Midsummer Action!

So it's the eve of my semi-annual trip to family in the middle of technological nowhere (I think I'll have access to email this time...), and of course I'm going during the most interesting part of the offseason.

Tonight and tomorrow are, of course, the 2009 NHL draft. The Canes first pick is 27th, so that means we are nowhere near involved with the Tavares/Hedman debate. My full insight on the draft is at Cycle at the Sedins, which makes me look awesome because I have mostly the same opinion as the dudes at Canes Country and also kind of makes me look like a retard because I confess that I can't keep the NHL and NFL drafts straight. But, honestly, I can't, which is why I generally only list who the Canes picked up and don't do any kind of analysis. Because analysis is severely overrated.

Then the next few days become crunch time for the Canes to sign their UFAs before they hit the open market. Unfortunately, Rutherford has said that contract negotiations are slow, so signs point to a Cole-and-LaRose-less hockey team. Which makes me want to weep tears of infinite sadness because those two are my two favorite players... argh!

Finally, July 1 (next Wednesday) is the first day of free agency, also the day I am returning. Expect either a long, rambling post or a short detail-less post towards the evening with all of the crazy happens of the most exciting day in the offseason (read: the only day with any hockey news).

Thanksgiving was not very kind to the Canes record

Soooo... The Canes went 1-3 over my Thanksgiving break... Not very good.

First, the Canes lost to Florida 3-2.

Then they lost to Philadelphia 3-1 (while wearing their third jerseys... making them 2-2 on the season with them... I'm not exactly sure why I'm continuing that stat, other than now that I've started, I certainly can't stop...)

Then they won in Philly 3-2 in overtime. I saw the first period of that game (while eating a delicious cheesesteak), which was merely an okay showing by the Canes. I also saw Wade Brookbank's fight, which was an excellent fight to watch, the referees letting them go at it for quite a bit. Don't think either one won the fight, though.
Sergei Samsonov scored in the overtime period.

Finally, they lost 4-1 to the Ducks yesterday. About the time of puck drop I was lamenting the Washington Redskins' slow shuttle system to take us back to our parking spot all the way on the other side of I-495. Yep, I went the Giants-Redskins game on the way back from Pennsylvania - froze my butt off in the stupid mist, too (although my six layers of clothing did keep me moderately warm...)

Anyways... Canes lost Cam Ward to a groin injury in that Ducks game - he'll be out for the next three games and Justin Peters will be called up to back up Leighton.

Good news on the injury front (unexpected news as well) is that Justin Williams of all people will more than likely be back on the ice sometime this week. And this is after busting his Achilles' tendon in training camp. ("Busting" being the proper medical term in cases such as these.) Good news - we could definitely use him out on the ice. I just hope he doesn't get injured from coming back too fast.

Next game is on Thursday against Pittsburgh.

Chad LaRose stats (Monday): 1 goal
(Wednesday): 1 goal
On the season: 7 goals, 2 assists

Canes lose; Staal's an All-Star

Canes lost 4-1 to the Devils last night.

Missing in the lineup was essentially half the team - those who were not injured were struck with a nasty flu bug going around the team.

Canes didn't look that bad until the third period, where they just lost control - allowing two goals and putting little to none offensive pressure on the Devils.

The good news was that Keith Aucoin got his first NHL goal!

Next game is tomorrow against the Avalanche. I will probably not be watching all of it because of a little thing called NFL PLAYOFFS! Go Pack Go!

In other news, Eric Staal is going to his second consecutive All-Star game.
And, for the second consecutive year, the best power forward evah! was not selected to go... It's a travesty.

Hooray football!

3-0 has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Sadly, I'm not talking about the Canes (who lost their third preseason game 4-1 against the Predators), but, instead, I'm going off on one of my forays into NFL-Land.

Yep, the Green Bay Packers are 3-0 after their win over the Chargers today. And Brett Favre tied Dan Marino's all-time TD record.

So, yeah, I'm pretty much in football bliss right now.

Anyways, back to hockey... Canes won their second game Friday against the Predators. I can't really remember anything important about that game... (even though I attended it...) Casey Borer, a defenseman, scored a goal and an assist... Um... Cam Ward looked pretty good... Final score 3-0, held Nashville to 18 shots... Lookin' good so far...

I really have to start writing this stuff down... That is a pathetic game recap.

Several pennies for my thoughts

Thoughts that have crossed my mind in the last 24 hours (bullet-style!):

- I can't believe I'm going to school Monday.
- I can't wait for fantasy hockey to start up.
- Canes players are once again congregating at the RecZone - a sign that hockey will be starting soon!
- Please have Donald Driver be okay!
- I don't want to go to school!
- I am so glad I went to this Baltimore Orioles game and not this one.
- OW! Fire is hot!
- I think I'm addicted to this game.
- Michael Vick is an idiot, and the judge should throw out his plea bargain.
- Once again, Canes get screwed over by national television.
- Blogger polls' effectiveness is sporadic. But that won't stop me from using it!

Have fun clicking on all the links!

Evil Maposaurus!

Canes lost in overtime to the Boston Bruins 4-3.

Trying to encompass the anger that I felt right after this game two days after the fact is pretty much impossible. Actually, just trying to remember what I was so livid about is pretty hard. To help: My "notes" after the game.

- Staal - what the heck were you thinking, a penalty in OT?
- Chara deserved a high stick - he was picking on Cole all night.
- Cole - two goals
- Canes played better, shouldn't have let Boston come back, though.

That last note sums it up pretty well.
The Canes were leading 2-0 off of two beautiful Erik Cole goals in the first period. They then let Boston score three unanswered goals.
Then, after Brind'Amour tied it up, the game went into overtime, where Zdeno Chara scored the game-winning goal for Boston on a power play off of an Eric Staal tripping penalty.

Not cool.

What is cool, though, is that Rex Grossman looked like an idiot in the Colts' 29-17 victory in Super Bowl XLI. Seriously, Chicago, make sure he's your quarterback for a long time.
In case you care, here is my favorite Super Bowl commercial. (Hence the title of this post.)
In case you don't care... well, too bad for you.

Erik Cole stats: 2 goals
On the season: 24 goals, 25 assists

A Super Bowl Conundrum

Well... We are now in the All-Star Break.
Which means there is absolutely no hockey news to speak of.
So, I must look to the NFL to hold my attention.

The Chicago Bears won over the New Orleans Saints 39-14. The Indianapolis Colts won over the New England Patriots 34-31. This leaves me with a conundrum: Who should I root for in the Super Bowl?

I hate Peyton Manning. Why? I don't really have a reason, except that I just don't want him to do well. And he's ugly. So, this hatred of Peyton would make me want to pull for the Bears, right?
Wrong. Rooting for the Bears when you are a Green Bay Packers fan is not just wrong. It's sacrilegious. Plus, pulling for them would go against my belief that the Bears really aren't that good - their defense isn't spectacular, and Rex Grossman is an idiot - and I want them to fail just as much as Peyton Manning.

So who do I support? I want both teams to fail. But, I can't decide which team I want to fail more. A conundrum for sure.