The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

This past winter, I joined a men's recreational ball hockey league, and liked it enough to sign up for the spring/summer session. The league I play for promotes the four "f's": fun, fitness, friendship and fair-play. But, even now, playing in a non-contact league with players aged anywhere from their late 20s to what I would guess would be late 40s, it surprises me just how so many players get so wound up and pull out cheap shots on the opposing players, neglecting that "fair-play" motto the league is trying to enforce.

You see, if you're playing in a recreational non-contact ball league, it's unlikely you played professionally or made any sort of living at it. But there are some players who can't relax and think it's their mission to pull out some hurt when they play. I admit to sometimes getting a little frustrated if things aren't going my team's way, but I never, ever take it out on someone else. We still play in a gym surrounded by concrete walls with minimal equipment, and it doesn't take much to inflict some pain.

There was one game where our team was up by a pair of goals (a rarity...I seem to join teams that have losing records). A teammate was forechecking and made a nice play to steal the ball from a defending player. Well, you would have thought he had just slept with his wife, because he took him in the corner and clocked him with a body check. Remember, concrete...no give. And remember...no contact! He was given a yellow card and he actually complained to the ref about it. It was madness...plays like that happen a little too much. Because I'd like to reiterate it's a non-contact, recreational, ball hockey league. Why do people get so wound up in these games at age 42 when there's absolutely NOTHING on the line?

It also brings to mind an Ottawa Senators alumni game I watched for one period during a United Way event. These guys were probably in their fifties, and even though there was no body checking, these out of shape, past their prime NHLers would still cross check a guy in the back or give a quick slash to the shins during play. The game is for charity, kids are watching, and they still insist on playing this way, like it was 1982 all over again. I just don't get it.

Maybe I just need to learn to be more competitive to understand.

Nights like Saturday remind you why some like keeping their expectations in check and default to being pessimistic and cautious: It minimizes the pain at least.

Reading some of the news articles about the Penguins' six game first round victory, they acknowledge the disappointment of Sens fans, but then go on to write they were the underdogs to begin with so all that happened was the expected result.

But after a gut-check triple overtime victory in game 5...then a 3-0 lead built by Ottawa by the mid-way point of game 6...what else could you think except this would be decided by a seventh and final game, and that it was a heart-breaker to lose it? Of course, I received an immediate text from my 10 day Sens fan Alex stating "ride that lead", poking fun at the defensive shell the Senators (and a lot of teams) fall into once they gain the upper hand, playing to protect the lead and just hold on to win. I never think that strategy is a good idea. It's hard for the other team to score goals when you're in their end to start with, and really, if your game plan had netted you three goals, why would you want to change to a different strategy?

So the nightmare began, three goals in a row and the game is heading to overtime. Pascal Leclaire was doing his best in goal and then the thought crossed my mind "Where would the Senators be if he started from the outset?" I guess I asked that question because Pittsburgh was applying so much pressure and it seemed the end was near for the Senators. And faster than you can recap the conversation I had with my fellow game-attendee Rick where we were wondering why the fourth line is on the ice in sudden-death overtime, the 4th straight Penguins goal is scored and it's over. The dream comeback against the defending champs is done and a long summer awaits for Ottawa and their fans.

There are some positives to take away from the series. Despite missing Kovalev, Michalek and Kuba, they still gave the reigning champs a good fight with some character and grit. Young Peter Regin played some tremendous hockey that hopefully will continue onto next season. Leclaire perhaps showed up what he's capable of with his solid performances in games 5 and 6. And Eric Karlsson, while he made one too many gaffes, logged a lot of minutes for a rookie and displayed a lot of poise and skill in accepting that responsibility. He's only going to get better.

And despite playing with a torn abominable muscle, the heart of the Senators, Daniel Alfredsson, still managed 8 points in 6 games.

I guess my hope of Daniel Alfredsson winning a Stanley Cup before he retires is becoming less and less likely as he's turning, by hockey standards, an ancient 38 years old this December as injuries and age are catching up with him. The Senators organization have some decisions to make this summer. Volchenkov is going to want a new big money contract. Jason Spezza's no trade clause kicks in July 1st, and some UFAs including Matt Cullen, Andy Sutton and Shean Donovan will need new contracts. There will be some new faces on the team to start the 2010-11 season, and with it of course, despite the high likelihood of disappointment, is hope.

A Sens fan put this video up in theme with the numerous ads running during the playoffs. Maybe CBC will run this ad next year...

And for icing on the cake, that idiot Matt Cooke helped deflect it in his own net! I got my game 6 tickets...GO SENS GO!!!

A small pet peeve of mine, not that I lose sleep over it or anything, is incorrect aspect ratio on a widescreen television.

