Friday, April 27, 2012

NHL Round Two

East

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals     I pick: Capitals


I don't like this match up. I don't like that it took the Rangers seven games to put away the Senators. I don't like that I can't tell if the Capitals are a strong defensive team or the Bruins were just horrible offensively. I don't like that I can't tell if the Capitals are weak offensively or the Bruins are just exceptional defensively. I close my eyes and throw my dart and it lands on...

Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils     I pick: Flyers


This one's easy. The Flyer's have too much fire power to not advance. With all due respect to Marty Brodeur, this one could be over early.

West

St. Louis Blues vs Los Angeles Kings     I pick: Blues


As bad as the Canucks turned out to be defensively, that's how good the Blues are. There's no way the Kings get over that hump. This one too, could be over early.

Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators     I pick: Predators


This is my series to watch. Two very similar teams. Defense first systems, and two hot goaltenders. In the end I think it's Alexander Radulov that tips this series to Nashville.

Friday, April 20, 2012

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round One Update

West

Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings     I picked: Canucks

The Kings lead the series 3 games to 1. The Canucks have replaced Luongo as their starting goaltender in favor of Corey Schneider and it looks to have worked. At least for one game. This series picks up again on Sunday in Vancouver.

St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks     I picked Blues

The St. Louis Blues lead the series 3 games to 1. I haven't paid a lot of attention to this series. It's enough for me to know that the Blues are ahead and the Sharks are not.

Phoenix Coyotes vs Chicago Blackhawks   I picked Coyotes

The Coyotes lead the series 3 games to 1. This series has been exciting with the running of goalies, open ice head shots, and a @BizNasty being tossed out of the game for not having his jersey tied down. The Coyotes are on my short list of teams to root for. Can you imagine them winning the Cup this year then being sold and starting next year someplace else? Good Times.

Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings     I picked Predators

The Nashville Predators lead the series 3 games to 1. This series has a lot riding on it for my family. Another hockey dad and I have put 50 push-ups from our kids on the outcome. So far Pekka Rinne has been spectacular in net for Nashville. If I had to pick out a prototype to use to build my ultimate goalie it would start with him. Hopefully Shea Weber can avoid throwing any more Red Wings into the turnbuckle and the Preds can finish this off tonight.


East

New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators     I picked Rangers

This series is tied 2-2. I wasn't interested in this series to begin with. That's changed now that the Senators have risen up to win two games. Really physical series with lots of hitting, a couple of line brawls and a Brandon Dubinsky match penalty.

Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals     I picked Bruins

This series is tied 2-2. Riding some hot goaltending by Braden Holtby, the Capitals are making this a series. The Bruins don't seem to be able to find the back of the net. It's a lot to ask of the 22 year old Holtby to carry this Capitals team much further in the playoffs, but a first round upset isn't out of the question. Look out Bruins.

Florida Panthers vs New Jersey Devils     I picked Devils

This series is tied 2-2. Martin Brodeur may be past his prime, but he still has the ability to rise to the occasion. He posted a shutout in game 4 to tie the series. I haven't seen any of these games, but it's good to hear that Marty is having some success in the post season.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers     I picked Penguins

The Flyers lead this series 3 games to 1. If you like rough and tumble, high scoring games then this has been the series to watch. Lots of rough stuff before, between, and after the whistles. Big name goaltenders under-performing (I'm looking at you Fleury and Bryzgalov). It looked like the Flyers would walk away with this one until game four when the Penguins beat them 10-3. If any team can come back from 3 games down it would be the Penguins.

So far so good. The only pick I really want back is the Canucks over the Kings. I did not see that coming.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Round 1 Predictions For the NHL Playoffs

Tonight begins the race for Lord Stanley's Cup. My predictions for winners in round one are at the bottom in Red. If you think I got something wrong leave a comment below.

Seed West Seed East
1 Vancouver Canucks 1 New York Rangers
2 St. Louis Blues 2 Boston Bruins
3 Phoenix Coyotes 3 Florida Panthers
4 Nashville Predators 4 Pittsburgh Penguins
5 Detroit Red Wings 5 Philadelphia Flyers
6 Chicago BlackHawks 6 New Jersey Devils
7 San Jose Sharks 7 Washington Capitals
8 Los Angeles Kings 8 Ottowa Senators
Round 1
West East
Vancouver Canucks New York Rangers
vs vs
Los Angeles Kings Ottowa Senators
St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins
vs vs
San Jose Sharks Washington Capitals
Phoenix Coyotes Florida Panthers
vs vs
Chicago BlackHawks New Jersey Devils
Nashville Predators Pittsburgh Penguins
vs vs
Detroit Red Wings Philadelphia Flyers

Monday, April 9, 2012

What Does It Mean To Be A Fan?

What does it mean to be a fan? This was a discussion we had at Easter dinner yesterday afternoon. I can name for you the date and time that I became a sports fan. It was January 20, 1985 and my dad and I were driving home from Kennewick Wa, to Portland OR. Super Bowl XIX was being played between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. We picked up the game on our way out of town. I don't remember how many different stations we changed to on the trip home, but I got the chance to root for Joe Montana as he led the 49ers to a 38-16 victory.

I became a football fan on that day. The next year I rooted for the Seattle Seahawks and I have been ever since. Through ups and downs, thick and thin, I was there. Bo Jackson running over Brian Bosworth on Monday Night Football? I was there. Dave Krieg being sacked 7 times by Derrick Thomas setting the single game sack record? I was there. Ken Behring looking to move the team to Hollywood? I was there. Jeremy Stevens talking trash about Jerome Bettis in Super Bowl XL and then dropping every ball thrown his way in the game (including two in the endzone)? I was there. I was even there when they won their division with a 7-9 record, and then to ensure that they would get a horrible pick in the NFL entry draft, beat the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs.

