Another perspective on last night's shellacking

So, don't shoot me, but... I had fun last night. It was, in my opinion, a Fun Game to watch.

Sure, Dubie sieved it up, but given his last couple of games, were you surprised? KC did the right thing giving him a chance but man, you just can't do that.

But the boys did play hard, kept the puck away from Brusty most of the night, and made Climie work. I can't argue with KC's assessment in that regard.

And they got angry. And they let it out at a point where it just didn't matter any more. I'm okay with that. Once the score was insurmountable, it kinda made me feel better to watch them rack up some PIM, too. Get 'em, boys. I dig it. And not just because I got to hear my name announced over and over (10 minute Ms.Conduct, game Ms.Conduct).

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I have Google Alerts set to send me any mention in the news or blogs about the "Houston Aeros" (it will now send me this post) and I occasionally get one from the odd casual fan who has written about going to an Aeros game in their blog. It's their one or two games a season they go to. No investment in the team particularly, other than having a few beers, watching guys crash and bang, and if they win, so much the better but it doesn't really matter.

I relish those little nuggets, because they remind me that after all the fretting over goalie stats and playoff runs and personnel and scratches and what is or isn't being done about all of it: Hockey is just fun.

Hockey is fun. That's why we're all here. And I hope that somehow the boys can find a way to keep making it fun for them and for us once we're into garbage time. Take some chances, put Kassian on the top line, take the occasional between-the-feet-backhand-spin-o-rama shot and if it doesn't work, well, so what? What have they got to lose?

2/27/10 -- Aeros v. Stars -- Comfortably Numb Edition

Kevin Constantine looked defeated after the game tonight. He sounded defeated. Even when he was defending his team and their effort he just looked and sounded defeated. Perhaps that's because he is defeated.

Once again Wade Dubielewicz got the start in goal on a Saturday night. Once again he allowed three goals in the first period. And once again, the team just could not overcome the start. But at least he was perfect. He faced three shots, and three shots went in the goal before Barry Brust was sent in to damn the flow. But the damning of the flow came too late as the Aeros lost 5-2.

I'll let Constantine's words speak for themselves.

"Actually, I loved our first period," he said. "I didn’t like the score, but I loved the way we worked, competed, and got scoring chances. I thought, we as a team, played really, really good. We gave up a few things. And it wasn’t really entirely Wade’s fault, but we gave up a lot. We played really, really hard. I wasn’t disappointed with the effort of the guys at all."

The difference in the game was goal keeping. Primarily, Matt Climie faced an overwhelming number of shots and let in only two -- both of which were mistakes. Jean-Michel Daoust banged a shot off the post that found the puck rebound to Jamie Fraser in just the right spot, and Fraser took advantage to briefly tie the game. And in the third, with the game out of reach at 4-1, Climie went away from the net while the Stars were on the power play in order to play the puck. Jaime Sifers swiped the puck and was past Climie and scored an illogical sounding empty-net, short-handed goal.

As to the play of Dubielewicz, Constantine explained:

"It’s tough....He actually hadn’t played for awhile because of being with the Wild. So he hadn’t played for awhile with the Wild, and then Barry was on a bit of a roll, so that kept him out, and then he didn’t play for a week here. It’s very tough for a goalie to find a rhythm, but we wanted to give him a chance. Barry hasn’t been played bad, but Barry hadn’t won in a couple of games, and the other guy deserves a shot when that happens. We wanted to give him a chance."

*****************************
The team just seemed to lose composure in the third period, which resulted in a fight-filled mini-brawl fest featuring cheap shots and lots of stupidity on the parts of many. This made a seemingly endless game seem infinitely longer than it already was.

*****************************

I'm jettisoning my year long Beatles music theme. There's only one song that I can think of which describes the horror that was this game. So here's Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb."

2/25/10 -- Aeros v. Manitoba -- We Need Some Help Edition

I'm short on time, so straight to the talking points from tonight's 3-2 loss to Manitoba.

