NHL All-Star Teams Selected

There's really only two interesting parts of the NHL's All-Star weekend: the draft, and seeing whether or not Chara can break his own fastest shot record. Last night was the draft, with Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and former Senator Zdeno Chara picking teams.

Not surprisingly, all the Slovaks and Bruins wound up on Chara's team. All the Swedes and Senators found their way to Alfredsson's team. Carey Price will also be on Team Chara. So will Dennis Wideman. No Canucks wound up with Chara.

But Phil Kessel did. I'm so glad Kessel is not on the Bruins. He puts up impressive numbers (except against the B's), but he's such an awkward creep. Chara's assistant captain for the draft was Toronto's Joffrey Lupul, so the Maple Leaf connection saved PK81 from more shame.

So Tim Thomas, Tyler Seguin, and Zdeno Chara will be on the same team. I'm going to predict that Thomas will allow 4 or 5 goals (no defense in the All-Star Game), Chara will win Fastest Shot, and Seguin will get a hat-trick.

-The Commodore

Canucks 4, Bruins 3

Even if the Canucks had won Cup last year, I'd much rather be a Bruins fan than a Canucks fan. I feel kind of bad for the fans of Vancouver, having to root for the likes of Roberto Luongo, Maxim Lapierre, Dale Weise, Alex Burrows, et cetera. A goalie who doesn't want to play in goal. A coward. A guy who skates away from a fight. A fiend. It must kind of suck to have to support the likes of these characters.

There were two games on Saturday afternoon. There was the game when Vancouver was on the Power Play, which the Canucks won 4-0. And there was the game when they weren't. Which the Bruins won 3-0. There were 107 penalty minutes issued and 18 Power Plays for both teams. 13:34 of this game was played with the Canucks having at least one man advantage.

To be fair to the refs, this was a hard game to officiate. These teams do not like each other. And the refs called the game tight for both teams. And the refs did a good job not allowing Dale Weise to get away with goading Shawn Thornton into dropping the gloves then not fighting.

Unfortunately, the refs were a bit inconsistent. Some hits and stickwork was called for 2 minutes. Some wasn't. Some calls confused me. Seguin's tripping call, Krejci's goaltender interference, the 3rd period holding penalty on Alexander Edler. And why was it that Alex Burrows waves the blade of his stick at Thornton's eyes, the lines brawl, and somehow the Bruins emerge down 2 men?

The officials' inconsistency favored both teams at timse. And credit must be given to Vancouver for their special teams' play. Their Power Play won them the game. And the Bruins' lack of a Power Play cost the B's the game. The Bruins had 7 chances with a man advantage. And failed each time.

I actually think the PP slowed down the Bruins' momentum at times. They were attacking in the middle of the 2nd, for instance, then drew a penalty, then played a static, undramatic, uninspired two minutes of 5 on 4, then drifted through the rest of the 2nd.

This game was weird. It was emotional. It was rarely 5 on 5. Vancouver won, fair and square. But if this were Game 1 of a 7 game series, I'd like the Bruins chances to win.

There may be future ramifications for the Bruins. The NHL rescinded Lucic's game misconduct, which was a correct call. Lucic didn't climb over the boards, he was still on the ice in the middle of a line change, as were several Canucks.

Marchand has a hearing with the NHL today. And I don't think he'll just be fined. His clipping penalty was a good call. He's claiming that he was trying to protect himself but it didn't seem that way. The hit was dirty. And unnecessary/stupid. The refs had been calling EVERY infraction up to that point so it was stupid for Marchand to risk giving Vancouver another power play.

Marchand has already been fined this year. He was suspended last season. He has a reputation that's growing more and more infamous. I think he should be suspended, and will be. For 2 games, I'd say.

Vancouver won a game. Good for them. And good luck in the playoffs when half the penalties called on Saturday won't be called. And good luck in the playoffs with a star goalie who doesn't demand to play in big games like this one.

The Bruins stand up for their teammates. They have goalies who crave big games. They have fighters, not talkers. They didn't get a win on Saturday, but they can and should be happy that they are much better than the Canucks, and not just at hockey.

-The Commodore

Why It's Still Easy to Hate the Canucks

There's just nothing to respect about the Vancouver Canucks. The latest news is that their starlet goalie Roberto Luongo will not start in Boston tomorrow. Which is odd because he last played on Wednesday and would apparently have ample rest. Instead, backup goalie and BC alum and Marblehead, MA native Cory Schneider will start. Schneider is 8-5-1 with a very respectable 2.16 GAA.

But shouldn't Luongo want to start? He struggled in the 3 games in Boston during the Stanley Cup Finals, so shouldn't that be his motivation for wanting to play? Nope. He doesn't want a chance to acquire a morsel of peace of mind. He doesn't want a chance to exorcise some demons and, for his own sake, to get past the past.

And that's why he's such a loser. He's always been soft when it matters most. He doesn't do well in challenging situations. He often finds ways to avoid them. He plays the wrong position for that kind of mentality.

