Big Game Briere: A Photo Retrospective

by Ryan



That looks like a $4 million holding-the-stick-penalty if you ask me. Wait, he didn't get called for it? Even better! That's the market for ya...


TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBEERRRRRR!!!


Briere's line in the biggest game of the season? 1A, 2 PIM, EVEN, 0 SOG, 17:02 TOI.

That makes him a putrid -3, with two shots and 4 PIM in three games against Pittsburgh. But hey, that secondary assists when you were down two goals was awesome. Totally clutch.



Good call, kid.

But... but... he's 6'6"!

By Jon

Meet James Hardy.


James is a big, sure-handed receiver who played his college ball at Indiana. Drafted in the second round, Mr. Hardy is supposed to be quite the compliment to Lee Evans. But you know that already, so let's move on to some fun facts!

Fun fact #1: James played college basketball at IU for two seasons, according to his Wikipedia page.

Fun fact #2: James was a Freshman All-American in 2005, a Third-team All Big 10 selection in 2005 and 2006, and a First Team All Big 10 selection in 2007.

Fun fact #3: James allegedly pulled a gun on his own father after beating the crap out of him this past weekend!

Fun fact #4: James wants everyone to know that it was just a big misunderstanding (link via WNY Water Cooler), much like many reports of assault and brandishing a weapon.

UPDATE: According to the Buffalo News and contrary to the initial report linked above, it looks like the incident was less of a "beating" and more of an "argument."


The Goose's Roost would like to welcome James Hardy to Buffalo! Thanks for being the newest weapon in our offensive assault!

Stick the World's Largest Fork in Philly

Literally.

With no desperation and no transition game, it looks like the Flyers are history. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

So it's going to be Penguins-Red Wings barring any sort of Brian Campbell-esque miracles. Who ya got?

On Bassinets and Briere

by Ryan

The Philadelphia Flyers are giving this series away. Sure, the Penguins are doing the Playoff Triumvirate (Great goaltending, solid defense, timely scoring) very well, and the Hossa/Crosby/Dupuis line is still a monster; but the Flyers have been a joke of a hockey team two games in.

Let's get the disclaimers out of the way first. Yes, the Flyers are having injury troubles. Yes, Timonen going down out of the blue hurts, but you have to overcome injuries. Coburn getting a puck to the face is a freak thing, but maybe he could have ducked if he wasn't worried about what size Malkin's gloves are. (and investigating with his stick...) Having two of your best defensemen go down is rough but you have to do what it takes, even if that means starting Micheal Funk in Game Seven of the Conference Finals.

Besides, there are no excuses for an awful defensive effort when the effort is most of the problem. Playing Hatcher for over 25 minutes/game is never a good start, but you have to get a solid backcheck from the forwards in that case. Defensive responsibility is much more than with your top pairings, and when your 4th line is getting outworked with less than ten minutes to go, well, I doubt Timonen can help Steve Downie much.

There are too many players on Philly just... coasting, and when it is your "best player" leading the charge lackadaisical skate to the blue line you can't possibly claim to be happy with the effort. While Mike Richards is playing out of his mind on both ends, Danny Briere is completely dogging it.

I've never liked Richards much and I've certainly knocked his contract, but I've been very impressed with his play this postseason. The anticipation on the PK to take that Malkin pass and break down the ice was some very smart hockey. While the Crosby line was making ridiculous cross ice passes look easy, Malkin was struggling all game and forced one and Richards cashed in. While he is still a bit of a diver and talks to the refs like he is negotiating their salary for next year, you have to admire his play and how he has stepped up this year. (In many regards, he's like Derek Roy Plus...)

Still, while Richards is shining like an oh-so-bright star, Danny Briere is playing like he wished they hung above his fluffy widdle crib. The best bias-free opinion I can give of Briere's performance is that he is playing like a freaking pansy. That's honestly the best I can do. He is not playing hockey at all. While Vaclav Prospal is digging in the corners and taking checks, Briere is beside the net waiting for the puck to magically drift his way. Repeat for about 20 minutes of ice time.

