Spezza is a fine defenseman....

...NOT!!!!!!! Ooohh, I love cheap shots first thing in the morning! The first ten minutes of the game put me into slight cardiac arrest because the Sens were dominating the Ducks which led to the Mike Comrie/Fisher goal. But, then the Ducks got into gear and WHAM! Victory! Its not that the Sens didnt play well, I thought they did. In general, they stayed away from taking stupid penalities, played awesome defense against the Getzlaf line, but in the end, the Ducks were too much.

The top line was absolutely shut down by Pronger and Scotty N! Spezza/Alfie/Heatly had some great chances due to their quickness and Spezza's amazing passing ability but the defense was too quick, too strong and played too well. I really liked how the Ducks coach approched the SPH line. More of a man on man kinda thing, making sure the puck didnt even touch one of the big three's sticks as opposed to playing a zone defense so Ottawa could move the puck around. Letting Ottawa play around with that puck is dangerous for any team. Just ask the final goal they scored against Buffalo! Three Sabres guarding and a goal still scored (Sorry, Me = Bitter). The top line not only looked like they had 8 days off but also looked like they had 8 days to believe all the hype. DAMNNN BOYS! What were you thinking on some of those plays?! When Moen scored that goal, it was shocking to see such a lapse in Ottawa's defensive judgment. I do not think Spezza is any good defensively, depsite all of NHL.com's articles to make me believe so, but Heatley and Alfie are top notch all around players. To let the forechecking line score in such a crucial game at such a crucial time, with Spezza right there (!!), shows that Spezza is not a complete player. And that the Ducks were too much for Ottawa. I do really respect the play making ability of Spezza. And I have nothing but the utmost of adoration for Wade Redden who I firmly believe is the most underated defenseman in the entire league. But both really need to evaluate the defensvie approach they have been taking because its really not successful.

I love how the Ducks have gone through the playoffs without one star. Everyone will obviously look to Giggy because goalies always deserve the credit, but the Niedermayers, Proger, Getzlaf, Moen etc have all contributed to the Ducks success. Scotty N looks like a guy half his age out there. And kinda like the hockey version of Viggo Mortenson. Less attractive though. He is really ageless. I remember watching him play on the Devils where he was obviously overshadowed by Scott Stevens but he was secretly always one of my favorites growing up. He is a lead by example kind of guy who all those young defensemen should look up to and emulate. He may not be the presence that Pronger is, or execute the Volchenkov/Vermette style hits but like Redden and Lydman, he is just a good player who focuses on teamwork and the basics. More hockey players should be like him.

Pre-Game 1

YAY!! So, the race for the most coveted and respected trophy in sports is oooooooon at 8pm tonight! FINALLY. I think if there was anymore time between the conference finals and the cup finals, people would've forgotten hockey altogether. Well, no one here knows hockey exists anyway. I had full proof of this when I wore my Jason Pominville shirt to my law school property final and some kid goes "Wow, thats a cool banana on your shirt! Is Pominville a kind of banana?" I shit you not. First of all kid, bananas dont have faces with red eyes. Nor horns. But, then I thought to myself, I dont know this kid, maybe he eats crazy things. I mean, lets face it, kiwis can look kinda strange. And Pominville could be like the cooler sounding chiquita (bear with me through this) and I bet Pominville likes bananas as maybe all the Sabres do so it could be that the kid was on to something. And then my final was over, and I returned to mental normalcy and went back to thinking that the kid was an absolute idiot.

Anyway, general stupidity aside, I will get back to hockey stupidity. As Scott Burnside was so quick to point out, the fight for the Stanley Cup is two very very different markets. Now, while I agree that hockey is a religion in Canada, I know having lived there during the lockout of all times, it is also because the hockey coverage is all over the place. Granted, there are intangibles involved with the cold weather etc etc but I'm only talking about coverage here. Hockey Night in Canada is the most watched and beloved TV programming in Canada -- a different take than sayyy oohhh, American Idol(which is GENIUS!)? Not to mention, that they have several sports stations up there so they are not limited by what one major station gives them no choice but to view (COUGH ESPN COUGH). I'm not going to get into this debate about versus again, but Mr. Burnside, let me inform you and your ignorant about Canadian sports self, that Canada actually does have other sports teams that they watch and love so conflicting coverage is in all markets NOT just Anaheim. Hockey is just Canada's pastime so of course the entire country is behind it. If any American baseball team was playing the Blue Jays in the World Series, I bet Americans would be all about it too.

My hockey hero John Buccigross himself went for Ottawa to win this series for the same reasons I mentioned that Anaheim would win. Both teams are creepily similar to each other but I honestly do think that Anaheim has more depth that the Sens. But, so did the Sabres. But, the Sabres were a struggling team when they played Ottawa, never looking at all like their regular season, President's Cup winning self in every respect other than goaltending. Anaheim has been sharp throughout the series with the Red Wings and beat the best defenseman in the league today. Hell, maybe ever.

