1. Like a wise man once said, “Watching Stars games is like a box of chocolates."
Fortunately, the Bruins game didn’t leave us stuck with the creamed, black-walnut and prune-marmalade cordial, covered in rock-hard, unsweetened dark chocolate that Stars fans have become so accustomed to getting lately.
Tonight we got the milk chocolate caramel we all knew was hiding somewhere in that box.
2. A nickname for one of the Stars forward lines crossed my mind today. It might work and it’s fair since each player gets three letters of their last name included.
For me, the Blackwell-Faksa-Bäck line will now be known as The Bläcksa Line (TM).
It even works as a descriptor of the way one might feel when their line takes a shift.
Fan 1: "I missed the game. How did the fourth line play?"
Fan 2: "They played the same way they always do. You know, not bad, not exciting, kinda meh, sorta Bläcksa."
3. Stars Players and TNT - The Good:
- It was good to see Jason Robertson playing like Bill Guerin was in the building tonight.
- It was good to see the hard work pay off with Justin Hryckowian getting his first multi-point game ever.
- It was good to learn that the Stars have picked up a new right-hand shooting defenseman. According to the TNT broadcast, his last name is pronounced: "Lye-bush-gan".
- It was good to see the game end so we will never again have to hear another word uttered about the Boston Bruins annual sibling trip.
4. Tonight made me realize how much more imminently hatetable the Bruins were when Brad Marchand played for them. They don't even have Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara or Brandon Carlo as easy villains anymore which makes me sad in a weird way.
But now I hate their siblings, so, circle of life, I guess.
5. Unfortunate Adventures in Bad Broadcasting (aka: Thank Goodness for Josh and Razor)
5.a. Here is the Minnesota Wild’s color commentator after the ref raised his hand for a delayed penalty against the Sabres: "I didn't see it (the penalty) but it's well deserved."
After seeing the replay of the very iffy penalty call with only a few seconds left in a tie game: "Oooohhh, no question about that one. He's guilty!”
This guy is so biased he makes the Bruins' color guy, Andy Brickley, sound like Switzerland at a peace accord.
5.b. The Wild color commentator when the Sabres game got to overtime: "I just wanted to see this go to overtime. I don't care if Buffalo gets one as long as Minnesota gets one."
Wuttt??
6. Almost everyone knows that Jim Nill fleeced the Bruins in the Tyler Seguin trade. The Bruins similarly gave up on former first-overall draft pick Joe Thornton well before they should have.
In his first season with San Jose, one split between the Bruins and Sharks, Thornton led the NHL in scoring with 125 points to win the Art Ross Trophy and was also the Hart Trophy recipient. Thornton is the only player in League history to play for two teams and win the scoring title and MVP awards after being traded mid-season. His 125 points are also the most points (and assists) anyone has ever scored the same season as being traded.
Bruins...LOL!
7.1 QUESTION:
What former Bruins player has played on teams with eight different first-overall NHL draft picks during his career?
8. A couple of weeks ago I saw a clip of the Stars bench after Mikko Rantanen scored the hat trick in the third period to beat the Avalanche in game 7 last season. Jamie Benn, mic'd up, leaned over and asked him if he wanted to go first in the handshake lineup, against his old team, or last.
Rantanen's sheepish response: "I'd like to go last." Followed by a very deferential: "Is that OK???"
Such a cuddly little Moose.
9. Lian Bischel was on the ice practicing the other day so that's good news. His team lead has not been threatened since his absence either. Do with this information what you will:
Bischel leads the Stars in hits with 85 in 26 games. The next closest is Justin Hryckowian with 75 hits in 49 games.
7.2 ANSWER:
Tyler Seguin was drafted second overall in 2010 behind Taylor Hall who also had a short stint with the Bruins.
Since he was drafted, Hall has played on teams with eight different number-one overall draft picks including: Connor Bedard, Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Connor McDavid, Nail Yakopov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and himself.
Hall had a couple of other close calls too. He played for the Blackhawks one season after they traded away Patrick Kane, and Hall was traded by the Sabres the same year they drafted Owen Power first overall.
The next time the Stars miss the playoffs, they need to coax Hall out of retirement to sign him. Talk about a draft lottery luck charm. Dang!
10. Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Win (TM)
"And that's all I have to say about that." - Forrest G.
Robo and Hryckowian(80’s cop duo movie?) deservedly got accolades on the broadcast but I saw Prime Harley tonight. He was very very good.
Boy, did my psyche need that…
And I’ve never heard a more insufferable hockey broadcast team than Andy Brickley and Jack Edwards before he retired. Those two could make you hate the Bruins by themselves. 😂
10 Non-Whiny, Pot-Luck Rambles
1. Like a wise man once said, “Watching Stars games is like a box of chocolates."
Fortunately, the Bruins game didn’t leave us stuck with the creamed, black-walnut and prune-marmalade cordial, covered in rock-hard, unsweetened dark chocolate that Stars fans have become so accustomed to getting lately.
