As the 3rd period was winding down in Denver, CBC's Mark Lee said of the San Jose Sharks "They all going to need therapy after this one." He might not have been kidding. How about Craig Anderson! The look on his face when it was over said it all. There is no way Colorado should have been close to San Jose in Game 3 of their series, but Anderson stopped all 51 shots sent his way as the Avs take it 1-0 with the winner coming when Dan Boyle put it in his own net just a minute into overtime. Can the fragile Sharks recover from this kick in the teeth? I don't know. Where was Dany Heatley? As someone twittered to HNIC's Jeff Marek, has he asked for a trade? HA HA!
-----
If it wasn't for Anderson, Antti Niemi would be the story of this night in the Stanley Cup playoffs. After costing his team Game 1, Niemi got back in goal for Game 2 (how did that make you feel Cristobal Huet) and he rewarded Joel Quenneville by blanking Nashville 2-0 to even that series at 1.
----
I thought Philly could beat the Devils and so far I'm right. The Flyers just seem to have the Devils number and they take Game 3 in overtime on a Dan Carcillo goal. Why is Dan Carcillo even on the ice in overtime?
----
Pittsburgh beats Ottawa 4-2 and Phoenix beat Detroit by the same score meaning the Pens and Desert Dogs are up 2-1.
----
The Esso Cup has started. After a lacklustre game to open the tournament between Moncton and Richelieu, Quebec with the Atlantic squad winning 4-1, it picked up in the afternoon game as Notre Dame beat Edmonton 5-2 with Hounds forward Taylor Woods scoring a goal that would be as nice in womens midget hockey as it would be in the pros. She stole the puck from an Edmonton defenceman in front of the net, whirled around and roofed one to give the Hounds an early 2-0 lead. It would be highlight of the night material if TSN was doing the game----or if for some reason the TSN people hacked into the Fasthockey broadcast. The nightcap was also a dandy as Thunder Bay beat the host Regina Rebels 2-1 in a back and forth game that kept the crowd on its edge. Day 2 is tomorrow. You can follow the action by going to www.hockeycanada.com
-----
It looks like that volcano in Iceland is going to disrupt RAW tonight. Wrestlers from the RAW brand can't get back to North America after doing their thing in Europe for the last week. They are stranded. Plans right now is for the Monday show to be done by Smackdown wrestlers. Vince won't be happy---especially when this is leading into a PPV. Don't mess with Mother Nature Vinnie...you can't win!
------
To get your Monday off on the right foot, check out what happened at this ball game in Reno on the weekend. OOPS!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Parity Is Alive And Well
Why is it a guy can get a great night's sleep(for the first time in ages), yet wake-up feeling like crap. Welcome to my world!
A memo to Saskatchewans sexiest blogger. If a guy wants to go out at 830 in the morning because his wife is requesting to go to Tim Hortons because we've run out of coffee, it is perfectly acceptable to go out in pajama pants. If you don't like it, too bad! The lineups there at 8 AM on a Sunday are even still way too long. I digress!
You can't say the Stanley Cup playoffs have been boring. If Chicago wins today, as I expect them to, all eight series will be tied at one after two games. You can't ask for better than that. Well, you can if you're a Habs fan. In a series that is mirroring San Jose-Colorado, Montreal lost 6-5 in overtime after controlling the game throughout. In fact, if you are a Montreal fan and you are a fan of the World Juniors, you might be hating the name John Carlson. The guy that got the winning goal in O-T in Saskatoon put Game 2 into overtime setting the stage for Nick Backstrom's hat-trick goal in the first minute of period 4 thus ending what was a pretty good game.
Just some thoughts after watching yesterday....
--Buffalo is in trouble if Thomas Vanek misses a lot of time
--Jose Three-or-more won't be back in the Washington cage this year unless Semyon Varlamov gets hurt
--Whoever is in control of the music in Buffalo should be replaced, NBC came back from a commercial break allowing us to hear Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" reveberating through HSBC Arena. Really? That must get Sabre fans going
--While I find the green man in Vancouver annoying, I wonder if there is a certain team in the CFL who might want to hire these two yahoos! Are you reading this Steve Mazurak?
--I could listen to Jim Hughson and Chris Cuthbert call hockey all the time.
