I feel like the girl at the end of Blair Witch Project right now. You know, I’m so scared…..The Hammer and I are headed to the Bruins right now to watch them take on the Penguins. By train. I hope Laraque gives Lucic a shot at the title. Pray for us. I’m so scared.
Goons
Simon Says, Step on my Leg
I finally saw the Chris Simon leg stomp, and I gotta tell you, I think this guy is deranged. Simon got 30 games for his action the other night. With this 30 game suspension, the 7th of his career, he has now been suspended for 65 total NHL contests. He’s had one gamers, two and three gamers but the last two incidents have netted him 55 total games lost. 25 for one of the most brutal stick attacks I have ever seen, and 30 for a cowardly, totally uncalled for act. Both guys he attacked were pests to be sure, but you no do that, never, never.
I just don’t understand how a guy that was very remorseful after trying to separate Ryan Hollweg’s head from the rest of his body, cannot have enough sense in his head to think before stomping on someone. I understand hockey is a game of speed, violence and emotion. We’ve been over this. It’s also a game of harnessing those emotions and using them to beat your opponent fair and square. I don’t think Simon should be allowed to lace them up in the NHL anymore. He clearly has no respect for his peers, and he can’t keep his emotions in check.
I’m sorry Chris that you do these things because you’re a recovering alcoholic. Look, I’m a drunk, but you don’t see me pushing people down the stairs at the office do you? We all have inner demons. You can’t keep yours in check so you should be allowed to play a game that is all emotion.
Work It!
The Goonsquad was well represented at the Garden last night as the Bruins defeated the Columbus BlueJackets. The starting lineup included Tweener, MOL, and after an extended breakfast, TKO. The night started at the Fours for some wings, Flutie sandwiches, and a few Miller High Life. We headed over to the Garden and found our seats. Great seats by the way. Thanks Cato. Anyhow, Tweener and I were glad to see number 45 for Columbus, Jody Shelley was dressed. I had never seen him live before, and I was surprised how big he was. You know who else is big? Rick Nash. We’ll get to her. Wait for it. You’ll see. Milan Lucic got the Garden faithful into it early with another impressive dust up with Columbus forward Jarred Boll. Once again, Milan overpowered his opponent and landed some hard punches. Rest of the league beware, this kid is for real. Shortly thereafter, Jeremy Reich got the game winner for Boston with a nice hardworking goal in our end. Good to see Reicher get one there. Tweener and I were talking, and he seems to have some faster hands this season. It’s good to see him do well.
Now on to the real highlights. There was a very hot girl in a Rick Nash jersey in front of us. Her glasses were blue, and so was her head band. I am not sure her boyfriend in the Bruins jersey was pleased about me calling her a puck slut loud enough for everyone to hear, but fuck him. It’s not my fault HOL is foxy. Even MOL thought she was sexy.
Tommy Gunn was plastered and was making friends all over the arena. Everyone loves a drunken guy in a Serial Killer T shirt. My favorite part of the night though was the woman that had no idea about hockey cheering, or urging the boys on. She had no clue, and it was hysterical. My favorite line? Get it up the ice and work it, work it, woooork it! No one else heard it, but I did, and nearly spit out my brew I was laughing so hard. Getting ready for the Pats game here. Good times last night. Tweener, it was good to see you. It’s been too long.
Snowy Fun
Anyone watching the Bruins game last night saw a dandy between New Jersey’s David Clarkson, and Boston’s Scary Tough Milan Lucic. It started with a minute left in the first when Lucic and Clarkson went into the end boards together. Alberts worked the puck out, and the boys decided it was time for a go behind the play. The fight was slow to start as they were both hanging on to each other behind the goal. Then as they started drifting from out behind the goal it got started with Lucic and Clarkson throwing some hard right hands at each other. They both took a couple and Clarkson missed with a big uppercut. As the fight wound down and they traded a couple more shots, Lucic landed a huge straight hand right that stunned Clarkson. He called for the Linesman to get in and the tilt was over. TKO Lucic.
I like this fight for a couple of reasons. David Clarkson is my kind of player. I saw him quite a bit in Lowell last year and he gives an honest effort every night. He never takes a shift off, in his play, or his mouth. He gets under everyone’s skin, and is not afraid of anyone. I think he’d look awesome in the black and gold.
