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Fin

hcreegan — 2008-05-10T11:28:27-05:00

I think it goes without saying that I am disappointed in Providence's 5-4 loss to Portland last night, and thusly, Providence's playoff exit. The disappointment is extra strong because this year, I believed they could have won the Calder Cup if they wanted, because they had all the pieces. I always believe in my team, but this year felt different. This year felt like Their Year. They spent close to two-thirds (or more; my math is shabby and my ability to deal with fractions even shabbier) as the number one team in the league. For the first time that I can recall, a playoff berth wasn't achieved through a combination of winning the last number of X games and the ifs of having other teams in the division lose. This year a playoff spot was achieved in early March.

All this makes the sting of losing a little deeper.

I don't know what happened, because I didn't go to any of the three games in Portland, and last night's game was just ridiculous. They spent the first period playing (and ended it, 2-1), they were just kind of there for the second period, as if to meet the compulsory attendance records (and ended it tied, 3-3), and then spent the third period playing the same, until Portland took the lead with a fourth, and then a fifth, goal. It wasn't until that fourth goal that they all seemed to wake up, as if oh shit, they just realized that the rest of their playoff time rests on the remaining 13 minutes in this period. But playing only 33 minutes wasn't enough; it didn't get it done.

I do believe that they pulled Rask too late. The team seems to play better, tighter hockey in front of Sigalet, and I wish that they'd either started the game with him or pulled Rask sooner. Perhaps after the second Portland goal. I do love that when Rask was completely bowled over in front of the net, Sean Curry took immediate offense and earned a 5 minute fighting major and 2 minute roughing penalty. Throughout the whole year, people were defending their teammates like that, and I loved it. Yes, this is what generally happens, but this year there seemed to be an extra edge to it, an extra-protective undercurrent of mess with my teammates and watch what happens to your face.

In saying goodbye to my winter family, as it's referred to in this house, and in discussing tentative summer plans and the game, the series, and the season with these people, I'm not so quick to blame the exit on the format of this series (though who books a circus during playoffs? WHO?), or the refs (is it just refereeing standard to "miss" the legitimate calls on the other teams and call phantom penalties on Providence?), and I'm not even upset that there were no promotional giveaways until the final night of Providence's playoff run ([you] didn't know they were going to be in the playoffs until it was too late to order any? That is crap, pure and simple.) (also NOTE TO PROVIDENCE: rally towels are much quieter. Look into those next year.), I'm just disappointed that it seems like Providence just stopped playing as if they cared to advance. I hate that Portland gets to. The mere thought of that team advancing just churns my stomach contents in the wrong way.

I am embarrassed for the fans who chucked beers, clappers, and other assorted items onto the ice at Portland while they were celebrating their win. That's uncalled for, regardless of the opponents or how disappointed you are that your team lost. It's basic etiquette - chew with your mouth closed, don't throw your toys at other kids.

While I don't know that we'll have the same shell of a team next year -- a lot of the contracts are up in June -- and I don't know who will be back, I will spend my summer hoping Boston and Providence will be able to re-sign many of these players. I will spend my summer licking my proverbial wounds and discussing signings and hoping that 2009 will prove to be Boston's year and prove to be Providence's year, because the beauty of sports is that there's always next year.

To the boys from this year, I thank you for a season well done. Have brilliant summers, and see you again soon.

OMG Those Bastards Went And Let Portland Take The Lead Banana Bread

hcreegan — 2008-05-06T21:34:44-05:00

note: it is not recommended to photograph things while they are baking. ow.

3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened.
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas; more if you have aggression to work out because THEY WENT AND LOST THREE CONSECUTIVE GAMES TO PORTLAND, WTF.
1/4 cup cold water.
2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup whole wheat & 1 cup all-purpose)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of cinnamon

Grease and flour a 9x5" bread loaf pan. In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, and eggs just until blended. Imagine it's someone on Portland. This makes the job go easier. Increase the beating, double-time (or on "high" if you're one of those fancy people who uses a mixer) until light and fluffy. Reduce speed back to low and add mashed bananas and water. Beat until well mixed, or your aggression is gone. Have a third party objectively rule if it's well mixed if need be. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Sprinkle a tiny bit of cinnamon over the batter. Mix until well-blended, and then spoon the mixture into your bread pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely. Enjoy this with some orange juice (vodka optional), and let it soothe the anger and disappointment away. (Some say the vodka also helps speed this process up.)

I am so not thrilled that we've dropped a 2-0 series lead to fall behind, 3-2. I believe that we can beat Portland and advance onto the next round. I believe this because Providence didn't spend most of the year kicking ass and staying atop the whole damn league to go and roll over in the post-season. I know this because I didn't go to so many games this season, I didn't waste my time caring about the team and the players, stressing about who might end up gone and who might end up resigned JUST TO HAVE THEM ROLL OVER IN THE POST SEASON. I firmly believe that Providence has a date to duel for the Calder Cup, and they need to believe this too. They need to believe this too, because I'm going to look awfully stupid awfully quickly at the final, rooting for Providence if they're not there.

Eat your Wheaties, boys; Friday's comin' quick. We have some games to win.

Boston's 2007-2008 Season Comes To A Close Leaving Fans Hungry For 2008-2009.

rlord — 2008-04-23T12:27:46-05:00

Well another season comes to a close for the Boston Bruins as they fell 5 - 0 to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite the first round elimination however, this team has a lot to be proud of! When the 2007-2008 season began sports analysts never gave this team a fighting chance. They were not expected to play well let alone make it to the playoffs. After taking hits such as losing their star scorer, the team rallied together and posted wins. Enough wins to take them to the playoffs where they were to face their most formidable foe...the Montreal Canadiens. All season the Canadiens proved to be the one team the Bruins could not crack. Going into the playoffs, people were calling for the Habs to sweep the B's. Little did they know Boston was not going down without a fight.