Barry Brust took the loss on himself.

"I think the onus is on me. I’ve got to come up with a save. The second goal, they got a big break and hit our d-man’s stick and went right down the ice. The third goal, I thought I had it, but obviously I didn’t. That’s up to me. I’ve got to buckle down and be better."

But buckle down and be better is something that can be said of the entire team. It wasn't just Brust who lost focus after the tying goals. Those goals didn't just happen in isolation. It's been a season long problem that the team has to find a way to address.

*******************************

And speaking of season long problems, the injury bug hit again. Max Noreau took a shot off of his right ankle. He came back out to play, but I saw it after the game, and it was swollen. They're going to x-ray it tomorrow, and he's hoping that it's not broken -- if it is, you can probably kiss what playoff chances the team has left has nil.

As for why he came back out -- he scored the team's final goal -- he said that it was because they checked the ankle, and said that it couldn't get any worse if he played on it. The hockey boot keeps everything kind of tight. But we should know more tomorrow.

Constantine is hoping that Brandon Rogers can return this weekend, but he's suffering from a concussion, so the team isn't going to rush anything.

********************************

And for those of you who weren't following on Twitter -- shame on you -- the rumor is that the Aeros might be getting some help next week. The guys up in Milwaukee who handle the Admirals Short Shifts blog tweeted during the game that Tony Hrkac has signed a contract and is returning to the team next week. That will definitely increase the team speed from slow to even slower. Hrkac was a great presence on the team last season -- especially during the playoffs when the team was battling through tough playoff series after tough playoff series, and he showed that he still had some gas left in the tank. Hopefully, he can help the guys keep their focus on their games after they score a goal.

We checked with the Aeros, and all that we could get was a no comment.

The Aeros play in Texas on Friday, then host the Stars on Saturday night. With a record of 28-25-6-1 (63 points), they definitely need to get two wins this weekend.

And though I know I've played this song already this season, I thought it was apropos of the night. So here's The Beatles with "Help."

Risk/Reward in Goaltending

Okay, so let's talk about goaltending, shall we?

Being a goalie is just a heaping shitload of fun. You get to deny those bastards their goals, you get to make heroic saves, chicks dig you beyond reason (personally, I'm constantly getting hit with flying bras). It's the best position in all of sports.

Until you f**k up.

You can do your job perfectly, with flair, even go above and beyond with some slick break-out passes to your cherry-picking forwards, but the mistakes are what go on the scoreboard. Saves are just a number that pile up in the background--ephemeral and fleeting. But goals against? Those go down in bold print. And they can sully your whole night if you don't hang on to some perspective.

So, as much fun as goaltending is, a night like this, where you own the loss--where you fall on the sword as rightly Brusty did in his comments after the game--these are the nights that eat at you. You know you played well... except for... this, this, and this.

But here's the thing: I look at goalies a lot like I do investments. For every potential risk a goalie takes, there's an equivalent potential reward.

You have your goalies who don't play the puck much other than to cool it down behind the net or maybe a little pass up in the zone. Low risk, low reward.

You have, at the other end of the spectrum, your Brustys, Turcos, Thomases, who love to play the puck and 98% of the time, do so with a positive effect, at least pushing the play out to the blue line. At best, as Brusty did many times tonight, breaking the team out either into the neutral zone or all the way into offensive zone.

And then there's that 2% instance where, like tonight, he got caught behind the net with an opponent on either side and couldn't clear the puck but also couldn't free himself up to get back to the net. Oops. Goal.

High risk, high reward.

It took me Barry's entire first season in Houston for me to understand. I would tear my hair out. In fact, I got so riled about it, my husband gave that wandering goalie move a name, "The Heather."

Mr. C: "Ohhh, Brust is pulling a Heather."
Ms. C: "Shut up. Dammit, get back in your net, Brusty!"