--Tyler Myers may not win the Calder Trophy this year, but he will win a Norris Trophy before he is done.
--Mike Green has shown me in the first two games why he didn't go to the Olympics.
--What will the Bruins do with Tim Thomas in the off-season? I can't see him sticking around Boston with the play of Tuukka Rask.
--The Kings are a gritty bunch.
The player of the night---Nick Backstrom. He was all over the ice for the Capitals last night. Without him, Washington is down 2-zip going to Montreal.
-----
Its not often you win a hockey game in overtime by scoring on a two man advantage when both of the penalties come in overtime. That was the case for the Calgary Hitmen though. They beat Brandon 3-2 as Ian Schultz scored 223 into O-T. Scott Glennie had gone off for a checking from behind penalty at the 44 second mark and it was followed by Alexander Urbom taking a high sticking penalty at 113. That was a win Calgary needed as they didn't want to go to Brandon down 2-zip. The same can be said for Tri-Cities who beat Vancouver 4-0.
-----
FOX's Major League game of the week started at 2 with the Mets playing the Cardinals. By the time that Kenny Albert signed off from Busch Stadium, New York had won the game----in 20 innings! A 20 inning game is never needed, but not in the first month of the season when managers treat their pitching staff so carefully to avoid hurting arms. It was the game that would not end. Meanwhile, Ubaldo Jimenez throws the first no-hitter in his career and that of the Colorado Rockies franchise. Ubaldo? Is that a name you would want for your child? Great line by TSN's James Duthie last nite as he comes back to the panel after James Cybulski talks about Jimenez and says Ubaldo...that's what we call you Panger (Darren Pang).
-----
The Esso Cup begins this afternoon at the Co-Operators Centre. I'll be spending a lot of time there this week doing games for Fasthockey and helping out the great Tony Playter with some media relations. I thought I would see a big preview in the LP on Saturday. I was wrong! If you haven't been to Regina's newest sporting venue yet, go down and take a look. Methinks you'll like.
-----
Allergies and such prevent me from doing a lot of yardwork. Thus I leave it in the hands of the Mrs. She appears armed and ready to start the planting and other things. Go at it hon
-----
I was asked if I could coach my 6 year old's learn to play softball team yesterday as apparently the team can't find a coach. I couldn't commit. Somewhere, 12 or 13 6 year olds breathe a sigh of relief for a reason they can't really explain. Its frustrating enough watching my 15 year old daughter's team.
-----
Its looking more and more as if the Rams will take Sam Bradford with the first pick in Thursday's NFL draft. I wouldn't mind if Bradford fell to 6, but that's OK. I just don't know what direction Seattle should take with picks 6 and 13. I am hoping for an o-lineman and a running back. If they get those, they still need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball.
----
Have a great Sunday. If you are at the Esso Cup, make sure to say hi! Just a reminder, Access 7 will have the host Regina Rebels first game tonight live at 7 as they play Thunder Bay.
A memo to Saskatchewans sexiest blogger. If a guy wants to go out at 830 in the morning because his wife is requesting to go to Tim Hortons because we've run out of coffee, it is perfectly acceptable to go out in pajama pants. If you don't like it, too bad! The lineups there at 8 AM on a Sunday are even still way too long. I digress!
You can't say the Stanley Cup playoffs have been boring. If Chicago wins today, as I expect them to, all eight series will be tied at one after two games. You can't ask for better than that. Well, you can if you're a Habs fan. In a series that is mirroring San Jose-Colorado, Montreal lost 6-5 in overtime after controlling the game throughout. In fact, if you are a Montreal fan and you are a fan of the World Juniors, you might be hating the name John Carlson. The guy that got the winning goal in O-T in Saskatoon put Game 2 into overtime setting the stage for Nick Backstrom's hat-trick goal in the first minute of period 4 thus ending what was a pretty good game.
Just some thoughts after watching yesterday....
--Buffalo is in trouble if Thomas Vanek misses a lot of time
--Jose Three-or-more won't be back in the Washington cage this year unless Semyon Varlamov gets hurt
--Whoever is in control of the music in Buffalo should be replaced, NBC came back from a commercial break allowing us to hear Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" reveberating through HSBC Arena. Really? That must get Sabre fans going
--While I find the green man in Vancouver annoying, I wonder if there is a certain team in the CFL who might want to hire these two yahoos! Are you reading this Steve Mazurak?
