Saturday Night’s Alright

For HOCKEY…and winning…that’s why Saturday night’s alright, if you ask me J

Sabres-

A 1-0 win against the predators, that’s fucking amazing. Seriously, not only is this my favorite kind of game, but it’s my favorite kind of win, A shutout for Ryan Miller. We’ve seen throughout my time blogging how much I have grown to root for the goaltender, and I think that’s actually what you root for when you tend to like these no goal games.

A no goal game means that not only is there an amazing amount of defense from each side, keeping the puck away from a real threatening play, but really, it’s a cheer to the goaltender, going for it all and making the saves that count. It’s getting your team a point, it’s getting both teams a point in the final say and making it perfect.

So with no scoring, what do we have to talk about? Don’t worry folks, this blog won’t be lacking in any substance, I’ll guarantee you that. Working on getting a hockey radio show (when it happens I’ll link you all to a place where you can get pod casts or listen. It’s for my local college radio, WRUB), I’m learning to have more of a critical eye of the game. I’m sorry if that makes my blogs less funny and more pukey, but I need to actually embrace my personality there, so, let’s see what I can do textually.

Well let’s first bring up offense. HOLY- WHAT? SERIOUSLY…something happened…When we were in the Predator’s defensive zone, we just skated and puck handled around them to the point where I was lost as to what the penalty status was. I kept checking the bar along the top of MSG TV to see if we were on a power play…we weren’t, we were just outplaying these guys like it was going out of style. Seriously! It was a beautiful sight.

So I gotta bring up, with a newly empowered offense, a newly empowered junior. Mr. Tim Kennedy, Will you please stand up? I say! Will the real Tim Kennedy, PLEASE stand up?!

This boy is really earning his keep. I’m not sure if he’s trying to prove himself to the management, or trying to make sure that he won’t be bumped down to Portland…or he’s just a freakishly good boy…but there’s something going on there. This boy has fast feet, and FAST hands…I’m loving it. He’s also pretty damn fearless, taking a few hits around the Pred’s goal. He pulled a penalty, and was declared a penalty, really because he fought back. Now, I understand why he fought back, all with the proving himself kind of thing…He’s not like Kcubed, who can somehow draw 5 penalties and not get one pulled on him.

That’s what I was told last night…There was a mention during the broadcast somewhere that Kaleta had drawn 5 penalties. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

You gotta be a kangaroo.

Our Defense is definitely impoving as well. This is what I gotta say. I think some of it has to do with Tyler Myers. He’s in the same boat as Kennedy. Is he trying to prove himself? I’m not sure…but something’s going on that’s really impressing me. Myers really knows how to command himself…at 6’7” (he’s a tree. Maybe we should add someone to the foliage nickname bill. Fern and Tree…hah) he definitely has an ability to play the body, and as we all saw a few nights ago with an assist on a Clark McArthur goal, he has hands for the puck. Something we need!

Who else has the same traits and is luckily on a different line to spread out the skill.

The big bear himself MIKE GRIEEERRRRR!

Ok…here’s a shout out to the Predators Goaltender Pecca Rinne…really…you’re an animal. A huge…hulking…puck blocking animal. And you know what…there was no way to defend that one goal.

Which is why it went in.

In a battle in the front of the net, Grier shot from around the hash marks. He then crashed the net and from his own rebound, somehow got the puck in past traffic …and it just bopped in. Seriously!? I don’t know how this puck got in, but it did. 3 minutes left in the 3rd period.

There were a few shots to follow that really threatened us, but miller was excellent at keeping them out. Good Boy. And the first shutout of the night!

YES! FERN!

Now, the oilers…!

I can’t help but feel like it’s been a long time for the Oilers to go without a win. It really hasn’t been that long…but you know what…with the games that have been hitting us lately, and my frustration with some of the Oilers finer players, I’m finding some games longer and harder to deal with.

But it’s nice to see anyone beat the Canadiens, seriously…who doesn’t like to see a good old team SHUT THEM DOWN. They need a good skate up the ass once in a while.

So, there was actually a review we can go over the periods here, because there was a definite difference between each period.

The first period was remarkably clean. By remarkably I mean nothing until late in the period. What happened late in the period. Only Sammy being the epic play maker he is and setting up the ever-appealing Mike Comrie with a slap shot right to the mesh. I say ever-appealing because you all know that I don’t like this man most of the time. I didn’t like him when he played for the islanders. I realize he’s a local boy…and yeah…I’m starting to realize he’s actually good at what he does. That being said, I’m slowly adjusting to seeing his name and noticing that if I really wanna be an Oil country satellite, I’m gonna end up having to cope with my less-than-love of him. The more he scores…the more I’m learning to love him

Anyway, moving on, the second period had a little more excitement. And it’s always excitng when….what?!

