Sievery, Harding, Overbay

Awesome game by my team tonight, but I didn't play so hot. I'm assuming it's uncool to go hug your d-men mid-game, so I didn't do it, but I wanted to. But I saw so few shots, by the time they remembered it's novice league in the third period and let up on the other team, I was already off in la-la land mentally. I KNEW I was unfocused and I was talking to myself, telling myself to get focused, but it didn't work to the tune of 3 goals in the third period.

Yet again my unwillingness to scramble bit me in the ass. Fuck me, that's frustrating. I don't know how to explain it. I WANT to do it, but ... augh! Dammit. I just don't.

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Anyway, interesting changes in the state of Wild and Aeros goaltending this weekend, huh? Harding goes down decisively in the pre-season game last night after a Brad Boyes falls on his butterflied knee.

I saw the injury and called an MCL tear, but wasn't surprised there was more to it with the ACL tear, too.

Here were my reactions in the order I had them. Don't judge me.

• THIS year you do this? Gimping around on that bum hip all last year, keeping Brusty in Florida and making me annoyed, but no, now that he's gone, you go and assplode yourself? Goddamnit. *pounding fists on floor*
• Ouch. Shit. Shit. Poor guy. My measley MCL strain was months of pain. I can't even imagine what tearing two knee ligaments must feel like. Jesus. Plus coming back from months of rehab from his hip surgery. Just sick for the guy. Awful.
• OMG Anton!! Very excited for him to have this opportunity. Maybe that sounds callous, but that's how it happens sometimes. Critical injury and a spot opens up and some really patient kid gets his chance to prove he belongs in the show. Though tonight, Russo is saying the team isn't committing to Anton as the #2. Hmm. Hi, Theodore!
• Crap, now it's just Hackett and Tordjman in Houston. Nothing wrong with either of them, but I'd spent all summer trying to convince myself that Anton's goaltending style was entertaining enough to fill some of the hole in my heart left by Brusty. So much for that. I was mighty impressed by Hackett against the Blues last night though and I think him having a larger role and more starts in Houston will be okay. He's a good goalie. 

Aaaanyway, goalies. You can beat 'em for fun but you can't beat 'em for drama, can you?

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I love Lyle Overbay. Unabashedly. I'm hoping I can get an Overbay shirt on the cheap after the stupid Blue Jays don't re-sign him and put some poo-flinging monkey on first base and break my heart.

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Harding and the goalie food chain

Josh Harding was a freaking STUD tonight. I wasn't even planning on posting tonight but shit, he was clearly in pain with just about every move and still managed to get a shutout. It was an epic, Kerri Strug-esque performance. (I'm probably insulting one or the other in making that comparison, but I mean it in the best possible way, while still sort of mocking Josh because I'm mean like that.)

Anyway, first star and a shutout for that guy and well earned.

But this certainly makes things interesting. My boy Jaeger might wanna keep his phone on him where ever he is in bumfuck CHL, because neither Backs nor Hards seem to be in particularly good shape.

If the goaltending experience is remotely universal, Harding had adrenaline in his favor tonight, which dulls pain. Imagine, with all the grimacing he was doing WITH the adrenaline (and whatever superman painkillers they'd put in him), how he's gonna be feeling in the morning. Ouchy hips make everything hurt. It's one of those deep pains. You can't ice it. It just sits there ... hurting. Ugh. I feel for him.

But the whole team just played their nuts off. It reminded me of some of the heroic defensive performances of the Aeros two years ago, back when all they had was great goaltending and gutsy defense. God, I loved that team.

I'm watching the recap of the game on On the Fly, though, and there was no appreciation for what Harding really did there. Was kinda like, "Well, normally they mostly suck so this was kind of a fluke because they have Colorado's number." Pfft. Kevin Weekes would have nailed recapping that game. Not kidding. Everything he does that isn't goalie-related is intensely uncomfortable, but his goalie commentary is often pretty good.

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Still, that means Brusty is in the AHL where he belongs (at the very least). So as much as I feel for Harding, I also feel like the planets are aligned again.

Ha! They just said, "He loves to ride the hot goaltender" on OTF. Who wouldn't? *sigh*

Anyway, Brusty's in Milwaukee. No clue where it goes from here, but I'm feeling mellow about the whole thing. It's all gonna be fiiiiiiiine.

Here's a pretty cool video of Brusty's greatest hits (and some warmups?) put together by the Blades, who are surely crying in their beer at the moment. Not only is the music funktastic, but you also get to see how often he gets run by his own fucking team. Honest to god, those boys need to learn to stop. I've never seen a goalie get run by his own team more. He's not a tackling dummy, guys, he's a person.

