We are now 9 games into the NHL season, and there has been a
total of 1 fight. One. Uno. That’s not a lot. It was a decent scrap in
yesterday afternoon’s contest between LA’s Kyle Clifford, and the Rangers
Brandon Prust. I am not here to offer any analysis on why there has only been
one fight, I’m just saying, there hasn’t been many.

http://youtu.be/NpGTNXVIHGM

The Flyers and Bruins sure could have used one the other
night. I was certain Andy Ference and Zac Rinaldo were going to have it out at
one point, to no avail. I am not sure if Rinaldo told Ference global warming is
a sham, or what, but after Rinaldo finished his check on the North End’s
Favorite Son he said something to him that really pissed him off. Maybe he was
asking if Ference got noticed in the women’s department of Marshall’s buying
that gawd awful yellow shirt he was wearing for his day with the Cup. My word,
I had no idea Andy Ference was a cross dresser. Tree hugging hippie yes, but
this cross dressing shit is going a bit far. At any rate, I would have liked to
have seen that tilt. Rinaldo can throw hands (and I suspect he’s probably taken
the soon to be waived Jody Shelley’s spot) and Ference, when prompted, is good
for a spirited bout.

While we’re on the topic of the Bruins and Flyers, I have to
say, the banner ceremony was pretty cool the other night. I have mixed emotions
on all the players skating with the cup one last time. On the one hand it was
cool to see them with it on home ice. On the other, they didn’t earn the right
to skate it around in front of the home fans. It was a nice touch having Recchi
there, and I thought Neely killed with his speech. The home crowd took the
opportunity, not all, but some, to boo owner Jeremy Jacobs. Nice work Boston,
way to be classy. Like him or not, the Bruins won the Cup. Stop booing.

The banner itself is kick ass, and I am looking forward to
turning my head slightly up and to the left to see it every night this year.
Now with the banner up, and the page turned, it’s time to get down to business.
Every team in the league is gunning for Boston right now, and they have to be
ready every night, for every team’s best game. Other than the fact that it’s
very hard to repeat in the NHL, I don’t see another reason why the Bruins can’t
raise another banner next October. Tampa is in town tonight for a game 7 rematch.
Let’s see if the Bruins bring the game they need to bring, or if we’re talking
about firing everyone, and the team having no heart tomorrow morning.

It’s finally over. Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup in what I would consider the weirdest hockey season ever. How fitting was it then that Patrick Kane scored a weird goal that seemingly only he saw go in to win it all? I’m telling you, this was a spooky weird season, and while I am glad it’s over from a pain and suffering standpoint (see weird event number 50: Boston losing 4 straight) I am eagerly waiting October to start anew.

One thing that is not unusual, or weird in any way, was the lack of class on the part of the Philadelphia Flyers fans. There were a lot of fans left in the building when Gary Bettman handed out the Conn Smythe, and Lord Stanley’s Cup. I get the booing of Bettman, as there isn’t a more universally disliked figure in hockey, but to boo Jonathan Toews when he received the Smythe, and then again when he received the Cup was totally uncalled for.

I guess it’s impossible to show a little class in the face of defeat. I have to be honest, I was convinced the Flyers were going to win it all, and I was wildly impressed with their resilience. But then the fans went and boo like that and the goodwill went out the window, turning dark faster than a date with Jordan Van der Sloot.

The trouble with Flyers fans is they think they are just “passionate”. Well, I guess to a point they are, but they are also the most obnoxious group of people on Earth most of the time. I can say I’ve met a cool Habs fan, and a cool fan from pretty much every rival the Bruins have with the exception of the Flyers. Universally, they all suck.

So, Kane won it for the Hawks in OT setting off a party in Chicago that hadn’t been seen since 1961. That leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs with the longest drought now, and the beloved Bruins are right there with them. Looking at both rosters, and the way the draft will fall this year, I’d like to think the Bruins will be raising the Cup sooner than the Buds, but one can never tell in this new NHL. I am looking forward to June 25th and the NHL Draft. Hopefully the Bruins don’t fuck it up.

It’s been a very busy week for me since returning from Indianapolis, and the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500. I will spare the gory details, but it’s nice to have a few minutes to sit down and bang this out. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

The word I would use to describe this year’s Indianapolis 500 would be, sweaty. I have been going out there for a decade and a half, and I can’t say I remember a week that was as hot, and muggy as this year’s edition. Every day was like walking through pea soup as the air had a thickness one could feel. I am not sure if it was the heat, but the Hammer put on several heroic displays of beer drinking, and even got Steve in on the act with a couple of Summer Sandy’s. I was teetering at the 19th Hole after our golf outing Thursday and if we didn’t get out of there when we did, I may well have wound up shirtless on the putting green screaming, “I’m BACK!”, but I managed to resist what looked to be the most refreshing and delicious summer cooler ever!

