Hockey

[shadows]

Sorry for the length everyone. It is a very long article.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Sorry for the length everyone. It is a very long article.

If there was ever anything for which no apology is necessary, this is it, my friend.

[ila]

Okay, shadows, as I write this there is 5 minutes left in the first period. Toronto is winning 1 - 0 and Toronto is on a poweplay. (They just scored goal #2). The way Toronto is playing I am amazed that they are in the lead. As an example during the powerplay (another goal by Toronto - holy s#$%) Toronto was in Ottawa's end and the three forwards all went into the corner against 2 Ottawa players. No one was in front of the net to take a pass. What are they thinking? Then again the strategy must be working as they are winning 3 - 0 right now.

Ottawa just woke up and they are starting to play. (Edit: Ottawa just went back to sleep.)

Before the game started I was predicting an Ottawa win. Now I'm not sure. If Toronto keeps it up they are going to win and maybe teach Ottawa some humiliation.

[ila]

I saw in today's paper that Montreal just called up two players from Hamilton. I hope that puts some spark in the team's play.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ila

Okay, shadows, as I write this there is 5 minutes left in the first period. Toronto is winning 1 - 0 and Toronto is on a poweplay. (They just scored goal #2). The way Toronto is playing I am amazed that they are in the lead. As an example during the powerplay (another goal by Toronto - holy s#$%) Toronto was in Ottawa's end and the three forwards all went into the corner against 2 Ottawa players. No one was in front of the net to take a pass. What are they thinking? Then again the strategy must be working as they are winning 3 - 0 right now.

Ottawa just woke up and they are starting to play. (Edit: Ottawa just went back to sleep.)

Before the game started I was predicting an Ottawa win. Now I'm not sure. If Toronto keeps it up they are going to win and maybe teach Ottawa some humiliation.

Toronto ended up winning 5-0. This is Giguere's second straight shutout! A first for the Toronto Maple Leafs(where a goalie records a shutout during his first two games with the team).

I'm kind of tired(long shift) and I am kind of bummed. Part of my plant was drooping when I got home this morning. I accidentally hit that part with the watering container last night(I was in a rush to get to work) and I think it "stressed it out". This is what happened to my last plant over a year ago, but that time the entire plant drooped(and no amount of TLC brought it back), this time it is only part of the plant(I am not sure of the species of the plant, but it has many different stalks which may work in my favour so it survives).

You may say "It's only a plant. Big deal!", but I like it. I love Spring with all of the different colours and the onset of greenery, so I like having a plant in my house during the winter(gives it a little life). It is a neat looking plant that has grown like crazy the past year and I want it to survive. Hopefully if the one part ends up dying(fingers crossed that it doesn't) the rest will survive.

Anyhoo, no report for today but I will say the scores for the relevant teams.

1. Toronto beat Ottawa 5-0.

2. Vancouver beat Boston 3-2.

3. Montreal beat Pittsburgh 5-3.

4. The Rangers beat New Jersey 3-1.

5. Minnesota beat Philadelphia 2-1.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Anyhoo, no report for today but I will say the scores for the relevant teams.

2. Vancouver beat Boston 3-2.

At this point, I feel I must ask that you define "relevant" as a justification for including the Bruins score. Oh, I forgot, there might be a Vancouver fan reading this. Otherwise, what's the point?

The Bruins last won on January 14, and that was in a shootout. If they lose today, they'll match the franchise's worst losing streak ever, in the 1924-1925 season! In other words, the inaugural season!! And just to make it worse, it'll be the Canadiens today. And when Boston is truly humiliated, at whose hands is it by? The Habs.

Okay, you can tell me that it's still relevant because the Bruins are still in the mix for a playoff spot -- they're only two points out of 8th place in the East -- but that only reminds me that there are way too many teams in the NHL playoffs. I mean, gimme a break, 8th place! A playoff berth! What a joke.

Can you tell I'm discouraged?

P.S. shadows, I truly wish the best for your plant, and I understand exactly what you write about its meaning to you.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

At this point, I feel I must ask that you define "relevant" as a justification for including the Bruins score. Oh, I forgot, there might be a Vancouver fan reading this. Otherwise, what's the point?