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Gonna try something new here. Like how I made my bitterness cute with sweet, fuzzy animals, I'm gonna try and make my my aching knees and other lamentations sexy:

I totally knew a change in the weather was coming tonight thanks to my knees feeling crummy.


How's that working? I think repetition is key. We'll see.

Buenos noches, gatitos....

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The Hip

We'll see what happens. Harding's injury will need to last a while for Brusty to be required. The team is set for goalies, even if Anton gets called up (because Backstrom The Headcase and Anton The Winless are a great tandem), until Wednesday when they play in Chicago. If Anton's still up then, they'll need to recall Barry.

So I suspect you lusty Bladers will still get him through the weekend regardless for the games against Gwinnett.

Meanwhile, Woody focused on Barry in his Blades article today and it's a good read. Though I had to laugh at the irony of reading it as I was finding out Harding was hurt. Heh.

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Um, and not to distract from the issue at hand, but my new goalie half-boyfriend Alex Stalock has a really excellent interview here. The only thing he got wrong: Star TREK. Come on. Embrace your inner nerd, Al. Even the cool kids have an inner nerd.

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41 if you include the fact that we don't care

Wild were excellent tonight against the Preds. Lots of, "Ohh-la-la, we're finally getting the style of hockey they promised in the off-season!" in the aftermath.

Well... it was the Preds. Always a crap shoot because both teams have been similarly mediocre for so long. IMO, the Wild haven't won against the kind of elite teams that really provide a valuable litmus test.

So, for now, I'll just be on the Latendresse Bandwagon, but remain cautiously optimistic about the Wild on the whole.

That said, great game by Shep, who only played because Clutterbuck is still battling the flu. Seems like they're handling him properly now. Not only changing positions to wing but also sitting him several games lately. Nothing like "time to think" eh? Here's hoping it sticks.

Harding was in goal and played very well, but his second goal was just awful. Didn't hug the post on a sharp-angle chance and the puck bounced off and over his arm and into the net. It's the kind of goal where, if I did that, someone on my team (or the ref) would come over and say, "Hug that post, Heather."

Yeah. I know.

Sometimes you get caught between decisions. And that's how you get beat short side in close.

Anyway, I keep hoping for Harding to have good games so he'll get traded and Brusty can come home. People keep trying to use logic on me, telling me it's unlikely and the team needs Harding, as Khudobin and Dubie aren't reliable back-ups for Backstrom. Blah blah blah.

Well, look, smarty-pantses, lemme tell you where you can stick your logic. This isn't about logic. Logic is for GMs and Assistant GMs and people without a sense of humor or lacking in the kind of passion that makes us willfully illogical sometimes.

My job is to look for hope, invent hope, even if it's crazy and misplaced and obsessive. And I think I do that pretty well. So, you know, don't fuck with my process.

And on a similar note, allow me to take off my jaunty reporter's fedora to speak from the heart about the Aeros for a moment. (Update: If you want the "fedora-on" version, Andrew did a great job of it here.)

It occurred to me today that it would be awfully nice if the kind of machinations the Wild have gone through to improve the parent club (trades, pick-ups, etc.) would trickle down to the Aeros. If they really believe that part of developing players is winning, they're going to need to get someone in who can *spark* this team.

What we seem to have in Houston is a bunch of very GOOD men. Quality individuals, with a great work ethic, who are buying into KC's system, and playing their hearts out. But nobody is sparking this team.

Nobody is sparking this team offensively, nobody is doing it with energy/fighting (think Mitch Love). This team is a Toyota Corolla. It's reliable and efficient, but rarely any fun.

And there's part of me that wonders, if people aren't having fun watching them, are they having fun? Are they inspired? Or is it as much hard work and mediocrity as it looks like from the stands?

And moreover, is there something GM Jim Mill could do to shake up the club? We're over 1/4 of the way into the season and it already feels like a plodding chore to watch them, and even worse to write about them.

I fell asleep twice today trying to watch the archive of Friday's game in San Antonio. Granted, I already know what happens, but I'm trying to find SOMETHING to rekindle my own passion for the team, so I want to watch anyway. I don't think I even got through the second period.

It's no knock against the players though. They don't build the team and they're doing their best. But when I'm having more fun watching the Everblades online than the Aeros in person, well... Houston, we have a problem. Because I fucking LOVE hockey, and I love it in person even more.

What's more unbelievable, I've taken a liking to Kalus because at least he lends an air of unpredictability and fire, even if he is a screwball. If I were creating a color-coded Aeros Boredom Warning System, the very worst level, RED, would be called, I HEART PETR KALUS. Currently, I'm at ORANGE: MAYBE DUBIE ISN'T SO BAD.