But then I started to understand the position more and appreciate the advantages (and thrills) of wandering goalies. As a fan, it's either an acceptable risk and the entertainment value and potential reward of that style of goaltending is worth a couple of forehead slappers each season, or it's not and you'd rather the defensemen do the puck handling and the goalie keep his ass in the blue paint.

I don't think it's any secret, I don't so much lean to that "high risk" end of the spectrum as I take it some place quiet, get it liquored up, and have my way with it. I love it.

But that doesn't mean I look at this game tonight and think, "Ah well, Brusty gets a pass because he's that's his style." Nope. Because the other goals weren't so hot either, either by Brusty or the team as a whole. Clearly when goals against are coming immediately after goals for, and it's as predictable as it was tonight, there's a chink in the mental armor.

I don't know who KC will play Friday against Texas. He does tend to show faith in Barry to bounce back from bad games, and doesn't seem to have much faith in Dubie.

It's been a tough year for the big guy, but dominant goaltending is the only thing that's gonna get this team up the standings. Apologies to Mr. Hrkac (whose name, I'm happy to realize just now, I can still spell without thinking) as I'm sure his arrival will also help, but it won't be enough on its own.

Focus is what the Aeros need right now. They need it from themselves. They need it from their goaltender. They need it from the coaches. Hell, they need it from the Zamboni drivers and the ice girls and the pretzel sellers. Not to go all "clap to save Tinkerbell" but man, every point they don't get, the closer we are to "good night, drive home safe, see you next year, enjoy the golf."

But no pressure, boys. What are you gripping you sticks so hard for? ;)

Time ... is ... running ... out.

It is just about March, and the Aeros are six points out of the last playoff spot. The Aeros trail Texas by six points, and both teams have 21 games left on the slate.

This is just an example, but if the Aeros were to go 14-7, if they win two-thirds of their remaining schedule, that means Texas would have to go 11-10 for the Aeros to get in. That is, for lack of a better phrase, a daunting task.

Joe O'Donnell said it best last week: The Aeros are not on life support, but they are at the doctor complaining of chest pains.

I am not going to make a prediction here, I am going to save that for next week. The Aeros have two games against the Stars this weekend and one against the Moose. The Aeros are going to make a prediction on their own fate this weekend.

The Stars, who have lost six of eight overall just to keep the Aeros alive, have three games in three nights as well, but they'll be fresh Saturday at Toyota Center, while it will be the Aeros who will be playing its third game in three nights. If the Aeros lost both games to Texas, they are done. If they win both, and pick up a win against the Moose, that would be very, very helpful. If they win two of three, they better hope the Stars lose two of three. They have to make up some ground this weekend, or they are done.

Here are some random, but telling stats for fans to ponder as we enter another three in three weekend.

• The Aeros have 22 points (16 wins) when they are TIED after two periods. That shows a lot of resolve, and that is tied for the league high. Rockford also has 22 points when tied after two.
• The Aeros WOULD have a playoff spot right now, if the AHL employed a top-eight-in-each-conference make-the-playoffs format. They are one point ahead of the Moose for that spot; A loss tonight, and they lose it.
• We've said all along that they Aeros are very mediocre this season. They are the 15th best team in the AHL, points-wise. There are 14 teams better and 14 teams worse.
• Their home power play is dreadful. Second worst in the league.
• Their road power play is amazing. Second best in the league.
• The Aeros' penalty kill is very good and quite consistent. It is fourth best at home, fourth best on the road and fourth best in the AHL.
• Here is the stat that really irks me. This is why they probably won't make the playoffs: There are 29 teams in the AHL, and there are 28 teams that have more first period goals than the Aeros. They have 31 in 59 games. That means they barely average ONE first period goal every OTHER game.
• Silver lining to above stat! When they DO score a first period goal, and leave the ice with a lead after 20 minutes, they are 11-1-3-0.

UPDATE!
Here are some good notes from the Aeros PR/Media Relations staff about tonight's game with the Moose. One GREAT note to point out. The Aeros are 9-1-1-0 against teams from Canada. Their only regulation loss? To the Moose on opening night in Winnipeg.

