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After a surprisingly strong start to the season the Preds have begun their obligatory slide. Last season it lasted through the entire month of November but didn't end in earnest until after the Olympic Break. I have hope they can turn the ship around faster this year, but not much faith.
After all, this team is actually a good team. There aren't any glaring deficiencies like there were last season and they've deserved to win the games they've won (and even some that they've lost) while last season their early string of wins looked more like luck. There have been some injuries to key players, but they did not affect the ability of the team to win in the games immediately following those injuries, so I'm reluctant to say that missing those players is the key. Possibly in combination, at this point, it could be a factor but I don't think that is the reason.
Due to a previous commitment I missed the game at Detroit last night but from the highlights I saw and the final score it's clear I didn't miss much. The Preds never had a chance and it isn't surprising. Every Detroit game is difficult and even though the Preds posses what it takes to beat Detroit (even in bad years for the Preds) somehow each game is like a new season in and of itself. Sometimes the Preds just really have their number and frustrate the Detroit offense enough to give their goalie the opportunity to win. It is always a shooting gallery, though, and last night Rinne disappointed. Goals against Detroit are always messy and dirty, and we didn't get enough of those to overcome the five scored by the Wings. It is always clear by the end of the first period how Detroit games are going to fall. It will be a Preds blow out, a Detroit blow out or a close, tough game to the end. Enter last night into the Detroit blow out column.
At the St. Louis game on Thursday night the Preds came out very strong, but so did the Blues. The shots on goal remained fairly even, or slightly favoring the Blues, but the Preds had better scoring chances. Halak kept the Blues in the game and by midway in the second period it looked like the game could go into OT as a 0-0 contest. We kept wondering when the Preds would wakeup and see that slapshots weren't going to fool Halak and unfortunately they didn't come to that realization until after the Blues had scored two very flukey goals. Halak held off the Preds and the game ended 3-0 in favor of the Blues. The entire Preds team seemed discombobulated and out of energy in the third and didn't really have a chance to come back with that attitude. It was just another game, of what is sure to be many, where the officials weren't on our side. Despite that the Preds should have done better in that contest than they did.
What is upsetting to see is that the Preds played well--moving the puck, completing passes, getting shots--and still lost miserably. They were not able to get many offensive rushes together, which was a hallmark problem last season (and pretty much every season prior). The ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone was one of the noticeable improvements in this year's performance to date. When the Preds play hard and still can't pull out a win the entire mood of the team disintegrates and leads to a prolonged slide that becomes difficult to overcome in the late season playoff-push.
I have no clue what has led to this state of play by the Preds. I want to blame Trotz, of course, and I'm sure some of it has to do with his sub-par coaching. On the other hand, the team comes out strong at the beginning of every game, which is something that can't be said about previous seasons. For whatever reason, though, the team still hasn't gotten the memo that a hockey game is 60 minutes, and you have to be present and play every last second. I'm also worried by Rinne's performance. Not that it has been bad in any identifiable way, but with the Preds' goalie curse I'm already wondering if Lindback won't end up being the starter by the time the calendar rolls around to 2011.
It sounds stupid to say, but the losses come down to an inability to keep the other team from scoring and the Preds inability to score. That sounds like a totally "duh!" statement, but there isn't much more going on down on the ice to describe the problems in the last several contests. The defense is not as successful as it needs to be in clearing the puck from the defensive zone and Rinne is giving up too many rebounds that his D-Men aren't helping get rid of. When the Preds do manage to clear it is after a long spell in the defensive zone, so a line change is due and the offensive rush is lacking. When they can get set up in the offensive zone they aren't getting past the goalies. The goalies they have faced are excellent goalies, no doubt, but there have been too many missed opportunities, as well, and too many rebounds that go to no one. Halak was a rebound machine on Thursday but the vast majority went unattended.
Most of the November games are on the road. The Preds had an excellent road record last year, and are doing well on the road so far this year, so let's hope that they can keep that going and bring home some points because this year is shaping up to be an exceptionally tough one in the Western Conference, and the Central Division in particular, and a bad November might be all it takes to keep the Preds out of the playoffs this year. There may be no room to come back in March like usual.
The next game is against Phoenix on Tuesday night, which I'll be able to watch in Vegas since it is carried locally (and in the sports book in the casino, as I learned last year!) and I'll even get to watch it in my time zone rather than staying up all night like I'd have to do at home. Phoenix is struggling a bit this year, so with any luck and a strong effort by the Preds they should be able to turn this road trip around and beat the Coyotes relatively easily. The MUST win that game to salvage any hope of a successful road trip because the game following Phoenix is LA on Saturday and LA is playing beyond even the high expectations everyone head of them entering the season. Next up would be the Ducks who are also struggling, even more so than Phoenix, and might be the worst team on the ice this year. Finally, they head into St. Louis, which again, should be a win for the Preds but it won't be an easy win. They come back home on November 13th to face Chicago, which should be another barn burner.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Let's Be Clear
Through the first two periods Upchuck was actually on his best behavior to date. He stayed seated and cheered appropriately when his team scored. He kept facing forward and didn't once talk to his imaginary friends in other sections. He did not make eye contact with me. After the Blues scored their 3rd goal late in the game--which was questionable anyway because it seemed to be a clear case of goaltender interference--he got cocky. Every shot was a potential goal. He stood up for EVERY SHOT. When you are on the first row that's beyond rude. I finally yelled for him to sit down and he turned around and laughed at me. Laughed at me. Wrong answer dude. I flipped him off and mouthed something not-so-nice. He got a big kick out of that, as did his obnoxious friends on the first row. I'd like to point out that Upchuck came to the game alone because he has no real friends.
I was already sick of his stupid behavior long before he ever showed up in his Upchuck jersey. There's no reason to be so loud, be all up in people's shit, and to stand during the majority of the game. If he wants to trade seats with me and sit on the back row he can stand all night. But when he's in front of me, in my way, he needs to keep his fat ass in his seat. Period. He attempted to approach me after the game and I turned my head and walked away, pretending I didn't see him at all. I wasn't in the mood. But I'd love it if one of these nights he does say something to me because I'm dying to put him in his place. He thinks I'm mad at him for being a Blues fan, and that's only part of the story. I'm mad at him because he disturbs my enjoyment of the game on a fairly regular basis, regardless of who we're playing. I need our section-mates to join my cause. We've already run out two other assholes in the past...I'm ready to make it three.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Hockey Thoughts: Preds vs. Caps Postgame
The Preds hit the ice and immediately made me proud, and feeling good about my premonition that they just might win. The Caps had not been playing up to their ability so far this season and the Preds had been playing well beyond theirs, which continued through the first two periods. The Preds OWNED the ice, and they OWNED the Caps.
