Happy Thanksgiving...

Though it is cold and rainy, it is indeed Thanksgiving. I started to search for a pretty cool Hockey Thanksgiving image to put on here, but as soon as I saw pictures of those creepy fat birds that everyone else in America eats today, I decided not to.

Yes, I'm scared of turkeys.

Anyway, on a day that I'm thankful the Rangers gaining 4 points in 2 games for the first time since they beat LA and Toronto in back-to-backs in mid-October, I wish you the best today. (Sure, these 4 points came against 2 teams that haven't won a combined playoff game since a 1997 series against Wayne Gretzky and the Rangers, but it's still a good feeling.)



As for me, I'll be in sunny San Diego starting tomorrow, and while you would think hockey would be the last thing on my mind, I'll be glued to my cell phone for text message updates for the 3 games I'll miss.

That Tampa Bay game is another big points, and if they can get 3 points against the Penguins, then that's 9 out of 10 and a big step in the right direction. Of course, there's a solid chance that Steven Stamkos will score 2 goals tomorrow, Marian Gaborik will score 1, and nobody else will score anything and they'll lose 2-1. And taking 2 from Pittsburgh is more realistic (they can definitely win the home game on Monday, I believe).

I leave this website in the hands of Bryan, whom I'll be seeing for some Thanksgiving hockey in less than an hour. I know Bryan was all set to write something last night, but then his daughter threw up because she ate too much. Since she ate dinner in my restaurant, I take full responsibility.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

5th Street (This is Not a Hold 'Em Post)...

As my dedication to a healthy body, I took a walk before. As I turned down 5th Street, I saw a hockey net set up. 

A girl, 9, and boy, 8, were playing in the middle of the street. Their ages are guesses by me. I'm not the creepy guy that goes up to a 3rd grader and strikes up a conversation. Their grades are a guess also.

Anyway, the girl is calling herself "Brodeur" and apparently the kid was "Elias." Now, this did make me mad, because this week has increased my hatred of the Devils (and their 10,000 fans, including Kevin "Silent Bob" Smith). Then, the 15 year old brother came out and decided he was going to be Marty Straka.

Pretty bad ass, to be honest. Reminds me of when we all used to play in the middle of the street when I was that age. I loved being Dale Hawerchuk (when I was real small) and then Tony Amonte (until he was traded to Chicago for Brian Noonan and... Stephane Matteau). I assume after that point, I was too old to pretend to be other people, but I am still happy that 15 year old kid appreciated the silent warrior-like effort of #82. 

Well, that's it. I think it's awesome that these kids know these players and that people in NY are still watching hockey. Sometimes, I feel like it's just me, Bryan, and Sam Rosen who care about the sport. I hope the Rangers go on a long playoff run not only for my own glory but so that kids get captivated again by this amazing sport. The more kids play hockey, the more they will watch, the more parents will watch, the more people go to the games (hopefully boosting the Islanders attendance as well), the more the sport grows. Maybe that can help TV ratings so they can get a better channel (Versus does a good job, but the lead-in show is about killing deer). That's also the one - and only - reason I hope the Islanders succeed: so that the sport grows in NY.

When I was in 4th grade, the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. They played - and swept - the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. I remember one day in gym class, the whole class was divided, and half of us chanted "Let's Go Rangers!" while the uneducated chanted for the Islanders. Imagine, a whole class interested in the coolest game on Earth!

Reading Newsday, you would never know that the Rangers and Devils fought to overtime in Game 3. The 3 stories on the cover of the Newsday sports section the day after? Mets lose, Yankees Lose, Tiger loses at the Masters. 

This took entirely too long. I just wanted to write about those kids knowing who wears #26 on New Jersey and how impressed I was. 

By the way, they stared at me in my Rangers fleece - maybe because it was 75 degrees out and they saw a fat man wearing shorts and a heavy fleece sweating as he was taking a stroll alone.

(Oh, and stat on Versus: Joe Thornton is now the 3rd player in NHL history to score a game winning goal in the third period on the road in the last 10 seconds of a playoff game. Know the other two? Me neither, Brian Engblom never told me).