Thinking 'Bout Somethin' Other Than Hockey

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While Brent Burns and Marty Havlat played in the All Star game I completely zoned out of hockey and into something else.  I did some serious catching up on my recorded shows.  When I say serious, I mean it.  There was pop corn - buttered and heavy salt for me, plain for Buster.  Pitcher of iced tea for me, bowl of water for Buster.  Movie size box of Dots for me, frozen beef bone for Buster.

I'm all caught up on Burn Notice and I have to say I'm a little unsure of how I feel about this series at this point.  It's getting a little too far fetched in the story lines and over the top in the blow-'em-up department.  

Good thing I'm still totally in love with Chuck!  He's just so little-boy-wants-to-be-the-man cute.    And I find myself thinking yummy thoughts about Lester which is kinda wrong when there's John Casey's upper body to drool over. 

Speaking of good things - I've been breaking out into gales of laughter 3 days after having watched the last episode of Good Guys.    

Best commercial running through my recorded shows:


Fucking clowns - axis of evil, right there. 

I'm so happy that Archer is back for another season.  This show is to me what Family Guy is to Deanna - so inappropriate and wrong that it's so right.  And freakin' funny.  Send an ecard from the website and watch your co-worker fall off their chair laughing.   

Another great show on FX is Justified.  Timothy Olyphant as US Marshal Raylan Givens makes me want to break a federal law.  FX has hit the nail on the head with almost everything they've produced so far - with the exception of cancelling Terriers.  That just plain up pisses me off.  I really hope TNT picks it up going forward. 
      
Southland is back for a second season over on TNT after not making the cut on NBC.  I think NBC really dropped the ball on this one but as long as I can see this show on my current cable package I don't care which station carries it.  Great cast, great writing - very gripping.  Remember Hill Street Blues?  Welcome to the updated version.   

Memphis Beat is the best thing Jason Lee has ever done.  I never found him to be funny as Earl and let's not even get into those stupid Chipmunk movies.  And what's with him doing shows that always have him narrating the story?  This show is intriguing though and it's got a solid cast, including Alfre Woodard.  And who knew Jason could sing?  Since I'm always as much a fan of the music used in a show as I am of the story being told this show is a treasure for me.  I'm enjoying the reruns on TNT now as they ramp up for the second season coming this summer. 

Mark your calendars for Valentine's Day, Feb 14 - and not in anticipation of roses or boxed chocolates.  Although I certainly wouldn't turn down anything in the dark chocolate category from Abdallah...  No, I'm talking about the 135th Westminster Dog Show!   Dogs rule, cats drool.

I really have been thinking 'bout somethin' other than hockey.  Here's something that will run rampant around your brain for which you'll hate me for...compliments of those little Mmmmmboppers all grown up - Hanson.   


Yep, grown woman with a Hanson tune on her iPod.
 
But here's my redemption - the original movie video the Hansons pilfered from

You Can Never Go Home...

I wonder how Cam Barker feels going into Chicago tonight with all of the talk about how the Wild got totally shafted by the Barker for Johnnson/Leddy trade a year ago?  Lou Nanne on KFAN today talking about how he hated the trade when it happened and how Barker hasn't done anything to change his mind since then.  I agree Lou, I agree.  Perhaps some Panda Express and a Wild game that doesn't start 2 hours after my bedtime will make me whole. 


1st Period
Marty Havlat gets a nice welcome from the Hawks fans and promptly scores to put the Wild up 1-0.  Okay, the guys are off to a good start and my Sweet Fire Chicken is delicious.  Just what the doctor ordered after a day of admissions meet-n-greets.

Speaking of how awful the Barker trade was, guess who goes to the penalty box because he's slow and out of position?  Three guesses and the first two don't count...and the Hawks score to tie the game on the power play.  Suddenly my dinner tastes sour.    

Tweet from Russo: "Nice first three shifts for Barker back in Chicago."  You can almost see the sarcasm dripping from that tweet...

