Hockey Night in Texas

Went out and played hockey this evening. I had planned to show up and buy a new jock/cup, but the store closed roughly an hour early. So I started plotting to go out to dinner instead. I value my gonads more than I wanted to play hockey, so I figured I was out for the night, but the coach had one he bought and didn't want nor like nor use, and had washed it, so he gave it to me (for good) and I got to play.

I've been playing on the White team, as opposed to the Black team. We're supposedly looking for names for the team, so I suggested that we should be, respectively, the Supremacy and the Power. I get the feeling they'll say no on racial grounds.

I didn't have my usual Oleg Tverdovsky #10 jersey from his days with the Soviet Wings, so I wore my Stars jersey with no name or number on it. My previous line had been split up from last season, so I was assigned to be on a line with the two players wearing Suomi jerseys (Finnish national team), which amused me because we were all wearing jerseys that were worn by a lot of Finns.

We actually played like a team, and even though we got shut out 2-0 due to failing to take advantage of some opportunities, we definitely played well and could have taken advantage of some things we didn't. Our goalie made a few big mistakes too, and they managed to capitalize on that.

As for me, I know a few mistakes I made that could easily have been avoided. I positioned myself poorly a few times, I failed to break diagonally on a couple opportunities, and I played too close to the boards on approach once or twice. I also suffered from an uncalled hooking on a breakaway, which ended with my right wrist being pulled behind me by a high stick, and as a result instead of making a proper approach I had to chase the puck to the boards where they never should have ended up. That should have been a penalty shot, but there's nothing I can do by complaining.

My old season in Euless ended, so I'll be switching back to my old team in Grapevine. They're moving back to D-league from Tier III (C), which is good because we no longer have the players that forced our move from D to C. They don't start until the end of the month, so hopefully it won't be until I return from my trip. If I miss the first game, I'm ok with that, since the trip is more important than a single recreational hockey game.

We went out to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings, and enjoyed cheering for the Red Sox. We're no Red Sox fans, but we can't stand the Angels. Amy discovered she definitely likes Carribean Jerk sauce. After the Red Sox beat the Angels, we sat around talking hockey and fantasy football while waiting for a check. It turned out that the credit card machine had been down, and they finally got it working just as we were about to pay. We stopped off for a few things at Mega Lo Mart on the way home.

NHL Conference Second Round Predictions (and Conference Quarterfinals results)

Monteal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins (4-3)
My guess: Habs in 5 (Right team, two games off)

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals (4-3)
My guess: Flyers in 6 (Right team, one game off)

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The Habs really showed weakness by taking so long to finish off the very same Bruins they schooled all throughout the season, while the Flyers made some of their strongest showings that I've seen this season against Ovechkin and the Caps. The Flyers just seem to be the stronger team here, and I think the Flyers can break them.

Result:
Flyers in five

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators (4-0)
My guess: Pens in 4 (exact!)

New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils (4-1)
My guess: Rangers in 5 (exact!)

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
These are two great teams, and it's going to make for some incredible games. That said, the Penguins are probably the best skating team in the NHL right now, and Lundqvist may be the best goalie to enter the league since Ron Hextall. (Holy War alert!) This is going to be close, I suspect.

Result:
Pens in seven

Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators (4-2)
My guess: Wings in 4 (right team, two games off)

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild (4-2)
My guess: Wild in 6 (Wrong team, right number of games)

Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche
The Detroit Red Wings are a great team, and I'm surprised it took them so long to beat the Predators. I thought about predicting a Wings sweep again, and thought better of it. The thin air is rough on an athlete in Colorado (I'm kind of assuming they play at high altitude) so I'm going to give the Avs a game.

Result:
Wings in five

San Jose Sharks vs. Calgary Flames (4-3)
My guess: Flames in 7 (right number of games, wrong team)

Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks (4-2)
My guess: Stars in 7 (right team, one game off)

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars
The Stars have overcome a lot of injuries and a lot of shortcomings this season, the most prominent loss being Sergei Zubov. Sergei is back on the roster, and considered day-to-day., It'll be interesting to see him back in action, but I don't want to see it if he's not ready.

Result: Stars in seven

Hockey Playoff Picks

I know it's a little late, but here's my picks for the NHL playoffs in the first round. I haven't looked at any of the scores yet, other than the fact that the Pens game is on and I just caught the tail end of the Devils/Rangers game, so I admit a little head start, so I'm cheating as little as possible.

MONTREAL (1) vs. BOSTON (8)

Montreal hasn't lost against the Bruins yet this year. I know the playoffs are different, and it'd be great to see a more competitive matchup, but it's not in the cards. Even so, with the playoffs being different, the Bruins may pull out one win in the series.

RESULT

Habs in five.

PITTSBURGH (2) vs. OTTAWA (7)

The Pens really have a lot of great players and they're an excellent team this year. The Sens aren't near as good as they were last year. The pen is mightier.

RESULT

Pens in four

WASHINGTON (3) vs. PHILADELPHIA (6)

The Flyers are underrated, but this is coming from a Philly fan. They're not the best team in the league, but they're definitely better than the Caps.

RESULT

Flyers in six

NEW JERSEY (4) vs. N.Y. RANGERS (5)

Great goalies on both sides, but I don't think the Devils can hold the line against the Rangers. I don't think with Brodeur in the net though that the Devils will get swept either.

RESULT

Rangers in five

DETROIT (1) vs. NASHVILLE (8)

No contest. Detroit is leaps and bounds better than the Preds.

RESULT

Wings in four.

SAN JOSE (2) vs. CALGARY (7)

This is going to be the most exciting series of the round. Hard pick, but I'm going to have to go go with Calgary. I don't know why.

RESULT

Flames in seven

MINNESOTA (3) vs. COLORADO (6)

A pretty even matchup, I'm hearing people talk about Foppa this and Foppa that, but I don't think that'll matter so much when it comes to the post season. Still going to be close.

RESULT

Wild in six

ANAHEIM (4) vs. DALLAS (5)

Maybe I'm just biased, but I think the Ducks have more names than ability. They'll fight it out to the end, but it's going to be tough without Sergei Zubov, which is why I say seven instead of six.

RESULT

Stars in seven

Weather: It really wants to rain.
Computer: Mjolnir
Mood: Sporting
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