Let's Go Wild, It's Memorial Day

This post started out with the Red Wings draft pick Brendan Smith being all badass in Wisconsin and beating on some asshole.

We think he came to one of our parties, he looks familiar.

Then we got to thinking, what do you think some of the players do for Memorial Day. They probably do what we do and that's party too hard and get arrested.

Zack Kassian supposedly beat up some dude in Windsor but no one can find any information on it except for in The Windsor Star.


And of course you know about Jonathan Toews and the being underage in a bar incident.

His wingman was TJ Oshie who was arrested a second time without Toews.

Then there's Pat Kane who was said to beat up a cab driver for twenty cents. That's a man for ya.

And we didn't mean Patty.

Don't forget about LimoGate. They weren't arrested but doesn't mean they didn't do it.


Oh but we're being fair here because we know of some little Flyers who like to party it up.




Have a beer in honor of these fine men and help them celebrate their teams being in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals: Game One

2. Chicago Blackhawks / 7. Philadelphia Flyers



Hawks lead series 1-0 after a 6-5 win in the United Center




This had all the makings of a blowout and fans were not disappointed. It seemed like an old-time hockey game. Loved it.

The Flyers scored the first goal.


And that opened the floodgates.

Troy Brouwer scored two goals and we were thrilled.


After letting in the fifth goal, Leighton was pulled in favor of Boucher.


But Tomas Kopecky scored the game-winner.



More in-depth readings on the game.

- Despite the showing by Michael Leighton, he will be the starter in Game Two.

- 5 things that the Hawks and Flyers can improve before Game Two happens. Article.

- Jonny Toews wants the team to do better even though they won. Captain wasn't happy.

- Both teams have different feelings about the game they played on Saturday.

Ready Or Not

Here they come.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook: They might as well be married.

The two-way player that is Pat Kane shocks everyone in the media world. Who knew the kid could backcheck?

The Hawks are living in the hotel again. Probably a good thing for them, of course.
Whether it gives them that comfy feeling of the road while at home, is merely a superstition or just a good way to nap, the Blackhawks are once again checking into a hotel today to rest up for tonight's Cup Final opener at United Center.


Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews are 25 and 22 respectively, possibly the two youngest captains in a long time.

Jonathan Toews and Mike Richards were friends during the Olympics. Now they aren't anymore.

Speaking of the Hawks captain, he also has a funny side. Who knew?

We've always called Dave Bolland the Rat. And seeing that some of his teammates call him that too just cracks us up.

The Other Kane turned Pronger into a pylon during a regualar season game. Bob McKenzie says that's how the Hawks have to deal with the big defenseman.

THe top five questions bothering NHL.com posed by both teams in the Finals...5 Questions.

Media Day 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

The show started out with Patrick Kane and Henrik was taken aback by the ugliness of Pat's hair.


Like, why? So bad, sir. So bad.

And why does he look so bored? Why does everything seem so unimportant to him? Such a cocky bastard.

Then the prettier Patrick takes the podium.

So pretty.


Don't even know what he said.

Andrew Ladd, you better play. I will kill you.

And so will Evgeniya.

Dustin Byfuglien is so fat. But he has perty eyes for a large man.


He definitely said something funny but we couldn't hear it with all that fat jiggling in that hoodie.

The hair on Troy Brouwer is intense. So much curly brown hair.

So adorable. Get some goals going, sir. We've been waiting.

Adam Burish.


Max Talbot.


Yes, the similarities are there.

Brent Sopel. Has a huge scratch on his cheek.

What an intense breath he takes every time he breathes. Why? You are sitting, not running around.

Oh hey Scotty Bowman, oops Stan, wait which Bowman is that?

They look too much alike. Damn genetics.

Why did they ask about Dustin Byfuglien's weight? WTF? So weird. Quenneville was like, "I ain't answering that, bitches."

Guess what?

Marian Hossa has been in the Stanley Cup Finals THREE TIMES! Whoops, maybe third time is a charm?


