3.7 seconds, Vinny, Footsberg and gratuitous Gator shot

So I'm just now recovered from Saturday's loss to the Panthers. I fully expected my arch nemesis Olli Jokinen to slay the boys, but Jay Bouwmeester, how could you? You're my favorite Panther! I'm gonna be seeing that goal in my nightmares for weeks to come!

Good news tonight though, as we get a win against the Sabres. Not just a win, but a shootout win and Briere with the game winner! Plus, we get Prospal!

I saw Vinny here last week, and watching him play, with that weird way he skates, I kinda sorta wished he was ours. This means of course, that I will have to drop him from my fantasy team. Anyone wanna trade me? He's been a pretty productive player for me this year, but I'm not allowed to have any Flyers on my fantasy team, what with me being a sports jinx and all!

In other news, Footsberg choo choo chooses the Avs. Jonesy made a good point, saying that Gagne being out for the season was probably a deciding factor there. Who knows. I really didn't think he would come back at all, and only time will tell if his foot/ankle/head is really "better".

Flyers Wives Carnival was yesterday. Check out some great pictures here and here. (Beware...lots of Gator shots and me commenting on Gator shots!!!) Neat said she met Mrs. Gator, but I still refuse to believe she exists. I picture Gator as a sad somber single dad, raising the kids and dog all by himself, but somehow able to muddle through!!! Is that too morbid? I might have to come back later and edit that!!!

We interrupt this losing streak...

Perhaps a picture of gator will soothe my troubled mind.

Guys, please stop sucking! No, really. Also, please stop making ridiculous "comebacks" in the waning minutes of the third period unless you can really seal the deal.

The 4-3 score from last night (and the 4-3 Pens and Caps games) really gives those who didn't see the game a false impression. Someone who sees that the final was 4-3 might think that you played well in each game and just came up short. The reality is you played terribly in each game and managed to squeeze in some goals to make it look good.

Please stop sucking.

I don't mind if you lose a few more this month. Just look good doing it.

Maybe your plan is to get cold for February and then tear things up in March, just as the Devils and the Pens start to cool off? Let's hope that's your plan...

Gator: "I wish I hadn't shaved my chest!!!"

semi scruffy (very blurry) Gator regrets his hair removal choices!

Well okay, at least that game is over. Sheesh. What the heck happened there? I know I personally wasn't all pumped up for a Rangers game, but I thought maybe we'd at least score a goal. Or not suck.

I should have known things were not going to go well when the boys came out for warmups shooting high and hard.

(hitting the glass directly in front of me repeatedly during warmups = sucky game.)

I do remember thinking they were gonna suck due to the multitude of shots headed my way. Then again, I always think they are gonna suck, so I may not be a great barometer for suckitude.

The highlight of the game came late in the third period. Gator was very fidgety and adjusty with his jersey, which made me wonder if maybe he shaved his chest recently. Ladyneat said he looked more like a waxer. I then had a mental image of gator in front of the mirror waxing his chest hair. Sadly, this was the only time I laughed during the game...

Other random notes from the game which most likely do not interest you:

-Jim Vandermeer sucks. Really, really sucks. Like Fitzpatrick level suck.

-Kudos to Downie for not taking a bitch out after he was goaded several times. And kudos to whoever is teaching him not to take a bitch out (Richie, I'm looking at you!)

-Jim Vandermeer sucks.

-Where the hell was the d tonight? Seriously. Really. They left both goalies out to dry.

-Um, we put like 7 shots on goal in the last 72 seconds of play. Where was this offensive pressure for the other 18 minutes of the third period? Seriously? Really?

-Jim Vandermeer SUCKS!!!!

It only hurts the first time...

So I trudged down to the Wachovia Center yesterday for the STH meet the team event. As you may or may not know, I don't do the autograph thing. But, since I had never been to this event before, I wanted to check it out (on the off chance that it was something really exciting).

Long story short, it was pretty underwhelming. If I wanted autographs, stalking after practice or games would be a quicker, less stressful way to do it. This event was a good way to get a free hotdog and soda out of the Wachovia Center though!

As we waited in line for Smith/Umberger, I hoped and prayed that Smith was first. I knew that if Umby was first, I was going to have to bypass him. I knew if I was going to finally get an autograph, Gator was going to be the one to sully my jersey!

Sadly, Umby was first, and I totally dissed him. The good part for him was that he got to take a drink of water while I passed him right by!

Somehow, I was able to go to Gator's table, give him my jersey, and say hi. He asked, "where do you want it, on the numbers?" And I said "wherever you want, you're my first!" He signed it, I said thanks and ran away as fast as I could! Gator!!!!!!!

Man, how I hate getting autographs! I need to hang out with ladyneat more and get over it!

Anyhow, after the Gator autograph, I was torn. Should I just leave my favorite guy on there all by himself? Or should I go nuts, now that my jersey's virginity had been taken?

After a looooooong wait in the Marty/Nitty line, I decided to add two more signatures.

I figure it's all downhill from here!

Click here for totally embarrassing pictures of me from the event. Gah!

no gator pics today...

I was having some technical difficulties during warmups on Saturday, and by the time I fixed them, Gator was pretty much done warming up. (He leaves the ice early to leave personalized notes for each player in their stall...)

So, all I got were some lame Biron and Hartnell shots. Great, just great.

I am fascinated by this picture of Randy Jones blowing a bubble during warmups. A few of the guys appeared to be chewing gum before the game. Weird.


Two great games this weekend...the loss on Saturday was a tough one, but it was still a great game. (how many times have I said that after a home game this year? Let me count...)