Now if anyone understands Briere's game it would be a Sabres fan. We've seen the best and worst of his game, from before he was a superstar to when he denies he is a superstar but gets paid like one. But what makes him so good, along with an uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time, is his ability to play bigger than he is.

It's not about taking on Zedeno Chara, it's about working the corners and winning battles. What made our PP so good at times was when all five guys could get into a corner an win a battle, making a pass to an open man under pressure. For as many backdoor goals he scored with the man advantage, he and Roy could set up countless more with a blind pass from the end boards or by overpowering a 6 foot defenseman.

Briere isn't doing that, and when you couple this complete absence of tenacity with his incessant diving and trying to draw penalties you get a waste of a roster spot. Danny Briere hasn't been playing like a franchise player, and when you are having trouble on the back end, you can't afford not to have great forward play. When was the last time you saw Briere backcheck in a Sabres uniform, let alone in orange and black?

This isn't a vindictive post against a former player. I don't hate Danny Briere, but right now I hate his game. He is playing like a joke, and it's embarrassing to watch. Yes, he took a butt end from Malkin. Yes, he was forced into Fleury on the penalty call. But when you spend your other 18 minutes on ice stationary or flopping to the ground like a wounded elk, do you really expect calls to go your way?

The Flyers' offensive gameplan is a mess. They have no working entry method, and no one seems willing to get the puck deep and take a hit to set up the zone. It may not be the answer, but when nothing else seems to be working the Flyers don't seem willing to change. Biron is playing pretty well, but when you can't get the puck past the other blue line it's only a matter of time before the Pens hit the back of the net.

Tonight it may be a completely different team. Briere may decide to show up, the crowd may get all vengeance-y and may be into it. But after that first ten minutes, if the score is still tied, what do the Flyers do? Dallas hasn't shown they have a third gear. Pittsburgh and Detroit have. Will Philly have what it takes to make a series of this?

Europe in One Picture

UEFA Football and Heineken. Sadly, if we posted one about America it would just be a picture of someone playing Madden...

Blahg

By Jon

I can remember the conversation like it was yesterday. Chris shot me an IM.

"We both agree that we hate most sports blogs, right?". I agreed with him.

"Wanna start one?"

It made perfect sense. Narcissists that we were/are, we thought that our hours-long conversations about the sports scene were worthy of a place on the internet for everyone to read. We asked Ryan to hop on board, Rich came along, and the rest is history.

Now, I won't bore you with another post recounting that fateful private chatroom that led to the birth of our blog, but I will tell you that I'm proud of what we have here. I feel like we have accomplished what we set out to do: Hone our craft as aspiring writers while maintaining a (relatively) ethical approach.

I came in knowing nothing about the blogosphere. I was way more Bissinger than I was Leitch. But after a full year of checking what some of my fellow bloggers are writing everyday, I can say that I have been converted. I realize that blogs are essential to the current scene, especially to the lesser-covered sports. There's such a great sense of community that appeals to me, a sense that is certainly lacking in the mainstream media.

So as we pat ourselves on the back today, I'd like to express thanks to all of the other bloggers out in the Buffalo blogosphere. You guys didn't know it, but you've done a lot to shore up my ignorance concerning blogs.

Satisfied Mind

by Ryan

If you do anything regularly for a while... sooner or later the weirdos will show up. -Jeff Buckley

I have always admired Jeff Buckley for that line. It came during a gig he had at Sine-e, a venue in New York City where he spent many of his pre-Grace days just... playing music. I'm not trying to call you guys weirdos, but that quote came from a man so comfortable in his element you couldn't help but laugh. In the two disk set Live at Sine-, he will go on to play covers from Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Donnie Osmond. Basically, whatever he felt like.

If you are catching the musical analogy, that's what I've tried to do here. I've always seen blogging as the writing equivalent of doing club gigs. Sure, you can do whatever you want with your time and space, but you have to get people to come out and see you. Well, we're one year in and it looks like I can say "so far so good." Of course, we could always do better.

What I've always wanted to do with this space is feel comfortable. I've written for print media before, and I've certainly written for grades before; but I've never been truly comfortable with my style and writing voice. That was the reason we started this blog. Practice. It was an experiment that none of us knew how to execute. What it became was so much more than that.

