I’m up in Toronto for the holidays, or “Christmas” as many people still call it, and am hunkered down to watch Steve Downie and the boys battle it out with the Swedes this afternoon. So they blew a 2 goal lead on Friday - they probably just had visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, and not nearly enough visions of battering those Nordic bastards. It didn’t help that Steve got called twice for misconduct and Freddy Pettersson led the offense against Canada like a man possessed.

“I don’t know where he’s going to go in the draft, but someone will step up to take him and they’ll get a character player as soon as he puts their jersey on.” - HockeysFuture.com

Let’s talk about Steve some more. He’s an extremely physical player, as well as an amazing forward, and for this reason GoonBlog took an early shine to him. But if he wants to make untold millions in the NHL, and become a fan favorite, he’s going to have to reel it in a bit. Just a little bit. His edgy, skilled play stands out but he causes unnecessary headaches with officials which is going to hurt him in the near future as he hopefully succeeds in transitioning to the Flyers show. Keep your head on straight, buddy - you’ve got what it takes and then some.

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I am moving Christmas to December 19. Sorry Jesus, it’s gotta be done. Cam Janssen was just assigned to Lowell for conditioning. With Manchester in town tomorrow, here’s hoping we see Mike Hoffman and Cam have a tussle. I was feeling like shit, but this has really made my day. I need a life.

No, I didn’t go out in the storm last week to start my car, but yes, it is settling down into my kidneys. I did not injure my knee in the Peterborough game. I have a cold. A bad one. I was sick before. I went to the greatest Bruins game ever two weeks ago when I was very ill. More on that at another time. I can’t explain how good it was just now. So, I was sick. I went to the B’s and got loaded. I was hungover the next day, but I wasn’t sick for 36 hours. Whatever was in me, came out I guess. Then, MOL came home from the Germ Factory, i.e. the hospital she works at, and I think I have the fucking bird flu. I’m not kidding you. I have been nearly dead for over a week and a half. Currently I am into the Jameson trying to kill any germs left behind. Some may take Alka Seltzer, some Nyquil, me? I take Whiskey. As such, I was home on the couch ALL WEEKEND. I saw the “fight” highlights in the basketball game, and it made me even sicker.

Let me get this straight. You get a hard foul, and you start a brawl? Listen I am all for stick up for your mates, but if you are going to do it, don’t be a pussy about it. Carmelo Anthony should have been fined a million dollars, and suspended until he learned how to fight. He got 15 games for SLAPPING someone, and running away like a little girl. Could you imagine Colton Orr coming over the top to slap someone in a pile like that? Could he show his face in a dressing room anywhere after that? Nope!

Saturday night’s “fight” was exactly why fighting still has a place in hockey. Had that been a hockey game? Put it this way. It would have been like the Rangers being up 6 or 7 on the Avalanche and someone boarding someone else. Maybe there might have been a line brawl right there, maybe not. If not, the coaches would have looked at each other and tapped their tough guys on the back. They would have squared off and had a go. End of story. No fighting leads to that fiasco in the Garden, and I found it disgusting.

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That was a decent Bruins game last night for about 10 minutes. I really don’t understand this team. I spent all week talking how they are a better club than people think, and I get validated by Thursday’s come from behind win. Then, Saturday’s stinker gets laid, and I look like an A hole. These fuckers are starting to make me look bad. I was encouraged by Hannu’s play, although he let up a softie, and a juicy rebound goal. All in all, I think he played pretty well, and even managed a few spectacular kick saves. I think he needs a start from Coach Lewis. Get him a little more confidence eh?

I got an e-mail from Versus Friday, and they asked me to do a little plug for them. I guess they saw my post about them getting better, and Doc being the best in the business. At any rate, Monday will be the first nationally televised game between Crosby and Ovechkin. These are two teams I watch a lot on Center Ice. For hockey fans you have Alexander the Great, and Alexander Semin. The Pens feature Sid the Kid, Malkin, and rookie Jordan Staal. For the players we care most about, The Caps have Donald Brashear, and John Erksine. Pittsburgh has Eric Cairns, and a host of other guys willing to step up and protect the franchise. I think it’ll be a great tilt. Now that I plugged it, it’ll probably suck. Either way, what else are you going to do Monday? Watch football?