Thursday evening found us enjoying some steaks, and shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s downtown. For the second year in a row, we dined right next to Sam Schmidt. It’s seems the former driver, paralyzed in a racing accident, enjoys the same pre race tradition as us. He again had a huge table and they were eating and drinking like Vikings. Well played.

Last year at the 500, Davis told the most hilarious story about an infield pooping incident. I tried to recreate it here, and in person to anyone that asked me about Indy, but it doesn’t translate. Well, this year, Davis had a hilarious living in a paper thin wall house story that is equally hilarious, but also won’t translate. I will say, hanging in the suite with Dane, Davis, and the rest of the crew was an excellent way to spend Carb Day, and I hope to get an invite back next year. I am still giggling about the story. You really had to be there.

Saturday found the Hammer, Jim and I downtown again to watch the end of the Duke vs. Virginia lacrosse game, and game 1 of the Cup finals. Along the way we saw the Playboy party and some other bars with scantily clad women out front trying to lure us in. Quite lovely, but we were on a mission to watch some hockey and lacrosse. We have sick priorities. I realize this.

Also along the way, we saw at least 3 groups of Blackhawks fans. I was wearing a Bruins shirt, and the Hawks fans were all really cool about it. I got a couple, “sorry about your Bruins”, and a “we’ll get him for you”. The guy that wasn’t cool was the idiot Flyers fan we came across. He was the only one “rooting” for the Flyers in the whole bar, and was typical of most of the Flyers fans I have ever met. Very loud, and obnoxious. He also was barely paying attention to the game. He cheered at the replay of goals, and was talking nonstop shit without any actual knowledge of the game of hockey, or his supposed beloved team. Like I said, it was a typical Flyers fan. I am happy the Hawks won, but I am still pretty sure the Flyers are going to win the whole thing. I hate them.

The main event of the weekend was Sunday, and again, the word you’re looking for is, sweaty. If I may, OMG. It was hot. The Speedway ran out of water, which was problematic, as we as fans ran out most quickly as well. Jim and Hammer did a nice job on the brew though. At least they had liquids. I found the race to be fairly interesting at the start with a kamikaze start by Tomas Schecter leading to the race’s first caution. It wasn’t long after Jack Nicholson got to wave the flag again for the restart that the yellow came out again for another crash. After that, it was a very long stretch of Dario Judd running away from the field. He was bad fast all day, and had the field covered, but near the end, when some cautions came out, it became a fuel mileage race. It got interesting, with some cars having to come in to pit and a huge crash on the last lap bringing out the caution allowing Mr. Judd to become a 2 time winner of the Greatest Spectacle in Sports. The crowd left happy, and I am already looking forward to next year.

With another year of Indianapolis in the books, it is time to turn my attention to the last few weeks of hockey. The series is going back to Chicago tonight, and I missed most of the game Friday because I lost my Versus feed here. From what I have seen, I am more and more convinced the Flyers are going to win this thing. It’s now a best of three series, and their refusal to roll over for anyone is going to be the key to them winning the Stanley Cup. I am sure the stain on my floor will look like Scott Hartnell’s face when I reverse gears after they win it. Tonight is a huge game for both teams, as it sets the stage for one more win, wins it all. Let’s go Blackhawks!

It’s the Wednesday before Memorial Day, and that can only mean one thing. That’s right, the Hammer and I will be winging our way to Indianapolis for the Greatest Spectacle in Sports in about 8 hours. Hammer has been going so long, I think mechanics were still riding with drivers his rookie year. I am post CART/IRL fallout. Anyway, point being, it’s a long tradition, and I am excited to see Hoodie, eat a giant steak or two, watch for Indiana High School Lacrosse (Go St. Joe’s!) and relax until the cows come home.

I’m sure Saturday night will find us in front of a TV somewhere to catch game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Or, as I like to call it, are you kidding me? The Frigging Flyers are in the finals?! On the bright side, the road team in the Winter Classic has lost in the finals the previous two years (Pittsburgh, Detroit) but on the negative side, it would give the Flyers one more, us against the world style hurdle to climb if they were to win it. This Flyers team never gets away from their game, ad are playing excellent hockey right now. Chicago is quiet a talented group as well, but I don’t think they have played a team with the kind of fight the Flyers have in them this playoff season. As an aside, when I get back, there will be a discussion on this being the weirdest hockey season ever. I digress, I will be openly pulling for the Hawks to break a curse of their own, and lift Lord Stanley’s since 1961. It will not be an easy path, and they better be ready for the fight of their lives.

Please take a minute to reflect on what Memorial Day means, and if you know anyone in uniform, thank them for their service to this country. I have said a lot of stupid stuff in this blog over the last 5 years, and if it weren’t for people protecting my freedoms, I wouldn’t be able to write openly. Maybe I just gave you someone to blame for this mindless crap? Dang soldiers protecting my freedom to be dumb! In all seriousness, thank you to all the men and women around the globe that are serving, or have served this great nation. We here at Goonblog couldn’t be more thankful for your service! Back in a week! Go Blackhawks!

