The Everyone’s Favorite Goalie Watch: Thanks, That Was Fun.

The Penguin asks, "Where is Everyone's Favorite Goalie? He won us games!" (by Flickr user Alicia Rae)

All of us Everyone’s Favorite Goalie fans knew that this day would come.  Pittsburgh Penguins star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury would eventually recover from his “lower body” injury, and want his job back.  And because of this, John Curry would get sent back down to Michael Scott’s favorite hockey team, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Curry didn’t leave without earning his second NHL win, stopping 24 of 26 shots in a 9-2 Penguins win against the Islanders.  Pittsburgh-ians like him.  For example, according to my Twitter friend @erinkpgh, a “Spicy Curry” sign seen in the crowd at the Mellon Arena. Several game accounts mentioned a few really spectacular saves that he made, and while he got lost in the shuffle after two of his teammates scored hat tricks, many in the Penguins blogosphere have expressed their hope to see him back permanently next year, after Sabourin leaves in free agency.

Pittsburgh, all BU fans would like to thank you for taking such good care of our beloved Curry.  We are happy knowing he is in good hands, that he’s appreciated, and that you’ve caught on to making amusing signs using his last name.

And BU fans, here’s a fun fact to taunt your favorite Boston College Eagles fan with: Curry leaves the NHL with more wins than Cory Schneider.  Take that.

The Everyone’s Favorite Goalie Watch: Groundhog Day

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Empty Netters blog, John Curry will get the start for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Isn’t this a case of deja vu? Curry’s first NHL start and win happened on November 24th against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

It is hard to gather from the blogosphere if this start is more because of the two games in two nights schedule, or more because Dany Sabourin has been in net for three straight losses. While many (like The Pensblog and others) mention that while Sabourin hasn’t been awful, he hasn’t been awesome, and that him sitting a game might not be the worst idea.  The general sense I’ve gotten from all that I’ve read is that the Penguins defense hasn’t been making plays when they need to, and that has been what has hurt them most, not necessarily goaltending.

Now, off to find a bar with NHL Center Ice that won’t break my holiday budget…

Please Don’t Touch Mr. Young. It Makes Me Sad.

I just read on Awful Announcing that Steve Young was in rare form Monday evening during Monday Night Countdown and the post-game show.

First off, he called ESPN “dumb.” Oh Steve, for all of your smarts, you can sure put your foot in your mouth sometimes. Like the time you called out Phil Simms on national television. I despise Simms as well, and think he was wicked overrated as a quarterback (just like his son), but I’d never call him out on it on national television.

Hmm…maybe I would, but I would do it under a pseudonym and hide for a few weeks following.

Steve, I’ll offer you the same piece of advice I offered Bill Simmons a few months ago. Don’t publicly “dis” your employer. Don’t blog on a underground Blogger account about how ESPN is the man and how they don’t let you post every 7,000 word tomb you write, even if you have a legitimate point. Don’t call out ESPN on ESPN, even if you have pent up anger about having to do a show with Emmitt “I Have Never Heard of Subject-Verb Agreement” Smith and Stuart “Boo-yah!” Scott. Both are examples of burning bridges. I tell my students all the time not to burn bridges, especially with employers, potential employers, and the like. If you ever want a job, it probably isn’t a good idea to burn bridges.

Steve and Bill, you need a career counselor to give you the counseling you obviously didn’t receive at Brigham Young and Holy Cross, respectively. I volunteer. Email me. I’ll help you.

Secondly, in the most egregious assault of one of my favorite athletes since Saturday night’s BU-BC game, a Carolina Panthers fan threw a beer cup at Steve Young. Fortunately, he missed. Steve stayed calm and professional throughout the incident, which does not surprise me. Think about it. For one, he’s a lawyer. Lawyers get stuff thrown at them all the time. (Well, I mean, not all the time. But they are the recipients of a lot of vile comments and hate, which are metaphorically thrown at them. Right?) Additionally, Steve Young has like five children under the age of 10. He has toys, clothes, diapers and cut-up-bits of food thrown at him every single minute of his waking life.

Therefore, having a empty beer cup thrown at him was not going to phase Steve Young. Nothing phases Steve, except for sharing a show with Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin. But then again, wouldn’t that bug you too?

“He’s Like a Saturn. You May Dent Him, But He Pops Right Back Up.” BU 3 – BC 1

I devote this entry to all of the hockey moms in the world.  Because I have no idea how you all don’t have multiple heart attacks every time you watch your child play, no matter how old they are.

Prior to last night, I had never said the F-bomb.  I had gone nearly twenty-seven years of existence without saying that word.  No one around me really ever swore.  The only person in my family growing up that was a big swearer was my Great-Grandmother, but if you were 90, your maiden name was Hooker and you couldn’t get your National Enquirer in the nursing home, you’d have some spicy language too.

Then, last night, around 8pm in Conte Forum, at Boston College (a Catholic school, mind you – my CCD teacher would be screaming at me for this), I said the F-word for the first time.  No one heard it – not even my partner-in-crime, who was next to me. But I said it, and didn’t realize it until the k was leaving my mouth.

However, if there was anytime for me to involuntarily say the F-word, that was it, for I had just witnessed just about the worst hit I had ever seen live in a hockey game. On my favorite player, no less.

Tonight, I Venture Into Dangerous Territory: Conte Forum

I am a glutton for punishment. Last year, the partner-in-crime and I thought it would be a great idea to venture out to UMass Amherst to see the Boston University men’s hockey team face off against the Minutemen.  We wore our BU jerseys and all, and I was nearly jumped on my way to the ladies room.

Well, this year, the partner-in-crime and I have decided to join a few colleagues of mine at tonight’s BU – BC matchup at Conte Forum, one of the few Hockey East arenas that I haven’t been to at this point.  Heaven help us.