HEAD TO HEAD
Record - Aeros: 28-24-6-1 (15-13-3-0, Home),
Moose: 28-25-5-1 (12-15-2-0, Road)
Power Play - Aeros: 42-259, 16.2% (21st),
Moose: 34-257, 13.2% (27th)
Penalty Kill - Aeros: 199-231, 86.5% (4th),
Moose: 205-252, 81.3% (19th)
Goals Scored - Aeros: 2.64 (24th), Moose: 2.56 (25th)
Goals Allowed - Aeros: 2.69 (10th), Moose: 3.00 (30th)
Penalty Minutes - Aeros: 16.10 PIM/gm (11th),
Moose: 18.08 PIM/gm (19th)
Scoring First - Aeros: 20-3-3-1, Moose: 16-9-1-0

AEROS NOTES

3-in-3 - The Aeros begin its third consecutive three-games-in-three-nights stretch. The Aeros travel to Cedar Park, TX tomorrow for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with the Texas Stars before the Stars come to Houston for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop Saturday night from Toyota Center. The Aeros have seven 3-in-3s this season as opposed to 15 last season.

Aeros vs. North - The Aeros are playing their 21st game against a North Division opponent and enter tonight's affair with a 13-6-1-0 record against the division including a 9-1-1-0 mark against Canadian based teams (2-1-0-0 vs. MTB). Houston hosts the Lake Erie Monsters Mar. 26 in its final game against a North division opponent this season.

Wild West - The West Division's top five teams are currently separated by 15 points. Houston sits in fifth position on the outside looking in six points back of the division's fourth and final playoff spot inhabited by Lone Star rival Texas.

Squadron Leaders - D Maxim Noreau scored a goal and added an assist to take over the club lead in points with 43 (15g, 28a). RW Jon DiSalvatore remains the team leader with 18 goals scored and LW Matt Kassian leads Aeros skaters with 113 PIM.

Home and Away - The Aeros are 15-11-3-0 on home ice, 16 of 136 (11.8%) on the power play and 99 of 113 (87.6%) on the penalty kill. Away from Toyota Center, they carry a 13-13-3-1 record and have converted on 26 of 123 (21.1%) power plays while killing 100 of 117 (85.5%) penalties. Houston's 76 goals on home ice this season is third lowest in the AHL (Adirondack - 61, Bridgeport - 73).

Milestones - RW Danny Irmen is currently tied with Dan Cavanaugh for third place among Aeros all-time AHL games played. C Nathan Smith is four points from his 200th pro/AHL point. Noreau is two points away from his 100th AHL/Aeros point. Kassian is nine PIM away from 300 AHL PIMs.

The Aeros travel to Cedar Park, TX tomorrow night to face the Texas Stars as the two clubs rekindle the State Farm Lone Star Faceoff. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Park Center. The Stars visit Toyota Center the following evening, Saturday for a 7:35 p.m. game to be televised live on Fox Sports Plus.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --

Aeros well-represented in Vancouver

Maybe it is just because I have been paying attention a lot more this year, but the 2010 Olympic Hockey tournament has been absolutely fantastic.

We've seen a huge upset, lots of goals by the women's USA and Canadian teams. We've seen more blood per Olympics that we're used to. And last night, a puck went through the net. They needed video review to confirm the goal by Shea Weber. No, there was no hole in the net. It just went through. This time, though, Max Noreau was not involved.

There are nine former Aeros sprinkled throughout the men's rosters this year, and I got a little teary-eyed taking the trip down memory lane to see where the guys are now.

Without further delay, here are the former Aeros in the 2010 Olympics


Goaltender Tim Thomas, USA
Born Apr 15 1974 -- Flint, MI
Height 5.11 -- Weight 201 -- Shoots L

Thomas played in one game for the Aeros under Dave Tippett during the 1997-98 season. He allowed four goals in 59 minutes and took the loss against the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Nov. 6, 1997. He now plays for the Boston Bruins in the NHL.


