Overheard At The Game, Carolina Hurricanes Edition

The following events took place outside HP Pavilion sometime between 6:30 and 6:45pm on Thursday, Feb 5th 2009.

Ok, maybe I embellished a little. Mina never wears a watch.

You wanted a post...

I am posting on my iPhone at a party so Gray will stop nagging me about posting. For actual hockey content, you'll have to wait until I have an actual computer.

Sharks V Blue Jackets

This afternoon at 4pm. Radio, TV, Interwebs

So Mason has mono, the Sharks have been looking less then spectacular in their past two games and Rick Nash is still really really good. How can you preview a game that sounds crazy before it begins?

I find myself as confused as ever, knowing only that starting the road trip off the "right" way, with a win, is in the best interest of the Sharks. Preferably one in regulation.

Go Sharks.
Post Game Recap:

I'm not really too sure what to think about this game. On the one hand, it was a loss, but on the other hand it's the first time the Sharks have dropped three in a row all season. It's not like they've done this a bunch. The Sharks were down all night but did manage to come back and tie in the end. They lost, but they managed to get a point out of it. It was a sloppy ending to a weird game that gave Columbus the win, but the Sharks nearly had it right after OT started. Nabby didn't look his best and every time they mentioned LaCosta, I kept picturing this:


Yes I know, his name is different.

So as I said, I'm not really sure what to make of this game. I do hope the rest of the road trip goes better. We'll see on Tuesday.

The 1st Ever Bringer of Doom Awards

With my sincere apologies to Mr. Randy Hahn, who I do enjoy listening to every televised game.

A little background before I give out the first ever Couch Tarts Randy Hahn Bringer of Doom Award. Anyone who watches the Sharks on a regular basis is familiar with all the stats and fact that Randy Hahn throws around. Have the Sharks owned a certain team on home ice for x number of years? He'll tell you about it. Could some odd record that would not go in favor of the Sharks were it to be broke be broken tonight? He'll tell you about that too. Has said team NEVER beaten the Sharks ever? He'll mention it.

In past years, this has been a subject of mild discontent for Mina and I, as there were many times when these facts would be mentioned by Hahn, only to have what has never happened before happen, resulting in a Sharks loss. While there has been far less of that this season, we still refer to Mr. Hahn as "Randy Hahn, Bringer of Doom." Despite the brimstone filled overtones, it's a nickname we give out of love. Even if his excitement for the Sharks often spells their doom, we still think Mr. Hahn is one of the best in the biz.

So today, the day after we witnessed the Sharks lose to a good looking Carolina Hurricanes team, I am awarding the first ever of these auspicious trophies to Mina. Last night Mina turned to me in the second, shortly after Alexei Semenov's goal and said the following, "I may be jinxing the game but, if the Sharks win, Semenov will have the game winning goal!" I did try to stop her, but she said it anyway and in doing so, doomed the Sharks in a loss in the shoot out.

So congratulations Mina on being the first ever recipient of this award. The press is waiting to address you in the green room.

Sharks v Hurricanes

I didn't believe Mina when she told me their mascot was a pig. But hey, why not?

Tonight @ 7:30pm. Radio, TV, Tank, Interwebs

It's hard to preview teams the Sharks haven't faced since 2005. You read that right, 2005. Ridiculous!

Carolina isn't having a banner year, and it coming to town down their Captain and fresh off a loss to the Canucks. They are also one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to PP and PK, placing 26 and 23 respectfully.

The Sharks are coming in after what basically amounts to a Spring Break in the schedule, and a loss to the Blackhawks. It's also Black Armor night. And, according to our friend Mr. Plank at FTF, Dan Boyle is (hopefully) back. Huzzah huzzah! You don't realize how much he does on the ice until he's missing.

All of that is a way to say, no idea what will happen, but I hope it works out well for the Sharks because we'll be at the game.

Post Game:

Things we are not intimated by: Your husband. When we ask you nicely to lean back, don't whine to him, lean back. We're more than happy to have an usher resolve that situation if you want to go that route.

Also, please random Carolina fan, don't start yelling at people who haven't said anything to you. I realize you're a) drunk, b) kind of a poo or, c) a drunk poo, but let's be reasonable here. Besides, I think the guy at the end of our row could have taken you.

Our section is kind of lame this season.

Onto the game.

It started well, but then it went downhill and we spent most of the third wondering where the hustle went. Maybe the nubs in front of us stole it. Or, perhaps it's stuck in the same weird time warp the Lost island is. Out of phase with reality and flitting about through time in a bright and noisy flash of light. If it gets a nose bleed, we're screwed.

Carolina was shot black city.

The Sharks were turnover city.

There were times when the crowd liked Kerry Fraser. There were other times when they did not.

That's the first game I have ever been to where the crowd got a play reviewed. That was kind of awesome.

Carolina was always in the way and to their credit, they stayed on the Sharks and never gave up.

The Sharks? Well...they kind of gave up sometime in the second.

Anyone see what happened to Douglas Murray. We didn't see him on the bench late in the third and hadn't seen him on the ice in awhile.

Leighton was crazy good. No star?

Semenov got a goal!

Speaking of goals, that penalty shot was a killer.

Michalek was involved in all 3 goals scored by the Sharks and was the only Shark to score during the shoot out. He did really try to win the game by himself. Good hustle, Milan! We appreciate it.

The ice was weird. People were falling left and right all game.

The Geico gecko? Really?

Carolina would not let the Sharks set up in their zone. The Sharks also had a hard time clearing their zone. Never good times.

Mina jinxed the game. You can blame the loss on her.

Goals: Clowe, Semenov, Vlasic (PP)

For Carolina: Cullen on the Penalty Shot, Samsonov, Whitney

Stars: (3) Cullen, (2) Michalek, (1) Babchuk (who?)

Bulls*** Alarm

Thanks NBC. We knew the American public at large wasn't worthy enough to see the Sharks, and you proved us right.

/sarcasm

Even Battle of New York agrees with us and the Rangers are now playing in that time slot.

Overheard At The Game, Superbowl Version

I have been asked to explain so, here it goes. We were all sitting around watching the game when the commercial below came on. We were sort of amused by it, but sort of not, when all of a sudden our marsupial pal was punched in the face. Our sensitive friend gasped in horror while the rest of us giggled and was very concerned that the koala was real. With each repetition of the punch, she became more put off by the commercial and we all became very amused. The words "seriously, it was holding a cup of coffee and wearing glasses!" were spoken after she expressed her concerns.

It really is one of those "funnier if you were there" moments.

Just in case you didn't watch the Superbowl, this comic is in reference to the commercial below.