Hockey finals start tonight. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Edmonton Oilers.

The grid up top will be updated sometime today.

Posted by: Ted at 05:14 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Tonight was my first chance this year to sit down and watch some playoff hockey games.

Buffalo vs. Ottawa. Ooooh baby, this was some seriously fun hockey. There were three goals scored in the first couple of minutes of the game, and three more in the last minute and a half. Buffalo tied the game at 6 with 10 seconds left, and then won the game just 18 seconds into overtime after a Sens defenseman fanned on a clearing attempt.

Despite the fact that both teams feature powerful offenses, the truth of this game is that both goalies are rookies, and both goalies looked like it. The scoring is fun, but the netminding sucked.

Give the Sabres credit though for hanging in there long enough to steal the game. They had 7 goals on less than 20 shots. The Senators dominated, and if Buffalo doesn't get it together then Ottawa will walk away with the series.

About the commercials... OLN "believes in hockey". It's about f*cking time.

Verizon and their "what should I get Mom for Mother's Day?" commercial: yet another example of advertising that is memorable as designed, but in all the wrong ways. If I have to watch that commercial through the rest of the playoffs, I will never, ever use Verizon.

The second game is on right now: Colorado at Anaheim. At the end of the first period the game is scoreless. The prime thought I have is that the OLN broadcasting team should be working for Verizon. They're that bad. Unfunny jokes. Inane and pointless chatter. I'm about ready to rediscover mime hockey.

Colorado has been blocking shots like crazy. If I hadn't heard the insane numbers they put up in the first round against Dallas, it would still be notable.

Former Washington Capital Steve Konowalchuk is back for the Avs after missing 62 games with a broken wrist. He's one of the class guys in the league and it's good to see him back.

Every time you use a Verizon phone, an angel bursts into flame.

Posted by: Ted at 10:14 PM | category: Balls and Ice
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The first round of NHL's playoffs are over. The top four seeds in the Eastern Conference all advanced, while none of the top four in the West survived.

Now things get interesting. Both Ottawa and Buffalo are starting rookie goalies. The Senators are a goal-scoring machine, but Buffalo has managed to do it all year long. Speed, speed, speed. This series is going to be fun.

Carolina took a nap early in the series against Montreal, and it almost cost them. The Devils are a solid team, and they have Broduer in net, which is a huge positive. Add the fact that they've won fifteen straight games. Personally, this series is probably the least interesting one to me, but it features two evenly matched teams who promise plenty of excellent hockey.

In the West you have the San Jose Sharks, who're on a scorching hot streak (second only to those Joisy boys), up against the Oilers, still on a high from knocking off the top-seeded Wings. Edmonton's Chris Pronger has quietly put together another excellent season, and after years of playoff futility in St. Louis he's hoping to carry his new team all the way this year. Then again, they're about to run into the buzz saw of the Sharks offense. They have so many weapons that shutting down one, like the Predators did with Thornton, only means that someone like team captain Marleau will ably pick up the slack. In goal, it's Roloson for the Oilers, a late acquisition from Minnesota at the trade deadline, vs. Toskala, yet another in the recent series of excellent Finnish goaltenders. Backing up Toskala is Nabokov, who would be starting for more than half the teams in the NHL (hell, maybe more than half the teams that made the playoffs).

Last, but not least: Colorado against Anaheim. I know next to nothing about these two teams this year, beyond that the Avs have former Canadien Jose Theodore in net, and that he played beyond expectations against the Stars. I always liked him, but then like I said, I haven't seen him play much this season. Colorado stumbled badly towards the end of the season, but if they've truly turned it around they should handle the Ducks easily.

Ha, like I know what I'm talking about!

Posted by: Ted at 05:21 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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My beloved Sharks are scrambling to make the playoffs, and despite playing great hockey lately, they lost last night to the Detroit Red Wings. Congrats to Machelle and David.

