Who let the Dogs out?

Fifty-seven shots, three overtimes, and six seconds later, Dustin Boyd broke the 1-1 tie and sent the Bulldogs to the Western Conference finals where they'll meet the Houston Aeros.

It was also the longest game 7 in the 75 years of the AHL.

Basically, it looked like Boyd was sick of waiting for something good to happen and through the power of his own will and determination, there was no way that puck was going anywhere but the back of the net. Gotta love it. Sucks for Lack though, but I don't really like the Canucks or their farm team.

Moose = roadkill

And please, stop giving important games to Terry Koharski...

In the East it's the BingoSens VS the Checkers. Hey, for once Hersey won't get the Cup!

Meanwhile there's word Emelin WILL ACTUALLY FOR SURE sign with the Habs but I'll believe it when it happens. I'm not being sceptical. It's just he said that before then used it as leverage to get more money out of his KHL contract. But he's still young, and really what else is he gonna do in the KHL except take more penalties. (So yea, come over already, Alexei).

Habs 2, Red Wings 4: Things that could have been...

"Cleary there is something wrong here."

Is it just me or do all the Red Wings fans in the crowd look like they spend their days at some local truck stop sipping coffee, reading USA Today, and chowing down on greasy fries? But I digress. A Friday night in Motown NOT HOCKEYTOWN was there for the taking and the Habs let this one slip away...

Red Wings home uniforms make them look like Santa Clauses:
- Penalties make me want to throw waffles.
- Especially your stupid hooking penalties, Cammy.
- But you know, the only reason we question them is because the refs don't call any on the OTHER team.
- Then again, no one has called the Red Wings for blatant interference since forever. Just ask the Penguins.
- Talking about the refs, they got in the way at least 10 times per period. All of them. Including kicking the puck out right in front of Price (luckily he was watching and there were no Santa Clauses around). Don't know what the big deal is about the Swedish dude, he sucks. So did his partner, whoever the hell he was.
- Cammy misses the net so many times it's getting annoying. Thankfully Moen bounced the rebound off Howard's ass.
- The rest of the first and most of the 2nd was OMGPRICE. Just about 20 shots in the first alone.
- Hal Gill should just remain lying on his side during the PK. Can't do anything when he's there.
- But really Gorges, you couldn't put your foot on the puck for 1.2 seconds more? Sigh...
- Pleky VS Datsyuk was like Fight for the Selke. And frankly Pleky VS 5 Red Wings, twice, by himself? Pleky wins.
- Also was killer on faceoffs but those mean shit when your wingers never get the puck you've won.
- Pouliot really needs to show up for more than just one fucking goal on his lone 60ft shot of the game.
- That fluttering rebound shot with Howard on his ass that went right into his glove? Yea, you would have only scored that if this were against the Senators...
- Jimmy Howard didn't like hearing the Carey chant. Too bad for you, the Habs fans from Windsor can jump over the river to fill you old, empty rink where no one cares to chant your name.
- I perked up with interest whenever Eller had the puck and flew into the opposing zone. I liked that he was with Cammy. Then I promptly facepalmed when Cammy wasted his efforts and gave the puck away by flubbing the pass...
- We assume the extended playtime with Gomez has caused not only Cammy to miss the net continuously but Kostitsyn too. Especially those wide open ones.
- Piss poor effort at the end to tie it up with the empty net behind you guys. And by guys I mean what the hell were the Wonder Twins doing?
- And I don't regard empty netters as real goals so the LOLstat is still "No Habs goalie has allowed more than 3 goals in regulation".

Habs, I am disappoint. If you could have NOT taken 5-billion penalties in the first half of the game, you could have either won this or gone to OT easily. Regardless, playoff hockey is fun even though it's not the playoffs. A series with the two teams would be great, if not for the annoying League-assisted handicap.

Magically, problem gets solved

Just like that. It's magic! Alex Auld is our new number 2 and he knows it. No, he LOVES it. And you know what? I LOVE IT TOO! No more bitter agent trolling in the background about how his client's teammate can't get a win because no one really bothers to score a goal or even try. No more hovering around like a little gnat buzzing "play me or trade me" in your ears. As much as Ellis would have been a nice friendly fit, he would have probably been no different from Jaro in that "I think I'm good enough to be a number 1 so why do I have to watch you play even though you do the same when I play and don't bother anyone but yeah" way.

Habs had him at "hello" and that's good enough for me.

Yea I know he's not exactly an amazing goalie. I remember the Habs pumping at least 6 past him when he played with the Bruins. I remember Higgy scoring a hat trick on him (and then never scoring ever again) when he was with the Sens. I remember him finally being that elusive serviceable backup Turco hasn't had since they traded Mike Smith to Tampa Bay. But he's not going to make waves, he not going to impose himself on anyone, they want him to be there for Price and he wants to be there to help. Team first. The same motto Price adopted when he knew he wasn't going to play, so instead made it extra difficult for his teammates in practice just so it'll be easier for them by game time.

This is the type of character they needed to fit in that role, and I'm all for it. So save your snide comments, your ass backwards retorts (looking at you, Pat Hickey), and take it for the opportunity it is. The Habs have an obligation to make things work with Price (you may not understand why but I don't know of any NHL team that would allow their highest most prized prospect sit on the backburner), and having someone who's been through pretty much everything all his career is better than any Dan Ellis. Plus he's as big as our goalie boy. Hey Leighton found his way to a Cup final because he sat in the general area and let his big frame stop the puck. It works. The rest hinges on what the 18 other players on the ice plan to do with the puck.

Of course this is all moot if someone snatches the kid away from us... Send Price an offer sheet and I will hunt you down.

What's in a number?
Nothing. It's just a number. Did Kirk Muller get upset when Saku took his 11? Not a chance. Did the fans? I don't remember. Captain Kirk was and is a much loved player to this city, probably more so than our dear Saku. Despite the length of Saku's tenure and everything he did for this city, the situation was almost volatile in his last year here. You know the ones. The barnyard droogs in the dark corners of the Bell Center booing him as he lead the charge and no one followed. The barbs in the papers complaining about yet another injury. The mouthbreathers calling the radio stations. The media constantly upset that he spoke not the French.


They held off allowing the numbers of both Saku and Kovy for the year out of respect for two great and special members of the team. Neither number will be retired, ever. It's time to move on. So if wearing his boyhood number 11 is important to Gomez, then by all means take it. The former first rounder, Calder trophy winner, two-time Stanley Cup holder never had the opportunity to cloak himself in the double-ones in his NHL career thus far. I think he's old enough to have earned it. It's a pride thing. He loves the sweater he's wearing now, but to have his number on it is like icing on the cake. Remember, hockey players are strange people.

Air turned into Dustin Boyd!
Sergei Kostitsyn being traded wasn't a complete waste of our time as we now have a younger, cheaper, faster version of Metro/Moore in Boyd! And you won't have to run after him to get him to work either. Just the type of guy Chocula loves.

Wanna see something funny?

Colby Armstrong
age: 27
6'2" 195lb
GP: 79 G: 15 A:14 Pts: 29
+/-: +6
PIM: 61
Hits: 74
Blocked Shots: 29
Power play points: 2A
Fighting Majors: 2
Salary: $3,000,000

Dustin Boyd
age: 23
6'0" 192lb
GP: 78 G: 11 A: 13 Pts: 24
+/-: +6
PIM: 19
Hits: 81
Blocks: 43
Power play points: 2A
Fighting Majors: 1
Salary: $650,000

I'm guessing Toronto valued Army's two extra inches to warrant 3 million dollars.