Thursday, February 24, 2011

What were they thinking?

YOU DON'T TRADE A GUY THAT SCORES 4 GOALS IN ONE GAME!!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Miiiiwaukeee

Last Sunday was the Admirals/IceHogs game. I figured I should see the Admirals and IceHogs at their home arenas at least once before I move away since they are not too far away. (Both are three hours away.) I had never seen the IceHogs before, so I figured last week would be a good time to venture up to Milwaukee to see them face the Admirals. Wise decision, maybe if only because at 6:22 I got a call from work saying they really needed help. I have never been happier to report SORRY. I'M OUT OF TOWN. Ahaaa. Unwise decision? Buying tickets online. I read somewhere that games sell out quite often, so I wanted to be safe and secure my tickets instead of driving three hours and being told all the tickets are gone. Upper level tickets were 3 dollars as some sort of special deal, so I figured I had better be safe than sorry (even though I got lower level tickets!). So, those ended up being $25 with fees. Ok. I also bought a parking garage ticket because I thought, Well, since I'm here... and thought it would be such a grand idea to save time by ordering it online. NEVER AGAIN. After driving around the same block three times looking for Bradley Center, I finally saw it one block ahead from where my gps was telling me to turn. Ugh. I thought the garage was to the right of the Center, but really it was behind it, and I only found it because I was about to circle the block to look for it. Anyway, the lady at the gate said I still owed $10 but I'd get it back after the game. Like, parking validation I guess? Well, I DIDN'T GET MY MONEY BACK AFTER THE GAME. Paying for the ticket online was $11, so with that extra $10 ripoff, I paid $21 for parking. The only reason I didn't go apeshit was because there's this woman at work that frequently tips us, so I know I've made over $10 from her, so it's like I didn't really lose $10 because of this terrible parking attendant.

ANYWAY... The game! I got there an hour early and actually got to see the teams practice! Both teams were wearing colored jerseys, which I really liked. I love the Admirals' black jerseys, but they decided to wear the blue ones. The IceHogs wore their black jerseys! It was a very pretty game. Ha ha :D I kind of wanted to cheer for the Hogs, especially since no one was sitting near me, so I wouldn't get boo'ed or anything, but I ended up clapping for the Ads instead. They were winning, so why not.

After one period, it was 5-1, Ads. Richards got pulled and Toivonen was put in for 2-5 minutes before Richards was put back in. Yikes. From IceHogs twitter:

Chris Mueller shovels in a rebound and the Admirals take a 1-0 lead just 3:08 into the contest.

Mark Van Guilder puts the Admirals up 2-0, 7:29 into the game.

Mueller and Van Guilder net their second goals of the night. Admirals up 4-0.


It doesn't say who scored #5, but I am guessing it was Halischuk because he was one of the stars of the game. Beach scored the lone goal in the first period; Taffe in the second --

The second period is over. Hogs trail the Admirals 5-2. Kyle Beach and Jeff Taffe with the IceHogs goals.


A few fights broke out in the third and understandably so, if only because the IceHogs were not playing their best game. If I remember correctly, the IceHogs had a lot of shots on goal, but Dekanich was just too good.



Ok, time for pictures! You can tell this was definitely not a sell-out crowd.





I saw on the bigscreen Dekanich had Dexter on his helmet, so I had to get a picture for myself. I used to watch that show all the time! Guessing his nickname on the team is Deks...



Klinkhammer! One of my favorite names!



I spy with my little eye... Blackhawks fans and Predators fans. Ok, fine. I spy with my little eye, Red Wings fans, TWO Rangers fans!, a Flyers fan, a Leafs fan...

I tried to get a good picture of Richards' mask, but I failed.

Ads win!

The Bradley Center was beautiful. Probably my favorite arena so far. Look at their jumbotron! It's sick! You could actually read things on it! During intermissions and time-outs they played commercials, some of which the players made themselves. Entertainment!

Speaking of entertainment, they really kept the audience occupied during down times. Not only was there something to watch on the jumbotron, but they had a lot of activities during intermissions. Shoot the puck at a freezer, kids "stay well to play well" rally, bowling, t-shirt tosses, a juggler (Albert Lucas. He was amazing!)! They had it all!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

My Own Standings

My fantasy team is 9th out of 17 with 200.5 points. My guys (not including the ones I had and then moved) have scored 157 goals, made 265 assists, for a total of 422 points. My goalies are not so hot with only 40 wins. It doesn't help that two are backups and one is having an awful season.

