it happened

march 29 was real. But Canada won gold yesterday. More later...writing on iPod. Very hard.

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY MR. HOCKEY

Is today real?

am i really writing this blog right now? This is a test. Maybe i'm just asleep... and when i wake up tomorrow this post won't exist because what I experienced as March 29 wasn't March 29 at all. I was just dreaming about what March 29 would be like, if March 29 was a really gawd-awful, terrible day.

The day was going pretty good, I was hanging out this afternoon watching Jennifer Jones play Japan after losing to China yesterday and having to play an extra game to go to the finals of the World Championships. Jones came back from 3 points back, to steal a point in the extra end which sent them to the final to face China for a third time... third time's a charm?

Anyway, everything started going downhill shortly after that. I was enjoying a few brewskis at the Midtown Tavern in Halifax when suddenly i found myself sulking into those brewskis.... the Toronto Maple Leafs... yes that team that is neither going to make the playoffs, but isn't terrible enough to qualify for the top draft pick in the lottery... beat the Montreal Canadiens.... the team sitting atop the Conference.... 4-2. 4-2!??! are you serious?

To make it fair... the Canadiens were without a slew of important players. Defensive specialist Mike Komisarek is still out, captain Saku Koivu is out with a "foot injury" (Alexei Kovalev was wearing the "C") As well unsung hero Mark Streit who can play either D or forward was also out with a "foot injury. To make matters worse, Francis Bouillion took a nasty slap shot to the inside of the knee. He didn't leave the game but it didn't look like it tickled. Not to mention that Halak started in net instead of Price and let in some questionable goals.

Ok wait, let's talk about the fact that Halak started in nets instead of Price. When the Christobal Huet trade was executed, it was said that this solidified Price's spot as the top goaltender. If this is the case, why are the Canadiens starting Halak down the stretch to the playoffs? It is understandable that Price played last night and faced a lot of shots, but generally you want your goaltender on a roll and hot going into the playoffs. Besides, Price needs to get used to playing a lot... it's not exactly something that he's had a lot of practice at this season, since he and Huet basically alternated up until the trade deadline.

To make matters worse, i just got home and i'm really craving a flatbread pizza, which i can't make because i forgot to buy cheese this afternoon at the grocery store.

Habs pull out win

They were down 3-1 with two minutes left and that's when Tomas Plekanec decided to take everything into his own hands, scoring first with a rocket from the point and then with 10 seeconds left, shoveling another one past Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller from in front of the crease.

Enter overtime, Chris Higggins completed the comeback with a wrist shot and with that wrist shot the Canadiens regained first place in the Conference from the Penguins. And the Buffalo Sabres left licking their wounds, letting a second crucial point slip away.

Hossa out... again

Hossa is listed as Day-to-Day with an "upper body injury" according to Yahoo! although the Penguins website has no word on the injury. As mentioned before Hossa took a blindsided hit to the head in last nights game.

The Montreal Canadiens are in action tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, the Canadiens trail the Penguins by one point in the standings but they have this game tonight in hand over Pittsburgh. The Sabres who are pretty much out of the playoff picture (they have 83 points, trail Washington by three and Philadelphia by five and only have five games remaining) will be playing mostly for pride. Updates later.

In the meantime, check out this story

Leafs are out of playoffs... no kidding.

We all knew that this was inevitable. It was pretty much obvious in January. But MATHEMATICALLY until today the Leafs were still "in it" and the fans and media seemed to think that despite they were behind Buffalo and Washington who have been playing extremely strong in the second half of the season they were going to make the playoffs. Well I guess it was amusing watching the fans and the Toronto media get their hopes up. All to come crashing down. Crashing down like a giant save by Wade Dubielewicz. And so something that was pretty darn obvious for months is finally in writing for all Leafs fans...BEHOLD!

Of course, it is the Leafs fans, so they'll probably "keep on hoping". Hoping that perhaps one of the top eight teams manages to catch the Bubonic plague and have to drop out of the playoffs.


At least this guy accepts it.