One of the earliest things we learned was that once I start something, I dive into it headfirst. I've embraced the blog-o-sphere from the get go, and soon sites like KSK and Deadspin became a part of the way I watch sports. Over the past year I've learned so much about the sports world, and I think being a blogger has made me a better sports fan. Sites like Fire Joe Morgan and Hockey-Reference make watching and understanding sports better, and if I didn't come here to publish something to begin with I would have never found them.

I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that I'm having a lot of fun doing this. Thinking back on the year we've seen through the eyes of this blog is pretty amazing in itself. July 1st. Kevin Everett. Red Sox World Series. The Winter Classic. The Super Bowl. Zednik. So much has happened in the last 12 months, how did we ever think we wouldn't have anything to write?

You've seen my posts more than any here in the Roost, and so you probably know quite a bit about me. I'd like to think that in the course of the year I've gotten to know many of you as well. We haven't met in person, and you may not want to be seen with me in public to begin with, but there are people out there I feel like I know. So thank you, everyone. Thank you for reading. Thanks for giving us a chance, and for sticking around.

This is the most fun I've ever had just... writing. Finally, after all that searching and admiring, I feel comfortable here. So thanks for giving me a place to be comfortable, and for being a part of the Roost.

The Fastest 12 Months on the Internet

By Chris

I always joke with Ryan that we started this blog at the worst possible time. The first official night of the blog, Joe Corvo scored to put Ottawa up two games to none against the Sabres. It was one of the first signs that the Sabres weren't built to win the Stanley Cup. So when their playoffs ended about a week later, we were left scrambling.

What the hell were we going to write about?

Just starting out, we didn't have a voice or an audience that was listening. So we made due. We wrote about baseball, LeBron James, Halloween decorations, porn and jerseys. We were looking for anything and for anybody to listen. It was a long summer to say the least, highlighted by the Canada Day Massacre where we lost those two former captains (yeah we've been through that).

But we prevailed. And when football started up, we had Miis of the Busboy Losman and Money Lynch ready. When the Sabres opened up, we had Islanders Week, which is probably the busiest we've ever been here--well except for February when we decided to use that Leap Day to our full advantage.

It's been an interesting year. And what have we learned since last May 12? That we're going to just keep doing what we do. But better. Turns out that we really haven't changed all that much since those first few days. We've just added a lot more pretty pictures, nicknames and "Mismanagement" tags since then.

Ryan's been carrying the blog for the last two months or so as the rest of us were struggling with something called "college" and "schoolwork" and enjoying something called "sleep" (which Ryan hasn't experienced since March 9). But we're all coming back with a bang this summer. There's still a lot to be said about what exactly happened to the Sabres (and what they're not going to do this offseason) and Bills camp is right around the corner (they should be exciting, right?). Plus any other general wrabble that we want to throw out there. As long as we've got the bandwidth, why not?

So thanks to everyone who gives us a click every once in awhile. Knowing that people are actually reading what we're writing is a great feeling. And if you guys are enjoying it, all the better. Thanks for sticking with us as we look to avoid that dreaded sophomore slump. Hey, if Malkin could do it...

This Blog Pisses the S#!t Outta Me

by Kevin from BfloBlog- Special to the Goose's Roost



When Ryan contacted me about writing something to commemorate the first anniversary of The Goose's Roost, I wasn't sure how to react. But I said "yes", because I feel very strongly about The Roost. In short, I really think The Roost is full of shit.

I am over 21, and who has a better ability to evoke a game or a moment? BfloBlog or these youngsters here? Let me give you some examples of things said in this very publication:

One thing I do know, I support Jason Giambi. He sounds genuinely remorseful.

Using Facebook. That's so DeadSpinny.

Making fun of people with speech impediments.

How can you be proud of this? How? Is your point to try to show that all these guys do is party and fuck around? Is it to humiliate people? I may be over 21, but I'm not stupid.

Maybe I'm just aggravated because these guys - like it or not - are the future. My kids will grow up reading The Roost, and what they read is going to be glib. It's going to be profane. And it's going to be quick.

