The winner takes it all

Well, technically winner takes two points. And the winner is.... Washington Capitals!!
And the ones who stand small? The lately not so mighty Red Wings.

Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, ah-hah, honey honey

After sucking against teams they were supposed eat as breakfast, the team obviously decided start to play and show their A game... ehrr, better game against Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Also known as Sergei Fedorov's ex-team.

Obviously the game wasn't on TV here (thanks NASN) but judging by the Yahoo score board, it wasn't that superior. After 2 period, it was 2-2 and I had some issues with breathing. Another hooking penalty? Maybe it wasn't stupid one, but I really doubt that.

Mamma mia, here we go again
My my, how can I resist you?

Guess who saved the day? Yeah, you got it. Ovechkin scored two goals in the third and led Capitals to 4-2 win over Detroit and everything was all bright and shiny again.

It was like shooting a sitting duck
A little small talk, a smile and baby I was stuck
I still don't know what you've done with me
A grown-up woman should never fall so easily

I'm not sure did this actually happen in the game, but the first line were supposed to be the killing machine from the Worlds, Ovechkin - Fedorov - Semin. During the Worlds I was pretty much in love with that line. Good times...

Slipping through my fingers

Ok, I really do feel sorry for Semin for having to witness this so close up, but Ville Leino's first NHL goal was pretty sick.



Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world

If I had a little money, I could move to somewhere where NHL is on TV. Not that I would be bitter or anything...

Because Pierce Brosnan singing is hilarious


I may or may not watched the Mamma Mia movie before I wrote this.
Sue me.

Foppa to NHL, free Absolut (hunk)

We might get Forsberg back to NHL afterall.

Next season though, but this is too fan-bloody-tastic to let that kind of minor fact to ruin perfectly good reason to party. Right? Absolut for anyone.



Finished your shot already?
Here, take another.






So, as anyone already knows, if he plays this season, he'll play in Sweden. But according to SportBladet, he has said that if he can play in World Chapionships and play well, he'll back in the NHL. For me, there are good and bad news. Good since I wish he can make the comeback, bad since he in the Worlds has pretty much never lead to anything good for Finland. Sigh.


And where he'll play if he come back? Well, Flyers GM is already knockking at heavens... his door begging him to save the sorry team. Don't believe me? Well, at least he's calling to Foppa's agent. Poor man.
This actually a huuuge problem since I do not like the Flyers. Try to find another team, please? Pretty please?

What really happened in CHL final part due

I believe the language is some sort of weird German. I'm not sure though. But it sounds funny.



That was the first time ever a Finnish goalie had a über solid game in final. Usually they tend to suck. Not that I'm bitter or anything...

No Forsberg for you, NHL

Det blir inget NHL den här säsongen, det är helt klart.
(There will be no NHL this season, that's clear)

If Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg is able to make a comeback, it happens in Elitserien (Swedish Elite League) with his old team Modo. He has signed a deal and will help the team to playoffs, if his leg feels good enough.
Good thing for Modo is that Frosberg said yesterday that "my leg feels better today that in the beginning of the week.

However, he won't play in the final part of Euro Hockey tour, LG Hockey Games, which is the Swedish tournament.

Honey, what's Peter Forsberg doing in our bed...?



I would actually rather see Forsberg in NHL than Sundin. Unlike Mr. Pokerstar, he really wants to play. And more importantly, he actually can play hockey. That's why he's one of the few members in Triple Gold Club, which means he has won (2) Olympic gold (sigh), (2) World Championship and Stanley Cup. In your face Sundin.
With all the missed games due to injuries, he still was the third-highest all time Swedish point scorer in the NHL (regular season) at the end of 07-08 season.
Hope he can return.

I will so lose my citizenship for this...

Here's the linky for those who wanna train their Swedish.

Den glider in i mål igen...

Rangers 2 - Penguins 6

Henrik, Henrik..., you're doing this way too easy for me. 5 goals in 20 minutes? What's that you said? No one told you the game in fact wasn't a part of the All Star Game? Oh, poor baby... Here, take a glass of warm milk. It'll help.
Now, I have something very important to say. Next time you play in Tre Kronor and you face Finland - you know, the poor little dudes in blue and white - remember yesterday's game and do the same. Capisce? Good.

CHL final part due/Girls Aloud tribute

Some kind of miracle

Lions 5 - Metallurg 0

Before the puck was dropped for the first time in Champions Hockey League, how many would've guessed tha Zürich Lions will win it? Not many, I think. There were KHL leader Salavat Yulayev Ufa, Metellarg Magnitogorsk, two good Swedish team, Finnish Elite league's last year's finalists etc. I thought the winner would be one of those (excluded the Finnish teams).

Love machine

But still they managed to get into the finals and once again everyone was betting for Metallurg. How ever, after the first final, people started to change their minds and Lions got the love they deserve.

Something kinda Oooh

And they didn't let their supporters down. Stunning play, great defense and awesome goalie (sorry, Proskuryakov, you're cute and everything but...there's no way you could beat Sula).
Metallurg was like on winter vacation, they didn't play the way they could play and totally crashed in the third period, Lions scored 3 goals during the last 11 minutes.
And to make their night perfect, one of their players had to leave the game after collided with his teammate. Way to go guys...

Untouchable

Shutout for 40 year old goalie in the final after the final part 1 ended the way it ended... Brilliant.

Walk this way

Despite the whiners in Sweden, CHL has been a good experience and offered great hockey. See you next year.

Free Glen Hanlon

I'm alright, I'm just fine.