I want Patrick Sharp the very next time he becomes available.  Make it happen, Chuck.  Oh, and I love this...


Backstrom had to make a Dobby save after being drug out of the net by our own Andrew Brunette.  FFS - what the hell is wrong with this team? 

We're lost, we're out of position, we're trapped in our own zone and the Hawks score again.  Just call me Missy Pissy.  I'm giving the t.v. the "you're fu**ing pissing me off, boys" evil eye glare.  For this period you can honestly say that Backstrom was tremendous.  He had to be.    

2nd Period
The team appears to have pulled their heads out of their asses during that first intermission.  While it sure looked like Spurgeon got his first NHL, it was not meant to be - Kobasew gets the credit.  Either way, WOO-HOO!  We're tied 2-2 and Spurgeon still gets his first point for the assist.    

Bouchard is playing some sharp hockey and he's strong against the boards as well. 

Notice the Hawks crowd is silent now compared to the first period. 

Backstrom again making some monster saves out in front of the net and in the jumble tumble of players all piled up on top of him in his crease.  Not surprised to see Greg Zanon at the bottom of the hog pile, once again the last, best defense in front of Nik.  

Too much time in our own zone again.  Jesus F'g Christ, Guys - grrrrr. 

In a text book tic tac toe play - Miettinen to Brunette back to Miettinen and we're up 3-2!  Mittens may get the goal on the books but this was all Brunette.  A beautiful cross angle pass in front of the goalie who was too busy tracking Brunette to know, or see, that Mittens was lurking, closing in on his open side.   
   
3rd Period
The Wild must be craving cake - lots of icing calls.  Despite that, we're watching much more disciplined play by both teams to start the 3rd period.    

Uh-Oh, Koivu's getting some medical attention to his face on the bench.  Vicki, you okay?

OMFG - Backstrom has had to make a ton of saves with players literally collapsing on top of him.  Again, Zanon comes in from behind the net to cover the open space Backstrom can't get to.  

BIG pressure by the Hawks during the 10 minute mark with Clutterbuck blocking a Duncan Keith slap shot that would have crippled anyone else, except Zanon.  The puck rebounds off of Clutterbuck and Keith goes all howitzer on it, clanging the puck off the pipe!  Cal is slow to get up and skates back to the bench on one leg - while getting 'attaboy' stick taps by his linemates on the way.  Robyn, you okay? 

The Wild come back with their own pressure play in the offensive zone.  PMB to Kobasew who puts the puck on their goalie who coughs up the rebound to PMB...who promptly scores! 

Hawks get screwed out of a goal by the ref blowing the whistle too soon.  On top of that, looked to me like Madden actually would have scored the goal for the Hawks.  Two and a half minutes later the fans are still booing.  Kinda don't blame them.  A puck hits the ref and the fans cheer - loudly.    

Toews punches Burns in the back of the head and Havlat gets right in there.  I love a team that sticks up for each other.  WTF, Toews?  Seabrook gets involved, shocking I know.  When all is said and done we're looking at 4-4 hockey and Chicago pulls their goalie for the extra man.  

Just over a minute to go with Backstrom standing strong, even after losing his stick.  Another two 'team goalie' saves and the buzzer sounds. 

Backstrom gets the number one for sure with the entire blue line getting the number two.  Cal gets the number three for that bruising blocked shot.  

Miettinen gets his 200th goal - I'll let him enjoy it for now by biting my tongue regarding his overall play of late.  

Four road games and we got six points in regulation.  Not too shabby.   The team gets to rest now for just under a week and then they need to come back with unwavering determination.  Congratulations to Brent and Marty who are both going to the All Star game.  I haven't watched an ASG but I just might tune in to see our very own Goober in his first appearance. 

