randomly chaotic and frequently mundane

Traded Wolski????  Are you frakkin kidding me?  I just can’t wrap my head around that.  Wojtek Wolski???  Good lord that’s just insane.  That’s all I got to say for now.

The Olympics are of some interest to me.  Well the WINTER Olympics.  Actually, only a few events in the Winter Olympics: Men’s Hockey and Figure Skating.  That being said, I’d like to say GO USA MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM and GO LATVIA MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM.

Why Latvia?  My favorite player is from Latvia.  He’s playing on the team.  He’s the captain.  Karlis Skrastins is awesome, and I think he deserves the joy of an Olympic Medal.

That’s right, I’m a bad girl.  I’ve dropped the ball on my playoff predictions and such.  At this point, I’d really like to see the Capitals go to the final.  And I’d like to see them go against anyone but the wings.  What?  Why are you laughing?  I’m an Avs fan… can’t be having the wings go to the final… that would be bad.  We don’t like when that happens.

So yeah, I haven’t been able to watch much playoff hockey.  That sucks.  But I have played the NHL 09 game on the Xbox 360 recently and REALLY enjoyed that.  It’s quite funny to see the player that is supposed to be me.  An aggressive, fighting defenseman who’s like 5′ 8″ or something with red dreadlocks (it was the closest thing to long hair the game offered).  It cracks me up everytime.  Gage is on the team, too.  I made him a nice tall grinder, who apparently scores a LOT of goals.  It’s awesome.  Xbox hockey is very interesting.  Lots of fun.

Ok, some of the playoff matchups I picked on earlier have been decided so let’s see where we’re at thus far, shall we?  For your convenience, I’m re-posting my picks here so you don’t have to scroll, along with the turnout if the series has ended already.

San Jose v Anaheim — Sharks. (thus far they’re down 3-2… go Sharks)

Detroit v Columbus — Detroit. Won, 4-0.  No surprise.  I wish the outcome WAS a surprise.  Cause that would mean the Blue Jackets won.

Vancouver v St. Louis — Blues. Nope. Vancouver swept the series.  REALLY?  Yeah, really.

Chicago v Calgary — Flames.  (The Flames are actually trailing 3-2 in the series.  When did Chicago figure out playoff hockey?????)

Boston v Montreal — Montreal.  Nope.  Boston swept the series.

Washington v NY Rangers — Rangers.  (Series tied at 3…)

New Jersey v Carolina — New Jersey.  (Series tied at 3…)

Pittsburgh v Philadelphia — Philly.  (Nope, Pens won 4-2)

Ok, so my Avs didn’t make the playoffs… let’s face it, they didn’t even get close enough to smell playoff hockey down the block.  Last in the Conference and 3rd from last in the league.  I’m glad they’ve fired the manager… I hope that new management will fix whatever the problem was.

Anyhoo… the playoffs start soon and it’s time for my annual picking of the teams I think will move on to the second round.  Here goes:

San Jose v Anaheim — Sharks all the way.  I actually think the Sharks might win the conference, if not the cup, to be honest.

Detroit v Columbus — I’d love to pick Columbus, but the smart hockey fan in me says Detroit is going to win it, unless they lay down like they did against the Ducks a few years ago…

Vancouver v St. Louis — I’m gonna go with St. Louis on this one.  Why?  I don’t really know.  I like the Blues.

Chicago v Calgary — I gotta take Calgary here.

Boston v Montreal — Montreal.  Why?  Um, couldn’t tell ya.  Just what pops into my head when I think of a matchup between them.

Washington v NY Rangers — Rangers.  Though I’d love to see Theodore move to the 2nd round, my gut tells me Rangers.

New Jersey v Carolina — New Jersey.  They’re a better team.

Pittsburgh v Philadelphia — Philly.  They’re still ticked off over losing the conference last season, they’ve got something to prove.

Ok, I’ll say it.  The Avs are really sucking this season.  I hate to say it, it tears me apart to say it.  But what the fuck?  It’s like they can’t buy a win lately.  Last in the conference last time I checked.  Oh my poor poor boys.  What is going on?  Alas.  I wish I could watch more games and maybe see what’s so bad this season.  Is it the coaching?  Is it the goaltending?  Are they just phoning it in?  Really… what is it?  I’m at a loss.  I’m heartbroken.