Brian “Block Head” McGratton. I like it. Nice ring eh? Good tilt between Block Head and Erksine. I am planning on sticking with this one until the Whale take on the Oil at 9:30. Anyway, back to the fight. It started with Erksie hitting Block Head along the half boards, and the go. The two heavies traded some and they went down. After they got back up, Block Head took control of the tilt. He gives Erksie a few good rights, and then lowered the boom with a very hard right hand that definitely stunned Erksine and sent him to the ice. Win Block Head.

I’m not kidding, that boy’s head is like Sputnik. Do you think it hurts to hit him? I bet it hurts like a bastard. He’s a big boy, and can chuck em. Having a giant melon is another advantage over the other guys. This game could get ugly. Both teams have guys ready, willing and able to get down and dirty.

Domi is on TSN right now talking about Laraque wishing Ivanans good luck last week. He liked it, but said he never would have said anything like that. Especially to Probert. Probably a good idea. MOL is out. I will be here all night. I am going for the Jameson!

MOL and I are back from getting our Christmas tree. Goonblog HQ has never smelled so good. I DVR’d the Bruins, and am drinking a Heineken Light. I must say, I like Doc Emrick. I think he does the best job in the NHL for play by play. I also think VS. has gotten a lot better on the broadcast side. Too bad the Bruins still suck.

I heard about this little tid bit from my buddy Bob Wednesday and Tweener dug up the article yesterday for me. It appears Goonblog Hall of Famer, and legendary shit disturber, Brendan Walsh is retiring from coaching to go to Boston’s Police Academy. God save us, Walshie has a gun! In all seriousness, good luck to Brendan. I have respect for anyone serving in any uniform. I definitely won’t be breaking the law in Boston anytime soon

I love the Center Ice Package. I’m just sitting here watching the late game between LA, and Phoenix. I missed the first two periods, as I watched My Name is Earl and 30 Rock on DVR after the Bruins win. Anyhow, Phoenix has Georges Laraque miked up. I guess in the first he fought Raitis Ivanans. So he’s miked, and they captured what he said.

Off the face off.

Laraque: You wanna? Square off?

Ivanans: Head Nod.

Laraque: OK. Good luck man.

And then they fight. I love it. I didn’t see it, so I don’t know how it went. I just love it Big Georges wishes the guy good luck. Classic. By the way, Laraque just picked up his second assist of the night. Needs a goal for the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

I am probably going to get sued by the Estate of Jim Morrison, but really, it’s the only way to describe how I feel after last week. “More Whiskey, Chris?” Why, Yes! Let me just tell you this. To the group I hang out with, Thanksgiving is Christmas, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day, Chinese New Year, and the Super Bowl all rolled into one. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is circled on everyone’s calendar way in advance, and this year was no exception.

It started Wednesday. I went to the liquor store and grabbed a couple 30’s for Thursday night. That is the tradition. I always buy the beer for Thursday on Wednesday and hide it so we don’t drink it when the keg runs dry. It helps that every year I get plowed, and forget where I hid it. Luckily, I usually hide it on the porch at my mother’s house, or somewhere really clever. Like my trunk. What can I say, I am not bright. At any rate, Kinger came and got me after some coaxing. Apparently he was going to have dinner. Pussy. I was especially glad to see Kinger as he had the first delivery of Goonblog shirts. I may be biased, but these things are bad ass. You will want one or twelve for yourself when they become available.

Once Kinger arrived, it was off to Jim’s house for the bender. After some trouble with the first two taps, the third held strong and the brew was flowing. Susan from the Vineyard came, and it was awesome to see her. I swear to God, Finley started the game against Pittsburgh, but couldn’t figure out what happened, and why Thomas was playing. I’m not on dope right? Finley did start? Truthfully the party started slow, but by the end of the shootout, which I think the B’s won? It had picked up a bit.