Even though they typically lose, the Preds always seem to do a better job than other teams at shutting Ovechkin down. This is obviously a key to any team playing them and Nashville takes that job seriously. So seriously that they sometimes forget the scoring threats posed by multiple other players on the team. Tonight they seemed to be aware that all Caps are scoring threats and had a pure puck possession game going in their favor. At the end of the first period the Preds had more than twice as many shots on goal as the Caps and one goal on the scoreboard. Ovechkin had been held to zero shots on goal.
For most of the night Weber was assigned to covering Ovechkin, and that was a good call. Weber seemed able to maintain good coverage without any contact. They are equivalent in size and skill (although at different positions), if not speed. But, no defenseman in the league can keep up with Ovie when he decides to turn the burners on. When he's gone, he's gone. It also made for Captain on Captain competition, two young Captains and Olympians and league stars going head to head. That's the kind of thing I like to see! I also noticed that it seems Weber has been freed from his role as offensive leader for the team this year, since there are more capable scorers than in the past tow seasons. This has really amped up his defensive play and, I think, helped the D-core overall.
The second period played out much like the first, with the exception of one hit that proved critical. Backstrom, whom I normally like the other 81 games of the year, boarded my favorite player Marcel Goc. Goc suffered a hand injury and left the game. This didn't make me very happy, but as replays clearly showed Goc was not playing the puck at the time, which was hard to determine at the time of the incident since the puck was in the vicinity and a total of four players, including Backstrom and Goc, were in the corner fighting for possession. Given the fact that Goc was not playing the puck when he was illegally hit it should have been a game misconduct penalty on Backstrom. In the third period Backstrom scored the game-tying goal, but had that call been made correctly in the second period, Backstrom shouldn't have been on the ice. I don't blame the officials for missing the call because it was hard to see at the time. However, the league must review this hit and issue supplementary discipline--but they won't because Backstrom is a star player and Goc is not. That's just how the supplementary discipline system works in the NHL, unfortunately. Stars go unpunished (except for those already "marked" as troublemakers like Ovechkin) and the little guys (like Tootoo) get handed more than their fare share. Thank Colin Campbell for his amazing leadership in that area.
At the end of the second period the Preds still had more than twice as many shots on goal as the Caps, and the Caps were clearly frustrated and unable to figure out how to crack the Preds game plan. One of the interesting side effects of playing Eastern Conference teams only once per season is that it can be hard to figure out how to play your opponent if they have your number right out of the gate. Had the Preds stuck with what was working they could have pulled out an easy win, but in the locker room during the second intermission the Old Preds returned to the arena and Bruce Boudreau obviously chewed some ass.
The third period was a total mess for the Preds. Unable to control the puck and get anything going the Caps raced back to catch up in shots on goal. Poor Lindback was doing the best he could with his defense faltering, and the Caps tied up the game to take it to overtime. Now, honestly, I'm glad there was an outcome in OT, even if it was the Caps winning because I didn't want Lindback to have to face the Caps in a shootout. That would have been frustrating and embarrassing and a totally needless assault on his confidence. With Renne still out indefinitely we need Lindback to remain mentally strong.
Ovie scored the OT GWG, which makes me less sad that the Preds lost. Even though I generally abide by the rule that I will celebrate Ovechkin scoring, even against us, even a game winner against us...I just couldn't feel happy about this outcome. And that made me sad. I look forward to the Preds-Caps game every year because it is the one game I can be happy about no matter who wins, but the Caps winning tonight made me really sad. Nashville deserved to win this game. They came out strong and really had the Caps on lockdown. Then something when wrong. Like it always used to. I hope it was a one-time fluke and we aren't back to the give-it-up-in-the-third Preds of last year. They sat back and tried to play defense against a team that never lets off the offense. Bad decision. Clearly bad decision. I had thought the Preds were capable of winning, and they almost proved that to be true.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled season, already in progress, where I can root for both teams. Independently of one another and with no hard feelings, remorse or regret. The Preds take on a pathetic Calgary Flames on Tuesday so I fully expect a "W" out of that one. My next game will be Thursday night, when the Pansy Ass Pittsburgh Penguins come to Smashville. Should be lots of fun for me because not much in my life is more fun that cussing Sidney Crosby for three hours solid.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Will the Real Nashville Predators Please Stand Up?
After a very uninspiring first game on Saturday the Predators came back with a bang in Chicago last night and a killer performance back at home against the Blues tonight. Even though they played Chicago close and it wasn't a blow out, it was a much stronger performance by Nashville than I expected. Some say Chicago isn't playing up to par, but I say there's no measuring stick because of their high turnover in the off season. I think this is likely the Chicago Blackhawks we're going to see this season. Good, tough, resilient, but mediocre. All of the other teams in the Central Division have sputtered in fits and starts this first week or so of the season. Except Nashville. And the St. Louis Blues.
The two undefeated teams met and it was a lopsided start in favor of Nashville. From the looks of the 1st Period you would have had no idea St. Louis had been playing as well as they had, and it wasn't for lack of effort on their part. The Preds were just on fire! So many of the problems they have suffered from for many seasons that somehow never got remedied were nonexistent. Passing: on. Shots on net: plenty. Taking the body: check. Coverage: yep. Crashing the net: you betcha. Carrying the puck into the zone: believe it. Excuse me sir, but where are my Nashville Predators?
They said this was a different team than last year, and that all of the above problem areas were being addressed. But "they" say that at the start of every season. Forgive me if I've become a bit skeptical. The Preds were not as obviously cohesive in the game against Chicago, probably due to the level of skill possessed by that team. By Thursday night, for whatever reason (including, but not limited to, the lower skill level of the Blues), they had the game plan down. No more wasting time on the power play by instigating an impromptu game of keep away. When they did pass they connected, and on longer passes than usual. Somehow they finally grasped Wayne Gretzky's rule of hockey: don't go to where the puck is, be where the puck is going. All players, on each line, in every position did a much improved job of anticipating plays and passes and being in position. Shots were taken, and when they bounced back to the action in the form of a rebound, there was usually someone there to attempt to pick it up. Everyone chipped in for the shooting gallery, and not just the usual suspects.
The most surprising and positive development this season has been the return of Steve Sullivan. I know he officially returned to the team the season before last but he was not playing like the Steve Sullivan everyone remembered. Whatever clicked into place for him is working. Could be the end of his contract approaching or any number of personal or team adjustments that took place that made him more comfortable being the Sully of old. I don't really care why it happened, I'm simply elated it did happen, and at such a pivotal time for the team.
The new players are making their mark, as well, but their contributions aren't as noticeable to me personally as the absences of a few specific players. We lost our Captain, Jason Arnott, in the off season and I really didn't care. I had liked him in the beginning of his time in Nashville but it has become abundantly clear he had no interest in our team at the end of the 08-09 season, and it just kept getting worse through the end of last season. I also despised Kevin Klein for his lousy and uncoordinated defensive play which was magnified by a seemingly unending stream of rookie mistakes. I shit a brick when I heard they had signed him to a two-year contract in the middle of last season. Now it appears that the other half of that D-Pair, Dan Hamhuis, was like a major contributing factor to Klein's terrible play last season.