Milan continues to impress me as well. He’s getting better at the hockey aspect of the NHL game every time out, and boy is this kid some kind of tough? Shawn Thornton called him Scary Tough, and went on to say He’s going to be bad news for a lot of people in this league when he figures out how tough he is. That’s a pretty ringing endorsement from a pretty tough customer himself. Right it looks like Lucic is trying to get himself a place on the mantle with other Boston cult heroes like, Stock, Jonathan, and Shoebottom. (He more for his last name and the fact people used to whip shoes on the ice when he fought. That’s brilliant genius. Imaging whipping off your shoes at last night’s game. Enjoy the walk back to the car.)
I’m off to work now, and then up to the Paul tonight for Albany’s return visit. Hopefully Trevor is all wound up. Tweener, MOL and I are going to the Bruins Saturday. I have never seen the Bluejackets play. As always, I’ll be the fat kid in the Goonblog T. Stop by and say hi.
No, Hear Me Out
Killer and KSpecial. I am glad you guys are having the debate about the Bruins in the comment section of my last post. As I was watching the Bruins last night I was wondering two things. Well, three actually. They are as follows.
1. Are these Boston Bruins for real? Not a lot has changed from the Bruins of last year really. It’s a lot of the same faces, which the obvious exceptions in goal. Savard is a God, and Muzz has really been filling the back of the net once he started scoring. I think the biggest differences up front are Chuck Kobasew, and Kessel’s continued improvement over last season. While Kessel doesn’t always find the score sheet, he does a lot of things better this season than he did the last. Kobasew is a guy that gives an honest effort every night and can be counted on for 20 this season. The addition of Milan Lucic up front has given them a nice crash and bang style, and when Thornton comes back from injury, those two will be reunited. On defense, the biggest difference is the reduction in Chara’s minutes. I think he is the most over rated player in the whole league, and last season he just played waaaaaay too much. He isn’t good enough to log that many minutes and it showed last year.
2. Is Claude Julien the favorite for the Jack Adams award? I’m fucking serious. Stop laughing. Think about it. Is this team much different from the team last year? Not really. Most of the key ingredients are there. Julien said he wanted them to be a tougher team to play against physically, and system wise. With the exception of the lack of response in the two games against the Philadelphia Criminals, I think they have been. Shawn Thornton, Jeremy Reich, and Milan Lucic have all shown a willingness to drop the mitts in defense of a teammate, or to send a message. Hell, even Chara has a fight this year! It’s obvious they have bought into Julien’s system as they are playing better positional hockey on both ends of the ice. It’s also obvious he holds the accountable to that system, as gone are the nightly too many men penalties, and undisciplined play that plagued them last year. As well as, Coach Julien gets an honest effort from the team every night. Even when losing, they are still in most hockey games, and you cannot say that about the club from last season. Bottom line is, he gets them into the playoffs, and I think he has to be considered a favorite for the Jack Adams trophy.
3. Am I on fucking drugs?
Badass PC. Badass Brawls.
I am not sure if I mentioned my new PC kicks serious ass. Well if I didn’t, I am telling you now. This thing kicks serious ass. I am watching highlights from last night’s games on the NHL network while typing this. This thing is very cool. Right up until they started showing the highlights of the Bruins game last night. Nice fucking pass Chara. I guess the highlights aren’t really my computer’s fault right? No. Not at all. I also know I liked my Sony at first, but that turned out bad. Ever date, or just bang a really hot girl that was all booked up on crazy but she was hot and looked really good but you still had the whole crazy factor there and it eventually got so bad you had to break up with her before she stole your dog or something? Well, that was my old Sony. Looked great, booked up on crazy. This thing is hot and lets me watch hockey. Not even MOL does that. I hope she doesn’t read this.
Last night featured some real heavyweight tilts in the American Hockey League. Trevor Gillies and Jon Mirasty had a real slugfest in Albany. Lots of punches traded and landed. Trevor got knocked down at the end of the tilt, but it’s hard to say if it was from a Mirasty punch, or if he slipped. I saw win Gillies, but you could make a case for either guy. Great tilt though. I am really bummed out Mirasty never got a shot in Lowell. That would make the fans want to come to one of the prettiest arenas in the whole league, and that’s fucking crazy talk!
Speaking of Lowell, former Lockmonster Kip Brennan, and current Devil Pierre-Luc LeBlond had a dandy as well in Bridgeport. These heavyweights traded lots of rights, and kept going into the late rounds. They were finally separated after trading heavy rights, hanging on, trade a right, hang on; trade a right.they both gave it their all. I call it a draw. Maybe a slight advantage to Kip Brennan. I am headed to Lowell for the Manchester tilt in about an hour. Hopefully Manchester’s Paul Crosty or Kevin Westgarth is feeling frisky.