Did you know that The Roost debuted on May 12, 2007, and the Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs just eight days later? And they haven't been back to the playoffs since? Nice work, losers. You couldn't have started a Flyers blog? Good luck with year two - maybe you can destroy the Bills while you're at it.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OK, now that I am done channeling my inner Buzz Bissinger, please allow me to "get all realz" on yo ass.

I read The Roost every day, or every day that I am on a computer machine at least. I have a general rule that I don't waste my time reading crappy blogs, so I can proudly say that The Roost is not crappy! Actually, I stand by what I wrote back on May 22, 2007:

Also, The Goose’s Roost made it’s debut recently. At first it looked like a Sabres blog, but I can see the changes starting already now that the season has ended. Anyway, those guys are funny, witty, and wordy. In short, they’re everything BfloBlog used to be before we sold out for the big bucks. So go check them out as well.

Anyone who has rolled around the blogosphere long enough has seen their share of sites come and go. There had to have been 10-15 Sabres blogs start up this season, but very few are still posting regularly. I hope these two sites stick around.

Seriously, I'm glad you guys stuck around. So. Ryan, Jon, Rich, and Chris (are there really four of you?); best of luck in year two, and I hope you keep this site going for many more.

Greatest Hits

Twelve months is a long time when you post as often as I do. If you've been with us that long, Mom, go do something more constructive with your time. Otherwise, I would encourage you to take a look back at the ridiculous things we wrote back when we had no idea how to run this place. You can see the gradual increase in posts per month has peaked and leveled, (Seriously, was I on cocaine in February?) but there has been some interesting things published every month that, looking back, we're pretty proud of.

With that in mind, here are what we consider best of the best, month by month. Hopefully you come away with the same reaction we had: we used to be much funnier. If you feel like we missed on something or are complete idiots, let us know. We are used to it...


May

First Post- We each wrote three different intros and we spliced to make the best one. Yes, only three of us, more on that later.

Excelsior- One of Ryan's favorite words. Written in the wee hours of the morning following the Sabres' playoff exit. A bit weepy, but the first thing he wrote here he actually liked.

Elastic Hearts- From Rich's Buffalo Cane blog. This is the post that made us offer him a chance to write with us.

Monday Musings: Porn, Drugs, and Portis- The first time we actually thought people were reading.

The Ten Commandments of Jersey Wearing- This is something we feel strongly about, so much so that it will be revised over the summer to address some issues we've had over the last year. Stay tuned.

Not So Cox-Sure Just Yet- Cox is a good writer, but this column was pretty ridiculous. Take a look at this year's deadline and tell me he was right. Oh wait, small sample sizes again. Oh dear...

August 15th Will Be Huge in Austria- One of those late night throwaway posts that still makes us laugh.

June

Wild Wing, Cowboy Burgers, and the Verve- Ryan's Stanley Cup post, with some hometown flavor. Still a fan of this one for sure.

The Case for Chris Drury- No one was reading, but Ryan was making his case. As I said, no one was reading...

July

Here Lies the Wreckage- A borrowed lyric from a friend. Probably the best way to sum up that day. Canada Day will never be the same.

August

Wha-ha-happened was...- This one we will never forget. Ryan deletes the blog and spends the next two days sifting through Google caches to piece it together post by post. Good times.

September

Burger King is Speaking, Listen up Tubby- We actually were cited by a health food blog for this one. They called the site "pithy", and Ryan didn't stop talking about it for days...

October

Crown 'Em: Captain by Committee- Probably my favourite of the series. Again, proof that Darcy doesn't read the Roost...

RoosTV: Buffalo Gets the Four Letter Treatment- Bills on MNF. Ryan was at the game and wanted to shoot himself in the face afterwards. "Luckily", Chris live blogged it. Still hurts to read that final sentence.

Dead to Rights- Good take on how similar 06-07 Flyers are to the 07-08 Thrashers. Maybe. See for yourself...

Happy Birthday Wills McGahee- It had to be done.

Sharing is the Bee's Knees- Favorite Bills post of all time. Full disclosure: the picture of Dick was taken after the MNF Dallas game, but I think I saved it for a good time...