Remember Glen Hanlon? The dude who used to coach Capitals before Bruce came in to the city and unleashed the power of Russian machines?
Yeah, that's him.

Really, I'm okey I was fired. It gave me a chance to do something else.

Sure you are...
Anyway, after he was fired by Capitals he found a new job (read: Finnish hockey team owner wanted a coach who can be linked to Ovechkin) in Finland. More specifically, in Helsinki and is now coaching the epic fail known as Jokerit. Jokerit was the team Penguins played against when the season began.

Jokerit is a good team with a lot of potential.
We will the damn league.

The ugliest logo ever.

You wish. In a real world, Jokerit sucks. And I don't say that because i don't like them, I say it because they really do. Ok, they're 5th in the standings, but it's not because they would've played well, the others just have sucked even more.

Their last game was against Tappara (you're supposed to hate that team) and they lost 4-1. Not that bad if you compare it to Edmonton's last game, but the thing is that Tappara has about 20 points less than Jokerit. And yet they lost. With miserable play. I would really enjoy this, if my favourite team wouldn't fail even more. You're my plan C... plan D, learn to play.

Fine, they didn't play that well. But when they start to care again we'll win.

Well, then start to bloody care. As much as I dislike Jokerit, I rather see them to win than Tappara, Kärpät or some other crappy team.


My point with this? Even though Hanlon wasn't able to spark the Capitals, I'm sure he would deserve better than that sad excuse for a hockey team.

Tuesday's cool board

Jeremy Clarkson does not approve that kind of performance

Seriously uncool

Boston 3 - Washington 2 (OT)

Hooking penalty in overtime? Seriously??

Caps had the lead twice, but as you can see, they managed to screw it. The only reason why they got one point is Jose Theodore.
The good news? Michael Nylander is alive and scored. Not that it would've helped or anything.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... Ovechkin almost got killed by Chara.

If Ovechkin were Crosby, he would've turned, hit his legs to the board and be out for the next three months.


Uncool

Dallas 2 - Atlanta 0

Dallas won, no need for deeper analyses.

Cool

Buffalo 10 - Edmonton 3
Philadelphia 2 - Florida 3

Rafael Nadal - Gilles Simon (6-2, 7-5, 7-5)

Sub zero

Detroit 2 - Rick Nash 3 (OT)

This is what happens when Lidström and Datsyuk are forced to take a day off. Poor Red Wings lost to Columbus and Rick Nash, who celebrated the return of real hockey by scoring a hat trick.

“God may have created the world in six days, but while he was resting on the seventh, Beelzebub popped up and did this place*.”

*Detroit

KHL history (video evidence included)

Ilya Proskuryakov became the first goalie in the (fairly short) history of KHL to score. His team Metallurg Magnigotorsk (the other finalist in CHL) played against Ak Bars Kazan which is currently 2nd in KHL, with 7 points lead to Metallurg (3rd). Metallurg won the game 2-0.

The goal was pretty sweet: Ak Bars player shot the puck, Proskuryakov cought it, dropped it and shot it to the empty net.
So simple, so pretty.




God save the YouTube.

All Star weekend with Russian music

Nochnoj huligan

Yes, I actually stayed up two nights to watch All Star games.

Disrespecting me, I feel it to the core
You keep dismissing me like I am nothing more
Then just another guy to push around
It don’t matter what I say it’s still the same

That's kinda how AS weekend feeled like. There's something good, but NHL constantly ignores the fact that most find it boring/meaningless and it should be changed. But hey, as long as the poster boy is showed every ten minutes everyone is happy, right?

You came to rock my party

Ovechkin sure got the party started with his hilarious breakaway challenge show.

The other winners were Andrew Cogliano (Fastest Skater), Zdeno Chara (Hardest Shot) and Evgeni Malkin (Shot Accuracy).

I’m almost sorry...

for not remembering what happened in the YoungStar game. I did watch it, I just don't remember. I think rookies won and Carey Price sucked.

Lonely

That must be how the goalies felt in the ASG...

I just don’t understand
Why did you leave me like this
Come back to me
I look but you’re no longer here

Once again, I did watch the game (part of it), but I really don't remember much. However, I do remember that poor Niklas Bäckström had to survive without defense.

Kinda Crazy

Alexei Kovalev, your All Star Game MVP

Even when the world tries to pull me down
Tell me that I can, try to turn me around
I wont let them put my fire out, without no!

There has been debate about should've he or should've he not been selected (and named to captain), but since he's the MVP he obviously didn't let that kind of yapping interfere and did something right. I think...

YoungStar Game or Sweden...?

Sweden, of course.

In case Sportbladet has managed to get something right, Capitals center Nicklas Bäckström spends All Star break in Gävle. They actually publised this few days ago. I do not know how I didn't notice it before.

Anyway, he has been seen to watch his old team Brynäs game against Timrå. I believe he was interviewed during the game or something. Here's what he said:

– Now there was a good break to visit home (Gävle) during the season. Otherwise/usually I don't go home for quite long time.

– No, there will be no skating for a week. By NHL's rules , we, who don't take part to All-Star weekend must be idle (vara lediga, if someone has better translation, please tell me). Now I'm going to visit my family and meet some friends.

Those are rough translations, but the idea should be same.

Whiners here, whiners there, everywhere whiners...

At least if we believe Jeremy Roenick, and why wouldn't we?

Cryin' won't help you get your sorry ass outta this
Shut up, shut up!
I don't want no part of your shitty "pity me" bit
Shut up, shut up!
I'm sick and tired of your wimpy-ass bullshit



Here's what Roenick said:

I see too many kids going the wrong way," he said. "They don't have the respect or the know-how to treat the sport - even Sidney Crosby. You see him [expletive], whining and crying. He's supposed to be the poster boy of our league and yet every time he gets hit, he's grimacing and complaining to the referees. Veterans teach the kids the right way to play.

