Now this is HOCKEY! Habs OT win,, Sabres big comeback,, (my condolences to our Jackie-posting friend) ,, now for the newly minted Mammoth vs. Torts’ new team.

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Now this is HOCKEY! Habs OT win,, Sabres big comeback,, (my condolences to our Jackie-posting friend) ,, now for the newly minted Mammoth vs. Torts’ new team.

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It was a fine day for hockey fans, that's for sure - particularly here in Noo Wingland, where it was cold, rainy and otherwise best suited for indoor pursuits. I nodded off shortly after the start of the third period, only to awaken to the dismal news that the Bruins had coughed up a pretty decent lead. And having started the day's viewing at 3pEDT with the Kings/Avs game, I was ready for bed.

During a mid-afternoon text discussion, a  a good friend fantasized about the idea of a Kings/Pens final - which would enable some deservedly lionized old war horses to go out in a blaze of glory. I told him that if you tried to sell that script in Hollywood it would be rejected on the grounds that nobody would buy into that story with any degree of belief.

First round of playoffs may be my favorite time of year. This one sets up to be a doozy. So although I'd have preferred a different result yesterday, BUF/BOS is a good matchup, and as I've already noted, my Broons are already winners just getting as far as this.

And who is Jackie to argue?

Hockey fans???   What hockey???

I caught the last few minutes of Bruins/Sabres ..... and a little bit of Braves/Phillies.    For the rest I was "otherwise occupied" .... a.k.a. keeping my fans happy at a jam + some fine dining at Chicken Chef + 1.5 hr. drive home.  But ya do what ya gotta do.   

Watch out for the Flyers. Tocchet has done an amazing job with the team this year. Ironically, Torts is doing well in Vegas

That would be an interesting final to see...

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Originally posted by eagleisland

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And who is Jackie to argue?

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Can't she find clothes that fit?

(I think I already know your reply.)

Forget the slow-footed, lumbering defencemen,,, I like these 5’8” 175 pounders from Holland, Michigan to show everybody where the bear shat in the buckwheat. (his Pa is from Birch River, Man-ee-toe-bah)

I did not know the second part of ^^  ... though a cursory internet search says it was Bowsman ... ya know nit pickers gotta pick nits.   

But, but, but, I gotta ask [a rhetorical question] .... which was better ... watching les 'abs, or "watching" the Blue Jays in their city connect [cough, hack, cough] uniforms?   

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Originally posted by Owen

I did not know the second part of ^^  ... though a cursory internet search says it was Bowsman ... ya know nit pickers gotta pick nits.   

But, but, but, I gotta ask [a rhetorical question] .... which was better ... watching les 'abs, or "watching" the Blue Jays in their city connect [cough, hack, cough] uniforms?   

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I was hopin' l'abs would be donning theirs for their first home playoff game, but alas, t'was not to be... tabarnac! 

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Forget the slow-footed, lumbering defencemen,,, I like these 5’8” 175 pounders from Holland, Michigan to show everybody where the bear shat in the buckwheat. (his Pa is from Birch River, Man-ee-toe-bah)

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Hutson is indeed impressive to watch. Reminds me a bit of Torey Krug - as in, an undersized, tenacious, high-skill defenseman who's not afraid to get smooshed into the boards by someone half again as big and still manages to git 'er done.

Les Habs are notable for not one, but TWO diminutive players who punch far above their weight. The other, of course, being Cole Caufield. 

Size matters in the NHL, until it doesn't.

There's a YouTuber up here who always calls Caufield "our little bundle of joy".

I wish he'd unleash some of that joy into the back of the Bolts net.

Spotted Mrs. Beliveau singing the anthem, en francais.

(C C might wanna have a chat with the "little ball of hate" in Florida )

... I'd sooner see him get out his Ouija board and consult Henri R.   [Heck, why not Booby Clarke?   ]

Methinks Caufield isn't particularly well-suited for close-checking/play-off/?? hockey..... but I've been wrong before.   Where's Semenko when ya need him?

X could play Sementhead’s role,,, CC gets a gift pass from le capitaine.  The kid from Wisconsin plays river hockey ,,, (no boards)

... speaking of Wisconsin .... In N. E. MB in the 70s I played against another midget* with ties to Wisconsin [i.e. a Badger,  but from SK.]  https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=113449     He was both fast and quick .... and a pretty good dude off the ice to boot.