Ugh. All right, I have put this off as long as I possibly could. It has been a full week since the Bruins capped off a monumental collapse by dropping game 7, 4-3. They were up 3-0 in both the game, and the series, and lost both. I say again. Ugh. This sucks.

For those of us that watched the Bruins muddle their way through the 2009-2010 regular season, is anyone really all that surprised at the fact they couldn’t hang on to the series, or the game? I swear, if I had a nickel for every time I said, “It shouldn’t have gone that far” this year while leaving the Garden, I would have about 5 bucks in nickels.

I do not understand what it is about this year’s club, but they are as resilient as a wet tissue when faced with adversity. Look at the 10 game losing streak they put the faithful through. How many times were they up a couple of goals early, only to lose in a shoot out? Fuck, they did it a couple times in the span of two weeks for the love of Pete! Normally teams that face adversity learn from it, and learn how to deal with it. This team didn’t do that all year.

Oh sure, there were signs of an ability to overcome from time to time. The 2 goals with the goalie pulled in Ottawa. They OT winner in the Winter Classic. The OT winner’s in round 1 and the feel good OT winner by Savvy in round 2. That is what is so frustrating. In all of those examples, it should have never gotten that far. Savvy’s goal, while super cool, and a great comeback story, shouldn’t have happened. No way should that game have gone to OT, but in typical 09-10 Bruins fashion, it did.

Let me also be clear here. I am not taking anything away from Philadelphia. Despite the fact I can’t stand their punk laden roster, or their overly obnoxious fans, the Flyers never got away from their game. Even when they were getting smothered by Boston with 5 and change to go in the first period last Friday, they called a time out to remind themselves to not panic, and play their game. It worked, because when Boston got away from their blueprint for success, Philadelphia was right there to take the game over, and there was nothing Boston could do about it. Ugh.

So here we are Boston Bruins fans. On the outside looking in after a game 7 loss that shouldn’t have happened, in front of the home crowd, on the anniversary of the game 7 loss the year before. When Boston plays the type of game they played in the first 15 minutes of the game, they are without a doubt, one of the most fun teams in the NHL to watch. It also happens to be the way they play their best hockey. When they play like they did in the last 45 minutes, they make me want to kick a puppy a little girl has just received for Christmas, right in front of her, Santa, Uncle Fred and everyone else. Hopefully they don’t fuck up the draft next month; but I am not 100% sure that it isn’t going to happen. I guess there’s always next year? Ugh.

Friday January 1, 2010 will mark the day I had the most fun I have ever had at Fenway Park. I am a hockey fan to the core, so I am a little biased, but the Winter Classic at Fenway was better than any Red Sox game I have ever been to. I’ve seen them all too. The Game the Sox came back and beat Tampa bay two years ago? I was there. The game Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez had a dust up and the benches cleared twice? I was there. The Winter Classic was so much better than anything I have ever seen there. It truly was a once in a lifetime event that was so special it’s hard to describe just how cool it was. I will start at the beginning.

I took the 7:25 train into North Station to meet George over at the hotel by the Garden. I was texting him updates from the USA vs. Canada World Junior game from New Year’s Eve and we were commenting how we felt like kids on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa. I could barely sleep I was so excited, but the 7:25 train was perfect. It gave us plenty of time to have breakfast, meet Steve Begin’s wife and the commander of the ground crew for the B-2 flyover. He was a super nice guy, and he took the time to tell us all about the plane, where it was coming from, and more importantly, which direction it would be coming from. After a nice breakfast, and some picture taking with said commander, it was off to the Green Line for our trek to Fenway.

The first thing that struck me as I walked into the North Station T stop, I mean other than the overwhelming smell of pee, puke, and hot poop, was the amount of Flyers fans. I have to give it to those guys, they represented well. There was almost as much orange and black as black and gold on the train ride over, and it was a theme throughout the day. Apologies to Flyers fans for this next comment, but I hate the Flyers, and for the most part, they have the worst fans in the league. I have seen them all in my tenure as a Bruins fan, and 2 year season ticket holder, and it’s true. They are awful. So, you can imagine my surprise when every single Flyer fan I talked to on New Year’s Day was not a total prick like usual. I am not sure if it was the event or what it was, but tip of the cap Flyers fans, for once you were cool to hang with.