This song is for you,
baby, for makin' a fool of me
Why don't you kiss my behind
I really had faith in you but you betrayed me

Surprisingly, that's not what Bettman has said to his posterboy, who shockingly isn't the most popular NHLer despite all the marketing.

What Bettman has said, is that there's no room for whiners who want to heal their injuries and spend some time with their kids rather than take part in the All Star Game. So, it's play in the ASG or miss a game that actually matters. How lucky NHL is to have such a smart comissioner...

Shut up, shut up!
Get the fuck out of my life!

I wanna make up right now, na na

I'm not a huge fan of the All Star Game, and haven't been very kind to it here, but it may have managed to do something good.

I wanna make up right now, na na
I wanna make up right now, na na
Wish we never broke up right now, na na
We need to link up right now, na na

Alexandr Ovechkin and Evgeny Malkin, former friends, have been seen to talk to each others and even agreed to few photos together.
As everyone should know, their "talking" has lately looked like this. That hit was the beginning of the Malkin vs. Ovechkin saga and there have been hits from both ever since. Though Malkin obviously confused which Alex he had problem with... But really, who can remember all the small things?

By the way, all those Ovechkin/Malkin pics from Montreal... Why the hell Malkin has his hand in his pocket in every single picture??


Maybe it's just publicity stuff, way to get media to go to hell. But I really deeply hope that what ever there has been going on between them is past. Or will be past before 2010 Olympic games. Because I don't wanna see this again. Or being forced to watch game similar to the following match.


I want it that way

Rock me Amadeus

I mean NHL. Rock me NHL.

This weekend all the best hockey players gather together in Montreal for the annual No Star Game... All Star Game. Scheisse.

He was Superstar
He was popular
He was so exalted

No, Sidney Crosby won't be there. Sigh... Oh yeah, I don't like him. Moving on.

Basically, there will be players whose fans have nothing better to do than texting or voting online.
And then there are the Habs whose fans were clever enough to make a autovoting system so they could continue their lives while the computer did all the voting.

Because he had flair
He was a virtuose

Was a rock idolRock the red. Or don't.
Anyway, Alex Ovechkin will take part in the skills competition and probably shows some nice moves.

What really happened in the CHL final part one

Yes, this is hockey related. Shocking, isn't it?

Anyway, I finally found some video material from that game. Here's the highlights (Metallurg in blue)



Lions second goal... Perfect. I was this close to buy a plane ticket to Zürich, move there and desert HIFK. I still might do that.

Safin having a conversation with evil linesman (yahoo)

tennisblog.com

This will be probably cancelled since Federer ruined my day by winning Safin. How did he dare to do such a thing is beyond me.
How can it be?

Swiss midget and Safin, leaving the court

Baby you can turn me on...

Because there's nothing hotter than men in golden pants


"He's just too sexy..."
Yeah.
Like I said in the last post, Plushenko is definitely one of the greatest skaters ever (after Yagudin), he has magical skill to get people to live the show with him. And he obviously doesn't take himself too seriously.
Good times...

Olympic flashbacks...

... because I have nothing else to write about.
No hockey today. Nada.

2002 Salt Lake City

If I were mean I would write about the Sweden - Belarus game, but since I'm perfect human being I'll focus on nice things. Like the best figure skater ever, Alexei Yagudin. Evgeny Plushenko is good, really good, but Yagudin is figure skating.

I remember I watched this competition with my granny, we were both totally sold on Russians skaters, Yagudin and Plushenko. In that order. The Americans were good too, but I didn't feel it. When Yagudin skated, you could feel it. Can't explain what that it is, but the rest of performences suffered from the lack of it. They were nice, but that's it. When Yagudin (and Plushenko) skated, it was like you were there and he was telling you a story. I barely could breathe during his LP, wishing him to win.



Both Yagudin and Plushenko are technically pretty much perfect but they can bring the programm to live. There are lot of technically good skaters, but most of them won't ever reach the level of intensity and stirring performance these two were/are skating.

Moonwalk on the ice... Beat that

And now... Sweden-Belarus. You really didn't believe I could do this without showing it, did you?

Den glider in baby...

And for all possible Swedish readers, yes I do realize you're still better than Finland.

CHL final, part uno/Spice girls tribute

What? Hockey and British band from 90s don't fit together? Who cares, I'm pissed off.

Metallurg 2 - Lions 2

This is...akward. I had a lot of ideas and pre-writed stuff about how well the Lions played, how they deserved to win and how great the 40 year old goalie is. Why can't I post any of those? Because they lost. Well, not really lost, it ended 2-2, but if you lead 2-0 before 3rd period, 2-2 is a loss. Huge loss.
Thank you very much.

So, Lions had a 2 goals lead, one penalty shot (epic fail, by the way), they played the first period soo good. They fought, sacrified, didn't give up; they did pretty much everything right. The second period was good too.
Never give up on the good times...

Like said, Lions second period was good but Metallurg showed signs of life and the third period was all about them. The last goal was scored with less than minute playing time left. I'm sure their coach can appreciate that...
Last minutes goals really spice up your life, don't they?

The goalie I mentioned before, Ari Sulander, had a pretty good night, he made some nice saves and was really calm through the game, unlike Ilya Proskuryakov in the other net. The first goal wasn't his fault, though he may could have catch that. The second one... He wants that one back. It's not the end, though. There's always CHL final part due.