The Bruins last won on January 14, and that was in a shootout. If they lose today, they'll match the franchise's worst losing streak ever, in the 1924-1925 season! In other words, the inaugural season!! And just to make it worse, it'll be the Canadiens today. And when Boston is truly humiliated, at whose hands is it by? The Habs.

Okay, you can tell me that it's still relevant because the Bruins are still in the mix for a playoff spot -- they're only two points out of 8th place in the East -- but that only reminds me that there are way too many teams in the NHL playoffs. I mean, gimme a break, 8th place! A playoff berth! What a joke.

Can you tell I'm discouraged?

P.S. shadows, I truly wish the best for your plant, and I understand exactly what you write about its meaning to you.

Thanks smc. Actually, it looks like the plant will be okay! The affected stalks are not drooping as much and the leaves are pointing up again like they were before.

And your good vibes for my plant payed off for you! Boston beat Montreal last night 3-0.

I hate when two teams of fellow hockey lovers from here play(as I don't want to "choose sides", but at least it was a good game.

[smc]

Off to the Beanpot Tournament tonight! (See my earlier post if you need an explanation.)

[dauls]

Originally Posted by shadows

4. The Rangers beat New Jersey 3-1.

That result was bad enough.

But Monday night's 3-2 loss to the Flyers after the Devils lead 2-0 is

Probably payback for Friday's comeback win over the Leafs.

Are the rest of the Devils in awe of Kovalchuk?
He should sign some autographs for them and maybe they'll find it easier to play alongside him once the hero adulation has died down.

Congratulations go to Jen.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by dauls

That result was bad enough.

But Monday night's 3-2 loss to the Flyers after the Devils lead 2-0 is :

Probably payback for Friday's comeback win over the Leafs.

Are the rest of the Devils in awe of Kovalchuk?
He should sign some autographs for them and maybe they'll find it easier to play alongside him once the hero adulation has died down.

Congratulations go to Jen.

He was held pointless again. Two assists in the game against Toronto, but no points in the other two. Maybe he is in awe of himself?

Toronto lost tonight, but Toronto made it a good game. They only lost 3-2 and did not give San Jose a huge amount of shots. This game could have gone either way, and I look at the positives that they did not curl up and go in a shell playing against a powehouse like the Sharks. I like having Giguere in net, as I felt they could have come back due to him preventing more goals from scoring once they were down 3-2.

[smc]

Some Forum members asked for a report on the Beanpot Tournament final, which I attended last night. So here goes ?

First, I only caught the third period of the ?consolation game? between Northeastern and Harvard, which NU won 4-1. (See my initial post about the Beanpot for an explanation of how it works.) The final began at 8, between Boston College and Boston University -- archrivals here in Boston. BU was after its fifth Beanpot title in six seasons, and 30th overall in the 58-year-history of the Tournament. BC last won in 2008, the year it took the NCAA championship, and had won 14 Beanpot titles before last night. The final is usually a BC-BU duel. This, by the way, was the 250th time the two teams have met on the ice! (Is this a hockey town, or what!?)

I should say up-front that I was rooting for Boston College. My reasons are complicated, and have little (or perhaps nothing) to do with hockey.

Okay, back to the game. This was truly a classic Beanpot, and I?ve been to many of them. It was one of those games that makes college hockey so much fun -- and really demonstrates that hockey is, indeed, a ?game of mistakes.? BU scored in the first period. It was a quick game, with some 6-on-4s and a 5-on-3 attack. BC had a 4-1 lead in the third period, and BU had a tremendous surge at the end, with a shorthanded goal and then a 6-on-4 goal. It truly could?ve gone either way right up until the final buzzer.

It was really fun to watch John Muse, the BC goalie, in the net. With 20 or so seconds left, he made an excellent stop of a shot by BU?s Nick Bonino that would?ve tied the game, and on the big screen it was obvious that had the shot been 2 inches higher we would have been in overtime. Muse won the MVP of the tournament aned had a .955 save percentage.

All in all, a great game, a great night, and a Beanpot to remember.

(shadows asked for pictures. Mine came out terribly.)

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

If there was ever anything for which no apology is necessary, this is it, my friend.

Thank you.