Anaheim's goaltending is also a step above the Sens. Emery is -- well, hes Emery. The media obviously loves him for something I call the "Barry Zito Complex" or BZC. BZC is defined as excessive media attention just because one does not fit the mold that one should while playing professional sports. Few athletes fit into this mold and have therefore been overestimated talent wise because they have so much coverage about their personalities, it subconsciously makes others, people and GM's alike, that these people have playing talent as well as personality. With no offensive to the uniqueness of Ray Emery, I know plenty of people who have tattoos and wear all kinds of crazy crap. Me included. But then again, I dont play professional sports. But Emery does. So as a result, the media has found something they can market and take talent that is granted better than most but not the best and try to convince people that he is the best to ever play. They did this is Barry Zito, hence the name of said complex, and made him out to be some crazy who did yoga (ZOMGZ!) but woooooahhh look at his curveball!! This gave him a contract worth more than my entire life including but not limited to the person I will eventually marry (or all of my crazy cats, you know wherever fate takes me), subsequent children and grandchildren. Now, I remember distinctly, because it was THAT long ago, the last time the Ducks were in the finals and JS Giggy was everywhere. Maybe because he had THE most fantastic playoff beard of all time (unless some hockey player with BZC decides to groom a fu man chu for the finals --C'mon emery! Make yourself useful!) but also because he was personable and extremely talented. In following the Ducks this season, I was kind of shocked to see Giggy struggling and the media calling Giggy and Bryzgalof a team. Bryzgalof (aside from having a very annoying name to type) is just a backup compared to Giggy. Giggy is a clutch, big time performing goalie who does not crack under pressure. In this case, the Ducks will have him to thank for their first Stanley Cup victory.

My Little Heart is Touched

This link will touch your heart like it did mine. Yes, I love the Sabres but this story is making me root for the Senators. ::TEAR:: And, for a personal note! I got accepted for my cat adoption application!!!!!!!!! Now, what name do you like better? Bertuzzi or Spezza? The kitty is giant(SERIOUSLY GIANT -- when I picked her up her tail hit my knees!) maine coone with black and white coloring and big green eyes. So, help me out friends who have not been bored to death with my hockey ramblings :)

Match Up Set!!!

WOOOOT!! So, here it is--the Stanley Cup Finals are set to start on Monday and its between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators. (SNOOOOREEEE) Ohhh, excuse me! No, no, jk jk. I'm actually personally very excited about this match up. Anaheims defense is so strong and they could finally be the one team to stop the Alfredsson, Heatley, Spezza line. One quick side note if I may-- I dislike when people call Jason Spezza, Jason SPE-SSA when its Jason Spetz-za. I mean, do these people order piszz-a for dinner or peetza? YEAH. Thats what I thought too. And its right in the NHL pronunciation guide! If Doc Emerich can pronounce Afinogenov or Phaneuf, Spezza should be a breeze. One more side note from the current side note, I LOVE Dion Phaneuf. If he was my best friend, I'd call him Dion Phaneuf-a-nutter everyday of his life. Until he throws me out of a window that is. Okay, Okay, back on track.

Watching Anaheim last night (after my four drive from Rhode Island to NY -- arr) I couldnt help think how solid their D is. Pronger and the brothers Niedermayer arent the only ones. Getzlaf and MacDonald are incredibly impressive. They fit the new NHL mode perfectly. Offensive minded defenseman. Perfect. Detroit just kept getting shut down -- if it wasnt Zetteburg in front of the net and Datsyuk's speed and ability (drool -- such. good. hands.) , the goals they scored wouldnt have even happened.

I could talk on for days about this, but since I'm at home, my computer is rather slow. Hence, its a dinosaur and it takes 2 minutes for my typing to show up on the screen. So, I'm gonna cut this one a bit short. But, my expert (HA!) prediction is that the Ducks D will shut down Ottawa's big line. And Giguere will goaltend circles around Emery. But, I do think it will be a hard fought battle--so Ducks in 7.

No Hockey Yesterday

Sadness Factor. I know its the end of the season and these kinds of days will come more frequently but still. I watched the Red Sox /Yanks game instead and I tend to forget how hard it is for me to transition back into baseball. Baseball, as much as I love it, is honestly just plain slow. And theres no contact, no real physical play and rarely are there moments that make my heart stop. But, I did grow up in America after all, and after a few days of having hockey off, I'll be in the swing of baseball things.

I will miss my hockey though -- even though I dont really have a lot of people around in my little life who love hockey with the same passion I do, it still does become such a huge part of my winter months. I'm worse than a stay at home mom and Passions. Hockey players may be walking masses of boring and low IQ but not all. Watch one interview with Jason Spezza (NOT DANY HEATLEY -- he is boring as sin) or even dare I say ittttt JR and like all sports, not every athlete is the mold they are put in. Jason Spezza has one of the best personalities in the game and can be a real spokesman for it but because he plays for a Canadian team, he never will be.