Hockey Gods Are Just, Wild at Flames

When I'm Wrong, I Say I'm Wrong
Quick Robyn - what movie is that line from? 
Thankfully the NHL reviewed the instigator penalty to Staubitz and they've rescinded it and the game misconduct.  That means no game suspension and no hefty fine to Richards.  Instigator penalties are always reviewed so that's not unusual.  What is unusual is the clear message the league sent regarding the horrific reffing of last night's game.  Too bad the refs still cost Khudobin his second consecutive shutout.   I love Russo's Rant on how blatantly bad the refs were last night!  I'm curious as to how the officiating will be tonight, given that three out of the four refs from last night are reffing tonight's game.       

Nice anthem singer for the Calgary Flames! 

Who's This Goalie?
Oh yeah, it's Nik - back from the disabled list.  I don't know if I'm ready for Nik's laid back style of goaltending.  I'm told once you go Dobby, you never go back ;)

First Period
Havlat's on a streak again, being in the right place at the right time, resulting in a goal 4 minutes into the game.  They don't call him the Flames Killer for nothing!  This is a continuing good sign as the Wild really need that lead right off the bat to bolster their confidence.  Nice penalty draw by Staubitz to put the Wild on the power play shortly after.  Interesting to see Staubitz being escorted to the bench after the call by the ref...wouldn't you love to hear that conversation?  Mikko has the team up 2-0 over the Flames in short order!  Hmmm, this is starting to look like a replay of the Oilers game.  We take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.  Let's all join in a group prayer for a second period of strong Wild play.    

Second Period   
Calgary gets chippy right off the bat and get called for boarding.  At least the refs saw it and called it.  You better believe they're being watched in Toronto tonight, big time.  The Wild go on the 5 minute power play.  I'm seeing some issues here - puck turnovers while having the man advantage as well as too much time spent in our own zone.  Great work by PMB on the blue line in the offensive zone to keep the puck in.  Unfortunately, too much time spent passing, passing, passing and some more passing.  Three whole shots in five minutes.  Then the Wild start taking penalties...boy, this is looking all too familiar.  Come on guys, get your shit together here.  Thank God Backstrom isn't showing any rust - making a couple of tremendous saves for the guys in front of him.  As if they can hear me cursing at my t.v. back here in Minnesota the guys start driving to the offensive zone with more intensity.  It pays off with a Brunette Special (sic pass from his office behind the net) to John Madden who was lurking in front of the net and the result is a 3-0 lead.  Saweeeet!     

Third Period    
And we're playing, we're skating along, we're two minutes and thirty seconds into the period.  I'm just hearing blah-blah-blah from the dumbo duo on t.v. because I've learned to tune them out and just focus on the game - got my own commentary going on in my head.  Then, without warning BAM!  Clutterbuck snipes one in from the top of the circle!  4-0 baby!  Tons of hockey left, don't get cocky.  See, Iginla just skates through all five of our guys in our zone like we're not even on the ice to get into position behind the net.  At the 10 minute mark Calgary is just drilling over and over again at Backstrom - who calmly denies all entry requests.  The Wild show they can do the same thing and drive in on Kipper.  Kobasew makes a diving flail with his stick as he goes down and the puck goes in!   Wow, 5-0!  And to top it off Havlat picks up his second goal of the game, which is also his 200th goal!  Nice assist to Clutterbuck.  The bad news in this period is the Flames outshot the Wild 16 to 6.  The good news - Second night of back to back games on the road and we've got 4 points in our pocket!  Let's not forget for a minute that we need all 8 points from this road trip.  So, enjoy the win boys but you better be thinking about the next game in San Jose and how you're going to go at them. 

200 Level
No, I'm not referring to where Vicki and I sit for home games - although we do love our home away from home. 
I'm talking about Clutterbuck playing in his 200th NHL game tonight. 
PMB got his 200th assist in last night's game. 
Havlat hit 199 for goals in the first period of tonight's game and then the big 200 in the third.  
Miettinen is looking for his 200th assist, could happen by the end of this road trip. 

Flames Fan Facebook Update Coming Soon!
Check back later in the day on Thursday for the results of a friendly ongoing bet between Robyn and a Flames friend/fan...  God, I love hockey fans!