Conference Finals, Day 9. Will There be Handshakes Tonight?

Today @ 4:30pm
VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Wings lead series 3-1
Hand shakes tonight?

As I sit here on a sunny morning, listening to the sounds of construction outside, I wonder how we got here.

It is as if the Hockey Gods decided to have a bit of fun with us. If that's the case, than I think we can safely assume they may continue to be mischievous. There is the potential that they will reward the Pens for bucking tradition and touching the Prince of Whales trophy. There is also the possibility that they won't. No predicting what they'll do this year.

Crosby had a good point, they didn't touch the trophy last year and they lost. Bathe with that thing if it gets you the Cup, I say.

The Versus guys nearly peed themselves when Crosby picked it up, skated over the Malkin and Gonchar, and the three posed for pictures. I spent the entire time wondering if the trophy handler ever drops the goods, and how many players have dropped the trophies over the years. I know at least one has fallen apart. If holding the prize is bad juju, I can only imagine what having it fall apart in your hands means.

Conference Finals, Day 8. The End May Be Nigh

Tonight @ 4:30pm
VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Pens lead series 3-0

Conference Finals, Day 7. The SCF Starts WHEN?!

Today @ noon
NBC HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Wings lead series 2-1

NHL.com says Huet may be in. This is why you get and keep two number one goalies, right?

Havlat also uncertain. This is likely because he got knocked into next Wednesday, and is waiting for game 5 to start.

I'm not sure if it was because he was still dazed or because hockey players really are that tough, but after Havlat made his way back to the bench following Kronwall's hit, he sat down as if he expected to play another shift. The trainer had to tap him and get him to move back to the locker room. Guy gets knocked into the future and he still wants to play. Major points right there.

In other news:

Is anyone happy with the SCF schedule? I vote no.

Pens 6, Canes 2. Me thinks someone wants another run at the Cup. Can all make sure it's against Chicago, please?

We didn't mention this because, well, it's JR being JR. Was his timing bad? Yep. But has that ever stopped him before? Nope.

We've also been very fortunate to not have too much crazy JR while he's been in SJ. DW keeps him reigned in, and aside from a few comments here and there, he's been good. JR is just an emotional guy. It's part of the reason we love him here. He wears his heart on his sleeve and says what he thinks. This isn't always a positive, but he always been that way and he's not going to change now. I accept this and move on. Also, he apologized.

The Sharks will be having their annual store sale at the end of the SCF. Who wants to let me pretend I'm a season ticket holder?

Conference Finals, Day 6. 3-0?

Today @ 4:30

VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Pens lead series 2-0

I thought this game was on at noon, but it's not. That would be tomorrow's game. I should have realized that TPTB would not find Pens/Canes anywhere near as sexy as Hawks/Wings.

Recapping the past:

Mina and I watched the first period of last night's game together. She arrived just in time to see the Hawks second goal and that ridiculous hit on Havlat. Dude was out before he hit the ground. Passing out with your eyes open is creepy. Having that happen with people above you who are wearing sharp blades on their feet? Dangerous. Someone smacked him in the head with their stick as he lay there, though it was unintentional and part of the scrum above him the occurred after he was hit.

To summarize our reaction to the hit, Kronwall left his feet. Fighting on top of the unconscious guy= NOT SAFE!

Even though Havlat should have been looking up, there's no excuse for leaving your feet. If he stayed firmly planted on terra firma, it's a clean hit. Brutal, but clean. Mina points out that while it was not interference, it was charging. Neither of us had a problem with the penalties handed out.

Like any fan would, we wondered what the reaction would have been from the media had Havlat taken out Kronwall.

You can view the hit here and make your own opinions. I just tried to watch Quennville's post game press conference reaction, and the audio for another Hawks video that wasn't even open took over and I got a very tinny, stuttering rendition of "Ring My Bell" cutting in and out between the press conference. The NHL video guys might want to look into not having Anita Ward and Joe Quennville playing dueling banjos. Just a thought.

Anyway, after that mess, we met up with some folks for dinner. We we got the the place of dining, the game was 3-0 Hawks. At some point I looked behind me and realized the 3-0 had become a 3-3. We were all floored, but sure enough, the Wings had scored 3 goals in the second.

Not really being able to easily watch the game from where we sat, we went on with dinner, Sharks talk, and general rostercourse when someone mentioned the game had gone to OT. Several of us turned around in time to see fans and Blackhawks alike hugging. Mina proclaimed the game winning goal to be the result of "...what we call a defensive breakdown, ladies and gentlemen." And so it was the the Blackhawks took game three in OT to make the series 2-1.

Conference Finals, Day 5. Straight Outta Chicago

Today @ 5pm
VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Wings lead series 2-0

Conference Finals, Day 4. Hockey Is Back!

How did everyone handle their day without hockey? Hopefully well. I spent my evening at The Fox. Good choice on my part.

The ECF begin again today, as the Pens take on the Canes in a epic battle of...epicness.

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD, TSN, HD, RDS HD
Pens lead series 1-0

Conference Finals, Day 3. The West Returns

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD ,TSN HD, RDS HD
Wings lead series 1-0

I was feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the though of a large building fighting a giant octomonster. I'm not sure why because that is like Rampage-esce gold right there, but for whatever reason it wasn't working for me. Since I planned to change my format for the last two rounds of the playoffs anyway, it gave me a chance to redesign the characters for each team.

The Hawks was an obvious choice, but I did waffle between in and some version of the Blackhawks logo. For some reason, something lovecraftian seemed appropriate for our perennially annoyingly good winged foes.

But enough of that. I do like to go into artist mode, but that's not what you came here for.

Recappage!
Canes got spanked. Doesn't look that way on the scoreboard but they were outplayed.

The Pens were like a force of nature last night. They showed some weakness in the second, but were otherwise dominant. Watching that one goal trickle in past Ward was painful. The only time I enjoy seeing shots like that go in are when they are against whoever the Sharks are playing. MAF was solid. Ward looked vunerable at times, but settled down pretty well and looked pretty good after that.

Conferernce Finals, Day 2. I Don't Have A Clever Historical Pun For The East

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD, TSN HD, RDS HD
Game 1. FIGHT!

I hope everyone enjoyed yesterday's guest art. Our guest artist was a little bummed no one commented, but I told him not to take it personally.

Conference Finals Recap:

So. Wings, huh?

I was really hoping the Hawks could take game 1,and for awhile it looked like it would at least be a battle. Then Detroit decided it was time to stop effing around and time to start pwnage. This is going to be a long Western showdown. I think I speak for everyone not rooting for the Red Wings/mutual annihilation when I say "Go Hawks."

Conference Finals, Day 1. Not So Quiet On The Western Front

artwork by today's guest artist


Today @ noon!
TSN HD, NBC HD, RDS HD
Game 1. FIGHT!

A little background on our guest artist.

My significant other half created the above image, and one for the east, in an attempt to try to get me to sit down and watch a movie last night. My work for the blog done, how could I complain?
As he is very rarely so insistent, I acquiesced, with the condition that I would post these images on the blog. He didn't seem to mind, as long as our evening with The Evil Dead was uninterrupted by the sound of pencil on paper.

His Eastern Conference match up image.


Unsure about how to show a penguin's vocalization, "penguin noise" seemed the most appropriate choice.