Right in 3 minutes in, JFJ opens up scoring! Oh yeah! Everyone loves something that’s 2-0…

And then when the adorable, toothless boy, patty O scores a beautifully clean slap shot past Carrey Price…oh yeah…that’s nice too…Now Patty O…we know I love him…he’s just a little boy…he kinda reminds me of a small boy playing street hockey.

Now…the next two goals of the game span the last half of each period. This is when I start to have my problems.

What happens in the second half of the game Oilers? Do we get tired? Our defense just seems to fall apart and I’m not sure how to cope with it. It’s easiest move is to blame Khabi…but you all know that I love the goalies. No, I’m known for not liking Khabi…because he’s new and I don’t really trust him that much. I’ve found myself missing Roli and wanting to see JDD back in the crease…

But am I right blaming Khabi? I think I use his age as a justification, but he played very well last season, and Roli is fantastically sharp for 40 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM BUFFALO ROLIIII). Maybe it’s not his age…

Maybe we can actually blame the oilers on this, like a deconstruction of our defense. We played a remarkably clean game last night, with only 3 penalties, but 2 of them were in the last half of the game, and pretty sloppy penalties. This is what I’m thinking. The discipline is down. It’s a scary sight and I don’t like this downward spiral. I hope Quinn can get control of these flukes quick, because the last 3 or 4 minutes of every game is really starting to make my heart wear out.

But…Where’s this upset coming from. We won! Saturday night’s alright!

Your favorite juice box
PJ

OPENING NIGHT

As promised on the blog, here’s a written review of what went down the lovely Saturday the 3rd, when all the teams in the NHL gathered around for a big old party and shared a brilliant night of first nights, and continuing nights.

We’ll do what I’ve been doing on the TV show (and if you’re not watching, you really should start. I broadcast almost every day on PJ&B TV with random news from more than just the sabres and around the NHL It’s a fun time). We start in the east and work our way west. Let’s go.

Sabres played their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night. This was a very very nice game to watch. I happened to watch it from the 300 level, between two huge guys who I’d bought tickets from for 20 dollars off the list price. Go me.

Personally, I’d never been more infuriated, passionate and hockey smart in my life. It was a game for the masses…I was so happy to have witnessed it. Especially now that the will to destroy every man in white and black stripes has finally subsided and I’m in a better mood. That game was a hard night to be a ref. 3/4ths of a 19,000 crowd wanted them all dead.

Anyway…onto the real game. The game was fast and well paced, right from the start. It seemed to be a night for drinking in celebration, as the sabres opened up the scoring in the first period, FIRST PERIOD! Guys roll the highlight film because I don’t know how often that happens, I just know it’s not very. So yes, the first period…sabres opened up scoring with a lovely shot from Connors himself. It was a good night to be a sabre.

Until the unthinkable happened. It was a goal I was sure was interference. In a strange twist of events, a puck came careening into Miller’s pads, and then…so didn’t a canadien and a sabre. Miller is tossed skyward and the puck crosses the line. I called interference from the 300 level, but apparently no one heard me, because it was confirmed a goal…a very shady goal, but a goal. Cue angry PJ. You, refs…are on my shitlist.

The game goes on without a move. There are punches thrown, the game is remarkably physical for any sabres game. Around 10 penalties a piece…so that was a great thing to see for us, although sometimes it did seem like the refs were protecting the canadiens more than the sabres…which pissed me off a little bit. But that’s always what a fan thinks.

What are the odds that the first regular season game for an out of towner…who’s been a fan for 2 years…would see a game go into

OVARTIEM?
Little to none really. But that happened. Oh snap. If this game was good…the stakes shot into the air.

I think the fucking canadiens ate their magic-laced weeties that morning. Because…son of a sailor, nothing but another beautiful and terrifying goal from these guys.

A one timer skimmed over the top of the net and bounced off the glass, back to the front of the crease and off of a stick into miller’s net. I should say it was all above Ryan’s head. He had NO way of defending against this puck. Seriously. Magic Weeties.

It was an overtime loss, but not one I hold against the sabres. We had supreme offense, and we know the sabres defense leaves very much to be desired.

Anyway, let’s go to the oilers, shall we?

Holy snap. I din’t get to watch or listen, but this was a fun game to watch the recaps of.

