Well, I am totally outside of this Space Time Continuum thing. I watched the Avs beat the Senators tonight, but I still haven’t watched the Avs beat the Leafs from last night. I figure I will tomorrow morning, while doing some laundry. Mid-day hockey. Yum.

I want to give a Boo-yaa to Sherry from Scarlett Ice. She is one of the few bloggers out there who is blogging after a loss. Not during, and not ignoring the team when they are down, but AFTER a loss. It shows guts, and I can respect it. Over all, it took one goal to energize the Sens, and they really poured it on after bringing the game within one. There is no good reason they couldn’t have tied it up. And, if they had met the team they faced in the first period, they would have tied it, if not won. Simply put, the Sens were a good fight, and you can’t get two points every night.

The goal against Theodore was just a tiny bit faster than the shot. Theo got a little on it, but not enough. If there is a goalie in the league who could use a shutout, it’s Jose. He had to rely on position and reflexes to get the job done, and tonight he had both. Richardson with a shortie. Sakic with the garbage in front. Two points is two points.

Note: Tomorrow night is the start of the Battle of Colorado. The CHL season starts with the Rocky Mountain Rage visiting the Colorado Eagles. If you are in Colorado, tape this one. It’s going to be on Altitude.
BTW: I am so happy I don’t have to rely on just OLN for my games. I can live without Center Ice when I have a local channel that broadcasts all the games. I get every Avs game, with a pretty good call. OLN should take note. A balanced call, with the action being called, rather than drifting all over the place. OLN should watch the hunting shows they broadcast, and try to STAY ON TARGET!!! (hunter Versus deer, whatever).

And: From the I-hate-to-say-I-told-you-so-but-there-you-have-it dept: Peter Forsberg has been hurt for the 5.378th time. He sprained his wrist, and left the game in the first period. And people wonder why I never wept when he left. He is an amazing player, but this isn’t touch football. The TFL, next on ESPN.

Technorati : Avalanche, Avs, Hockey, NHL, Senators, Sens

It isn’t quite the GM’s position, but Neil Little, the most famous non-NHL goalie in Philadelphia (he may be the most famous goalie there period is moving to the front offices of the Wachovia Center and Spectrum. This is from Our Sports Central, which is where I go for my minor league hockey news:

Global Spectrum, operators of the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum for arena owner Comcast-Spectacor, today named former Philadelphia Phantoms goalie Neil Little as the facilities’ new Event Manager, according to Global Spectrum’s Tim Murphy, General Manager of the Wachovia Complex.

“Neil is the ultimate ‘team player’ and we’re very fortunate that he is joining us in our event production department,” said Murphy. “Neil helped us build the Phantoms franchise as one of our franchise players. Now, he is making the transition to the front office and we are certain he will represent our company well in his new role.”

In his new role, Little will work directly with the touring shows, production companies and artists, the networks and teams in making all necessary arrangements to perform or play at either Wachovia Center or Wachovia Spectrum.

I have never wanted to go to Philly more than ever. I mean it. Neil Little, for those of you poor souls who don’t know, was a career backup goalie for the Philadelphia Phantoms. He played 2 games, both of which were losses. I was at his second and last game with the Flyers, where Robert Esche got injured, and Neil had to step in. Against a Tampa Bay Lightning team who would soon win the Stanley Cup, he gave up two goals in under two minutes, and the Flyers lost the lead and the game 2-1. The man was thrown under the bus, coming off the bench cold, the Flyers laving him out to dry defensively. It was a team that night who could defend or score, but both was too much for them. Little was benched in favor of Antero Niittymaki, and the rest was history for Niitty. Little faced 8 shots in the 33 minutes he played that game, and that was his last NHL action ever.

The Hockey News ran an interview and story about him on the last page a few years ago. I wish I knew where that was. He is LOVED by fans of the Phantoms, and was inducted in their hall of fame. Here is a little video about him made by the Phantoms:

But the other think he is known for was shown in that video around the 1:20 mark. In case you missed it, here is the game footage (this is a must watch):

Listen for the announcer with the line from Slap Shot.

That is my Neil Little story today. Of all the players I want to meet, he is near the top of the list. I kid you not. Nice one, Neil.

Technorati : Flyers, Hockey, Little, Neil, Phantoms

I have not seen the Avs game, but my friend Shannon gave it away already, or at least the outcome. I will be watching later tonight or tomorrow. Right now, I am at the final dress rehearsal for the Colorado Ballet production of Dracula. A very cool show indeed.

Opening is at 6:30 pm tomorrow night, which means I will be taping the game for later. One of the bad things about the theatre schedule is that I don’t get to read the blogs or see the scores until much later. Sherry from Scarlett Ice will have to wait for my response from tomorrow night’s Senators – Avs game for a while. The good thing is that the theatre work makes me happy. A happy blogger is a good blogger. Except for a few out there. They are better being pissed. Bad for them, good for us.

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Sent from my Treo, with my dancing shoes on.

Hockey Weather in Colorado
Originally uploaded by Tapeleg.

16th St. Mall in Denver.

