Every Damn Day

WHEW!  With a must-watch hockey game every night, how is everyone doing?  I’m skipping the gym and am way behind on Game of Thrones.  Poor Chuck is trying to graduate from grad school!  We must remember to revel in it now because when it’s over, it’s over.   Then you can get a tan, learn Swedish, run Tough Mudder and whatever else I’m you’re doing this summer.

(Hahaha, sorry but I had to!)

Meanwhile, back in the playoffs…

These jerks again!  I hate and fear the Flyers in equal measure right now.  And every time I see Danny Briere’s face… everyone cover him!  But that would leave no one to cover the playoffs leading point-scorer (Giroux) or Philly’s season leading goal-scorer (Hartnell)!  Game 1 was great – a strong sign for the Devils who had about 10 minutes off between rounds 1 and 2.  Still, this is exactly how the Pittsburgh series started.  Tonight we’ll see what the Devils bring in game 2.

_________________________________________

The screaming.  The newly-coined 4 letter words.  The way Mike Green refuses my love and plays WORSE than before!  Last night was solid, physical, frantic.  The Rangers were using Green as a bounce house and Mike Knuble was winning footraces.  Ovi played for the blink of an eye (read the decoy theory here and here) but scored the GWG.  For a crash-course in this series, check out a great piece from Puck Daddy.  At least I’m burning a lot of calories watching this stuff.  Game 3 in DC tomorrow night.

_________________________________________

I enjoy a series where both mascots are clearly defined (What is a Capital, exactly? A Ranger?) and have fangs.  Phoenix won game 1 in OT, but weren’t thrilled with their 24-shot performance.  Coyotes’ hot-glove goalie Mike Smith stopped 39 of 42 shots.  So they came back in game 2 with a 39-shot effort that yielded 5 goals.  Give Smith that kind of support and he may be unbeatable.  Chuck is all for the Predators, but they’re going to need a big game when the series moves to Nashville on Wednesday night.

_________________________________________

Chuck’s adopted 2012 team is the LA Kings (she’s with Dawn), who had a goal-splosion last night to win game 2 by a score of 5-2.  Mike Richards rang the bell just 31 seconds in, then LA got 3 in the last 6 minutes of the first period.  More points for everyone named Dustin!  Jonathan Quick doesn’t care what seed you are, world.  The Kings take their 2-0 series lead back to LA Thursday night with the best momentum of any team still playing.

I can’t make any honest Round 3 predictions with a team still in the race, but I’d love to hear yours.  What are you most impressed with, what scares you most?  Who have you come to love or hate?  (Or both, and you can’t say Giroux because that’s my answer!)

Sharks! Sharks! Sharks!

I leave the Bay Area and NOW YOU WIN!?!?!  If my other teams were in it I’d be so mad at you.  But beggars can’t be choosers and you guys let us drink on Caltrain so… YAY SHARKS.  I hug you!

Not only did you beat Detroit (insert me making siren noise here), but you managed not to fall apart like a house of cards.  I mean, you came close.  Really close.  I had to angle away from the TV and pretend to Tweet because I knew the minute I looked, disaster would strike.  I might have peeked but I didn’t watch until the announcers were screaming too.

Gator’s really bummed about the Red Wings.  I might have to buy her Chicken McNuggets for lunch (extra ketchup).  Maybe she’ll feel better after reading this.  But now she’s just like me and Dawn, without her top team(s) and choosing sides based on beards and bus stops and the perfect teal nail polish.

Hey Wings, U MAD?!

Oh, in case you forgot what I was thinking for a second…

ROML FTW!

So we’re down to the Final Four.  How are we doing on predictions?  We had the Bruins, Canucks and Sharks getting out of the first round, and the Bruins and Canucks from the second.  Bonus of the Sharks.  No one had the Bolts because I would have kicked them in R1 and Dawn would have scratched them in R2.  Now anyone who wants to root for TB can take on Chuck.

Not good enough! Om nom nom!