The oilers had a goal roughly one per period, they ended with a one goal deficit loss against their arch rivals. This is frustrating, Yes, but realistic to get angry about, no. From what I saw with the recaps…there’s no reason to be upset with the oil over the loss. They played hard, they played fast, and really, we have all the reason to be proud of our boys.
Now, I’m sorry oilers, I can’t go into as deep a review of the game, but I can say that the oilers did massively overshoot Calgary in 3 periods. An irritating amount of skill difference here. We could have won this game, but it just didn’t cut it. Again…that’s not our fault. Fluky things like this happen, It happened to me on Sunday night. You boys are OK.

So…Let’s go over the periods,

FIRST PERIODD

Calgary opened up shooting with a frustrating goal from Glencross. This is when I realized that hopefully the Bulin wall will be our backup goaltender (considering that he played the first game, I’m gonna guess he’s probably gonna be our first goalie…which makes me nervous to be honest. I love Bulie…but…yeah…)

The goal was quickly answered by a smart and wonderful shot from the always lovely Dusty Pens! If we ever did need something to just keep the game even!

And then…son of a…the period is ended with a goal from the likes of David Moss. Ew

A nice break and…

SECOND PERIOD

Well the break did nothing for us. Nigel Dawes makes the score 3-1 . Ugh

And then…well then we got something very rare and very beautiful. To seal off the period, who other, but someone long, curved and yellow to brighten our day? NANNERS COME OVER HERE YOU! YES YES YES! Good boy nanners, give us something good to think about during the intermission

PERIOD THREEE

And happy thoughts, they lead to nothing but more happy thoughts. Sam…Sam….SAM! WOW!
That man knows how to make good goals. I hope he finds a good wife so his babies are just as pretty cause holy shit…
WOW. WAY TO TIE IT UP. SAM!

I was really impressed to see that.

And it kinda diffuses the anger from the last goal to get by the bulin wall. We played like kings. Let’s just hope JDD gets more stick time.

Other mentions around the NHL?

TAVARES GOT HIS FIRST GOAL IN HIS FIRST GAME.
And it was impressive.

All for today, tune in for the next Game!

-PJ

Another home for PJ&B?

Why Yes, PJ&B, despite a lack of true following *sad* has another home, why don’t you step over to your friendly, local Youtube and leave a little comment to the psychotic girl who’s been writing your hockey news for the past year?

http://www.youtube.com/user/pumpjacksandbison

Ovartiem? In Pre-season!? YEEEY

I have to say it, I love the oilers overtime, I has to be one of my favorite things in the world. What’s better than an Oiler’s ovartiem? Well that’s of course an Oilers shootout (won by a Sammy Shot, of course). So when I look on my blackberry and see that there’s an extra period on the boxscore, guess who’s the happiest little girl in Manhattan? That’s right, your local PJ.

So…let’s do how we do in the PJ&B! I have to say I like this new format, I feel like it legitimizes me a little as a blogster, actually talking about what happened in the game in a way people can understand….

First Period

I’m not gonna pretend I like Mike Comrie…I don’d…I really don’t…but I guess I kind ahave to deal with him now that he’s on our team. I’ll quietly pout in the corner and cheer just a little quieter when he scored. Anyway…The Comster opened up scoring in the second period with a nice shot taken from our reverend, the Hemmer. I like seeing that, we all know I do.

Canucks take the second goal in the period from Wellwood, but frankly I’m ok with that. Cause what do we do? The Comster puts us back in the lead and then with a BEAUTIFUL power play goal from the Horc-Chop himself, we get right back in the lead in time for the annual 2nd period snack. Yeah…that’s my boys where I need them to be. With a happy cushioning of leading the period, we take a nice break to get our legs back.

Second Period.

I guess all that domination in the first made us a little tired because we fall behind in the second with a shot from Henrik Sedin. I don’t know why…but I have a strange affinity for the Sedin twins…They just make me happy. You know who doesn’t make me happy? Sami Salo…who ties it up 3-3.

But that’s ok, cause we got a backup. Jean Francois Jaques…soon to be known as JFJ because that’s just hard to type…brings us back into the lead and makes it 4-3…holy crap we have a lot at stake here, huh?

So again, we have a nice cushion of win while we take our 2nd intermission ice cream break.

THIRD PERIOD

only a canuck goal to speak of…Christian Ehrhoff (I don’t like his name) gets it past the Bhulin wall and ties it up

now…what’s my favorite part?