I don't blame someone for buying a brand new widescreen HDTV and wondering why only a handful of channels seem to fill the entire rectangular shape the tv came in, while the rest have these black bars at the sides of the screen looking like part of the image was lost in the transmission. Is something broken? Is my dish all screwed up?

But people who "correct" the problem by picking up the accompanying remote control and press the zoom button, thereby stretching the image so that the vertical black bars are no longer visible, and then declare it looks "much better", well, I draw the line there.

I can spot a stretched image a mile away. Some HDTV channels are still guilty of this: they would broadcast a program on a channel labelled as HD, but it isn't true high definition. They would simply take a standard signal and broadcast it to fit the new widescreen television by stretching the image, thus increasing the weight of any TV character by about 50 pounds. The colour would also appear fuzzy. The image as a whole would just appear, well, distorted. There was no improved resolution in any way, shape or form.

But so many people don't even notice this and furthermore, find the black bars a huge nuisance. They think that the picture is all screwed up being shown in its proper aspect ratio. Don't they realize the old TV was shaped like a square? Don't they know a standard definition signal....

Ah forget it!

He may only see the playoff action from the bench but Labarbera's Wrestlemania inspired design caught my attention, mostly for the homage to Bret Hart on it.

Unreal that all every series so far (Vancouver - Los Angeles is about to head to the third period) is tied at one game apiece. The Stanley Cup is proving to be perhaps the hardest championship to acquire.

As I write this, the 8th place Montreal Canadiens just upset the 1st place Washington Capitals in overtime to take the playoff series lead 1-0.

But these sort of upsets may start to be common place if judged solely from what happened in that game and last night.

All four teams that were labelled underdogs yesterday came out on top to take the series lead: Ottawa, Colorado, Phoenix and Philadelphia. Now it is still very early and a best of 7 usually ensures a team that doesn't deserve to move forward doesn't, but this is further proof of the parity in the NHL, and that punching your ticket to the playoffs is perhaps optimism enough to think your team has a shot at winning the Stanley Cup.

Last night's Senators-Penguins contest was an entertaining contest from start to finish. Lousy goaltending with lots of goals usually makes for a fun game, and both goalies did not play their best and both will have to play better to give their team a chance to win. They both know this, and I think they will rise to the occasion. Overall, the game had lots of drama with a nail-biting final two minutes of play, but I was elated to see my Senators pull through with the win and take the home ice advantage away from the Pens.

Overshadowing the win for Ottawa fans today was the news forward Milan Michalek is done for the playoffs. With a torn ACL like Kovalev, it doesn't bode well for Ottawa when two top-six forwards are on the shelf. With Filip Kuba also out, this is probably the last injury that team can afford to have if they have any chance of moving forward. A lot of people say that injuries aren't an excuse, but any team that loses their important players can only endure it for so long before it catches up with them. Ottawa though has played without much offensive contribution from either player recently, so perhaps they've already learned to live without them.

Not having playoff hockey for two years is too long for any fan and it's resulted in me having a bout of playoff fever much higher than normal. I look forward to seeing the boys go head to head again tomorrow night and see how they continue their quest for Lord Stanley. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but the start of the race is not something I can complain about.

The parity in the NHL is so great that for me, this is the most difficult year to try to figure out who will win each playoff series, much less the Stanley Cup.

There is probably only one series I'd bet my first born on (Wait a second...I will actually have a first born soon! Scratch that). That series is the New Jersey Devils over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers have been playing so bad and have no business being in the post-season, squeaking into the final game playing a lousy New York Rangers team who couldn't make it despite Henrik Lundqvist mustering up nearly 50 saves in the loss. Being anchored with Brian Boucher in goal is the kiss of death.

There is no one powerhouse running roughshod over the entire league. Every team is beatable, and I think anyone who is considering wagering large amounts on who's going all the way this year is, well, likely is a bit reckless in other areas of their life.

Having said all that, the first round I think will go this way:

East:
Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens: Caps in five
New Jersey Devils vs Philadelphia Flyers: Devils in four
Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins: Sabres in five
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators: Pens in seven (Prove me wrong Alfie, please!)

West:
San Jose Sharks vs Colorado Avalanche: Sharks in six
Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators: Hawks in six
Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings: Canucks in five
Phoenix Coyotes vs Detroit Red Wings: Wings in seven

The Senators have been quite the enigma for the 2009-10 regular season. They've had their down times, but they've had their ups. They've had two terrific winning streaks this season, winning 11 and 7 in a row. They've also figured out ways to lay big eggs, including an ugly five game losing streak against some of the worst teams in the league, and a lousy 3 points in 10 games just after the Olympic Break.

I've never seen a Senators team be so unpredictable since their existence.