* Easy now .... I've already had my wife slap my wrist.    

What the...???   No Allan Cup on TV this year.... or did I just snooze through it?   

Two MB teams in the Centennial Cup this year [though Flin Flon is the SJHL rep.] .... maybe the powers that be will televise some of it??? 

I'm thinking the networks (?) are caring less and less about any amateur hockey that isn't the CHL ... but I haven't put any doh-rey-me into sponsoring broadcasts, so I guess I'll have to accept [and complain about] what they offer.... or go the "streaming" route. 

A good vlog about the Bill Barilko story,, so obviously, if it’s a Leafs saga Pal Hal gets a mention, none too flattering , of course.  At 15:15 on

cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/p...ail_Share

Somehow I caught The Devine Ms Jackie's in-game interview (?) with Marco Sturm in the last game, as well as tonights.  Both times I noticed she starts turning away before she's finished saying "thank you."  Makes me wonder if  Sturm has b-a-d halitosis, 'er what?  [Inquiring minds want to know!!  ]

Edit: Just caught ^^ with Ruff and NO premature (?) turn-away.  Hmmmm?!?!? [Now inquiring minds really want to know!!]

I saw her with Sturm,, methinks she makes a hasty getaway as a polite gesture since her intrusion is probably grudgingly tolerated by coaches.
The other night Ruff answered questions before she even finished asking them,,, hurrying her OUTTA THERE!

I don't pay rapt attention, but one of his "answers" tonight was "... we gotta find a way to ....  ." 

 I dunno whether that's a step up, or down, from  "get pucks deep  /  give 110%"  /  stick to the plan."     

Mic not working right so Buffalonians sang the Canadian Anthem. Border towns, you know…..

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Originally posted by chuckv97

I saw her with Sturm,, methinks she makes a hasty getaway as a polite gesture since her intrusion is probably grudgingly tolerated by coaches.
The other night Ruff answered questions before she even finished asking them,,, hurrying her OUTTA THERE!

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Yes, this. These interviews are an intrusion for both the coaches and the players, who need to keep their heads in the game. They are merely tolerated. Watch carefully, and you'll notice that the sideline reporters ask no more than three questions, none of which are particularly probing.

In addition, there are technical and financial demands. I've never timed it but would all but guarantee that none of these "interviews" lasts longer than 90 seconds. And that's the equivalent of three TV spots that could actually be generating revenue. Also worth noting that despite the fact these interviews appear to be live, sometimes they're actually not, having been taped shortly before they go to air.

The league, the teams and the players/coaches understand how this game is played, and recognize why the TV audience likes this sort of thing, and it DOES give something to fill time during a dry scrape.

Doesn't mean they like it.

Huh??  The TV audience likes this sort of thing??

Some of the TV audience "fills the time" by switching to a different hockey game, or MLB, or a music channel. [Where there's a will, there's a way.]

No particularly probing questions?? .... although they're shortened they're just like "regular" interviews, no?

[Btw, I'm stickin' with halitosis.  ]

Re. the anthem ... is O Canada  [or O'Canada??] typically sung when two US based teams are playing in a US city?   I usually tune in late .... so I don't have to hear anthems, land acknowledgments, etc.

Bordre/Border cities (Buffalo, Detroit) sing both, even when the teams are both American - good for business, if yer à cynical type.

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Originally posted by Owen

Re. the anthem ... is O Canada  [or O'Canada??] typically sung when two US based teams are playing in a US city?   I usually tune in late .... so I don't have to hear anthems, land acknowledgments, etc.

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O'Canada? I knew there were English and Quebecois versions of the tune. Kind of fun to know there's an Irish version, too.

And Chuck is correct about the CNA being sung in Buffalo, what with Yon Frozen North starting up just a scant few miles west.

"O' Canada" is kinda an open (?) inside joke between me, Paul and Chuck.   I had been typing it << way [I dunno, maybe "like for-e-v-er"] .... the apostrophe replacing an "h."  But Paul and Chuck weren't having it; they toot-de-sweet straightened me out .... and me being the quick dude that I am, they only had to point it out / remind me 3 or 4 times.