Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Everybody Hates Pernell Karl: Sabres Game Preview and Open Thread

 
Okay, we get it. No, really, we get it. WE UNDERSTAND, Pensblog. And Mr. Cherry. And Mr. Richards. And Miss Lupul. And the rest of you. You think our little guy is disrespectful. Or arrogant. Or a cheapshotting punk. Or too big for his britches. Got you, loud and clear.

No, I didn't say uppity. No, I don't think you are all American History X/National Front/Chelsea Headhunters racists. Do I think some of you aren't exactly comfortable discussing PK's race? Maybe, but I don't think there is a global old white guy conspiracy to keep PK down like some sort of 21st century Roots. Part of the problem might be stupid stuff like this that only served to set off sirens in everyone's head that make everything about PK Subban somehow a racial issue.

It's not.

PK is an issue because he's a potential star in one of the biggest markets in the NHL, a market that has been starved of a) any real success and b) a true superstar for almost 20 years. It's an issue because the captain of another major market team (Richards) spouted off about respect and people ran with it, with Montreal fans defending PK, traditionalists defending Richards' sentiments and Montreal haters piling on. It's an issue because a media icon (Cherry) jumped on the story, and TSN's Darren Pang Freudian slipped into infamy, and PK scored an overtime winner and celebrated too much, and threw on a Carolina jersey to play up to the fans, and didn't do the right thing in a fight with Lupul, who just happened to be a recent addition to the most widely followed team in the NHL.

Does PK need to zip it sometimes? Probably. Is he unfairly singled out for criticism? In a league where the Islanders pull their stunt from last Friday, and Matt Cooke remains employed, and the Bruins see nothing wrong with firing punches at guys who are already beaten to the ice, and owners get indicted, and players are rumoured to be sleeping with teammates wives, yeah, I think the whole "PK is disrespectful" angle gets a little too much play. Sadly, such is life on a team with such a polarizing place in the game. It works both ways. I can read 1000 "Brian Burke is a blowhard jackass who lucked into a Cup, ha hah ha Kessel trade" articles for every mention of the amazing support he and his family show towards the gay community in Toronto and elsewhere in the wake of Brendan Burke's coming out.  Life in the internet age isn't always fair and balanced.

The challenge for PK is to continue to learn how to be a good professional hockey player without curtailing his unique skill set too much. The challenge for Canadiens fans is to not take any criticism of PK's attitude as a personal affront. People didn't like Patrick Roy's attitude either, you know. A guy named Chris Chelios didn't win a lot of friends his rookie year. Ask Mike Milbury what he thought of Guy Lafleur. Even that Rocket fellow ran afoul of his colleagues once or twice. PK will learn, or not. If he does, the Canadiens and the league will benefit. If he doesn't, the league and the Canadiens will move on. And so will everyone else.

What does this have to do with Buffalo? Well, PK is playing versus Buffalo tonight, if that helps.

What, you guys again?: For what seems like the millionth time, Buffalo meets the Habs at the Bell Centre ce soir. 7:30 on RDS, Versus, and TSN-Habs. Canadiens stopped three game losing streak with Saturday's shutout of Toronto, while (look out!) Sabres are a runaway train lately, winning 7 of 10 and sneaking to within 4 points of the playoffs with a bunch of games in hand.

Leading the charge: Sabres are getting scoring from Drew Stafford (8 goals in 4 games) and Tomas Vanek (7 points in 4) with rookie Tyler Ennis starting to find his feet in the absence of whining diving crybaby Derek Roy. Habs are being lead by the kids lately, as Max Pac (4 points in 3) DDD (First star on Saturday, 6 points in his past three) are helping out uber-consistent Pleks (10 points in 9).

Dragging the boat down: This space might soon become the Scott Gomez and Andrei Kostitsyn memorial paragraph, if they don't start scoring more consistently. Unless it becomes the "OMG, we gave up Jaro for a stiff, Lars Eller is way over matched right now" memorial paragraph. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Lars Eller has one more point that Josh Gorges. Josh Gorges is a low-scoring defenseman WHO HAS MISSED THE LAST TWENTY GAMES. When Squid gets back, please send Eller to Hamilton for the Max Pac treatment. Thank you. Sabres are hard charging towards 8th and have a lot of guys hot, but would be even better with some more help from Paul Gaustad and Rob Niedermayer.

