Men's Bronze Medal Game Reactions

Start of the game: Thank you, Olli Jokinen, for shaving off your mustache.

End of first period: One goal for Finland, that's ok...

End of second period: Slovakia has a chance!!!!!!

Three minutes left in third on a powerplay: pleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

End of third: D: There were tears


I really wanted Slovakia to win. Finland has won enough medals. I am pleased Selanne gets to go home happy though.

Open Letters; I'm-Ripping-My-Hair-Out Mail

Dear United States of America,
Let's step it up ladies. 10:05 losing to Canada by two. >:| Me no likey.

RAAAAGE

I've never disliked Finland as much as I dislike them now. Sort of. I mean, I've never disliked them and I am only mildly outraged... I s'pose. Hmm, ok, I am mostly outraged that the Czech Republic pulled Vokoun, nevermind that they pulled him with, like, 2:10 left in the game with a score of 1-0 in favor of Finland. When has pulling a goalie ever won a game? I think I've seen it happen once, maybe.
And I see Russia is out. Who would have guessed?! I thought they had such a good lineup, but Canada beat them 7-3. I taped it, so I have yet to watch it. Now it's Slovakia vs. Sweden. I am torn! I like them both, but when it comes to players, I know more Slovaks than Swedes.
And I really wish Latvia would have advanced. I think it was Switzerland that took them out. Or maybe I'm thinking about the Belarus game... I can't keep track. I wanted to see both Latvia and Belarus advance. But I guess if all these teams advanced, that would have pushed the United States and Canada out, and I really want them to win gold and silver, respectively.

NHL Standings

Now that the pre-Olympic games are over, we can look forward to the post-Olympic/playoff games!

Chicago 41-15-5 (3rd)
Edmonton 19-36-6 (...)
Atlanta 26-24-10 (24th)
Phoenix 37-21-5 (4th!)

The Coyotes are movin' on up!
The Blackhawks are on a 4 game win streak. Hmm, Niemi had four straight starts...
The Thrashers are really coming together nicely since the departure of Kovalchuk. Bergfors seems to be the guy they needed.
The Oilers... Dear God. They've won 19 games; same as Toronto. 3 W's in their last 10 games.

Giddy as a Schoolgirl

It was nice to see the six Chicago Blackhawks be honored for making the Olympics. Probably was a little awkward for the Thrashers waiting on the ice... they didn't recieve any recognition at their last home game [as far as I know].

I was so anxious to see who'd be goal tending! I saw Friday Niemi would start for the Blackhawks, but I couldn't find who'd be starting for the Thrashers. To my wonderful surprise it was Pavelec! I kind of assumed since Johan played on Friday. Plus, Chicago used to be Ondrej's home, so you know...
I was also anxious to see the new player, Kim Johnsson! I had no idea they planned on trading. So, it's bye bye Cam Barker, hello Johnsson [and Nick Leddy] from Minnesota.

A lot of people might have been amazed to see Slater score the first goal. I know I was. Then the Blackhawks scored three unanswered goals in the first period. Johnsson had the second goal a couple minutes after Sharp scored the first. I just realized Sharp scored first on Sharpie night! Hossa had the third, and it was a short-handed goal. Gee, I thought, maybe I'll get to see both Pavs AND Hedberg!
The Thrashers took over with their own three unaswered goals in the second period (Kane, Afinogenov, Enstrom). This was the 13th time the Thrashers have taken a lead in the 3rd. At this point I thought I'd get to see Niemi AND Huet, too! Nah, both goalies held their nets the whole game.
Bolland scored in the third to tie it 4-4. Oh thank you, Bolly. This was the period where Armstrong annihilated Hossa, as well. It must have been worse than it looked because Hossa never returned and is listed as "day-to-day." Maybe it aggravated his post-surgery healing?
Overtime made me glad both teams tallied a point. It also made me so nervous!! I think I held my breath a few times without meaning to ;)
Then there was a shootout! I think right before the shootout they put the camera on Huet who was making a "putting on chapstick" motion at somebody in the crowd, pointed to them, and laughed. hahahaha What the hell was that?! I wish I had that video... it'd be my wallpaper forever. Anyway, Toews, the first shooter, was the only player to score. Chicago left with two points and is now 3 points behind the Sharks who are #1 in the Western Conference. This also marked 40 wins/60 games.