PS: Gator is rooting for TB.  I will sit quietly on my hands and try not to cheer for anyone in that series.  Chuck roots for my teams when she can, I shall root for hers.  And Steven.  There, I said it!

Call the Shots

Chuck and I are kicking it Miss Cleo-style and find we’re really on the same page about Round 1 of the Playoffs.

We're not Jamaican, neither is she.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No.1  Washington Capitals vs No.8 New York Rangers

Chuck: Capitals.  Because I like way more guys on the Capitals than I do on the Rangers.

Pants: Capitals.  I have always hated the Rangers and I don’t want to see Dawn or Mike Green cry.  Too many early-round exits, time to deliver on some promise.

No.2 Philadelphia Flyers vs No.7 Buffalo Sabres

Chuck: Flyers.  Because I want to see Scott Hartnell’s beard get an assist like in those Verizon ads

Pants: Flyers, even though I don’t like it.  Holding out hope that Ryan Miller can shut it down.

No.3 Boston Bruins vs the No.6 Montreal Canadians

Chuck: Killer B’s, baby.  I hate the Canadiens with the fire of 1 million suns.

Pants: Bruins.  Cassy hearts Bergy and I haaaaaaaaaaate PK Subban.  And Carey Price.  And the rest of ‘em.

No.4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs No.5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Chuck: This will be a great series.  Penguins.

Pants: PENS.  OBVIOUSLY.

Trannysaurus Rex says ROAR.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No.1 Vancouver Canucks vs. No.8 Chicago Blackhawks

Chuck: Canucks.  With the Sedin Twins, they’re are just too strong right now and the Hawks just made it in by the skin of their teeth and some miracle of math.

Pants: Hawks.  Because it’s nice here inside my delusions.  Considering crashing the power grid so they can’t plus in the Sedinbots at night.

No.2 San Jose Sharks vs No.7 Los Angeles Kings

Chuck: Sharks, but the Kings could make this very interesting….

Pants: Sharks.  Because I have teal nail polish that matches my free SJ jersey perfectly.  Also, Logan Couture, Rookie of My Life.

No.3 Detroit Red Wings vs No.6 Phoenix Coyotes

Chuck: Red Wings.  Oldest team in the NHL (average age 31.4 years).  15 players over the age of 30.  That is a whole lotta experience there….

Pants: Red Wings.  Imagine what would happen if they lost to Phoenix?! A girl can dream.

Wah waaaaaaaaaaaaah.

No.4 Anaheim Ducks vs No.5 Nashville Predators

Chuck: Predators.  Two words: Pekka. Rinne.

Pants: Preds.  Both teams have been so strong, but the Preds have really surprised me.

Give us your predictions, why you feel that way and if you think we are bonkers for thinking the Capitals and Sharks might actually live up to something for once in their lives.

Play-off Winners At WUYS!

While Chuck may have Tazer-Cats, I have a super secret weapon.

Back in October, everyone here at WUYS placed their play-off predictions and I just have to say the only one who is 100% correct so far is, ah … drum roll, please … ME. (link)

Capitals won the Eastern Conference and the Vancouver Canucks ran away with the Western Conference. Am I proud of that last prediction? Hell no. But I know a winner when I see one and I will ashamedly admit that after the All-star game, I sort of soften up toward the twin-fembots because you saw they actually have a sense of humor which you don’t get to see because they don’t normally let you see that. Sort of like Pavel Datsyuk who is MAD HILARIOUS, along with having serious hockey skills.

I also think the twin-fembots have a conspiracy of helping each other win the various awards. Last year, they agreed over dinner that Daniel would feed Henrik with assists to give him a shot at the Rocket Richard and the next year, Henrik would feed Daniel with assists so he could win. It must be nice to play with a super-human mind-melding twin. Wonder twin powers, activate! Form of … a Stanley Cup Winner!

Henrik and Daniel Sedin - don't know which is which but it doesn't matter.

