I am a Boston Bruins season ticket holder as of Monday afternoon. My buddy George and I were talking at game 3 of the Montreal series this season about how many games we’d been to throughout the season. It seemed to us that the games we had been to, the other was there as well, and the games one of us had missed, the other was there. We got to thinking; perhaps getting a season ticket package might be a more economical way to go. We did some math, and we estimate we were at 20-25 games last season, and it could have easily been more if not for a lack of tickets. Well, we talked it over and it did in fact seem like a good idea, but truth be told, good seats at the Garden are expensive, and I couldn’t justify paying that much money for the seats. In the end, I decided it wasn’t in my best interest.

All of that changed Monday when George presented me with the “Hungry for Hockey” promo the Bruins ran. The promo is Sections 327, and 328, rows 2-15. What you get is the ticket, all you can eat hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and a bottomless cup of soda (probably remain un used) for $39.00 a game. George e-mailed me in a panic….”Do we want to do this?! Seats are going fast!” Well shit. $1700.00 for the season in pretty good, not great, but pretty good seats. Heck yes. Sign me up. So, if you want to meet George or myself, we’ll be in Section 328, Row 2, Seats 1 and 2.

I gotta say I’m pretty pumped. MOL was not pissed at all by me doing it, and George already said I could have opening night for me and MOL because he has to take all his kids. That’s a bonus. On top of that, I feel pretty good about the team this year. I love them getting Michael Ryder even if he did have a down year. The Bruins had no one to score other than the top line last year, and Ryder now helps that cause. Metropolit being gone might hurt the chemistry, and the “Bruin” mold, but that’s what you have Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, and Petteri Nokelainen. Those three will chip in points as well, especially Cheech. I like the forwards a lot with Marc Savard, Chuck Kobasew, Phil Kessel (if he doesn’t get dealt), Michael Ryder, a healthy Patrice Bergeron, and Marco Sturm. Plus the unknown of Blake Wheeler? That’s a very under rated signing, and could pay huge dividends for these guys. They got the toughness covered in Lucic, and Thornton. Defense is pretty good too. Hopefully Alberts can be healthy all year. I was hoping Mike Commodore was in their plans, but oh well. Obviously the question mark is in goal, but I think Timmy Thomas had a stellar year last season and can repeat this year. I’m telling you, watch out for this club, and while you’re at it, swing by Section 328 to say hi. Is it September yet?

In the spirit of the Oscars tonight, I thought it was time to award my 2007-08 NHL Center Ice Package Team of the Year. Sort of the “Best Picture” of the hockey season. If I may recap. Every year I get the NHL Center Ice package. MOL loves it because I can watch hockey every night during the season. She knows that if she complains a lot, I will give in and let her have the remote every now and then. It’s what good marriages are made on. Last season, it was the Pittsburgh Penguins. I liked them because Crosby, Malkin, and Staal were electric. I still check in on them, and if my 07-08 team isn’t on, I default to the Pens. The season prior, was the eventual Stanley Cup Champion, Carolina Hurricanes. I was into them for the other Staal, Mike Commodore, Cam Ward, and the rest of the boys that were Lowell Alumni. The year before that was the lockout, so MOL was subjected to daily updates on why my life was so sucky. She was all, “what about me? Don’t I matter?” Yes dear. I just like to watch men on frozen water trying to out muscle each other too.

By the way, do you guys have an over under on when she leaves me? Well, you should. Back when MOL and I first started dating, we got the NHL Package at her place in Worcester. We went to pretty much every Ice Cats home game, and would come home and watch the Dallas Stars. I think we liked them because they were just starting when we got home, and she was still trying to get in my pants. Really, she had no idea how easy it was. Without further ado, or, and the NHL Center Ice Team of the Year award goes to: The Chicago Blackhawks.

I like the Hawks for several reasons.

1. The Chicago Blackhawks have hands down the best uniforms in pro sports. Both the home and away versions are simple, and the logo is superb.