Champions Hockey League

Metallurg Magnitogorsk vs. ZSC Lions

CHL is a new league, where the bests of Europe will battle for a lot of money...I mean glory. Despite the doubts, it's been successful experiment (don't ask Swedish, they sucked) and has give hockey fans chance to see how the teams from other leagues play. It has also served few surprises, like Swiss team in the finals. I think even Mrs Gretzky wouldn't have bet for that...

On their way to final Magnitogorsk walked over KHL leader Salavat Yulayev Ufa in semifinals while Lions destroyd Espoo Blues (Finnish team).

The finals consist of two games; first one is played today and the second one on 28 January. Today's game will be played in Magnitogorsk so it's very possible that only one team will show up. Tip: It's not Lions.
Sadly no one told them that, and Lions lead 2-0 after first period.

Can we forget yesterday's game?

Yes we can.

Former NHLer Jaromir Jagr managed to talk himself out of the game.


If I understood it right, Omsk played against Torpedos, the game was even (2-2), someone missed the net and Jagr started to yell at the refs. After scoring one and assisted another.
If you speak Swedish, here's the story.






tennisblog.com

Russian tennis star Marat Safin beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and will face Roger Federer on the third round. Does Yahoo sports care about Safin and his "comeback"? Of course not. Does Yahoo and every other sport related sites care about Federer and his oh-so-polite-ass? Of course they do. Newsflash, he ain't the number one anymore. Get used to it.

Epic, epic fail

Marat Safin of Russia, seen here on January 09, 2009, has withdrawn from the Kooyong Classic due to her shoulder problem.

Exhibit A

Don't know about shoulder problems but I'm pretty sure Safin ain't woman...

Oh and Caps lost to Ottawa.
Well, at least Thrashers won...

Небо № 7

Find Ovi

Yes, I know it's pretty old.

Vamos!

tennisblog.com

Rafa Nadal pretty much destroyd Christophe Rochus in Australian Open. He beat the poor Belgian 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. Did anyone tell Rochus that it's not a training match?

Australian golden boy, no 70 in the world, Lleyton Hewitt lost to Fernando Gonzales and can now focus on babysitting.

Reuters

Hallelujah, praise the lord...

Foppa is training!
I have a bad feeling that ain't gonna end up well. Either he'll manage to kill himself or then he actually make a comeback and once again kill Finland.
Crap.
At least Sundin is still sucking.


Oh yeah, Capitals will "play" against Ottawa while Thrashers try not to humiliate themselves in the front of home crowd.

All it takes is some tryin'

Thanks for the memories...

Or not. I did watch the game but there really wasn't nothing memoreable there. Or then it's because I accidentally ended up talking about Freddie... Just for awhile, though.

Caps won 2-1. In overtime, which is pretty bad if you're playing against Islanders. But two points, so it's ok. Kinda.

• Yahoo thinks that Caps lead 2-1 after third period and the game still went to overtime Okey then.
• In the real world Ovechkin scored Caps' both goals
• Theodore is one of the main reasons we won this one
• Need to play better against "soft" teams

Afternoon games rulez

Yes, I know North Americans disagree, but afternoon games are the only ones I can watch live (IF they're on TV) without looking like a zombie at work.

It was good,
it was bad
but it was real

2009 started with 3 wins continuing the winning streak started in December. Then there were 3 consecutive losses, which reminded that Capitals aren't immortal. After that they beat Penguins and Bruins.
Today's victim? New York Islanders. Last time these two met, Capitals won 5-4.

Here's how it goes
all it takes is some tryin'

I'm not saying that Capitals have been sleeping during games, but losing to Blue Jackets is not something you expect from #2 team in East. From their 17 losses, most of/half has been served by teams they should've been able to win.
Why I'm bringing this up? Because Islanders is one those teams they should win. More than 5-4.

Dive of the year

If that were Semin, there wouldn't be penalty shot. There would probably be diving penalty.

I actually watch the game (fine, part of it when I wasn't watching Sergey's music videos), and it kinda sucked because I really don't like Crosby so I didn't want him to score. But on the other hand I really don't like Lundqvist either so I didn't want him to catch it.

Hockey for dummies: Don't do this

Norwegian hockey player Marius Holtet, who plays in Färjestad, Sweden, has been on medical leave after hurting his leg. How did he hurt his leg? Well, he fell his loft bed, which means 2.5 metres freefall and soft landing on the floor.

If you don't get how this is hockey related, your brain is frozen

From the world of yellow balls

Marat Safin started his task in Australian Open by kicking Ivan Navarro Pastor's ass with pure 3-0 victory.

Life isn't fair

Here's an interview with Numminen right after 2006 Olympic final. It's in Finnish but everyone can read his bodylanguage and facial expressions. If you watch that and still wonder why he's one of my favorite and don't sympathize with him, you don't have a heart.



I never cry for any sport, I didn't cry for the loss (I was disappointed and ready to punch someone) but watching that interview brought tears into my eyes. Still does. Where's the hankies when you need them...?

As I wrote before, Sabres' defenseman Teppo Numminen was hit in the face by Carolina defenseman Tom Gleason's shot in the second period. He fell down, but was able to go to the bench and skated 8 more shifts but didn't play in the third.


Today Numminen had a surgery to repair a fractured bone in his face and is out indefinitely. This is the same man who had a heart surgery, which could've end his career but he fought his way back to the NHL.

This might be just my opinion, but to me he has always seemed like one of the most pleasant human on Earth, one of those persons you wish nothing but good.
Get well soon.