We’re Calling It

It’s our favorite time of year –  time for wild predictions that will make you a chump in April.  We have consulted the shine of Barry Melrose’s hair and cast leaves in a bowl of Jeremy Roenick’s tears.  And now WUYS brings you…

Conference and Stanley Cup Champ predictions, 2010-2011

Politically incorrect to lift him over your head.

Chocolate Iced predicts:
Eastern Conf. Champs – Capitals
Western Conf. Champs – Blackhawks
Stanley Cup Champions – Capitals

CI – Faith in the Capitals may finally be rewarded.  After an early exit in ’09 and an absolute implosion last year, could this be the year they deliver on all that promise?  Ovi called their loss “embarrassing” – this from a man who dances on a boat in a pair of Dawn’s underwear.  He knows no shame except defeat.

Dawn predicts:
Eastern Conf. Champs – Capitals
Western Conf. Champs – Canucks
Stanley Cup Champions – Capitals

Dawn can’t believe she wrote Vancouver, but she’s hoping for a battle of the coasts.  Not least of all because it’s the closest hockey to her house and she’d happily evade the Mountie border patrol for the chance to see Ovi in action.  He’s is undoubtedly the Beast of the East.

Chuck predicts:
Eastern Conf. Champs – Capitals
Western Conf. Champs – Blackhawks
Stanley Cup Champions – Blackhawks

Chuck going out on a limb with the repeat – could turn out to be a very safe bet.  With lots of off-season changes, everyone’s anxious to see how the Hawks gel.  If Turco can get it done in net, we expect to see them well into next summer.

Pants predicts:
Eastern Conf. Champs – Penguins
Western Conf. Champs – Blackhawks
Stanley Cup Champions – Penguins

Pants has cast Mike Comrie as the guest star in How Malkin Got His Groove Back. They have a lot of young talent that knows how to win. And you can bet their first early summer in 3 years (a lifetime when you’re 22!) stung like a bitch. Hunger and expectation should put the Pens right back in it.

What Pants would look like during a Pens/Hawks Cup final:

And there’s a really good chance that Jonathan Toews would just make out with Sidney Crosby.  JT’s totally crushing on Sid – the blushing, giggling, teenage girl kind.  (Warning: This video is squee-tastic.  Tazer says “ass.”  Girls will die.)

(Video via a couple of sites, originating with sheesusnat and k diddy on LiveJournal.  We don’t know them, but we really love them.)

A special WUYS message to the San Jose Sharks:

Chuck: Dear Joe Thornton, I wanted to pick you vs. the Bruins for sentimental reasons (Bruins for the Cup, natch).  But you have toyed with my emotions.  You do all your post-game interviews shirtless then you never show up in the playoffs or remember my birthday.  I’ve been doing the walk of shame for you since ’97 and this year… well, this year is your last chance.  I mean it.

Pants: San Jose, let’s talk.  On a tin can phone since you’re right down the street.  ’09 was the pits – President’s Cup and punked by the Ducks in the first round.  Alas, the Pens won, so I don’t give a crap about you.  Last year was better… being swept sucks, but at least the Hawks went on to win the Cup.  This year, if you pull it together, we promise to do the “Fins” dance in your honor.

2010-2011 College Hockey Preview: Part One

Fall is upon us.  The leaves are turning.  The air is crisp.  It can mean only one thing…it’s time for another glorious season of college hockey!

Even the smart kids are crazy about college hockey!

Over the next two weeks, I’ll break down each conference and tell you who to watch throughout the country this year en route to the national title game in Minnesota.  We’ll also make some predictions with the WUYS staff and see who can pick this season’s national champ.  Today in part one we’re going west young man, and looking at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The WCHA has an impressive history when you consider that since 1951, teams from the WCHA have earned 36 NCAA national championships and finished as the runner-up another 27 times.  That’s a lot of hardware (see below).

Cash for Gold?