Posted by: Ted at 06:06 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Gir's Calgary Flames beat my beloved San Jose Sharks again last night, and so I will display her cool logo on my page.

Congrats, Gir!

Posted by: Ted at 08:15 PM | category: Balls and Ice
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Gir's Calgary Flames outscored my beloved San Jose Sharks last week, and so I will display her cool logo on my page for most of forever (considering how often I've posted lately).

Congrats, Gir!

PS. Your oral surgeon went to clown college.

Posted by: Ted at 10:37 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Brandon's LA Kings beat my beloved San Jose Sharks the other night, so in accordance with the prophesy by the rules of the Whoopass Jamboree, my shame is hereby displayed.

The purple, it burns.

Posted by: Ted at 05:01 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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It's been tough on St. Louis hockey fans this year, but the Blues rose up and beat my beloved Sharks last night.

According to the rules of the Hockey Whoopass Jamboree, here is the logo of the Blues.

Congrats Brian.

Posted by: Ted at 09:01 PM | category: Balls and Ice
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The other night my beloved Sharks lost to the Detroit Red Wings, which is like, nine losses in a row? Congrats to Machelle and David.

Posted by: Ted at 05:08 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Frinklin's Vancouver Canucks beat my beloved San Jose Sharks the other night (again), so according to the rules of the Jamboree, his logo is hereby displayed.

What the heck am I talking about? Check it out here.

Posted by: Ted at 05:08 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Rachael has a final in her ballroom dance class coming up, so I agreed to help her practice.

Totally unrelated: Gir's Calgary Flames beat my slumping (but still beloved) San Jose Sharks via shootout the other night, so by the rules of the Hockey Whoopass Jamboree, here is her team's logo.

Congrats, Gir, and may you have a peaceful and wonderful holiday season.

Posted by: Ted at 11:35 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Catt played last year, when we used the minor leagues for the Jamboree. This year, she's been busy having a baby and stuff, but like the true hockey fan that she is, she's got her gloves back on and is ready to high-stick and spear her way to victory.

Then again, maybe not, since her team is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The players:

Machelle and David: Detroit Red Wings
Frinklin: Vancouver Canucks
Brian J: St. Louis Blues
Tom: Philadelphia Flyers
Derek: Colorado Avalanche
Gir: Calgary Flames
Grand Moff Trojan: Colorado Avalanche
Tilesey: Toronto Maple Leafs
Cal Tech Girl: Carolina Hurricanes
Victor: Washington Capitals
Michele: New York Rangers
Brandon: Los Angeles Kings
Catt: Pittsburgh Penguins
Yours Truly: San Jose Sharks

Complete rules - and there's not many - can be found here.

Posted by: Ted at 05:21 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Much like Frinklin does with his sports uniform ratings, Dave at JustWide is doing a Team Logo playoffs.

just wide logo contest

Posted by: Ted at 04:02 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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That's what the Colorado Avalanche put on my beloved San Jose Sharks last night, winning 5-2. So, in accordance with the rules of the Hockey Whoopass Jamboree, the logo of Derek's Avalanche will be posted here for at least 24 hours.

Trivia: The Colorado Avalanche have a Yeti footprint on one shoulder of their sweaters.

Posted by: Ted at 04:57 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Last night my beloved Sharks lost to the Detroit Red Wings in OT. Congrats to Machelle and David.

Posted by: Ted at 04:58 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Everyone welcome Brandon to the Jamboree.

He's selected the Los Angeles Kings.

By the way, Brandon, my Sharks logo is 204x193. I just wanted to make sure you make plenty of room for it, since you'll be displaying it often this season.

The players:

Machelle and David: Detroit Red Wings
Frinklin: Vancouver Canucks
Brian J: St. Louis Blues
Tom: Philadelphia Flyers
Derek: Colorado Avalanche
Gir: Calgary Flames
Grand Moff Trojan: Colorado Avalanche
Tilesey: Toronto Maple Leafs
Cal Tech Girl: Carolina Hurricanes
Victor: Washington Capitals
Michele: New York Rangers
Brandon: Los Angeles Kings

Yours Truly: San Jose Sharks

Complete rules - and there's not many - can be found here.

