Category: Hockey

Another Wednesday

It’s Wednesday. I’m back in the office. You don’t care, but I want to write about something… anything… so here we are.

Today is Juneteenth. I completely forgot. When the state first established today as a holiday we got it off. Less than a year later our company turned most of the non-national holidays into floating holidays so now we don’t get today off. It was just another day for me except that there was no traffic on the highways this morning. From my house to my office, 43 miles, took 46 minutes. Why couldn’t every commute be this easy? While having the day off would have been great, I will take this as the next best thing… sort of.

I failed to get six hours of sleep again last night. My watch tells me I got 5:45 but my heart rate numbers were pretty spectacular. Hopefully that means I won’t be too completely exhausted again today. Just mildly completely exhausted. I still haven’t hooked up my CPAP machine since coming back from Florida a few weeks ago. I think my sleep numbers (assuming my watch pulls accurate data) are implying that using the machine won’t make much of a difference. I should probably use it anyway. Maybe there will be a placebo effect or something and I won’t be quite as tired after a short night’s sleep. I don’t know.

The Oilers won last night. Yippee. Well… that’s being mean. I am glad they won. Not because I expect them to dig out of a three games to none series hole, but because it literally extended the NHL season. If they are going to lose on me and prove that I suck at picking the outcome of NHL playoff series’, then the least they can do is lose in seven games so we get our money’s worth, right?

As for the Red Sox, they have won four in a row including two wins against the first place Yankees. Glorious. I saw a post on social media where someone said that this streak proves they will not only make the playoffs, but advance to the American League Championship Series. I laughed out loud. No, let me be more specific… I laughed out loud for a long, long time. They are four games above .500. They are in third place in the division, 11.5 games behind the first place (and thoroughly evil) Yankees. They are two games out of the wild card. Oh yeah, it is June. Yeah… they are better than I thought they would be, but they are still pretty clearly mediocre. They might sneak into the wild card, but I am not holding my breath. If you’re expecting the Red Sox to do anything better than middle of the pack, then you haven’t been paying attention. No. They will not make it to the ALCS. If they do, I will happily eat my words, but I won’t have to because there’s no chance. This is the way. I have spoken.

I watched last night’s new episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte. There has been so much hate spewed at this show. Most of it rooted in sexism and racism rather than the story or anything to do with it. I’ve enjoyed the show so far and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. I’m on for the ride, as the saying goes. Last night though… episode four… I finally had something that I didn’t like. What was it? The running time was less than 30 minutes. Come on, Star Wars. We need more than that from our weekly episodes. We need more to sink our teeth into. These episodes should be more like 45-60 minutes, right? We need that content, folks. We need it! Star Wars, babie! Give us more!

This is the way.

I have spoken.

What was I talking about?

293/365
293/365

Hockey Tease

The Oilers lost the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final series to the Panthers, virtually guaranteeing the Cup will go to Florida.

Then in game four, the Oilers won in a blow out. Tonight, in game five, the Oilers are up 4-2 after two periods.

If you were wondering what the hockey equivalent of a dick tease felt like, then know that this is it.

Even if the Oilers win tonight, there is still virtually no chance of them coming all the way back to win the Stanley Cup. They are just trying to give me a little hope so that Florida can crush my dreams the way they did when the eliminated my Bruins, both this year’s playoffs and last year’s playoffs.

Sure, I am happy the Oilers are winning in game five. It’s just going to make it more painful when they eventually lose.

In other news, the Red Sox beat Toronto again tonight. That’s four wins in a row for my home town team. I’ll take that.

It (Probably) Ends Tonight

Game four of the Stanley Cup final. Tonight. Game time is 8:00… which was 18 minutes ago… and the game hasn’t started yet… Screw you, TV coverage. Just drop the damned puck.

Well… it’s going to end tonight, I think. Probably. The Panthers are probably going to complete the sweep over the Oilers tonight. You know the Oilers, right? The team I picked to win it?

I really don’t want the NHL season to end. I loves me some ice hockey and once Florida finishes destroying my dreams it comes to an end. At least the next regular season game I see will be the Bruins so that’s nice.

The Panthers have bounced my Bruins out of the postseason for two years in a row now. I hate them dearly. I don’t New York Yankees* hate them, but I really hate them. It is going to royally suck to have to refer to them as Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Put my hockey season out of it’s misery.

Stupid friggin’ Oilers and Panthers.

*The Red Sox and Yankees are playing each other this weekend. Tonight is the second game of the series and the Red Sox are up 5-2 in the bottom of the third inning. That’s a good thing, but given the state of the two teams it’s probably going to end in tears for my Red Sox.

Shit.

Game Three – Tied in the Second

Game three of the Stanley Cup Final. It’s tied at one about four minutes into the second period.

At what point do I just give up hope and accept the fact that the team I’m rooting for, Edmonton, is not going to win.

Crudsville, population me.

I suppose the Oilers could figure it out tonight and actually score some goals and win a game for a change. It could happen. I mean, they are in the Stanley Cup Final fer crying out loud. It’s not like they suck, you know?

Come on, Oilers. Let’s make this happen.

Two Periods Down

Game two of the Stanley Cup Final. After two periods from Miami, FL, the Oilers and Panthers are tied at one goal apiece.

I knew the Oilers’ lead through one period wasn’t going to hold. Damn it.

I expect more from your third period, Edmonton. I expect a lot more.

One Period Down

After one period of play in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers have a 1-0 lead over the Panthers.

Finally.

There is zero chance that this game ends 1-0. Come now, Edmonton. Let’s pad that lead in the second period.

I’m not watching the game, as I don’t have cable anymore and don’t know how to stream ABC. Instead I’m following the gamecast in a browser window while starting to re-watch season one of House of the Dragon because season two starts on Sunday. Gots to get ready for some Game of Thrones Prequel style carnage, am I right?

Let’s go Oilers!

Game Two

Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final between Edmonton and Florida is about to start down in Miami where ice is somehow a thing?

Florida took game one, two nights ago, by a score of 3-0. I read interviews with Edmonton players today who were all gung ho about how well they played in the loss and how if they play that well again good things will happen.

Do those good things include scoring one goal? Sheesh.

I want Edmonton to win the Stanley Cup because I hate the Florida Panthers with every ounce of hate I can muster. I am rooting for the Oilers despite their having beaten my Bruins in the Cup Final in both 1988 and 1990. I hate myself for rooting for them now, but only a little… because I hate Florida so very much.

Come on, Oilers. Get your shit together and win game two.