QMJHL PLAYOFFS! Round 1 Games 3 and 4

Dear Halifax Mooseheads,
In the first two games of this series you outscored the Victoriaville Tigres 17-3. And yet somehow you have managed to lose both games three and four. As you may have noticed, some of your QMJHL rivals have swept their respective series, mainly Saint John and Rouyn-Noranda. Please refer to the playoff tree below if you are confused about who is supposed to win. Yes Mooseheads, you are the number one seed. And, yes, Moosheads, Victoriaville is the number eight seed. If you could please stop playing like the playoff version of the Ottawa Senators between the years of 2002-2006 it would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Halifax



CURLING!!!
Team Jennifer Jones (also known as Team Canada) is 8-2 at the World Championships in Vernon, British Columbia. They are currently holding a 2-1 lead at the fifth end against Sweden—more updates later. China, who is the biggest surprise of the entire tournament, tied for first with Canada with a record of 8-2 are also currently in action and are in a battle with Germany who have been coming on strong in the last few games. The two teams are tied 3-3 in the fifth end.


Little known fact the Day

This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with hockey, but i thought it was really, really, really funny...and i love Gun's n Roses.

Marketing strategists behind the carbonated drink brand Dr. Pepper, perhaps spending too much of the 1980s listening to Sweet Child o' Mine, are hoping to rouse Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose from his 17-year dry spell.

The Cadbury Schweppes plc brand has vowed to give "everyone in America" a free can of the fizzy drink (except for estranged Guns N' Roses guitarists Slash and Buckethead) if Rose manages to release his long-awaited album Chinese Democracy in 2008. No word on whether that offer is open to us Canucks.

"Dr. Pepper supports Axl, and fully understands that sometimes you have to make it through the jungle before you get it right," says a press release from the Plano, Tex.-based company.

Check out the rest of the story, HERE



*CURLING UPDATE* CANADA beat Sweden 7-3, the game only went 9 ends and China pulled out a squeaker against Germany 6-5. Both teams are now 9-2 going into the playoffs. And the two will actually meet Friday. The winner will go directly to the final, the loser is still in it, they just have to get past the winner of the other semi final to make it to the final.

Jinxed?

The trade deadline was over a month ago and yet Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby have only played together for about... 44 minutes.

Stay with me here: Hossa, traded to the Penguins at the February trade deadline from the Atlanta Thrashers played only a few shifts before being taken out with an injury for a few weeks. While he was out Crosby returned from his high ankle injury... but then re-injured it. So at this point Hossa returned from his injury. Today, Crosby returned... again. Hossa and Crosby played on a line together for the first two periods, but a few minutes in the third period Hossa took a hit to the head from behind from Sean Bergenheim and left the game looking quite confused.

Hossa did not return, no word yet on if he's concussed... it sure looked like it.

Crosby is back.... again.

Crosby is saying he will be back in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup on Thursady against the Islanders.

Sens Losing Faith?

check out this story from the Canadian Press:

Sens turn focus away from winning division and towards securing playoff

Canadian Press
Mar 25, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

MONTREAL - When the Ottawa Senators reeled off 13 wins in their first 14 games of the season, the question buzzing around their locker room was whether or not they could challenge for the best season in NHL history.

But now, after compiling a mediocre 28-27-7 record since, the Senators are wondering whether or not they'll be playing meaningful hockey come playoff time.

Ottawa's 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday dropped the Senators seven points out of the Northeast Division lead, essentially knocking them out of contention for the division title and the automatic top-three playoff seed that comes with it.

But that was not the biggest concern for Sens GM and head coach Bryan Murray.

"Are we going to make the playoffs?" he asked. "That's what we have to decide first."

Of course, for the Senators to miss the playoffs would require a complete meltdown over their final six games. Three wins would assure them of a spot, but even two wins should be enough to hold off the ninth-place Washington Capitals who sit seven points back of Ottawa with six games left.

"This is no time to panic," said Senators centre Jason Spezza, who extended his points streak to seven games with a third period goal. "If we panic now we may as well pack it up and go home for the year. There are a lot of people who are going to doubt us right now, and if we can't believe in ourselves we have no chance of winning this thing."

However, as unlikely as missing the playoffs would be for the Senators, it's hard to believe the team is in a position to even keep the debate alive considering this season's hot start and last year's run to the Stanley Cup final.

"We're obviously not going to be the favourites going into the playoffs now," said Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson, who had three assists Monday. "Maybe that will suit us just fine."

Ottawa's last two games in particular have been of concern, blowing a 4-2 lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday to lose 5-4, and then falling behind 7-1 against Montreal before coming back with four goals in the third period to make it respectable.

Over a span of just over three periods in those two games, Ottawa was outscored 10-1.

"Losing the lead the other night and coming out the way we did is obviously not good," said Sens sniper Dany Heatley, who scored twice Monday night. "We haven't played that well for the last two games, we realize that. But we're going to play better in the next six games and get in the playoffs."

— 30 —

Wow. I think that would be the ultimate crash and burn. I doubt it'll happen though.