--I could listen to Jim Hughson and Chris Cuthbert call hockey all the time.
--Tyler Myers may not win the Calder Trophy this year, but he will win a Norris Trophy before he is done.
--Mike Green has shown me in the first two games why he didn't go to the Olympics.
--What will the Bruins do with Tim Thomas in the off-season? I can't see him sticking around Boston with the play of Tuukka Rask.
--The Kings are a gritty bunch.
The player of the night---Nick Backstrom. He was all over the ice for the Capitals last night. Without him, Washington is down 2-zip going to Montreal.
-----
Its not often you win a hockey game in overtime by scoring on a two man advantage when both of the penalties come in overtime. That was the case for the Calgary Hitmen though. They beat Brandon 3-2 as Ian Schultz scored 223 into O-T. Scott Glennie had gone off for a checking from behind penalty at the 44 second mark and it was followed by Alexander Urbom taking a high sticking penalty at 113. That was a win Calgary needed as they didn't want to go to Brandon down 2-zip. The same can be said for Tri-Cities who beat Vancouver 4-0.
-----
FOX's Major League game of the week started at 2 with the Mets playing the Cardinals. By the time that Kenny Albert signed off from Busch Stadium, New York had won the game----in 20 innings! A 20 inning game is never needed, but not in the first month of the season when managers treat their pitching staff so carefully to avoid hurting arms. It was the game that would not end. Meanwhile, Ubaldo Jimenez throws the first no-hitter in his career and that of the Colorado Rockies franchise. Ubaldo? Is that a name you would want for your child? Great line by TSN's James Duthie last nite as he comes back to the panel after James Cybulski talks about Jimenez and says Ubaldo...that's what we call you Panger (Darren Pang).
-----
The Esso Cup begins this afternoon at the Co-Operators Centre. I'll be spending a lot of time there this week doing games for Fasthockey and helping out the great Tony Playter with some media relations. I thought I would see a big preview in the LP on Saturday. I was wrong! If you haven't been to Regina's newest sporting venue yet, go down and take a look. Methinks you'll like.
-----
Allergies and such prevent me from doing a lot of yardwork. Thus I leave it in the hands of the Mrs. She appears armed and ready to start the planting and other things. Go at it hon
-----
I was asked if I could coach my 6 year old's learn to play softball team yesterday as apparently the team can't find a coach. I couldn't commit. Somewhere, 12 or 13 6 year olds breathe a sigh of relief for a reason they can't really explain. Its frustrating enough watching my 15 year old daughter's team.
-----
Its looking more and more as if the Rams will take Sam Bradford with the first pick in Thursday's NFL draft. I wouldn't mind if Bradford fell to 6, but that's OK. I just don't know what direction Seattle should take with picks 6 and 13. I am hoping for an o-lineman and a running back. If they get those, they still need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball.
----
Have a great Sunday. If you are at the Esso Cup, make sure to say hi! Just a reminder, Access 7 will have the host Regina Rebels first game tonight live at 7 as they play Thunder Bay.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Did This Really Happen?
Word around the campfire is that TSN told two interns their services were no longer needed and that several others received quite a stern warning from the bosses after this supposedly got on their website this past week. This apparently went up Wednesday late morning-early afternoon. Is it fact or is someone making this up. Whatever it is...HA HA!
PS: I'm just glad Zajac is taking the draw against Blair Betts and not against Washington's Alexander Semin!
Stanley Cup Commercial Parodies
The NHL has done a pretty good job with their Stanley Cup commercials asking various questions as it relates to the history of hockey's holy grail. As always, some clever minds have come up with parodies. Here are a couple of them. Enjoy!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Where's Tony Esposito? Where's Murray Bannerman?
I took the Hawks to win the Stanley Cup. A lot of people took Chicago to win the Stanley Cup. Everyone who took Chicago took them knowing they had shaky goaltending. Shaky may be a compliment. Antti Niemi was the goat as the Hawks were beaten 4-1 by Nashville to get that series started. With Chicago up 1-0, Niemi did what goalies simply can't do--especially in the playoffs.
That just re-defines greasy. You gotta think Chicago coach Joel Quenneville has already told Cristobal Huet to get ready for Sunday.