You're asking what my point is and I'll tell you. Being a Seattle Seahawks fan this last 27 years has taught me heartbreak, pain, and suffering. I follow other sports as well to a lesser extent. I like the Portland Blazers, Seattle Mariners, and University of Oregon football. I also am a huge fan of the Portland Winterhawks. Do you know how many championships those teams have combined to win since I started watching them? Zero, Zilch, Nada.

The NHL playoffs start on Wednesday, April 11th. Why is that important? What's my NHL team? I don't have one. My favorite NHL team is the one that's going to win the game. I may pick a team to root for during a playoff series, but if they don't win, I'm picking up my pack and moving on. I now have reinforced ankles to accommodate the shameless bandwagon jumping I do. Last season during the Eastern Conference Finals I rooted like crazy for the Tampa Bay Lightning. When they lost in game 7 to the Boston Bruins, I turned around and rooted for the Bruins to beat the Canucks. When the Bruins beat the Canucks in game 7 of the Finals to win the cup, I jumped up and danced around. I had won. My team had beat the other team and won the Championship.

Ellen Etchingham has a great piece that posted today to the Backhand Shelf blog where she pleads for us all to be fans. To dedicate ourselves to a single team and experience the highs and lows that come with that single minded focus. I'm here to tell you that I've done that. A lot. Nothing so far has matched watching my Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Was I long suffering? I was not. Am I rooting for the Bruins again this year? Not yet. Right now I've got my eyes on the Nashville Predators. I'll start with them and see what happens. The best part is that come June I know that My team is going to be lifting the Stanley Cup.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

The 100 Best Songs of Ever

A complete, and utterly comprehensive list of the 100 best songs of all time. The list is in no particular order, and yes it does include every song on Led Zeppelin II. Please to enjoy if you can.

Grooveshark Playlist 100 Best Songs of Ever


Title Artist Album
Alive Pearl Jam Ten
Cocaine Eric Clapton Slowhand
Release Pearl Jam Ten
Help The Beatles Help
Running With The Devil Van Halen Van Halen I
Aint Talkin Bout Love Van Halen Van Halen I
Panama Van Halen 1984
Drop Dead Legs Van Halen 1984
Cabo Wabo Van Halen ou812
Poundcake Van Halen For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll) AC/DC High Voltage
T.N.T. AC/DC High Voltage
Can I Sit Next to You Girl AC/DC High Voltage
Ride On AC/DC Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Shot Down In Flames AC/DC Highway to Hell
If You Want Blood (You've Got It) AC/DC Highway to Hell
Night Prowler AC/DC Highway to Hell
Shoot to Thrill AC/DC Back in Black
Back in Black AC/DC Back in Black
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution AC/DC Back in Black
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) AC/DC For Those About to Rock
Who Made Who AC/DC Who Made Who
Shake Your Foundation AC/DC Who Made Who
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge
Twist and Shout The Beatles Please Please Me
Love Me Do The Beatles Please Please Me
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band
When I'm Sixty-Four The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band
Helter Skelter The Beatles The White Album
Story Of My Life Social Distortion Social Distortion
Ball and Chain Social Distortion Social Distortion
Paradise City Guns 'n Roses Appetite For Destruction
Patience Guns 'n Roses G N' R Lies
Sweet Emotion Aerosmith Toys in the Attic
Dream On Aerosmith Aerosmith
Sweet Home Alabama Lynnrd Skynnrd Second Helping
Tuesday's Gone Lynnrd Skynnrd Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Simple Man Lynnrd Skynnrd Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Cinnamon Girl Neil Young Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Heart of Gold Neil Young After the Gold Rush
Mr. Soul Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield Again
Old Man Neil Young Harvest
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Couldn't Stand the Weather
American Tune Paul Simon There Goes Rhymin Simon
Sharp Dressed Man ZZ Top Eliminator
La Grange ZZ Top Tres Hombres
Shake Your Rump Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique
Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
What Is and What Should Never Be Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
The Lemon Song Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Thank You Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Heartbreaker Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Ramble On Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Moby Dick Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Bring It On Home Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Gallows Pole Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III
Tangerine Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III
Good Times Bad Times Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
I Can't Quit You Baby Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
Your Time is Gonna Come Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
The Song Remains the Same Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
Dancing Days Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
The Ocean Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
In My Time of Dying Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
Houses of the Holy Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
In the Light Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
Down by the Seaside Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
Nobody's Fault but Mine Led Zeppelin Presence
In the Evening Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door
Fool in the Rain Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door
Hey Hey What Can I Do Led Zeppelin Coda
Seven Nation Army White Stripes Elephant
Desperate People Living Colour Vivid
Which Way to America Living Colour Vivid
Solace of You Living Colour Time's Up
Down In It Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine
Sleep Now in the Fire Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles
Outshined Soundgarden BadMotorFinger
Slaves and Bulldozers Soundgarden BadMotorFinger
Searching With My Good Eye Closed Soundgarden BadMotorFinger
Seven Bridges Road The Eagles Eagles Live
Hotel California The Eagles Hotel California
Ripple Grateful Dead American Beauty
Friend of the Devil Grateful Dead American Beauty
No Woman, No Cry Bob Marley Legend
Stir It Up Bob Marley Legend
Redemption Song Bob Marley Legend
Toes Zac Brown Band The Foundation
Chicken Fried Zac Brown Band Home Grown
Where the Boat Leaves From/One Love Zac Brown Band Where the Boat Leaves From
Baba O'Riley The Who Who's Next
Won't Get Fooled Again The Who Who's Next
Behind Blue Eyes The Who Who's Next
Who Are You The Who Who Are You
No Excuses Alice In Chains Jar of Flies
Tones of Home Blind Melon Blind Melon
Brown Sugar The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers