Hockey...sweet, sweet hockey.

(Note to interested readers - some of you know about our recent emergency trip back to Minnesota - I'm not going to address all of that here. I just feel that this is not the forum.)


So I know what you're thinking. We're over halfway through the semifinal round of the playoffs, and no word about the ice? You're no doubt wondering where are my priorities? Like, am I even trying to grow a playoff beard?

Sadly for me, but happily for my employers and everyone that I have to kiss, I am not growing a beard this year. Had the Wild made it, I would be as hirsute as I can be. As it is, I'm not sure who I am even cheering for. I will say, however, that Tivo (or IQ as the call it here) makes the cheering much more fun! Not only is it recording all the games, rewinding and pausing the odd game that happens while I am awake, but it gives one a sense of power. If only it applied to real life - or even just stoplights - life would be greatly enriched.



Anyway, back to the playoffs.

It was never going to be the Rangers. I just can't, ever, not even if he were on my team, cheer for Avery. (in their favor, though, Mara has the best beard since Commodore). It also couldn't ever be the Sharks, in spite of the resurrection of Claude Lemieux. I like Jeremy Roenick, but there is something about watching Joe Thornton flounder that makes me happy.


The obvious choice is the Devils, since Brodeur is not only the best, but the coolest. Unfortunately, they just didn't have the firepower. Flyers? Nope. Hurricanes? Don't make me laugh. Anaheim? Anaheim? Hold on (vomiting sound). So...who does that leave? Red Wings are just cliche. They will probably win, but it's no fun to cheer for them. Their estimated 712,000 games of playoff experience makes it seem automatic, but it would be more exciting for a cinderella team to show up.

Did somebody say exciting? How about Ovechkin? I hadn't had much of a chance to watch him before, but he backchecks, scores goals, and boy! can he throw an open-ice hit! Fun to watch, plus Varlamov adds that Cinderella aspect of completely untried goalie carrying them through the first round. Unfortunately for the Caps, it will come down to coaching.


And let's face it - the Caps are coached by Mr. Carlson from WKRP, while the Penguins are coached by Noah Bennet from Heroes. No contest. Even if Boudreau did play for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, we've seen him taken advantage of by the likes of Les Nessman too many times.











So, my ideal matchup would be Blackhawks/Capitals in the final. I would accept a Red Wings/Penguins matchup. I have nightmares, however, that involve watching the Hurricanes and the Ducks. Only time will tell.


In the meantime, where's my razor?