The Stanley Cup will be awarded on Friday night in Detroit one way or another. 9 months of preparation all comes down to a single game to determine who is the best team in the league. Clearly we know who the two best teams are again this year, but will Friday bring a changing of the guard, or further cement a true dynasty? I chose Detroit to win it at the beginning of the series and I am sticking with the home team for this one. Crosby scares me a lot in a single game situation, especially for what he has been practicing for since he could skate. I expect a close game and I am rooting for Hossa to get the winner just to stick it to those pesky Penguins fans that extra little bit!
Written on April 29th, 2009 by goatdieselone shout
First things first, whoever taped that fake Rangers game last night and somehow transferred it to my PVR, GOOD ONE!!! I thought for a minute there, the Rangers actually lost to Caps last night Ha Ha Ha….Ok, so maybe it wasn’t a big joke but that slimy goal Semin scored sure was a big joke. Ovechkin may be the best player in the game but god damn can he please start wearing a full visor and tint that mothereffer blacker than tar. Because if I have to stare at that putrefying mug while he celebrates for at least another 4 games, I either have to stop eating 6 hours before a game or just listen to games on the radio instead.
Sin City had his choices for the first round and did pretty damn good, going 5/8 and he was 1 goal from being right in the Rangers series (think I’m bitter???). Well since my computer was pooched I never got to call my picks for the first round (I was 7/8 by the way…that was a blatant lie) now I will give you my 2nd round choices and I encourage Sin City and even our baseball guru The Sheik to get in on the fun, HECK, all of you should chime in too!!!
ROUND 2, LET’S GET IT ON!!!
Vancouver vs. Chicago- Let me tell you first off, this series is my favourite and my least favourite at the same time. Favourite because I love both the teams and least because I want them both to be in the Western finals, which is obviously impossible. Both Chicago and Vancouver looked fairly sexy in their respective first round series with goaltending as opposed to goal scoring being the difference in both series. But in this series, I like the ‘Nucks. Better goalie, more experience and the only Canadian team left. Vancouver in 7.
Anaheim vs. Detroit - What can you say about Anaheim? No one in their right mind thought they would actually help fulfill San Jose’s destiny as playoff choke artist but they did! What does that mean in their next series against the boys from Motown? The same thing War means to Edwin Starr, “ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, HUH!!!”. Detroit in 5
Pittsburgh vs. Washington – Let me tell you right now, if the NHL was a 13 year old boy, the series would be Miley Cyrus in a shower. Gary Bettman must be harder than a slab of marble tile right now just thinking of having Sid the kid vs. Ugly Alex for a possible 7 games. As for me, I will get a bucket ready for all the close ups of Ovey and a pillow ready for all the interviews with Sidney Crosby. Either way, this series will be great for the young NHL superstars and for creating some excitement for hockey in the States in a time that it desperately needs it. Pens in 7
Boston vs. Carolina – Two teams with two very different first rounds will be meeting in this match up. Boston will have been off for over a week before their first game on Friday, while Carolina will only have 2 days off. So I guess this story comes down too, who do you think has the bigger advantage? The team who came back from a 3-2 series deficit to beat the favoured team at their own rink? Or the team who swept a team that squeaked in the playoffs? For me, when it comes to the playoffs and hockey, I gotta believe the more rest the better.
Written on April 28th, 2009 by goatdieselno shouts
Ladies and Gentleman, introducing a now virus free (online anyway) GOAT…DIESEL!!! My man D.A.G came out of the wilderness and tried a few things for me but like everything in life it was the last resort that solved our problem. At first, we thought it was our versions of Word that needed to be updated but when that didn’t work, I thought I was done for good. So I get an email yesterday that says I need to update my anti-virus and BAAAM like a bottle of penicilin, Norton stopped that burning feeling my got when he tried to perfrom simple tasks…My computer now virus free I am ready to roll. (I can’t believe I made it through all that without a swine flu crack)
Some of you may ask, “How did you post about the playoffs and the Jays, if you computer was ‘broken’ “. And then I’d be all “I know you are but what am I”. (Sorry, I haven’t been on here in a while and I am excited OK) This is something I actually had lined up before my comp went down but never really got to it. We have ghostwriter, who has actually been with us from damn near the start. Sin City (I just made that nickname up) he has posted about 6 stories on here and we are slowly going through the old stories and marking them. That way you all don’t get confused and think I learned how to write actual, entertaining story with structure as opposed to, well, THIS I guess…
Upcoming stories that you can look forward to being disappointed in: Anderson “The Sleep inducing Spider” Silva: What happened and what’s next?, GoatDiesel and Bryan Colangelo Sitting in A Bar…D-R-I-N-K-I-N-G, NHL Mock Draft, NBA Mock Draft, Playoff predictions and much much more….