Posted by: Ted at 06:50 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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Last Wednesday, October 5th, was the 40th birthday of Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy.

Posted by: Ted at 11:44 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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(This will be bumped to the top once in a while as updates happen)

It's perfectly ok for more than one person to select a team, so just because someone else has declared for your favorite doesn't mean you can't play.

The players:

Machelle and David: Detroit Red Wings
Frinklin: Vancouver Canucks
Brian J: St. Louis Blues
Tom: Philadelphia Flyers
Derek: Colorado Avalanche
Gir: Calgary Flames
Grand Moff Trojan: Colorado Avalanche
Tilesey: Toronto Maple Leafs
Cal Tech Girl: Carolina Hurricanes
Victor: Washington Capitals
Michele: New York Rangers
Yours Truly: San Jose Sharks

1. If you have a favorite hockey team, place their logo somewhere on your front page. Let me know.
2. Every time your team plays someone else's team in the Jamboree, the loser must place the winner's logo (and a link) on their front page for 24 hours.
3. You don't have to actually be a Munuvian to play.
4. Trash talkin' is encouraged.

Posted by: Ted at 12:14 PM | category: Balls and Ice
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1 Nobody picked the Florida Panthers. I take it they must suck...

I'm thinking about it...

Posted by: Bou at September 10, 2005 09:14 PM (5JHEt)

2 they do, but that's no excuse

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 30, 2005 05:51 PM (Eb5t4)

3 If I could figure out how to set the permissions to actually edit my page, I'd so totally root for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alas, I shall watch from afar.

Posted by: dawn at October 01, 2005 12:11 PM (Dh1V0)

4 nobody has the Oilers yet...Good...I don't have to put anything up just yet...

Posted by: Derek at October 06, 2005 05:30 PM (FloaD)

5 Hey, I want in. I want to take the Canucks but since Frinklin has already taken them I will use my new hometown team, the Los Angeles Kings. I will probably be putting up other people's links quite often.

Posted by: Brandon at October 08, 2005 04:46 AM (D0AYM)

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Quick notes and thoughts:

Last night, every player in the NHL wore a special patch on their sweaters. After the first period, they all changed and the game-worn jerserys will be auctioned off at NHL.com to raise money for hurricane relief.

Alexander Ovechkin is scary-good.

His first NHL check was so fierce it dislodged a support beam. He refused to let his team lose, twice answering with goals less than 90 seconds after the opponents took the lead. And when his face appeared on the large scoreboard, he stuck out his tongue and flashed a charismatic smile.

The Halpern-Zubrus-Ovechkin line is clicking, with Zubrus picking up the Capitals third goal and an assist, and center Halpern dishing up three assists.

My favorite "duh" moment was when one announcer asked the other if he noticed that the team didn't seem as sharp or as quick as normal and what could be the reason. His answer? "They haven't played in fifteen months!"

Here's your sign.

Posted by: Ted at 11:49 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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When baseball's Montreal Expos left town last year to become the Washington Nationals, they left behind their long-time mascot, Youppi!

This season, hockey's Montreal Canadiens have adopted Youppi! as their official mascot.

Ray Lalonde, the Canadiens marketing manager, said Youppi! is the first mascot in professional sports to move from one league to another.

"We always wondered what Youppi! would look like in a Habs sweater."

Yeah, Ray. That makes one of us.

Posted by: Ted at 09:48 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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1 Why didn't we negotiate for Youppi!?

Posted by: Rob@L&R at September 19, 2005 07:01 AM (281T8)

2 I blame Angelos.

Posted by: Ted at September 19, 2005 09:06 AM (blNMI)

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