Dad was watching the Olympics picture-in-picture, so a few times I was distracted by seeing things like Chris Collinsworth ♥ fist bumping Bob Costas and a speedskater getting cut in the leg and bleeding all over the ice [earlier at qualifications].
I will admit I watched the SportsSouth airing of the game immediatly following the WGN airing because I wanted Matt and Darren's side of the story ;)

It would figure this would be a fascinating game that went over 60 minutes and I couldn't go. I guess it was ok though because I didn't have to tape anything! And after the game I turned on the radio for a minute and they were talking to Dustin Byfuglien. I love when they talk to him :D They asked how he made the newcomer comfortable and he said, "I just introduced myself ... and said, 'So, what can I call ya? Lil Kim or what?'" LMAO!

Final score 5-4

Edermton? Plus a PHX/NSH Match-up From the Start of the Month

Edmonton Oilers have THREE wins this year! I listened to the game against the LA Kings last night on my way home from work, but it was 0-0 early in the second when I got home. Reading up on the game, Grebeshkov scored the first goal of the game at 13:38. Penner scored the second goal in the 3rd period and it was a PPG. Shortly after, Brown scored to make it 2-1. Then Smyth tied it 2-2. Eek! Had I been able to watch/listen to the game, I would have been a wreck.
I also read:

In the dying minutes of regulation, the Oilers net was dislodged and the whistle blew but Drew Doughty took the shot anyway. The puck flew into the net and Deslauriers took exception, pouncing on the young defenceman. The surprising brawl resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing minors and two minutes of four-on-four.

haha Way to go, D! Anyway, the game went to a 10 round shootout and Visnovsky had the winning goal. It's a shame shootout goals don't count like regulation goals.
Final score 3-2

I've been meaning to talk about this Feb. 2nd game, but I've been bogged down with illness and homework. Coyotes and Predators played equally well, which would explain why it was 0-0 after overtime. (And silly me thought shutouts would be handed out AFTER a shootout!) Each team had good shot opportunities, but honestly I don't know exactly how good they were since I was doing a Mng. Finance test. Fun! There were few penalties¹ and stopages of play, so that contributed to the fast periods.
So, there was a shootout². Every time someone was going against Bryz, I was saying, "Don't make it, don't make it, don't make it!" and every time someone was going against Rinne I was saying, "MAKE IT MAKE IT MAKE IT!!" Aucoin had the game winner in the 11th round. Talk about anxiety!
Final score 1-0

¹As a matter of fact, there was one tripping penalty against Rinne of all people in the first period, and then there was a delay of game penalty in the third against Michalek.
²Boxscore

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me: Trevor Daley slammed the glass and made it fall on a little boy. He gave the boy his stick in apology. Even though the boy probably wasn't there for Dallas, he should like Dallas a little bit just for that awesome gesture. And now I think I ♥ Daley. Which reminds me: Dallas was on my "To watch" list this season, but that fell through. I could never find their games.

Tonight's game was great! Another goal-matching game. Dallas scored, then Chicago scored. Dallas scored. Chicago scored. Chicago scored again! Then Dallas scored. Dallas actually scored one final time, but it was right as the horn sounded, so it brought them to overtime. Not following? Ok-
Ribeiro scored first. A PPG, as a matter of fact. Kane answered 5 minutes later. Neal then scored -5 minutes later. 1+ minute later, Kane scored again.
There were no goals in the second period. Dallas was 4-2-5 when tied after the 2nd, and Chicago was 7-1-3. The odds were against Dallas, but they beat Chicago at their last two meetings, so it was anyone's game.
Third period saw Brouwer score, giving Chicago their first lead. Ten minutes later Eriksson tied it up.
In overtime, Keith got a penalty with 2+ minutes left. That was scary. It was pretty impossible for Chicago to get the puck out of their zone. I thought for sure... I won't say it. The scariest thing was when Sopel broke his stick. Being a resourceful man, he made a dive at the puck and slapped that shit out around the boards. Impressive, to say the least, but that's just my opinion.
In the end, there were 5 rounds in the shootout. Dallas' record was 8-12 and Chicago's was 6-10 (if I counted correctly). The only person to score was Versteeg.
Final score 4-3


The notes from tonights game were pretty interesting: NOTES: Ribeiro was accidentally struck in the throat by the stick of New York's Christopher Higgins in the Rangers' 5-2 victory on Jan. 6. He spent several days in a New York hospital after undergoing a tracheotomy. [note from Pat: Doctors said if he had left with the team instead of going straight to the hospital he could have died!] He was activated from injured reserve Monday ... Stars forward Steve Ott was scratched after an emergency appendectomy Monday. ... On a snowy night in Chicago, the crowd was announced at 21,446 - the Blackhawks 80th consecutive sellout at the United Center.