-----
No doubt about it, the player of the night was Sidney Crosby. Sid had one helluva shift as he set up Kris Letang with the game-winner in a 2-1 victory to even that series up.
Really, what more could Jason Spezza do. Yeah, he could have taken a penalty and hoped for the best, but you have to give Sid credit on this one. Crosby is also getting a lot of praise for sweeping a puck away from the goal-line earlier in the 3rd. Yeah, but it looked to me as if the puck had stopped and wasn't going in. Did you see the Andy Sutton hit on Jordan Leopold. I thought it was clean. Did you?
------
Devin Setoguchi may have gotten the biggest goal of the year for the San Jose Sharks. Correction....Devin Setoguchi got the biggest goal of the season for the Sharks. They were 30 seconds away from going down 2-0 in the series, but they got a goal to send it into overtime leading to Setoguchi's heroics on the powerplay as San Jose takes it 6-5. If San Jose loses that game, they are done! While his team won, Evgeni Nabokov really has to play better if the Sharks are going to win this series. In fact, if San Jose would have lost Game 2, I would have gone with Thomas Greiss in Game 3.
-----
Detroit and Phoenix gave us an entertaining Game 2 with the Wings prevailing 7-4 much to the delight of those who have Wings and Coyotes in their draft. New Jersey gets even in their series with Philly with a hard fought 5-3 win.
------
Memo to the Phoenix Coyotes. The Winnipeg Jets used the white-out. That is their promotion. That didn't go with you to the desert, and if you are going to use a white-out then have your team wearing white instead of red! Dumb!
------
The road teams take Game 1 of the WHL divisional finals as both Brandon and Vancouver win. Of course a Wheaties win over Calgary and the winner of the Western series will also be off to the Mem Cup since Brandon is the host.
-----
I heard Rob Vanstone blathering on Jamie Nye's show last night about why the CFL should scrap the convert and force teams to go for two every time they score a touchdown whether it be in the 1st quarter or overtime. Nye says that would be too "gimmicky". Nye is correct! Getting rid of the convert is stupid. I don't care if its automatic or not. If you want to get rid of something, get rid of the rouge. The single point on punts and missed field goals should be eradicated from the game. That is what's stupid. If Rob wants the traditional convert to be scrapped, I wonder if he thinks field goals from beyond the 40 should be worth four points and if its past 50, they should be 5.
-----
Final preparations are being made for the Esso Cup. The 2nd ever national womens midget hockey championship go at the Co-Operators Centre in Regina starting Sunday. I don't know how ticket sales are going, but it would be nice to see some solid crowds at the COC---especially when the host Rebels are playing.
-----
A majority of Regina residents say they are satisfied with their quality of life. No one's life is perfect, but I have no major problems. Do you?
----
Canada's soccer team is going to play Argentina in Buenos Aires just weeks before the World Cup. This is like the University of Alabama taking on the Saskatoon Hilltops or the Regina Thunder. It won't be pretty! Losing by 3 or less would be considered complimentary.
-----
The NBA playoffs begin today. A lot of people believe the Lakers can make it two straight. I'm not one of them. I'm going with Orlando to win the final and I'm going out on a limb by saying Orlando will play Denver in the final. Yeah, I'll be shocked if that actually happens.
-----
What will garner more attention in Toronto over the next few weeks? The rebuilding of the Leafs, the play of the Jays, or Chris Bosh leaving in free-agency. Don't be surprised if its the latter.
------
Sportsnet has a great poll question. The question is who had the best hockey hair? The choices are Barry Melrose, Jaromir Jagr, Al Iafrate and Mike Ricci. Where's Ron Duguay?
----
Time to hit the pillow. Have a good weekend!
That just re-defines greasy. You gotta think Chicago coach Joel Quenneville has already told Cristobal Huet to get ready for Sunday.
-----
No doubt about it, the player of the night was Sidney Crosby. Sid had one helluva shift as he set up Kris Letang with the game-winner in a 2-1 victory to even that series up.
Really, what more could Jason Spezza do. Yeah, he could have taken a penalty and hoped for the best, but you have to give Sid credit on this one. Crosby is also getting a lot of praise for sweeping a puck away from the goal-line earlier in the 3rd. Yeah, but it looked to me as if the puck had stopped and wasn't going in. Did you see the Andy Sutton hit on Jordan Leopold. I thought it was clean. Did you?