LET’S GO RANGERS…GAME 7 IN WASHINGTON…ITS ALL YOU!!!
Unlike the degenerate gamblers who read this stuff so they can make well-informed betting decisions, sports writers aren’t risking all that much when making predictions. When we turn out to be right, we get to brag about it and our credibility increases in the minds of our readers. When we’re wrong, it gets swept under the rug and rarely does anyone care enough to remember (unless you’re one of the degenerates who lost a lot of money… soooooo sorry). If someone does call me out on making a foolish pick, I can always claim “Opposite Day!” and leave it at that. So here we go with my Stanley Cup Playoff predictions for the first round:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks
What’s worse – being a fan of a team that sucks every year no questions asked, or being a fan of a team that always does well in the regular season only to frustrate the hell out of you with one playoff failure after another? The San Jose Sharks are the hockey equivalent to a girl you meet at a bar who seems like a sure thing all night, but brings you nothing but disappointment in the end. The Sharks’ playoff failures have been attributed to a lack of mental toughness (the girl could be crazy), injuries (she could have a STD), or the belief that the team is just better suited for regular season success and doesn’t have the complete package necessary to win when everything’s on the table (she’s a tease). The Sharks have grown more impressive with each passing season of dominant play over the 82-game schedule… the question is – how thick are your beer goggles this time around? Personally, my standards are never that high anyway. Sharks in 6.
(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (7) Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history is the feel-good story of the NHL season thus far. Unlike your typical Adam Sandler movie, however, this one will not end with the underdog on top. Instead, picture Billy Madison being sent to a madhouse after he’s diagnosed with schizophrenia, thus preventing him from passing the 12th grade and allowing Eric to take over Madison Hotels. It was, indeed, much too hot for a penguin to be just walking around. Or let’s say instead of surviving the hit-and-run on the 9th hole and going on to win the gold jacket, Happy Gilmore dies in a much more violent accident orchestrated by that same hit man hired by Shooter McGavin. Turns out Shooter took the hit man up on his offer to buy dinner at Red Lobster, and they upped the anti on Happy’s head over some shrimp cocktails. Grandma doesn’t get her house back, and the Wings will win in a sweep.
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) St. Louis Blues
These are the two hottest teams in hockey heading into the playoffs, but that’s where the similarities end. The Canucks have overcome the consistency issues that plagued them in the first half of the season, and they’re the team I’m picking to go all the way. The Blues, on the other hand, have shocked everyone just by making the playoffs and are another one of those feel-good stories. This is one of those series where many of the so-called experts will try to look like geniuses by calling for an upset. Don’t be fooled. Having avoided injuries late in the season, Vancouver boasts the deepest lineup from the goaltender on out heading into round 1. How many teams can match the Canucks in goal right now? Not to mention Pinky & the Brain (the Sedin twins), who have been absolutely tearing it up the past couple months. The Blues have better luck seeing a normal-sized ass when Keith Tkachuk shows up for training camp next year than seeing the 2nd round. Canucks in six.
(4) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Calgary Flames
This strikes me as the most intriguing matchup in the West, because I don’t know what to expect from either team. The Flames are an enigma to this point, having cruised their way to a 13 point lead on the Northwest Division in the first half before playing horribly down the stretch and surrendering the division to Vancouver. The Blackhawks are an up-and-coming team to be sure, but this will likely go down as nothing more than a learning experience for first-timers Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. What’s more important for Chicago (and the NHL) – the Blackhawks led the entire NHL in attendance this season, averaging 22,247 fans per game. Also notable: former Maple Leaf great Anders Eriksson is expected to suit up for Calgary in game 1. Flames in six.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Boston Bruins vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens
As a diehard Habs fan, this is tough for me to say, but based on what I’ve witnessed throughout the season, I cannot come up with a realistic angle or scenario from which I can see Montreal winning this series (believe me, I’ve tried). I’m having an easier time believing that, after finishing 1st in the entire Eastern Conference no less than a year ago, the Canadiens are trying to hustle the Bruins, hoping Boston will take them lightly due to their lackluster play over the 2nd half. Maybe I’ve been inspired by an episode of Fresh Prince I saw recently, where Uncle Phil hustles the pool shark that won money off Will. Bob Gainey might just have some Uncle Phil in him. Bruins in 6.
