Round 2

So it's surprisingly difficult to update a Buffalo Sabres blog when the Buffalo Sabres aren't playing. Shocking, I know. So it's pretty obvious that my posts are going to be few and far between and they most likely won't really being focusing on the Sabres at all, but more about hockey in general...and myself. I'm a narcissistic bitch if you haven't noticed already. Only kidding...

I've already said that I'm not really going to do an analysis of each and every game played in the playoffs, so I wanted to hold off on updating until round 1 was over. In a previous post, I put in my thoughts on certain match-ups and for the most part I am pretty satisfied with what went down. I was a little disappointed to see the Blues get swept by the Canucks. Just because I really admired how they worked really hard to climb up in the standings and earn a playoff spot, so it was a little disappointing to see them get swept. Same goes for the Blue Jackets, but I'm sure the experience of being in the playoffs will be beneficial for the organization, even though they got swept as well. I'm glad to see the Ducks win over the Sharks, and that only might be because I find some amusement out of the Sharks always having an early exit in the playoffs after a promising regular season. Sorry Sharks fans. I actually really like watching the Sharks, but come on...it's funny. For me at least. It's just downright frustrating for many other fans. But Anaheim played strong and they deserved to move on. They proved that it doesn't always matter what seed you are in the playoffs, just play strong hockey and anything can happen. The 'Hawks-Flames series was great to watch. I found myself rooting for both teams depending which game it was. It was just a fun series to watch and it didn't matter to me who prevailed, so congratulations to the 'Hawks for winning.

Onto the East...I suspected that the Boston-Montreal match-up would be pretty unbalanced, and although I wasn't expecting a sweep, I still wasn't surprised. It can be a circus up in Montreal, with the media and the rabid fanbase, and sometimes they can do more harm than good when things aren't going their way. Not a pretty way to celebrate the team's centennial season. I wish things would have been different for the Devils-'Canes series. It was a very exciting series as I expected it to be, but I wish the it was the Devils who prevailed and not the 'Canes. But the Hurricanes got it done by scoring very late third period goals in two games. I am glad that the Capitals found a way to win the series. That was a treat for me. They were down 3-1 in the series but they kept working hard and it paid off. When they won Game 6 at MSG I knew they were going to win Game 7. Well I mean I wasn't convinced and I didn't think it was going to be an easy win, I just knew that the momentum was completely in their favor. I felt bad for Lundqvist, he was very good for the team, but even though strong goaltending is essential in the playoffs, they can't do everything to secure a win.

So now it's onto round 2...and the series I am most excited for is the Detroit-Anaheim series. I'm not sure who I am even rooting for, but I'm sure it will be a great series. I'm hoping the Bruins can take care of those pesky Hurricanes because I don't want to see them in the playoffs for much longer. As for the 'Hawks-Canucks series, I'm going to have to with Chicago. You know, the Buffalo ties and all that. And I'm sure the NHL is just ecstatic over the Capitals-Pens series. Ovechkin vs Crosby. How exciting...here's hoping the Caps can take care of the Pens.

So I was doing some browsing on team's message forums and I find it so amusing how whacky fans can be sometimes. I understand that emotions are running high during the playoffs, and not everyone can think objectively. But after the Devils got eliminated, some fans were calling for Brodeur's head. Saying it's time for a new goalie, his pads are too small, he needs to be a butterfly goalie, and it was just a bunch of fans with a plethora of goalie knowledge giving advice to Marty on how to be a better goaltender. I'm sure he will be open for suggestions on how to improve his game. I guess Devils fans sometimes forget that they have argurably one of the greatest goaltenders in the world playing for them. That's not to say he's going to be play like the world's greatest goalie every single night, but it's just amusing to me to see that even Devils fans can find a way to blame it all on the goalie. I guess it just comes with the job as a goaltender, even when you're as established as Martin Brodeur. That also brings me to how Habs fans were treating Price after they got swept. I admit that I have a soft spot for goalies so it always bothers me when they take so much of the blame, although I realize that it's always going to be like that. But booing and taunting your own goalie in his own rink is unacceptable I think. Sometimes booing your team as a whole in their own rink is warranted, but I've never been big on singling out specific players. The bottom line is that Carey Price is only 21-years-old and relatively inexperienced. He needs time to mature and he's still learning how to deal with the pressures of not only being a starting goalie in the NHL, but the added pressures of being a Montreal Canadien. The Habs have invested a lot into Price and fans should try and get behind him instead of trying to ruin his confidence and/or run him out of town. Perhaps his sarcastic Roy-esq salute to the fans that he did during Game 4 will remind Habs fans of this.

The weather in Buffalo has been giving us a preview into the summer...it's been beautiful out. I tried to take advantage of this and I have been wearing the cute summer dresses that I bought a few months ago. I also took my dog for a walk on Elmwood on Sunday and it was really nice. I saw these little girls riding pink minature mopeds and they were so cute. I want one. The nice weather has put me in a good mood and it's making me look forward to summer. I only have one more full week of classes before exams and all that and then I'm done! Thank god. School-related issues have been stressing me out lately so the semester ending couldn't come at a better time. I have a lot planned this summer but I also have to work a lot over the summer to get them Benjaminzzzzzz so I can do everything that I want to do. I've also been wanting to start a garden. I think it would be neat to grow some fruits, vegetables, herbs, and pretty flowers. I just like doing hands-on activities and being outdoors so gardening is ideal. I've also been getting into making my own tea so growing my own herbs would be a lot of fun in the process. I went to UB's Spring Fest last weekend with my friends and it was great. I haven't been to a concert in a long time which is a shame because I love live music. Brand New is one of my favorite bands and although I have already seen them twice before, it was nice to see them again. My friend's roommate is also in a band and his band won a battle of the bands so they got to play at the show too which was neat for them. I already know I am seeing No Doubt in June and hopefully I'll be able to attend Lollapalooza in Chicago in August. I'm eager to see the Thursday at the Square lineup as well.