Defenseman Filip Kuba, CZE
Born Dec 29 1976 -- Ostrava, Czech Rep.
Height 6.03 -- Weight 225 -- Shoots L

Kuba played for Ron Low's Aeros in 1999-2000 on loan from the Florida Panthers. In 27 games that year, Kuba scored three goals and added six assists for nine points. He helped the Aeros get to the West Finals before they bowed out to the Chicago Wolves in six games.


Defenseman Zbynek Michalek, CZE
Born Dec 23 1982 -- Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Rep.
Height 6.02 -- Weight 210 -- Shoots R

Michalek, affectionately known as "Z," played for the Aeros from 2002 through the 2005 "lockout" season. He's the most tenured Aero of all the 2010 Olympians, having played 193 game for the Aeros, all under Todd McLellan, who is now the head coach of the San Jose Sharks. He was a great two-way player, scoring 16 goals to go along with 43 assists. "Z" was eventually traded to the Phoenix Coyotes organization for Erik Westrum; Michalek has been in the NHL ever since, spending the whole time with the Coyotes.


Defenseman Sven Butenschon, GER
Born Mar 22 1976 -- Itzehoe, Germany
Height 6.04 -- Weight 215 -- Shoots L

Dave Tippett worked out a deal to get Butenschon and Sean Pronger in Oct. 1998. That was one of several deals that helped the Aeros win their first championship in 1999. Butenschon, a stay-at-home defenseman, played in 57 games during their Turner Cup run. He scored one goal to go along with four assists. He and Pronger were called up before the playoffs started, but the Aeros went all the way without them. Butenschon has spent most of his career in Germany since leaving the Aeros.


Forward Hnat Domenichelli, SUI
Born Feb 16 1976 -- Edmonton, ALTA
Height 6.00 -- Weight 180 -- Shoots L

Domenichelli was probably good enough to play in the NHL the year he was sent to Houston, but there was just not enough room on a Wild team that arguably had their best-ever roster that year. The Wild made it to the West finals after a stunning upset of Colorado. Because that team was deep at forward and was remarkably injury free (for a Wild team), the Aeros had Domenichelli for 99 percent of their second championship. He was very good in the AHL, too. In 62 regular-season games for the Aeros, Domenichelli scored 29 goals to go along with 34 assists. He had 14 points in the playoffs, as the Aeros needed two Game 7 road wins over Grand Rapids and Hamilton to hoist the Calder Cup. Domenichelli has played in the Swiss A league since leaving the Wild organization.


Forward Marius Holtet, NOR
Born Aug 31 1984 -- Hamar, Norway
Height 6.01 -- Weight 188 -- Shoots R

During the lockout year (2004-05), the Dallas Stars did not have an AHL affiliate. They sent their prospects to several AHL teams that year, and the Aeros picked up Holtet from their NHL neighbors to the north. In 54 games for Todd McLellan's Aeros, Holtet recorded 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and played in one playoff game. After three more average years playing for the Iowa Stars, Holtet left to play in the Swedish Elite League.


Forward Mattias Weinhandl, SWE
Born Jun 1 1980 -- Ljunjby, Sweden
Height 6.00 -- Weight 183 -- Shoots R

After 27 disappointing games for the Wild covering two seasons, Weinhandl was banished to the Aeros in the 2006-07. For those that need a quick refresher, that was the year that goalie Josh Harding kept the team in the playoff race in the first 45 games of the season or so. After he was recalled to St. Paul permanently sometime in February, the team was an absolute disaster. Weinhandl was the team's best offensive player from his mid-December demotion through the end of the regular season. he played in 48 games for Rob Daum's Aeros and scored 18 goals and added 27 assists. The Aeros did not make the playoffs that year and Daum was fired very shortly after that season ended.