Gator needs a haircut! During his fight on Sunday, he lost his bucket, and damn is he furry! I may just tell him that this week if I see him at the STH meet the team party (yep, I'm going!)

Got my ticket for the Pittsburgh game...sitting in the same seats as the Boston game. There were some awesome fans there, and I hope to see them again! (I just hope they don't mind all the swearing I will be doing...)

hmmm...I think that's all for now....

Gator, where are you?!?!?!?

That must be one heckuva "bruised calf". Get back soon please! (Like, maybe in time for Saturday's game? I need more pictures! Who will I shoot if you are not there? Coburn? Please.)

*sigh*

I'm gonna be honest here...the only thing that got me through this game was watching Gator. (even if he was a -2)

See Steph, he's totally fine!

And looking right at me! (Which made me and my camera unable to catch a non-blurry picture of him.) Click on it to enlarge and you will see his eye is fine! Really!

got it....

Four down, four to go....

(or, Briere, you made the right choice)

Well this road trip so far has proved to be quite a test for the boys. They have been outshot 3571 to 122 and have lost Hatcher for 4 weeks and Jones for two games.

Last night's game was shades of the Panthers game, except instead of the panther roaring sound effect, we got the booing Briere sound effect. Really Montreal? He was a free agent who didn't sign with you. That's it. There was no offer sheet, no contract...just talk that you were one of his potential teams. Every single time he touches the puck he gets booed? Wow. You really are a bunch of douchebags. I have to give you points for sticking with it for the entire game...

During the first period, the guys tried using the "get him cold" strategy by getting two shots on goal in the first 11 minutes. Hey, it worked against Brodeur, why not try it on this Huet guy? They were able to maintain this strategy with a total of 19 SOG to Montreal's 541. I am sure Marty was trilled about that.

Some other observations:

• When Hartnell breaks his Flyers scoring cherry, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. You heard it here first.

• Nice tripping call on Briere! Get some glasses ref!

• The Flyers looked sooooooooo sloooooooow tonight. Lead skates again.

• My new in game rallying cry is "What this game needs is a dirty hit." This replaces the ever popular, "score, bitches!"

Oooh, I almost forgot about Smith and the stick to his face. First, yikes....not fun to see him laid out on the ice hyperventilating and trying not to cry. Second, thank goodness it wasn't his eye (although it was close enough to cause his eye to look scary). Third, cmon, that dude is amazing...he didn't even miss a shift! He deserves extra bacon for breakfast this week!

Not hopeful for tonight's game...

Happy Birthday, Gator!

(bruce bennett getty images)

I should have known you were a Scorpio!


After I find the picture of you covered in blood from last night's game (that doesn't have the NHL logo plastered over it), I will post it here.

Home opener recap

Whew, what a game. The opener was great and I love the new graphics for the team. Reminiscent of something, but I can't put my finger on it. I want to say an early 80s pop band album cover, but I don't know why. If anyone saw the graphics and knows what I am thinking, please feel free to help me out here.

I will skip the introductions, since they were long and overdone and everyone was just waiting to cheer for Briere.

The first few minutes of the first period were eerily quiet. It's like the crowd was afraid of what could happen. After last season, I can totally understand. Turns out, not much would happen, except for the Flyers turning it over like 5000 times. The period ended scoreless, which was good enough for me with how poorly they played. They were lucky to escape with no score.

The second period started, and it seemed like the players had laced up concrete skates. They were sooooooo slooooooow. I will have to watch the replay to see if they were as slow as I think they were, but damn. Again, the crowd was eerily quiet. (Except of course for the seven boneheads sitting in front of me who ALL got up to get beer every five minutes.)

Things get fuzzy for me when the scoring starts. Even though I was looking at the net, I didn't see either goal go in and both times I could have sworn they didn't. My vantage point was pretty bad, as I was nosebleed and also had the up/down people in front of me. The rest of the second period is a blur to me, since I was happy again to just get out of it without the Isles scoring.

What I remember from the third period (at least the last 10 minutes or so) is the amazing defensive play by pretty much the whole team, but especially Kapanen. This team was fighting to hang onto this lead, and did a pretty good job as a team of doing so.

The last minute and a half were so intense that I nearly passed out. First off, the crowd started clapping like we had won. Gah! Don't do that unless you are up 8-2, people! A little hockey etiquette please! The Isles had the extra attacker and both teams were passing, giving it away, and basically skating around like crazy. It was really insane!!!! And when Gator cleared the puck (was he down on the ice?) and got the empty netter, I really did almost pass out! I'm not trying to speak in hyperbole here folks, I had some physiological problems!

That's pretty much it, I will add more after I watch the replay if I see anything that bears mentioning.

A few other notes:

I don't really know how many times I can say it, but Smith is truly amazing. He blocked some key shots in the first period. His skate, stick, leg, arm or whatever always seems to be in position to stop the puck. He is so subtle about it that you don't even realize he is doing it (unless of course you are me and you are mesmerized by his every move). It looks like the puck is magnetically drawn to him just so he can deflect it. It is weird.

Biron was magical again. The best part about him is how he doesn't get rattled.

Gagne and Witt...what was going on there? Nice to see Simon getting scrappy.

Hope Eager is okay. At first I was scared when he was laying there, then I was scared he was going to get called for diving. We'll see what happens.

Cote and Simon....really, that's all ya got? Lame, and looks like Cote didn't even land a punch.

Somebody should have kicked Bootland's ass, but I can't remember why.

I hate going to games with people, next time I am going alone (except next time I will meet up with Nadine first....sorry it didn't work out this time).