April 3rd, 2007 - Canes @ Lightning: Random Musings and Observations

- At the risk of sounding like a horrible fan...I would have been right to bet money on tonight's outcome. Something deep down told me that the Canes winning and holding onto their playoff chances would be just too damned good to be true with this season's incarnation of Raleigh, NC's NHL pride and joy.

- The Canes are danged lucky that Tampa did not score more than they did...that said, holding back LeCavalier to one goal and St. Louis to no points at all is not an easy task. That much, the boys in red and black did right.

- Until the first period of tonight's affair, I never realized that the Green Acres theme* intro could be done in so many variations...and that's just on a hockey organ!! o_O Too many danged flashbacks of Forest Whitaker's dinnertime rendition of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" on Saturday Night Live...

- On the Tampa Bay feed, I saw a national brand commercial that was so "local ad"-ish, it hurt. Did you know that this year is Blue Bell Ice Cream's 100th anniversary? Neither did I, until employees' heads placed, Terry Gilliamation-like, upon the bodies of an eclectic band of sorts (I wanna say it was a jug and washboard band...but don't hold me to that) took thirty seconds of their time to remind me. Very needless to say, after beholding that spectacle that was just missing a cardboard cutout of Rod Serling on a popsicle stick, I hypnotically let out a "bzuh?".

- Well, with the Canes out of the playoffs...GO PENGUINS!!

That said...I may or may not cover the final two games. If I don't, then I got a question for those going...can you please, PLEASE get yours truly a 2006-07 Canes team photo poster if such a thing is given out? If so, PLEASE e-mail me. Thanks a bunch in advance!

Current Music: "When Love Comes To Town" by U2 and B.B. King

* - Everytime I hear ANY VERSION of the Green Acres theme, I'll always think of when my mom was put on hold in a phone call with some company, and the "on hold music" was TV themes...yes, TV themes. And one of those themes was the GA theme!! Bet that was quite as surreal as the show itself... o_O

March 30th, 2007 - Canes vs. Lightning: Random Musings and Observations

- The only difference between this game and the past two "efforts" is that there was a *little more* effort tonight. BUT, not a whole lot more, especially in the third period.

- It never fails...the cards get laid out for the Canes to make some headway in the Eastern Conference playoff race, AND they end up proving they don't know when to hold'em, but they certainly know how to fold'em...

Tuesday @ the Leafs: Canes lose 6-1, while the Canadiens beating the Rangers (which really was more of a lose-lose game for the Canes...but at least one of the teams they are/were chasing didn't get two points), the Panthers defeating the Bolts, and the Devils eeking out over the Islanders opened the door for the Tropical Depressions.

Wednesday @ the Flyers: While the Cheesesteaks wiped out the Canes 5-1, the Panthers continued their winning streak over the Thrashers, which held them back so the Canes COULD have gotten closer behind them.

AND tonight vs. the Lightning: Instead of losing 4-2, if the Canes had won, they would have possibly found themselves in 8th place in the East, if not pretty darn close, thanks to the Senators winning over the Habs, and the Sabres slashing up the Fish Sticks, AND the Thrashers not even playing tonight!!

- Y'know the more I think about it, as disappointed as I am with the Canes' performance and not taken the chances practically given to them on a silver platter this week AND their possibly not making the playoffs 'cause of them, I cannot help but feel that they just plain don't deserve the playoffs this year anyway. Sure, the Canes have beaten their Sharks and Ducks. But, for every Sharks and Ducks a team defeats, they really, *really* need to blow their Flyers and Leafs, to name a couple of teams, out the wazoo. And the Canes have just not done that enough this season, IM(not-so)HO.

- Well, the Canes may not have gotten me a win...but they got me some exercise, thanks to a stationary bike I now have to ride while watching my Canes and Pens. :D

Current Music: "Wine" by Andrew Neu

February 1st, 2007 - Canes vs. Lightning: Random Musings and Observations

- What's the point of gloating about being one of the rare few Caniacs to see this game on TV when the Canes once again stunk so bad that if a TV had "Smell-O-Vision", it would make a room smell even worst than Tuna Helper, a Bloomin' Onion, and Sauerkraut being prepared all at the same time?

