It's hockey night

Alright, here we go with this live blogging attempt. Not sure what I'll write about for the next six hours, but it can't be that hard right.

5:04 p.m. - My big plan today was to try and get two TV's going so I could watch both the CBC and TSN games. But for whatever reason, I can't seem to pick up CBC over the air. CH, Global, City and CTV all come in clear as a whistle, but Canada's national broadcaster is nowhere to be found. So I'll have to settle for flipping with the remote control.

5:07 p.m. - The moment of silence for the Virginia Tech victims was classy. Yesterday I couldn't help but think about what it would be like to be a student and res fellow at that school.

5:09 p.m. - Anthem dude (I didn't catch his name) sure rushed through the Canadian version.

5:13 p.m. - Good, quick pace to start the game. If it continues like this it will be must-see-TV

8:41 p.m. - That camera in the corner angle can be quite annoying at times. You miss what's happening on the rest of the ice.

5:15 p.m. - Fluky goal, but they all count. This just proves the age old adage that it's never wrong to shoot the puck. The goal is under review, but I agree with the announcers, Neil never touched it.

5:20 p.m. - Uggh. 1-0 Rangers. My Atlanta pick isn't looking so hot. In fact going into tonight three of my first round winners (Minnesota, Calgary and Atlanta) are a combined 0-7. Looks like continued futility in this pool is assured.

5:30 p.m. - The Sens just got away with having too many men on the ice. That's a penalty that's not called enough. In last night's games there were at least two certain too many men on the ice calls that were missed.

5:32 p.m. - 2-0 Rangers. The Thrashers got into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history this year, but it's looking like they won't win a game. And now it's 3-0.

5:35 p.m. - Can you imagine how good the Peguins power play will be when Crosby, Malkin and company actually grow up?

5:45 p.m. - Brenden Shanahan just took a holding penalty on Greg De Vries. The MSG Network announcer said it was a good penalty because De Vries had a step on him. But it was Greg FREAKING DeVries. He scored a grand total of three goals this year. The Thrashers probably have a better chance of scoring on one power play than De Vries connecting on one of 10 clear-cut breakaways.

5:55 p.m. - What was the point of Cherry showing that long clip from Sunday's Coach's Corner tonight? I assumed it would be to prove he was right about something, but he just showed the clip and signed off.

6:08 p.m. - Crosby finally draws a penalty. He's gone down three times in front of the net, but the referees (wisely) didn't call anything the first two times.

6:13 p.m. - One reason to like Bob Cole, calls like "The fans sense something is about to happen. I wonder..." One reason to dislike Bob Cole, his inability to identify Christoph Shubert until a good five seconds after the play was over.

6:16 p.m. - And we're all even. Hard work pays off.
Oh and for the record, it's 4-0 Rangers. The rout is on.

6:24 p.m. - I admit I was wrong aboutt the Sens picking up Mike Comrie and Oleg Saprykin. I figured they'd both be busts, but it seems that Comrie in particular has been a real asset.

6:29 p.m. - The Pens are dominating the second period. I wouldn't be surprised if they scored very soon.
Over on TSN, Shannahan just literaly jumped into the Atlanta goaltender and the MSG announcers are decrying it as a bad call. Seems like Shanny can do no wrong.

6:38 p.m. - One third of the way through this exercise and I'm having fun. Not sure if anyone is reading this mind you, but at least I'm being entertained. But for all you phantom readers I'm going to take a quick break to rustle up some dinner.

7:00 p.m. - Great start by Ottawa in the third, they've turned the momentum around in a hurry.

7:08 p.m. - Huge goal for Ottawa. That could very well win them the series, and it was Comrie with the pretty set-up. I guess Muckler saw something in the guy no one else did.

7:16 p.m. - Saprykin just missed the net on a good chance. Now THAT'S the Oleg Saprykin I remember wearing the flaming 'C.'

7:25 p.m. - My three stars, voted on with two minutes to go in the game: first Ray Emery, second Gary Roberts and third Mike Comrie.

7:31 p.m. - That's all she wrote. Ottawa weathered the storm in the second and came on strong in the third. Now they have the chance to wrap things up on home ice, and I think they will.

7:34 p.m. - I went 1/3 on the three stars. The actual list: Emery, Staal, Spezza.

7:37 p.m. - We're between games on CBC, but TSN has Minnesota/Anaheim. If the Ducks wins it's over, but I believe the Wild will pull this one out tonight. 3-2 Minny.

As for the Flames/Wings tilt, let's hope that vaunted home ice advantage the Flames had during the first 3/4 of the regular season comes back for the playoffs. If Calgary can get off to a good start and stay out of the box, I believe they can get right back in the series. 4-2 Calgary, with goals from Hamerlik, Lombardi and Huselius (2).

