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~

Three words to describe last night

What the fuck?

I will  admit,I didn’t get  to see the beginning part of the game.  What I did see was NOT nice.  I love Jaro as much as everyone else, but scoring the first two goals?  I hope they weren’t thinking the game was a lock after those beauties.  I sat  there wondering if I should even watch.  The answer: no.  Granted this came after I actually watched the end of the game.  I only hope the next game does not make me want to poke my eyes out with thee hot end of the fire stoker.  As the next game is  against the Rangers this is highly unlikely.

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!

Winter Cleaning

As you’ve most likely noticed, I’ve done a little cleaning up around these parts.  See every once and a while, I get bored with the way things look.  Normally, that would mean rearranging the living room furniture.  Since, I’m living with the rents, rearranging the living room is generally frowned upon, so these parts got nailed instead.  =)

Now onto the subject at hand!  HOCKEY!

Is anyone else surprised Timmy made it through two back-to-back games?  I’m shocked as shit.  I really think we’re going to hear before Wednesday’s game that he’s broken is bicuspid. 

I really wish the Sabres (as a collective) would have stepped with half the effort of Crunchy.  Seriously, he did his best to steal both those games and was only successful once.  The Sabres gave the Wings WAY too many chances to put them away.  Crunchy shouldn’t have to stand on his head two nights in a row.  There should be a little lot of help.

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be seeing the Bruins in Raleigh.  It really all boiled down to Rick Nash being injured vs Marc Savard.  Cause, when I don’t care about either team, I look at the hotness factor of the teams.  That’s just how I roll.

Trades!

No, there haven’t been any yet, but they’re coming.  Admit it, you too can feel them coming. 

I’m sick and tired of hearing about Vinny Lecavalier.  Just ship him to Montreal already.  We’ve all been hearing about this for years, and now that Brad’s gone is there anything left for him in Florida?  (Other than the Sun?)  It’s like there needs to be something else to talk about now that Mats Sundin has finally landed in Vancouver. 

The rumor here is Drew Stafford for Ryan Kesler.  Before I dissect this one, there really needs to be a disclaimer that rumors from this website need to be taken with a 5lbs bag of salt.  My initial feeling on this surprise.  This is seriously telling the Canucks to bend over.  Maybe I’ve just been watch a little too much of Drew’s suckitude, but I think Kesler would be a serious upgrade.  The Canucks have slapped an “A” on him, so he must have some sort of leadership in the room. 

Truth be told I would love to see Darcy pull the trigger on a trade.  I think this team needs some sort of shake up.  We all know Lindy’s not going anywhere, so the only shake-up that can occur is on the ice.  The thing is, there are a LOT of trade possibilities that could happen.  If Timmy can stay healthy for a few weeks, we might be able to pawn him off on someone.  There’s Max, who no one will take until his freakin’ groin heals.  How about Staffy, Yo-yo or Paille?  This hasn’t even touched who could go on the “D” corps.  Do we all agree Chris Butler has made his case to stay in the big leagues?  That leaves Spotcheck, Hank, Teppo?  I think it’s safe to say that Teppo isn’t going anywhere, because he’s going to be just like Peca.  He’ll announce he’s retiring from the Stars Sabres and then immediately announce his new job with the Sabres. 

So, what do I think will happen?  I think the Sabres will send Hank and Staffy to the ‘Nucks for Kesler and a 3rd round draft pick.  We’ll then ship Kesler and Alice to the Rangers for Dru.  Now, before you haul off and start mailing me poisoned chocolates, lets examine a few things here. 

• The Rangers are banging there head on the salary cap.   
• Dru hasn’t been Dru since he left.  I was happy when Dru was in Buffalo because it was like watching the Avs Dru.  There was something with B’lo that brought his Mojo back. 
• He and his wife  are raising two small children in NYC.  There are a lot of great things about NYC, don’t get me wrong, but it’s sensory overload. 
• Hindsight is 20/20.  When I left MN, I told everyone how I hated it.  The truth was, at that time I did.  Now that I’m almost 2 years removed, I look back at my time there fondly.  Sure, there are things that I still don’t like about it, but there is a much longer list of things I do like.  I have a feeling Dru may feel the same way.  He may not have had his privacy when he was out and about, but I doubt people were knocking down his door day and night to talk to the druster.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Tomorrow is a holiday for those of us in the Ol’ US of A.  It also launches the official, “holy shit!  I only have 4 weeks until Christmas meltdown” for me.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would love to wish all my American readers a wonderful Turkey or Tofurky day.  To all the Canucks, I’m happy belated Thanksgiving. 