And was Marian Hossa always this ginger? Or was it from Detroit that he turned more red?

[ed. note from Noodles: HE'S STILL PRETTY, DAMMIT!]

Oh, hey John Madden.

We still can't get the picture of you shirtless out of our heads. Thanks.

Although you look better with a beard.

Brian Campbell is really funny. And we never knew that until he became a Blackhawk. Maybe that's why he and Patrick Sharp are the bestest of friends.

Aw, Dave Bolland. We forgot about your back surgery. And we're glad that you're back and that you're happy to be back.

Henrik is sort of laughing at Duncan Keith talking. Cruel woman that she is.

He's such a winner. Seriously. Except this winner needs a haircut. It's starting to get Kane-ridiculous length.

The called him "orally-challenged." Not touching that.

Kris Versteeg is having too much fun. Even with that awful/awesome beard.

And he's saying what everyone's thinking. We love how he says whatever that comes to mind. What a great interview.

He confirms the love they have for each other. Boom.

The leader of these Hawks is now possessing our lives.

Well, at least Noodles's life. She is power-staring at the television right now. So scary.

Such a bad beard but at least he has the chin-part to go with the Wolverine sideburns now.

If he has to, he will publicly flog someone in the locker room to get them to win. Maybe that's why they're so successful.

Kevin Weekes closes us out with some wise words. Thank you, Mr. Weekes.


Now onto the Flyers.

Mom thinks that Michael Leighton has pretty eyes.

And that's all that's important in life.

Bleh, Simon Gagne, the man of a thousand game-winning goals.


Oh no, Braydon Coburn. Another bleh.

Quiet but effective, so true about him.

Henrik is power-stancing in front of the television now because of Jeff Carter. She needs to get her priorities straight.

He looks like a troll.

This is the first SCF for Matt Carle.

He doesn't look so nice in orange. But then again, none of them do.

Ooooooh Mike Richards!


He's all about this hooded sweatshirt in orange. He loves it, he's working it. But then he's also slurring all of his words.

Daniel Briere is so boring. He's monotone and we almost fell asleep. He looks like a fatter Dave Bolland.

Nasty.

Who has worse hair: Kane or Pronger? That is the question.


Ian Laperiere, oh jeez, how awkward is that beard and no hair?

And is it us or do he and Duncan Keith now sound alike? That's what happens when you lose all your teeth.

Scott Hartnell.

Skip.



What the hell happened to Kimmo Timonen's eye? Seriously?

Is he the man on the team with the permanent black eye now?

Everyone has a role.

Fierce beard alert: Claude Giroux.

Holy crap can that kid grow a beard. Wow.

Why were we shocked that James Van Riemsdyk and Patrick Kane were drafted in the same year?

And we were there when they were both drafted.

Why does he seem so young? And did we know that James and Pat were friends? Learn something new every day.


And then Mr. Weekes takes us out.

So Many Questions

- As you already know, Steve Yzerman was named the Tampa Bay Lightning's new General Manager.



Maybe other people weren't as stunned as we were by that news. We just don't see Yzerman as a GM in Tampa but maybe that's just us. Hopefully he won't be fired at the end of the 2010-2011 season.


- Now that the Habs season is officially over, they have to decide: Price or Halak? Who do they want leading the troops into battle night after night in the Bell Centre?



That's the big question.

We don't know who we would pick. Should be interesting to see what Gauthier does with this predicament and the upcoming decisions concerning the Habs roster.


- On The Bleacher Report, the 2010 Blackhawks are compared to the 2009 Penguins. We've been making that comparison for the past season. It's so true though...think about it.



- Speaking of the Hawks, Duncan Keith doesn't care that he lost all of his teeth to a kamikaze puck because they swept the Sharks.



Yeah, we wouldn't care either if we were in the Stanley Cup Finals.


- To touch or not to touch, that is the question. Jonathan Toews, captain of the Blackhawks did not and Mike Richards, captain of the Flyers did.