Not Miller time. Price is Right: Cliched headlines abound when the Sabres and Habs meet, because Ryan Miller and Carey Price usually man the nets and the mainstream media is full of idiots. Let's see how the spin the fact that Jhonas Enroth is rumoured to be starting in goal for Buffalo, ending a string of starts for Miller that began on November 26. Suddenly, I'm worried Alex Auld will break down under his massive workload backing up Price.

Owies: Whining diving crybaby Derek Roy is out for the season with a bruised va-jay-jay ... no, wait, he had surgery on his left quadriceps. Sissy. Walk it off. Steve Montador is questionable after being concussed in the head. Habs missing long-term absentees Markov, Gorges, Cammy (for a few more days). Darche and Max Pac are probable for tonight, and Hal Gill and Spacek are questionable so the Habs called up big fella Brendan Nash from Hamilton.

Read this, if only for the title: Die By the Blade.

After game entertainment: See if these ladies want to trade up from Pominville and whining diving crybaby Roy.

138 comments:

Boob Gainey said...

... players are rumoured to be sleeping with teammates wives ...

Details please.

UK3X said...

@10 - an outstanding summation of what was becoming a ridiculous situation if ever I have read one - well done!

Now then - GYFHG!!

UK3X said...

@boob - isn't that why Mike Fisher-Underwood left Ottawa? I heard that someone was doing Cari - not sure who - but...


wv...whoever it was is in hydin

Steve said...

@10 great summary of PFK problem, basically the NHL hates Montreal cause Americans cant find it on a map, while Toronto is a gimme, look on one of the big blue spots.

I can see Buffalo from my doorstep and those(puck bunnies) are the most attractive people I have ever seen in Buffalo.

moeman said...

Nice work 10.

No way those gals are from Barffalo.

kevincrumbs said...

Should I drop almost $200 for a PFK jersey? I need a new one since we traded Max to Anaheim for Uncle Fester. However, I'd only ever wear it while watching the Habs on TV or going to a bar to watch them.

iRiRi said...

Brilliant, 10. Couldn't agree more.

Heads up, this fine post is getting lots of props on twitter right now. Even NHL.com/Habs beat writer Arpon Basu retweeted it!

GYFHG!

Young HF29 said...

/ slow golf clap for 10
GG, fine work too

Those "Buffalo" chicks must have been bused in from Syracuse or something

Steve said...

In related sports news

p.gagnon17 said...

I think we should be asking the Mexican and Tits to start scoring...period...before asking them to score consistency.

WV: pardi time!!!

All that and a bag of pucks said...

It is a simple math problem.

PK Subban = Nike spokesman

Mike Richards = Local used BMW spokesman

Lupul = Four teams in four years

Orangeman said...

Great summary 10.

I like to hate with the best of them, but after Burke's son died I had to take a step back and re-realize that these are just people. I may not think much of Burke as a GM, but I do recognize his bravery in supporting his son and facing the toughest media in the NHL after his loss.

Not that I don't taunt or throw out thesaurus-item filled insults every now and again, but perspective is needed sometimes. PK is just a kid and the people calling for his blood need to step back and give their head a shake. We say it every Rememberance Day, but there are real tough guys (and gals) out there. These players are just that, players. Cherry showing pics of our servicemen and women doesn't give him a right to celebrate violence.

Sorry for being all serious-like. I have two midterms today so no time for happy thoughts.

Orangeman said...

Speaking of violence, didn't we lose like 5 guys the last time we played these fuckers?

soperman said...

Nice perspective, 10.

GYFHG!!!!

dwgs said...

Wow, break out the meth flavoured ice cream, Puck Daddy's linking to the PK bit. Everybody on their best behaviour now.
wv - bionce, steve austin's mixed race love child.

Young HF29 said...

RUN FOR THE HILLS THE PUCK DADDY KIDS ARE COMING

Steve said...

so thats why my link to SI swimsuit was censored.

Steve said...

Fuck Puck Daddy, look what he said about FHF in the past, its worse than Cherry talking about PFK.

Young HF29 said...