Finally, I've been endlessly excited by the play of backup goalie Anders Lindback. Last year it was clear that Dan Ellis would not be rejoining the team this season and the front runner for his job was Chet Pickard. I hadn't even heard of Anders Lindback when he suited up behind Rinne in the pre-season. He played 2/3 of the pre-season game I went to but I didn't see anything warranting special attention. Rinne suffered a "lower body" injury (that Willie Daunic later accidentally revealed was a knee injury) in the first period of the first game. Lindback came in to finish the game with a perfect performance, and he continued to play exceedingly well in the last two games. One inch taller and 4lbs lighter than Rinne he is another giant of a man, let alone goaltender. A 6' goalie is a big goalie, and at 6'6" he's a monster! Add Lindback and Rinne together and Nashville has 13' of goalie! Ha! Despite size these guys can move and play a style vaguely reminiscent of Dominik Hasek. I like. Because he seems to get his arms and legs out in the blink of an eye and make insane glove saves with his ridiculous reach I've taken to calling Lindback "Spidey." Let's hope he can keep it up, since a goalie's knee injury can keep him out of the game for some time.
Overall I'm pleased with the more aggressive play of the team and the strong sense of teamwork that is showing itself early. Of course, not much can be gleaned in the first few weeks of the season, but I'm hoping that the general trend that has emerged remains intact over the course of the long season ahead. When you get to the end of the season, with the playoffs knocking at the door, and everything comes down to a few points it is easy to look back to the beginning of a season and say "if only." If only we'd won more games to start with we wouldn't be facing a do-or-die game today. If only we'd pulled out some of those other close ones tonight wouldn't matter as much. We've never had a season end without several of those if only games and it would be nice to know what that feels like for once.
The two undefeated teams met and it was a lopsided start in favor of Nashville. From the looks of the 1st Period you would have had no idea St. Louis had been playing as well as they had, and it wasn't for lack of effort on their part. The Preds were just on fire! So many of the problems they have suffered from for many seasons that somehow never got remedied were nonexistent. Passing: on. Shots on net: plenty. Taking the body: check. Coverage: yep. Crashing the net: you betcha. Carrying the puck into the zone: believe it. Excuse me sir, but where are my Nashville Predators?
They said this was a different team than last year, and that all of the above problem areas were being addressed. But "they" say that at the start of every season. Forgive me if I've become a bit skeptical. The Preds were not as obviously cohesive in the game against Chicago, probably due to the level of skill possessed by that team. By Thursday night, for whatever reason (including, but not limited to, the lower skill level of the Blues), they had the game plan down. No more wasting time on the power play by instigating an impromptu game of keep away. When they did pass they connected, and on longer passes than usual. Somehow they finally grasped Wayne Gretzky's rule of hockey: don't go to where the puck is, be where the puck is going. All players, on each line, in every position did a much improved job of anticipating plays and passes and being in position. Shots were taken, and when they bounced back to the action in the form of a rebound, there was usually someone there to attempt to pick it up. Everyone chipped in for the shooting gallery, and not just the usual suspects.
The most surprising and positive development this season has been the return of Steve Sullivan. I know he officially returned to the team the season before last but he was not playing like the Steve Sullivan everyone remembered. Whatever clicked into place for him is working. Could be the end of his contract approaching or any number of personal or team adjustments that took place that made him more comfortable being the Sully of old. I don't really care why it happened, I'm simply elated it did happen, and at such a pivotal time for the team.
The new players are making their mark, as well, but their contributions aren't as noticeable to me personally as the absences of a few specific players. We lost our Captain, Jason Arnott, in the off season and I really didn't care. I had liked him in the beginning of his time in Nashville but it has become abundantly clear he had no interest in our team at the end of the 08-09 season, and it just kept getting worse through the end of last season. I also despised Kevin Klein for his lousy and uncoordinated defensive play which was magnified by a seemingly unending stream of rookie mistakes. I shit a brick when I heard they had signed him to a two-year contract in the middle of last season. Now it appears that the other half of that D-Pair, Dan Hamhuis, was like a major contributing factor to Klein's terrible play last season.
Finally, I've been endlessly excited by the play of backup goalie Anders Lindback. Last year it was clear that Dan Ellis would not be rejoining the team this season and the front runner for his job was Chet Pickard. I hadn't even heard of Anders Lindback when he suited up behind Rinne in the pre-season. He played 2/3 of the pre-season game I went to but I didn't see anything warranting special attention. Rinne suffered a "lower body" injury (that Willie Daunic later accidentally revealed was a knee injury) in the first period of the first game. Lindback came in to finish the game with a perfect performance, and he continued to play exceedingly well in the last two games. One inch taller and 4lbs lighter than Rinne he is another giant of a man, let alone goaltender. A 6' goalie is a big goalie, and at 6'6" he's a monster! Add Lindback and Rinne together and Nashville has 13' of goalie! Ha! Despite size these guys can move and play a style vaguely reminiscent of Dominik Hasek. I like. Because he seems to get his arms and legs out in the blink of an eye and make insane glove saves with his ridiculous reach I've taken to calling Lindback "Spidey." Let's hope he can keep it up, since a goalie's knee injury can keep him out of the game for some time.
Overall I'm pleased with the more aggressive play of the team and the strong sense of teamwork that is showing itself early. Of course, not much can be gleaned in the first few weeks of the season, but I'm hoping that the general trend that has emerged remains intact over the course of the long season ahead. When you get to the end of the season, with the playoffs knocking at the door, and everything comes down to a few points it is easy to look back to the beginning of a season and say "if only." If only we'd won more games to start with we wouldn't be facing a do-or-die game today. If only we'd pulled out some of those other close ones tonight wouldn't matter as much. We've never had a season end without several of those if only games and it would be nice to know what that feels like for once.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Singing the Blues
The Preds-Blues rivalry isn't the most exciting because of the Preds dominance of the series over the last five or so seasons. That is still one reason I like it, though, because it's always nice to win! It has been one of my favorite match ups for more reasons than that, and I never dread going to a Blues game. In the 05-06 season (immediately following the lock out) the Blues were a mean and dirty team. That's never changed. The gritty, nasty games are always fun to watch but back then the Preds were an overall smaller team and sometimes it was painful to watch them get banged up and thrown around the ice like rag dolls.