Russians do it better

Hockey?

Well, that too but I'm not talking about hockey here. I'm talking about painting. More specifically, Prime Minister Putin's new "hobby".

Vladimir Putin and several other well known Russians, including the Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko painted their pieces of art for a charity auction. All the paintings are loosely based on Nikolai Gogol's Christmas Eve.
Putin has been told to spend about 15 minutes to create his masterpiece and I have to admit, it's pretty damn good painting. It's not Dalí, but I couldn't do that in 15 years.

Did he really paint it in 15 minutes? Did he even paint that? I really don't know. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. I doubt that 15 minutes part. But that painting was sold for about 900 000 euros (37 million rublas), which, among with money came from other paintings, will be shared between a hospital, a church and a cancer clinic.

Mr Swedish soccer knows his hockey

BRUINS 1 - CAPITALS 2

I told you so, baby

Though Chara didn't score...
Håll käft! Jag kan inte veta allt. And he had an assist.
Okey then, someone is grumpy...
You would be too if you had to play soccer in USA.
Good point.

Back to hockey

Capitals won Bruins, leading their meetings now 2-0.
Bruins scored first goal in the second period but Green equalized minute after. And Semin nailed it in the third with sick slap shot.

• Nice goal by Green
• Nylander is in fact still alive and assisted Green's goal
  
• Theodore had a good game
• Semin vs. 3 Bruins, advantage: Semin.
  
• Chara 0+1, TOI 29:50.
  

Back to hockey, part II

• Thrashers forgot that they suck and beat Predators 7-2
• Lehtonen remembered that he is supposed to be good goalie and made 31 saves
• Buffalo kicked Carolina's ass and Numminen scored his second goal of the season
• Numminen also got the puck into his face... Hope he's ok.
  

Chara....I mean Hockey time

Chara and his sister, the Amazon Queen
I'm short (yes even shorter than Danny Briere, even though I'm not quite sure how "tall" he is, since the heights are in some weird system of measurement) so I kinda like don't like tall people. How ever, I'm smart enough not to bash people twice... "trice" my size so you two look very cute up there.
Yes, I did have a point here. And yes, I totally lost it.

After this confusing start... There is hockey game tonight! The mighty Bruins will be in Washington, where the Capitals try to start new winning streak after breaking losing streak by kicking penguins. No, please don't call to any animal rights activist, I meant the Penguins, not the cute animals.

Bruins lead in East proving that they can beat teams like Atlanta, Ottawa etc. , while Capitals are second after having to face little tougher opponents.


Their last meeting? Caps won 3-1.
If both teams show up, this should be very interesting game. And if Thomas is in net, Alexes and co. will have to do their very best to score.

Mister Swedish soccer believes that Capitals will win 2-1, Bruins goal scored by Chara.

KHL's version of Sean Avery

Ladies and gentlemen... Team Russia's regular member, Maxim Sushinsky.

According to Sportbladet, Maxim (I'll use his first name since I have no idea how to spell the last name) is suspended for 5 games bacause of obscene gesture he did/showed to opponent goalie and former teammate Alexandr Vyuchin after missing the net.

Maxim's version? "I just showed how we skied in Italy."
Sure you did, Maxim. Sure you did...

Award for best comment: Shame that this perfect article doesn't tell what kind of "obscene sex gesture" Russians do.
You would like to know that, wouldn't you?

The Cherepanov saga

As everyone already knows, Alexei Cherepanov, a 19 year old (extremely skilled) hockey player died during a hockey game in KHL when his team Avangard Omsk visited Vityaz Chehov. There has been a lot of talk about the circumstances of this tragedy. Why the medical service had left the game before it was finished, how come Cherepanov was allowed to play if he had problems with his heart, whether or not he had been doping etc.

Today we had another piece to add into this tragid story. KHL announced today that they have banned four people due to Cherepanov's death. Konstantin Potapov (former chairman of Omsk), Anatoli Bardin (former GM of Omsk), Mihail Denisov (former manager of Vityaz Chehov) and Omsk's former doctor won't never again work in KHL or any of it's teams.

And still, none of this doesn't change the fact that a young player may died unnecessarily. Maybe he would die even if he had proper medical treatment in the arena. But since he didn't, there's always going to be the litle "but if". And I truly hope KHL will do anything to make sure anything like this won't happen again. Make sure that what ever happens, there won't be questions left without good answers, that there won't be "but if".

Happy anniversary

200 years. It's a long time to be separate. Well, actually we're only separate in theory, right Sweden? Because in real life we are still together. Even though we divorced and Finland jumped into Russia's bed, you are our one true soulmate. And therefor Finland follows you through anything just to end up in hell... I mean EU. Damn, I always confuse those two.

No, not into his bed. Sigh

Ok, that was maybe a little made up. But the truth is that 200 years ago piece of land which is nowadays known as Finland was incorporated into Russia after the mighty kingdom of Sweden miserably failed in the war.

Despite those 100 years Finland spent with Russia, we never really get over Sweden. Just look at our history in hockey. Even when we have had a solid team, which has been able to beat better teams (Russia, reason is written in history books) they always manage to lose to Sweden, especially in games that matters. Like Olympic final...

Capital punishment

You should be illegal
You outta be banned
A government warning baby
To every team yeah

Ok, so judged by Yahoo highlight video, it wasn' t that dazzling, but hey, deux points. Just like Finland in Eurovison Song Contest. No, you don't wanna google that.

Not from Finland.

Oh, the game. Capitals won 6-3 and ended their losing streak.