This is what Toews had to say about the Campbell Trophy:
"[Patrick Sharp] is the one who came up to me and said, 'Do you have any plans for after the game?' I thought he meant for dinner, but he said, 'Are you picking it up? Are you touching it?' I was like, 'Oh,'" Toews told the Blackhawks' website. "I had thought about it a long time ago and I just think maybe to some people it looks like it's a lack of confidence to not touch it or it's a superstitious thing, but I think it shows more confidence."

Boom.


- Which Patrick Sharp did you like better: Flyer Sharp or Blackhawk Sharp?

We know our decision. (Wasn't that hard for us.)


- And in case you were looking for it, the schedule for the Finals is here.

On Our Soapbox: This Hossa Hate Has Got To Stop

So when we woke up yesterday morning, we had this article to read from Ron Cook. Penguins fans worst nightmare - Hossa and the Blackhawks vs. the Flyers.

Really?

Because we can think of a worse one. How about Flyers versus Red Wings? Or how about Canadiens versus the Canucks? Or oooh worse yet, the Capitals versus the Red Wings?

Those are worse.

Way, way worse than the Flyers versus Marian Hossa. What if Marian Hossa was a Flyer? Our careers as bloggers would be over.

That might have been the first time we have agreed wholeheartedly with Ron Cook. He makes some good points in the article.

There is a hatred between the fans and the players that might be the worst in sports.

When the Flyers and Penguins faced off in the playoffs last season, we thought that each city was going to explode.

We will never like the Flyers and we will never like their fans. (Except for like the three that we know who are awesome and we like them despite that flaw in their personality.)


You know a rivalry is bad when even the players hate each other. Penguins/Flyers games at Mellon Arena were ridiculous, raucous affairs where fans would beat each other up and players would just attack each other.



No self-respecting Penguins fan would root for the Flyers. And there are Penguins "fans" somewhere who are going all the way for the Flyers.

Why?

Well, Marian Hossa.


Oh, you mean the RENTAL Marian Hossa, the man that was supposed to be in Pittsburgh to HELP THEM WIN THE CUP? Not STAY WITH US FOREVER AND EVER OMGZ!

Because who did we trade for him? If you can't name who off the top of your head immediately then GTFO.

Yeah, he picked the Red Wings over the Penguins. Honestly, that stung. But he didn't owe us anything, he wasn't promised to us like an arranged marriage. He could leave if he wanted to.


And guess what? He got his. He lost the Cup AGAIN. He chose the wrong team. Well, that sucks. This is his third time in the Finals and we're rooting for him to win it.



Here's our issue with these "fans" way of thinking. If Hossa signed with the Penguins then where would the team be? There would be no Brooks Orpik as a Penguin. Fleury would not have been signed to an extension. Jordan Staal would be a Maple Leaf.


So as dedicated Penguins fans, we'll take a minor slight from a top-six forward to keep the players that will let us win a Cup.


Get over it. This isn't a grudge to keep. This is ridiculous.

Granted, Noodles has a huge influence in this blog and she loves the Hawks and Marian Hossa. But this is coming from all of us. We are disappointed in the thinking of other fans.



We thought that Pens fans were better than rooting for a cross-state rival because of one man.


Now it's your turn, what do you think? How do you feel about this whether you're a Pens fan or not?

We want to know.

And this is what LeTude had to say about this whole thing:
P.S. if you're a Pens fan, and are seriously rooting for the Flyers, you're not a Pens fan. Don't blame it on having a grudge for Hossa. Don't blame it on the Hawks personal lives. Grow up and get over it. Hossa is one man who was in Pittsburgh for 3 months. 21 year old boys will be 21 year old boys.

The Flyers have always been and will always be the Penguins most hated rivalry, no offense to Flyer's fans, we know you feel the same way :) Honestly just because we share a state doesn't mean we share teams. Get your minds right or get the fuck out.