The last thoughts on the game:

There are losses I can stomach, and losses I can’t. Tonight is in the can’t category. The prevailing attitude in the locker room HAD BETTER BE that they had to stay out of the penalty box, and then the response HAD BETTER BE that they stay out of the fucking penalty box. How do you take 7 penalties, get scored on 3 of them, all before the ND period is even three minutes old, and expect to win a game. The short answer is: you don’t. I wish I could say the Blackhawks outplayed the Avs, but the Avs outplayed the Avs, is more like it. The Blackhawks waited for the Avs to destroy themselves, and didn’t have to wait long.

There are two ways of looking at this game. Either the Avs didn’t get any of the 4 points up for grabs, or had 2 games with no points. A simple way of looking at it, but this isn’t game seventy. We have room to lose. But that room won’t be here forever. Time to get on the horse.

Aside from that, I had a great time at the Czech hockey bar. Shannon is a great hockey buddy, and even the Blackhawks fan (there are BH fans?) entering the bar after the loss wasn’t so bad. After all, 1961 was a long time ago.

Technorati : Avalanche, Avs, Blackhawks, Hockey, NHL

I feel like I don’t wstch the game as much when I liveblog, but it sure is fun.

GOAL!! Brisebois gets his money shot, Hejduk with thte assist. That’s a tie game!

LaPointy head puts the BH on top. I now hate him.

Arnason with a chance, and puts it wide. Let me say this, If it wasn’t for the first period, I could deal with a loss here. Ever the pessimest.

At this point, I’m reduced to “Come on, Avs” Gotta get one. The Czech beer is tasty tonight.

Liles takes a penalty with 2:01 left.

Avs lose. I now will drown my sorrows, and will get back to you.

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Sent from my Treo, with sorrow

SOG are staggeringly lopsided. If the Q didn’t address this in the locker room, then fire him (like I need an excuse to fire him.)

BH 2-6 on the PP on 7 shots. In only one period. Not good. And there is the next penalty. WTF? But that was a penalty?

2 minutes to Shannon for not being here yet.

Why does Theodore fall at the puck / shot so often? Does,’tlook like control to me.

Sorry, make that BH 3-7. BH goal by Vbrata. Youo can still buy his Avs jersey here, you know.

Someone needs to punch someone in the face. Just saying.

There are so many penalties, you would think MaGoo was reffng the game.

Goal! Sakic on the wrister. $1 Kamikazie.

Skrastins on his third penalty of the night. You’ld think Turgeon was playing.

GOAL!!!! Arnason get’s it in. Suck it, BH!

Shannon finally showed up. I am drinking Czech ale, and the Avs have closed the gap to 3-2. Hockey Night in Denver. Back in a bit.

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Sent from my Treo, having a great fucking time.

Could an announcer have a more boring name than Joe Brown? Just wondering.

You have to have some serious balls to wear an Indian headdress and war paint at an away game. Nice one, BH fan.

I can’t mwait for Leopold to get on the ice.

Khabibulin has an .882 save % and is still 2-1-0. The BH have some scoring going onfor that to happen (GAA 4.04)

I find myself watching
Theodore a lot. Watching to see if he is showing his… Issues?

Almost tipped in. The bar crowd groans.

Skrastins in the box. Last time, things didn’t go well for the Avs.

Post! Stastny with a freat block, and that’s a kill.

SOG at 1212:05 left 11-1 Hawks. Notthe high flying Avs of old there, but half a period does not make a team.

Theodore hasn’t been flailing like last season (here or in Montreal). Is he putting a bad season behind him finally?

As much as I like Laperriere being scrappy, I don’t care for him being scrappy when it putts him in the penalty box.

Have I mentioned how much I hate the puck over the glass penalty? I do right now.

Great breakaway! What the hell is with Hanzues’ hair? And why isn’t there a BH blog I can poke fun of about it?

The disipline the Avs had last week is now past tense. And that leads to the BH PP goal. Theodore almost had it, but not quiite. Damn.

The Avs seem to have moved their bench to the penalty box. I can’t say the BH are any good, they jsut have a lot of PP chances.

Another BH goal. That was a crap ass period. Not just the goals, but the way they were scored.
See you next period.

– Sent from my Treo

I am all set for the game. I have beer, food, and Shannon from work (who also refs) is hanging out. Mostly intermission reports of how the game goes in the Czech hockey bar. What could be finer? Expect several posts (with poor spelling) around intermission,with phone pictures when I feel like it.

Go Avs!

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Sent from my Treo

I’m running behind this morning, so just a quick game preview today. The Blackhawks are being scary good right now. Look at how they tore through the Preds, and the preseason they had. Someone is going to have to put them in their place, and that place will be put (huh?). I will be at the Czech hockey bar tonight, and updating on the game every so often. Stop in, as beer makes me more insightfull, or I like to think so at the time.

Also, if you have a TIVO, do you like it? I have a new job possibility where a TIVO may become necessary, or at least, more of a guarantee I get to see the games.

Go Avs, Tapeleg OUT!

Technorati : Avalanche, Avs, Blackhawks, Hockey, NHL