Oh yeah, Madden was mic'd for the game, but that didn't last long! Took a hit in the first period and broke it. Then I think he left the game with an injury. I honestly don't remember that happening.

One final thing: Kari is going to be a Star! I am so sad. Why is Atlanta doing this to me? I never got to see him play. But this is what I wanted, isn't it? Since I cherish O/J? Hmph :( Well, I hope he does well and stays healthy. Now Dallas has Lehtinen and Lehtonen. Let the confusion begin!

No wait, THIS is the final thing: Huet changed his mask. Just the other day I was saying how much I loved his helmet with the feathers and the dream catcher. It was my favorite. I don't care much for the new mask :((

Super Bowl Sunday? No Thanks

I wish I would have watched more than a combined... 10 minutes of today's afternoon Penguins/Capitals game. I had to finish the 2nd & 3rd period from last nights Blackhawks/Blues game though. Blackhawks won, by the way. 2-1 Should have been 2-0 but somebody decided to make a last minute powerplay goal >:| Niemi had been MIA with the flu last week, which explains why they recalled... somebody from the Wolves. I'm sorry, I can't recall his name and I'm not in the mood to be researching anything. It wasn't Crawford, I can tell you that much.
Anyway, the Caps won, which was disappointing. I missed all but one goal, and there were 8 total in regulation. After 60 minutes it was tied 4-4 and I was really hoping for a shootout. Unfortunately Knuble scored with a minute or two or three left in OT. I knew once Ovechkin shot the puck at the net somebody was going to get that puck in the net.
Final score 5-4

Stamp "idiot" on my Forehead, Please

I feel like an idiot. I didn't know Marty was Czech. I didn't know he made the Olympic team. How did I overlook him? *headdesk* I don't remember him having an accent. He was on NHL Live just now and I didn't realize they were talking to him 'til I heard "Minnesota Wild." Havy, I'm so sorry! And I'm sorry I haven't been following the Wild like I should. And hey, thanks for crushing the chance of a three game win streak for the Oilers :|

Who Will Be the New Face of the Thrashers?; Let's Cry Together

I feel like I've just lost my own child... or something. This is terrible! WE LOST KOVALCHUUUUUUK D: Just about every team has that guy that sort of represents the team. Like, "So & so will be facing Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals this Sunday" or "Watch as you know who takes on Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks." Ilya was Atlanta's face. But now that he's gone (with the New Jersey Devils) I can't imagine who will be the guy. Max? I mean, if my notes are correct, he had the second highest, now first highest, total of goals. Kovy had 30 (at the time of my notes) & Afinogenov had 14. Yikes, right?
Oh yeah, and Anssi Salmela is gone too D: I liked him.
Now we have Oduya, Cormier, and Bergfors. Oh sheesh. Oduya. I always laugh when I hear his name 'cause I think, "Oh? Do ya?" Drives me crazy :/ I don't know Bergfors... I heard Cormier recently got suspended. I'll have to check that out later. I must go weep now.


In other news, before heading off to school 20 minutes behind schedule, I stopped to get the mail. I was stoked because I had TWO packages with my name, one a particularly big, heavy package. I thought for sure it was my jersey! I was so excited and thrilled! Get home and what do I find? My fucking text book. I forgot all about that. FML!

Hockey Gods! Welcome to Oil Country!

The scrolling score was 4-2 in favor of Edmonton at the end of the second. That was the last I knew of what was going on in the game against Carolina. I decided to tape the 1-3am showing because I wanted to SEE THE OILERS WIN. I knew they would win. They weren't going to blow it this time. Sure enough, they didn't! When I saw Deslauriers come out of the net and jump the puck as time ran out, I clasped my hands together and thanked God for this, the first win OF THE YEAR. 13 games without a win... Jesus Christ. It was time for a victory.

In other news, I found out JF stands for Jean-Francois. And Alex Plante got his first NHL point when he assisted Jacques. D only had his 10th win of the season :\

Final score 4-2