After a pathetic season and even more pathetic post-season by what was supposed to be our "dream team" in 06-07 Paul "Don't Touch Me" Karyia went to the Blues. It was a bad summer for the Preds with the ownership debacle and gutting of the team, but he didn't have to go. He chose to. I never liked him much anyway because he played like a scared little girl, wouldn't hit to save his life, and wasn't very fan-friendly. Not to mention he almost t-boned me at an intersection after a game one night in his speeding GX470. I totally creeped him out by driving right next to him the whole way to Franklin, despite the fact that he was going in excess of 85 mph. But he showed a complete lack of gratitude for Nashville taking him on when the Ducks unceremoniously disposed of him after their successful Cup run, and after we all put up with his wussified style of play for two seasons. He never was the Paul Karyia we were all promised. So I was not sad to see him go, and I looked forward to the opportunity to cheer against him and boo. It seemed the majority of the Nashville fans felt the same way I did because it became the crowd's game to boo him every time he touched the puck. This is not as easy as it sounds, seeing as how sometimes he would have he puck on his stick of literally one second or so. It was endlessly entertaining to listen to the wave of abbreviated and extended boo's during his shifts.
Karyia's first season in St. Louis was Chris Mason's first season as the Pred's starting goalie. The previous season had witnessed Thomas Vokoun--the darling of the team and a fan favorite--suffering an injury and then a strange medical condition that required he be on blood thinners, thus ending his season. I always liked Vokoun, and the opportunity to sing "Voookouuun" in place of "Woooo hoooo" in Blur's "Song #2" every time he made a great save. Yet, his play leading up to his injury, and immediately following his return before the discovery of his condition, was not impressive. It wasn't that I wanted him to go away, I just wanted to see what Mason could do, and when given the opportunity Mason lit it up! The Preds had just signed Vokoun to a 5-year deal with a no-trade clause. He was the go-to goalie, the face and future of the team. Then, in June of 2007, one day before his no-trade clause would have kicked in, he was traded to the Florida Panthers for...I don't even remember who. I tried to act like it was no big deal because we had Mason, and Mason was just as good--if not better. The defense always seemed to play a little harder for Mase, too, for whatever reason. So, the 07-08 season started with Mase as the starting goalie and Dan Ellis as his backup. Chris Mason rose to the occasion by falling flat on his ever-loving face. He was a disaster. Dan Ellis eventually stepped into the starter's skates and at the end of the season Chris Mason was dealt to St. Louis.
I stood up for Mason. I said we'd be fine with Mason. I believed in Mason. I comforted dejected Vokoun fans with endless praise for Mason. When he blew it, he not only embarrassed himself, he embarrassed me. I don't like being embarrassed and I don't like being made to look a fool. For that I have never forgiven Chris Mason. The majority of the Preds-Blues games through last season featured Mason in net. So, as it went with his former Preds and current Blues teammate Karyia, I reveled in booing him. I got to yell "Mason...Mason...Mason...YOU SUCK!!!" and "That's one, that's two, that's three...thank you Mason may we have another? He shoots, he scores, you SUCK!!!" It brought me great pleasure. Mason actually did quite well with the Blues and shared his starting role with Detroit rejects Legace and Conklin, but they traded him to Atlanta this offseason. I now get the pleasure of cursing him from my couch while watching him backstop for the Thrashers when they play the Caps.
Last, but certainly not least, was the "Upchuck Factor." Upchuck was the pet name Mom came up with for Keith Tkachuck, the longtime Blues player and resident asshole. I never liked him from the first time I saw him based solely on his last name. T and K do not belong together in that sequence. That is not a recognized letter combination. I took to pronouncing it phonetically: Tuh-kuh-chuck. She made it easier by just calling him Upchuck. Anyway...Upchuck was a dirty player, and in the Whiney Crybaby Club with Mike Modano and Chris Chellios. Last season we became aware of this fat, bald, ugly redenck dipstick in our section just by the fact that he's loud and obnoxious. You know those guys that no one likes so they try to overcompensate by being really cool, really funny, and really annoying? Yeah, one of those guys. I already didn't like the SOB, but at the first Blues game last year he came wearing a Blues jersey. And not just any Blues jersey, but Tkachuck! Of course! He would make a big display out of his cheering and rooting for the Blues, kept waving to some imaginary friend in another section and pointing to his jersey, and was booing and jeering Preds fans.
Now, I have had my share of verbal altercations with fans of opposing teams. My problem is when they are needlessly rude or show-offy. I love that people travel from all over to see their teams play, and chose Nashville as a destination. I am one of those hockey fans that respects other fans right off the bat and will be hospitable (particularly to Canadians...but that's another post entirely) up until they give me a reason not to. Nashville is the friendliest city in the US, so there is likely no reason for these visiting fans to be assholes. And The Stone is our house. That's what I liken it to--you invite me to come stay at your house, and I accept. Then, once I'm there I dump my suitcase out on your living room floor, head straight to the fridge without being told I can help myself, making a huge mess in the kitchen, then climb up on the table and taking a big, fat dump right there. You are looking at me in disbelief, maybe a little bit of anger, and I jump down from the table after wiping my ass with your grandmother's hand-knitted kitchen towel and shout "Fuck you fucker! This is MY house!!!" No reasonable person would ever do that. Yet, some visiting hockey fans feel that the equivalent behavior at the arena is perfectly legit. So, when they don't respond to my not-so-subtle glares and eye rolling, sometimes I have to speak up. Because you know what? It isn't your house...it is MY HOUSE!!!
And, for as much contempt as I have for rude (usually Northern--but not Canadian Northern) visiting hockey fans (I'm talking to YOU Buffalo Sabres fans!) I have even less tolerance for people who come to the Preds games all year in a Preds jersey and cheer them on, only to show up at another game in the opposing team's jersey, cheering for them and cussing our players. The most common variety has been what are called "Pred Wings," a hybrid Pred and Red Wing fan, which should always be mutually exclusive categories to begin with. What has made the Pred Wings so detestable beyond the simple "Red Wings Fan" issue, is that I have, on multiple occasions, witnessed Pred Wing fans enter the game in a Preds jersey, but if the Preds are losing, the Preds jersey comes off to reveal a Red Wings jersey. Its is one thing to be for the Wings when they are in town, and to split loyalty that way, but to not even be able to decide until you are at the game and know the score is a sign of a severe moral defect in character. Recently the Preds-Blues hybrids have become more common, in addition to Preds-Hawks hybrids. Regardless of the split affiliation, it is never acceptable.
Note: I know that I am also a Caps fan in addition to being a Preds fan. To quote our President, however, let's be clear...I am NEVER a Caps fan before I am a Preds fan. When the two teams play their ONE game against each other every season I am for the Preds. It does not make me super-duper sad if the Caps win, because I like them too, but I would always prefer the Preds win. Additionally, the two teams are in different Conferences, so not only does the game not carry extra point weight, like a Blues, Hawks or Wings game (or any other Conference/Divisional game) they are not in competition with each other for a playoff spot. I attended a Preds game in DC, in full Preds gear. I sat in my seat, cheered politely when appropriate, and refrained from irritating the natives. When the Preds won, and won handily, I left the game quietly without rubbing the victory in anyone's face.