- I still think Beef O'Bailey's (Ruby Tuesday's-like restaurant in Florida) looks like a darn good place to eat.

- Andre Roy is the most romantic member of the Lightning?! Way to take the bite out of one of your team's enforcers, Sunshine Sports...

- Speaking of the Lightning and Valentine's coming soon...Hockey Bay, USA was having a bachelor auction up through yesterday.

Ok, it wasn't a bachelor auction...but tell me the truth, THAT did get you to click on the link, didn't it? I know it did... ;P

Current Music: "Melissa" - Fullmetal Alchemist's First Opening AND Closing Theme

December 15th and 16th, 2006 - Canes vs. the Leafs AND @ the Lightning: Random Musings and Observations

- The most glaring similarities between these two games: The officials (Don't believe me? Check out here and there), the opponents being ones the Canes should beat, said teams having dark blue as one of their colors, the games starting at 7:30 (highly unusual in the instance of the Canes/Leafs game...usually, 7:30 games at the RBC Center are reserved for Sunday nights), and both games being decided by one goal.

- Beef O'Bailey's looks like a darn good place to eat and drink.

- The only reason the Canes managed to win tonight, despite trying their darndest to give away the game in the last minute of the third? Cam Ward. I kept checking to make sure he wasn't wearing Mickey Mouse ears and sneaking in a "Here I am to save the day!!" during the more quiet moments of the game.

As a matter of fact, Cam was also the reason the Canes actually made it a game against the Leafs. If it weren't for the Wardo, the Canes, not the Ranjerks, would have been lit up like Christmas trees.

All that said, the rest of the Canes need to learn a thing or two or three from Wardo about actually playing hockey, ESPECIALLY for sixty minutes.

- Some people can complain about the officiating all they want...but folks, the Canes' struggles are their own fault, NOT Kerry Fraser and Co.'s. Fraser and all did alright in my book...I did not see a call I did not disagree with. The sad truth of the matter, especially in the Leafs game, AND REALLY, the season overall, is that the Canes have a tendency to be highly undisciplined. And to add insult to that injury, certain Canes are acting like children ice skating for the very first time AND finding out that their Christmas presents don't have batteries included. Nobody sums that up better than VinnieBagADonuts at The Score Boards...

"I do have a couple of issues with the calls they DIDN'T make, but after the Cole non-call (the right call, IMO), the Canes complicated things by whining incessantly and diving all over the place. Eric Staal spent more time falling on the ice than TinkerBell in the Disney Princess show last week. He got called for one dive, and could've easily gotten No. 2 on the final offensive zone faceoff of the night.

Carolina was stupid and lazy last night, and then compounded that problem by being whiny and arrogant. Nice work boys.

I have some advice for them. Shut up and skate. No way the Leafs belong in a run-and-gun game with us. If we just shut up and skate, like we did last year, we beat them 95 times out of 100, regardless of who officiates. Why exactly are they trying to get calls, anyhow? Aren't they like 5% lately on the PP? Shut up and skate."

Forget "Whatever It Takes" nowadays..."Shut Up and Skate" should be the new locker room slogan. Taking notes, Lavy? I sure as heck hope you are if you want to win with "the players you got in the room".

Current Music: "Something About Christmas Time" by Bryan Adams

Edit as of 3:50 PM: Many are noting how well Keith Aucoin played last night...especially in the faceoff circle...according to the Raleigh News and Observer:

With the Hurricanes struggling in the faceoff circle, he went 7-for-9 in Friday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Former Hurricanes captain Ron Francis was in Albany last weekend in his new player-development role and gave Aucoin a 20-minute tutorial in the faceoff circle. Those lessons paid immediate dividends. Aucoin was 3-for-4 on Saturday.

Ah...the power of Ron Francis.

Current Music as of the edit: "White Christmas" by The Drifters