(2) Washington Capitals vs. (7) New York Rangers
The Capitals have the best player in the NHL in Alexander Ovechkin and a strong supporting cast highlighted by other rising superstars like Alex Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green. Despite this wealth of talent, people aren’t sold on the Caps for one reason – Jose Theodore. Before he was wheeling Paris ‘ilton and partying his way out of Montreal, Theodore was one of the best goalies in the league who stole a couple series for the Habs over the heavily favored Bruins. Many would be surprised to learn he is still the last goalie to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP, which he did back in 2002. Theodore’s performance in recent years, however, makes it tough to picture Washington coming out of the East. The Rangers aren’t being given much of a chance in this series due to their lack of offence (Nik Antropov led the team in scoring with 59 points), but they do have some savvy veterans with good playoff resumes (Chris Drury, Scott Gomez). Don’t overlook Henrik Lundqvist either. Sources tell me he’s the handsomest goalie in the league and he’s got the ability to win games on his own. Rangers in 7.
(3) New Jersey Devils vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes
“OOOOWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHH…” (…Your basic fake yawn move right there, which is always obnoxious more often than it is funny, because the person who is expressing their boredom usually holds it for too long and they look like an asshole pretending to stretch). Unless you’re David Puddy (“gotta support the team”), this series is hands down the least interesting of the first round. It’s never easy to bet against Brodeur, but look for Cam Ward to be the difference for Carolina. Hurricanes in 7.
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
This should turn out to be the best series of them all. Philly is very well balanced up front and has tremendous scoring depth, while the Pens unquestionably have the two best players in the series and the better goalie. After puzzling the hockey world with their inconsistent play for most of the season, the Pens seemed to find their groove right when they needed to. They surged up to 4th place all the way from 10th, and another deep run in the playoffs seems likely. Sports fans who’ve been around for a few years love to look back on the greatest players of all-time and celebrate the success they had in their prime. We saw Jordan and Gretzky do many special things during their championship dynasty years with the Bulls and Oilers. More recently, how awesome was it when Lebron James scored 29 of the Cavs’ final 30 points in a Conference Finals win over the Pistons 2 years ago? The great ones all have their moments, and Sidney Crosby has the ability to put up 5 or 6 points on some nights. I think we could be in store for some legendary performances on the big stage. Penguins in 6.
FINALS PREDICTION (take one) – Vancouver Canucks defeat Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games.
Written on April 14th, 2009 by goatdieselno shouts
I am literally writing this in the dark, well thats a lie, I just can’t see what I am writing. I know the site has been “dormant” for about a week and the thing that sucks is I have A BUNCH to write about!!! I MET WITH BRYAN COLANGELO and had a pretty good convo with him, which I really want to share with you all. Speaking of Bryan, I also want to let you guys know what I think of the Raps season, what went wrong and what they HAVE to do this off season to improve. Then there is the NHL and NBA playoffs about to start. I know I will miss the first few gamesof the NHL but I will be back with the match ups and the keys to each team getting out of the first round.
Like I “tweeted” earlier (man, thats the WORST word) the reason the website has been down is my tech wizard and personal Shaman DAG is in the jungle with no internets. Thus leaving the GoatDiesel with formatting problems out the cornhole (man, thats the BEST word). I am trying all I can with the pea brain I own but I still can’t figure this Houdini writing thing out. I am hoping by the weekend I can kidnap and coax a web dude to help me out.