And I’m going to go out on a limb now and say that I think the Sharks are going to take the conference and possibly the cup this year.  It would be nice if the Avs made a playoff spot… but I’m not holding my breath.

So, I haven’t been able to watch much Avalanche hockey… that sucks very much badly.  I’m very thankful that I can listen to them online though.  I at least have that.  Missed yesterday’s game cause I was working, but I can listen to tonights game and that will be good.  Can I say that I was SO disappointed that the Avs traded my favorite player?  So sad.  Special K (Karlis Skrastins) is a damn fine defenseman in my opinion.  Not that I have a problem with Ruslan Salei, as a matter of fact I’ve had him on my fantasy hockey team since the beginning.  I’m just a big fan of the at home defenseman, the guys who don’t really do a lot of scoring, but do a lot of shot blocking and hard working in their own end. 

And then there’s the return… oh, was that an interesting pair of acquisitions on the Avs’s part.  Foote and Forsberg coming home.  Who knew?  Oh, there were dreams, but who really thought it’d happen?  Let us hope that this means good things in the Avs future.  There are 2 regular season games that are supposed to be nationally televised left.  I intend to watch both of them.  Here’s hoping they spend a lot of time in the playoffs.

to a less than stellar day.

The Avs played their season opener tonight and it ended in a 4-3 victory.  It was apparently the first win in a season opener for Q, which made me smile.  The victory was nice, giving up a 4-1 lead wasn’t.  I liked some of the new additions to the lineup, they stood out.  Smythe and Hannon were expected, this Hlinka guy, who has entered the league this year at close to my age was great.  Apparently it was Milan Hejduk who gave someone the scouting report on this guy.  Good job Milan.

Now I’m watching the Top Chef Finale — the replay.  The hockey game was more important, he he.   I’ll be off to bed in a little while.

Oh yes, and I started working on Gage’s Halloween costume today.  For fabric, I used my witch costume.  I’ve made pants and a shirt, which he can wear every day as well.  I also made a hood with little pointy black ears.  I just need to make the wings, but I’ve got time for that.  He’s going to be a bat.  For the record… the pants, shirt and hood were all made without a pattern whatsoever.  I’m so proud of myself.

Hockey season is almost here.  In the meantime, I’ve been listening to the Avs’ pre-season games and loving it.  4 games played so far, 3 wins (one in OT) and 1 shoot-out loss.  Not too bad at all.  Hejduk and Svatos are benched with groin pulls and Theodore had some minor knee surgery, so they haven’t been in.  Hopefully they’ll be in one of the remaining two games of the pre-season.  I can’t wait till the season starts.  I’m all kinds of excited.  I think the Avs are going to do pretty well this season.

round 1 ended and i went 8 or 8 on my picks.

and so round 2 begins…

buffalo sabres vs ny rangers — i gotta go with the sabres.  i think they’re the better team and the hungrier team in this series.

new jersey devils vs ottawa senators — maybe it’s the jersey girl in me, but i think the devils have this series.  brodeur is no doubt disappointed with his play in round 1 which has a tendency to make him that much more determined.

anaheim ducks vs vancouver canucks — this one is really a coin toss for me… so i’m going to err on the side of goaltender playoff experience and say the ducks.  of course, the thrill of being in the playoffs for the first time could work in luongo’s favor… i’m not sure it will.

san jose sharks vs detroit redwings — i honestly think that the sharks have it in them to beat the wings.  and wouldn’t it be interesting to see the western conference final come down to 2 california teams?

the final two games in the 1st round of the nhl playoffs were played last night and tonight.  and i’m happy to say that all 8 of my 1st round picks were correct.  detroit won last night, vancouver won tonight.