CLINCHED!!!!

Montreal Canadiens become the first team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff spot. They won 7-5 over the Senators (great first two periods... terrible third period) and still sit atop the Eastern Conference with 96 points now. Pittsburgh was in action tonight as well and lost 4-1 to the Islanders and sits at 93.

Habs, Leafs, Sens and Pens

Habs pulled out a shootout win over the struggling Boston Bruins, the Canadiens swept the season series. Boston did of course manage to get a point out of the ordeal which bodes well in keeping them in the playoffs. Judging by the way the season series went, it would be in the Canadiens best interest to have Boston stay in the playoffs. Koivu was the only player to score in the shootout, as Boston placed some questionable shooters in their list. Chara, Kessel and Wideman?


The Leafs and Sens played each other last night as well. Basically, I think it's funny when the Leafs manage to beat the Sens, but also I hate that the Leafs still think they have a chance at making the playoffs. The Leafs beat the Sens 5-4. Poor poor Ottawa. Stupid stupid Toronto.

And New Jersey who? New Jersey forfeited SEVEN goals to the still Crosby-less Penguins and managed to score only 1. Malkin topped 100 points with a 3-point night.



After last night the Penguins picked up a 2 point lead on the Devils and now lead the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens remain in first place in the Northeast as well as the Eastern Conference and now have a 5 point lead on the Senators (thanks to the Leafs). And Carolina still leads the Southeast (but Washington is closing in, with only 5 points separating the two now.)

QMJHL PLAYOFFS! Round 1 Game 2.

OWNED. 11-1. What else can you say. The Moosheads handled the Victoriaville Tigres yet again with ease. Our favourite buddy from yesterday, Brad Marchand, was first star of the game with a 4 point night. Halifax now leads the series 2 games to 0.


After game 2:
Saint John leads P.E.I, 2-0
Bathurst leads St. John's, 2-0
Cape Breton leads Lewiston, 2-0

Rouyn-Noranda leads Val-d'Or, 2-0
Baie Comeau is down to Rimouski, 0-1
Gatineau leads Shawinigan 2-0
and Chicoutimi is tied Quebec 1-1

Hammonds Plains Connection

The Coast, a free weekly paper dedicated to life in the glorious city of Halifax has featured three hometown boys as their feature story this week. Brad Marchand (of two-time Canadian World Junior gold fame); Andrew Bodnarchuk (of Boston Bruin prospect fame); and Ryan Hillier (of New York Rangers prospect fame) are all front and centre in this story written by Halifamous journalist, Stephen Kimber. If you're not in Halifax, or are too lazy to walk to the closest random store, Check it out here

Komisarek out 3 weeks

Shot-blocking and hitting specialist Mike Komisarek is out "at least 3 weeks". This is not good news for the Canadiens going into the playoffs, when a commodity like shot-blocking and hitting goes up ten-fold.

Canadiens defenceman Komisarek out three weeks with lower body injury

4 hours ago

MONTREAL — Defenceman Mike Komisarek will be out of action for at least three weeks with a lower body injury, Montreal Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said Saturday.

Komisarek was injured in the first period of Montreal's 4-2 victory in Boston on Thursday.

"Mike has a lower body injury - that's all I can tell you - and he's going to out a minimum of three weeks," said Carbonneau. "We hope that after two weeks we can evaluate him and go day-to-day after that, but it's going to be in that vicinity."

Josh Gorges will move into Komisarek's spot on the top defence pair with Andrei Markov. Mark Streit will move back to defence after playing left wing for most of this season.

Left-winger Guillaume Latendresse was also to sit out a game Saturday night against the Bruins with spasms in his neck from a check he received during the game in Boston. His injury is considered day-to-day.

Komisarek has not missed a game this season. He is the team leader in hits and blocked shots.

QMJHL PLAYOFFS! Round 1 Game 1

First of all I cannot stress how absolutely cool it is that Telus is live streaming ALL QMJHL playoff games. So far what I have gathered is, that if rinks have their own internal camera system (as the Halifax Metro Centre does) the Telus streaming is simply picking up that camera feed; other rinks just have a webcam that follows the play around (no fancy zooming). The feeds also have local radio station play-by-play attached to the feed. Before it plays the feed it asks which team you prefer and that gives you the correct 'homer' radio announcer. The Halifax Mooseheads feed was actually very clear.


The first place Halifax Mooseheads opened their playoffs with a blowout 6-2 against the Victoriaville Tigres. Bryce Swan, had no less than 3 goals within the first half of the game.

