Sunday Morning Stuff

by Anne

• Not having cable at my own home has really cut into my commitment to the playoffs. I actually fell asleep before the third period of the Canucks game on Friday night. Shame. Shame on me.

• Its hard to commit to yet another season of no Sabres in the playoffs. Everytime I watch a game I think about how much we need that atmosphere and how much we miss it.

• The Pirates lost game 2 to the Bruins by a score of 2-1, tying the best o' seven series at one apiece. Although Bhonas Jhonas set a new Pirates franchise record shut out streak in the playoffs at 82:01.The previous record, held by Ron Tugnutt was 77:53. Congrats MVP! The series moves back to Portland today at 4:00 p.m. Wooo!!

• The Stanley Cup playoff series are going well for me... except for the Rangers/Caps series, that one is NOT ok. Also, Detroit is just beating the snot out of Columbus. I expected Columbus to win at least ONE game. Maybe they'll take one at home. The Blue Jackets fans need that much. They need to see their team win at least ONE playoff game or they really won't be much better off than they were when they never made the playoffs. Come on, Nasher!!

• The Sabres signed T.J. Brennan and Drew Scheistel the other day, both to three year entry-level deals. Welcome Aboard posts forthcoming.

• Check out The Faceoff Boards, just added to the blogroll on the right, or click the link.

• I just started working at Macy's and I trained all day yesterday with a woman who had no teeth in the top of her mouth. There are MANY things about a person's appearance I can disregard and ignore but a lack of chompers is not one of them. We all know how much I love Matt Greene, but I saw a video of him the other day in which he was missing about 5 or 6 teeth in the top of his mouth and I was totally grossed out. I didn't think it was possible.

• The Team USA roster is BALONEY. Ok, not completely. It boasts Jack Johnson (LAK), Dustin Brown (LAK), Patrick O'Sullivan (EDM, formerly LAK), Robert Esche (Somewhere in Russia), Nick Foligno (OTT) and Staffy. However it DOES NOT boast Matt Greene, Paul Gaustad, Peter Mueller, or any of the other still eligible gents. Although, the roster got a SERIOUS boost when Jonathan Quick was indicated as probably joining the team after his groin heals up. THEN J-M Liles was added. Let's take a moment and reflect on why J-M is so popular with this blog.

1. He's Ryan Miller's BFF
2. He's an excellent defenseman who plays a lot of minutes and can really move the puck
Reasons 3. through 56986987. He's pretty...

Let's Do It For Our Country

• I have more training today. Hoo. Ray. Happy Sunday everyone.

• Also, Brett Bucktooth, my favorite Bandit whom I mentioned once a few months ago scored a goal last night and I discovered he wears #26. 26 happens to be my lucky number. Its like it was written in the stars for Brett Bucktooth to be my default favorite Bandit. Oh and that one I thought was cute, Kim, help a sister out here. Scott or Sean Greensomething. Yes, my dedication to him his made obvious by my inability to accurately recall his name.

• Wait, GREENsomething. Perhaps I just have a fixation on players with players who have a color as part of their last name. Although, as of yet I have not fallen for Wade REDden or Andrew BRUNette
  

• If you have a spleen that you are fond of, do not play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is the second year in a row that a player has had to have their ruptured spleen removed. Last year it was Avery and just yesterday, the Bruins' Matt Hunwick had to have his spleen removed. In 2007 my dog had his spleen removed but he wasn't playing in the playoffs that year so I'm not sure how its relevant other than I just realized that my cocker spaniel and Sean Avery have something in common.
  

The Games Last Night

by Anne

Last night's games went as follows:

Philadelphia Flyers 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 4


That's what Rob Scuderi thinks of your "physical style" Flyers' Darroll Powe
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0: Good
Next game: April 17 @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 pm


New York Rangers 4
Washington Capitals 3


I blame you
No, not YOU, Nik Antropov,
YOU Joe-zay Tay-uh-door
New York leads series 1-0: Bad
Next game: April 18 @ Washington, 1:00 pm

New Jersey Devils 4
Carolina Butter Snaps 1


I love the enthusiasm, Zachary.
Please don't lose any more teeth this year
New Jersey leads series 1-0: Good
Next game: April 17 @ New Jersey, 7:30 pm


St. Louis Blues 1
Vancouver Canucks 2


Lui doesn't want you in his crease, thanksverymuch Alex Steen
Vancouver leads series 1-0: GREAT
Next game: April 17 @ Vancouver, 10:00 pm


Portland Pirates 3
Providence Bruins 0


Marek Zagrapan with two goals
Jhonas Enroth with the shut-out!
Portland leads series 1-0: TOTALLY AWESOME
Next game: April 17 @ Providence, 7:05 pm

Tonight's games are:

Montreal Canadiens (8) @ Boston Bruins (1) 7:00 pm
Columbus Blue Jackets (7) @ Detroit (1) 7:00 pm
Calgary Flames (5) @ Chicago Blackhawks (4) 8:30 pm
Anaheim Ducks (8) @ San Jose Sharks (1) 10:30 pm

Woooo!!!