OK, that was alot of discussion to get around to the main point...which is...I dislike rude visiting fans and will confront them when necessary, and I have a special hatred for Preds-hybrid fans. So, when this fella in our section was getting more out of hand than usual I had finally had enough. He was standing up cheering and being completely immature after the Blues scored a goal. Everyone in the section was staring at him. I finally yelled, almost involuntarily, but very loudly, "Would you just sit down and SHUT UP!?!" He turned, startled, looked at me, at which point I said, "Yeah, YOU!!" Kirby was reaching out over me, as if to be prepared to hold me back from a physical attack on the jackass and I was actually getting a little embarrassed at my lack of sportsmanship, since it was completely unplanned and more of a reflex than anything, when several people in the section started cheering ME and clapping. Dude sat down and didn't make a scene the rest of the night. He still hasn't made eye contact or looked in the general direction of our seats, and his behavior has been noticeably subdued, since. In honor of his love for Upchuck, Mom started calling HIM Upchuck, which to me was somewhat confusing. During another spontaneous cursing under my breath a few games later I called him an, "Uncle Fester looking fucker." Mom died laughing, and now my name for him is Uncle Fester.
Upchuck (real) and Uncle Fester gave me just one more reason to love the series with the Blues. I could hate on Upchuck the player while also intimidating Uncle Fester with my icy, evil "shut the fuck up you fat bastard" stare. All good things must come to an end, and Upchuck retired at the end of last season. I was looking forward to tonight's game to see how Uncle Fester reacted to this change. Would he still wear his Upchuck jersey? Would he still root for the Blues? Would he still avoid looking at me? Alas, he was not there tonight which is highly unusual, so I can only assume his love for the Blues faded when Upchuck hung up his skates. It does give me some satisfaction knowing that Upchuck had not made a decision about retirement at the time of his last game in Nashville last season, so Uncle Fester did not know he was seeing Upchuck play for the final time. I know he's a passionate hockey fan, so I know he feels a deep lack of closure. And I love it.
As tonight's game approached I knew the Blues were without Mason, I knew Uncle Fester was probably a non-issue, but I did not know Karyia had left the team, as well. According to the program he's taking a year off for "concussion-related issues" otherwise known as Jason Arnott Syndrome, or "my vagina hurts." I have a hard time believing that's not a big load of horseshit because he never allowed himself to hit or be hit, so how on Earth did that pussy get a concussion in order to have "realted issues." Whatever.
I was starting to get a little bummed because I had no real target for my extreme Blues hatred. That was until Kirby said, "Do we know this goalie?" I said that I knew the name but I wasn't sure from what team, but that it was very familiar. I flipped through the program to see if it would provide the answer. Yes, we know Jaroslav Halak. From the Montreal "Frency McFrencher" Canadiens. The suprise post-season netminding phenom who stopped an insane number of shots to bring his team from being behind three games to zero, winning the playoff series against none other than...the Washington Capitals. After the Preds scored two quick ones on Halak Kirby remarked, "he sucks." To which I replied, "Yes, Halak sucks." He said, "I know...but I mean tonight, he's not playing very well. He sucks tonight." I simply said, "Yes, Halak sucks." The Hockey Gods abliged and gave me a focal point for my animosity. And somehow, some way, his name also sounds like a bodily noise/function, reminiscent of Upchuck...like someone hacking or choking...Halakkkkkkk.
All is well and good in the hockey universe, and the Preds vs. Blues games still remain near and dear to my adversarial hockey heart!
After a pathetic season and even more pathetic post-season by what was supposed to be our "dream team" in 06-07 Paul "Don't Touch Me" Karyia went to the Blues. It was a bad summer for the Preds with the ownership debacle and gutting of the team, but he didn't have to go. He chose to. I never liked him much anyway because he played like a scared little girl, wouldn't hit to save his life, and wasn't very fan-friendly. Not to mention he almost t-boned me at an intersection after a game one night in his speeding GX470. I totally creeped him out by driving right next to him the whole way to Franklin, despite the fact that he was going in excess of 85 mph. But he showed a complete lack of gratitude for Nashville taking him on when the Ducks unceremoniously disposed of him after their successful Cup run, and after we all put up with his wussified style of play for two seasons. He never was the Paul Karyia we were all promised. So I was not sad to see him go, and I looked forward to the opportunity to cheer against him and boo. It seemed the majority of the Nashville fans felt the same way I did because it became the crowd's game to boo him every time he touched the puck. This is not as easy as it sounds, seeing as how sometimes he would have he puck on his stick of literally one second or so. It was endlessly entertaining to listen to the wave of abbreviated and extended boo's during his shifts.
Karyia's first season in St. Louis was Chris Mason's first season as the Pred's starting goalie. The previous season had witnessed Thomas Vokoun--the darling of the team and a fan favorite--suffering an injury and then a strange medical condition that required he be on blood thinners, thus ending his season. I always liked Vokoun, and the opportunity to sing "Voookouuun" in place of "Woooo hoooo" in Blur's "Song #2" every time he made a great save. Yet, his play leading up to his injury, and immediately following his return before the discovery of his condition, was not impressive. It wasn't that I wanted him to go away, I just wanted to see what Mason could do, and when given the opportunity Mason lit it up! The Preds had just signed Vokoun to a 5-year deal with a no-trade clause. He was the go-to goalie, the face and future of the team. Then, in June of 2007, one day before his no-trade clause would have kicked in, he was traded to the Florida Panthers for...I don't even remember who. I tried to act like it was no big deal because we had Mason, and Mason was just as good--if not better. The defense always seemed to play a little harder for Mase, too, for whatever reason. So, the 07-08 season started with Mase as the starting goalie and Dan Ellis as his backup. Chris Mason rose to the occasion by falling flat on his ever-loving face. He was a disaster. Dan Ellis eventually stepped into the starter's skates and at the end of the season Chris Mason was dealt to St. Louis.
I stood up for Mason. I said we'd be fine with Mason. I believed in Mason. I comforted dejected Vokoun fans with endless praise for Mason. When he blew it, he not only embarrassed himself, he embarrassed me. I don't like being embarrassed and I don't like being made to look a fool. For that I have never forgiven Chris Mason. The majority of the Preds-Blues games through last season featured Mason in net. So, as it went with his former Preds and current Blues teammate Karyia, I reveled in booing him. I got to yell "Mason...Mason...Mason...YOU SUCK!!!" and "That's one, that's two, that's three...thank you Mason may we have another? He shoots, he scores, you SUCK!!!" It brought me great pleasure. Mason actually did quite well with the Blues and shared his starting role with Detroit rejects Legace and Conklin, but they traded him to Atlanta this offseason. I now get the pleasure of cursing him from my couch while watching him backstop for the Thrashers when they play the Caps.
