Category: Hockey

The NHL is Falling Apart

The NHL is falling apart. Last night the Montreal Canadiens played a game without fans in the building. I believe it was at the Province of Quebec’s request but I am not sure of that.

Today, the NHL postponed Saturday’s scheduled game between the Bruins and the Canadiens. I don’t know if Montreal was going to close the building for that game too, but I do know that seven Bruins players and one staff member have been put into the Covid-19 protocol. The Bruins were allowed to play last night so I am curious if the postponement had as much to do the differing quarantine rules in the US and Canada. If I have things straight, players testing positive for Covid in the US need to quarantine for 10 days. In Canada it’s 14. So was the game postponed so that any newly positive Bruins players wouldn’t be stuck in Canada for an extra four days? I guess it’s possible. I also wonder if maybe the Province of Quebec pulled the plug. The Bruins are playing in Ontario on Sunday and that game has not been mentioned yet.

Now we get the news that the NHL has postponed all games involving the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and Colorado Avalanche through Christmas. Eight days. According to the article, the Panthers have the same number of cases among players as the Bruins, and they both have more than the Avs. Calgary leaves everyone in the dust. If the Bruins have as many cases as one of these three teams, why aren’t they included? Why hasn’t Sunday’s game in Ottawa been axed too? Is a longer shut down for Boston imminent? I would think so. For the sake of everyone’s health I would hope so.

What a mess.

The Olympics are looking less and less likely, especially if I am right about the issues with the lengths of quarantines. Word is that athletes testing positive during the games will be subject to China’s quarantine process which can run for up to five weeks. I don’t know the specifics, and I could have details wrong (I am basing this off of hearsay from half-listening to hockey podcasts while I work), but being stuck in China for a month would be a seriously tough pill to swallow for NHL players.

Again, what a mess.

Here’s hoping all of the positive testing players recover quick with a minimum of symptoms. Everyone involved so far is twice vaccinated so hopefully the vaccine is doing it’s job and keeping people from getting too sick. No hospitalizations, please.

Also, here’s hoping it doesn’t get worse.

Outbreak on Ice

The NHL shut down the Calgary Flames for Covid the other day. Today the Bruins, after playing Calgary a few days ago, had two players, including Brad Marchand, go into the Covid protocol. Then later the league postponed the Carolina vs Minnesota game for, you guessed it, Covid.

The debate is raging over whether or not the NHL is going to participate in the Olympics. How are they going to keep everyone safe in the viral incubator known as the Olympic village if they can’t keep everyone safe during normal operations?

They are talking about keeping everyone home. You know, I was really hoping for some NHL/Olympic hockey this year. It’s going to suck if they back out.

The depleted Bruins are playing Vegas tonight. Here’s hoping no one else gets sick. Covid is a prick.

ADDENDUM: Vegas is kicking the shit out of the Bruins. We are down 3-0 after one. Crap.

Finally in a Playoff Spot

The Bruins beat the Calgary Flames last night. On a three game Western Canadian road trip they took five out of a possible six points… even though they did get stuck with a loser point in a loss to pathetic Vancouver. However lame losing to Vancouver is, they had themselves a very successful little road trip and they have finally managed to get themselves into a playoff spot. As of last night they are in the second wild card spot in the East. They are the eighth and final spot.

Somehow having the Bruins in a playoff spot makes the air smell a little fresher and the sun feel a little warmer. Thanks, Bruins. Good work.

Worse than Lock Down

Next week we will hit the one year and nine month anniversary of my company sending us all home for Covid. Our 1.75th lock-down-aversary.

As bad as that is, do you know what is even worse?

Being in lock down at a time when the Boston Bruins lose to Vancouver. Talk about making things worse. They lost to the Canucks last night in a shootout. They are playing Edmonton tonight and it’s scoreless in the first.

Losing to the pathetic-as-hell Canucks isn’t bad enough to push me off the bandwagon, but it does suck out loud.

Here’s hoping for happier results tonight.

Mondays, Right?