And there were similar blowouts around the league, no upsets...yet. The Maritime teams are definitely giving a good show with all 4 teams from the Maritimes part of the good side of the blowouts.

Game 2 is played tomorrow night. The Quebec league employs a brutal playoff schedule. For example:
2 games in 2 nights in Halifax
1 travel day
3 games in 4 nights in Victoriaville
1 travel day
2 games in 2 nights in Halifax

potentially a very exhausting process if the series goes to seven games.

Update on Komisarek

I found an update on Mike Komisarek's condition after leaving the game Thursday against the Bruins. Sportsnet is reporting that Komisarek did not practice today. There are no quotes from Canadiens brass:

Sportsnet.ca -- The Montreal Canadiens could be without bruising defenceman Mike Komisarek for the second half of their home-and-home series with the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

Komisarek did not skate with the team in practice on Friday. The team's hit- and shot-blocking specialist left Thursday night's game and did not return after getting hit by Milan Lucic of the Bruins. The Canadiens would only specify that it was a lower-body injury.

Wingers Christopher Higgins and Guillaume Latendresse also missed Friday's practice due to various ailment, but aren't expected to miss any playing time.

With Thursday's 4-2 win over Boston, Montreal moved into first place of the Eastern Conference with 92 points. The New Jersey Devils are second, one point back with two games in hand.

Clinched

The Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks are the first two teams to clinch playoff spots. No one in the Eastern Conference is even close.


I've found a small update on Mike Komisarek, my Yahoo fantasy pool has him listed as "day-to-day". Not sure what that means as there is still no official word or news.

Kovalev is #%*^ ING ridiculous.

Alexei Kovalev made the Bruins defence look even worse than Sheldon Souray. Kovalev scored the Canadiens first two goals of the night in jaw-dropping fashion, both were defense-splitting, soft-handed, make-Tim-thomas look simple type of goals. Those goals started the Canadiens toward their seventh straight win this season against the Bruins, with their final game of the season series on Saturday evening in Montreal. Should the Bruins lose that game on Saturday it could put their playoff hopes in jeaprody, especially the way that Washington is coming on.

There was a playoff atmosphere in Boston, as a hourd of fans travelled from Montreal for the game and made people notice them throughout the game.

Mike Komisarek left the game in the first period, with an injury which appeared to have to do with his knee or hip. It didn't look like much, just a bump with another player off the faceoff, but he hobbled off the ice favouring his knee. I haven't been able to find any word about the extent of his injury.

This win puts the Canadiens in first in the East, but the New Jersey does have 2 games at hand.

In other news, the Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins put up another notch in the win column against the Tampa Bay Lightening.

Team Kevin Martin wins Brier

Team Kevin Martin from Alberta won the Brier (Canadian Men's Curling Championship) today with their final shot a draw right to the button. They beat Team Glenn Howard in the final going 13-0 in the entire tournament and is off to the Worlds in Grand Forks, ND.

Huge non-game game

After the Canadiens managed to reclaim the top of the Northeast division with a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders—today was a huge non-game game day. The Ottawa Senators who were idle yesterday and had a game in hand over the Canadiens were playing the Carolina Hurricanes today. Well...Dany Heatley was playing, and i only say that because he got the only goal to Carolina's five. So the Canadiens sit in second spot. I will mention, if playoffs started today, I would love the way the standings turned out. I would really love to see the Canadiens play the Bruins in the first round, the Bruins can't seem to catch a break against the Canadiens.

That game was pretty...

...pretty like a hippo in heat. What the heck happened? I'm of course talking about the Thursday night swing between the Ottawa Senators and the Canadiens. The swing that ended 3-0 in favour of the Sens. Let's be honest here, the Senators aren't exactly a team of defensive specialists — the Canadiens just seemed to be snakebitten. And Guy Carbonneau juggled his lines in practice today. The loss also "plummeted" the Canadiens from first to sixth spot in the East. I use the word plummet loosely here...there are only NINE points separating first from eighth. I'd expect that since most of the remaining games are not only within Conference, but within Division, there will be a lot more shuffling in the standings before April 7.


Other devastating news that I came across today is that CBC is cancelling the show MVP after just one season. The show has filled the void that has been missing since the show Powerplay disappeared from CTV back in 2000.


And just one more piece of news that is less-than-awesome. Looks like Sidney Crosby has returned to the game a bit too soon. The young Pittsburgh Penguins star has been experiencing pain, after sustaining a high ankle sprain on January 18. He returned to play March 4, but decided to sit out on Wednesday, originally planning to just sit out one game. However that has now turned into being sidelined for at least a week, probably missing another 3 games.