Send help.

I've been looking for 2 years for an excuse to use this Tragically Hip tune about a relationship gone off the rails. Seems perfect tonight.

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And don't forget the blanket coverage of Cal Clutterbuck

Cal's looking mellow today. And a little like, "Can we please ignore the gorilla in the corner that is my lack of points?" We in Clutterbuck Nation know it will come. Back off, reporter boy (okay, we would have asked, too).

Go here to watch

Also, it appears that Harding is healthy enough to go if necessary, so Schaefer is being sent back to Houston and Mojzis is staying up. Yay for getting Nolan back but I was hoping the Aeros would get Mosey, too. I'm greedy like that.

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Random Assortment

Got a muffin basket of delight for y'all today:

First off, it looks like our favorite big, blond, Southern defenseman, Jon Awe, is doing just fine over in Korea. NHL.com reports he has 5 goals and 11 points for the Anyang Halla.

Next, thanks to my homeboys over at Hockey Wilderness for the bitchin' shout-out. Check 'em out. There's good stuff going on there.

Also, I just got notification from the Canadian postal service that my goalie mask was shipped yesterday. It's currently in Mississauga, ON. I don't know where that is or how you might pronounce it, but it sounds like a good place for a Canadian-made goalie mask to spend a few hours. How do you suppose it feels about coming to Texas? Suppose its little mask friends are laughing at it? Those smug Montreal-bound masks especially... les batards.

Also, if you don't think I'll spend at least one day wearing that thing around the house and hitting myself in the head as often as possible, you just don't know me very well.

Help me out though... my mask needs a name. Drop a suggestion in the comments. It's like the one pictured but solid black. Six months ago, I would have named it Marty. But, um, not now! Thanks for ruining my perfect mask name, Turco, Biron, and Brodeur!

(ETA: Also just got notification that my Goalie Monkey order has shipped! But it won't be here until next Monday, so no goalie for me this week.)

Lastly, Tomas Mojzis cleared waivers but according to the Russoblog the team has 48 hours to decide what to do about it. Sounds like it's riding on the "lower body" evaluation of Josh Harding today. I'm guessing his lower body is quite fine.

ETA: Oh! Another nugget from Ryan Stanzel's blog:

I got Erik Reitz and Derek Boogaard to record quick clips for the Houston Aeros, who are honoring the duo by including them in their Aeros Legends Bobblehead Series. Both have bobbleheads coming up soon, and they’ll both get a few for friends and family.

Sweet! I took a pass on the Obama/McCain bobbles but these? Oh hell yeah! The Boogie ones, especially, I would expect to be a hot commodity. And no, you can't have mine.

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Schaef called up to the Wild

Apparently Josh Harding has a slight "lower body injury" so Schaef got the call to head to Pittsburgh to back up Backstrom.

I guess we'll see what the trickle-down effect will be if the call-up lasts longer than tonight's game. Fortunately the Aeros don't play again until Saturday and presumably have a day or two off here at the beginning of the week.

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Wild v. Colorado - 11/06

I still hate Colorado and their fans from the playoffs last season. So, the Wild's game against them last night was something of a catharsis. Ian Laperrier got soundly and quickly whupped, as we say down here, by Craig Weller and, man, that felt good. I know Lappy's a good guy if he's on your team but he isn't on my team, so he can suck it.

And it was great to get what I would call a pretty decisive win. Cal didn't get an official star of the game, but he got one of the Strib's three stars.

3. Cal Clutterbuck, Wild: Four more hits gives the physical right winger a team-high 37 in 10 games.

Backs was Off. The. Hook. as he has been pretty much all season except the one game I got to see in person. Not that I'm bitter or anything. But anyway, the team needs to forget about Gaby for now and get that goalie signed. Hards doesn't have it like Backs has it, I don't think. Tired of waiting on Hards to be "the goalie of the future."

And Pouliot got another goal, and the "I Told You So"s are starting. He does look to be responding to Lemaire & Co. and had a good game last night. Having good games has never been his problem though. It's been stringing good games together instead of going invisible after he feels like he's "done enough." To me, this is his first game where he looked like he belonged up there. So, lets see how it goes before we get out the silver polish and start shining the Calder for him, eh?

(And I'm editing to add that, while I'm happy he's scoring goals and making the Wild better, there is a part of me that just makes me SO angry that he couldn't be bothered to do this in the AHL. We needed his offensive talent SO BADLY last season in Houston and he just floated and floated. If there's a part of me that does want him to stink it up in Minny, it stems from that. I feel like Jennifer Aniston... Brad Pitt didn't want to make babies with me but he'll go off with Angelina and have 10 kids. Bastard.)

