This is the only post about the details of tonights game. Hejduk takes a puck off the face and scores a goal. Off the face. That shit hurts. If you don’t believe me, ask Jeremy Roenick, or Steve Yzerman, or Don VanMassenhoven. That shit hurts. Then Hejduk comes back and plays.

Why Don Cherry? Cherry has banged on about Europeans wearing visors and not being tough. Not battling, not working, all skill, no drill. Well, Cherry should eat his gaudy, ugly, dumb hat, and the rest of his awful wardrobe on air tomorrow. An European, wearing a visor, ‘scores’ (deflects one in) off his face, and comes back for the third period. Don’t give me shit over this. That was tough.

Technorati : Cherry, Don, Hejduk, Hockey, NHL, Visor

After what was an excellent day of work, I made my way to the hockey bar. Sobo 151 was sparse, but the crowd was more into hockey than Monday Night Football. I am now watching the Avs replay, and will be talking about the game maybe tomorrow. Later, after all the games of the day had wrapped up, I was challenged by a seemingly friendly person to some football. I love to play football, even against people who are better than me (I’m not bad, but not great). In a spirited first game, I lost 5-4. But overall, the mouth on the guy smacked of the sales guy who’s wife left him, and this is his only outlet for his ego. After the first game, he wanted another. I reneged, mostly due to the fact that I suffer fools poorly, and fools I don’t know even worse. My mistake was being willing to play a bit later, where the chatter turned up. I was getting sick of it, and started talking back. I had enough. Then he called me a dickhead. At that point, I told him to either shut his mouth and play, or just give up (I think it was polite to offer him the option, which is more than most people I know would do). I’d REALLY had enough. At that point, what someone like this guy does, did. He shakes your hand. My favorite part was when he called a friend of mine, who is a hockey player, a hockey ref, and a lot tougher than me (this guy, or most people I know) a “little lady.” No shit.

At this point, you might expect me to be violent, but that is not my way. But let’s be clear. Nothing was going to ruin what started as a good time, and ended as a bit of typing. So I got something out of it. In the end, the lesson should be clear. What you take into the hockey bar, may not be what everyone takes in. Go have fun, enjoy some hockey (win or lose), and leave it at that. Nothing else matters. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to enjoy an Avs win.

Note for Reality Check: Your comments have inspired me. Expect a post shortly.

Technorati : Avs, Hockey, Jerk, Kings, NHL, Work

There has been some serious debate about the rules this past season, and even this season, about what the dumb ass refs are calling, and what they aren’t. But even with a rulebook in hand (which the NHL hasn’t put into bookstores yet for this year), it can be hard to tell what should be called and what shouldn’t, by the rules laid out in the NHL. USA Hockey or Hockey Canada may have differences, just like the minors and juniors have their differences.

But looking at the rulebook can be a little confusing, and that is where the Casebook comes in. It’s a situation manual, describing what the rules really mean, how they are applied, and what should be called a penalty, and what shouldn’t. Also, it has the breakdown of who stays in the box for how long when there are multiple penalties. It’s a serious read, and worth it. Look for last years at the NHL Official Guide site. Heavy stuff.

But today, I want to talk to you about the Interference rule (rule 56). It is a rule based entirely on one strange principle, and that is possession. Who has the puck, and who doesn’t is the defining factor of an interference call, and it is not as simple as it may seem. Page 114 of the NHL rulebook (link in PDF) states:

The last player to touch the puck, other than the goaltender, shall be
considered the player in possession. The player in possession of the puck may be
checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss
of possession.

So, let’s not just look at the rule, let’s look at an example. Let’s take a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the L.A. Kings:

Sidney Crosby has the puck in the neutral zone. He dumps the puck in the corner with ten seconds to go. Scrums erupt everywhere and the puck sits in the corner. Suddenly, Sean Avery slams into Crosby, making Crosby cry like a little girl. Interference? No. Crosby still has possession.

Or, Crosby dumps the puck, scrums erupt, nobody touches the puck. Crosby goes to the bench, sits down, and imagines his jersey number hung in the rafters of wherever the new owner moves the team. Suddenly, Avery jumps over the boards and slams Crosby into the back wall. Interference? No.

The horn blows, the players leave, and everyone files out of the building. Even the ice techs leave, knowing they only have more hockey ahead, and wondering if they will have a job next season. They don’t Zamboni, and leave the game puck just sitting in the corner. Sid the Kid gets into his Honda Hybrid car and drives home. After popping open a Grape Nehi and a box of Teddy Grahams, he settles in to watch the repeat of the game, and see if his new commercial is on the air yet. Just then, there is a knock at the door. “I didn’t order any pizza, and the circus animals don’t get here until Wednesday. Who could that be?” he thinks to himself. He opens the door, and standing there, in his full playing gear, is Sean Avery. “Sid,” he says, “I would have words with thee.” Avery lowers the boom, slams the hammer, fizzles the shizzle, trips the light fantastic, and hits Sidney with a devastating body check. Crosby’s waif like body flies through the air, and before he can get the word “Reebok” through his mind, he slams Hollywood style into his kitchen table, thinking to himself, “Why does the bad man hate me?”

Interference? No.