8 for 8 in round 1.

in a previous post, i listed my picks for round 1 of the nhl playoffs.  6 of the 8 matchups have been decided:

predators vs sharks — i chose the sharks, correctly i might add.

ducks vs wild — i chose the ducks… and i was right.

devils vs lightning —picked devils, devils won

sabres vs islanders — went with the sabres, sabres didn’t let me down

thrashers vs rangers — picked the rangers and they SWEPT IT

senators vs penguins —went with the sens, sens won

so i’m 6 for 6 so far.  on the last two series i have the canucks (vs stars) and the wings (vs flames).  the last game, or games as the case may be, of these series should be interesting.  i’m still pretty confident that my picks will stand.  hmm… i should have made a bet on round 1, LOL.

it occurs to me that i haven’t done my picks for round 1 of the playoffs.  i make my picks every year… this year is no different.   and so i share with you…

western conference:

redwings vs flames — as much as i’d like to see the flames win the series, i think it’s going to be the redwings in 5.  they’re already 2 up on the series.  the flames are phoning it in.  kipprusoff should get a huge bonus

canucks vs stars — turco has a history of 1st round exits from the playoffs.  granted his history consists of 2 playoff runs and both times they were eliminated by the avs.  i think history is going to repeat itself… and i’ll be highly amused if the canucks take it in 5 games.

predators vs sharks — in december i picked san jose to win the stanley cup.  dunno if i’m that confident in them now, but i do think they’re gonna take this series.  i’m thinking in 6 games.

ducks vs wild — i wanted the wild to do well in this series.  but they’re taking a shit.  ducks in 5.

eastern conference

devils vs lightning — despite being down 2-1 in the series so far, i gotta go with the devils.  i think they’ve got the better team.  in 7, tho.

sabres vs islanders — sabres in 5, i think.  they’re just better.  they were my 2nd pick in december to win the cup

thrashers vs rangers — i’ve gotta go with the rangers here… i think they want it more and they’re a more solid team.  in 5

senators vs penguins — this is the penguins 1st playoff appearance in like 5 years.  but i don’t think it’s going to go past round 1.  sid the kid isn’t a miracle worker.  but i think the pens’ll pull 1 more win out of their asses.  so i’ll go sens in 6.

alas they begin without my beloved colorado avalanche… but that’s ok.  avs or no avs, i watch.  afterall, hockey season doesn’t end until the stanley cup is raised.  at the moment, i’m watching pittsburgh at ottawa.  pittsburgh is being schooled.  i’m not surprised.  this is their first trip to the playoffs in something like 5 years.  half of their lineup has probably never played in a playoff game.

allow me a momentary gripe session…

if you’re a fan of a particular sport, be a fan.  nothing pisses me off more than “hockey fans” who say things like “well the real season doesn’t start until march” and stupid shit like that.  well what if in march your team has no chance of making the playoffs?  did they not have a season that year?  if that’s your attitude… go fuck yourself.  you’re not a hockey fan.  i’m a hockey fan.  a damn passionate one.  not only do i watch every game my avs play that i can, i watch every televised nhl, chl and ahl game that i can.  because i love hockey.  i will re-arrange my schedule around a hockey game if i have to.  a last season a friend wanted to take me to dinner for my birthday, any restaurant i wanted.  i picked a place that i knew i’d be able to watch the game at.  when i go to a game, i’m there before the pre-game skate and i don’t leave until the final buzzer — no matter what the score.  the game can be 10-0 in favor of the opposition and i’ll still be in the stands cheering my team on.  not because “i paid for this fucking seat!” but because I LOVE HOCKEY.

in 49 seconds the penguins will have lost game 1 of round 1.

and the stars @ canucks will begin… i look forward to seeing if marty turco can keep his “eliminated in the 1st round” streak going, lol.

tonight the colorado avalanche face off vs the calgary flames for the 7th time this season. incredibly important this game. and the remaining games.

it’s very important that the flames lose this game and the other 3 they have this season (including another vs the avalanche).

it’s very important that the avs win this game, and the other 3 left on the season.

if that happens, the avs will be playing in the playoffs for the 12th season in a row. if it doesn’t the avs are eliminated.

nail biter? oh you bet. i’m all set to enjoy the hell out of this game.