Carey Price

TSN has a video profiling Carey Price. Check it out!

Martin who?

ok, maybe that's too far. In fact I love Martin Brodeur, he's one of the greatest goalies ever. But he did just get 4 goals scored on him, and Montreal Canadiens rookie Carey Price just got his second NHL shutout.
Now I'm not sure if Brodeur is really to blame in all of this. All four goals were absolutely beautiful, thread-the-needle passing plays by the fast Montreal forwards, that left the big, slow New Jersey defenseman with their heads spinning.

The Canadiens have the most 40 point-plus players in the league, meaning that they are very effective at pulling goals from all lines. Yes. Even Micheal Ryder got a goal. Ryder seems to be one of those streaky players — perhaps that is what is happening right now... right into the playoffs?

Before this game the Canadiens were 1 point back of the Devils and this win went a long way to help the Canadiens secure at least first in their division, and possibly the conference (although the Devils do have a game at hand).

Also worth a notable note, the Montreal fans have been absolutely fantastic, and it was especially noticed by the Versus commentators tonight. They were loud and energetic all night and gave the Habs a loud standing ovation for pretty much the last two minutes of the game.


And from the good to the absolutely terrible, the Toronto Maple Leafs. So of course the media managed to create this glimmer of hope for this deplorable team that they could possibly, maybe make the playoffs. As of today, they were in control of their own destiny. They only had the small task of winning the next 11 of 12 games. EASY! (most of which are against division rivals or other teams on the brink of the playoffs as well.) *insert snicker here*

Tonight they played the Philadelphia Flyers, and somehow they managed to pull out a 4-3 win, even though they were down 3-0 at the beginning of the third. Now it was a 4-3 win in overtime, they still get their two points, but Philadelphia got a point too. And last time I checked the Flyers were ahead of the Leafs... yup, they still are.

I'm not sure what this OT win means now. I am almost certain I heard they needed to win both of the home and home with the Flyers in regulation. I think we're pretty safe in saying the Leafs aren't making the playoffs. Actually I'm pretty sure that was safe to say roughly around Christmastime.

Montreal's third period was akin to the Ottawa Senator's second half of the season——meltdown. Each team managed to score a goal early in the game and it stayed that way until the colossal meltdown in the third period. The icing on the ugly ducklings cake was a short handed goal right after they had just scored the go-ahead goal... yes, the ducks scored shorthanded on montreal's powerplay.

The game was full of shots as Carey Price faced 35 shots which for he most part handled very well, with lots of them very good chances from in close.
But lets go back to that first goal that Todd Marchant scored for the Ducks 21 seconds in. First of all, i'm pretty damn sure that Doug Weight touched the puck before it crossed the line. And Doug Weight was standing behind the net and reached over the crossbar... hmm...

"An apparent goal scored by an attacking player when any part of his stick makes contact with the puck above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame shall not be allowed. The determining factor is where the puck makes contact with the stick. If the puck makes contact with the stick below the level of the crossbar and enters the goal, this goal shall be allowed."

Anyway, regardless, the Habs lost the game 3-1 and didn't bother to try and pull Carey Price as they were shorthanded near the end of the game. Speaking of, this game was penalty city. And unfortunately for the Canadiens it was them killing them off.

The team is expected to try and head back to Montreal right after they finish up with this game, ETA in Trudeau airport is 4am! Next game is Tuesday against the Devils, which is a HUGE game as the two teams are battling amongst the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Crosby wins

2 goals (Crosby) vs 2 assists (Ovechkin), i'd say i'd have to give the win to Crosby. Also i suppose it helps that Crosby's Penguins won, 4-2.



Check in later for Montreal visiting the Ducks.

Another one bites the dust

Habs continued their Western Conference roadtrip with another notch in the win column. They handled the Los Angelas Kings easily 5-2 and now continue the battle for supremacy in the Eastern Conference with 85 points. (New Jersey is 1 point behind and are currently playing the Leafs, so you can pretty much figure that one out.)

Jaroslav Halak started in nets and had a busy night facing no less than 37 shots. And the skaters put in an even performance with goals coming from: Patrice Brisebois; Saku Koivu; Guillaume Latendresse; Andrei Kostitsyn; and former L.A. King Tom Kostopoulos.

The Canadiens are in for probably their first real test of this roadtrip as they face the Anaheim (formerly Mighty) Ducks tomorrow at 8pm EST.