2. If you haven’t checked them out, do so. They have three excellent and exciting players in Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane. All three are excellent hockey players. They are exciting and all possess offensive talent that is out of this world. Jack Skille is up from Rockford, and is a nice little player himself. He is talented offensively, and likes to hit people too. They also added Ben Eager to do the rough stuff (since been put on IR), and old Hurricane favorite Craig Adams has fit in nicely. Adam Burish is a 100+ PIM guy and when David Koci is up from Rockford, he’s as tough as they come in the NHL.

3. They aren’t the best team in the league, but they are very fun to watch. Yesterday’s game against LA saw them up 5-1 at the start of the third, and it ended with a 6-5 OT victory. It was exciting to see them play well to go up 5-1, and even more exciting to see them win it 6-5.

So, there you have it Goons. If you are in the Chicago area, enjoy the away games. If you have the Package, please do tune in. You’ll get a good show, and some kick ass uniforms.

During the lock out season the Lowell Lockmonsters were bringing a wagon. The roster was awesome, and they were a fun group of guys as well. Every one of those guys would say hello and share a minute of their time with you. Guys like Eric Staal, Chuck Kobasew, Matt Lombardi, and Mike Commodore. Oh, the goalie was a future Conn Smythe winner in Mr. Cam Ward. He is the single season record holder for wins, GAA, and shutouts, and a super nice kid to boot. The team had talent and personality, and of all the years I have been going to Lowell, they were my favorite.

The new regime in there is a total 180 from what was there. The New Jersey Devils own all their minor league affiliates, and as such, they run them all like they run their NHL club. I really believe they don’t care about wins and losses at the minor league level as long as when they make a call to the lower ranks they can get a player to plug into the lineup. Ultimately that is what the minor leagues are for; development for the upper levels, but I think there should be a different attitude in the AHL, and below. I realize the Devils are trying to develop a winner, but it was just more fun when you had more access to the team from the front office down.

I mention all this, because yesterday’s game felt like the old days at the Paul. First of all, there were people there. According to the Boxscore, they had 3535 in the house, which for them is a miracle. To say they have been drawing poorly is the understatement of the year. I feel a little like Joe McGrath, “You boys have not been drawing them in like we used to.” The Devils play a very boring style, and coupled with the fact they kind of suck, people stay away from them like girls stay away from me. Yesterday’s 5-1 win, in a game in which there were 2 fights should do plenty to bring them back. Let’s hope.

I also spoke to a Devils player. Yeah, it’s true. I ran into Pierre-Luc LeBlond after the game. He didn’t play, but Lowell sure could have used him. I told him Lowell could have used him, and he said he knew and that he felt Paul Crosty was being an idiot. When I asked him if he had ever fought him before, he said, “No, but I guess I’m going to have to now.” What happened was Crosty was taking out some anger or whatever on Lowell defenseman Jean-Luc Grand Pierre. Hence forth known as Big Peter.

It all started in with about six minutes to go in the first. Big Peter hit Crosty in the corner, and they went back up ice. Big Peter was at the point, when Crosty got back to him, and jumped him. Big Peter got the shirt over Crosty’s head and went to work on him. Crosty did well to fight him off even though he was blind. Nice little fight, I score it a win for Big Peter.

With about 5 minutes to go in the second, Crosty was at it again. He tackled Big Peter in front of the Lowell goal and got him with a high stick in the head. Apparently he cut him as he was given 5 minutes to feel shame, and that’s when Lowell opened it up. Barry “Shooter” Tallackson scored on the PP, and they never looked back.

In the third period, Lowell’s Patrick Davis scored one of the prettiest, if not THE, prettiest goals I have ever seen in Lowell. He scooped the puck up in his own zone, and was off to the races. He went around a couple of Monarch’s players, and put a nifty toe drag on the final Monarch D-man, totally flummoxing him with his trickery. He was then in alone on the goalie, and while skating left, he fired a nice wrister to the right corner. It was beautiful. I think he may be the next guy to get the call to New Jersey. Kid has some sick hands.

