Stars 2 vs Sharks 6, Ouch.

Well, it’s Black Friday and the Stars are back in black tonight.  Here’s hoping they get their numbers back in black tonight, too.  Can’t say I’m too overwhelmed by the new 3rd jersey.  I think I’ll save up for a vintage North Stars, Neal Broten jersey instead. 

The Sign Girls are in attendance at tonight’s game so we’ll have to keep our eyes open for them.  Also, a shout out to our friends Andrew and Sarah who are Sharks fans.  We don’t hold it against them too much.

Stars have had some excellent chances in first eight minutes and Turco has made serious acrobatic moves.  I’m hoping he gets a little more help as we go along.  Well, get a turnover from a pass by Niskie to Parrish and Sharks score.  Sorry, but my laptop ate about a paragraph there. 

Razor was just saying they really needed to answer here and Loui Eriksson answers in deed.  Pops one over Nabokov.  Stars tie it about 90 seconds later.  YES!!!

Landon Wilson goes to the naughty box for high sticking.  Ouch, that was way too fast.  Sharks score immediately on the power play.  Let’s hope we can respond in like kind.  Goc gets called for high sticking so Stars go on their own power play.  They are shooting more.  Think they finally heard us all screaming?  They haven’t scored but, it looks sooo much better. 

Thorton sets up Boyle in the slot.  Beats Turco.  Sharks lead 3-1.  Sigh.

First Intermission.  The score seems like the Stars are doing awful, but they have really been playing with more confidence offensively.  Defensively, not so much.

Man, I take time out to make half a turkey sandwich and I miss penalty called on Neal and the obligatory power play goal.  Sharks 4-1.  Gees. 

We get a penalty called on Boyle and then Modano gets called so we are now 4 on 4.  I since a goal change is imminent.

Can someone remind me why Tampa Bay got rid of Dan Boyle?  I bet Mike Smith would sure like to have Boyle playing in front of him these days. 

Let’s see, what else can I talk about other than this game?  Maybe we should have watched the Polar Express instead.  Hub is channel surfing over to The Incredibles. 

Apparently, Cheechoo got called for hooking.  Stars are on the power play.  Should have just stayed with the movie.    Rob Blake scores off a great screen by Clowe.  5-1, Sharks.

It is time to pull Turco and play the young guys.

Second Intermission.  Loui Eriksson interview coming up.  Loui does so much better on his interviews, now.  Last year it was almost painful to watch him, he was so nervous. 

Hub says to look on the bright side, they only scored twice in the second as opposed to three times in the first.  Yeah, thanks.

On a happy side note for our Buffalo fans, the Sabres came back from being behind 4-2 at one point (I think) and are now leading 4-3 with a minute to go.  And they win it.  Way to go, Buffalo!

Stars start with Tobias Stephan in goal.  What a surprise.  Some Shark I have never heard of is called for hooking.  We are on a power play, not that really means anything. 

Okay, I’m losing focus on this really fast.  There has been a succession of penalties that makes it a 4 on 3 in favor of the Sharks.

Stephan has made some solid stops.

Ok, the guy I never heard of just scored.  I guess he didn’t like my not knowing who he was.  Tomas Plihal.  Sharks, 6-1.

I’m going to stop writing now.  This is getting too painful.

Ok, Neal scores.  That kid is a definite keeper.

Brad Richards gets called for hooking in the last 15 seconds, his first penalty since becoming a Star.  And so this one ends.  I’m not even going to try to wrap this up. 

We have tickets for Sunday’s game against Edmonton.  We’ll start over then.

Post game.  Interviews with James Neal, shirtless Loui Eriksson and Sydor.  Sydor in HD.  Hmmm.  That guy has taken a lot of hits to the face.

