Some Friday Fun

If you're a Detroit Red Wings fan, you have to be slightly worried about this surge of momentum that the Pittsburgh Penguins are riding. Up 2-0 in the series as you visited the Steel City, you're heading back to the Motor City tied at 2-2. Pittsburgh may not have outplayed you in every period, however, so you have some positives to work with as you head home. The good news? You're 10-1 at home in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the only blemish coming on the Todd Marchant game-winning goal in the 15th overtime period or something against the Ducks. So why worry? It's a best-of-three series now, and you have two games at home. The advantage is still on your side.

And that's what brings me to today. We analyze, offer introspect, over-analyze, over-think, and regurgitate all this stuff about these two teams that we sometimes forget to have a little fun. So I'm putting down the stats sheets and the pencils and the analytical side of my brain for some fun today.

First, how many people caught the fake referee last night in the front-row in Pittsburgh? Anyone? Hopefully someone from The Pensblog did because Tyler Kennedy did. As you can see, Kennedy is fist-pumping his way to the boards, and our Mick McGeough imitator is cheering wildly in the front-row. Come to think of it, that might actually be McGeough the way he is showing favoritism towards one team over another.

McGeough really got into the game, and Tyler Kennedy showed him some love by jumping into the glass in front of him. Actually, Kennedy may have been trying to bodycheck McGeough, but it looked pretty good either way. Orpik, Gonchar, and Kunitz come over to celebrate the tic-tac-toe goal, and there's McGeough swooping in for the group hug. But I do have to admit that it's rare to see a retired referee at a game in full uniform. In any case, this "fan" helped the Penguins even the series as they head back to Detroit.

To the real Mick McGeough, I'm just poking fun at you.

Ok, onto why I'm writing this today. I received an invitation from the lovely and talented "Dave Schultz", who writes the blog titled I Mean, We Got Guys..., to participate in the Reader's Challenge. Schultzy is looking to open the door to some info about hockey fans, and I will happily oblige. Here goes.

1) What's your favorite team?

AHL: Manitoba Moose
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins

2) What's your least favorite team?

Toronto Maple Leafs.

3) Who's your favorite player?

Always was and always will be Mario Lemieux.

4) Who's your least favorite player?

I have zero respect for Sean Avery.

5) Favorite American team?

Pittsburgh Penguins

6) Favorite Canadian team?

Manitoba Moose

7) Favorite International team?

Team Canada

8) Who's your favorite goalie?

Vladislav Tretiak. The guy scared an entire country straight when the Russians played the Canadians in 1972. Also, his birdcage-style mask help to revolutionize the position.

9) Least favorite goalie?

Never really liked Tom Barrasso despite his two Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh.

10) Favorite fighter?

The Hanson Brothers. No question. Best hockey brawls ever.

11) Least favorite fighter?

Jarkko Ruutu. Really? You bite guys? Really?

12) Favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

New York Islanders' Fisherman jerseys. It's still years ahead of its time.

13) Least favorite jersey/uniform/outfit/sweater?

There are so many that I truly dislike, but I'm tired of the Carolina black alternate/San Jose black alternate phase. This black fad is over. Stick with your iconic colours.

14) Do you like home, away, or "third" jerseys best?

I like white at home, and the colourful, non-black jerseys were nice to see when other teams visit.

15) Who do you want to win the Cup?

NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins
AHL: Manitoba Moose

16) No question.

What happened to #16?

17) Which player would you most like to sit and have coffee with?

Mario Lemieux

18) What about a beer?

Jeremy Roenick

19) How about just watch the game with?

Don Cherry. Who wouldn't love to sit beside a guy dressed like this?

20) Have an in-depth hockey conversation with?

Scotty Bowman

21) Do you collect hockey cards, memorabilia, etc?

Yeah, I have what some psychologists call "a problem". I'm done with hockey cards, but I'll pick up hockey stuff if it catches my eye.

22) If so, what's your favorite card?

My Manon Rheaume card.

23) Which is worth the most, and what's it worth?

No clue. Haven't checked, and I don't plan on selling it. I'm guessing it's worth no more than $5, but I'm not concerned about price.

24) Do you live by any hockey players?

Probably. Pro hockey players? Not that I know of.

25) This question doesn't exist as well.

What kind of quiz is this?

26) Do you play hockey?

Absolutely! People, you have to get into spongee. Greatest. Game. Ever.

27) What do you wear to hockey games?

Jeans, an appropriate jersey, some sort of matching ball cap, shoes, underwear... the normal stuff.

28) Do you have any "watching hockey rituals" or anything anyone might consider weird?

Nope. I usually blog during games, so that might be weird.

29) What's your favorite hockey memory as a fan?

Gold medal for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City for both the men and women. Still awesome.

30) What's your favorite hockey commercial?

I'm a huge fan of those new Boston Bruins commercials. Absolutely love them.

31) Who's the nicest player you've met?

Not a player, but Walter Gretzky is amazing. He genuinely loves the game of hockey, and turns no one away for autographs. Otherwise, I'm going with Laurie Boschman. The guy was the epitome of class at the Amadeus Steen Foundation event last year.

32) Rudest/meanest/most annoying, etc?

Wasn't impressed with Keith Tkachuk. Not one bit. Maybe he's changed now, but when he was a Jet, he had a serious chip on his shoulder. And needed it fixed badly.

33) Who's the best looking (AKA 'off ice favourite')?

I'm a dude, so this isn't going to work. Wait, as for female hockey players, Charline Labonté is pretty. I'll stick with her.

34) Other off-handed/off-ice comments?

Teams that go with black jerseys just because they claim black as one of their "primary" colours should automatically lose their membership to whatever league of which they are part. Carolina and San Jose, you come to mind immediately.

35) Why do you really like hockey?

There are so many reasons. Glove saves. One-timers. Big hits. Slapshots. Wrist shots. Blocked shots. Kick saves. Hip checks. Wraparounds. Spin-arounds. Walk-arounds. Hockey fights. Bright lights. Goal celebrations. Intense glares. Dynamic pairs. And one big freaking Cup.

Of course, there's a pile more, but that's just a handful of reasons why I love the game of hockey.

And just before I sign off on Friday, here's a quick peek at the new bid for a second NHL team in the Toronto area, potentially called the "Toronto Legacy". They have some promotional video on their website of a press conference they did today, but there are some glaring problems with this application.

What's with the name of "Legacy"? How does an expansion franchise become the "Legacy" when they have no history to work with? Stupid name.

The logo resembles something out of Major League Soccer. That's completely hideous as a logo. Did anyone put an effort in?

Lastly, the jerseys are generic and boring. And clearly, these people have zero clue that their black jerseys would be worn at home and not on the road as the picture states. Unless, of course, they wear red on the road. But then all the colours are mixed up. And Mr. Bettman's colour-at-home idea will be all skewed. Confused? They are. Awful colour scheme.

Overall, the Toronto Legacy are the closest team to an "epic fail" as one can get right now. With that, I propose this as their logo, and this man as their primary owner.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!