Near the end of the third, Paul Crosty was at it again. I am not sure what he has against Big Peter, but it’s safe to say they are off each other’s Christmas list. Again with about 5 minutes to go in the period, Crosty jumped Big Peter again. It was right in front of me this time, so I had a great view. Big Peter threw a couple of very hard right hands once he got his gloves all the way off, and Crosty tried to score a few of his own. He landed a couple, but it was Big Peter again with the win after Crosty go the take down. Now, when they were down I’m not sure if something happened, or if Big Peter was just plain tired of Crosty picking on him all day, but on his way to the box he was heated. It took both Linesmen and the penalty box attendant to hold him back from going into the visitor’s box after Crosty. Paul was getting the gate anyway, for 2, 5, 10, but I think Big Peter was just going to get 5. Well, after he flipped, he got a 10 as well, and was lead off to thunderous applause from the Lowell Faithful. He made kind of a throat slashing motion to the Manchester bench. Not sure if he’s in trouble for that or not. Paul Crosty on the other hand, got a different farewell from the Lowell crowd. He was led off to boos, but to his credit played it up well with a nice wave to the fans thanking them for their time. It was a great game yesterday. One that makes you feel happy to be alive. Here’s hoping it is the start of the all new Lowell Devils.

Sorry to distract you guys from Emma, but we need to talk some hockey here or my mother will be very upset. Well, first, let’s talk holidays, then hockey. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was lovely. A little stressful as mother was cagey with her broken ankle, and MOL, and SIL (Sister in Law) had to run the show. Mother is a lovely woman, but has problems saying exactly what she wants. Oh, she’ll dance around it, and hint at what she wants, and when you guess wrong, she will let you know. All in all, MOL, and SIL did a fantastic job saving Christmas. They make a great team, and I couldn’t ask for a better SIL, or OL. As an aside, while the ladies were busy saving Christmas, my brother and I were busy drinking. It was great to see everyone, and enjoy my niece and nephew.

Onto hockey. Did anyone see the hit Colton Orr laid on Matt Cullen last night? Holy shit. That is the way you get someone with their head down. He hit him so hard he thought it was last Boxing Day. Kudos to Goonblog favorite Mike Commodore for coming to Cullen’s defense. Orrsie is much more a fighter than Commodore is, but he took him on anyway in defense of a mate. He was honoring the code, and I have no issue with the hit, or Commodore coming to Cullen’s defense. The rest of the league take note: you can still hit someone hard, and do it cleanly. Well done Colton.

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.

Carolina has aquired Mike Commodore from Calgary in exchange for a 3rd Round pick. I partied with Mike last year in Lowell, and personally, I think he is a great kid. He also had two of the best fights anyone in a Lowell uniform had all last season. He and DJ King of Worcester had a real slug fest, with both guys standing toe to toe exchanging rights. The fight was to close to call, but the next night, both combatants were sporting nice shiners. Commodore thinks pretty lowly of King, as when I asked him about the tilt, he seemed to indicate Mr. King was what could be slang for a girl’s anatomy.

The second fight, was when Commodore one punched Brent Thompson of Providence. They were pushing and shoving before a face off. When they decided to go, Commie got his gloves off, and lowered the boom on Thompson. Brent went down like he’d been shot. Commodore went in for more, picking up Thompson by his jersey, noticed he was out cold, and dropped him like 8th grade Spanish. Thompson finally made it to the box, were he asked the penalty box attendant why he was in there, and when he got out so many times, the attendant was compelled to inquire if Brent was OK. Hilarious turn of events. Well, not for Brent Thompson.

Anyway, Commodore will probably be on Carolina’s blueline, and I wish him the best of luck. Hopefully up in the show he plays with a mean streak that sometimes eludes him in the "A". Good luck Pudding Head.