Stars 4 vs Wild 3: The James Neal Show

We’ll get to see what our Minnesota boys can do in their home state.  Matt Niskanen is back in the line up for tonight’s game after being a healthy scratch.  I know he has not been playing that well but he has done very well in front of the home crowd in the past.  Here’s hoping he will again.  When he is playing well, he is a joy to watch.  My favorite little gnat, Toby Petersen, is another Minnesotan whom I hope we will get to see lots of even if it is the fourth line.  Mark Parrish is our third and you know he will want to play his guts out tonight to show the Wild how wrong they were.  I love his interviews, lots of charm in that guy, so do some good things to get that interview!

Modano is on a thirty goal pace.  That would be so cool for him.  Even more so if the rest of the team were playing as well as Mo.

Wahoo!!  James Neal scores!  Off a nice setup by Loui.  I’m glad the Stars scored first.  That usually bodes well for the Stars.

Darnit, Belanger scores.  (Don’t hate me, but I kinda like their little goal song thingie they do.) 

First power play of the game, Landon Wilson gets called for interference.  And they score.  What’s up with letting them pass across like that?  Those should have been picked off before they even got to the scoring chance.

Wow, I’m not even sure what that penalty is called.  Wild had two players thrown out of the face-off.  Stars are on the power play.  Apparently it is called “face-off interference”.  And apparently our power play still stinks.  Sigh.

Avery is trying to get on my good side by trying to camp out in front of the net.  It was a good try.  But you will have to do it a lot more and then actually score some before I’ll even start to reconsider my opinion of you. 

I love Robi.  He was laying on a puck in the corner and just looking at the Wild players poking at him with their sticks.  Like, Dude, I’m not moving, get over it.

First Intermission.  Boring.

Skoula scores.  OOph.  3-1

Barch and Boogaard have a dance.  Have to give it to Barch, Boogaard made huge hit on Robi and then Barch takes exception.  I’m not saying he should have taken exception, I didn’t really have a problem with the hit but Boogaard is huge.  Like a head taller than Barch.

My little gnat gets called for hooking.  The Wild goes on power play.

I do not think that was a goal.  It has to go completely over the goal line.  This is taking forever.  Whew.  No goal.  Still have to finish the power play.  Much prefer 3-1 to 4-1.  Well, we survived that penalty kill.

Ok, the trend is continuing that Grossman does something to amuse me every game.  There have been a couple of fights, the game where he took a nap on a player and just now his sweater gets caught in the glass and he literally has to rip himself off the glass.  Didn’t seem to phase him though.  Love that kid.  Now he gets called for hooking trying to make up for Avery’s turnover.  Avery’s specialty blind pass through the legs right to the Wild.  Loui makes a little breakaway attempt.  I miss shorthanded goals.  Sigh.

Thank God for James Neal.  He doesn’t give up gets his own rebound.  Great little breakaway, unassisted goal.  Now they call roughing on Pouliot.  So we go on the power play.  I almost wish we weren’t.  Neal has to go to bench after getting hit in the had by the puck.  Please don’t be hurt!  And we end the second with a few seconds left on the power play.  They did get a few things going on that power play.

Second Intermission.  Chris Conner interview.  Love the accent.  Love the quote I heard earlier in the week about Chris getting called back up.  Tipp told Brad to just think of him as if he were playing with Martin St Louis again.  I love Chris but I don’t think it is quite the same.

Yeah!  James Neal is back.

Can't Hold Neal Back!

Avery off sides, again.  What a shock.

Koivu scores, maybe.  Wow, net was off.  No goal.

Neal saves the day, again.  Backs up Turco.

Brad Richards SCORES!!!!  TIED 3-3!!!!!!!!!!!

STARS TAKE 4-3 LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!

ROBI SHOOTS AND LOUI SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’M IN SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, Stars, let me introduce you to a little something we like to call DEFENSE!!!   Do you remember that?   Please, please, please remember that!!!!!!

Man, if Neal does not get the number 1 star of the game, then there is something seriously wrong.  It’s like he has decided he is going to win this one all by himself if he has to.  I see future captain material.  Don’t get me wrong, I mean that way down the road, after Morrow. 