OVARTIEMMMM

a very eventful ovartiem comes to a very nice end when none other than GILBY, From DUSTY PENNS and NANNERS gets it in and gives us the win we so rightly deserve. Alls good in the world and the Oilers win in overtime, just as they’re suposed to
Who’s ready for Saturday night? Sabres and Canadiens at 7 PM EST and the Battle of Alberta at 10 PM EST. You know where your PJ’s gonna be. WHERE WILL YOU?!

-Pj

What a way to start off the season!

What a way to start off the season! No the season hasn’t started yet, but it’s a brilliant segway, the last sabres game of the pre-season was an epic win if I ever had to declare one. It was high scoring from both parties, something I wonder about if it had been Fern in goal, but let’s not get too far into the actually opinion before we actually go over the periods. Yes kids, now we have the quickie period match up!

First period

Compared to the other two periods, this was definitely the slowest of all. It seems like the Sabres and Leafs were either waiting for the goalies to get tired or were feeling each other out before they actually launched. This is actually a pretty good hypothesis considering the pre-game discussions between myself and my friend Greg, a Leafs fan Oshawa native (Go UB Diversity!). Greg said his beloved leafs would be vengeful because they lost last time, and it would make them play harder…pshhhh alright…that’s what’ happened. Nice one Greg.

It’s fall…Leafs are going crunch.

But maybe they were vengeful enough to get the first few goals. The Kabster (Tomas Kaberle) opened up scoring just after the first half of the period. RJ just likes screaming during goals, which I have to say is fucking annoying. I listen and if I’m with friends I tend to do other things (sorry Sabres…but I have ADD…if the readers didn’t learn this already…). So I hear RJ yell “AND HE GETS A GOAL” and I’m already cheering without processing what already happened…in this case it happened to work out that Kabster scored. Followed 4 minutes later by a goal from Stempniak, which is such a convoluted name my spell check wants to kill me…wow…hah.

Enter the first intermission and of course we’re feeling a little anxious to turn this around. We’re not gonna let the leafs overthrow us…that’s so not happening.

Second Period.

Scottie shows those damn plants what’s right at the 7 minute mark with a beautiful little goal that just tickles me pink. By this time me and Greg were well into a bickering session about the goalies, about the viability of a Leafs win, and how kick ass the Sbres are. At the same rate, I’m craving a Clarkbar in celebration (I never got my clarkbar)

And then…what do I hear? A very, VERY excited RJ, and the name ANNE OF GREEN GERRRBLLES flying off my lips. Gerbe takes a shot on net not even a minute later. Seriously Buffalo? Where was this team in the first period? Wow!

And then. Only MINUTES after that, VANITY saw his face in the back of the net and he went for it. This game is turning itself around in our favor and am I liking it? Oh hell yes I am! How beautiful!

The period ends with two more goals from the Leafs, Jason Blake and Kulemin, bestowing them again with a one goal lead over the sabres. How does this happen? How do we get so much scoring? Hell if I know…but I sure as hell am not complaining. The game is the kind of game you watch or listen to when you want to escape reality for a little bit. So you get totally and utterly absorbed in goals and the fast pace.

Third Period…holy shit.

I don’t even like looking at the box score of this…it’s just absolutely insane. At this point I’m walking around manhattans with one ear bud in my ear and throwing my hands up at complete random because I’m the happiest girl in the world. Yes, I thought I told you all, my lovelies, I was in Manhattan for the weekend. But that couldn’t tear me from my blackberry radio and my lovely Sabres.

Leafs ended up scoring the first and last goals of this game, the first by Stempniak again, and the last by Graboovski. Personally, the only goal scorer I like from Toronto is Kaberle…really because I love watching him go to the all star game and break things. Greg was pretty happy about Jason Blake and Grabovski scoring….that really means nothing to me.

And then…OH BOY AND THEN

VANITY
HATCHET
KENNEDY
ELI
WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? How the FUCK did that happen? I surely don’t know, but what I do know is that last gaol by Eli is what sealed the game for us…and I’m quite alright with that. If we’d played like that the entire game, I have no clue what we could have accomplished.

So, now we get to the segment I have the most fun writing, the opinion part. Hehe.

Lalime was in net. I love it when they play Lalime, but I know the imminent feeling of dread that occurs when the sabres bring in any second strong goalie. Why do I feel this dread? Well mainly it’s the way the Sabres tend to handle their backup goalies. The Oilers have their goalie rotation which I’m usually very happy with. It keeps all the goalies in a fresh and ready position to play. They’re always warm and ready to go. I won’t hide it, this is where the oilers are consistently smarter than the sabres, always. I don’t know why the Ruff, or whoever makes the nightly roster absolutely hates putting the backup goalie up, maybe it’s because the buffalo public freaks out and it puts the sabres in a sticky situation, I’m not really sure, whatever, I think the coaching staff needs to get over it and start rotating the goalies. Lalime will never reach the potential he has without being worked like he needs to be.