• Nice goal by Semin
• Kozlov scored
  
• Bäckström (the fourth favorite Swedish NHLer voted by Sweden) 0+3 and chat with HockeyExpressen
• Fedorov is probably getting his game going
• Ovechkin 2+1
• Malkin 1+0, -3. Ouchie
• Satan 1+1. Nice goal. (Shut up, he's been my fav since I was about 10)

Otras cosas

• Brace yourself.... Atlanta lost. I know, stunning.
• So the "Who's your favorite Swede in NHL" poll... Well, at least Sundin wasn't mentioned

Heute Abend

VS






Unfrozening Penguins will host not so hot Capitals in Pittsburgh.

Pens won their last game against Flyers while Caps have been creating quite impressive losing streak. Last game against Edmonton... Game? Oh, we thought it was practise. Oopsie.

Ookey then. Hope you get the memo about this one a little earlier.

Just like Caps' PP. Cute and harmless

The game is not just normal hockey game. It's a game featuring Ovechkin vs Malkin and Semin vs Crosby battles. Let's rock an... Crosby!!! What you've been told about jumping at people before the play start?? Wait for the "roll"!

Other games

Ottawa - Atlanta

• Very hockey challenged game

Match maker

Because I'm bored and too lazy to do things I should be doing (studying), I'll write something that has been in my mind for few days. Known athletes/characters/other people, who should meet each others. Yeah, boring. I know.

Capitals' very own Alexandr Semin and his magic hands could visit Tommy Lee's drum academy... No wait, baaad idea. How about Hulk Hogan's House of Wrestling? Yeah, that's better. Just please don't get any ideas from those weird pants they like to wear.

Sidney Crosby should probably call some local real estate agent and arrange a meeting...

He should also meet someone with better knowledge of (hu)man anatomy. So, here's Jack McFarland at your service.

Shut up, that's the best picture I found.
It's not my fault he has no shirt...

Russian tennis star and one of the most charismatic athletes in the world, Marat Safin is known for his colourful action on the court. When he's rolling, his game is most enjoyable to watch. When he's not rolling... well, it's still enjoyable. You can bet with your friends/dad/granny/the weird dude next to you, how many racket he'll break and how many game points the opponent will have before he pulls himself together and stun everyone.

Considering his occasional moments of unconsistency and fiery temper, I think he should meet someone with lot of patience and wise words. Dalai Lama. If he can't calm him down a little (just a little, don't want him to turn to a wussy), no one can.

Less gel, more driving lessons.

Cristiano "Oops, I crashed my Ferrari because I can't drive while watching mirror" Ronaldo could use some advices from the best driver in the world, The Stig. If you don't know who The Stig is, or what Top Gear is, well then you should be banned from life. And yes, I know it's Maserati, not Ferrari. Couldn't find a good Ferrari clip. It's too fast and fabulous to be video taped.

Can't win? Change the rules

Losing is new winning.

Next season, NHL will give you points for losing. Extra point if you manage to totally disgrace yourself, your team and your family. Also extra points for every fan who commited a suicide after got bored to watch your wandering on the ice.
I predict that Atlanta, Tampa or NYI will win.

Don't worry, if losing is winning, you're all Olympic winners

and I didn't have to cry myself to sleep for the next 2 months

Show me your A game

So lame I can't even make a joke - Barack Obama's new hometown

Also known as Oilers vs. Capitals

Edmonto Oilers

• 20-18-3, 5th in Northwest
  
• ......zzzzz
  
• I really can't say anything else. No players I specially like, no players I deeply hate

Washington Capitals

• 27-13-3, 1st in Southeast
• Fedorov back, life good
  
• Win or die trying

Snowbowler haters - Blue Jackets

• Another hat trick by Filatov?
  

Dreams vs real world

Since we said goodbye to 2008 and welcome to 2009 few weeks ago, I thought it's good time to check how the hockey season has gone so far.

Eastern Conference (real standings)

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Philadelphia
4. Montreal
5. NY Rangers
6. New Jersey

7. Buffalo
8. Carolina
----------------------------------------------
9. Florida
10. Pittsburgh
11. Toronto
12. Tampa Bay
13. Atlanta
14. Ottawa
15. NY Islanders


Eastern Conference (how it should be)*

1. Washington
2. Atlanta
3. Buffalo
4. Boston
5. Montreal
6. Florida
7. Toronto
8. Pittsburgh
------------------------------------
9. Ottawa
10. NY Islanders
11. Tampa Bay
12. New Jersey
13. Carolina
14. NY Rangers
15. Philadelphia

* not necessary in that order, except #1.


Result:

• In case Capitals aren't going to continue the losing streak, things seem pretty good
• Rangers and Flyers outside of playoffs is must
  

Finnish Elite League (real standings)

# Team GP Pts

1. JYP 40 80
2. KalPa 39 68
3. Jokerit 40 68
4. Kärpät 37 62
5. Blues 36 62
6. HPK 38 61

--------------------------------
7. Lukko 39 57
8. Ilves 38 54
9. HIFK 39 54
10. Pelicans 38 50
--------------------------------
11. Saipa 38 49
12. Tappara 40 49
13. TPS 38 48
14. Ässät 40 48


Finnish Elite League (how it should be)

1. HIFK
2. Blues
3. TPS
4. Jokerit
-----------------------------------
Losers


Result:

• I won't watch Finnish hockey any time soon... Oh good, tennis season begins. No worries then.
  
• Karalahti back to HIFK, please.
• Winning once in a while won't kill you, right?
  

Safin just watched HIFK's latest game (4-3 loss). Or realized that since 2005, he has won nothing. Either one.