Slashing penalty against the Wild, but Ralph almost says against Avery.  Which is what I was expecting.

I’m holding my breath….

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STARS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STARS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STARS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JAMES NEAL IS MY HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What an amazing effort on that kid’s part.  Loui has another great game.  And so does Brad Richards, good for him.  Please lets see a post game interview with a happy B-rad! 

They still have a lot of work to do but they just seemed to push a little harder after they got some great breaks.  Definitely, something to build on. 

Post game.  I missed the James Neal interview because someone was playing with the slow-mo rewind.

Stars 3 vs Flyers 4

 

Well, as you all probably know by now.  No Steve Ott tonight.    No Brenden Morrow tonight.    No Jere Lehtinen tonight.    No Joel Lundqvist tonight.    Oh, well.

I’ll be keeping my eye on Brad Richards, Loui Eriksson and Nik Grossman.  Loui and Grossie are playing great and we need Brad to step up big time.  Chris Conner has been called up, I know Jen is happy to see that. 

Toothless Conner, too cute. (Getty)

Flyers Upshall scores, what was I saying about Grossman and Richards?  Yikes.

I’m being a terrible wife, mother and blogger by trying to blog and fix dinner at the same time.  So I missed the Wilson goal.  Tied 1-1.

Knuble scores.  That is one seriously annoying goal horn.  He just beat all the Stars on that one.  Not good.  Double hurt because Knuble is on the Ninja Wombats, the team we are playing in our fantasy league.

End of first period.  I am not good at trying to do multiple things at once.  But I don’t think I missed anything.  Unfortunately.

2nd period begins with us getting the crap scared out of us.  Zubie is racing Upshall to cut off an icing and ends up in the boards.  Takes a good long while to get up.  Upshall gets called for tripping.  Zubov looks furious on the bench.

WOOOOOOO!!!!!  Modano scores at the end of the power play.  7thgoal, only behind Loui.  Tied up at 2.

 

I actually like this picture. I'm afraid. (Getty)

 

The Flyers try to maul Avery’s face.  Draws a penalty and doesn’t get one himself.  For once.

I hate our power play.  It drives me absolutely insane to watch it.  Somebody needs to go to the net and stay there.  Then they just need to actually shoot.  SHOOT!

Aw, my favorite little knat, Toby Petersen, gets called for tripping.  Come on penalty kill!  Oh, who am I kidding?  Whew.  Ok, I take it back.  Then Petersen redeems himself by making a great save.  Yeah, Toby!  Apparently, Razor is as enamored with Toby as I am. 

Neal gets a stick caught in his skate.  Shouldn’t that be tripping?

Carter scores.  Pooh.  Marty got beat bad.

Yes!!!!  Modano scores again off a great feed from Daley.  Tied up again.  Daley is really starting to use his speed out there! 

Wow, Razor just mentioned that it is a game of “interchangeable parts”!  Total shout out to our friends at IPB!!!   WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And that is the end of the 2nd.

2nd intermission interview is with Landon Wilson.

Razor was thrilled when they finally got to say “Richards on Richards”.  Razor is so easily amused.  So am I.

I know they have been saying a lot about their work ethic not being what it should.  I think we have seen a definite upturn in that tonight. 

Stars go on power play when Coburn (of the wonderful commercials) gets called for tripping.  Stars get an excellent opportunity here when the Flyers get called for holding.  Another power play….  And nothing….

Daley has really been making some plays tonight and last game.  Good to see him stepping up his game.

Knuble scores again.  4-3 Phillie.  Sydor, I am not impressed.

Thankfully, Turco made a great save to keep us in the game.  Just over a minute left.  Turco has left the ice and Coburn gets called for ?  We are going on the power play to tie it.  We’ll see.  6 on 4.  Shooooot the freaking puck!!!!  ARRGGHH!!!  I HATE OUR POWER PLAY.  And Razor agrees. 