So PLEASE don’t give up on me, for once I am actually not being lazy and drinking my nights away. Well I am not being lazy anyway…
If you didn’t see it yet…WAKE UP. Everyone is all abuzz with Ovechkin’s goal celebration from the other night after netting his 50th of the season. Why you ask? Some people seem to think that making hockey exciting is a bad idea? First they want to take fighting out of the league (bad idea #1), then they want to move Canadian teams to places like Nashville who are in the playoff race every year, yet have no one to watch them (bad idea #2) and now people are telling the BEST PLAYER (suck it Crosby) in the league that he can’t celebrate when he scores his 50th goal of the season? Its ridiculous! People like my buddy Coletrain, who is a hockey die hard, say they don’t have a problem with the celebration, its the fact that it’s pre-meditated. I can live with that I guess but so are all of Sid the Kids interview answers and I don’t complain…ZING!!! See the problem with the NHL die hards is they want their young guys to play like the old guys. Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE tradition and hockey is one of the sports with the deepest traditional values (FIGHTING) and I love that about hockey but today’s viewing audience isn’t the same as it was back in the black and white days. People these days want everything 20 minutes ago, 3 times faster and 5 times bigger. Sure watching Orr, Richard and the boys flying end to end was fun but so was watching Theron Fleury ride his stick like a horse. People need to calm down and let this kid do his thing, I mean its the least the NHL can give us, I mean they don’t want us watching fights anymore, so you might as well let us see some goals and celebrations.
Here’s the clip and just so you know it was a 1 on 4…UNREAL!!! Celebrate OV CELEBRATE!!!
What did you think? Too much? Not enough? Keep it coming?
Are there any hockey fans out there? If so, make sure you add me on Twitter or check the site every 5 minutes or more tomorrow. Because starting at 8amright up to the deadline GoatDiesel will have all the latest trades and rumours for you, during the biggest day on the hockey calendar. (just a heads up, the updates on rumours and trades will be on the RIGHT side of the main page tomorrow, under the Twitter heading)
Anybody have any guesses right now on deals that will go down tomorrow? I bet $3 and my left nut that the Leafs are one of the biggest sellers tomorrow…….
Written on February 19th, 2009 by Shaun Sinclair2 shouts
Concerns about Tavares’ development will be all for naught if he comes in next year and tears it up like Sidney Crosby did as a rookie. If he stumbles, however, you’ll start to hear some skepticism about how his situation was handled. Crosby didn’t play major junior hockey at 15. Instead, he spent a year at a private school in Minnesota renowned for developing young hockey talents. After two years in Rimouski, Crosby was definitely ready to move on to bigger and better things, but it never felt like he was wasting his time there. Obviously, the jump from junior hockey to the NHL is a massive one, even if you are an elite prospect. Tavares may suffer from his extensive time in the OHL if he’s too accustomed to playing against that level of competition. Undoubtedly an “exceptional player,” his key development years may have arrived sooner than other players his age, and if he wasn’t challenged enough during this time, will he reach his full potential at the NHL level? Only time will tell. (more…)
Written on February 18th, 2009 by Shaun Sinclair5 shouts
He’s living the dream of many kids his age, but for John Tavares, it’s probably starting to feel like “same old, same old.” Still only 18, Tavares is about to complete his 4th full season in the OHL – a league he has dominated since being drafted 1st overall by the Oshawa Generals a couple months shy of his 15th birthday. In all other cases to this point, the OHL would not allow anyone under the age of 16 to play. Tavares’ situation forced their hand and a new precedent was set. They had to change the rules (ever so slightly), letting him in under a new “exceptional player” clause. Nearly four years later, there’s no doubt Tavares was worth changing the rules for. His rookie season, he scored 45 goals and registered 77 points in 65 games. The next year, he broke Wayne Gretzky’s OHL record for most goals in a season with 72. Say what you want about puckheads in the Canadian media going overboard with stories about the next phenom coming up through the system, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. Tavares was worth the hype. (more…)
Written on January 20th, 2009 by goatdieselno shouts
I know this is a lazy piece of blogging (that never sounds right) because I could throw this story together every year butI feel like I have really been neglecting my countries sport for far too long and I love a good comeback story, so here it goes. Peter “I hate milk” Forsberg has decided to give his delicate glass filled body another kick at the NHL can and for his rickety ankles sake, I hope its a very thin tin can. A great two way player and a scoring threat in his heyday, Peter has since succumb to injury in at least seven seasons and has missed a full 82 games once.
Not to say he doesn’t deserve another shot at this (he is a great player and a great person) but his body doesn’t deserve to be put through what inevitably will be a career ending injury. Peter, think about life after hockey! Have you been back to Sweden lately? Have you seen it’s inhabitants? It’s no fun chasing chicks around on crutches. They just think you’re a weirdo and have escaped from somewhere scary (I mean, seriously, look at his crazy ass eyes). Nonetheless, good luck with your “comeback” and I’ll see you on the IR before March. I mean what’s next? Claude Lemieux coming back? Ha Ha, yeah right! Right???