Then there's the remarks from Daniel Sedin. When asked about what would happen if Brad Marchand once again used his face as a speedbag, Sedin said:

"I think the referees, I hope, are going to call a penalty and we'll be on the power play,"

Really? That's the best you can do? Hope the refs call a penalty? Not stand up for yourself and try to stop it. Not hope your teammates, your linemates, your own brother doesn't come over and stand up for you?

There's just nothing to respect about the Canucks. There's other teams I hate in the NHL. Montreal, Philly, Pittsburgh, New York. But I have some respect for things they do. Montreal can skate. Pittsburgh's gritty. Et cetera. But the Canucks flop, whine, and turtle.

-The Commodore

Sources:
Vancouver Sun
WEEI 850AM

Sens Ink Sweatt

Lee Sweatt in action for Vancouver

The Senators have signed defenceman Lee Sweatt to a two year, 2 way deal this afternoon. Sweatt spent last season in the Vancouver organization, playing 41 games for the Manitoba Moose, where he recorded 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points. The 25 year old, who was undrafted, has also spent time playing in the KHL in Russia, as well as in Finland. Seems to be another depth move for Binghamton.

Thoughts?

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Dear Vancouver Apologists

For all of those people in Vancouver who wanted to say that is wasn't Canucks fans starting the riot, I'd like an apology now. After watching this video, clearly it was started by Canuck fans and at least 80% of the people destroying the car have Canucks swag on in this newly discovered video of how the riot began.

It's a semi lengthy video (10mins) but definitely worth the watch. It's very interesting to see how quickly things can escalate when anger and frustration is mixed with alcohol and a mob mentality.

And oh ya, where were the police? Very well planned out Vancouver, well done. You can now take your it wasn't really Vancouverites rioting excuse and shove it. I know what I saw and you can't only claim the good parts of a city as your own.

You can take your self righteousness and start backtracking NOW!!!!

Thoughts on the video?

Van City Is Burning

Last night was ridiculous and embarrassing for Vancouver for 2 reasons. You know the drill, caption the photo.

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GDP: Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals

Bruins and Canucks fans about to rumble for game 7

Now normally I only reserve GDP's for Sens games, which you all would know since I haven't really covered the NHL playoffs at all, but today is different. How could I possibly pass up a game 7 for Lord Stanley, especially when it has been such a weird series.

So this isn't a preview persay, I mean there will be more than enough of those floating around, and besides, I don't even pretend to know enough about either team to do a proper preview, but what I can do is give you all the info you need to get ready for the big game, with a humorous Sens Town twist.

Here is what you need to know for game 7:

-First off there were rumors that Nathan Horton would maybe play, but that was shot down this morning. The fact that he may have been trying to convince doctors to play is pretty incredible/insane. Just add it to the list of things Kypreos has been wrong about I suppose.

-Tim Thomas will almost certainly win the Conn Smythe tonight, win or lose, but he is also chasing some very elite history.

- A solid piece by Ottawa Leafs fan Down Goes Brown is a good pre game read.

-In Van City, want to go to game 7 for free? Are you gorgeous and open minded? You are, great! Now, are you ok being around a creepy weirdo for a few hours? How much do you care about your team is the question in this circumstance.

-Apparently I'm not the only one who questions Barry Melrose's credibility. The real question is what does Mike Milbury think.

-This seems about right from Canucks fans. I've always thought they were morons who couldn't spell.

-Who says Americans aren't into hockey. Boston seems pretty amped up to me.

-Apparently even if the Canucks do win tonight, they will still suck. I can't complain about that type of logic.

- Good to see that the pansyness of the Sedins extends from more than just on the ice. Backing off a quote really?

- Well it seems fitting that Tim Horton's would get behind the Canucks, since they're both fake Canadian. It's no wonder I hate both of them so much.

- And this is why the Sox are the best franchise in sports. I cannot however, defend that necklace that Haggs is wearing in that picture.

- Another reason to hate the Canucks and more importantly their fans. This kid singing is so played out and way to exploit your kid parent of the year. On top of that the song is AWFUL!

Prediction: This has been such a weird series, who knows what will happen. I wouldn't be surprised if it went to 10 OT's in a 0-0 game at this point. So who do I pick? A Canadian team who I hate or a division rival? Seems like a lose lose to me. One thing I know is I do not in any way want Vancouver to win, so that leaves me with having to cheer for Chara, Kaberle and the Sens killer Tim Thomas, which is what I will be doing. Vancouver is insane at home, but are definitely on shaky ground at the moment. Whoever gets the first gial will win, I'm just hoping it's the B's.

Boston wins 3-1 and wins the Stanley Cup.

Who do you think will win? Give me the correct score and the game winning goal scorer and you win a prize. Post them in the comments section.

Caption This

Time to have some Sunday fun at former Sen Mike Fisher's expense. This picture was taken in Nashville's 2-1 double OT win last night in Van City. The faces of both Fisher and Luongo are hilarious, and I know you guys always come up with solid comments, so let's do it up. Best comment gets an Alfie 1000th game tee.