Last, but certainly not least, was the "Upchuck Factor." Upchuck was the pet name Mom came up with for Keith Tkachuck, the longtime Blues player and resident asshole. I never liked him from the first time I saw him based solely on his last name. T and K do not belong together in that sequence. That is not a recognized letter combination. I took to pronouncing it phonetically: Tuh-kuh-chuck. She made it easier by just calling him Upchuck. Anyway...Upchuck was a dirty player, and in the Whiney Crybaby Club with Mike Modano and Chris Chellios. Last season we became aware of this fat, bald, ugly redenck dipstick in our section just by the fact that he's loud and obnoxious. You know those guys that no one likes so they try to overcompensate by being really cool, really funny, and really annoying? Yeah, one of those guys. I already didn't like the SOB, but at the first Blues game last year he came wearing a Blues jersey. And not just any Blues jersey, but Tkachuck! Of course! He would make a big display out of his cheering and rooting for the Blues, kept waving to some imaginary friend in another section and pointing to his jersey, and was booing and jeering Preds fans.
Now, I have had my share of verbal altercations with fans of opposing teams. My problem is when they are needlessly rude or show-offy. I love that people travel from all over to see their teams play, and chose Nashville as a destination. I am one of those hockey fans that respects other fans right off the bat and will be hospitable (particularly to Canadians...but that's another post entirely) up until they give me a reason not to. Nashville is the friendliest city in the US, so there is likely no reason for these visiting fans to be assholes. And The Stone is our house. That's what I liken it to--you invite me to come stay at your house, and I accept. Then, once I'm there I dump my suitcase out on your living room floor, head straight to the fridge without being told I can help myself, making a huge mess in the kitchen, then climb up on the table and taking a big, fat dump right there. You are looking at me in disbelief, maybe a little bit of anger, and I jump down from the table after wiping my ass with your grandmother's hand-knitted kitchen towel and shout "Fuck you fucker! This is MY house!!!" No reasonable person would ever do that. Yet, some visiting hockey fans feel that the equivalent behavior at the arena is perfectly legit. So, when they don't respond to my not-so-subtle glares and eye rolling, sometimes I have to speak up. Because you know what? It isn't your house...it is MY HOUSE!!!
And, for as much contempt as I have for rude (usually Northern--but not Canadian Northern) visiting hockey fans (I'm talking to YOU Buffalo Sabres fans!) I have even less tolerance for people who come to the Preds games all year in a Preds jersey and cheer them on, only to show up at another game in the opposing team's jersey, cheering for them and cussing our players. The most common variety has been what are called "Pred Wings," a hybrid Pred and Red Wing fan, which should always be mutually exclusive categories to begin with. What has made the Pred Wings so detestable beyond the simple "Red Wings Fan" issue, is that I have, on multiple occasions, witnessed Pred Wing fans enter the game in a Preds jersey, but if the Preds are losing, the Preds jersey comes off to reveal a Red Wings jersey. Its is one thing to be for the Wings when they are in town, and to split loyalty that way, but to not even be able to decide until you are at the game and know the score is a sign of a severe moral defect in character. Recently the Preds-Blues hybrids have become more common, in addition to Preds-Hawks hybrids. Regardless of the split affiliation, it is never acceptable.
Note: I know that I am also a Caps fan in addition to being a Preds fan. To quote our President, however, let's be clear...I am NEVER a Caps fan before I am a Preds fan. When the two teams play their ONE game against each other every season I am for the Preds. It does not make me super-duper sad if the Caps win, because I like them too, but I would always prefer the Preds win. Additionally, the two teams are in different Conferences, so not only does the game not carry extra point weight, like a Blues, Hawks or Wings game (or any other Conference/Divisional game) they are not in competition with each other for a playoff spot. I attended a Preds game in DC, in full Preds gear. I sat in my seat, cheered politely when appropriate, and refrained from irritating the natives. When the Preds won, and won handily, I left the game quietly without rubbing the victory in anyone's face.
OK, that was alot of discussion to get around to the main point...which is...I dislike rude visiting fans and will confront them when necessary, and I have a special hatred for Preds-hybrid fans. So, when this fella in our section was getting more out of hand than usual I had finally had enough. He was standing up cheering and being completely immature after the Blues scored a goal. Everyone in the section was staring at him. I finally yelled, almost involuntarily, but very loudly, "Would you just sit down and SHUT UP!?!" He turned, startled, looked at me, at which point I said, "Yeah, YOU!!" Kirby was reaching out over me, as if to be prepared to hold me back from a physical attack on the jackass and I was actually getting a little embarrassed at my lack of sportsmanship, since it was completely unplanned and more of a reflex than anything, when several people in the section started cheering ME and clapping. Dude sat down and didn't make a scene the rest of the night. He still hasn't made eye contact or looked in the general direction of our seats, and his behavior has been noticeably subdued, since. In honor of his love for Upchuck, Mom started calling HIM Upchuck, which to me was somewhat confusing. During another spontaneous cursing under my breath a few games later I called him an, "Uncle Fester looking fucker." Mom died laughing, and now my name for him is Uncle Fester.
Upchuck (real) and Uncle Fester gave me just one more reason to love the series with the Blues. I could hate on Upchuck the player while also intimidating Uncle Fester with my icy, evil "shut the fuck up you fat bastard" stare. All good things must come to an end, and Upchuck retired at the end of last season. I was looking forward to tonight's game to see how Uncle Fester reacted to this change. Would he still wear his Upchuck jersey? Would he still root for the Blues? Would he still avoid looking at me? Alas, he was not there tonight which is highly unusual, so I can only assume his love for the Blues faded when Upchuck hung up his skates. It does give me some satisfaction knowing that Upchuck had not made a decision about retirement at the time of his last game in Nashville last season, so Uncle Fester did not know he was seeing Upchuck play for the final time. I know he's a passionate hockey fan, so I know he feels a deep lack of closure. And I love it.
As tonight's game approached I knew the Blues were without Mason, I knew Uncle Fester was probably a non-issue, but I did not know Karyia had left the team, as well. According to the program he's taking a year off for "concussion-related issues" otherwise known as Jason Arnott Syndrome, or "my vagina hurts." I have a hard time believing that's not a big load of horseshit because he never allowed himself to hit or be hit, so how on Earth did that pussy get a concussion in order to have "realted issues." Whatever.
I was starting to get a little bummed because I had no real target for my extreme Blues hatred. That was until Kirby said, "Do we know this goalie?" I said that I knew the name but I wasn't sure from what team, but that it was very familiar. I flipped through the program to see if it would provide the answer. Yes, we know Jaroslav Halak. From the Montreal "Frency McFrencher" Canadiens. The suprise post-season netminding phenom who stopped an insane number of shots to bring his team from being behind three games to zero, winning the playoff series against none other than...the Washington Capitals. After the Preds scored two quick ones on Halak Kirby remarked, "he sucks." To which I replied, "Yes, Halak sucks." He said, "I know...but I mean tonight, he's not playing very well. He sucks tonight." I simply said, "Yes, Halak sucks." The Hockey Gods abliged and gave me a focal point for my animosity. And somehow, some way, his name also sounds like a bodily noise/function, reminiscent of Upchuck...like someone hacking or choking...Halakkkkkkk.