Anyway, poor Mr. Conduct is sick and has been up all night coughing. I finally got out at about 4:30 and got him some cough drops that seem to have quieted him right now. Wish I'd done that about 8 hours ago before I took Benedryl and then got about 3 very interrupted hours of sleep. Guess I'll put On the Fly on and try and pass out on the couch for a while.

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Blog Botox

I was gonna call it a face lift but really, not much has changed except the forehead.

What do you think? I finally had some inspiration for a new banner and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out given my perfunctory PSP skillz.

Just for grins, the banner roster clockwise from left:

• Mikko (who was with in mom in that photo but I cropped her out... sorry Mrs. Koivu!)
• Clutterbuck
• Brusty
• Headless Harding
• Schaefer
• Scotty punching someone who surely deserves it
• Burnzie

And of course, the giant hockey sock for a background. I really maxed out my PSP skillz on that. Phew. Pass the Gatorade.

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Goalies

Several thoughts on goalies lately:

First, poor Tosky getting that bad bounce from the other side of the rink last night. I just hurt for the guy, but I also know how easily that can happen.

Second, what the hell is Brian Rolston doing taking slapshots during practice at Josh Harding's head at this point in the season. Slapper exploded Josh's mask (which I never liked, so that's okay... and Josh is fine though I bet his ears are ringing still) and Rolston just says, "Don't be a goalie." How about don't be a prick, Roli.

Third, at the Aeros game Monday, there was a time out. And the puck is on the ice for a faceoff by the Flames' net. Goalie is in net and I'm looking at him (because I'm always watching the goalies), and the dude is just staring at the puck. Staring at it like it's gonna grow legs and try to get in his net if he doesn't watch it. He must have done this for a full minute. Just staring at that puck and it's just him and the ref and the puck waiting for play to resume. It was pretty funny (and yet I could totally see myself doing that). Suppose he was talking to that puck? Willing it to stay out of his net? Whatever. I love it. Goalies are nutty and fabulous.

Finally, I was looking at this Sports Illustrated site with lots of close up pictures of NHL goalie masks and noticed that SO many goalies have blue eyes. I'm hoping that's a sign that us blue eyed folks have better puck vision or something. :)

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Ended up not doing yoga last night, but did do some hand/eye work with a tennis ball. Nearly broke some art on the wall in the process but no harm was done. Then I did a bunch of squats and some plyos and then a bunch of stretching and some abs while the Kings and Sharks played. God bless hockey in HD.

Oh and those one leg squats I was thinking were such a good idea yesterday? My knees said, "You're f'king crazy, bitch, if you think we're doing that!"

My skates are coming from the "remote warehouse" so add 4 days to my delivery. Grrr! UPDATE: They'll be here Tuesday!! Scratch that! Now it's MONDAY! YAY!

Going to the Aeros game tonight with Coach Stalin and a woman who sometimes plays goal for the novice and other teams up at Willowbrook. Need to ask her who sharpens her goalie skates.

More Update: Did yoga. I'm all zen. Actually, I'm not, but I'm glad I did it. My hamstrings were so tight and they're mucho better now. But my knees hurt. Vitamin I to the rescue. Also, Major has started growling at me when I get in my goalie stance facing him. LOL I must look very threatening. :)

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Monday

Knees are feeling a bit better today but still tender on stairs or if I turn my leg funny. Wild won yesterday, with Harding playing the shoot out brilliantly. As frustrating as he was for the Aeros sometimes, he's really becoming a stud in the NHL. Good on ya, Hards! And Burnzie on a tear as well. Love that kid and his freaky zoo.

Loving my new Hip music... Ahead by a Century, Fireworks, Wheat Kings, Long Time Running are the early favorites.

Interesting thread on the goalie board I read regarding rituals after being scored on. Granted, I've never played a game and I fully accept that I'm supposed to suck right now so it's easy to let goals go, but I do clear the puck and then think quickly what I could have done differently to have stopped it. A few times I lost my focus when I couldn't figure out how I might have stopped it, but that sort of insight will come with practice. But if I could troubleshoot it right away, I was ready for the next shot.

Did yoga last night to try and give my knees some relief. Not sure it helped specifically, but it didn't hurt and I slept like a baby (and finished my bad hockey book!) Looks like we're skating tonight, though it will be a VERY easy skate. No drills. I think that's good for me mentally, too. I don't ever want it to feel like a "chore" to go skating, so I'm due for a pure fun skate.

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