I went to sleep at a little after midnight last night. A little later than I had hoped. I was awake around 6:00. A little earlier than I had hoped. The work day is half over and I am sleepy and want to go to bed. Oh well.

I have a half day booked for Wednesday. I forgot about that. Pretty cool, eh?

Tacoma FD did an episode in season two about blogging. I felt both seen and attacked and proud and super nerdy. I loved it. They also took a crack at dungeons and dragons, so they did out nerd me there. That felt nice.

What else… The Bruins are going to the west coast for a few games. That sucks. I am such an east coast snob when it comes to time zones. West coast games should start no later than 4:00pm pacific time. There. I said it. East coast snobbery at it’s finest.

What else? I would like to get more recording in tonight but I probably won’t. I have one song ready to mix. Maybe I’ll take care of that before bed. Assuming I don’t fall asleep around 6:30 or something. Finish work->make dinner->fall asleep. Plans, babie.

PutzMcDouche

I logged into World of Warcraft for the first time in a while today and played as whatever the last character I created. I died almost instantly. Then immediately died again. That’s when I decided to create a new character. I try to come up with clever character names when I play. Lately I’ve been trying to use names similar to cartoon characters. Not today though.

Today I used a name that may or may not be a mild terms of service violation. I’m not sure.

I used PutzMcDouche.

Am I in for a stern talking to from the powers that be? I’ll let ya know.

The Bruins are losing to Tampa Bay. 2-0 in the second period. It is making me sad. I will rise above it though. Also, earlier today I finished the final season of Supergirl. I made it all the way through. Six season. The last couple… not so great. Still glad I made it through though. I’m up to date on the current season of The Flash, but that’s it for my DC on CW viewing. Oh well. They were fun while they lasted.

8:22 left in the second period and the Bruins are still down 2-0. Crud.

Lock Out

Did you hear that Major League Baseball locked out the players union? The first work stoppage since 1995 I think. Is this another case of billionaires bitching that millionaires are taking too much money?

At least the Bruins have a 2-0 lead over Nashville in the third. That’s something at least.

I Don’t Want to Live on This Planet Anymore

I guess questioning evolution and the shape of the Earth isn’t enough for the twitterati anymore. Today I came across two people who seemed to insist that rocks somehow needed god to create them. I was in ninth grade when I took Freshmen Earth Science and we studied how rocks are formed and how the Earth’s crust slides around and pieces bump into each other and how over a shit load of time that can cause things like mountains. I guess that’s some kind of liberal conspiracy now. Oh well. I just wish some people had paid a little more attention in ninth grade science, that’s all.

To make matters worse, the Bruins are losing to the friggin’ Red Wings. 1-0, late in the second. As if stupid humans aren’t bad enough, now I have to see my team lose to the friggin’ Red Wings?

I’ve mixed two of the last four songs for the November music project. Both songs utterly suck.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Dr Farnsworth was dead right when he said I don’t want to live on this planet anymore.

Sportsball Bummers

I didn’t see the Bruins game yesterday. I know they played Vancouver and somehow did not win by 20, which is sort of telling as to how the season is going so far. Vancouver is having a really, really bad time this year and we didn’t slaughter them. We’re not that good either, I fear. I didn’t want to admit it, but there it is.

Anyway, I didn’t see the game, so I didn’t see the play in question, but Brad Marchand was suspended for three games today. Now I don’t want to see the play because… crud. Just what we need.

So hockey is frustrating these days. What about baseball? Baseball can’t be frustrating. It’s the offseason, right? Well, here’s how out of touch I am. I learned today that we’re a couple of days away from a lock out. Oh, lovely.

Both of the sports I am following are bumming me out, big time. Crud. Again. Crud.

NHL Thanksgiving

The traditional belief around the NHL is if your team is in a playoff spot on US Thanksgiving then there is a very good chance they will still be holding a playoff spot when the regular season ends.

Thanksgiving day (US) is therefore thought of as a sort of magical day.

At this moment, with Thanksgiving mere minutes (90, to be exact) away, the Boston Bruins are two points out of the second wild card spot in the East.

Shit.