Once arriving at Fenway, at 9ish, a full two hours before gates opened, we went to the Fan Fest they had across from Yawkey Way. It was a cornucopia of vendors, and ice sculptures and a bunch of crazy crap for the kids. Oh, also, a shit load of Flyers fans. Seriously, I think it was 60-40 split. Boston/Philly. One particular Flyer fan lamented there wasn’t enough Flyers gear in the retro fitted for the Winter Classic souvenir shop on Yawkey Way. My favorite Bruins fan for one second aptly pointed out it was a Bruins home game, and perhaps they should clam up. He was my favorite until he asked us if we were going to get a “Let’s go Red Sox” chant started, and was met with 5 blank stares like he just asked us the square root of 2,000,756, and it was only then I noticed his 22 jersey was not Shawn Thornton, but Shean Donovan. Yeah. He’s cut.

After we had enough of the pro shops, we were kicked off Yawkey Way, and walked around the building. We dropped the two younger boys off at their gate, which was where our original seats were supposed to be, and wandered around the entire building to get to our gate. We happened by the entrance to where the Bruins bus was to arrive, and decided after waiting about 10 minutes we were getting a little too meat slapperish, and moved on to stand in line at Gate D. Normally in lines there is a lot of lamenting how the line sucks and so forth, but not on this day. There was talk of hockey, and excitement on how good, or bad the seats everyone had were going to be.

I never doubt George as earlier in the week the Bruins had released 300 tickets to the season ticket holders. We were lucky enough to score three in Pavilion Box 18, which is the section where the Coca-Cola sign is in left field. We were able to donate the original seats we had, Section 33, right below our seats to his two youngest boys. It cost him a pretty penny to get the whole family in, and myself an extra hundred bucks, but it was worth every single penny, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Once inside, we found our seats, and were greeted by the nicest usher ever. I didn’t catch his name but he was a great guy. Our seats were kick ass. No doubt George did a fantastic job. Now it was just a waiting game until the game was under way.

As the fans started streaming in I again took note of how many Flyers fans there were. A husband and wife team came to our section and asked Mr. Nice Usher if there were any open seats. He took this ludicrous request in stride and said nicely, “no, I think it will be full, but there are some standing room only sections over there”. They left, but not before lamenting how he was a 30 year season ticket holder for the Flyers, and he felt that entitled him to some special treatment at a Bruins home game. I will address all the complaints about the event at the end. That was one of my favorites.

As the time ticked towards 1, the excitement was building. We were in a section with people that were there mostly for the event, as evidence by the gentlemen next to Brad that kept calling the Flyers, the Phillies, and later on when the first frozen fight happened George, Brad and I were the only three people standing and cheering. In a way, I guess I was better as they weren’t all rowdy and at each other’s throats (did I mention there was a lot of Flyers fans) but on the other it sucked because we were on the end and the non fans got up 75 times to go get something, or stop right in front of us to take pictures at the end of the game. Not so much a complaint, as a byproduct of being at a special event somewhere. Big ups to the guy in front of us who noticed the B-2 coming. I managed to get a couple of really good pictures as the stealthy mother went right over our heads. Very nice touch.

Finally, the game was on! After the Bobby’s shook hands at center ice, and the Dropkicks played the game had begun! It didn’t take long for the first frozen fight to happen, and at first blush it looked as if Daniel Carcillo smoked Shawn Thornton. After watching it about 30 times, I think Carcillo landed a nice punch, but it looked to me like Thornton was off balance after switching hands. Either way, it was great to see a fight in the Winter Classic! I could have done without Carcillo’s grandstanding in the box, but I give him high marks for not violating the code and slugging Thornton when he was down and prone.

After a scoreless first in which it looked like both teams were pretty content to feel each other and the venue out, the Flyers drew first blood when Tim Thomas temporarily lost his mind by shoving Scott Hartnell in the back as Danny Syvret was shooting a puck on goal. Timmy was seeking payback for Hippy Hartnell running him moments before. There was no call, but should have been, and Timmy doled out his own brand of justice at the wrong time. Truthfully, there should have been a penalty called on Timmy, but it would have been washed out by the goal anyway. At the time of the goal, the thought process for Bruins fans was, oh, it’s early. They’ll get it back.

Cardiac Doctors could have made a killing on Friday at frozen Fenway, because the “it’s early, they’ll get it back” feeling went away and was replaced by, “no friggin way the Bruins aren’t even going to score once in the frigging Winter Frigging Classic.” After a rousing “Sweet Caroline” was sung by Dennis Leary, Lenny Clarke, and 40,000 people, the Bruins finally got on the scoreboard with a little more than 2 minutes to play. Mark “What Time is Matlock” Recchi does what he does and best and goes hard to the net for a tape to tape pass from Derek “Revere Beach Seagull” Morris to tie the score. Pandemonium. All the stress and wondering went out the window and was replaced by a wall of sound the Grateful Dead would have been proud of. It was like no other goal celebration I had ever heard, until Marco “I HATE SCORING” Sturm, or as the boys at Hub Hockey call him, Sturmface scored the walk off goal in OT. Pandemonium. X2.