Forward Mikko Koivu, FIN
Born Mar 12 1983 -- Turku, Finland
Height 6.02 -- Weight 205 -- Shoots L

There is only one reason that Koivu ever played in the AHL: The 2004-05lockout. He was a very good playmaker in the AHL and put up 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 67 games that year. Koivu missed some time after needing an emergency appendectomy, but never missed a beat until the playoffs. He took a brutal hit at Allstate Arena in Game 1 or 2 and was a ghost after that. The Aeros split the first two games against the Wolves, and then game home and lost three straight games at Toyota Center. There was never any doubt that Koivu was going to be a great NHL player, but he lost the respect of several Aeros fans for his sheepish playoff series.


Forward John Tripp, GER
Born May 4 1977 -- Kingston, ONT
Height 6.02 -- Weight 215 -- Shoots R

In January 2001, Dave Barr found Tripp, then a Calgary Flames prospect, playing in the ECHL with Pensacola and signed him to a tryout. Tripp went on to have moderate success in the AHL and German leagues, but his brief stint with the Aeros left much to be desired. In 15 games with the Aeros in 2000-01, Tripp posted just six assists. He also played for the Hershey Bears and Milwaukee Admirals that year and did not have his "breakout year" at the AAA level until he scored 29 goals for the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2002-03. Tripp recorded 34 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings in '03-'04, but has been in Germany for the last three years.

Sparing you the gore, but photos from Chicago

Not that you want to relive it in photos, but hey, how often do we get pics of the boys anymore? Thanks Aeros!

So, here are Chris "IcyHot" Jerina's shots from the 7-1 slaughter in Chicago on Saturday.

Of all the pics of goals going in and sad goalies and happy Wolfies, this one makes me the saddest... that of the Aeros' most versatile defenseman/centerman, Brandon Rogers, in the stands with an injury. He's been super glue for the Aeros most of the season, playing wherever he's asked, doing whatever is needed. I haven't heard officially what the injury prognosis is, but I'm sure we'll find out on Thursday if he's not back on the ice.


Colton Gillies uses his big frame to protect the puck.


Cool shot of Sifers letting one rip and Sterling dropping to block it (and inside thinking, "not the face not the face not the face").


And because I'm me and Brusty's Brusty... O hai!


Okay, there are lots of other great pics in the set, but honestly, it was too miserable a game for me to want to relive in any depth. Still, much appreciation to Chris for shooting the Aeros.

ALL PHOTOS by Chris "Aeros all the way, bitches" Jerina

Houston finds itself in Peoria: Aeros 4, Rivermen 1

Phew. Okay. Thanks boys.

It was immediately clear that the boys were focused and ready to win tonight. Frankly, as much as I love to watch him stretch, Peoria goalie Ben Bishop isn't setting the world on fire, and I felt like if there was a night to get the scoring going, this was it.

The first half of the game, the Aeros were a different team, controlling the puck often, keeping a lot of pressure in Peoria's end, wearing them down, if not scoring.

But Peoria was the first on the board 15 minutes into the first with an odd-man rush that honestly, I was surprised Brusty didn't stop, but it happens. And from there he stopped everything else for 31 saves on 32 shots.

Meanwhile, Chad Rau tied it up 6 mins into the 2nd with, of all things, a penalty shot. He was hauled down on a breakaway, and Bishop "strategically let go" of his stick to prevent Rau scoring in an empty net. Unfortunately, for some reason, the feed from Peoria showed the fans in the stands rather than the actual action on the ice during the entire penalty shot. I was so distracted by that, I didn't really even listen to Joe's call other than to hear that he scored.

For perspective, apparently the last time the Aeros had a penalty shot was back when Joel Ward was with the team. So, that was pretty exciting, even if we couldn't see it.

Then, about 10 minutes later, Cody Almond was set free from the penalty box and joined a rush started by Brusty with a huge outlet pass, that resulted in a 3 on 1 and Gillies scoring the eventual game winner.