Happy Halloween- Sophomore slump didn't soften his pimp hand. Or his Right Hand.

November

76 Months Later- Chris takes a look at just what we got in the Hasek trade. It took us a while to figure out how we got Dan Paille. And they say bloggers don't have integrity...

Storytime With Uncle Bucky- We've found that when Rich posts he makes it worth your time.

An Audience with Darth Quinn- It went better than the title suggests. Very interesting stuff.

Quote of the Year- Wade Belak is missed here in the Roost. Rich will be taking a trip to Sunrise to visit him for us. Hopefully he is in full uniform.

Maxsplosion- If the Sabres had a "Sex Cannon" this year, it was Max.

December

Sean Taylor- Rich had the best take on this.

Christmas Shopping with Joe Benanati- The thesaurus is underrated as a reference book.

Santa Claus on Mitchell Report- A higher message about the whole thing. Ryan is out there sometimes...

I Thought Sekera Got Sent Down...- Er... you had to be there. Late night, you see...

January

Happy, Happy New Year- The Winter Classic post. What a day that was.

Petey's Place- The title came from the suggestion that Andrew Peters have his own sign at the arena.

Too Little Too Late- Too soon?

February

Roby Forecasts the Trap- Probably the hardest Ryan has worked on a post. At least four hours of photoshopping and a few games of NHL 95/08.

A View From the Roost: Slaying the Dragon- DISCUSS

You Might be a Leafs Fan If...- Word is that Bill Engval is in the running for head coach. This guy must be pumped.

A View From the Roost: The Natural- Favorite "I was there" post for sure.

March

Nolan <3s Miley- Moving on...

AVFTR: That Reflexive Cry- Ryan's eulogy to the season almost two months early.

Captain by Committee, Act III Scene II- Okay, so we like Office Space...

One Bright Spot- Paul Gaustad finally makes my HDTV worthwhile...

The Source of the Problem- May or may not be kidding anymore...

The Cone of Silence- If you are keeping score at home, this is the post where you learn we are all crazy.

Chasing the Field- Some Pat Kaleta love. This was put on someone's Facebook wall, and yes, we are very proud...

April

Talk About Being Proactive- Sadly believable.

In Defense of Number Fifty One- Another county heard from...

Blessed- Jon really should be the one doing all our photoshops...

Mission Statement- Buzz Bissinger and the State of the Roost Address.

May

Popsicles are Delicious- Bucky Gleason. Words about Danny Briere. You tell me how it ends.

Soupy's Search for Magnolia Mountain- This post was a while in the making. Would have been done two weeks ago if not for JR's Game Seven antics...

The Year in Pictures

There are many times in which what we have to say just gets in the way of the action. When that's the case, we upload a crap load of pictures. In fact, if you want to get a sense of just how often we steal rely on the great work of photojournalists, go check out our Picasa albums. There is even an album with some test projects I've done before I put it on the Roost. The finest MS Paint can offer, really.

Actually, it really is interesting to look back on what we've put up here. Lots of game pictures and just enough photoshops to keep me reminiscing for a few hours. So, I thought you may want to take a look back with us.



The first 500 pictures are in this slide show, if you are into that kinda thing.



The next 300 or so are here. Why not sit back and relive some of the good times, eh?

The Goose's Roost Revisited

Today is a very special day in the Goose's Roost. One year ago today, Jon, Chris, and I started a private chat room and introduced each other. I had never met Chris before, and Rich wasn't even in the picture at the time, but we knew that we were going to start a sports blog. Somehow.

I happened to have a Blogger account and a site that I had absentmindedly called "The Goose's Roost" one night when I got bored. It sat for a month with no activity, just a color scheme and a name. Then that text from Jon got in the way. On May 12th, each one of us wrote an introduction to the site. We then took the three intros and made one post, the first of 754 posts here in the Goose's Roost.

We really had no idea what was going on when we wrote that first post. The Sabres were in the middle of arguably the most exciting season in their history, and we didn't have much experience in the blogging world. Today is a celebration of the last year of our lives, and I think it should be some fun. Check back a few times, because we're going to have plenty to read.