The game could not have been more perfectly scripted without getting Hollywood involved. I am so lucky I was able to get seats where I did, but either way, it was a special day at Fenway. I have read a ton of stories about bad site lines, and overpriced tickets, and to those reports I say, what the hell did you expect? It’s a hockey game at a baseball stadium. A once in a lifetime game at that. If you thought you were getting a good seat in the bleachers, or anywhere down low, you were crazy. Over the years the Winter Classic at Fenway will take on a Woodstock effect with 300,000 people claiming to be there. For those of us that were there it was a truly special day that wouldn’t have been ½ as special at Gillette Stadium. I’m sure the view was terrible down low, but the experience of being in Fenway Park on New Year’s Day to see a “Classic” Winter Classic cannot have a price tag put on it.

GoonBlog’s Full 2010 NHL Winter Classic Gallery:

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What would you believe as a plausible answer for where I have been since my last post?
1. On a whirlwind hockey adventure in which I saw parts of 12 games?
2. Starring as Kenickie in a production of Grease on Ice?
3. Drunk in a bar?
4. Jail?
5. Getting drunk in a bar, after being released from Jail?

Which one was the least believable? Number 2? Yeah I thought so too. If you guessed number 1, you are absolutely correct.

Hockey Week in Acton has become as grand a tradition as Hockey Day in Canada. They usually coincide with each other as luck would have it. My Hockey Week in Acton began last Friday night in Lowell in which I saw kind of a weird fight, and finished up last night at the Hub of Hockey with a real “Old Time Hockey” type game against the Ducks. Truthfully, it’s still going on as MOL is out, Milan is chewing my shoe, and the Habs are losing 2-0 to the Flyers. For the sake of this post, it ended last night.

Friday February 20th: Hartford at Lowell.
You would think with Sean Avery in town there would be a buzz in the building eh? I guess you’d actually need people in the building for that. Avery behaved himself, and only took a 2 minute penalty for something. Hooking maybe? Either way, he seemed pretty content (Habs scored, 2-1 Philly. I hate both these teams) to just play some hockey, and ignore some pretty creative signs. My favorite was the one with Rachel Hunter (FUCK 2-2. Good time for a fight) and Elisha Cuthbert on both side, and the words, “Sorry Sean, these girls only date NHL players.” Pretty darn funny. PL3 did ask him to go once, but he ignored him like he wasn’t even there.

Speaking of fights (DAMMIT 3-2 Habs), there was kind of a weird fight in this game. After drilling Hartford’s Brodie Dupont, Lowell’s Matthew Corrente was engaged with Hartford’s Jared Nightingale. The two dropped mitts and were about to square off when Dupont took decided he was going to do his own dirty work and fight his own battles. He dropped his gloves and went right after Corrente. Nightingale just kind of stood there and picked up his gloves as the other guys had at it. Very weird indeed. Not sure how Dupont didn’t get a third man in call, as Nightingale and Corrente were clearly engaged, but whatever. OK little scrap. I like Corrente a lot. He is afraid of no one, and is a good little hockey player to boot. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the black and gold some day.

Hockey Day in Canada. Saturday February 21st. Started with Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, ended with Nashville at St. Louis with stops in LA, Dallas, and Florida.

I saw most of the Penguins game, except I missed the fight. The third period of the Dallas game, all of the LA game, all of the Bruins game, and the third period in St. Louis. I missed the fight in Philly due to a lunch break and the fight in the LA game because Milan had to poop. MOL was sick and asleep on the couch, so I parked it and flipped around. It was a superb way to spend a Saturday. I heard a couple of “Edwardsisms” all around the NHL. Obviously they were all over the Bruins game, but I heard two “layers of defense” and a few “half boards.” I am forgetting one. George, help me out here.

Sunday February 21st. First period of Pittsburgh at Washington. Worcester at Lowell. Third period of Boston at Tampa Bay. Lowell lost in a game best described as zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and Boston sucked in Tampa. Mark Stuart got beaten so badly coming out of the corner on Tampa’s 4th goal, I’m not sure his jock strap made the trip back to Boston. I just missed Shawn Thornton’s fight with David Koci in between periods, and I saw the replay of Stuart’s tussle with Gary Roberts. Needless to say, after the Bruins trip, I was concerned about the game against Florida Tuesday night.

Monday February 22nd. San Jose at Dallas. I could only muster the first period of this one, as MOL was kind enough to pass her cold onto me, and Milan and I could barely keep out eyes open. At the first intermission I asked her if she wanted to go to bed. She barked twice for yes. Then we went to bed, and she decided to bark at shadows in the bedroom for 30 minutes. Not good times. She is cute, but like her daddy, not bright.