The NHL (and Gary Bettman, who looks like the Count from Sesame Street) is looking for Sydney Crosby-esque stories. A small boy with more talent that he knows what to do with who is single handedly saving a franchise that, without him, would go under SUPER SYDNEY! Syd, as great of a player as he is, is not Wayne Gretzky. Every sport has their one major representative and sometimes that rep just lives in the past. You think Babe Ruth still isnt the face of MLB? You think people look at Allen Iverson or Steve Nash like they look at Michael Jordan? Prob Not. So lets face it NHL, shoving pre-pubescent Crosby in my face every five minutes makes me want to buy him a REAL jock strap and not hockey tickets. Discount tickets, give people the opportunity to see real hockey.

My personal love for the game has always there but truly took its monster/love of my life form when I went to see my college hockey team play every weekend. If you can make a good 3000 students love hockey while watching it in a cramped cold area with sub-par players who only play against the kind of talent that will go to the NHL while under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol, an NHL stadium will be a breeze. So, while the NHL closes down on a side stage as opposed to front and center, I hope, for its sake, it is gaining the fans it so desperately needs.

P.S. -- To Gary Bettman who will never read this but whatever -- please hurt yourself on something for not putting your tail between you legs and crawling back to ESPN. Then maybe people would not have seen an infomercial instead of one of the longest games in playoff history, or the overtime of a Conference Final in which the team that has given your league their highest national ratings get eliminated. Just a suggestion. You D bag.

Stupid Pierre Mcguire

I cannot even express my hatred for Pierre McGuire. Who does this guy seriously think he is? He acts like hes the freshman in high school equipment manager hanging out with the quarterback of the football team. Ugh, watching him conduct interviews with the players is like watching an awkward dude flirting with a girl whose obviously too pretty for him.

But, Pierre aside, The Ducks - Wings series is so much fun to watch. They are such evenly matched teams with incredible speedy fowards. AND THE GOALTENDING! JS Gigeure (sp? Im no good with French) and Hasek have turned even the best turnover turned breakaways into the best looking save. They have kept their teams in it when their defense has played sloppy or when one team has simply outskated the other. This series is seriously hockey at its finest. Both teams are playing with heart and skill. Unlike, ahem, some otherrr series that just ended in OT -- names not included.

Even with their defensive mistakes, Detroit has the best playoff beards this season. I hope they make into the finals just to see how impressive those beards can really get. Coupled with Ottawa's few impressive beards (Mike Fisher, here is the only props I will ever give you!) the finals will end up looking like Disney presents Yettis on Ice, with the new hit, I Live Isolated on a Mountain with No Razors. Yup, I went there and made that joke.

Canada's Cup?

Ahh, a brilliant rainy saturday afternoon watching some hockey. First of all, WHY THE HELL was the CONFERENCE FINAL on saturday AFTERNOON?! I pretty much refuse to believe that hockey has become so unpopular that we are reduced to the same time as sports such as PGA Bowling and Bass Fishing.
But, the random Gary Bettman/Versus frustration aside, the game today was brilliance. Well, not really considering I was rooting for Buffalo all the way, but at times, it actually felt like the Sabres had showed up for the series. So thanks Buffalo! Too bad the series started 4 games ago! Buffalo this post season has been wildly inconsistent but in all honesty, i dont know how people didnt see this "collapse" coming. Buffalo's penalty kill was never strong during the season and everyone knows that the key to winning playoff games, esp this far into the playoffs, you need your special teams to operate on all cylinders. To get to any team this late, you can only really attack when they are a man down and Buffalo just didnt get it done. They lacked any sort of heart until game 4. Briere was slumping, Pominville slumping and Kalinin was napping on his skates most of the game. All this and Ottawa just outplayed them. Pure and simple. Their special teams took advantage of their opportunities and their defense played well. The media seems to think Ray Emery is all that and a bag o chips, but I highly disagree. The reason Ottawa's D plays so well in front of Emery is because THEY HAVE TO. He gives away rebounds that extend farther than the great wall of china (whatever that means). If the D wasnt there, he would look quite the fool.
Spezza, on the other hand, deserves all the credit he gets and more. That man passes like a dream come true; there was rarely a pass that did not go straight to the intended's tape. To quote the horrible announcers that Versus employs, he is a "conductor" out there. And, just to mention, Heatly scares the crap outta me. I clearly can make an excellently timed pun right now but I will refrain; after all we are just beginning. When he has the puck, I always cringe a little for the opposition. More than likely, they will look quite the fool. An April Fool as it were (Simpsons -- get used to these). So, since the sens beat the sabres, I will become a student of "if you can beat em....join em". So, heres hoping for the Senators!! I guess...

The First Post

So, many may consider this to be bad timing in terms of starting a hockey blog, but, a hockey fan knows no boundaries in my opinion. So ONWARD! This will try (maybe succeed sometimes) in trying to speak about the NHL with something resembling humor. I am, as a dear friend says, a hockey polygamist. I cant get enough of the sport and have been watching it since I was a little kid growing up in NYC. Who wouldnt watching Gretzky, Messier, Richter and Graves anyway?! Only crazies wouldnt. Only crazies. So, in a way my fandom is largely Ranger based ( I really despise the NJ Devils. Like kinda really), but over the years, I have grown certain attachments to certain players and as a result have followed them and their teams and have become a fan of hockey as a whole. So, I hope you enjoy! And thanks for stopping by :)