Playoffs Start Tonight!!

by Anne

Woooo!!

The 2009 Stanley Cup AND 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs kick off tonight!

MOST importantly, our very own Portland Pirates kick of their Round 1 series against the Providence Bruins tonight @ 7:05 pm at the Dunkin' Donuts Center aka the Greatest Named Sports Arena of All-Time. When you think of donuts, think of Bruins' hockey.

This is the fourth time the Pirates and Bruins have met in the post-season. The Pirates have won the previous three match-ups and are 5-2-0-3 this season against the Bruins. Speaking COMPLETELY from a non-biased perspective, I could see the Pirates being poised for an upset. Their special teams are higher ranked than the Bruins, they've outscored the Bruins 37-31 this season, not including shootout deciding goals. Providence won all three times the games went to the shootout... which is mostly irrelevant in the post season because there is no shootout. Also, for the first time in a long time, the Pirates have eight, count them, EIGHT healthy defensemen with 47-games-in-the-NHL-experienced and recently crowned new King of the hearts of the ladies of the Buffalo Blogosphere, Chris Butler coming back into the fold. I see this Pirates team doing well.

And also the Providence Bruins boast the one and only Wacey Rabbit on their roster, so the more we hear about him, the better.

Lindy, if the only way to make the playoffs if to have your team hoist you over a wall, GET CLIMBIN'

ALSO. The Vancouver Canucks square off against their first round opponents, the St. Louis Blues tonight at 10:00 pm at GM Place in Vancouver. The battle of Backes v. Berglund is still up in the air with both gentlemen making strong statistical and aesthetic cases for themselves. It would seem whomever plays better againt my playoff mistress Canucks would be the winner... just so long as they lose the series to Vancouver, pleaseandthanks. Apparently David played for Team USA last year at the WCs. This had escaped my notice and appeals to me immensely... let's see what happens after you're eliminated in the first round. (RIGHT CANUCKS!?! Wooooo!!!!)

In news that exactly no one is surprised by, the New York Islanders won the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry draft. The rest of the picks played out in the same order teams finished in the regular season standings, meaning the Kings will pick 5th. The Sabres will be picking 13th overall again this year.

I'm just glad the Tampa Bay Lightning won't have yet another first overall pick to force into the NHL before he's ready. Now they'll have a #2 overall pick to do that to.

In the Hedman v. Tavares battle of the interviews tonight, Hedman gets my vote. It was after 2:00 a.m. in Sweden and Victor was WIDE awake, speaking all articulately in a lovely Swedish accent, and Johnny, rocking an OHL playoff beard sounded like he'd just been pulled off a bar stool after an all day bender... which he isn't allowed to do yet as he's only 18.

The NHL Entry Draft is June 26 and 27, 2009 in Montreal.

Just a few hours 'til puck drop on the playoffs!

Also, don't forget to file your taxes by midnight tonight!!

Playoffs, Kids!

by Anne

The Portland Pirates won tonight 6-5 over the Providence Bruins to clinch a playoff berth!

Mathieu Darche scored his 30th and 31st goalsof the season including his AHL-leading 10th game-winning goal!

The team handed out some awards as well.

Most Valuable Player (as voted by fans): Jhonas Enroth

Fan Favorite (as voted by fans, duh): Nathan Gerbe

Unsung Hero (as voted by fans): Tim Kennedy

Player's Player (as voted by his teammates): Tyler Bouck

Ebright Award (player that best exemplifies what it means to be a Portland Pirate): Paul Baier

Jack Button Award (given to the Pirates' top prospect who is also aging backwards): Jhonas Enroth

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars Award (given to the Pirate who was named a star of the game the most times): Jhonas Enroth

Congrats to the baby Sabres! Maybe some of you will be grown-up big boy Sabres next season?!

Hooray! Playoffs!