To start, we recently got a present for ourselves. Jon isn't the biggest fan of it, but Happy Birthday to Us.

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

by Ryan

I was going to talk about this yesterday, but I was too busy making up for my slacker ways and honoring mothers everywhere with purchases at the mall. In any event, on Friday night the Buffalo ABA franchise announced it's return to activity. The Ultimate Sports Road Trip has a good summary of the events, as well as a link to the team's website, which is just a logo at this point. An interesting logo, if I do say so myself. But the question is, why the Sharks?

So how did the “Sharks” nickname come to be? Lesh laughed and replied. “We had a sponsorship deal in place that involved the name and that fell through. But we liked the nickname and it stuck.”

Well, if you knew my sleep schedule and understood how much late night TV I watch, this next part shouldn't surprise you. Although he didn't say it, the sponsorship he is talking about has to be with Shark Energy, an energy drink that has... interesting commericals on late at night. Why? See for yourself.



This is the logo for the ABA Sharks.



And this is a can of Shark. Hrm... there seems to be a strong resemblance. I think it's something about the basketball and the slash marks on the can, but I can't be sure.

I think it's safe to say that this is the sponsorship they were talking about. The commercials I've seen tag this as a "Buffalo" energy drink, although from the website it appears to be an international operation. Maybe someone out there has actually tried it and can tell me more.



In case you were wondering, this is what I write to.

MAN DOWN!

by Ryan



You may not have heard the gunshot, but the video above is of poor Chris Osgood taking sniper fire at the end of last night's Detroit/Dallas Game Two. No word on whether the culprit was found on the catwalks of the Joe, but word is Osgood's gonna make it, so murder charges won't be necessary.

Yes, it was a slash and pretty unnecessary; but so too was the butt end that starts the whole mess. If you want to talk about class, neither of them seem to be exuding it in that sequence. However, consider which is more dangerous: a slash to a chest protector designed to stop 100 MPH pieces of vulcanized rubber or a blunt object jammed into an unprotected face.

This may be the roving pickup winger in me saying this, but Osgood, with a 2-0 lead in the series and with nothing to prove, made a mistake. He also did the slow-mo crumple-to-the-ground-like-paper-in-fire move, which was just absurd. Ribero may not see the ice on Monday because of it, but after the crap Detriot got away with in that last minute, I say it might not sting so bad. Dallas would be losing one of it's best players, but the message from Ribero that they aren't going to take any more crap may be just what the team needs to get it together.

Pittsburgh Sign Guy> Philly Sign Guy

by Ryan

If you are searching for a team to root for this postseason, you may have found your answer in Pittsburgh. I know I have. As a Sabres fan watching the playoffs carry on without you, some may find it hard to get involved or really latch on to another squad of bearded men in another uniform color. However, watching the Penguins play into the spring has made it easier and easier to get behind them, especially when you look at who they've been playing.

My general theory about the Pens is that they have been a year behind the Sabres with regards to development. Last year's first round exit was a spike in overall excitement for the team, getting causal fans back into the mix and giving young players a taste of the postseason. This year, however, the Penguins were poised to make their run.

It has been a different path than the one the Sabres took, but in a way flying under the radar and not going wire to wire atop the East has benefited the Penguins immensely. They too have had their injury problems, and they too went on long stretches of dominance even while less than 100 percent. However, they did not deal with the pressure of the spotlight, and the general attention was focused on Montreal or Detroit or the collapse of Ottawa. While Buffalo and Anaheim were the focus of last year, the Penguins were only a footnote on the "greatest team ever" argument that was wilting up in Kanata this winter.

However cosmetic the differences have been between 06-07 Buffalo and this year's Penguins, the main difference is what management did at the trade deadline and how it affected their team for the stretch run. Forget this year's events for Buffalo, but trading Biron for Conklin and picking up Zubrus for Novotny was in hindsight not enough. Being up against the cap and labeled as a known seller (Biron had to go) handicapped Darcy's ability to move, but not making a huge splash may have been the difference in how the Sabres sputtered down the stretch.