Tuesday February 24th. Florida at Boston. This one found George and me in the Hub of Hockey and Hungry for Hockey. Like I said, there was great concern heading into this one. Good thing for us, and all the Bruins faithful (by the way, still plenty of room on the bandwagon) at the Garden. We were all hoping for the team we saw in November and dreading seeing the one we saw as of late. Luckily, they gave us the Marty McFly treatment and went back in time to the November club. Just a dominant performance by the boys, featuring a scrappy Nick Kobasew getting into it with Keith Ballard. He is playing like a man that doesn’t want to be dealt. The star of the evening was Byron Bitz. He chipped in 2 goals and had the 17,000 faithful chanting his name for the trick. They tried to give him a chance at it by putting him out on the ice at the end of the game, but it wasn’t to be. Still, Bitzy has played very well, and I expect great things from him in seasons to come. I have been very impressed with him and I hope he kicks the shit out of Huggy Bear tomorrow.

Wednesday February 25th. Lowell at Worcester. Yes, I willingly traveled to Worcester to see the Devils. What can I say? I’m sick. After some heavy apps. At Pizzeria Uno’s we settled into the DCU Center for what turned into a pretty interesting tilt. There were no fights on the night despite some serious chatter between PL3 and Worcester’s Brad Staubitz. Both clubs seemed pretty content to just play some hockey, and referee Terry Koharski seemed eager to get into his trusty green cooler of Bud Light as not a lot was called.

Thursday February 26th. Anaheim at Boston. George and I were back at the Hub of Hockey, and obviously, Hungry for Hockey. 4 dogs, some cookies and 2 sodas. Not a bad haul. Anyway, the Bruins are back baby! Notice to the rest of the NHL: if attempting to intimidate the Boston Bruins, I might suggest a different strategy. I love the Ducks aggressive strategy, but I love it even more when the Bruins respond. It was a rough and tumble affair the featured 2 fights and one Marc Savard taking matters into his own hands in self defense. Oh, plus a 6-0 bloodletting by the hometown team.

It all got started at 8:20 of the second period. After watching Princeton grad, former teammate, and resident tough guy, Yanni, er, George Parros flatten Marc Savard; Shawn Thornton went right over the boards despite it not being his shift to make big George pay for what he’d done. Thorts hopped over, and went right after Parros. They dropped mitts and had at it. Thornton did pretty well trying to get inside on the bigger Parros to take away the drastic reach advantage. It looked like a couple of shots were landed to the license plate on Parros, and Thornton got the takedown. (No points scored, and in MY NHL, would be an extra penalty for Thornton. The crowd loved it however, so I’ll move on.) Kudos to Thornton for doing his job, and reason number 7829 why I enjoy him so much.

The fireworks continued at the 14:49 mark. There was a little battle for the puck in front of Anaheim’s goal, when Mike Brown decided to cross check Milan Lucic (not my dog. That would be crazy) and then sucker punch Gino. Naturally, Milan went right after Brown, and pummeled him down to the ice. Normally, I take issue with a fighter continuing to throw punches when the other combatant is down, but when you jump someone like Brownie did, all bets are off. Sheldon Brookbank got the gate for being the third man in whilst trying to remove Lucic from his teammate by force. Then everyone, except the Captain of the Bruins, came in to get in on the action. I will never understand why Chara feels the need to stay on the periphery of such events…I guess I should stop expecting him to jump in on stuff like that, but in my mind, they should still be trying to separate him and Brookbank. Alas, the dust up was cleared. Gino went to his box in obvious pain, and anger, screaming at Brown the whole way. Brookbank was shown the door, and play resumed.

It resumed, but it wasn’t long until Scott Niedermayer and Marc Savard were involved in a little tussle. While standing at the far blueline, Niedermayer took it upon himself to plant 3-4 cross checks on the small of Savvy’s back. Having just about enough of that behavior, Savard decided to do something about it. He engaged Niedermayer and both dropped the gloves. It doesn’t look like either guy threw any punches, or the old fart took Savvy down, landing on him. Both were given roughing minors, and Savard did not return. If I may, NIEDERMAYER! DEAD! I really can’t explain how cross I will be if Savard is out for an extended period of time. If Niedermayer is traded back to New Jersey as per one of the rumors I’ve heard, someone on the Bruins better go after him when they return to town next month.

So, there it is. Despite learning all of Kinickie’s songs, and dance moves, I have been on a hockey binge that continues with a very good Flyers game right now, and will continue with the Blackhawks when this one is over. Then to Vancouver for the Tampa Bay matchup at 10. Really, does it get any better than spring hockey?

Let me see if I follow this. Last season, Patrice Bergeron was hit from behind by Randy Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers so hard he sustained a concussion a broken nose, and never played another game until this season. Randy Jones’ suspension? 3 Games. This season, Tom Kostopoulos hit Toronto’s Mike Van Ryn from behind giving the man a broken hand, nose, facial lacerations and a concussion. Van Ryn has just started skating again after missing almost a month of action. TK’s suspension? 3 Games.

