Hello all - and I hope my email on this lovely Spring day finds you well. I’ll get right to the point - Chris, Hammer and I really wanted to have a bunch of GoonBlog merchandise based around the new logo created so that we could give it all away to friends and loyal readers like friggin’ Santy Claus. I have talked to 7 different print shops at this point. I have been ‘hooked-up’ by people who are sleeping with, or at least tugging, presidents and CEOs. There is still no way we’re going to get this done for less than $500 of our own cash.

I can live off hommous and baby carrots for a month and front the money, but hopes of giving the stuff away free in the interest of publicity is going to be too cost-prohibitive. My question is this, dear reader. I know you’re out there, because we check the server logs daily and speak with a lot of you via email and comments. Is there a market for these shirts? If I were to arrange a pre-order for a limited edition line of 2-sided, 3-color shirts with the logo on the front and "Drop the Gloves" on the back would you pay $10 for one? That’s with a very small margin for the GoonSquad - probably just enough to cover costs, and maybe even shipping too. I’d make it real easy by setting up a dedicated PayPal account.

Leave a comment and let us know if you’d be interested. The wheels are already in motion to get these made pretty fast. I just have to know if there is going to be any demand because I’m not in the habit of taking baths, unless of course it’s in a ceramic tub and I’ve paid a Phillipino prostitute to accompany me. And even then certainly not $500.

I am predicting an all WHA final. The New England Whalers will face off against the Edmonton Oilers for Lord Stanley’s Cup. The Canes had a rough go of it tonight in Buffalo, but the Oil is cruising out West. Did you see last night’s tilt? Three fights!? Are you kidding me! Laraque had two with "The Fridge". They weren’t anything special, but it was cool to see that kind of old time hockey seeping out in Edmonton. I like The Oil to win the whole thing. I just don’t think anyone can hang with them physically, and the Rexall fans are good for at least one win.

Speaking of seeping. Two parts of Goonblog (Me, and the Hammer) are heading to Indianapolis this weekend for the Indianapolis 500. For me, this will be year 10. I think Hammer is around 14 or 15. Every year we drink way too much, eat too much, and annoy the hell out of the locals with our all Pats all the time talk. As such, I won’t have any means to post for a few days. I mean, they have a computer there, but seriously, I wouldn’t be able to turn it on if you gave me Georges Laraque’s contract in exchange for the entire Boston roster. It’s just not going to happen. Having said that, I promise a boozy recap upon my return. Everyone have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend. Don’t forget to take a second and remember what we are celebrating too!

I saw this article on the NHL’s website, and I wanted to pass it on. Along with being a pretty tough customer, Mike Commodore is as advertised in the article, a super nice guy. Last season at the end of the year party for the Lockmonsters he and I shared more than a few beers. He was very open about the lockout at the time, and was willing to talk hockey, or anything else. I have a lot of respect for a kid that can realize he needs to improve his game, and then goes out and does it. Check it out. It’s a pretty good read.

Well, it looks like I am splitting my playoff predictions. I had successfully picked Buffalo, and Anaheim to move on. Way wrong on the Devils. San Jose and Edmonton are in a dog fight, and I didn’t really pick a winner there anyway. I watched two of the Buffalo games, and all of the Carolina games. I caught one of the Anaheim games, but was loaded when I was watching it, so I can’t comment. I would have to say, the most interestng player in this year’s playoffs by far was #25 for the Devils. Mr. Cam Janssen.

Cam didn’t play a ton, but when he hit the ice, he made his presence know. He fought Mike Commodore in game one on a message shift from Coach Lou. Every other shift he was on the ice, he was lining people up. The hit he put on Kevyn Adams was devastating to say the least. Janssen is what playoff hockey is all about. He is grit, and muscle, and an under your skin guy that plays each shift tough. He leaves it on the ice every game. During the post game handshake (which by the way is the coolest tradition in sports) there was two really cool moments. One was Brodeur and Cam Ward meeting for the first time, and the other was Janssen and Commodore shaking hands for a long time. It is a sign of respect between these guys to do battle, and shake hands after. It’s like getting in a fight with a friend, and sharing a beer after. For Commodore it was on to the Eastern Conference Finals. For Cam Janssen, a flight back to St. Louis. I will miss #25 for the rest of the playoffs. Have a good Summer Mr. Janssen, see you in the Fall.

My earlier prediction on a Devils series win? Um, yeah…..I may have been wrong on that. The Devils find themselves down 2-0. After a 6-0 shellacking, and the OT Thriller the other night (one word STALLERRRRR!!!!!) it will be a tough road for them to come back on. Win or lose however, the series thus far has been very entertaining.

-If you like offense, Game one was for you. Tons of it for Carolina.

-I love the "message shift" in game one by Cam Janssen. He ran Mike Commodore like I run stop lights. Good work by Big Mike standing up for himself. They had a very good scrap started with Commodore lowering the boom early, and Janssen getting in a couple of his own. Very entertaining go.

-Game two was a little more of a playoff hockey game. Up and down action, lots of emotion. Great tilt.

-How about Eric Staal?! Are you shitting me with that goal to tie it with 3 seconds left? Kid is legit.

Game 3 is tonight, and it promises to be a Whale of a game. The Devils need some home cooking in the Meadowlands. Should be a dandy in the swamp.

Remember a couple of seasons back when Jessie Boulerice got one punched by Aaron Downey? Well, that would be a great description of the cold I have had for two weeks. I started feeling crappy, and then it lowered the boom on me. I would take a ton of cold medicine, go to work, and come home and crash on the couch. Oh, except the nights that I had work events. Which, as it turns out, I have had about 7 over the last two weeks. On those nights, being the moron I am, I would have a couple of Jameson’s, and then be on a whole different plane. Not cool. Plus, MOL is taking all her finals now, so she’s been in the office studying like a crazy person. Why am I telling you this? Well, I have been gone awhile, and I wanted to let you know. Call off the search. I didn’t wind up like Billy Bats. Although, with the cold I had, there were a couple of days I would have been fine with having my hoof cut off.

While I was down and out I did what any good American down and out kid does. I watched hockey. Well, maybe any good Canadian kid. Not my point. Moving on. I found the first round to be pretty darn good. I do not think anyone has anything for the Devils right now. Those guys have so much experience, and are playing some great hockey. I like them to be hoisting Lord Stanley in the next couple of weeks. Janssen has been buzzing for them. I especially don’t think Carolina will have an answer for the style he plays starting Saturday. That is my focus series.

I was hoping for a Playoff Battle of Alberta, as I am sure most everyone was. That Calgary/Anaheim Series was very entertaining. Very physical. Couple of fights. Dion Phaneuf is the real deal. That kid can flat out play. If he doesn’t win several Norris trophies before his day is done, there is something wrong with this universe. Too bad Calgary came out as flat as Vito’s Johnny Cakes in game 7. As an aside, did anyone really need to see fat Vito make out with a guy? Me neither.

I watched at least one game from every series. Here is who I like next round.

New Jersey over Carolina

Buffalo over Ottawa

Out West I think is a little harder. The Edmonton and San Jose series is going to go 7. Looking at the old dart board….

San Jose over Edmonton

No…wait….Edmonton over San Jose….ah fuck it. Either Edmonton, or San Jose is moving on….how’s that for a prediction.

Anaheim over Colorado. Jose looked a little shaky to me. Boy, the West is hard to pick.

It all gets started tonight. Let’s hope round two is a war. Boys, don’t forget, the gloves don’t have tie downs on them, just the jerseys.