And just to prove they can score every which way, Milroy scored in a scramble in front of Bishop's net 5 minutes into the third.

Peoria pulled the goalie at the end and it got pretty hairy, but Brusty made some huuuuge saves and kept it a 2 goal game, until Irmen put one in the empty net to get it to 4-1. Bob's yer uncle. Game over. Drive home safely.

Couple of fights worth mentioning: Mitch Love and Matt Kassian dropped the mitts 5 minutes into the game and man, Mitch is a smaller guy, but I think most of us who know them would expect it to be a fairly good match-up. It definitely was, with both guys landing lots of solid punches. Frankly, it looked pretty painful for both guys, but I'm sure their teammates appreciated the energy it brought the game.

Then midway through the second period, Nathan Smith and Cam Paddock went toe to toe in what looked like it was going to be a hug-and-falldown kinda deal, but they ended up swinging for a good long while. One of the longest fights I've seen.

Probably wasn't the most necessary thing ever but maybe there was a score to settle there.

Okay, gotta head to my own hockey game, but I do so with a little more love in my heart.

But also admittedly, a little bit of nervousness. Three goalies. I don't see 3 sticking around. Florida has been playing with 1 goalie for 11 games now waiting for Brusty to come back. Kinda hate them for it, if I'm being honest. Circling vultures.

But I understand. He's worthy of being in demand. But shouldn't the Aeros have the best goalies IN Houston? Bah. We'll see, I guess.

Aeros give up 6 in 1st period, lose 7-1 to Wolves

You ever make a new friend and you think, "They're a little wacky... but I like them." You invest a little in them, they know a few of your secrets, you kinda ignore the red flags because you find them amusing or whatever.

And then they confess to you that they have another family in Michigan and they need you to lie to their local spouse for them.

Uh oh. They're f**ked up!

That's kinda what this game was for me with the Aeros. Like, I was never particularly married to them, but you know, they've got a few charming ways, right?

But now. Yeesh. You're way more screwed up than I realized, Aeros.

*backing away slowly*

Unfortunately, Chicago is one of those cities whose AHL Live feed is basically the center ice camera that never zooms in. And no replays. So, I have no idea how good or bad any of the goals were. I'm guessing it's a mix.

Dubie was in for the first 3, which he allowed in the first 5:30 of the game. Then Brusty came in and let 3 more in. Then Dubie was back in for the final 2 periods and let in one in the third.

I guess if you want a silver lining, Noreau scored on a power play late in the first. I know. Whatever.

I think we can safely say that if you wanted to make plans in mid-April, you can go ahead.

Silver lining: Pretty pictures

I know some won't find this to be particularly redemptive of last night's goose egg, but as usual, our mid-westerner behind the lens, Chris "Not Lusty for Brusty" Jerina did a great job capturing the game and making it look not nearly as painful as it actually was.

I feel slightly less hateful after looking at them. Though that could also be from spending my morning taking it out on all the frozen-dead foliage in my back yard. Gardening is therapeutic.

Let's eat our veggies first:

Sorry Smitty. It was hit in with a high stick, according to the ref, so No Goal. I still don't understand how, if MY defenseman hits it in with a high stick, it's still a goal against me, but if my opponent does, it isn't. But that's another story.


How the hell does this not go in?


Would love to be a fly on the cage here... Kinda wanna blocker the smug right off Santorelli's face.
True Fact: Goalies are allowed to use blocker as a verb. "I blockered it into the corner." "He ran my crease so I blockered him right in the jewels."


Welcome to everywhere BUT the inside of the net, puck.


ROBBED! Have mercy, Dex...


Okay, on to the pretties:

*shudder* Yes. Just like this.

CRRRRONCH!


Me, too, honey. Me, too.


And finally, my favorite of the bunch. So many intense faces. Love it.


Here's the full photo set. There are plenty more great ones where these came from.

All photos by Chris "My Girlfriend is Awesome" Jerina