If You Missed It, Bad On You

More than any other sport, the National Hockey League's All-Star Weekend is a celebration of fun. The NHL changes up the format of the game often; sometimes it's East vs. West, or North America vs. the World, etc. This year, after the fans picked the All-Stars, two teams were selected to be captains and a good ol' fashioned sandlot-style draft was held to choose up sides. The draft itself was not bad, and today's game should be it's usual fast paced goalfest.

Or maybe not. During last night's Skills Competition, in the final event the goalies proved that they're there to show off a little bit too. Most years, the focus is on the shooters, but last night the goalies did a great job of stopping shots.

And the rest of the show last night was big fun. As a change during the fastest skater event, goalies were included. In full pads. Boston's defensiveman Chara set a new record with a shot clocked at 105.9 mph! Tampa Bay's St. Louis (pronounce it frenchy style: Sain' LooEEEE) proved once again that wiles and experience can overcome the handicap of being Richard Simmons' lookalike.

And even through it all, the real skills shined through. These guys are fast. They're big. They do things like juggle that frozen disk of rubber at the end of a six foot stick while skating on ice. They hit targets with shots and passes at long distance, short distance and at seemingly impossible angles.

And the entire time, each and every one of them was grinning like a kid at the circus.

Replacing Chrissy Pronger

I always thought that Anaheim Ducks' player Chris Pronger was the biggest whiner in the league, but Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby now undisputably owns that crown.

Earlier this season, Crosby whined about Ovechkin being too enthusiastic when he celebrated goals. Ovie laughed him off.

In the playoff game the other night, Crosby asked the ref to make an announcement telling fans to stop throwing hats onto the ice after Ovechkin's hat trick. Long tradition be damned, Crosby was *upset*.

Now Crosby is whining about Ovechkin's "illegal" stick. Not that he's actually got the balls to challenge it on the ice. Big surprise there.

To be fair, Sidney Crosby is an amazing talent on the ice, but - and you knew that was coming - he needs to put on his big boy pants and stop the pissing and moaning every time something doesn't go his way.

Giddy With Delight - part 3

Caps 4, Pens 3. Ovechkin and Crosby both score hat tricks! Epic.

Speak Slowly And Louder

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau on his rookie goalie, Simeon Varlamov:

"He's played in the finals of the Russian elite league, which to him is probably like our Stanley Cup," Boudreau said. "He's played in the world championship, and the fact that he doesn't understand a word we're saying probably really helps him."

History On Ice

A little bit o' ice hockey history while the playoffs are on.

Alex Delvecchio is a name that not many hockey fans recognize, yet he's the greatest star that the NHL has ever ignored. He played for 24 years in the shadow of Gordie Howe on the Detroit Red Wings, and in 1,529 games he scored 456 goals, 825 points, and won three Lady Byng Trophies for gentlemanly play. Also in that span of time, he was selected for the All-Star game *once*. As an alternate.

Now Capitals Coach Budreau Can Feel Old

The son of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie "Slap Shot" scored his first NHL goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

No word on whether he brought his fucking toys with him on the road trip.