Not Surprised
Another game and another cheap hit by a Flyer. Andrew Alberts was just sent to Queer Street by Philadelphia Flyer Scott Hartnell. Much like the other Flyer hits this season, this latest could have been avoided. Alberts was on both knees, and I understand Hartnell is finishing a check, but to hit someone in the head, while the player is defenseless.well, there is just no need for it. What is it going to take for the players in the NHL, and the Flyers in particular gain some respect for each other? Is someone going to have to be killed?
I think these Flyers are particularly dirty too. Eager came from very far across the ice to hit Chara from behind. Kudos to Ward for standing up to the big Captain. I am all for rough hockey. I just don’t like dirty hockey, and these Flyers are dirty.
Gobble Gobble Goonblog
I am coming to you live from the new Goonblog HQ on the other side of Acton! MOL and I moved last weekend, and we finally got cable installed Friday morning. Manny and the boys hooked me up for my plasma with a brand new HDMI cable, so I am now actually getting real HD. It’s awesome. I gave him and his buddy 5o bucks for a great install. I hope they spent it on beer.
With Internet and cable installed, I am typing this on my new HP desktop I scored through our employee purchase plan at work. To say this is a bad ass machine is an understatement. Quick highlights. PD 3.4 gig processor. 2X300 gig hard drives. 4 Gig memory. DVD everything. Here the capper: 21 HDTV LCD monitor. I have it hooked up to the cable box, so I can come in here and watch the games in HD while MOL enjoys Brothers and Crap, or Desperate Housewives or whatever the hell else is on. I am psyched. This machine is bad ass.
Moving on to the business at hand. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. This ’07 edition was a bit of a departure from my normative behavior around this time of year. I look forward to the night before Thanksgiving all year. It is by far my favorite holiday. Usually I drink my face off with people I hadn’t seen since the Thanksgiving prior and old friends I hang with all year. There is always someone totally random that shows up (Susan in ’06.) that makes the evening a lot more interesting. This year however, was a bit different. For starters, the only person that may enjoy Thanksgiving more than me, and newly minted US Citizen, Dave, was up in the motherland. To say I missed him around this year was an understatement. He has been the best at keeping in touch with everyone, so he always plans the best events. It was not the same without him around. Secondly, the red house is no more. Jim and James packed it in and moved to Sommerville, so that was out. Thirdly, I went to the Lowell Devils game the night before, and drove to my brother’s in Connecticut Wednesday night. It was an odd Thanksgiving, but at the same time, I liked it. It was nice to be able to actually EAT turkey, and have a normal conversation with people. As well as I got to hang with my Niece and Nephew, which is always a blast. Still though, some traditions must live on, so I am announcing it early. Mark your calendars now. The night before Thanksgiving next year will be right here at Goonblog HQ! Dave, I better see you at 4:30 brew in hand.
Although the Holiday was a bit different, it did afford me a lot of hockey action featuring two Goonblog favorites over the years. Wednesday I was in Lowell for the Pirates tilt. Gordie Dwyer was in the house, but not dressed for the game. I spoke with him for about 20 minutes, and it was great to see him. I would have to say he is the nicest kid I have ever met in hockey. He talked of his chance in Portland, and Sweden last year. He spoke of the family, and they are well. I’m not mental or anything, but it was good to see him and have a few minutes to talk to him. I hope they sign him up there because he deserves the shot.
Friday marked the return of Trevor Gillies, and Tom Rowe to the Paul. Tom has always been very high on Gillies, and signed him this off season. Gillies played about 10 shifts and took a bullshit charging call. I was close enough to hear him screaming at the clock operator, penalty box attendant, and hell anyone that would listen. He was yelling, How can you guys watch these guys?! What a bunch of pussies! You haven’t had anyone tough here for 6 years since I left! Everyone got a good chuckle out of it, but sadly, he is right. Later after getting in a fight with Lowell’s Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre with 3 minutes left in the third he chose to stay in the box as opposed to retiring to the dressing room. Gillies was heated because he felt JLGP had jumped him late in a shift as opposed to waiting for a draw. The fight was a good one in which Gillies landed some good hard shots, but JLGP landed some of his own too. I think he may have even cut Gillies on the chin. I would say it was a win for Gillies, but JLGP handled himself nicely. Being back in the box afforded Gillies more time to scream and yell, and when Lowell’s Mark Fraser took two near the end of the game, Trevor took the opportunity to yell over to Fraser. This I could also hear. He said, He Fraser. Tell your boy to get me off a draw next time, not when I’ve been out there for 2 minutes. He’s a fucking coward! It was pretty hilarious, and Fraser even managed a dry smile. While I agree it goes against the code to get a guy late like that, I think Trevor would have had more beef if it was one of the leagues real tough guys. Not some wanna be tough guy with two hyphenated names.