------
Devin Setoguchi may have gotten the biggest goal of the year for the San Jose Sharks. Correction....Devin Setoguchi got the biggest goal of the season for the Sharks. They were 30 seconds away from going down 2-0 in the series, but they got a goal to send it into overtime leading to Setoguchi's heroics on the powerplay as San Jose takes it 6-5. If San Jose loses that game, they are done! While his team won, Evgeni Nabokov really has to play better if the Sharks are going to win this series. In fact, if San Jose would have lost Game 2, I would have gone with Thomas Greiss in Game 3.
-----
Detroit and Phoenix gave us an entertaining Game 2 with the Wings prevailing 7-4 much to the delight of those who have Wings and Coyotes in their draft. New Jersey gets even in their series with Philly with a hard fought 5-3 win.
------
Memo to the Phoenix Coyotes. The Winnipeg Jets used the white-out. That is their promotion. That didn't go with you to the desert, and if you are going to use a white-out then have your team wearing white instead of red! Dumb!
------
The road teams take Game 1 of the WHL divisional finals as both Brandon and Vancouver win. Of course a Wheaties win over Calgary and the winner of the Western series will also be off to the Mem Cup since Brandon is the host.
-----
I heard Rob Vanstone blathering on Jamie Nye's show last night about why the CFL should scrap the convert and force teams to go for two every time they score a touchdown whether it be in the 1st quarter or overtime. Nye says that would be too "gimmicky". Nye is correct! Getting rid of the convert is stupid. I don't care if its automatic or not. If you want to get rid of something, get rid of the rouge. The single point on punts and missed field goals should be eradicated from the game. That is what's stupid. If Rob wants the traditional convert to be scrapped, I wonder if he thinks field goals from beyond the 40 should be worth four points and if its past 50, they should be 5.
-----
Final preparations are being made for the Esso Cup. The 2nd ever national womens midget hockey championship go at the Co-Operators Centre in Regina starting Sunday. I don't know how ticket sales are going, but it would be nice to see some solid crowds at the COC---especially when the host Rebels are playing.
-----
A majority of Regina residents say they are satisfied with their quality of life. No one's life is perfect, but I have no major problems. Do you?
----
Canada's soccer team is going to play Argentina in Buenos Aires just weeks before the World Cup. This is like the University of Alabama taking on the Saskatoon Hilltops or the Regina Thunder. It won't be pretty! Losing by 3 or less would be considered complimentary.
-----
The NBA playoffs begin today. A lot of people believe the Lakers can make it two straight. I'm not one of them. I'm going with Orlando to win the final and I'm going out on a limb by saying Orlando will play Denver in the final. Yeah, I'll be shocked if that actually happens.
-----
What will garner more attention in Toronto over the next few weeks? The rebuilding of the Leafs, the play of the Jays, or Chris Bosh leaving in free-agency. Don't be surprised if its the latter.
------
Sportsnet has a great poll question. The question is who had the best hockey hair? The choices are Barry Melrose, Jaromir Jagr, Al Iafrate and Mike Ricci. Where's Ron Duguay?
----
Time to hit the pillow. Have a good weekend!
Move The Blue Jays?
This Chicago columnist says its something that should happen. What do you think?
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/2164326,CST-SPT-cowley16.article
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/2164326,CST-SPT-cowley16.article
Where Exactly Do You Fit?
From Global Regina
It appears 'the city that rhymes with fun' is living up to that dubious catchphrase. More couples in Regina are willing to cheat on their spouses than their Saskatoon counterparts.
At least 4,932 people in the Queen City have memberships on the website Ashleymadison.com – an 83 per cent increase over one year ago.
In Saskatoon, at least 3,999 people use the website.
A controversial online dating service, Ashleymadison.com guarantees affairs to those who have an account. Members are either married, or in relationships.
In Regina, more males have memberships than females. About 3,451 men use the site compared with 1,481 women.
There has also been a dramatic increase of female newlyweds who have signed up across the province – more than 300; a 280 per cent increase from last year.
The numbers are astonishing considering the company has not targeted the province in its ad campaign.
Watch the Evening News tonight at 6 p.m. on Global Regina for more on this story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)