They worked a lot harder but too many turnovers, costly turnovers.  I have to say I loved the Flyers trying so many breakaways.  Reminded me of the Stars….last year.  I miss Barnes, Hagman, and the rest.  Also, I missed my little ice troll.  If nothing else, he makes things more interesting.  Heal fast, Otter.

Random note:  Razor’s tie matches the arena seats.  Did he plan that?

Black Monday at L2L Headquarters

Well friends, today has not been a good day here at L2L Headquarters.  You have probably already heard that our petulant little ice troll has broken his hand, will be having surgery and be out for at least a month.  I knew something seemed odd about that fight.  I can’t believe he continued to play for the rest of the game.  I know he is going to be missed on the already struggling penalty kill.  Otter, all of us here at L2L wish you a very speedy recovery.  We will miss you very much!

On a much more serious and personal note, Hub found out this morning that he is going to be part of the next lay-offs at his company.  We survived the original buy-out just barely.  His company is part of the auto industry and as you may have heard things are not going well there.  So they are having lay-offs.  It could be worse, he should get a package and we think they will continue paying for our insurance.  I have a good job, although only parttime, but we won’t be having to hit the savings too hard, I hope.  I’m always grousing about Hub being so frugal (cheap) but because of that we are in good financial shape going into this. 

I do ask for your prayers and also if you know someone who needs a chemical engineer who specializes in plastics/polymers, don’t hesitate to let us know!

In an effort to stave off depression, I will be blogging here during the game.  Hmm.  Maybe that isn’t the greatest idea?  Oh, well, maybe they’ll surprise me.

Stars 1 vs Ducks 2 (SO)

Well friends, tonight is going to be a real test for the Stars.  I’m so nervous for them.  The way I see it, they are either going to come out and play their guts out for their captain or they are going to come out and be totally decimated by the loss of their captain…………..I may throw up.

The L2L clan will be there in full force so I won’t be posting here.

UPDATE:  Darn, I was hoping the boys would give me an early b-day present.  But no such luck.  I must say they didn’t look terrible but they didn’t look great.  I’m still hoping that they don’t make anymore drastic changes for now and just try to gel what they have.  You know if you keep going back and stirring jello it will never setup. 

Marty and the defense looked better but the Ducks just weren’t that good either.  The Power Play was just awful, bleh, yuck, terrible.  Penalty Kill hung in there but wasn’t that great either.  I’m still trying to see what so great about Sean Avery.  I’ve tried to be more objective.  But the guy just seems to be a turnover waiting to happen.  He can’t get it through the neutral zone to save his life.  His puck handling stinks.  He took too many unnecessary penalties again.  Arrrgh. 

Anyway, some highlights from the game.  Daley’s setup for Loui’s goal.  James Neal’s play in general, love watching that kid go!  Brad’s shootout goal.  Awesome.  And absolute favorite moment of the night was when Jere Lehtinen’s little boy was one of the teeny-tiny shooters during the Pee-Wee shootout during first intermission.  Gotta love it.

Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me

Let me preface this by saying that I love my job, but in every job there are positives and there are negatives.  So today was one of the those negatives, not terrible, but not fun.  Anyway, I come home to check out the hockey blogosphere and decompress a little.  Then I remember that the Stars currently stink.  Oh, well.  So I go over to one of my favorite blogs, IPB, to see what’s going on there.  I read that they are going to be on Tivo delay, so I start reading today’s comments which are all about how bad the economy is and I am reminded that my husband works in the auto industry, you know, the one that is trying to get Congress to bail it out.  Then they talk about how one of the girl’s dad is coming this weekend to help her out with a problem she is having.  That makes me cry because I miss my dad so much in times like these.  He was a great listener in his day.  I am becoming more depressed by the second.  Next, I see a comment about Morrow which worries me, so I zoom over to the Stars website to find out that Morrow has a torn ACL and will be out for six months.  The hockey gods think they are very funny right about now.