The exact opposite has happened in Pittsburgh, and what we are watching is the result of that. Ray Shero went big and gambled on Marian Hossa, and that deal has given a whole new ceiling to the Penguins' expectations this spring. Once the team finally got healthy they went into the playoffs playing their best hockey. A 9-1 record so far this postseason is tough to argue with.

Now, I'm not trying to make a revisionist history argument about the mismanagement of Darcy Regier. Instead, I'm trying to show just how similar these two teams seem to be. While the Sabres certainly have lacked the star power players like Malkin and Crosby bring, it's hard not to see a bit of Miller in Marc Andre Fleury or even a bit of Hecht in Dupuis. The Penguins are a likeable team from a rust belt city that just overcame a relocation scare. Does any of that ring a bell?



Plus, they have an awesome mascot. Iceburgh is hands down one of the best anthropomorphic penguins to ever be personified by a game day productions intern. Ever.

Sticking with my theory about the Penguins, tonight's game reminded me of last year's Game One against the Rangers. There was such an uproar of hype and anticipation revolving around that game. What will Sean Avery do? Will the Sabres live up to the hype? Talking had been done on both sides all week. When the game finally was played the Sabres completely blow them out of the building, causing a complete shift in gameplan by Tom Renney for Game Two. That change made a series out of it, and the Sabres would struggle to win in 6 against a strong Rangers squad led by hot goaltening.

Tonight we saw the Penguins take control at home and completely dismantle the Flyers. Goaltending was good again, the penalty kill was all over, and the Flyers had no defensive gameplan to keep Pittsburg's stars in check. Much like last year's East Semifinal against the Rangers, this Game One leaves you with the feeling that this series is over before it starts. However, I think Sunday's Game Two will see a much different Flyers team, and although they may not win they will start to actually compete with the Pens. It may not look like it now, but this will be a series. Promise.

---

Okay, let's talk about Evgeni Malkin. Having Malkin and Crosby on the same team is just unfair. Really, it is. Malkin is such a fantastic talent to watch because he has no fear, and he is just as likely to defend a teammate in the corner after the whistle as he is picking corners flying down the wing with seconds left in the first.



That face says it all. His confidence is just ridiculous, and the angry slap shot from close range should remind us all of a certain Austrian that only shows flashes of that cockiness. To come back down on a breakaway after getting rocked just seconds earlier? Wow. What a sequence, and what an absolute dagger in a team just one shot away from a tie game in the second. Malkin has been everywhere this postseason, and while it is still Sidney's team, Geno sure has come a long way this year.

Watching a team like this, one so full of talent and potential, is trying at times. As a fan of another team you sometimes are wont to wish bad things on a team with such potential. This year, however, I see the similarities between a team this good now and the team we had the pleasure of watching last year. The Sabres weren't good enough to finish the job then, and as much as I love the smell of Schadenfreude in the evening, a big part of me wants to see the Pens go the distance, just to prove that it can happen.

That State We Sit On...

...should be a rockin' place tonight. I know I'm excited about this one, and we're a good five hours away from the former home of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. The Atlantic division rivals going head to head should make for a good match up. The teams know each other and certainly don't get warm and fuzzy about their time together.

All Downhill From There

At least for Dallas. Yeesh.

Hopefully the other Game One will be a bit more... contested? We'll have a preview of that one up later. For now I am in serious need of a nap...

Here You Go, Foggy, Picks for You

Well I certainly have missed watching hockey this week. Tonight is Game One of the Western Conference Finals, and although we have had plenty of time to get ready for it, I feel completely unprepared. That is actually not the case, but much like every exam you have ever taken, you never feel quite ready until it's over. Here we go:

Ryan

Red Wings in 6- Still up in the air over this pick. I could have honestly convinced myself to put Dallas up there and talked about Marty Turco and timely scoring, but instead I'm going to talk about Hasek's riding out the final days of his career on the bench. I think Dallas certainly can make some noise in this series (having knocked off the other two top teams in the West) but I feel they will struggle to score against Osgood and the Detroit D.