On another note, the Penguins are in Washington tomorrow (12:30pm EST start) for the famous CROSBY-OVECHKIN SHOWDOWN *insert dramatic music*. Should be a good one.

Habs in the Desert

There was a glimmer of worry near the beginning of the third, that the Coyotes would actually somehow manage to win this game. But luckily normalcy prevailed and the boys were just being good sports, letting the Coyotes have a few goals. Good ol' Gretz must have some coaching ability because his team was been very disciplined... in the first two periods, giving up only 1 powerplay to the Canadiens. But that memo got lost in the third as the Coyotes gave up a couple powerplay chances and it cost them. Koivu popped one in off a scramble and then Markov got one from the point.

Can we mention the most ridiculous 2 on absolutely NOBODY breakaway ever? Sergei Kostitsyn to Higgins and back to Kostitsyn, Mikael Tellqvist lain out on the ice like a drunk passed out in a ditch... it looked so easy I almost felt bad for the Coyotes. Almost.
Final Score 4-2.

Also i would like the mention that enduring the AZ-TV feed on Centre Ice, was pretty close to unbearable... in fact i had the game on mute for most of the third. Yes boys, we get it, the Canadiens are from Quebec, and they speak french in Quebec...and isn't that cute, you guys figured out a few hockey terms en francais. But seriously, arreté, s'il vous plaît!!! They also managed to mention no less than 300 times, that Carey Price went fishing with Shane Doan.

A few notes from last night.

I am currently watching Crosby play in his first game back, and although his hands seem to be a bit rusty... he looks great! Although my enthusiasm was just curbed when I noticed the standings:

Just a few tidbits from last night: ovechkin got his 50th goal... then 51 and 52. He would finish the night with 5 points; and after winning 6 in a row, the Bruins received a smackdown from the Caps, 10-2

As for the Montreal vs. San Jose game last night. The game didn't start until 11:30 pm my time, so I couldn't stay up for the whole thing, i left the Habs at the end of the first period where they were safely tied, 2-2. But from what I saw, WHAT - A - GAME! Lots of hitting, 4 goals in a period, and these guys never play each other. (have i mentioned lately how much I hate the NHL schedule?). Also, our favourite purse-snatcher (O'Byrne) even got his first NHL goal!

Alright, back to clicking back and forth between the 10 games on tonight (and a little bit of the US Presidential Primaries that seem to also be infatuating me.)

The Return of the King... i mean Crosby.

Sidney Crosby who has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain for 21 games will return to action tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightening. (7:30pm EST)

Also expected to be in the line up tonight is Peter Forsberg with the Colorado Avalanche for the first time this NHL season.

Toews is a monster

45 stitches. In his mouth. Playing tomorrow night. Jonathan Toews is a monster. Calder?



Photo: Bryan Toews (father to Jonathan) and yours truly... in Sweden. (Dec 2007)

Standings

Isn't it a sight of beauty!


Speaking of standings, it appears that the Leafs can't even lose properly. What are they doing?! Normally a team that wins 9 of their last 14 games you want to congratulate, but geez guys, you're pretty much all but mathematically out of the playoffs, In fact, i think if these guys keep winning, they'll probably finish 1 point out of the playoffs and they'll continue their tradition of mediocrity. so why win the games? finish last! dead last. get the top pick in the draft. Seriously, have someone take of the knees of Kaberle and Sundin, Nancy Kerrigan style if you've got to.... just save yourselves Leafs!

Steve Yzerman who is one of my favourite people ever, was on TSN the other day for a 1-on-1 with James Duthie to talk about the upcoming World Championships. The tournament will be held between the two cities of Halifax and Quebec in May 2007. I am always torn about this tournament because to have a player like... say hometown boy Sidney Crosby in the lineup, you must wish ill to the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff run.
(I tried to upload the video yesterday but it keeps giving me an error and i haven't received a help answer back from blogger help. So we're stuck with a link for the time being.)

Little known fact of the day: Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier will be playing apart for the first time in a long time. The two played together at Notre Dame College in Saskatchewan at age 14, played Major Junior hockey together for the Rimouski Oceanic, and then managed to both get drafted to the Tampa Bay Lightening.

Happy Birthday....

to me!!


sorry folks, no recap tonight, just got back from an exciting night out on the town for my BIRTHDAY! I did watch the game, sort of. I believe my favourite boy, Mark Streit scored a goal and i know the Habs won the game 2-1.

atta boy Price....


and atta boys Habs; first place in the East.