Tonight we got the milk chocolate caramel we all knew was hiding somewhere in that box.
2. A nickname for one of the Stars forward lines crossed my mind today. It might work and it’s fair since each player gets three letters of their last name included.
For me, the Blackwell-Faksa-Bäck line will now be known as The Bläcksa Line (TM).
It even works as a descriptor of the way one might feel when their line takes a shift.
Fan 1: "I missed the game. How did the fourth line play?"
Fan 2: "They played the same way they always do. You know, not bad, not exciting, kinda meh, sorta Bläcksa."
3. Stars Players and TNT - The Good:
- It was good to see Jason Robertson playing like Bill Guerin was in the building tonight.
- It was good to see the hard work pay off with Justin Hryckowian getting his first multi-point game ever.
- It was good to learn that the Stars have picked up a new right-hand shooting defenseman. According to the TNT broadcast, his last name is pronounced: "Lye-bush-gan".
- It was good to see the game end so we will never again have to hear another word uttered about the Boston Bruins annual sibling trip.
4. Tonight made me realize how much more imminently hatetable the Bruins were when Brad Marchand played for them. They don't even have Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara or Brandon Carlo as easy villains anymore which makes me sad in a weird way.
But now I hate their siblings, so, circle of life, I guess.
5. Unfortunate Adventures in Bad Broadcasting (aka: Thank Goodness for Josh and Razor)
5.a. Here is the Minnesota Wild’s color commentator after the ref raised his hand for a delayed penalty against the Sabres: "I didn't see it (the penalty) but it's well deserved."
After seeing the replay of the very iffy penalty call with only a few seconds left in a tie game: "Oooohhh, no question about that one. He's guilty!”
This guy is so biased he makes the Bruins' color guy, Andy Brickley, sound like Switzerland at a peace accord.
5.b. The Wild color commentator when the Sabres game got to overtime: "I just wanted to see this go to overtime. I don't care if Buffalo gets one as long as Minnesota gets one."
Wuttt??
6. Almost everyone knows that Jim Nill fleeced the Bruins in the Tyler Seguin trade. The Bruins similarly gave up on former first-overall draft pick Joe Thornton well before they should have.
In his first season with San Jose, one split between the Bruins and Sharks, Thornton led the NHL in scoring with 125 points to win the Art Ross Trophy and was also the Hart Trophy recipient. Thornton is the only player in League history to play for two teams and win the scoring title and MVP awards after being traded mid-season. His 125 points are also the most points (and assists) anyone has ever scored the same season as being traded.
Bruins...LOL!
7.1 QUESTION:
What former Bruins player has played on teams with eight different first-overall NHL draft picks during his career?
8. A couple of weeks ago I saw a clip of the Stars bench after Mikko Rantanen scored the hat trick in the third period to beat the Avalanche in game 7 last season. Jamie Benn, mic'd up, leaned over and asked him if he wanted to go first in the handshake lineup, against his old team, or last.
Rantanen's sheepish response: "I'd like to go last." Followed by a very deferential: "Is that OK???"
Such a cuddly little Moose.
9. Lian Bischel was on the ice practicing the other day so that's good news. His team lead has not been threatened since his absence either. Do with this information what you will:
Bischel leads the Stars in hits with 85 in 26 games. The next closest is Justin Hryckowian with 75 hits in 49 games.
7.2 ANSWER:
Tyler Seguin was drafted second overall in 2010 behind Taylor Hall who also had a short stint with the Bruins.
Since he was drafted, Hall has played on teams with eight different number-one overall draft picks including: Connor Bedard, Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Connor McDavid, Nail Yakopov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and himself.
Hall had a couple of other close calls too. He played for the Blackhawks one season after they traded away Patrick Kane, and Hall was traded by the Sabres the same year they drafted Owen Power first overall.
The next time the Stars miss the playoffs, they need to coax Hall out of retirement to sign him. Talk about a draft lottery luck charm. Dang!
10. Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Win (TM)
"And that's all I have to say about that." - Forrest G.
BTW, the worst homers in the entire known universe are the Avalanche announcers.
Dark chocolate isn’t the problem. It’s the goober fruit filling. Some us know to stick with the thin chocolates to avoid these disasters.
More trivia questions, always.
Robo and Hryckowian(80’s cop duo movie?) deservedly got accolades on the broadcast but I saw Prime Harley tonight. He was very very good.
Boy, did my psyche need that…
And I’ve never heard a more insufferable hockey broadcast team than Andy Brickley and Jack Edwards before he retired. Those two could make you hate the Bruins by themselves. 😂
That was fun. Also, just how good was Miro Heiskanen tonight. Total dominance in all three zones.
He was outstanding.
Everything good has to start somewhere..... This was good.... Move along :)
I'm still not over the Hintz pass on that first goal. A thing of absolute beauty!
It gets better with each watch. Just elite vision and a perfect finish.