Now, had Evgeni Malkin come back to the Mellon Arena after everyone left and picked up the puck, taking it home and snuggling with it like a teddy bear as he dreams of the Calder trophy, then it would be interference. In fact, Mick MaGoo could come in, waiving his hands around like an aircraft controller to make the call, and it would be his first of three good call for the season.

So, I hope that cleared things up. I would like to thank Sidney Crosby and Sean Avery for their help in our little demonstration. If you have any questions, the comments are open.

Next week, Tripping with Ken Klee..

Technorati : Hockey, Interferrence, NHL, Rules

Before I even saw the final score, I knew things couldn’t go well. But overall, the game was one of the most dramatic I have ever seen. I was into the game, more than… most.

I will be clear here. The penalty call and resulting powerplay goal that was the eventual game winner was bullshit (interference against Clark). I hate saying that about the refs, or about the calls, but it was bullshit (why? I’m going to go into that in the next few days). Theodore played bad, as did Abby, as did Skrastins, as did almost everyone. Stars of the game could have been defined as who didn’t suck. Hats off to Paul Stastny who scored his first NHL goal tonight, and to Ian Laperriere, who let go of scoring his 100th goal to get the assists when it counted. But if anyone feels good in Montreal about this win, your storm is coming. This was not a win to feel good about, not a loss to feel too bad about.

I will say this: It’s hard to remember that two points is only two points when you write about it. When you watch with this kind of… whatever it is that drives you to write about your team, it’s hard to remember that there is another game around the corner. It’s going to be OK.

Note to Reality Check from Eyes On The Prize: Gloat now. But… There is no shame in this loss. Tonight was beyond a game. It was unbridled emotion for everyone. Until I see the Habs in the Stanley Cup Finals, it’s still a road trip in the east with 4 out of 6 points earned. Oh, yeah. One of us has played the Bell Centre. It wasn’t you. (HA!!!)

Technorati : Avs, Canadiens, Habs, Hockey, NHL

It’s 11 at night, and I havven’t seen the score of the game yet. Everyone I have talked to has had a big reaction to the score. You know a lot more than I do right now, but you can’t imagibe how hard it is not to look. Painful. I’m going to be watching shortly, and you can judge the tone of my post better than me right now. I hope there was a fight.

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Sent from my Treo, fearing the Reaper

In the past, this would just be a two point game. Tonight, it’s something different. As soon as the Aebischer for Theodore trade was announced, everyone wanted to know when this game was going to happen. We didn’t have to wait long. With Abie going 2-1-0 and a save % of.944 (GAA 1.63), he’s on fire and pushing Huet. Abie was used to riding pine behind Patrick Roy. If anything, he is proving that the only reason he was traded away was because the Q couldn’t spell his last name. Theodore may be getting his shit together, and that is enough for now, especially since the Avs have proven they aren’t just a one line team.

I’m an Avs fan, don’t get me wrong, but I have a caveat tonight. My Avs jersey (one of them) is a David Aebischer. I felt that, when he took over, he was our goaltender. I’m sure I made an impassioned drunken speech about it at some time, how Roy was gone, and we needed to let Abie do the job. I wish I could have told the Avs that. I believe he is more solid than most, has great position and speed, and a fighting spirit in net. One of the most interesting notes about the trade came from the Habs GM saying how he was excited when he heard that Abie was available. That was telling to me. If the Avs had a few more points right now (not that there are that many available right now), if this was a few more games into the season (like 30), I would be whole heartedly cheering on AEBISCHER (no, not the Habs, just Abie). I would be happy with an Avs loss, but not tonight. Tonight, this will tug at my soul. My heart will be split in two. Tonight, I squirm.

Quick note to Ian Laperriere: Dude, your 100th goal will come. Quit trying to just put it in every time you get the puck. Just take a pill. You already have the market on the letter R cornered, be happy with what you have, what you want will come.

Quick Note to Paul Stastny: Go ahead and shoot, but don’t worry about scoring the goal, you are doing a great job making plays. The creativity you are showing is great. Stay on it.

Technorati : Aebischer, Avalanche, Canadiens, Hoceky, Montreal, NHL, Theodore

What I haven’t beenpaying attention to is who has been in net for the Buffaslugs. Has Ryan Millar been winning them all, or has Martin Biron been doing some of the work? Regardless, I think they need top face the Wild, and get this over with.

Meanwhile, I only watched the first half of the Leafs- Avs game from Wednesday. I saw enough highlites during the Sens game. The real story is going to be tomorow night. Will David Aebischer be in net? Will Jose crumble under the pressure? Will Paris Hilton be in a luxury box? All will be answered.

Dust off the sombraro, it’s going to be an exciting weekend for some hockey.

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Sent from my Treo, up at my perch

My Perch
Originally uploaded by Tapeleg.

This is the view from the booth at my new gig. This is what I look at when you are all watching hockey. Not a bad life, really. The game will be there when I get home.

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Sent from my Treo

The Battle of Colorado begins in Windsor, CO tonight, when the Rocky Mountain Rage take on the Colorado Eagles. Altitude is broadcasting the game tonight, and even though the quality of broadcasts from the Budweiser Events Center usually suck, I expect some serious fireworks tonight. This is going to be a real rivalry, hard nosed and ugly. Get the to the rink!

Technorati : CHL, Colorado, Eagles, Hockey, Rage

Really, I don’t see how you could not. This was from the loadout of the Mariachi Festival. Someone left the hat behind. Their loss, your gain.