We Take a Break From Hockey for...the Lost Season Finale

I always thought it was Ben.

I can't believe it's Locke.

*sigh*

I'm actually really sad about this.

My only hope is that in some weird Lost way,

it isn't really true.

Anticlimactic

I don't think Games 1 and 2 of the SCF have been boring, I think they've been anticlimactic. There's still hard hits, intensity, fierceness, great scoring, decent goaltending, etc...it's just that it's all coming from Detroit. I had high expectations for this series and I think the majority of hockey fans did too. Pittsburgh rolled into the Finals looking like the top dog but in the first two games of the Finals, Detroit has completely exposed all of Pittsburgh's weaknesses and for all non-hardcore Detroit fans, this has led to an anticlimactic start for the Finals. For the sake of hockey fans everywhere, I hope Pittsburgh regroups and figures out, at least the very, how to stay competitive.

(more after the jump)


Now, I know Osgood was bumped into, but good Lord is he a fantastic actor!! I really, really hope that a ref will call him for diving the next time he unleashes his inner Hasek. Be a man Osgood, if your team is way up, is it really necessary for you to embellish the minor contact?

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

Leave the diving to Hasek.

When the fiance first saw Crosby's "beard" he said, "He looks like a 15-year old Mexican going through puberty."

(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Just use a sharpie to fill it in

2008 SCF...About Time

My Conference Final predictions were pretty shotty. Whatevs, I was rooting for the underdogs, but in the end they just got spanked. As I try to figure out why the heck it's raining in SoCal right now I suppose I'll also make my prediction for the Cup Winner: Pittsburgh. But I kinda want to change it to Detroit...alright, I'm sticking with Pittsburgh.

I don't care who wins the Cup, but not because I've stopped caring about the playoffs. I'll be happy to see either team win because both teams have proven they deserve to be in the Finals. Detroit had a couple rough games against Nashville but I think those were good for the team. Except for those losses I don't think Detroit played a bad game through the next two rounds. Likewise, Pittsburgh also seems unstoppable.

I just hope that everyone's predictions for an intense, close series pan out. I'll be very disappointed if one team falls flat and lets the other ease to Cup Glory. It's hard to believe we're already at the Finals and soon it'll be the off-season for everyone. I know it's a lame statement and that all of us make it every year, but every season it's the same routine, an especially long one for Kings fans.

Cheers to a great finale.

It's What I've Always Wanted

According to the item description on the NHL.com shop:

You can add hockey design to your wardrobe and carry all of your money and personal belongings in this Little Earth NHL® team Fender Flair purse. The purse is formed from 2 recycled aluminum license plates with tear-shaped, nickel-plated steel end caps and hundreds of Swarovski crystals. The officially licensed purse has a velvet lining with pocket and a 21-in leather strap with contrast stitching for easy carrying.

Don't get me wrong, I like being feminine. I like wearing make-up. I like wearing clothes that fit me. I'm gradually becoming interested in nice shoes. I'm learning to like shopping for clothes. But that purse?! Who in the world designed that piece of crap? Who did the designer have in mind when that purse was created? I don't even know what part of the purse is the worst.

x-posted to HLOG

I Heart Kopi

IIHF

"Lucky penny?? Is that you??
Ohhh, nevermind. It's just a puck."

I heart Kopi.

Is it October yet?

2008 Playoffs: Third Round Predictions

The Dallas/SJ game on Sunday was unbelievable and I've been in hockey withdrawal every since. I don't know what I'm going to do once the playoffs are over...

Just in case you forgot, I was 4 for 8 in my first round predictions but I was 4 for 4 in my second round predictions. Woohoo!! That means...I got lucky. Let's see if my luck can continue:

Eastern Conference
(2) Pittsburgh v. (6) Philly
Philly in 7

I honestly have no idea who's going to win this series. Every time I think Pitt will win I begin to have doubts. Yet I also have doubts about Philly's capabilities to knock out Pittsburgh. Because I don't want my prediction to be "I don't know", I'm going to say that Philly has a slight edge over Pittsburgh. I think Biron is a better goaltender than M-A Fleury and I also don't think MAF and the rest of the Pens have really been tested yet in the playoffs. Pittsburgh may have two really solid forward lines, but I think Philly has more depth across all four lines. Both teams have a very aggressive, in-your-face power play so it'll be interesting to see how each team's PK unit will be able to hold up in this series. I think Philly has more toughness and grit, which could potentially wear down the Pens and possibly be a deciding factor in what should be a great series.