But luckily they've had more up times and earned their playoff spot and will face the defending champion Penguins to kick start the playoffs.

Ignore anyone who says this will be a quick series and the Penguins will be breaking out the brooms as they try to win back-to-back Cups. Like every team heading to the playoffs, they have their own concerns that may prevent them from going all the way. Malkin has been hurt and has been somewhat of a disappointment this year. Fleury has posted very mediocre numbers to close out this regular season. And I also think their defense isn't as strong as it's been in the recent past.

You have to wonder if all the games Pittsburgh has played being in two consecutive finals will take its toll.

Meanwhile, Ottawa's inexperience in nets (Elliott has never played a playoff game) and in their defense (Karlsson, Campoli, Carkner and Sutton have a combined 9 games of playoff experience) are items that may be concerning. Will they rise to the occasion or falter like many have?

Finding the back of the net hasn't come easy for them, either. Spezza has played a lot better lately, but guys like Michalek have been MIA for a couple of months. Matt Cullen has played strong since being acquired at the trade deadline, but he misses more chances than he buries.

I like Ottawa's depth up front, and I don't care what some may say, losing Kovalev for the rest of the year hurts them. He's a game breaker that gives opponents someone to worry about, and has been a pretty consistent performer in the playoffs.

The series between the two teams were split 2-2. That's pretty much how I think this series will go: back and forth, likely to a game 7. It's hard to fathom the Cup champs bowing out in the first round to a rookie netminder while having home ice advantage. My heart's with Ottawa, but the money is on the Penguins in seven games. I hope I'm wrong wrong wrong and Alfie shows me the error of my ways. If I've learned anything in the last decade of seeing the Senators make one Cup final:

1) Being a favourite doesn't guarantee anything
2) Having home ice advantage doesn't guarantee anything
3) Goaltending is everything
4) The Eastern Conference is wide open
5) Anything can happen

If the Senators had managed to win the Stanley Cup in 2007, there likely wouldn't be much debate, if any at all.

But since Ottawa only managed to earn one victory in the finals and Anaheim got the required four, the question of whether or not Daniel Alfredsson should be included in the Hall of Fame will be debated until the day he retires (unless of course he managed to lead the Sens to the promised land before that happens).

His resume is pretty impressive: Winner of the Calder trophy as top rookie in 1996. Gold medal winner playing for Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Five time NHL all-star. Currently the longest serving Captain on any NHL team (10+ years), first European born Captain to bring his team to the Cup finals, pretty much a point a game player with 1001 games played and 992 points as of today. He is the best player that the Ottawa Senators have ever had on their roster since coming back to the league in 1992. His reputation of being a hard worker and a dedicated two-way player (came 2nd in voting in 2006 for the Selke Trophy) to complement his skill has allowed him to continue to play at a high level at the ripe old age of 37.

But the fact that his team has never gone all the way, and the fact he hasn't won a major individual trophy outside of his rookie of the year award have many questioning the merits of an Alfredsson induction for anyone not a fan of the Senators.

With Alfie's 1000th game celebration to take place tomorrow at Scotiabank Place, it's not hard to come to the realization his career is winding down, so looking back at what he's done and wondering if a Hall induction is in the cards is a natural progression of thought for me. More important than that, I hope a Stanley Cup win comes to him before he hangs up the skates. Time is running out and aside from that, he deserves it.

...running for my life as the casino is getting robbed!

It's kind of hard to tell what's going on with that mess of black, gray and white but what's important to know is that yes, we have a girl on our hands! :-)

Enjoy all that chocolately goodness today. You may send any chocolate surplus to me.

I know things become obsolete. I know when you buy the latest technological marvel, there's a shelf life to it and you normally can't purchase something with the idea it's going to last forever.

But as I flip through the latest Future Shop and Best Buy flyers and see the unveiling of 3D tvs, I wonder if it's ever going to end.

Maybe everyone out there doesn't really think it's that big a deal to have another HDTV offering on the market. But man, I shelled out some dough-ray-me for my TV that's just over two years old. And it's already considered out of date.

How long did tube televisions last? Once colour was introduced to TVs, the only thing that really changed were the sizes and number of channels available. And that was over the span of a few decades.

What's also frustrating for me is that while they unveil this wonderful 3D technology (which isn't cheap, a pair of glasses alone runs a couple of hundred bucks), they still can't figure out a way to send a full 1080p cable signal to these HDTVs, whether through satellite or coaxial cable lines.

As a result, I'm taking a pass on this 3D stuff. I've already paid a lot of money for my current TV as well as blu ray player, and I'm not junking it after a couple of years to enjoy the five movies that have been shot in 3D. Their just pushing this stuff too fast, and I think there's a chance it could backfire with slow sales if most people feel like me and they're tired of shelling out more money for this stuff.