@Steve - sorry, it got caught in Blogger's crappy comment spam filter. you should see it now. and that will be our Sexy Friday video this week. You know, to apologise

Steve said...

Puck Daddy, what kind of fucking fake "gansta" name is that. Ice puck. much better, Jay Zamboni, Hockey I AM, all fake shit, the real deal is Stomping Puck, real music, real Canadian and Don Cherry approved.

moeman said...

Nice to see 10s post get some web love. Leave it to FHF to class up PuckDaddy's usual leaf love-in.

moeman said...

Spacek out Nash in.

If he gets a slashing penalty ....

GoldenGirl11 said...

Way to go 10. Linked at HIO. Well done.

I look forward to your article on Halpern and Cammy over at B'nai Brith.

Bill 101 said...

@moe: Nash the Slash - love it!

..as long as the PK is disciplined

Anonymous said...

PK Subban is great. Will be even better: saw him play in Belleville 3 years ago. The guy's for real.
Markov out Subban in.

Kate said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kate said...

Wait, is this a hockey blog? Well fuck me.

Later.

Bill 101 said...

Am I on drugs or is the leaf actually TRYING to make Boston & Phucktards better teams?

Dear Burke: Can you spell "western conference?"

moeman said...

Funny, truthful pic of the leaf media.

iRiRi said...

It's almost as if he's rebuilding the Bruins.

Kate said...

Serious and insightful scares me, but I think I'm okay now. *shivers*

Well done 10, not for freaking me out but for writing a good article.

moe,

Hilarious pic.

rogieshan said...

Rumour was Dany Heatley wanted out of Ottawa because of a love triangle between he, Jason Spezza and the latter's then-girlfriend-now wife. Of course, there was also the alleged infidelity involving Chris Pronger in Edmonton, plus Chad Kilger and his masseuse while in Toronto...

Anonymous said...

Nice article, but with all due respect, I think you dismiss the race issue a little too easily. Pang certainly committed a Freudian slip - and that slip is much more telling about the hockey in Canada. A sport that refuses to hire another uppity coach. A sport that seeks to hide language tensions. And a sport that doesn't want to be like 'those football players'

I love hockey, but really, it's a white league and sport. P.K. is doing it different and that ain't white for the powers that be.

Sam

lehab said...

Great blogging as usual 29 and gg. Who is this panger dude?? I need to buy him drinks this weekend as I just got a free flight to Calgary for the outdoor classic.GYFHG!!!

Steve said...

sex tapes, if we had more sex tapes of players fucking other players wives the southern strategy would be gold.

Young HF29 said...

heh @ steve.

@lehab - i cannot take credit for another HF's work

DROP THE FING PUCK ALREADY

Young HF29 said...

hey mexican took a shot! (after passing it)

Orangeman said...

Did Mex just shoot the puck? I mean, he missed the net, but holy shit!

Orangeman said...

Ok, we're on a 1pp for 2 offenses rate so far, not bad.

Young HF29 said...

patCHes!!

iRiRi said...

PatCHes!!!

Anonymous said...

Patches!!!!!!@10 sorry... Great work as usual by all FHF paid** staff

Orangeman said...

Cabbage PATCHES!

lehab said...

I meant patCHes

Orangeman said...

McSlooge right after the goal "This is a tough way to start for the Sabers". I shed a tear for them, fucknuts.

iRiRi said...

The fact that there are so many Bulldogs on the team and I'm (almost) not cringing when watching says something, right? I'm not sure if I should be grateful for Randy Cunneyworth or Chokula. Hmmm.

lehab said...

Jason... meet me under the penalty bench heh heh

Young HF29 said...

nice move mexican! too bad you cant shoot

iRiRi said...

Lindy Ruff is scaring me.

lehab said...

mex can shoot.. but only as hard as grandma... and only once every 10 games

Orangeman said...

Are the guys being extra nifty with the puck tonight or is Buffalo that bad?

Young HF29 said...

we should have 2 or 3 goals at least. that makes me nervous

Orangeman said...

It's amazing how with all the action on the ice TSN still finds time to bring up the non-issue of Loophole.

moeman said...

... makes 29ish entrance

What'd I miss?

moeman said...

I love parades!