Western Conference
(1) Detroit v. (5) Dallas
Dallas in 6

I was way off in my number of games prediction for the Detroit/Colorado series. But then again, did anyone honestly think Detroit was going to spank Colorado? I think that series will end up hurting Detroit in this round because while the Red Wings coasted to four easy victories, Dallas is on a huge upswing from their battles with San Jose. I've backed Dallas since the start of the playoffs and I'm not letting go of them. I become more and more a fan of the team every time I watch them play. I didn't know much about Morrow last year and was confused why Modano was stripped of the captaincy so that Morrow could take it. Now, I have no question in my mind why Morrow is the captain of the Dallas squad. If you haven't watched him play in the playoffs yet you're depriving yourself of some really good skills, heart, determination, and leadership. I think Dallas can kick out Detroit and advance to the Cup Finals.

Luc, You're Mine!

The Hermano saw my blog post about not wanting to spend $40 on sponsoring Luc Robitaille on Hockey-Reference.com and did what every good older brother would do: give me an early birthday gift by payin for my blog to sponsor Luc! (although I'm not quite sure when it'll show up...)

He also decided to sponsor Dustin Brown and Kelly Hrudey with his non-hockey related blog, Tacos y Ramen. Hrudey is probably one of his most favorite goaltenders so I completely understood that sponsorship and I guess he has some kind of mancrush for Brownie.

Some might say, "What a stupid birthday gift!" But you don't understand the gift-giving dynamic between us. Our birthdays fall within 10 days of each other so every birthday month and Christmas we ask each other what we want (usually a DVD, book, or gift card) and that's what we buy. There's usually no suspense in what the other one bought and frankly, that's what I like. I would hate to feign happiness about a shitty gift my brother gave me and it makes the gift-buying process very easy. Usually I'll ask for something that I want but just haven't gotten around to buying, either because I can't justify buying it for myself (i.e., sponsoring Luc) or I know it'll be an easy gift for someone else to buy me. Regardless, it's always something that I want and am happy to receive, which is why when my hermano told me he sponsored Luc for me, I laughed my ass off (because I couldn't believe he did it) and was entirely ecstatic.

All I can say is, "Thanks, Hermano!" It's good to see that he's using his salary from his over-paying job to show our support for the LA Kings.

x-posted to HLOG

Luc, I Just Can't Do It

Mirtle and Barry Melrose Rocks wrote about the ability to "sponsor" hockey players on Hockey-Reference.com. BMR submitted a sponsor for none other than Barry Melrose for a mere $10/year.

I quickly made my way to Hockey-Reference.com because I desperately wanted to sponsor my all-time favorite Kings player, Luc Robitaille. But I was immediately taken aback when I found out I would have to pony up $40/year to sponsor my beloved hockey player. $40?! $40? I could easily pay $10 without hesitating but $40 stopped me dead in my tracks. I can't do it people. I cannot pay $40 to have this blog linked to Lucky Luc's name. $40 could buy me...half a pair of shoes, a couple hockey books, 10 packs of hockey cards, or a tank of gas for my Civic (that I'll use up in a week), ummm....shit. Am I being cheap right now? Am I being unreasonable? Should I just fork over the $40? For what? Is it worth it? I'm losing my mind over this decision!

I Love Hockey Because...

hockey players aren't pansies like some NBA players. I'd be embarrassed to have this guy on my team:

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Waaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

Now I admit, he was fouled, he did get a hand to the face. But the only reason he should have stayed down for as long as he did, clutching his face in agonizing pain, was if the Hornets player had plucked Bowen's eye out of its socket. Sure enough, after the trainers attended to him and helped him off the floor, he was smiling and ready to play, no visible gash anywhere on his face. I was so disgusted by his acting and P told me how this guy is known for his embellishments. I'd like to see Bowen take a puck to the face or a stick to the face like Drury did today:

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Even Drury is a man

Drury briefly went down but immediately got up and skated to the bench, blood pouring down his face, jersey, and onto the ice. I love hockey and the toughness the players exhibit every time they step onto the ice.