Confession and format change

Good morning, loyal readers (all three of you. Assuming I lost one due to their apparent dislike of tattooed ladies). I just wanted to drop a quick FYI/Confession to everyone that I've decided my heart is no longer in following and chronicling the Thrashers. My adoration and respect for Kari Lehtonen was the main reason being the beginning of this blog, and with his constant injuries and illnesses, in addition to the (as of last season) poor play of the team around him, I just can't drum up the interest to keep writing about the Thrash. Once Kari returns to form, I'll be more than happy to write about and post photos of him critiquing his play and  providing the accolades he so well deserves.

However, my heart has returned to its roots in New England, and the Northeast Division. Instead of chronicling the Thrashers and their mishaps, I'll be turning instead to writing about the Bruins and their methodic destruction of every team in the league (that loss to the Caps doesn't count). I'll also periodically be dropping a blurb or two about the Leafs, and my favourite up-and-coming defenceman Luke Schenn.

I'm aware that by doing this, I'm likely to lose quite a few readers, and that's okay. I never started this blog to get public attention, or kudos, or get my name out there in the blogosphere. I started it to chronicle the careers of the teams and players I love. And my New England roots won't ever let me forget my love for the Hub of Hockey, especially with Mr Milan Lucic quickly becoming the most feared and respected fighter in the NHL. Fighting is what got me into hockey in the first place - a great late-night game on ESPN (oh those were the days) between the Kings and some other team not featuring Luc Robitaille, and blood was spilled, and LEFT ON THE ICE! How awesome is a game where they can beat the crap out of each other and leave the evidence right there for everyone to see, as a reminder? Granted they no longer leave the blood on the ice, and there's ads on the boards now, and all over the ice surface, but at the heart of it, the game is the same, and I have to be honest - I bleed Black and Gold.

I have informed the New York Times of my decision to no longer cover the Thrashers, and as such have recommended Waldorf and Stadler over at Blueland Chronicle to take my place, as I feel they're the best independent Thrasher bloggers out there.

Thanks for sticking with me the past two and half seasons, and I hope some of you will continue carrying on with me once I switch over to writing about the B's. If not, no hard feelings. After all, this blog is mostly for me, and my memories, not for anyone else.

Take it easy, kids.

Here we go again...

Tell me if this sounds familiar: The team doesn't show up to play, Lehtonen holds the #1 Bruins to 1 goal until 6:05 in the 3rd, Johan gets tonight's start.

I'm reminded of last season when Hartley and Waddell jerked Kari around instead of just making him the starter, saying the goalies have to earn their starts. I'm reminded of playoffs a couple years ago when Kari and Jo got jerked in and out of the cage. I'm reminded of Worlds', when the Finn coach did the exact same damned thing between Kari and Fredrik Norrena.

We are not the Bruins. We do not have two top goalies who can be switched out on a whim to rest each other. We do not have the consistently good defence to keep switching goalies, and we do not have the competent offence either. If this team needs anything actually attainable, it's consistency. And I don't mean consistently being a clusterfuck on ice.

I have to be honest. I don't think I can support this team until something is done to actually improve the lack of chemistry, and the lack of consistency, and the lack of consideration for their fragile goalie. I know he's a 25 year old man, but do you know goalies? I know goalies, and goalies are a whole different breed from the rest of us and even Patrick Roy and Marty Brodeur went through times when they were fragile and had to be handled with kid gloves.

I've got a lot going on away from the blog and don't really have the time to post as much as I generally like to, but frankly, there's nothing I want to post about this team. Maybe if they learn how to play professionally, maybe if they learn some chemistry, maybe if they actually show up to play. Until then, this really will be Kari Central, and I have a feeling there's going to be more of a transition into posting about the Bruins. I'm sure there will be people yelling "bandwagon jumper!" at the top of their lungs, and stop reading this blog because of it but I don't really give a shit. I was born bleeding Black and Gold, seeing as how my mom's a B's fan from Mass. I've loved the Bruins for most of my life, I was just never very vocal about that love. And I don't know how much writing or posting I'll be doing for a little while, but there it is.

So in summation:
- Thrashers = incompetent, inconsistent, embarassment
- Kari = #32 in my program, always #1 in my blog
- Bruins = the new black.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you come here for the sunshine I blow up the collective Thrashers' ass, I won't be heartbroken if you don't come by anymore, because the sunshine is hiding behind a heavy layer of clouds now. When they start playing up to expectations again, I'll think about seeing if the clouds have disappated. Kari, however, I will keep posting about. Bottom line?

Welcome to Kari Central where we're Into Bruins.

Pens/Flyers recap. Also, change of format?

Maybe a change of format coming here soon. I love the Thrash but I love hockey as a whole, so I might soon be flipping this from Thrash-centric to NHL on the whole. Because seriously, what writer DIDN'T want to write about last night's Pens/Flyers game?! Good thing the Thrashers don't give out press passes to bloggers, eh? They'd be yanking mine right back, hah!

Onto Pens/Flyers.

Any game that starts with Gator beating the shit out of a guy nicknamed Bugsy, well, that's one to keep watching. In case you missed it:

In the meantime, here's Sid Crosby screaming like a little girl (note: I love Sid, but doesn't it look like he's bitching out?!):

And look, not that Triz or I brag much, but we totally deserve to today. FRIEND OF FWH, JOFF "How's Pitkanen working out for ya, KLowe?" LUPUL PUT UP 6 POINTS LAST NIGHT! First time in over 10 years a Flyer has done that, the last being Eric "Which way did that truck go?" Lindros. Here is one of Looper's many goals:

And lastly, cause I gotta show the Gator love... Here's Captain Smith with RJ "I'm FROM Pittsburgh, BITCHES! WHAT NOW?!" Umberger, after one of RJ's 920382093 goals as well:


If anyone's got any shots of Gator's fight with Bugsy, SEND THEM MY WAY!

And if this doesn't speak of one of the best NHL games in a long time, you don't know what the fuck you're looking at.



Thrashers by 1 tonight, Johan in nets, look for at least 2 by Kovy.