At World's End

Tell me – how could this be
You’re not winning
Why does it hurt deep inside me

Bruce Boudreau: One question about your business, boys, or there's no use going: This game... how far are you willing to go to win it?
Capitals: We'd die for it.
Bruce Boudreau: Oh good. No worries then.

Really shame the conversation obviously didn't happen... In hockey, you kinda like should play 60 minutes, not 40.

Caps' power play getting out of Plekanec's way

Washington 4 - Montreal 5

• 2 goals for Semin
• The second one was really nice
  
• Nylander (Нюландер) scored, 1+1
  
• Mike Green (Майк Грин, "Maik Grin") 0+2
  
• 1 goal for each Kostitsyn
• 1 shorthanded goal scored by... Plekanec?? Learn to play, will ya?

Just because you are losing, it doesn’t mean goodbye
You can think you’re knocked out but you’re still good
Just because you are losing, it doesn’t mean the end
Every time I close my eyes, I see the winning streak again.

Minnesota 2 - Columbus 4

• Hat trick for Filatov
• Nash didn't play
• 1+1 for Miettinen, 0+1 for Koivu
  
• Did I mention Filatov's hat trick?
  
• There were probably also other things going on but I just really don't care.

Pittsburgh 3 - Colorado 5

• Satan did his best impresion to invisible man

KHL

Jagr (international) 7 - Yashin (Russians) 6

• KHL's first outdoor All Star game
• Marcel Hossa thought he's Marian and scored a hat trick
• Ray Emery was either sober or drunk enough for "good" play, allowing "only" six goals and helping his team to win
• Radulov scored 2 goals
• Goal for former Capital, Ben Clymer
• Surprisingly not on TV in Finland. Life sucks
  

Shattered dreams

Darling, I am truly unhappy to have to tell you this, but through an unfortunate and entirely unforeseeable series of circumstances that had nothing whatsoever to do with me, poor Capitals have been press-ganged into Steve Mason's bitches.

Arrivederci 7 game winning streak.
Hasta la vista 9 game home winning streak.
Au revoir Jose Theodore's six game winning streak.
Welcome misery.


Woke up to reality
And found the future not so bright
I dreamt the impossible
That maybe things could work out right
I thought it was NHL
Who would do me no wrong


Ok, maybe things are not that bad. Maybe.
But Caps lost to Columbus. Nash wasn't playing. And Filatov didn't shine. Or at least his shining moments didn't lead to goal. Anyway, they basically lost to one man. Steve Mason. 3-0.


I can has rum?
Yes, you can has rum.


Next game? Today, against Montreal aka the Eastern All Star Team.

Please win. Please?

Missing rookies and NHL's brain

Steven Stamkos

Seen Stamkos?

It's ok, neither have I. But hey, he's a Young Star. So you can go and watch the game that is played before/during/after the real game/sometime somewhere. Maybe he gets more ice time there than in Tampa. Though, any less would be like not on the ice at all...

I would have put a picture of Stamkos, but he's so pale that Firefox commited a suicide. Actually Firefox likes to dive more often than Cristiano Ronaldo no matter what I do... Oh well, c'est la vie.

Getting ready to dive

Team rookies

• Mikkel Boedker
• Luke Schenn
• Patrick Berglund (aka Kyle Lowder)
  
• Some other dudes

Team sophomores

• Nicklas Bäckström
• Milan Lucic
• The third Staal
• Some other dudes

Hockey

Maybe I'm addicted,
I'm out of control,
but hockey is the drug
that keeps me from dying.

• Fedorov. Checked
• Semin. Checked
• Kozlov. Checked
• Ovechkin. Checked
• Filatov. Checked
• Game on TV. Che... Oh c'mon, Rangers vs Sabres? Merde.

Hey now, you're an All Star

No, this has nothing to do with All Star winger Dany Heatley.

One of the best football (soccer) players and biggest divas in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo decided to crash his Ferrari.
Let's get this clear. I would kill to get a Ferrari. Being able to buy one is my main goal in life.
So seeing people constantly disrespect the proud of Italy and crash Ferraris like they were All Star voting records kinda like pisses me of. A lot. Where the hell you got your driver lisences anyway? Some beach in Thailand while having a massage session with an underage tranny? Learn to fucking drive.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed

Well, you got that right mr Bettman.

Here's your All Star Game rosters

Sidney Crosby begging to
get Valabik into the team

East

• Alexei Kovalev (RW, Montreal)
• Andrei Markov (D, Montreal)
• Mike Komisarek (D, Montreal)
• Carey Price (G, Montreal)
• Marc Savard (C, Boston)
• Zdeno Chara (D, Boston)
• Tim Thomas (G, Boston)
• Evgeni Malkin (C, Pittsburgh)
• Sidney Crosby, (C, Pittsburgh)
• Ilya Kovalchuk (LW, Atlanta)
• Dany Heatley (LW, Ottawa)
• Alex Ovechkin (LW, Washington)
• Jeff Carter (C, Philadelphia)
• Vincent Lecavallier (C, Tampa Bay)
• Zach Parise (LW, New Jersey)
• Eric Staal (C, Carolina)
• Tomas Vanek (LW, Buffalo)
• Jay Bouwmeester (D, Florida)
• Tomas Kaberle (D, Toronto)
• Mark Streit (D, New York Islanders)
• Ms Lundqvist (G, New York Rangers)

So, Montreal gets four player and Washington one... Oh yeah right, this happens in the NHL world. How could I forget...
Kovalev has some nice moves though, but so does Semin. Unlike Kovalev, he actually scores every once in awhile. Must be the reason why he isn't on the roster.