What’s PJ’s favorite word? Confidence. This is the ending line in today, this win will do nothing but give us tons of confidence for the start of the season. To be frank, we’ll probably be crushed by montreal, ad things usually go. So we need all the confidence that we can get early on.

That’s all for now on the Sabres. Lastnight’s Oilers wrapup coming up in the next post (few minutes.

-PJ

Sabres Crunch Leafs

September 23rd, I promised this would come. It’s coming a little later, after a loss in montreal to the beloved sabres, but that’s ok.
We started in the beginning last post with a trip down memory lane, seeing our boys looking quite flashy on the red carpet, and all sorts of cute. This is where I get pumped. Coincidentally, by waiting for the boys who aren’t suiting up (Mairzipan, Gerbles,Connors) I miss warmups. That’s pretty OK actually, since it didn’t mean doom for the sabres (as my superstitious mind would have let me believe.)
Racing through HSBC, I take time to admire the layout. HSBC, Unlike the TD Banknorth Garden (Home of the Boston Bruins) is dedicated entirely to the Sabres. In the Garden, you experience not just Bruins memorabilia, but Big East Hockey, and Celtics Basketball. There is no room for things like the massive Winter Classic mural, or any of the plaques with the player’s faces that surround the 100 level floors.
Meeting up with my friends, it’s only 7 minutes to the puck drop and I feel the adrenaline soar. Where am I? Only the singular place I’ve been blogging about for the past year, and the place I’ve been idolizing for the past two. It’s an amazing rush of emotion as the sense of excitement and satisfaction crash upon me moment by moment. This IS the pantheon.
The video open gets my mood soaring, and in no time, I can see the players circling the ice in a frenzy. Lines establish and Miller is in goal only 21 rows away. When they dim the lights and wave a banner of red and white, there’s a snese of suffocation as he removes his helmet and pays his respects to the Canadian and then the American flag.
wow.

Game Time.

Pepper (McCormack) starts the game off right with a fight 4 minutes into the first period. Do I remember what the fight was about? not all that much, but I remember jumping to my feet and cheering him on. I realize my adoration for this player at that moment, and seeing the first real game with him will only prove to reinforce this adoration later on.

In the second period the game opens up right with a defining goal from Buffalo from oddly enough, the stick of Nathan Paetsch. I don’t see him as much of a goal scorer from the start, i just see him as *there* most of the time. Coming with a point from Pommers is good enough for me, something truly exciting to say the least. Flanked by Leafs fans…I made sure they understood how obnoxious this game would be.

Hatchet made me ensure the title of annoying fan was burned into the subconscious of all those around me as I cheered on a second Buffalo goal. But it was a short lived celebration. Minutes later a penalty shot became the scourge of our ice.

Now…I’m jsut gonna say one thing. Call me a new fan, I don’t care, I will be honest when I say that I truly think Fern SUCKS when it comes to penalty shots and shoot outs. Really…if someone says he’s got a decent percentage…IT’S BECAUSE HE WINS ONE OUT OF TWO POSSIBLE SHOOT OUTS. Really…he was good at one time…but not enough for me to ever really have faith in him to win one for us.

So…Fern…I don’t hold the penalty shot against you. And I still don’t hold it against you. An arena 3/4ths full of fans did…but thankfully, you got one girlie who’s on your side. It’s a weakness, strengthen it boyo.

But it was a dirty shot. It just passed him. I’m sure that if he didn’t slide…or SOMETHING…he could have prevented what happened. It was one of those shots where you block it most of the way, but it just JUST trickles in. Fern wanted it back.

and Pepper…OH PEPPER, you must be a Jalapeno because I love you. With a pretty little backhand (one I am obviously envious of…because I do *not* have a backhand) you raise the mark right before the end of the 2nd period to kill most of the hope of the Leafs fans that tainted our lovely panteon with a 3-1 lead

Segway into period 3, The sabres are holding onto this lead strong untilllllllll.

A slap shot slides past Miller. Sonova.

After a tense remaining moments…The final buzzer sounds. The 3 stars hold a ratio of 2:1 sabres (bio major…we LOVE ratios) and who’s the first star but none other than the lovely Fern.

