See, I had a 3 hour layover, the flight was delayed an hour and there was a 90 minute line between gate and actual departure.  So instead of getting home at 3 am, I chose to drive it.  Thankfully diebeige kept me company with updates on the game.

When I first started talking with diebeige, it was 1-1.  First goal by Staffy.  Hmmm…Staffy has been on a streak, but still, it’s Staffy.  Where’s Roy, Vanek etc? 

Second goal is by Kaleta.  Glad to see he’s back and remembers his name.  (ahem, Timmy?)  Rut row, I love seeing goals out of our “lower” lines, but we can’t win this game without Roy, Vanek etc.

Third goal goes to…GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE.  

HHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNKKKKK!!  Umm, again, how do you expect to win when our “role” players are the only ones scoring? 

Private to the dudes driving a Gray Charger with VT plates down I80 in NJ,

Sorry to scare the shit out of you.  I was honking cause Goose scored and not because there was something wrong with your car.  I guess honking for the Goose is only logical in Buffalo.  Who’d a thunk.

Chaz

Does anyone have a picture of FrankenGoose?  I’m really hoping the lacerated chin doesn’t look that bad. 

Any suggestions on what I should use a ring tone?  There’s so many to choose from and it’s driving me crazy.

I feel the need to address some of the search terms that have led people to my blog in the last week.

To the 6 people looking to “Contact Jason Pominville,”

I hear sending items to:29 Squeeky Toy Way, Buffalo, NY will work.  I’ve also heard sending some beggin’ strips to grease the skids will help get a response. 

Chaz

To the 2 people who searched “Sexy Sabres,”

I agree.

Chaz

To the person who searched for “Buffalo Sabres Suck,”

You must be a Rangers fan or maybe a Sens fan.  Right now I agree, but I don’t always feel this way. 

Let’s go BUFF-A-LO!

Chaz

To the person who searched “Scott Hannans real name,”

Like all of us, Scott does have a real name.

Chaz

To the person who searched “Peters Sabres,”

Being males, they all have “peters.”  Searching naked sabres probably would have given you a better result.  Oh, wait, were you looking for Andrew Peters?  Nah, who’d search that….

Chaz

To the person who searched ” What is Patrick Kaletas nephews name,”

Uhhhh, I didn’t know he had a nephew, but I have two adorable ones!

Chaz

I could have been there…

Over the last few days, I’ve been kicking myself.  After Friday nights game, I decided that Saturday would be much better spent watching Frosty the Snowman with my nephews and once bedtime rolled around cuddling  with A or O.  So that is exactly what I did.  After O fell asleep, I tiptoed downstairs in order to take my nightly medicine and see the pain inflicted upon the Sabres by the Devils.  It was 4-2.  I was mad.  I could have spent the first period teaching my nephews about hockey, but I thought they’d rather poke their eyes out rather than see the game.  Argh.

You may remember a few weeks ago when I said this? Well, here I sit in my hotel room in Charlotte listening to the Canes take on the Habs. The same Habs that my favorite, non-Sabres, player plays on. Who’s a dipshit now? Yup, that would be me.

On Monday as I was preparing to head to the airport, I came acrossed two stories that literally had me in tears. Now, this could be due to the fact that there are currently a few of my family members that will most likely not make it through 2009, but I think it’s because I’m PMSing. The first was the Blackhawks getting on a bus and hiking 2 hours to attend the funeral of the GM’s pops. The second was the story of Don Sanderson. My only thought while reading this article was, “Timmy, don’t you see this REALLY could be you.” When I read both of these articles, I decided this would be my Monday night post. Over the course of a few hours while I attempted to migrate South for the winter  week, EVERYONE picked up these two articles. So, I scrapped that plan. Instead, I went out to all my favorite blogs listed over there on the right.   I quickly read this post by Katebits and thought, “Poor Goose!  At least they wear shin pads.”  About 15 minutes later, I read this post by Amy and thought, “Why would Gooses’ shin bleed? X-rays?  They wear pads, PEOPLE!”  I then opted to re-read Amy’s post and realized it said CHIN not SHIN.  ::headdesk::  I spent the next 10 minutes wondering what havoc Jeep wreaked on my poor Goose.  If he’s severely maimed for life…well, Jeep better watch his knees as he’s leaving the arena.  And that’s all I have to say about that. 

Tomorrow night, I will be in NJ during the first and second periods of the game.  My hope is a bar, somewhere in the Newark airport will be playing the Devils game allowing me to watch my beloved Sabres.  In my gut, I feel this won’t happen.  Since my flight lands in the ‘Cuse at 11:30 you’ll have to wait until Thursday for an update on how much they love the Devils in NJ.  =)  It’ll be Friday if you want a coherant update, but when am I coherent?  

I would also like to thank Carolyn for the suggestion of Dior Blackout Mascara.  I stopped by Sephora and picked me up some. 

Dior Blackout Mascara, where have you been all my life?  Why is it just now, I have discovered you?   

This is some seriously GREAT mascara people.  The next time I see D Roy, I’m going to suggest he try some.  It’ll work wonders on his llama lashes.