Stars 3 vs Hawks 6

 Well tonight we welcome back both James Neal and Daryl Sydor.  They just mentioned that the Stars were able to practice with a full compliment of players for three days in a row for the first time since training camp.  Ouch.  Hopefully, they will have benefited from it.

Morrow scores on a rebound from a pretty play by Modano to Parrish.  There was some argument about it because it had hit his skate.  Hub said, “Of course there is an argument, it’s a Morrow goal.”  No problem though.  First goal in 8 games for Brenden.

We keep losing our HD feed.  What is up with that FIOS?

Barch and Seabrook are seeing how many times they can knock each other down. 

Brad needs more hair on his head and less on his face.  He’s looking very Play-offish.  Ott and Erikkson had a great 2 on 1 opportunity but it didn’t pan out.  Penalty coming up against Robi.  Interesting fact Hub came up with the other night.  Guess who has the most minor penalties in the NHL right now?  Morrow.  Not a good statistic.  Who had the most penalty minutes?  Avery.  Who else was in the top 10?  Ott.  Can’t keep that up and expect to win.  Made it through that penalty kill.

Kane scores.  You do not leave Patrick Kane all alone.  Darn, I was hoping we would make it to intermission with the lead.

First Intermission.  Random thought:  I love saying Khabibulin.  It’s just fun to say. 

And we are back.  Mostly just a lengthy turnover-fest.  Penalty on Daley for holding.  They survive the PK but then give up a goal to Eager.  And Hub goes for the bad joke, “He’s Ben Eager to score.”  This is what I live with.  Now there youngster captain has to go spend time in the naughty box and the Stars score!!!!!!!!!!!  Morrow makes a classic deflection up into the net.  2-2  Correction:  they have now credited the goal to Modano. 

Daley takes another penalty trying to cut off Havlat and Soupy spanks in a goal on the power play.  Back to back power play goals.  3-2 Chicago.  This is not helping my mood. 

Stars have been getting lots of chances but Khabi has been making some great saves.:( 

Another penalty.  Against the Hawks.  Let’s see what we can do now.  There is a scrum at the net between Morrow, Khabi and Vesteeg.  Morrow and Versteeg end up in the box and NEAL SCORES!!!  So glad to see the kid back!  We are tied up at 3-3. 

Ribeiro gets a penalty for interference.  He is so not happy.  Another penalty kill.  Dangit, they score again.  Gotta give it to Versteeg, great moves on his part.  Second period ends 4-3, Chicago.

Second Intermission.  Neal interview coming up.  Aw.  Such a cute little puppy.

5 minutes in and I got nothing.  And I wish I still had nothing.  Havlat scores.  Come back from 5-3? 

Sorry, had to finish making a pie for Hub to take to work tomorrow.  About 4 minutes left and doesn’t look like anything has changed.  Hawks get an emptynetter.  Final 6-3. 

A very disheartened looking team leaving the ice.  They just mentioned that Morrow didn’t play much during the last period.  Don’t know what is up with that.  They looked good during the first period but as the second progressed, their fragile mental game collapsed. 

I’m tired and have no great insights to wrap this up with.  I’m glad I’m not a sports writer, this would be a tough assignment. 

We have tickets for this Saturday’s game.  We haven’t seen a win yet this season.  So we will see.

Postgame:  Please, no more post loss interviews with Brad Richards.  I can’t take anymore.  He is just too sad.

Please no more post loss interviews with Brad.

A Little Love For Steve Ott, Please!

Patty (in Dallas) knows me a little too well and emailed me this picture earlier today.  Thanks Patty!  Needless to say I thought it was adorable.  It comes from a story on Fox Sports about the top ten pests in the league.  Can you believe our petulant little ice troll is only number nine!  Perhaps that is why he is pouting.  Take a wild guess who is number one.  I’m not saying a word.  He is on my favorite team now so I just need to get used to it.  Anyway, back to the pouty Mr. Ott.  I’ve mentioned many times, ok, tons of times that Otter is my favorite player but I’m not sure I’ve really addressed why.  Yes, he is adorably cute but that is not why he is my favorite.  (If I went on looks alone, it would be too hard to narrow down, since I pretty much think the entire team is adorable.  I’m a little old for that kind of stuff anyway, so for the most part I have switched into what I like to call “mother-love-mode”.)  Also, after all the Otter-hate that has been spewing from other teams, I felt the need to spread a little Otter-love around.