All is well and good in the hockey universe, and the Preds vs. Blues games still remain near and dear to my adversarial hockey heart!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Preds 10-11: Game #1
19:43- Bullshit. That was not a penalty.
19:30- They need to get the Ducks' shooting gallery under control.
19:00- Oh, my boyfriend Teemu Selanne. Woo hoo. Just kidding. He's Paul Karyia's boyfriend.
16:55- Why are there no Preds players in front of Hiller, but four Ducks players? Of course you aren't going to get a shot through. Good to see Trotz hasn't learned anything lately.
14:36- This is going to be a very boring game I fear...OH OFF THE POST!!! Thanks Mr. Post. The 7th Man is not the crowd...it is the goal post!
13:41- Good scoring chance but still no traffic in front of Hiller. Give me a break. [Literally, actually, it's the first commercial break.]
8:55- Weak fight.
6:54- Boooooooring! Zzzzzzzzzzz.......
2:19- Goc's scoring chance was pretty much the only exciting thing so far.
0:46- Shots on goal 16 Ducks to 8 Preds. What a joke!
1st Intermission: David Poile is incompotent.
18:32- Weak ass power play by the Preds.
16:00- I'd really like to write something, but nothing is happening.
15:47- Marcel Goc scores the first game of the season!!!!! WOOT!!! GO GOC!!!
14:35- Koivu scores to tie the game. WTF Rinne? That was a gimme.
11:27- Sully (with a great screen by Hornquist) scores the Preds 2nd goal! My #1 player scores 1st, my #2 player scores 2nd...so let's say Hornquist gets the next, followed by Weber. The rust is falling off, the pace is picking up and the game is getting more interesting. Bobby and the dogs are missing. I should probably go check on them.
9:12- Actually, even though the pace has picked up it is still pretty freaking dull. Too much back and forth, no one is really holding in the zone for any amount of time, too much play in the neutral zone. Now Ward just took a penalty. Way to go.
3:34- Hornquist scores. I am somehow, freakily, predicting the scorers in the correct order. If Weber does actually score next I might get a second job as a physic.
18:37- More lame fights. Can we get a good fight, please?
15:32- Rinne out? Hm. Backup goalie is 6'6" 205. I'll take it.
7:21- Legwand goes top shelf to score. So I didn't predict correctly. Now I'd like a Frostie!!
2:48- Another weak ass fight. On another note, Sullivan is the HH Gregg Player of the Game! Go Sully! Preds also on a power play now, but I don't expect them to do anything about it.
17.2- Can't score on the two-man advantage or the power play. Wow.
Well, the Preds won and there were four goals, but overall it was a pretty boring game. Outshot the Ducks 49-27 even though they had a crappy first period in the shots area. I'm hoping we see a little more spunk from the Preds as the season warms up.
19:30- They need to get the Ducks' shooting gallery under control.
19:00- Oh, my boyfriend Teemu Selanne. Woo hoo. Just kidding. He's Paul Karyia's boyfriend.
16:55- Why are there no Preds players in front of Hiller, but four Ducks players? Of course you aren't going to get a shot through. Good to see Trotz hasn't learned anything lately.
14:36- This is going to be a very boring game I fear...OH OFF THE POST!!! Thanks Mr. Post. The 7th Man is not the crowd...it is the goal post!
13:41- Good scoring chance but still no traffic in front of Hiller. Give me a break. [Literally, actually, it's the first commercial break.]
8:55- Weak fight.
6:54- Boooooooring! Zzzzzzzzzzz.......
2:19- Goc's scoring chance was pretty much the only exciting thing so far.
0:46- Shots on goal 16 Ducks to 8 Preds. What a joke!
1st Intermission: David Poile is incompotent.
18:32- Weak ass power play by the Preds.
16:00- I'd really like to write something, but nothing is happening.
15:47- Marcel Goc scores the first game of the season!!!!! WOOT!!! GO GOC!!!
14:35- Koivu scores to tie the game. WTF Rinne? That was a gimme.
11:27- Sully (with a great screen by Hornquist) scores the Preds 2nd goal! My #1 player scores 1st, my #2 player scores 2nd...so let's say Hornquist gets the next, followed by Weber. The rust is falling off, the pace is picking up and the game is getting more interesting. Bobby and the dogs are missing. I should probably go check on them.
9:12- Actually, even though the pace has picked up it is still pretty freaking dull. Too much back and forth, no one is really holding in the zone for any amount of time, too much play in the neutral zone. Now Ward just took a penalty. Way to go.
3:34- Hornquist scores. I am somehow, freakily, predicting the scorers in the correct order. If Weber does actually score next I might get a second job as a physic.
18:37- More lame fights. Can we get a good fight, please?
15:32- Rinne out? Hm. Backup goalie is 6'6" 205. I'll take it.
7:21- Legwand goes top shelf to score. So I didn't predict correctly. Now I'd like a Frostie!!
2:48- Another weak ass fight. On another note, Sullivan is the HH Gregg Player of the Game! Go Sully! Preds also on a power play now, but I don't expect them to do anything about it.
17.2- Can't score on the two-man advantage or the power play. Wow.
Well, the Preds won and there were four goals, but overall it was a pretty boring game. Outshot the Ducks 49-27 even though they had a crappy first period in the shots area. I'm hoping we see a little more spunk from the Preds as the season warms up.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Boys are Back
The 2010-2011 NHL Season skated off the starting line last night and even though I'm feeling rather uninspired at the moment I'll do my best to do the occasion justice. Regardless of the fact that the games so far are partly to blame for my current lack of inspiration.
I did not catch any of the games from Europe and last night's first game in the States was the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers, and the first game for the Pens in their new arena. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who I was rooting for, and I got my wish. The Pens lost their home season opener in their new arena, but the game was lackluster and not very exciting, save for the last two minutes when the Pens went on the power play AND pulled their goalie giving them a two-man advantage against the Flyers. Still, they failed to score and tie the game. Wah wah. Someone get Cindy his binky and a tampon.
The second contest was Chicago versus Colorado in Colorado. I went to bed during the second period but was glad to wake up to the news that the Avs won. I'm still holding a grudge from the Finals last season, but I also realize that Chicago is in our division and I want to win our division for a change. Therefore, any loss by Chicago helps Nashville. Despite winning their home opener against the defending Stanley Cup Champions the Avs fell hard to the Wings tonight.
This brings us to tonight's contest between the Caps and the Thrashers in Atlanta. I was super jazzed to learn that NHL Center Ice is on free preview so I was able to watch the first Caps game of the season. I had no more than just stopped complaining about Chris Mason being the Thrashers' current #2 goalie when he became the netminder for the evening. The starting goalie collapsed out of nowhere about two minutes into the game and remained unconscious, it appeared, until they carted him off the ice on the stretcher twenty minutes later. Mason went on to capture the win for the Thrashers and I can't say it was because of good goaltending on his part or superior play on the part of the rest of the team--despite what the Atlanta announcers wanted to declare. The Caps play was not up to par, and certainly not up to the talent level the team is capable of. Let's hope they get their act together before their home opener tomorrow night.