PPG - Phil Kessel (20) Snap Shot - Assists: D. Phaneuf (12) & J. Lupul (9)

Orangeman said...

the leaf up 2-1 in the 2nd. No sign of the meteor yet.

Young HF29 said...

heh @ moe

i swear mex has at least 3-4 shots tonight. it's freaky

iRiRi said...

Craig Rivet scratched again. What was that clever nickname of his?

moeman said...

CHicken!

iRiRi said...

CHicken!

Young HF29 said...

CHicken! with a side of DDD!

Orangeman said...

BAWK BAWK BITCHES!

lehab said...

CHicken!

moeman said...

iRi, did we ever give rivet a nickname? Is he worth one?

iRiRi said...

From Elliotte Friedman: "Maxim Lapierre for David Desharnais is a big upgrade for Montreal."

Orangeman said...

"They were thumped in Boston in every way imaginable!"

2 goal game, folks.

iRiRi said...

@moe - Not sure. Do these count?

moeman said...

iRi, I was on a mega dose of DayQuil+Rum, I almost forgot I wrote those. My fave is The Shoveller.

Orangeman said...

While I'm glad the goat listened to me and got Nash on the team I wish I had been more specific.

Orangeman said...

Hey guys, why don't we leave the guy with 15 goals in his last 5 games alone in front. What could go wrong?

lehab said...

as long as Stafford doesn't get a hat trick. He's only had 4 in the last 20 games.

Steve said...

transient ischemic attack

Whats written on Choculas notepad

them thar Baruch said...

great job 10 and GG!

just tuning in here late in Germany 323am watching it on a versus feed from Dallas... weird.
For a second I though we got Rick Nash, but Brenden...o-tay....
hey why did we suddenly stop playing 5 minutes before the end of last period? Did I miss something? Why is CHokula playing Tits and Mex so often? Are their GMs in the crowd?

WV:schibl nothing like a little schibl on FHF late at night

Steve said...

http://atdhe.me/tv/559/live-buffalo-sabres-vs-montreal-canadiens

FUCK, its in 4:3 almost feel like paying for 16:9

moeman said...

leaf lead

Steve said...

tits man, maybe he will wake up now

lehab said...

Bruins lose... 3rd place coming!

Young HF29 said...

attaway to jinx it lehab

Orangeman said...

leaf win.

"So now are they buying?!!"

They're still 10 points out guys. Relax yourselves.

Steve said...

Leafs beat Bruins, its like your mother in law driving over the cliff in your Lada.

Young HF29 said...

FUCK

like i said, lehab

lehab said...

I'm a fucking moron... call me bob cold from now on

Orangeman said...

I know they're going to lose which sucks. They deserve better. Everytime they get close to 1st they bite it. They must have seen the scoreboard last break.

sigh.

lehab said...

um.... Enroth is less than 10 minutes away from his first win???? Gotta unjinx this somehow

Orangeman said...

Oh good refs have put away their whistles. So grinding team gets to play their game and the skilled team just needs to suck it up. What did Mario say again?

Steve said...

GYFHG

el Baruch said...

meh what's with tits and mex against their top line? slowwwww

Number31 said...

Good god...the D-zone is a mess and it's NOT when the Bulldogs are out. Ouate de phoque!

GYFH!

das Baruch said...

G H G !

Young HF29 said...

ok you fuckers do something with this

man i miss the first period

Orangeman said...

To quote RuPaul
"Just don't fuck it up"

Steve said...

saggy tits PP

moeman said...

Tied for 1st.

Young HF29 said...

they look depressed on the bench

remember everyone if we don't get 2 points to blame lehab :)

Orangeman said...

Tied with Boston! Good thing TSN has the Broons 10 positions up in the power rankings.

Young HF29 said...

ping

Young HF29 said...

why is Tits even on the ice

Young HF29 said...

Carey!

it was going high

Number31 said...

Crying here... HATE shootouts with the Sabres.

Orangeman said...

Well, I felt good in the SO against the Isles yet their 18th string goalie shut out guys out while they scored without Taveres. So who knows.

moeman said...

DDD!

Young HF29 said...

DDD!

LeBuuuuut said...

DDD!

moeman said...

PleXXXe!

LeBuuuuut said...