When I first started watching the Stars, I almost immediately began to notice Otter’s antics on the ice, it’s kinda hard not to.  He would pick at anyone and everyone, always chirping away.  He would make some huge hits and if one of his antagonees had had enough, he would take them on, no matter the size.  (I’m calling the recent Bruins game an anomaly.)  Last year I got to go to quite a few practices and he was always up to something on the ice or with the kids watching.  Then in his interviews, he was well spoken and funny.  Which brings me to what is the main reason he has become my favorite player to follow.  He makes me laugh.  On the ice and off.  And I’m a sucker for a good laugh. 

Next, he appears to not be afraid of anything.  (Regardless of what those whinny Bruins fans think.)  Sometimes, during a game, I’ll think some guy is going to kill Ott, but he doesn’t care.  He has something like thirteen fights posted on hockeyfights.com for last season alone. 

Another plus is he is infectious to the rest of the team, when he is at his high energy, chirpy, gritty best so goes the rest of the team.  And now as we are seeing more and more, not only is he an amazing pest, he is a  skilled player as well.  He has a great shot, an excellent defensive game and is a high energy penalty killer.  And I love, love, love seeing him go for a breakaway shot.  And while he has a bad reputation on the ice, off the ice, he is considered one of the nicest guys on the team.  And, of course, he is well loved by Dallas fans.  What’s not to love?

You may ask why would a mild-mannered suburban mom (who teaches Sunday School, no less) have one of the most hated players in the league as her favorite player?  Well, it turns out that I’m not really that mild mannered.  After starting to follow blogs and to write my own, this whole other side came out in me.  The aggressive, not afraid to shoot anyone down, commenter, who loves trash talking.  Who knew?  Apparently, there is more than a little troll in me as well. 

I’ve been worried now that they have brought the king of evil in that Ott would be overshadowed or even worse be traded.  I certainly hope not but only time will tell.  As for now, I’ll keep wearing my Ott jersey and cheering on my petulant little ice troll.  (Oh, in case you are wondering, we started calling Ott, “that petulant little ice troll”, after Razor (well duh) coined the phrase in a game.)

Stars 2 vs Kings 3

I’m picking this up a little late, about 10 minutes in, but Stars are getting off to a typical start with Sean Avery getting a tripping call and the Kings scoring almost immediately on the power play.  I must say that I don’t think Avery deserved the penalty and that Ersberg appeared to take a little bit of a dive.  Just saying what it looked like to me.

And now Frolov scores again for the Kings on a rebound in front of the net. 

Barchis chirping, Toby had a pretty wraparound that was blocked.  Razor is harping on the fact that the Kings are dominating in face-offs.  Barch gets called for charging.  It’s their third penalty of the game.  Sheesh.  Thankfully, killed that one off.

The Kings get called for interference.  So we’ll see what our Power Play can do.  Not holding my breath.  Sorry.  Modano gets plastered behind the net and we go 5 on 3 and thankfully we score! 

Richards scores his 5th of the season on a lovely one timer that is deflected slightly off a Kings defenceman.  And that is how we will head into first intermission.  Kings 2 Stars 1.

We come back to a lovely close up of Morrow in HD.  Very nice.  Not so nice, we lose the opening face off.  We are on the power play but get no where.  Robi takes the penalty trying to stop a breakaway.  Come on Penalty Kill.  And the Kings score.  Ugh.  Turco didn’t have a chance on that one.