Tomorrow also marks the home and season opener for the Preds. I won't be attending the game this year because Kirby wants to go to a birthday party (I know, makes no sense to me) and I need to stay with my Uncle while my parents go to the game. I'll be watching on TV and plan to live-blog the game, which is one upside to being at home rather than at the game. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the one pre-season game I attended, but in the three games I've watched on TV since I'm reminded that the pre-season is NOT in any way, shape or form the regular season. It is--literally--a whole other game.
I also finally discussed subscribing to the Center Ice package with Kirby tonight and we agreed we wanted to subscribe this year, after not subscribing last year. Funny, my Mom is not planning to subscribe this year (although I do think she'll change her mind before the end of the month) because we seem to subscribe in alternate years then take the next year off. Having this will mean that I will be watching at least one game virtually every night this season that I am home, so I will be able to keep tabs on all the teams better than when I only have "NHL on the Fly" to rely on for non-Preds information. This, in turn, means I'll be blogging about more games and more hockey-related topics, including how the new rules regarding hits affects play--and more importantly, if and how much "interpretation" by the officials is affecting game outcomes.
So...thanks for tuning in...I'll blog to you tomorrow night from the heart of SMASHVILLE!
I did not catch any of the games from Europe and last night's first game in the States was the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers, and the first game for the Pens in their new arena. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who I was rooting for, and I got my wish. The Pens lost their home season opener in their new arena, but the game was lackluster and not very exciting, save for the last two minutes when the Pens went on the power play AND pulled their goalie giving them a two-man advantage against the Flyers. Still, they failed to score and tie the game. Wah wah. Someone get Cindy his binky and a tampon.
The second contest was Chicago versus Colorado in Colorado. I went to bed during the second period but was glad to wake up to the news that the Avs won. I'm still holding a grudge from the Finals last season, but I also realize that Chicago is in our division and I want to win our division for a change. Therefore, any loss by Chicago helps Nashville. Despite winning their home opener against the defending Stanley Cup Champions the Avs fell hard to the Wings tonight.
This brings us to tonight's contest between the Caps and the Thrashers in Atlanta. I was super jazzed to learn that NHL Center Ice is on free preview so I was able to watch the first Caps game of the season. I had no more than just stopped complaining about Chris Mason being the Thrashers' current #2 goalie when he became the netminder for the evening. The starting goalie collapsed out of nowhere about two minutes into the game and remained unconscious, it appeared, until they carted him off the ice on the stretcher twenty minutes later. Mason went on to capture the win for the Thrashers and I can't say it was because of good goaltending on his part or superior play on the part of the rest of the team--despite what the Atlanta announcers wanted to declare. The Caps play was not up to par, and certainly not up to the talent level the team is capable of. Let's hope they get their act together before their home opener tomorrow night.
Tomorrow also marks the home and season opener for the Preds. I won't be attending the game this year because Kirby wants to go to a birthday party (I know, makes no sense to me) and I need to stay with my Uncle while my parents go to the game. I'll be watching on TV and plan to live-blog the game, which is one upside to being at home rather than at the game. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the one pre-season game I attended, but in the three games I've watched on TV since I'm reminded that the pre-season is NOT in any way, shape or form the regular season. It is--literally--a whole other game.
I also finally discussed subscribing to the Center Ice package with Kirby tonight and we agreed we wanted to subscribe this year, after not subscribing last year. Funny, my Mom is not planning to subscribe this year (although I do think she'll change her mind before the end of the month) because we seem to subscribe in alternate years then take the next year off. Having this will mean that I will be watching at least one game virtually every night this season that I am home, so I will be able to keep tabs on all the teams better than when I only have "NHL on the Fly" to rely on for non-Preds information. This, in turn, means I'll be blogging about more games and more hockey-related topics, including how the new rules regarding hits affects play--and more importantly, if and how much "interpretation" by the officials is affecting game outcomes.
So...thanks for tuning in...I'll blog to you tomorrow night from the heart of SMASHVILLE!
U. Bob: Update
Bobby comes home from the hospital tomorrow, and for the time being he'll be staying with my parents so he can continue with outpatient therapy in Cool Springs. Even though Mom is hesitant I think it is great because he needs additional therapy and he can only get that here, so it isn't time to send him to Milan just yet. Eventually, as it now stands, he'll go and stay with Nan which will hopefully lift her spirits some and give her something to "do," so to speak, and help her recovery as well.
Bobby has improved greatly since he arrived at Baptist even though he still can't really have a complete conversation. It is so strange that simple thoughts or words are the ones he stumbles over, but he can come out with concepts, ideas and words that most people don't even know about. Somehow the deeper areas of his knowledge are unaffected while his basic skills, knowledge and vocabulary took the hit.
I'm also glad he'll be staying here a while longer so I can spend some more time with him. Apparently he had been talking to the therapists about me and having me around has really cheered him up. Mom is bringing him by the shop tomorrow on the way to their house so he can see the new building, which he hasn't before, and to see Dad's car which he currently just calls "orange." This should be cool and exciting for both of us because we are packed to the brim with cars right now, many finished or almost so, so there's actually alot to see right now. Then I'm going down to the house tomorrow night to stay with him while they go to the hockey game. I'll be on "relief duty" for Mom whenever she needs to go somewhere or do something, but I think she's going to try and get as much of that done during his therapy time as she can. I've also suggested she bring him by the shop from time to time to hang out and give herself a break.
Not much else to report about that right now. I don't know how long he'll be doing outpatient therapy or anything else and it is sort of a day by day process for all of us.
Bobby has improved greatly since he arrived at Baptist even though he still can't really have a complete conversation. It is so strange that simple thoughts or words are the ones he stumbles over, but he can come out with concepts, ideas and words that most people don't even know about. Somehow the deeper areas of his knowledge are unaffected while his basic skills, knowledge and vocabulary took the hit.
I'm also glad he'll be staying here a while longer so I can spend some more time with him. Apparently he had been talking to the therapists about me and having me around has really cheered him up. Mom is bringing him by the shop tomorrow on the way to their house so he can see the new building, which he hasn't before, and to see Dad's car which he currently just calls "orange." This should be cool and exciting for both of us because we are packed to the brim with cars right now, many finished or almost so, so there's actually alot to see right now. Then I'm going down to the house tomorrow night to stay with him while they go to the hockey game. I'll be on "relief duty" for Mom whenever she needs to go somewhere or do something, but I think she's going to try and get as much of that done during his therapy time as she can. I've also suggested she bring him by the shop from time to time to hang out and give herself a break.
Not much else to report about that right now. I don't know how long he'll be doing outpatient therapy or anything else and it is sort of a day by day process for all of us.
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