It was a good day. EXCEPT FOR….

seriously…Perry’s at HSBC…why don’t you have Top Shelf Sundae or Breakaway Berrier (!) at the arena. yeah, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is fine…but breakaway Berrier is SO much better. I’m very angry about this. I WILL contact management.

Now, I’m in Manhattan, so I’mma let my friend have her computer back and chill out…writing poetry or something.
-Pj

It’s a Red Carpet Event

I made a promise…and I rarely give up on a promise.
The game last night.
Wow. OK.

Let’s start at the beginning, which is actually Tuesday night. I kind of piece together that one of my good friends is a Leafs diehard, I’m a Sabres diehard, I’m going to the red carpet, why not just wrap it up in a pretty package and do everything. So, Knowing that I have Dryland practice (basically, hockey practice where we run sort of drills and basically die. Dryland isn’t as fun as on ice practice…I don’t look foreword to it as much.) I e-mail dearest Jody, My hockey coach and beg, beg for the night off.

Dearest Jody, I owe you my life. He essentially told me “have a good time!” and I ran off to buy insider-discounted tickets for 20 dollars each in the 100 level. YEY!

So…now we’re back at Wednesday. I rush through a lab to get it done and get out of class over an hour early from lab (it’s scheduled to end at 5 PM…I wasn’t ok with that. It ended at 3:30 for me) Ran home and was on the metro by 4:30

Downtown buffalo near the arena and harbor is a lot prettier than the buffalo I’m used to (closer and within 30 minute radius of UB South campus). It’s actually very nice to look at and I was pretty happy when the metro came above ground. It’s kind of scary while it’s underground…

So, I saw HSBC and I was in awe. Such a big place…such a wonderful place. Needless to say I was pretty damn happy. I made my way right to the back, and that was the time when the boys were starting to come in as well. I brought my big camera (Canon 20D) so we got some nice pictures coming your way.

Goose was the first I saw

The Bear, Grier was next!

Fern was looking more than OK

Royo...my Boyo posed nice and pretty

Hatchet has a real awkward smile

AMSTAFF- He still wore a cage during the game

BUTTS! There's a story behind this picture

So, the story, essentially there’s this couple I was standing next to who had this baby…cute as hell baby with a sabres shirt on…well this wonderful couple was having the sabres sign their baby….So…Butts…didn’t really know how to handle this….haha.

Tyler Myers is freakishly tall

NUKKIIIII

Connors never really smiled

This IS the cutest picture I took all day

It took Kollision FOREVER to get to the end of the line…because he’s the local boy from angola. I was standing next to a girl who apparently dated his brother…she taught me what a puck bunny really was…

GERBLES! oh the GERBLES

I didn’t know how short he was…I wasn’t really prepared for this.

WEBBBERRRR

The Lalleecopter is seriously Adorable

PJ Meets the Toof

The Products of the day

more products of the day

MORE products of the day

The day ended with the best of sights...I was a happy girl

Kinda silly that I took up all this time posting pictures that there’s no real time/space to post a game opinion, that will happen next time

-PJ

Welcome to the Pre-Season

Let’s start in the east and move west. Ironically because I’ve watched the oilers and moved on better with them. Save the long winded rant for last.

So, what about the Sabres. Well first off, I’m accepting of their lack of the best luck during some of their games. They’ve been putting an impressive and great amount of strain on their rookies. They’ve been switching up the lines, I’ve noticed this and it actually pleased the hell out of me. The main team (what I call the not-rookies) play one game to get their conditioning and training in, and the rookies and prospects play their own game as to let Darcy and Lindy get a look at what they can do. The cuts did surprise me a little bit, in no way did I expect to see Ennis go back down to Portland. I thought his size would most definitely seal his place.

Another thing, Go K3! Kaleta scored the sealing goal between the Sabres and Capitals in Washington. I don’t know what happened, but something changed Patty. He’s the rough and tumble boy we knew, but he’s also apparently capable with a puck. I knew Kaleta COULD score goals, but I also figured it took him a little time to get into that feeling.

Again, I said east. So we’re just gonna discuss something in the Division that’s a bit stressing and upsetting to me…

Boston…what the fuck?
Excuse my crass measure, but seriously. Let me explain myself….I’m not an admitted Boston Fan, but I’m proud of my hometown. I always will be proud of Boston. Boston is my sports center when Buffalo and Edmonton can’t be . I follow the Red Sox and Patriots religiously. Buffalo Fans….you say I can’t be the fan of another team in the division, I respect that. But you’ve got to respect heritage.

So…back to my original statement. If anyone didn’t hear (and why wouldn’t you) for 3 pitiful draft picks, Boston lost one of the most important assets to their team. And gave it up to another team IN THE DIVISION.