Yesterday was game three for me in Lowell, and it featured Gordie Dwyer again. This time he played, and he didn’t look too bad. Gordie is a surprisingly good skater for a rough and tumble winger, and gives an honest effort every shift. He took a crappy minor for elbowing, but other than that, there was no rough stuff from him. Lowell also actually played another hyphenated player, Pierre-Luc LeBlond. It was the first time I’d seen him play for Lowell, and he didn’t look out of place at all. Decent skater, and plays crash and bang. They should take note of the lineup they had yesterday and play it more often, as they finally won a fucking game, and looked interested in playing. Tonight is the Flyers and Bruins in the first tilt since Bergeron was sent into the press box for the rest of the year. I’d like to see an old Broad Street Bullies vs. The Big Bad Bruins type game, but in the new NHL, I am not sure that’s possible. Either way, I’ll be tuned in at the All New Goonblog HQ!
Gordie’s Back
Tweener is a constant source of information for Goonblog. He’s always sending me stuff from different fight related sites he peruses, and I appreciate it. Knowing I am a huge Gordie Dwyer fan, he passed on the information about him signing with the Portland Pirates last week. I was very happy to hear the good news, as Gordie is easily one of the nicest guys I have ever met. The Devils game the night before Thanksgiving is now must see, as the Pirates come rolling into town. Here’s hoping someone wants a piece of Mr. Dwyer.
Last I had heard of Gordie he was coaching in the Maritimes after being cut by the Islanders. I thought he was having a good camp, and I was kind of surprised he didn’t at least get sent to Bridgeport. He brings a ton of energy, and is a surprisingly good skater for a guy that plays the tough guy role. Often injured because of his reckless abandon style of play, but when he’s in the line up, he is a pest that will give you an honest effort every shift. I bet he’s a great guy in the room too. I am not sure of his pugilistic ability, as I have seen him lose more than win, he doesn’t seem to shy away from standing up for a teammate. I would like to see him stir the pot more, as he seems unwilling to drop the gloves in the AHL for the sake of dropping the gloves, but all in all, Portland is getting a fine minor leaguer in number 32. Good luck Gordie. See you on the 21st.
Not My Captain
What a week eh? Patriots killed the Redskins, and the Red Sox won their second World Series in 3 years. It’s an incredible time to be a Boston sports fan. Unless of course, you are a Bruins fan. That’s not exactly true. The team is off to a surprisingly good start. They seem to be playing pretty well together and the Thornton and Lucic dynamic is very interesting. They had two great fights last Saturday back to back. They are indeed tougher to play against. I am happy with the start, with the exception of Zdeno Chara.
I got a text from Goonblog fan, Brownie the other night. It read, NHL ’08 for PS3 is amazing..Chara is a pussy in it though. Hands down it is the funniest text I have ever received, but at the same time it’s true. I really don’t want Goonblog to turn into anti Chara blog, but it seems he is our new whipping boy here. It was Hal Gill a few years ago, and to be honest, I think Chara is an inch taller Hal Gill. To say I am disappointed he wasn’t the one to go after Randy Jones instead of Chuck Kobasew is a gross understatement. Claude Julien should have walked up to him, told him to remove his jersey. Then he should have handed it to Donny Delnegro and told him to remove the C because he wasn’t fit to wear it. I’m sure he works hard, and is a nice guy, but he’s no Captain. You think Terry O’Reilly would have let Chuck Kobasew do the dirty work if he was on the ice? Exactly.
As far as the suspension goes, I think it’s fair. It was a bad hit, and he knows better than to hit anyone when their back is turned, but it wasn’t vicious like the cross check Boulerice laid on Kesler. I think the punishment fit the crime, and I think he’ll get some code justice when these two teams meet again. No weekly wrap up on Sunday. TKO and I will be in Indianapolis for the Patriots game. Should be a blast. I might try a running diary tomorrow night for the Bruins. We’ll see how the schedule works out. Meantime, I am off to bed, and by that, I mean I am off to get more brew.