Top 3 players
Zetterberg - 16 G, 40 A, 56 P
Sharp - 26 G, 21 A, 47 P
Yandle - 9 G, 36 A, 45 P

Top goalie
Niemi 14 W

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Game Notes

[*]Islanders' DiPietro fought Penguins' Johnson. Nothing more than a scrap where D went down with one punch.

[*]Wilds' Backstrom must be one lucky guy. It appeared he tried to poke-check Kings' Johnson, missed, but kicked his foot up at the right time to prevent the puck from entering the net.

[*](this is from December) Blackhawks' Dowell fights Stars' Ott and I just love what a gentleman Dowell is during a fight.

-January 5th, the Wolves beat the Marlies 9-3. Two days later the Leafs beat the Thrashers 9-3. Hmmm...

-November 27th, Wolves score 8 goals and LOSE to the Griffins who scored 10.

-Russia won the gold medal in the WJC last month. Canada - silver. United States of America - bronze.

-The All-Star game was divided into Team Lidstrom and Team Staal. I was for Lidstrom from the get-go and hey, they won 11-10 in regulation! It was very fun to watch. Unlike everybody else, I was perfectly fine with no physical contact in the game. The skills competition was great fun too and I have yet to watch the Red Carpet segment.

-AHL ASG was East versus West. East won 11-8. I liked the West's jerseys! They were a beige/tan color and I am thinking I might buy one. Postma and Machacek played! Yet to watch the skills competition.

Eddie: Speaking of Tootoo... That's the score.
Pat: Thata boy
Eddie: That is symmetry, huh?
Pat: It's symatretric poetry. I think I just made up a word.
Eddie: Better get Webster's on the line.

There's now a Pardy in the penalty box.
      -Mike Haynes; COL/CGY (12/31)

Team Notes

This has not been my season for updates, which is a shame because so much is happening and I am not recording it. Ah well. Not that it really matters. Here are some dashes:

-Wolves. Not looking good. This is about the time they go from last place up to playoff spot, but I am getting worried that that won't happen.
I've been to lots of games this season! Mostly Admirals and Stars.
Saw my first Bulldogs game. We got to the arena "late" and as we were standing in line in the freezing weather waiting to buy tickets, this couple came up to us and offered upper level tickets for $10. They were pretty cool seats, being at an angle, and I could see pretty well! I think we lost 1-4 though.
I went to one game by myself and it was the first time in a long time that it was CROWDED. I can't remember who was playing, I just remember I decided to go because I had to make a stop in Chinatown and it was only like 20 minutes away from Rosemont. Oh, it was Milwaukee. Always is!!
Also went to a School Day game. I was worried the snow would prevent me from going, but it sure didn't. The kids were well behaved where we were sitting (front row 200!) and I got an activity book :) The opponent was the Stars and damn it all, BK was out with an injury. I have yet to get his autograph on my puck. The 19th is my last chance unless they will be in Milwaukee or Rockford. I have been wanting to go to both places and will for sure go even if it is not to see them play the Stars.
I am guessing the economy is getting better because lately the place has been filling up. I like that people are supporting the team again, but I also liked not having to deal with crowds.

-Blackhawks. They are up and down this season, but oh my goodness, Crawford is doing wonders for the team. Countless times (like, 3) he should have had a shutout but let that one puck squeak in. He is this year's Niemi. 4th line is doing pretty well too. If only they could be a bit more consistant we could all quit worrying about them losing their playoff position. The western conference is sooooo tight that one loss could move a team, like, 4 or 5 spots. It's scary business!

-Thrashers. They were cold, then they got hot, now they are cold again (even with their shutout versus the Capitals last week, they only scored one goal). 8th in the east and barely hanging on. I am having my doubts about them keeping that spot. They got rid of Eager and they are dealing with injuries. Ugh. Not good, my friends. Not good.

-Oilers. I thought they were going to do alright this season. Nuh-uh. Everybody is struggling. I hate when people say "Well, they're rebuilding." I guess it's true, but I hate that excuse. That's all it is - an excuse. The Devils are in the same position (position-wise, ha) and they are not rebuilding. Huh.