With the Habs taking the first two games of the series, the two teams headed to Boston. Once in Boston, the Bruins came alive taking Game Three in an overtime victory. With games 2 and 3 being overtime games people began to talk saying maybe the series was not as un-even a match as it was thought to be. In game four, the Bruins fell to the Candiens again, bringing the series to a 3-1 lead for Montreal. Facing elimination, the Bruins headed back to Montreal where they smoked the Habs and their young goalie in game five.

Forcing a game 6, the two rivals returned to the Garden. I have been working at the Garden the past three years and I have never seen anything like I did Saturday night. For the first time there were more Bruins fans than Habs fans. I went into the runway while the national anthem was being sung. As I looked out I could see American flags waving in the crowd. People young and old stood with hands on their hearts and together they SANG the Star Spangled Banner. That is right. People were singing loudly and proudly. Cheri was out on the concourse and she said even there you could hear the fans singing along. While a few "Go Habs Go" chants broke out they were quickly booed and there was no mistaking whose house they were playing in that night. On April 19, 2008, the Garden belonged to the Boston Bruins! All night cheers filled the arena. "Let's Go Bruins" and "Ca-ry, Ca-ry, Ca-ry." Rally towels waving wildly....fans clapping, screaming. This is what hockey in Boston should be like!

The game was a roller coaster of a ride. After the first period the score was 1-0 Montreal. Once the second period was underway I told Cheri and the girls I was going to peek in as I had not had a chance during the first period and everytime I go in we score. No word of a lie, 15 seconds after I walked in, the Bruins scored tying the game 1-1. By the end of the 2nd period the game was at 2-1 Montreal. No one had any idea what was in store for the third. As I was leading the crew to the 9th floor where we were going to watch the remainder of the game, the Bruins banged in goal number two tying the game. It was once we got to the 9th floor that things went crazy....when the Bruins got the 4th goal the crowd went wild. Because the 9th floor is a big open space, there was plenty of room to run, jump....strangers were hugging, kissing, slapping hi-5s! Then suddenly, 15 seconds later....boos! The Candiens scored tying the game at 4-4. Usually the wind would have been sucked out of the Garden. But not on this night. Instead fans got louder. Crazier. People began thinking that the game was going to end up in overtime. Not tonight. The Bruins had something to prove. Boom. Goal 5!!!! The Bruins were able to maintain the lead and only a few minutes later the game was over.

As we exited the arena, fans were cheering in the street! Cars were driving by honking their horns, blaring the Dropkick Murphys out the window. There was an air of excitement....the possibilities of what could be. That Saturday night, it felt like game 7! The Bruins had done what no one thought was possible. They had tied the series at 3-3 and forced a game 7.

The next two days the Bruins were the buzz of Boston! At the Red Sox game on Monday people in the stands were waving Bruins rally towels. People's flag poles boasted Bruins flags. Cars drove down the highway with rally towels in the windows. The grocery stores were selling Bruins cakes...I have NEVER seen a Bruins cake in a grocery store. Red Sox…yes. Patriots...yes. Bruins...no! People in my office who never spoke of hockey came by my desk to talk about the game.

Despite the game 7 loss, the Boston Bruins gave Boston sports fans something to root for. They gave us something to believe in. It a time when the Patriots, Red Sox and even the Celtics have found success, the Bruins too have joined the ranks. While they may not have made it past the first round, this team and this coach made a name for themselves! After Saturday night, sitting in the Garden surrounded by so many Bruins fans and watching such a hard fought game, I have NEVER been more proud to be a Bruins fan.

While the season has come to a close for Boston, there is still one Bruins team still very much alive! The Providence Bruins have swept the Manchester Monarchs in Round 1 of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The one benefit of being down to one team in the playoffs is no more schedule conflicts....though I have to admit, they were the best kind of conflicts to have :)

Three down, 13 to go.

hcreegan — 2008-04-20T21:42:12-05:00

Boston bounced back from a deficit to tie the series with Montreal at 3-3. Game 7 is tomorrow night in Montreal. I am not sure I will be able to watch through both eyes at once.

Someone once said to me -- when circumstances were eerily similar to this in 2004 -- that rookie goaltenders don't win playoff series. Whether it was a haunting prophecy then or it was just a comment designed to push my buttons because I made it a point to root against the Red Sox that year at every chance I was given (I'm going with option B) that season, I'm hoping it rings true tomorrow night. I am hoping that Boston has broken Cary Price.

Providence has been maintaining a healthy 3-0 lead over Manchester. Game 4 is tomorrow night in Manchester. Two games (the first and the third) have come down to OT; the third game (game 2) was won in regulation, but it was tighttighttight until the third period. If there are three teams that can beat us and beat us with very little effort, it's Manchester, Portland, and Hartford. To advance to the third round, the conference finals, we will have to beat two of those three. Do I believe that Manchester could rally and beat us in the next four? Oh, I've seen stranger things happen. But I know that Providence can go all the way to the Calder Finals if they want to. I know I'm in if they get there; I want them to get there. My entire section at the Dunk wants them to get there. My roommate's section wants them to get there. I'm sure there are a few people, here and there, who want them to get there. With the way I saw the bench clear for butt-slappin' congratulations when they won game 1 and 2, I am pretty sure that THEY want to get there.

Also; no giveaways for round one? This is the first time I have attended playoffs at the Dunk and not gotten some godforsaken clappers. What gives? How 'bout a rally towel, Providence? Nice and quiet, yet so much fun to wave around.

One down; 15 more to go.

hcreegan — 2008-04-16T23:24:31-05:00

Playoffs=mohawks=love!