West

• Patrick Kane (RW, Chicago)
• Jonathan Toews (C, Chicago)
• Brian Cambell (D, Chicago)
• Ryan Getzlaf (C, Anaheim)
• Scott Niedermayer (D, Anaheim)
• Jean-Sebastian Giguere (G, Anaheim)
• Pavel Datsyuk (C, Detroit)
• Nicklas Lidström (D, Detroit)
• Joe Thornton (C, San Jose)
  
• Dan Boyle (D, San Jose)
• Dustin Brown (LW, Los Angeles)
• Shane Doan (RW, Phoenix)
• Milan Hejduk (RW, Colorado)
• Jarome Iginla (RW, Calgary)
• Mike Modano (C, Dallas)
• Rick Nash (LW, Columbus)
• Keith Tkachuk (C, St Louis)
• Sheldon Souray (D, Edmonton)
• Shea Weber (D, Nashville)
• Niklas Bäckström (G, Minnesota)
• Roberto Luongo (G, Vancouver)

No Kopitar? No Hossa? No Zetterberg? Oh, you do have a goalie who probably won't be able to play. Good for you... and for hockey.
Seriously, it's ALL STAR Game. There should be NHL's biggest stars and most skilled players. Someone add Fedorov to the rosters. Please.

Helmets for coaches

What a wonderful world

Well, at least if you're not Tommy Samuelsson.
The coach of Färjestad (Swedish Elite League) got puck in to his head in the training.

Ouch.

He's thinking about starting to use a helmet behind the bench.

If I could photoshop, there would be an amazing pic of Boudreau with helmet.


Breakthrough

Words left unspoken, dreams that are broken

Well, BB didn't left anything unspoken when talking about Flyers and his feelings about the team that destroyed Caps' Stanley Cup dreams. Flyers were a bit more shy. Or couldn't form a reasonable sentence.

I gotta break through to you

Caps managed to get through Flyers' defense and Bäckström scored in the first period (assisted by Semin and Kozlov). Sadly the Flyers were on the move too and Coburn scored power play goal from Timonen's pass.
Shootout time!
Kozlov scored and then nothing.
Capitals won 2-1.

Am I flying or falling, running or crawling.

Flyers weren't flying, but according to Philadelphia's media, Ovechkin was running at poor lil' Flyers.
I didn't know Philadelphia was conquered by Swedes...

Cherepanov

Doping or not, you can't say he weren't talented. You just don't get those skills from medicine chest.

Canada played with their own rules

Bad translation, but that's pretty much what Sportbladet wrote. "Kanada får spela med sina egna regler" in Swedish.

Jesus. Christ.
You lost 5-1. You had "few" power plays. And now you cry that zebras were on Canada's side? That's lame. Actually, it's so lame I won't even write about. Well, more than I already have.
Grow up.

Now, things that matter. Hockey without bad losers.

Flyers - Capitals

I'm the flyer
got one desire
and that is to go straight to your heart
you know we got to get to the start...

What? This isn't about Sergey? Damn... The Flyers definitely don't go straight to my heart.

Group hug, guys

Queens of Philadelphia will make their class trip to Washington to honor Bush's last moments as president. Wait... what? Oh well, Caps will host Flyers when this new born rivalry takes place in Verizon Center on the world class ice.

Flyers and Flyers' fan, known for being classy, are no doubt in fear. Why? Because not only they have to dodge Ovechkin's checks, they also have to keep distance to Semin too. Which brings to mind... Is Fedorov still alive?

Likeable Flyers: Timonen & Niittymäki
Unlikeable Flyers: Everyone else

Caps lost last meeting 7-1, so they better win this one.

Otros partidos

Thrashers - Penguins

• Pens have lost their last 100 matches... This is your chance, Atlanta
• Satan, Malkin and Kovalchuk better score

Wild - Bruins

• The hope(s) of Finnish hockey vs Conference leader

From NHL.com

Canda wins WJC gold-medal game

Canda? Sure they did...

Great day for hockey

Indeed. Well, except if you're from Pittsburgh... Seriously, no goals against Rangers? Since Lundqvist was in the net, that kinda sucks.


Canada 5 - Sweden 1

I feel so bad for Små Kronors... No, not really. Sweden had a lot of power plays and nothing happened. Maybe they were chanelling their inner Penguins? And where the hell all those "top prospects" were?

Before the tournament started I wished Canada wouldn't win this one. They've already won it 4 times in a row, so it would have been nice to let someone else to win. Like Russia. Or Slovakia. But definitely not Sweden.

Game recap: Canada won (again), Tokarski saves, blah blah blah

Russia 5 - Slovakia 2

Slovakia fought. They didn't give up and tried to hold the puck and create changes even when all the hope was gone. Points for that. Points also for Jaroslav Janus, goalie behind Slovakia's success.

Conan O'Brien? Nice hat...

And Russia... What can I say? I'm happy that they decided to fight for bronze, despite the disappointment. It can't be easy to pull yourself together when you've been so close to fulfill your dream and then lose it in few seconds.


Their game wasn't perfect and some mistakes were made. But there were some highlight moves too. Like Filatov's second goal. He blocked a shot, stood up, stole the puck from Slovak player and stunned Janus. That was one og the best goals I've ever seen. It was also Filatov's 8th in the tournament and ties him with Tavaras for most goals.

Not Goncharov
Besides Filatov, Russia has Maxim Goncharov, a very offensive defenseman with 5 goals. Russia's defensemen are usually quite offensive but for me it looks like Goncharov has taken it to new levels.