So the other night while in Calgary, Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery made an off color remark about players in the NHL getting his “sloppy seconds” with regards to dating Elisha Cuthbert. Cuthbert just so happens to date Calgary Defenseman Dion Phaneuf. What is the reaction of the NHL? They suspend Sean Avery for 6 games. Unpaid! I am not defending Sean Avery here. What he said was in poor taste, and showed a lack of good judgment. Having said that, if the NHL was an organization that knew how to market itself, they would have plastered Avery’s comments all over the internet, radio, and television, then immediately starting a marketing campaign for the Stars at Calgary the next night. It would have been a great way for the league to get a casual fan to watch what could have been a very exciting hockey game. The NFL does it all the time by letting players air their trash talk. It gives the opposing team’s locker room bulletin board material, and when it happens, it’s all the press can talk about. Oh, look what so-and-so said about so-and-so. We better watch this matchup this Sunday! Don’t miss it. Instead, the NHL suspends someone for a non violent act off the ice, that really probably only hurt the feelings of Elisha Cuthbert because Mr. Bettman says “I wanted it to be clear to the fans that this isn’t something that we tolerate — particularly fans with children who might have to explain to them what this statement was,” Bettman said.

We do tolerate violent hits from behind that would be a lot harder to explain to a child if and when someone gets killed on the ice, but we do not tolerate the use of the term “sloppy seconds” by a known agitator (who, by the way, had never been suspended by the league until today) who was just trying to get a rise out of the opposition? Really? It’s times like this when I am embarrassed to say I am a fan of the NHL.

MOL, George, and I went to Feng Shui for a very serious throw down, two Mai Tai’s and the division of Bruins tickets for the upcoming season. If you are in the Chelmsford area, I highly suggest stopping in. In fact, here is a quick ranking of my top 3 local Chinese restaurants.

1. Feng Shui. Chelmsford, MA. Try the General Gau’s shrimp, salt and pepper shrimp, and the house rice. Very strong Mai Tai. Nice buffet on weekends
2. Bamboo. Westford, MA. Johnny is the heat! Strong Mai Tai. Excellent shrimp tempura, salt and pepper pork, and lo mein. Excellent buffet as well.
3. Makaha Acton, MA. Excellent Pu Pu. Mai Tai strong enough to run your car on. Excellent Juke Box. If you’re looking for a dark place to get a Pu Pu and get loaded…this is it. No real redeeming qualities other than they let me drink in there when I was 16.

In keeping with the Public Service spirit, I thought it appropriate to let you know the games in which I have drawn. Reason being, if you are a faithful Goonblog reader, you might want to stop by and say hi, or if you are a faithful Goonblog reader you know what happens at these games when I go, so you might want to avoid being in the City of Boston all together. Should be a great season, and I am getting more pumped by the day. I can almost hear the roar of the Zamboni, OK, the propane whine, of the Zamboni!

I have 9 games on my own. I’ll probably need a date for 8 of them. MOL will go to opening night, and that’s about it for her. Maybe I’ll run a contest. Go to a Bruins game with a guy that is trying to disprove Dean Wormer’s fat, drunk, and stupid theory…..that’ll be cool.

George has 10 solo games. We were very surprised how easily the schedule was divided. It just kind of fell into place easily. No arguments at all. Sort of the opposite of MOL and me.

We will both be in the house for 20 games, and are giving away 2 games that neither one of us can attend. It looks like January is going to be a busy month of hockey for me. Between the Bruins, and the Lowell Devils, I will be at 15 hockey games. That’s a lot of hockey. This is going to be great. Breakdown is below.

My solo games in BOLD in case you want to enter my Fat Drunk and Stupid contest.

Oct. 20th. Opening night. Penguins. Probably MOL’s only appearance of the season. Come see her in all her glory.

Oct. 23rd. Maple Leafs. George wasn’t too happy about this one. He saw every Leafs Bruins tilt last year, and admitted the 10-1 or 10 something loss the Bruins took at the hands of Toronto was the only time he’s ever left a game early. Can’t blame him. I was there too, and I left early.

Nov. 1. Stars. Sean Avery is a shit disturber, and I love it.

Nov. 6th. Leafs. George couldn’t take it (seeing the Leafs again), so I took one for the team here.

Nov. 13th. Canadiens. Now way either one of us was missing the Habs, or Georges Laraque’s debut in the Garden as a Canadien. This one will be electric.

Nov. 28th. Islanders. I love the annual day after Thanksgiving game. Kinger and I had a blast two years ago. MOL might actually want to come to this one.

Dec. 8th. Lightning. I am interested in seeing Steve Stamkos.

Dec. 18th. Maple Leafs. See what I mean? George hates the Leafs.

Dec. 20th. Hurricanes. I am happy Tom Rowe has a job in the NHL. There are still a few faces left on this roster from the old Lockmoster days.