8:04 p.m. - Alright, got the Flames jersey on. We're ready to go.

8:08 p.m. - Good to see Heather back for the playoffs. The Flames had a few terrible anthem singers down the stretch.

8:11 p.m. - I didn't realize American viewers have to put up with Wittman too.

8:12 p.m. - Apparently Hale's flying elbows in Game 2 didn't impress the coaches. Welcome back Marc Giordano.

8:14 p.m. - Early power play for the Flames. A goal here would really set the tone.

8:18 p.m. - How out that schmoozle, Hamerlik gets the only penalty? The only plus to come out the exchange was analyst Drew Remenda using the word 'crap.'

8:24 p.m. - With Chris Pronger's goal, my three winless teams (Minny, ATL, Calgary) are now losing by a combined total of 8-0 tonight. Beautiful.

And now Primeau takes a four minute penalty. Even better.

8:29 p.m. - I don't know what's more entertaining: the hockey game or the guy in the camper trying to parallel park across the street.

8:31 p.m. - Great PK. And dude is still trying to nudget into that spot.

8:32 p.m. - Minny scores. Dude completes his tough parking job. My night is turning around.

8:37 p.m. - Iffy call, but I'll take the power play.

8:38 p.m. - POST! But at least Iginla is shooting.

8:42 p.m. - Poor Rhett Warriner. He has the worst luck.

8:48 p.m. - So the Knuckleheads win another one-goal game. They were a surprisingly popular pick among poolies this year.

8:49 p.m. - How the Flames expectations have fallen. They now get a standing ovation for not losing after the first period.

8:57 p.m. - Apparently Brian Hayward is doing colour on the Ducks/Wild game. Better than having him do the Rangers series, I guess.

8:59 p.m. - Minnesota scores. There's life in those Wild yet.

9:04 p.m. - Record traffic on this site tonight, particularily from China. It must be a factor of people clicking on the most recently updated blog button. But still we've had visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and New Zealand. Granted none of these people stay to actually read anything. But the hit count is getting jacked up.

9:11 p.m. - As Remenda pointed out Mike Babcock is indeed a former Red Deer College Kings head coach. Alas, the men's hockey program at the school died a few years ago. But the women's program is going strong. Of course the men's volleyball team is the class of the country, with eight straight national titles.

10:35 p.m. - Terrible penalty by Tanguay. Well behind the play, in the offensive zone. There was no need for that. Hopefully the Flames don't get burned.
9:21 a.m. - Get your rally caps on Minnesota. The comeback of the year is underway!

9:23 p.m. - The Jets traded Draper for $1? This will require some googling, but really couldn't they have at least gotten a bag of pucks?

9:25 p.m. - GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL! There's my Lombardi goal.

9:32 p.m. - Way to go Langkow and Stuart. Just let Draper walk to the front of the net.

9:40 p.m. - That Draper for $1 is in the Sun, so it must be true.

9:47 p.m. Well it's (almost) after two and the Flames are still in it. Got the Red Wings were they want them, methinks.

10:12 p.m. - Damn you Chris Draper. I'm beginning to wish the Jets hadn't got all gready and looked for that dollar.

10:16 p.m. - Nice to see the goal judge getting involved and creating some buzz. Isn't it about time we got rid of those guys?

10:18 p.m. - God bless Marc Giordano. That should keep him in the line-up for the next game. Although he did get benched after a two-goal game against Toronto earlier in the year.

10:22 p.m. - Fire alarm! Just like the Ottawa Civic Centre. I remember having to evacuate once during a 67s game. Turned out to be a false alarm, but it was still annoying. If memory serves the alarm went off again after we got back in the rink.

10:26 p.m. - BOOO-YAH. Protypical Iginla goal, coming down the wing, quick shot. I love it.

10:30 p.m. - Calder gets goalie interference, I was afraid the penalty was going against the Flames defenceman tying him up.

10:38 p.m. - Those are the type of saves the Flames need from Kiprusoff. Third period, with the game on the line. Let's hope he's not forced to make many more tonight.

10:40 p.m. - I don't know what's less surprising, Warriner getting hit in the face with a puck, or Bertuzzi getting hurt.

10:42 p.m. - My three stars: Draper, Iginla, Kiprusoff. I realize it's contraversial to give the first star to a visiting player on a team currently losing, but he deserves it. The Wings got their dollar's worth tonight from him.

10:45 p.m. - I knew Friesen would come in handy at some point this year.

10:49 p.m. - Just what the doctor ordered. A solid effort. A big win. Calgary is right back in the series. Maybe they shouldn't trade that Iginla character after all.

10:50 p.m. - A big thanks to all who checked out the page tonight and to Lloyd for keeping up the conversation all night.