You don’t date within the division, you don’t trade within the division, certainly not the most promising, defensive sniper on your team!

For 3 draft picks, Boston gave up Little Philly from Down the Lane to the maple leafs. Now. I’m currently giving you the view from a fan’s position, We’ll enter a more serious position (more of an agent’s view) in the next segment, but as a fan…this is terrible. Being from Boston, there was no game that Phil wasn’t on the news. He was a sniper. 36 goals last season…and the leafs, per a press release, don’t want to see 36 goals as a peak, it’s just a benchmark. Oh no, they’re gonna nurture him and make him a scary, formidable opponent. And Phil is very excited to be there, he’s said he wants to do all he can to help the team.

Oh shit.

Now. I’m gonna be serious and explain it all. This is excellent for the leafs, perfect for Phil. Like I said above, the Leafs WANT Phil, they want to nurture him and they want to use him to the best they can. They want him to be an excellent goal scorer and they’re gonna try to make him that. Phil will work back against them and try to be the best that he can be. It’s a mutually beneficial agreement. If I was mature, or a leaf’s fan, I’d be the happiest girl in the world. Unfortunately, I’m only sorta mature. I’m still a college freshman…you can expect me to be mature in a year or two.

So…Like the pioneers, we go westward now.

You’re in Oil Country

Well, coach Quinn isn’t Craig MacTavish, but he’s doing a good job. I’m gonna miss MacT’s mannerisms, the way he breaks things, the way makes funny faces. He WAS the last player to not wear a helmet…

But his job is hard enough. Seriously, the Oilers have some of the best prospects in probably most of the NHL right now. Between the old guys and the new, there’s definitely some assumptions to be made. The fact that some guys I know and love might not make the cut (Schremp, Puliot, Nanner) is as terrifying as having to learn all the mannerisms of a new player (Eberle). However, the potential Eberle posts is phenomenal…and he doesn’t scare me as much as he could possibly do so.

The oilers have dominated and worked well with their pre-season time. Even on games that are prospects/rookie based, they’ve shown immense skill and really…have gone a good long string without letting me down. Good work boys.

Well, later tonight the Sabres are hosting the Maple Leafs for the last pre season game at home. Pictures from the red carpet and commentary will come tomorrow morning, I promise

-Pj

the Buffalocal, part two

Way to ruin my dreams, Islanders.

You guys knew this would be coming, I love John Tavares, and when I say love Tavvy, I mean, Iv’e been watching him for the past two years waiting for the moment when I could actually watch him regularly. WAITING TWO YEARS. And When I anticipate, and beg, and plead for this day to come.

Goddamn Swine Flu.

Anyway, that was about the first game of the preseason! Canucks/Islanders. I was oddly happy that the Canucks won…actually that’s not oddly at all…I like them. More than the islanders on any given day.

Anyway…where was I in my diction of the foundations of myself in Buffalo? Ah yes, it was right after I met the Ferninator, wasn’t it?

That was right after I got here, now, I’ve started to settle in with my friends and my classes. I’ve adapted quite well actually. I like my classes and I’m ahead in most of them. I work too much. Come a week later from the original meeting with the Fern, An epiphany strikes me….
I started a cancer foundation because of this man. I have bracelets of this foundation…Why don’t I thank him for sending me on this hard, frustrating path of compassion, too much knitting and a sense of self-reliance that is more powerful than anything else?
I tore my last bracelet off of my arm and went down to that arena and waited, freexing, nervous, wondering how he’d react. Pouncing when I get my chance, I deposited the bracelet in his big glove (his receiving hand, as it appears) and explain him my story. How his dad never returned my e-mails, how I wanted to work for steadfast, the whole damn thing. His expression was less welcoming, but impressive all the same. He laughed, and apologized for his father not getting back to me.
Again I’ve privately declared my intent to court this man…hah. (PJ BUNNY)

And then, the preseason started, a long pathway of excitement, screaming at inappropriate parts of football games because I’ve got the radio playing on my phone, interrupting late night Biology labs by frantically checking the new NHL download on my blackberry because I cannot stay away.

Breathing is a close second to hockey for this blogster. Not as important, but close.

On that vein, I have to say that I sold my soul. Yes, yes I did. I sold my soul…not for anything impressive. I could have probably sold it to Satan and gotten something cool like immortality or magical powers. I didn’t get that though.

Oh PJ? Did you sell your soul to the sabres? Miller? Did you sell your soul to him for his hand in marriage?
No, no, that would be achieving something wonderful. No no…I sold my soul to my college.