Ribeiro takes a penalty for tripping.  Then Toby high sticks and gets called.  So we are on 5 on 3 for close to 2 full minutes.  Ott, Robi and Bouche are doing well on the first minute.  Now have Daley, Zubov & Leths.  Ribs is back and now Toby.  Whew.

Oh, gees.  Another freakin penalty.  This is crazy.  Robidas for tripping.  That is 7 freakin penalties.

Well now it’s our turn to go on the power play.  And Richards scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Off a lovely screen by Ribs through Ersberg’s 5-hole!  It’s 3-2, Kings.

And we are on the power play again after a King tackles Ott in front of the net.  Correction, they gave the goal to Ribeiro, off his foot.  The Stars are starting to wake up a little.  Grossy sits on someone behind the net.  I love Grossman.  That is the end of the 2nd period.

Niskanen interview coming up during intermission.  Niskie in HD.  The kid has great diction.  I don’t know why, but that always sticks out to me.  He always enunciates all his g’s very well.  Maybe because I’m from the South where we always drop our g’s. 

Razor tells us that we have spent 16 of the first 40 minutes on the power play.  And we are now 4 on 4 because Avery and some King get into a slap match on their way back to the bench.  I really have to give Avery credit though.  He has played with a lot of hustle tonight. 

Sorry, I went over to check on The Ice Trolls.  Not much going on over there either.  7:23 left in the game and they all look really tired.  Stars need to get a spark if they are going to pull this one out.  And guess what, the Stars take another penalty.  This time it is Parrish for tripping.  Turco was literally standing on his head to make the save then.  Turco was amazing on the penalty kill.

Unfortunately, Stars just couldn’t get anything going and lose final 3-2, Kings.  Marty was not the problem.  Penalties were the problem.  I don’t have any great insights.  No favorite moments.  So basically I got nothing.

Postgame:  Heart breaking interview with Brad Richards.  Gees, I thought he and I were both going to cry.  Robi and Morrow weren’t much easier to watch.  When asked what, as the captain, Morrow could do to help fix this, Morrow’s frustration was overflowing.  Very sad.  For me, it’s just another game, for them, it is their life, their work.  I can’t imagine how they must be feeling.  How do you dig out of this mentally?

Odd & Ends

Well, it’s Monday night and we are watching the Tampa Bay/Caps game.  I’m bummed.  I finally get to see TB play and they have Kolzig in goal instead of Mike Smith.  I’ve been dying to see Smitty in goal.  However, they are behind 0-3, so might get to see Smitty yet. 

Hub is obsessing over our goalie situation on our fantasy team, The Ice Trolls.  We put Marty Brodeur on the IR and picked up Alex Auld but our other goalie is Jose Theodore who has not played for the Caps in the last 3 maybe 4 games.  Advice, anyone?  Anyone?  We are actually number one in our league right now.  Which is probably why Hub is getting more obsessive.  He can be quite competitive.  Me, I just like to trash talk! 

I’m avoiding talking about the Stars/San Jose game.  I was just sick at the end of that one.  I think I’ll just skip it.  Tomorrow night is a late game in LA so we may be viewing the end of that one on tape delay.  Those midnight endings are hard to stay up for when you have to be up at 6am. 

I also wanted to mention they have a great write-up about Steve Ott on the Stars’ main website.  Good to see something nice written about that petulant little ice troll, especially after that Bruins debacle. 

One of my favorite things about blogging is seeing the terms people used to find my blog.  Some of them are so bizarre.  Here are my favorites from the last month or so.

totally rangers behavior — I have no idea what that means or how it connected to my blog.

myra’s pink room .com — Sounds like a brothel to me.

steve ott baby — Yeah, baby!

sean avery girls — Scary.

ric renner hair, ric renner’s hair, ric renner big dumb hair – who knew his hair was so popular?

fistric hug niskanen — I’m not asking.

fisty blondes on their first time — ABSOLUTELY MY ALL TIME FAVORITE!!!  Somehow, I think they were sadly disappointed when they saw it was about hockey.  THANK YOU, FISTY!