Last season, four teams from the WCHA went to the national tournament: Denver, Wisconsin, North Dakota and St. Cloud State, with Wisconsin the eventual runner-up to Boston College (I hate the Eagles!) for the national title.

Look for North Dakota to be strong out of the gate.  With a great defensive unit anchored by  Captain Chay Genoway, the Fighting Sioux will be tough to beat.  It’s not an accident that ND is ranked No. 2 in the national preseason polls.   This team has the potential to dominate the conference and will be a serious contender in Minnesota come Frozen Four time.

Minnesota-Duluth has great scoring ability and should do well this year also.   Ranked No. 9 in the preseason polls, the Bulldogs return 20 letter-men, including five of their six top scorers from last year. The  star of that group, All-American center Jack Connolly (18G-31A-49P) is poised to take the Bulldogs to new heights this year.

UMD Standout Jack Connolly

St. Cloud State will sport solid  goal tending in their Lee-Dunn tandem.  However, with the loss of Ryan Lasch (20G-29A-49P), the Huskies could struggle to find enough offense this season.  The Huskies do return a large crop of upperclassmen and that experience should make them one of the teams to beat in the conference.

If Jaden Schwartz is everything he’s advertised as, Colorado College could have a very good year.  Schwartz, the WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year, was also selected in the first round of the NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues.

Jaden Schwartz - The Answer?

The Tigers are loaded with forwards, some proven, some raw recruits.  That being said, defense could be an issue with so many talented offensive teams in the conference.

The Denver Pioneers look to be in a bit of a rebuilding season as they lost many players from last year.  Picked 11th nationally in preseason polls, DU will look to build around a solid defensive corps that includes sophomore Matt Donovan.  The Pioneers will be tested early as they open their home schedule against defending NCAA champion Boston College (did I mention I hate BC?) with a pair of games October 15-16.

Bimidji State is new to the conference this season, but this is the team that shocked the hockey establishment a couple of years ago by advancing to the Frozen Four.  With a 23-10-4 record  overall last season in the CHA, the WCHA coaches poll has BS finishing in the bottom tier of the conference in 9th place.  I have to agree.

Nebraska-Omaha is the other new team this year and are a bit of an unknown.  They will retain most of their offensive firepower from last year, but defensively they could struggle.  Don’t expect them to finish any higher than 7th this season.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers, once a feared team and in the national consciousness has lost a bit of its bite int he last few years.  The coaches poll has them finishing squarely int he middle of the pack in 5th place.  Minnesota’s Nick Bjugstad did receive a vote for preseason rookie of the year.  Coach Don Lucia could surprise some folks this year out west and the Gophers could find themselves in the mix come playoff time.

Wisconsin will surprise me if they spend any time in the top half of the conference.  The national runners-up lost seven of their best players last year and you just can’t replace that kind of talent overnight.

This badger looks tough...

Minnesota State will struggle to put the puck in the net as they lose almost all of their top scorers from last season.  They will stay toward the bottom this year.  the same can be said of Michigan Tech, which was very thin at the blue line last season.

Finally, Alaska-Anchorage will again struggle to fight its way out of the basement as there are holes all over the ice for them this year.

Well, there you have it folks.  The west will (likely) be won this year by North Dakota.  I think this conference can legitimately send several teams to the NCAAs that will contend for a title.

Here’s how the WUYS staff picks the WCHA this year:

CI – North Dakota…they have too many weapons

Pants – North Dakota…” I don’t know enough to argue with those numbers.  That’s some seriously heavy favoritism.”

Chuck – Chuck, Chuck are you there?

DawnCherrie – TBD

Next time we’ll have a look at the CCHA.  Until next time.

From Chuck
Hey all.  I’m here!  So I’m going to have to go with CI and Pants on this one.  I pick the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota to win the WCHA.  They are stacked like Jenga.

Ed’s Note: Apparently DawnCherrie is picking Wisconsin to win this conference.  I know that Badger looks cute in the photo, but I don’t think the fellas on the ice will have it this year.