Hockey

I am so afraid that the Bruins are turning into last year’s Senators and tanking in colossal fashion. Please say it ain’t so. Please?

Anyway, the GM meetings are starting up today. They are supposed to be taking a new look at fighting in the game. I am in favor of fighting in the game. I love it. I love the way it electrifies a building. I can’t really speak of it from the player’s point of view, but for this fan it should stay.

I am also in favor of players not getting hurt in fights. I like the idea going around that fighting players will be forced to leave their helmets on. That is a good fighting restriction, as opposed to the instigator rule which is evil.

There are two other topics rumored to be on the table that are very interesting. One involving tie breakers and the other involving delayed penalties.

Here is what NESN’s newswire had to say about the standings:

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland’s new proposal would give the higher seed in the standings to the team with more regulation wins rather than overall wins. The change in the rule would put an emphasis on winning games in regulation as it would hold more value than an overtime or shootout win.

I think that’s just bullshit. In the current system I really like the idea, I just hate the current system. It is frankly offensive that a losing team can gain a point in the standings. I don’t care how long it takes you to lose the game, you lost the game. You cannot be rewarded for losing. The two point win system worked great when you needed something to give to teams for tie games. Fine, one point each. Happy day. In today’s game though, there is no such thing as a tie. The two point system no longer makes sense, and don’t get me started on the ridiculous crap people are spouting about going to a three point win system. That is retarded. How about give the winning team one point and the losing team nothing. There are only two outcomes in a game now, there should only be two possibilities of points given. All or nothing, and why should all be two? One point for a win, no points for a loss. It seems so simple that even a schmuck like me can think of it.

Here is the other idea NESN reported on:

The St. Louis Blues general manager Larry Pleau has proposed an idea on changing delayed penalties. Pleau’s change would make teams with a delayed penalty against them have to completely clear their zone for a stoppage instead of just touching the puck.

Now that is a good idea! Thank you Larry Pleau! You want more scoring but fewer penalties? Sure, we all do. So implement this and make it easier for a team to score before the penalty is called. I really like this. They’ve already added the rule that makes all face offs immediately following penalty calls to happen in the power play team’s zone. This is a great extension of that.

It’s snowing like crazy again. It’s not quite a white out outside of our window, but it’s getting there. This sucks. I want spring right freakin’ now.

Best Hockey Fight Ever

Just wanted to share this. Last night we were out and talking about hockey fights. Goalie fights are of course the most fun. I was at this game when the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals went all out. All 12 skaters were ejected. Even the coaches were jawing.

The most historic part was the duel between Byron DaFoe and Olie Kolzig. Both teams goalies who also just happened to have been the best man at each other’s weddings. Watch close and you can see them laughing as they are trying to pull the jersey’s over each other’s heads.

Classic, Classic, Classic.

and I can’t believe the Bruins lost again. I checked the score against Chicago last night and it was a big win. I breathe a sigh of relief… and then they blow a great come back against the friggin’ Rangers today. Crud.

Ah Friday

Last night we went back to the jewelery store we bought Jen’s engagement ring and the wedding rings from. Hannoush Jewelers on route 28 in Salem, NH. We brought our wedding rings there to get them engraved. Also, Jen had her diamond cleaned. Every time we go there she gets that diamond polished up nice and it sparkles like new. It sparkles so bright it actually can hurt your eyes. Really.

After that we did what we always do when we go to Hannoush, we crossed the street and had dinner at an Indian place called Kashmir. Jen introduced me to Indian food. I am very much the Irish meat & potatoes kinda guy, but any ethnicity’s meal that includes chicken is going to go over well with me. Tonight the kids are sleeping over Nana and Papa’s so Jen and I have a date night. She’s going to introduce me to Tai food. Embrace the spicy, says I.

I had to drive to Canton this morning instead of Framingham, which means I spent the whole drive on the highway. (93S -> 128S -> 93N… no… really) I took a picture from the road that needs some comments. Here it is:

Note the truck. The name on the back is Severance. I see these trucks every day. They are driven by the biggest morons on the road. They change lanes without looking. They take exists from the second lane (every friggin’ day). They drive so slow they cause traffic jams. I hate them. They must give an incompetence test to all prospective employees. Every time I see one of these assholes I expect to see some one die.

Die the way the Bruins might be dying that is. They lost 2-1 to Phoenix. Phoenix who had so many cast off rejects on their roster after Wednesday’s trade deadline that the players had to wear “Hello My Name Is…” name tags during practice. The B’s are scaring the hell out of me. Lately they have no sense of urgency. No energy. No drive. I can easily see them getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs right now. They just seem so beatable. I am very afraid.

I will wrap this one up with another addition of Camera Phone Astrophotography!

Venus from near Concord Center last night.

and finally the moon over our house again.