Plexxxe!

Young HF29 said...

heh@ b.c.f.k.a.leh

pleXXXe!!

Young HF29 said...

eesh. lotsa goals for a SO

moeman said...

PatCHes!

Young HF29 said...

patCHes!

LeBuuuuut said...

PatCHes!

Young HF29 said...

fuck. cmon boys hang in ther

oh god gomez. he may pass.

meh

LeBuuuuut said...

what the hell...

Number31 said...

Buffalo is full of fucking shootout specialists. THIS IS WHY I HATE SHOOTOUTS WITH BUFFALO!

Young HF29 said...

my heart

LeBuuuuut said...

Pyatt?

Orangeman said...

fuck this team. Two chances to win it, PP at the end. Nothing. Like FHF they have a fear of success.

Steve said...

fuuuuuuuck

Orangeman said...

That's 2 SOs in the last week against a nothing goalie and they found a way to lose.

Anyway, tied for 3rd. Not that TSN will mention it.

moeman said...

Riot a lehab's place.

Kate said...

@oman,

C'mon, they were icing an AHL defence. We got a point.

WV - colis As in colis, where is Saku when you really need him in the shootout.

iRiRi said...

So... I had to witness 10 rounds of cardiac arrest and we still don't have 1st place in the division all to ourselves? This team will be the death of me.

Oh and fuck every media outlet who said that after last week's "Beantown Beatdown" (puke), Bruins had locked up first and there was no looking back.

Orangeman said...

Seriously. That guy cost us a point. I will be here the last game of the season (what, I have a social life?) and if that point matters I will hack spam him. Or whatever the internet does.

Number31 said...

Vanek is 100% in shootouts. Just saying.

Habs can only blame themselves though for falling off the planet in the 2nd/3rd. And Martin better have "Picard with Wiz = BAD" in his little book.

Young HF29 said...

it's not lehab's fault. he wasn't the one who put tom pyatt in a SO

Orangeman said...

@Moey: Oh, I say that after every game. I learned in Asia that the best way to encourage those you love is to insult, abuse and harrass them.

So are we all on board the "trade Tits!" wagon?

Orangeman said...

I think my cheeky sarcasm doesn't come through well on the internet (as my list of defriends on facebook attests), but I was just kidding about lehab.

Orangeman said...

Instead of Pyatt, who do you put out there at that point? *real question*

Young HF29 said...

i got the sarcasm and laughed o'man, not to worry

Trade Tits Now!

moeman said...

I wasn't kidding about lehab, where does he live?

Kate said...

Trade tits, put Gomez in the AHL and get my Saku back. The bestest most important shoot out goal ever, see "Greatest comeback win in team history". That.is.all.

Nighty night.

lehab said...

@moeman....Winnipeg, and feel free to trash the place this weekend when I'm in Calgary. Maybe I can fit in Panger's trunk!

iRiRi said...

@o-man - True. I was majorly pissed when I heard Gomez and Pyatt's name but after recovering from the shock, I'm not that mad because honestly, THERE IS NOBODY ELSE.

Orangeman said...

Ok guys, he lives in Winnepeg. The man's been punished enough.

@29: I know you get it, but maybe lehab isn't aware of my hilarity. It's hard to wink on the net without implying you're a 15 year old girl. NTTAWWT.

Orangeman said...

Right. Who didn't shoot? Hamr, White, the wrong Nash, Picard, uh, yeah. I don't even know who's on this team anymore. Carey has a good shot, wonder what the rules are there.

lehab said...

Yes o'man i get it. And you are right about Winnipeg. Why the hell did anyone settle here to begin with?

moeman said...

lehab, make sure there's beer in da fridge.

Orangeman said...

@the poster formerly known as lehab: Ukrainians. Half my family. Luckily my grandparents saw their flag on their walk up St. Laurent in 1950 or I would be there with you sniffing glue, cursing the never ending chill factor and ruining Hab leads via the internet.

Number31 said...

They could have put Weber in the shootout. He actually knows what to do in those (ie, shoot high on the mini-goalie). At this rate I would have put Ryan White before Pyatt. Then again since when does this coaching staff have any awareness of how shootouts go with the Bulldogs...

Can we start cloning Pacioretty?