Island of Woe

NEW YORK ISLANDERS


This season was a miserable one for the New York Islanders.  First, Mark Streit was lost for the season before he could even play in one regular season game.  Then, Kyle Okposo was lost for half the season.  Rick DiPietro was punched out by Brent Johnson in a game, and then the Isles disgraced themselves in the subsequent game versus the Penguins.  Oh, and they were dead last in attendance...again.  Fear not, for John Tavares led the team in points scored.  Though he didn't take the Steven Stamkos type of leap, he did show that he could be a fixture on the team (wherever they end up) for years to come.  Matt Moulson followed up a 30-goal season in 2009-10 with another performance just like it.  The result was a contract extension that sees him as a central figure in the team's long term plans.  James Wisniewski was to have been a central figure on the blue line, but the combination of Streit's injury and the lack of help on the blue line saw his numbers decline before being shipped to Montreal mid-season.

September 27

In the event that you're asking what Sidney Crosby has to do with September 27, I'm going to tell you right after I finish this sentence.  It will be on that day that Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing the Los Angeles Kings in an exhibition game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.  As a hockey fan, I feel that this is the best matchup that the city has gotten for an exhibition game.  In the past, the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks have played here, and while that's good for regional purposes, neither team is truly high on my list of teams to see in person.  The last time NHL hockey was in Kansas City, was the New York Islanders versus the Kings.  I'll grant you that the Islanders aren't much on the ice, and given that it was an exhibition game, the teams' full lineups are not likely to make the trip here.  Still, I feel disappointed that I did not make that game.

So, the challenge gets thrown out now: if there are any hockey fans in Kansas City who would like to attend the game on the 27th of September, regardless of the lineups, I am thinking of going, too.  So, the challenge is to think of something before then, like a get-together before the game.  I'll come up with something as the day nears.

Hausu

This review has been a long time coming, as it has taken me two complete views to even think about making a review.  However, since I'm somewhat lazy, I will copy and paste the description of the movie in question, as quoted by the ever accurate Wikipedia:

House is a 1977 Japanese horror film directed and produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi. The film stars mostly non professional actors with only Kimiko Ikegami and Yōko Minamida having any notable previous acting experience. The film is about a schoolgirl traveling with her six classmates to her ailing aunt's country home, where they come face to face with supernatural events as the girls are, one by one, devoured by the home.


Words can barely describe exactly how bizarre the movie really is, as there are certainly unusual ways to die, such as getting eaten by a piano, killer lampshades, and mattresses that have a mind of their own.  The scenery is quite colorful, which only adds to the movie's weird factor, and is furthered by the fact that the effects in the movie are basic ideas that turn into the most colorful nightmare imaginable.  The main characters in the movie are only named after a specific trait that they exhibit, with one girl being named Melody after her penchant for music, for example.  The "Auntie" in this movie fits right in with the weirdness of the movie, and the cat, who plays a central role in the plot, exudes evil.

Throw normalcy and logic out the window for House, as there is nothing except nightmare fuel.  Horror fans should look into this movie, as it is an exhibit in how to make a good movie without going to the CGI boards.

Hell Freezes Over

NEW JERSEY DEVILS


The first half of the Devils' season was a complete disaster, and part of the blame can be attributed to Martin Brodeur getting hurt and not producing his usual season numbers when he was healthy.  Not all blame should be heaped on Brodeur, as Ilya Kovalchuk failed to live up to the rather lofty contract foisted upon him prior to the season.  He did put up good numbers in the second half of the season, though.  The same could not be said for Andy Greene, as he ended up with a -23 rating and point totals in the lower 20's.

Twice the Relief

In watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, there were many tense moments for both the Boston Bruin and Vancouver Canuck fans.  At times, it was almost unbearable for this hack writing what you are reading right now.  So, imagine the sense of relief when Raffi Torres scored with 19 seconds left in the game to break a scoreless tie and give Vancouver a 1-0 series lead.  Now, for those who didn't see what happened with Burrows, here's the video:



Surprisingly, and with much relief for me at least, Burrows was not suspended for that snack.  According to acting NHL head disciplinarian Mike Murphy, there was no conclusive evidence that Burrows intentionally bit Patrice Bergeron's gloved finger.  Hmm, I don't know about you, but that seems like a flimsy excuse, one that I will happily take.  Boston Bruin fans will think otherwise, and rightfully so, but if I'm any other Vancouver Canuck fan right now, I'd be sending Murphy a fruit basket with a thank you note because the team and Burrows, specifically, dodged a major bullet.

Nash-ing Success

NASHVILLE PREDATORS


For the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators made it to the second round of the playoffs.  The problem?  The same problem that they've always had: talent.  Hard work and a team concept can only carry a team so far, but without that go-to scorer, that's all Nashville can hope for.  Certainly, it wasn't Shea Weber's fault, as he provided some much needed leadership to go along with that lethal slapshot from the blue line.  Matthew Lombardi was supposed to add speed to the lineup, but he was injured for much of the season and had a negligible impact.  At least he played for the Preds, which the same cannot be said for Ryan Parent.  He was traded to Vancouver in a deal that saw Shane O'Brien head to Nashville.  Parent was nowhere to be found on the Vancouver lineup, spending much of the season in Manitoba.

The Most Exciting Days of Hockey

These have been some two days in the life of a hockey fan.  Yesterday, the city of Winnipeg has their hockey team formerly known as the Atlanta Thrashers, and now tonight is game one of the Stanley Cup Finals.  I promise to get the eulogy for the Thrashers written some time soon, but for right now, it's all about the city of Winnipeg.  Even though the team will be playing in an arena that holds 15,000 at the most, you can bet that the arena will be full for at least the first two years or so of the franchise.  I will be talking a lot more about this deal, which has to be voted upon by the Board of Governors.  Money says it's a foregone conclusion that it will be approved.

Now, for the real business at hand: the Stanley Cup Finals.  I've waited the entire season for this, and a week extra just to see who the Canucks will be facing.  Now, we know it will be the Boston Bruins, so if any Boston Bruins fans want to have any bets with me, I want to hear them.  No monetary bets, though, just ones that will bring about humiliation.

One more thing, all bets with the anonymous name tag will not be accepted.