I set out this morning to rack my brain for things I’m grateful for and found the list came much easier then expected. 

I’m thankful for-

My Family.  They are what they are and I love them for it.  Without my parents, I’d be paying rent out my nose instead of living rent free while I try and buy a house.  They get on my nerves sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  They’ve made me realize that the time we have with our loved ones is precious.  You never know if this will be your last holiday with your family, so always treat it like it is.  It’s no life to spend the rest of your life regretting things you did or didn’t say before someone passed.  Let those around you know what they mean to you.  I enjoy my nephews more than I can put into words. 

My friends.  I’ve been a craptacular friend over the last few weeks and yet you still seem to call and e-mail.  I promise I’ll remove my head from my ass.  You’re all appreciated more than you know, and you put up with my stories of “the boys” even if you don’t really care.

Hockey.  It’s SO much fun to watch live and barring a few cities has the nicest fans.

Pommerdoode.  Interviews with Pommerdoodle are always refreshing.  It’s obvious he’s drunk on Sabres blue Kool-Aid and I’m OK with it.  He truly believes the system will fix everything when we fans feel it won’t.  Your attitude, Pommerdoodle, keeps me enjoying Sabres hockey.

Goose.  Our environment remains beautiful because of the efforts from the non-crazy tree huggers like you.  I’ve lowered my thermostat, recycled and re-purposed products just because you asked me too.  Who really cares that I’m freezing my ass off and the blankets made out of old clothes are cutting it.  We still have trees and lakes.

Crunchy.  Not so much for your on-ice play as of late, but for just being you.  In many ways I think Goose has rubbed off on you.  I know you price your jeans outrageously expensive, not because they are but because you want people to think twice before they throw them away.

“Well, they did cost $300.  I guess I can wear them a few more times, then cut them up and sew them back together in the form of a baby blanket.”

Your love of twigs and berries is going to slowly put the farmers out of business.  There will be no need to cut down trees or put pesticides on the land or in the water.  Wegmans will be a large forest surrounded by an organic fence made from recycled old Wegmans stores.  We’ll pick our own berries and twigs and pay by the pound on the way out.

D-Roy.  You are the antithesis of Goose and Crunchy, and yet they still seem to love you.  So, I feel compelled to follow suit.  Score a couple more goals and I won’t have to rely on the opinions of Goose and Crunchy.

Jaro.  There is nothing that makes me smile more than an interview with Jaro.  It makes a bad game good.  It’ll take my 5 minutes to try and translate what he said and then I realize it was “Fuck the system, we sucked tonight.”  It’s funny and refreshing all at the same time.

Andro Peters, Timmy Ho and Max.  Without you, I would have very little “low hanging fruit” to rail on.  When I’m pissed at the whole team, you’re my first target regardless of if you played in the game.

Thomas Vanek.  I’m sorry I called you a slag-faced whore.  You were one, but seem to have reformed.  Be careful, it’s a slippery slope right back to slag-faced whore, but this week I’m convinced you will overcome.

C Riv.  I’m glad you appear to have warmed to Buffalo, because Buffalo fans sure have warmed to you.  If you hate it here, please be honest, we can take honesty.  We can’t handle another Drury or Briere.  Just don’t lie to us.

Pattie LaLime.  After watching your interviews, who isn’t enamored with you?  Plus, I think you’ll allow Crunchy a few nights off.  It’s hard for him to forage for all is food, so a little extra time is always appreciated.  Hey, maybe you could help him?  Being a FC lumberjack like you are, I’m sure you have a few pointers on new leaves and moss he could add to his diet.

My blog.  I totally fucked up my 100th post and no one seemed to mind.

I hope everyone has a fun, safe and stuffed holiday.  Only 4 more weeks until the next holiday.