Skibum

I don't know about this one. Yes, Kaleta was in the wrong to check Richards when he was in a somewhat defenseless position, but the amount of force applied (very little) is not consistent with the velocity of Richards' plunge into the boards. After watching it several times, I don't even understand how a world-class skater could be knocked off his feet by such a slight push. Nor do I see how you could determine intent to inure. It looked like a little nudge gone wrong. And I hate to accuse a player of embellishing, but Richards was writhing like he was being attacked by starved piranhas, and he doesn't even miss a shift? Really? I am not a big Kaleta fan - I think that while he has gotten better, he has been an ebarrassment at times. But in this case I think 1 or 2 games would suffice. I think he'll get a lot more, though.

Ya think so, professor?

I haven't tried lagering yet, but I would love to give it a go some time. How do you do the cold fermenting? A friend of mine does small batches with a 2.5 gallon carboy and a mini-fridge set at 52 degrees. I would just as soon get a full-size fridge. I can't stand the thought of small batches!

I've been drinking homebrew almost exclusively. For the holidays, I made two porter variations - one with vanilla and the other with Sailor Jerry rum. I dubbed the latter "Porter Rican". The vanilla porter is amazing. Porter Rican has great flavor but a weak head due to the alcohol boost. Up next is a brown ale, to be bottled tomorrow, with an oatmeal stout to be brewed right on top of the brown ale's yeast cake. That should take me through the winter, and then I'll start tinkering with some lighter stuff. I'm thinking ESB. I don't buy a lot of micros anymore because they are soooo expensive and I make pretty decent facsimiles of them at home. Gotta say, though, when I'm in the mood for a session beer I'm with the OP: Genny Cream Ale all the way! There's absolutely nothing smoother in that price range. I love that Rochester mass-produces a beer that is genuinely unique and still dirt cheap. I also discovered Ballantine Ale recently, which packs a pretty distinctive flavor for a nice price. I don't get all the hype about Yuengling. I think people just want something different. My stepmother tells me that back in the day, people used to go crazy over Coors because it was this exotic beer you could only get out west. Yet, Coors is among the worst tasting beers ever made. It's one of the only beers I will refuse if offered to me. The other is Keystone, which is made by Coors. Anybody else here brew their own?

And if I recall, only one of Hodgson's goals actually went in off the blade of his stick. Now, the other two were certaily the result of some good hard work in front of the net, but I think we were all hoping to see some genuine scoring touch and playmaking skills (read: assists) from this guy. It really is telling that he's on a line with two proven veteran goal producers and hasn't managed one assist yet.

Was that really necessary?

Mostly I hope they can trade for a bigger body in the top six, if one is available. I wouldn't mind if they brought Goose back, even if it's for a minor overpayment. I think we're stuck with Stafford and Leino's contracts, so maybe it's Ennis or Gerbe that gets moved along with a pick or two. And unlike seemingly everybody else in Sabreland, I am hoping they keep Roy around. He's too good of a value and I think he rebounds next season. From a management standpoint, I can't see a rational reason to trade him. Remember, we haven't even seen how Hodgson fits in Buffalo. That will tell us a lot about what needs to happen this summer.

We got the best player in this deal, and if you're worried about replacing the toughness, Darcy now has four picks in the first two rounds with which to trade for that this summer. He might even be able to keep the picks and bring Gaustad back UFA style. It was a bold move and this team isn't winning a cup this year anyway. Thumbs up.

I just drove from Montana to Maine and heard that sad Adele song probably 500 times. Now, I'll give her credit; that chick has got some serious chops, but please Mr. DJ give it a rest. Now I'm stuck with a melancholy break up song in my head and I really don't need that this time of year.

2005 Dodge Caravan, SXT package, bucket seats all around, 3.3L V-6 with a throaty growl. Short wheelbase version for increased off-road capabilities. Stop acting like you're not jealous.

My favorite mid-priced whiskeys are: Bourbon: Maker's Mark, Bulleit, Knob Creek Canadian: Pendelton by a mile. Very unique vanilla flavor. Yum. Scotch: Not a big fan. You have to spend a pretty penny to get something that doesn't taste like tree bark. Bushmills is a great compromise. It's similar in flavor to good Scotch but much milder and very smooth at a great price point. IMHO, the best bargain in cheap whiskey is Old Forester. This will help you stay under budget when you become a raging whiskey addict. It's similar in flavor to Maker's but marginally less smooth. Another tip is to try a Manhattan. Pretty simple recipe: 1 part sweet vermouth to 3 or 4 parts whiskey. Garnish with a cherry and/or a dash of bitters. If you order one at a bar they will serve it like a martini (shaken, in a foo-foo glass). It's not bad this way but you will look like a tool with the martini glass and will probably spill half of it as well. I like to order mine on the rocks so there's some ice to smooth things out and a rocks glass to keep things contained and looking masculine. Manhattans are also a great way to improve the flavor of cheaper bourbons.

Nice game. Heatley/Thornton/Marleau with zero points and a combined -9. Myers was +5! Gaustad and Pominville score goals IN THE SAME GAME.

Neuvirth was too much tonight. He really shut the door on that last power play.

Finally Vanek scores a superstar goal!!! RRRROOOOOOLLLLLL the highlight film!!!

Nice goal for Gaustad's line. They have been working hard and creating opportunities tonight.

As always, hoping to see Avery v. Kaleta tonight.

Hopefully Morrisonn's return will help Myers get back on track.

Lately, I keep going on dates which generally are going very well... until I run into a group of old friends who decide it would be a great idea to pull up chairs and hang out. And I'm obviously on a date, with a girl they've never met, and I've been single since January so I have legitimate work to do and they know this. These "friends" then steer the conversation into all sorts of wretched avenues (sharting, for example). Invariably, someone asks my date, "how long have you guys been dating?", which on a first date is about as awkward as a b0ner in sweatpants. And it's not just dudes doing this to me. This is what it's like living in a small city where everyone knows everyone. As much as I hate dating scenes in general, I think I miss the dating scene in Roc city even more than I miss garbage plates.