That, my friends, is where it gets hazy. I told Kinger he was to take me home when he was leaving, no questions asked. Well, apparently Kinger needed to stay until 3 AM. I remember selling a couple of shirts. I think I got all the money owed me. Not sure. I know I challenged some stranger to a fight because he wouldn’t buy one. He turned me down. Good thing too, I guess he was way bigger than me. So Wednesday ended very late.

Thursday started very early. I was fine for about 30 minutes. I got a coffee in the hopes it would help. It did not. The only solution was an eye opener. I had a Tito’s Screwdriver, and felt marginally better. It was off to mothers for turkey.

At mother’s I downed three beers, and a crap load of turkey. I felt marginally better. After mother’s it was back to my couch for some much needed shut eye. I got a couple winks in, and decided I had better get to Jim’s and drink my beer if I had any hopes of feeling better.

The scene at Jim’s was in a word: Bleak. The crowd was sleepy to say the least! It was cool though. I drank 5 more beers, and gave Elf a second try. I am man enough to admit, I was wrong about that film. It isn’t the funniest movie EVAH like some people claim, but there were a couple laugh out loud moments. I made it through the first 20 minutes of Friday after Next, and it was time to go.

Upon my return home, I got my second wind, so, I drank a few more beers. I am not bright. I should have gone to bed. Did I mention I am not bright? I watched A Prairie Home Companion. I like curvy Lindsay Lohan much better than Heroin Chic Lindsay Lohan. Good thing MOL didn’t watch it with me; she would have hated that film.

Friday found me up at 9 AM to run a couple errands before Kinger got me for the Bruins game. I told Kinger to get me at 9:30, and true to form he was there at 9:20. Nice work on his part. We had both agreed we weren’t going to drink a lot at the game. Yeah. That didn’t happen. We warmed it up at our usual spot, The Sports Grille Boston. Good to see Malf and the gang. Some wings and brew later, we were off to the game.

I am not sure how many people saw the Bruins on Friday. I was kinda bombed, and I noticed one thing. Boston sucked. They were slow, and lazy, and explain to me why there wasn’t a fucking fight in a 5-1 loss that one sided. I know Peter Laviolette has a no fighting policy, but does that stop a Bruin, specifically Big Z from jumping someone? Policy be dammed. That was one of the worst games I have ever been to. On the bright side, I won a SWEET picture of the Hanson Brother’s in a silent auction at the Garden. It is the Hanson’s on the bench on the left, and them playing with their fucking toys on the right. If MOL were here I’d take a picture of it and show everyone. I will do it when she comes back. Serious. It’s sweet.

After the game, Kinger and I went back to Sports Grille for round two. We got burgers; more brew, and then switched to liquor. Our plan was to come home and take it easy. Again, not so much. We headed out to the Razzi and met Susan from the Vineyard. Evidently, I had too much Maker’s Mark, and was told I was done. Bless your heart Razzi bartender. I think I got home at 1. I really don’t even know what’s going on right now.

Saturday found me up at 7:30 AM to make the run to Connecticut for the UConn football game. At this point, I am starting to really feel like shit. I can’t tell if I am getting a cold, or if I am hungover. Turns out a little of both. I hadn’t been to a College football game in forever, and I really enjoyed myself. My brother is an Alumni and a season ticket holder, so they have the Tailgate, and the Game down to a science. I got to hang with my niece and nephew a bit too, which is always cool. I am dying to see them in their little Goonblog shirts!

Saturday night I was spent. I couldn’t do it anymore. After 4 days of heavy boozing, I had to blow off the party Saturday night. I got a pizza, and watched the Bruins kill the Leaf. Good thing too, because that Mara/Tucker fight was a doozy. I love when players stick up for each other like that. Who knew Mara could chuck em?! Awesome fight, awesome game.

Turns out I got a wicked cold. You think the steady diet of brew outside, and no sleep had anything to do with it? Nah, me neither. I apologize for my absence. But today is the first day I am just starting to feel better! I hope everyone had a good holiday. I am drying out until Sunday when Hammer and I take in the Pats. Dave should have T shirt info soon, so stay tuned; you guys are really going to dig them!