North Buffalo

Had a puck signed by Jerry Korab and Gil Perrault when I was a kid... at a GM dealership in Tonowanda. Use to chat with former D Mike Kotska, now with the Hawks, while the UMass guys were working out and when there was open skate at the Mullin Center. Really nice guy. Quick kinda hung out out back. Took care of Scotty Bowman's two white Shepherds, when he brought them into the Blue Cross Animal clinic when I was in high school. Worked cleaning up there. That is about all my band camp stories. Oh and I had a connected friend get me a hockey stick autographed by all the 75 Buffalo Sabres. Still have it. It is on an old Northland wooden stick.

I was disappointed that I had to work during the last two games... but man, now I am not. Interesting that both the Russians and Americans collapsed after tough losses. Guess it is hard for the big guys to take a punch in the mouth. The Canadians simply play hockey, tough game or not. Good lesson to learn. I figure with as much pressure both teams had on them and as close as the talent was, collapses were inevitable, though the American collapse's size was a little surprising. Back to the trade deadline discussion.

And your father so drunk Canadian that he thinks she rivals Bo Derek. Oh, I have heard that one the other way around. Canadian's just add in MUM and aaawk... to their whine.

I remember drinking that as a kid as well as powdered milk at my folks cottage on the Georgian Bay. Like Coors, it isn't bad if it is cold, but unless it is just the warm side of ice... skim milk as more substance.

I was thinking about Reinhart... he reminds me of Van Reimsdyk when he was playing for UNH. Tall, bigger than most of the guys out there, good skater and really good ice awareness. UMass always put at least one guy on him and even that didn't always matter. Similar style with the puck, though Sam seems like a better puck mover and Van Reimsdyk was better in the corners and in front of the net. Just they both have upright skating styles and can get up and down the ice when they want to.

No that you mention it, me too. Interesting you can fit the population of Canada in California and there would be a decline and if you switched California's population into Canada it would be a dramatic increase in population. My only question is who which one would be loopier? The Canucks or the Calis. Mumm... those Merican's are making fun of us again.... Seriously hoping for a good game...

Just guessing... pure Ecklund... Malkin didn't show up till late in the 3rd. Ovechkin's fly byes were pathetic. Agreed they didn't play as a team. Too bad, the fans sounded like Buffalo fans when Darcy was here. The Russian coach seemed equally passive. Someone needed to light a fire under this team, but I didn't see it despite all that talent.

Watching it as my kids getting ready for school. Malkin, Ovechkin, and Kovalchuk only skating in short bursts. No consistent hustle. Datsyuk and Radolov, and Anisimov the only guys skating for the Russians. The are playing not to lose and the Finns are just out working them. Too bad because physically the Russians should be dominant over the smaller Finns, but as have been said early they seem uninterested or they seem to think this thing is going to be handed to them. It could be, Putin has tried to put the fix in, but if the Finns score the next goal, it may not matter. Radolov may make mistakes in judgement trying to get under the other team's skin, but at least he plays with fire.

Yeh, I was thinking just coming up for air...

Watched McNabb play with the AHL All Stars against a Swedish elite team on NHL network late nite. It seemed like he never came off the ice. That being said, late in the game he seemed to lose interest and had a couple bad turnovers. Didn't like his discipline. Guess it was played last week. But the game was a blowout.

Thanks, just saw someone post that USA was showing hockey and found it just after I typed it. Oh well off to work in a few.

We will... and agree, still don't trust the Russians, but they look a little off. The game against the US took a lot out of both teams, even the US looked sluggish and slept walked through this game except in a few key bursts. Can't blame them. Milsie looked solid. Nice wish all the games were on can't find the Canadian game on NBC or on the NHL network.... just heard it was tied.?

Yeh, he was going side to side early in the shift and hit it with his skate... Didn't look on purpose, but who knows?

P.S. Belov on D for the Russians was unbelievable. He plays D for Edmonton, hmm.. does Edmonton have a coaching problem.

Yeh that whole deal was silly... I would rather have 4 on 4 than a shoutout. Anti-climatic. Oshie had to be getting tired, gotta admire his perseverance.

Shoot outs do this game a disservice. Wow what a game! Both teams and once again Pavel Datsyuk is still GOD.

P.S. I really like the new Russian Uniforms. Combo of Eagles or Ducks shoulder wings and Capitals Stars on front.

Saying net off moorings?

Agreed, Russia was robbed.

Agree, the US is not being as physical as I thought they might. Seems like they are trying to match skill and they have some, but Russians are playing really physical.

That was some intense hockey. The skill on even the missed passes was impressive. Maybe put Kane, Kessel and a Reimsdyk together for a shift. That would be fast enough. Still heckuv a game.

True... glove hand wiff...

South of Danbury, CT in NY, Westchester, finally a bit of snow someone from Buffalo can be proud of, getting what I grew up with were called locally heavy snow squalls. Loving it, trying to decide how soon to take my boys outside to play... I am still Peter Pan. I remember the blizzard of '77, though this is nothing like that. We dug tunnels in our from yard you could stand up in... still makes me nostalgic.

Loving it, I forget the lead NBC announcer's name, but they were discussing a good day for a D man, not having his name mentioned and then asked Millbury the question if it was a good day for an announcer if no one was complaining about him. He answered yes for me. Millbury may need a little hate sent his way. Blown offsides call, the puck came out and right back in. D was caught flat footed. 7-1 USA. Kessel line and Kessler line and Kane were buzzing.

I just saw that... nice... Thought morning Joe would still be on. This is much better and Slovenia just scored. US just scored 2 after Slovaki tied it early in 2nd. Wow. I can't blink.