it's a typical tuesday night
Huh. It looks like we're doing this thing where we win by playing well rather than the other team sucking. The Atlanta game had Jeff Schultz as the first star. JEFF SCHULTZ. Let me say that again, slowly, so everyone can understand.

JEFF SCHULTZ. FIRST STAR.

Surely that's some sort of rock bottom?

On the other hand, we hit rock bottom and were still winning games. Bodes well, yeah?

The Islanders game left a wretched taste in my mouth. As I mentioned before, I will be disappointed by Gabby (who has a book coming out on (Oct 31, by the way!) if he didn't start the first intermission speech with "YOU PLAYED LIKE DOG SHIT". I can't say it enough. Dog shit. Dog shit. Dog shit. INSTEAD OF FIELDING A HOCKEY TEAM, WE STUCK A DOG ON THE ICE, AND IT STARTED TO SHIT.

Umm. Then we got our head on straight and started playing legitimate hockey about halfway through the second. The Green-Laich OT winner I'd say was the beginning of our Giving A Shit About Hockey again.

Now, the Flyers game. I'd say it's actually better if we let ourselves get down a few goals, then work to catch up. Dangerous, yes. Terrifying, yes. Bad for the viewers' blood pressure, yes. On the other hand it means we play a full 60 minutes... or at least the 45 we do play ends in the third, rather than taking a lead, getting lazy, and losing it. Really what I advocate is the whole "play a full 60 minutes thing" but, whatever. I'm still not pleased in our frequent breakdowns in defence, but major, major glove tap to Theodore for playing a fantastic 60 mins. He is determined not to let Varly steal the number 1 job. Reminded us why he won Hart and Vezina in the same year. Fantastic.

Okay, time to put on a raincoat because I'm going to do some serious gushing.
Goals scored by OVECHKIN, BACKSTROM, SEMIN, OVECHKIN. Assists by BACKSTROM, SEMIN, GREEN, AUCOIN... and, uh, Jeff Schultz. What the fuck?! WHAT THE FUCK?!

No, wait, I'm excited! OVECHKIN TWO GOALS PUSHING HIM IN FRONT OF KOPITAR AND GABORIK FOR HIGHEST IN LEAGUE. BACKSTROM WITH FOUR POINTS TIED FOR SECOND IN ASSISTS. SEMIN HEALTHY AND OKAY AND FUCKING SNIIIIIIIIIIIIIPING YEEEEEEEEAH BABY LOOKS LIKE THE FOUR-PAGE ESSAY "WHY WE SHOULD TRADE SEMIN TO ATLANTA" WILL STAY BURIED IN MY LINGUISTICS NOTES FOR ANOTHER DAY!

The empty-netter? The Care Bear line streaking down the ice, Flyers defence no match for them and everyone, everyone, everyone knows what's going to happen. We might as well be watching it in slow motion. Semin kicks it up the ice to Backstrom who passes it to Ovechkin who fast as balls flying down the wing and we knew what was going to happen. No, empty net goals are not that impressive. But it summed up the game, and what I hope will be the message of the season: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin have nuclear chemistry. You can watch the goal here, hopefully. But the boxscore is a fantastic read. Except, uh, for the Schultz part.

So that's big. Love to see the Caps excelling. I said... well, in my personal hockey notes, that if we didn't come out of NSH, ATL, NYI, PHI, ATL, NYI with at least 8 points I would be scared. From the first four we've got 8 already, with ATL, NYI, and CBJ up next. Can we grab 6 out of that? I really think so. But there's something bigger.

THE MAPLE LEAFS FINALLY WON A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this the end of the beginning? Are Burkie's Boys going to come out swinging, only by swinging I mean their sticks not their fists? Probably not. Their playoff chances are still slimsky to nonesky. But the Monster played well, Kess hasn't yet returned... maybe it's not time to write off the season yet. Maybe the Boston Brizzles aren't going to get Taylor Hall after all. They play Dallas tonight. Let them have their hope.

Also, Kings @ Sharks! That's a Western Conference orgasm for me. Oh God I don't want to stay up for a 10:30 game but I want to watch it..........