September 9th, 2009 the UB Lady Ice Bulls held a rally for members. For what the hell, I went to the meeting. For what the hell, I put my name on the roster, for what the hell…
I did what?

Yes, Yes. I am a hockey player again? I’m the right winger play making little girl who’s gonna make your lives interesting. I’m gonna be sleeplessly blogging and writing about these teams, and making points on their plays.

Monday nights at 7, Tuesdays and Thursday mornings at 6. My life has been turned over.

Oddly enough, I’m happy about that.

And NOW, we get to the pre-season
So what do we have to say about these pre-season games?

Well…this will make the blog way too long, so that’s for next time buddies

-PJ

I should have written this 3 weeks ago.

Badddd PJ….BAAAAD.
sorry guys. I have a good excuse though. As a result, we’re gonna be starting this post in August and working our way back.

August 27th.
I moved from boston to the great whit north! Well…not the great white north for the residents, but surely for me. I’ve been welcomed into the family of super-obsessed fans who inapropriately piss on the land and mark themselves as Buffalocals. Waking up at 3 AM to make the 8 hour trek from the sleepy New Hampshire town of bedford, into the staggeringly massive complex that is the SUNY University at Buffalo…
Awkwardly enough, when classes started Monday I slid into the schedule quite well. I’m now starting my 3rd week of classes and I’m usually ahead of the 8 ball, which is more than I can say for my pool playing skills.

August 28th.
A birdee told me that the sabres had started practicing at the Pepsi Center, on UB campus already. I consider this birdee an awesome resource when it comes to hockey news, so I hauled my little fan ass out of bed and made the hour long trek and mission to go to the pepsi center. Upon arrival, the group of big men skating in sabres jerseys, tells me I should kiss my birdee.

One corner, weighing 166 pounds is the tall and impressive Fern, who’s mass far exceeds my expectations. He’s swift, he’s maneuverable, and not nearly as stiff as one would expect a man after a summer of nothingness.

In the next corner, weighing 180 pounds is the equally impressive and flashy Martin Biron. Wait. Who? Doesn’t he play for? yes, PJ, Yes he does, but he still lives in Buffalo…and the guys still love him, and so he still plays practices with them…all the time.

Galllleeeee!

This was an exciting moment for me. If anything it was the first in many steps that would solidify my position as not only a Sabres fan, but a true buffalo resident. By going to the events, I join the community, and become not just a UBer, but a Buffalocal myself. The more time I spend in this damn city the more time I realize I’m stuck. It’s boring because we’re not yet used to navigation, but soon enough we’ll learn the where to’s, and I’ll be more stuck than ever.

Anywhore. Marizipan is a jerk. That was my first lesson in playing. why is he a jerk? Well…here’s the funny thing about PJ…Pj can’t quite understand the concept that…although I can see the puck THROUGH the glass…the puck can’t GO through the glass. What does this mean? Well. It means that It’s not necessary to dive out of the way when a puck comes crashing at your face.

Mairsipan learned very fast that Pj has this perception problem and used it to his full amusement advantage. Jerk.

the day came and went. I watched Lalleecopter get on and waved to him. He waved back and I had a gigglefit. That bigass glove of his looked so goofy.

I had something to give Ryan that I’d made. He, his brother and his cousins went to the same school and all ended up playing professional hockey…so I made a crosstitch piece about it.

GO SPARTANS

I was standing behind him and called his name, he didn’t hear me the first time because he was gently attending to children. They had swarmed him and he was making sure they didn’t get hurt on his sticks. He was signing for everyones cards, shirts and whatnot. after I got my chance I managed to talk to him and I asked him “Can I give you something to keep?”

He accepted and I handed him the piece. I told him that I found it so awesome that they all went to the same college. He said “Wow! how long did it take you to make?” I told him it took 2 months.

Then we quickly talked about where I moved from and when I took out my camera, i figured I’d make a crude attempt at a picture and just hold it out. He called out, asking for someone to hold it. When he leaned in he said “sorry I’m all nasty and gross” oh….that was cute.

I was shaking and I almost cried with joy….we both left at the same time and before we left I sent him a joke. “Can I ask you a favor?” He looked at me with a bit of a confused expression then “You can’t leave in 3 years…I wanna go to the catwalk for charity and I’m underaged”

He laughed and we parted ways.

Pj and The Fern

*dreamy sigh* Pj is a puckbunny in this moment
I’m gonna go float around on a cloud before giving you all part two of this adventure!

-Pj