Jan. 1st. Penguins. MOL and I were going to Chicago, but decided a trip to Florida for a couple of Bruins games was probably a better idea. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year than by watching the Bruins and Penguins slug it out. The last time I went to a game on New Year’s Day was against Philadelphia a few years ago. Dave, MOL and I went, and I assure you. It did not end well.

Jan. 3rd. Sabres. Not sure why I agreed to go to this game. I have an unexplained and unnatural hatred of the Buffalo Sabres. Not sure why.

Jan. 6th. Wild. Boogieman. That’s the reason I’m here.

Jan. 8th. Senators. This is going to be an interesting club this season. Eager to see how they react after all that has happened to them over the last season. Jason Spezza, when he wants to be, is a God.

Jan. 10th. Hurricanes. Love the Matinee.

Jan. 13th. Canadiens. Hopefully the bad blood is really boiling by now.

Jan. 27th. Capitals. If you have never seen Alex Ovechkin live, I highly suggest doing so. You can’t take your eyes off of him.

Jan. 31st. Rangers. Original Six matinee. Doesn’t get any better than that.

Feb. 10th. Sharks. Joe’s second trip as a Shark. His first one was short lived, but a great performance. If you remember, he got kicked out very early for “boarding” Hal Gill. Questionable call at best. I just don’t like Gill, so I was cheering wildly. Pretty sure the people in my section didn’t like it.

Feb. 24th. Panthers. What else is there to do on a Tuesday in February?

Feb. 26th. Ducks. George Parros and his awesome Porn ‘stache in the house. Can’t miss it.

Feb. 28th. Capitals. A matinee and the Caps?! I can’t lose!

Mar. 3rd. Flyers. Shawn Thornton and Riley Cote. I am looking forward to these guys having a go.

Mar. 5th. Coyotes. Probably my most anticipated game of the year. Todd Fedoruk, Brian McGratton, and Daniel Carcillo all on the same club? This could be my Center Ice West Coast team of the season.

Mar. 14th. Islanders. Nothing better to do.

Mar. 19th. Kings. This should be another interesting team. Revolving door in goal. Some decent talent in Dan Boyle, and Teddy Purcell possibly coming in. Very young on defense. Really could go either way.

Mar. 31st. Lightning. Barry Melrose will field a scrappy team. No doubt.

Apr. 2nd. Senators. We’ll know by this point if the Senators have put all their troubles behind them.

Apr. 4th. Rangers. Original Six matinee. Can’t miss it.

Apr. 14th. Canadiens. Great way to end the regular season.

So, there it is. I am really looking forward to this year. It should be awesome. I may need a good divorce lawyer after as that is a lot of hockey. I think MOL understands the psychosis by now though. Let’s get it on.

Dangerous combo here boys. It’s a thousand. MOL is off at the Germ Factory leaving me unsupervised with at least a dozen of the “Workingman’s Brew” in the fridge. I just booked my ticket to hang with Dave at the beginning of August (we PROMISE a Podcast) and the NHL schedule came out today. You guys think I’m in a good mood? Hold on….

Walking down hall…..

Turning left into kitchen….

Opening fridge…..

They call me the Working Man……open, and sip……..AHHHHHHHH

Much better! Now then, here are some highlights of the Bruins Schedule. Before that, a tribute to my trip to the Great White North!

October 9th at Colorado. It’s back, its back, thank God it’s back! Boston opens their season on the road, per usual. Stupid circus.

October 15th at Montreal. The Habs open their 100th season in style against their hated rivals. Goosebumps thinking about it.

October 20th vs. Penguins. My first game as a season ticket holder. MOL is my usual date for opening night, so they may not see me in full plumage until…..

October 23rd vs. Toronto. Yup. Could be my last game as a season ticket holder.

November 13th vs. Montreal. First game for the Habs in Boston. Hopefully bad blood from October is still fresh.

November 28th vs. Islanders. Love the day after Thanksgiving game. Two years ago Kinger and I went, got wasted, and came home with a Hanson Brothers picture I bought for $150.00. Good times.

December 8th vs. Tampa Bay. I think these guys are going to be scrappy as hell under Barry Melrose. I’m also excited to see Steven Stamkos for the first time.

January 1st. Chicago vs. Detroit. I really want to go to Wrigley for this! If not, I guess I’ll watch on TV before going to the Bruins and Penguins.

January 19th vs. St. Louis. Hopefully Cam Janssen goes nuts.

February 7th vs. Flyers. I hate them.

March 7th vs. Blackhawks. Annual game I take my brother to against my other favorite Original Six Team?! I love it.

April 9th vs. Montreal. Hopefully there is some real bad blood here going into the playoffs!

Does anyone know how to build a time machine? I swear I won’t mess anything up. I won’t kill Hill Valley, I swear. We’re just going ahead a few months…no big whoop…..