Penguins in 6- This will be a fun series, but the Pens aren't going away. The Flyers got by on great goaltending and the timely emergence of Ferdando Pisani R.J. Umberger, but the Penguins have goaltending just as good and very balanced scoring. Crosby/Dupuis/Hossa won't be stopped, and the special teams play of Staal and physical presence of Hal Gill will make it tough for the Flyers PP to get anything going. Briere will be a factor, but it won't be enough.

Jon

Stars in 6
Flyers in 7 (Taking the Stress Buffalo's advice, I guess...)

Rich

Stars in 7
Pens in 6

Chris
Stars in 7
Pens in 6
I'm not even sure what's going to happen in these series. All I know is that it's been a while since I've really forward to both conference finals as much I am this year. All I'm sure of this that there's going to be some great hockey played. And that's fine with me.

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If you haven't picked yet feel free to put them in the comments. Even if you didn't pick the first round we are still keeping track.

Forget the Shirt

[Click to enlarge]

For just $40 bucks, Bucky Gleason can finally have his man. I'm sure he understands that in three years $40 will look like a bargain. You just have to know how the market will react, you know...

Obligitory Horse Post

by Ryan



No, this isn't a pile of horsehocky. In fact, some people say this pile of... used manufacture stuff... could save horses' lives. Some people. However, that isn't the issue anymore, is it? The issue is suddenly about all horses and how awfully they are treated. Horse racing kills horses, and that's unethical and an abhorrent faction of our society that must be stopped. All of a sudden.

Now that last part isn't quite true, but it sure seems that way doesn't it? It is an interesting thing, the way news spreads and issues become important in our society. Groups like PETA have been around for decades, but suddenly Mike Vick fights dogs and that is their focal point, or Barbaro and Eight Bells die within two years of each other and horse racing is evil.

The way our society works is this: something happens and people overreact to it accordingly. Just look at the way we cover politics, sports, and entertainment. At this point, is there anything else? When the Red Sox play the Yankees the Four Letter runs around like Michael Jackson filming a Pepsi commercial. Indiana has a Democratic Primary and some guy is showing me a pool in someone's backyard outside of Gary.

It sucks, but this is the world we live in. The fact of the matter is that although there is a huge buildup and overreaction to things, there are some issues up for debate at the root of it all. Even though PETA is a bunch of crazies and horse people are... horse people, the issue they both take sides in is at the very least important.

Horse racing is a dangerous and delicate sport. Animals are taken to the brink of their ability at the expense of humans, and while there is a history and beauty in it all, some aspects are inhumane to those that protest. It is unfortunate that it takes the horse to die to bring the issues to the forefront, but it is a rally event that will bring the respective sides to the public.

What is important to remember is that there are things to think about hidden between all the crazy. As with anything, you have to evaluate both sides and try to step back from it. Preferably, try not to wear a horse costume or compose a manifesto based on the evil of KFC while you do it.

The same should be said for a lot of things in the sporting world. Why is it only when Richard Zednik gets his throat slashed that suddenly neck guards should be mandatory? What about when a player that doesn't wear a visor is struck in the face by a puck? It is only then that the issues of neck guards and visors are brought up, and even then there is some bias.

Why was there no concern that Chris Drury's visor made his cut from Sunday worse than if he had worn only a helmet? What about all the concussions or other injuries suffered when a shield gets caught on the ledge of end boards? Things like this are ignored, but the next time Tim Connolly takes a check fighting for the puck the calls for shields and masks and inflatable air bags come from all sides.

These rally events, while creating quite the noisy ruckus, are actually very important. They are handpicked to bring attention to a cause, and I guess that's the point. The ones that people want to matter will matter. So while many horses are put down throughout the course of a year, and countless injuries are both created and prevented with visors, you are only going to be taken aback by the ones that get people what they want.

So I think that's the reason Marvin Harrison wielding a .50 caliber handgun isn't major news: there is nothing outrageous to attach to it other than the mantra that you never know someone based on their public persona. The allegations attached to the wideout are only unexpected based on his demeanor, and there is no strip club or prior trouble making to attach to it and condemn.

Amazingly, .50 caliber handguns don't fit the bill of shock and outrage, but a little strip of leather does. I guess it's how you use it after all...