Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Oh, Canada! (Nugs vs. Allison 2013 Edition: I Was Saying Boo-Urns)

The NHL postseason is over, and I have to admit to being wrong.

Allison and I have been recapping the Stanley Cup playoffs for you, going through every round and predicting who will advance. We also did this last year, and despite Allison being born and raised in Hockey Country, I won with so many points that even I felt bad for her. This year Allison got the gold star, so we've both been equally humiliated. 


This is a weird feeling, since I'm right about stuff practically all the time. I don't know what to do about this. 


You can see Allison's gloating on her blog, My Quarter-life Crisis.



NUGS' RECAP:
In calling this series, I definitely wanted Chicago to win. Like, really, really badly. I'm pretty positive that everybody hates the Bruins, unless you live in Boston and are therefore a totally obnoxious sports fan by default (except if you're Ginny- love you), but seeing as how they decimated the Rangers in the Semifinals, I was more than ready to see the Bruins go down. 


However, I had to be logical, and I truly believed that the Stupid Boo-urns were the more able team. I did predict a seven game series, and a lot of OT, but I assumed that the Bruins' massive size and physicality would lead them to their second Cup since 2011. 

Last night it seemed as if Boston would take the series into Game Seven- they dominated the Blackhawks and eventually scored. It remained 1-0 until Allison's boyfriend and Chicago captain Jonathan Toews tied it up in the second. 

FYI, Allison: You may want to let Toews in on the fact that you two are, in fact, together. Then again, I'm waiting to let Baby Goose know. It has to be just the right time- you know, after our second child is born.

Yeah...I don't...arms...I'm sorry, what?
Then the third period happened, and Boston scored again, making it 2-1. I breathed a little easier, thinking that I would have at least one more game to consider what sort of present I would request that Allison send me in the mail. Then came the last minute, and the Hawks scored again- twice. Center Dave Bolland's goal sealed the deal for Chicago and the Stanley Cup was theirs, for the second time in four years. I wish the Conn Smythe had been awarded to him instead of Patrick Kane, who admittedly is a fantastic player but sucks ass as a human being.

I am disappointed in my loss, but this does mean public humiliation for the Stupid Boo-urns. So really, I can't be that upset. Also, remember that Allison failed miserably last year, and she's the one that's Canadian. So you could sort of consider this a victory for America Junior, I guess. 



Also, keeping with the theme of "Nugs Looks Like a Dumbass," Iron Man called this series as well, down to the number of games. I should bring him to Vegas. Lily also said that the Hawks would win, but that's probably only because she's from Chicago and loves them. She's a Cubs fan, too, so I never really listen to her.

Because I apparently haven't learned anything from any of this, I'm calling it now: Rangers 2014. In 4.

ALLISON'S RECAP:
This wasn't easy, and there were a lot of doubters, but sticking by Chicago from the start was a wise move for me. Their series against Minnesota was fairly predictable, but the games against Detroit, LA and Boston weren't easy. I had faith in them because I knew they had the talent. I knew that a team can't have the kind of regular season record they did and go down without a fight. They fought hard and they won. I'll admit to having my doubts about them a few times, but I decided to be loyal to my choice and not flip flop. Throughout the playoffs many people questioned the abilities of some of  the players. Jonathan Toews wasn't scoring enough, Corey Crawford had a weak glove-side, blah blah blah. It seemed like the media just didn't want them to win. I found myself wanting to punch Don Cherry last night because of his bias towards Boston. Of course he wanted Boston to win, as a former coach of the organization, but as a sports reporter you need to talk about both teams' strengths and weaknesses. 

Obviously, I would be 100x more excited if the Habs had won the Cup (I would have called in sick today probably), but I've always had a lot of respect for the Blackhawks  - so I don't consider this a bandwagon jump. Leaf fans are, of course, making this victory all about them. As if Chicago beat Boston on their behalf. Newsflash, Chicago doesn't give a shit about your sad first round loss! This isn't about you!

Editor's Note: Agreed. This was clearly all for the Rangers fans.

For those of you who didn't watch last night's game, I'll give you a quick rundown. So in the first period Boston was all over us - outshooting us and eventually scoring. Cory Crawford played amazingly. With all those shots on net he did an fantastic job keeping it a one-goal game going into the second. 

Toews tied it up in the second and things stabilized for Chicago.

The third period was insane - probably one of the most exciting finals I've seen in a while. Boston came back and scored giving them a 2-1 lead. For most of the third period it seemed that a game 7 was likely,  but then it happened.

With just over a minute left Brian Bickell scored to tie up the game. Overtime seemed to be the most likely scenario. Then it happened again...Bolland scored with less than a minute left on the clock. The Chicago Blackhawks won Lord Stanley's Cup.

Gary Bettman (aka the Devil) presented the cup to Captain Serious (aka my boyfriend)...Jonathan Toews and he kissed the Cup for the second time in his career. But before that Patrick "The Mullet" Kane was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy for MVP of the playoffs. I would have given it to Crawford - but yeah, Kane did get a lot of goals.

POINTS: ALLISON

FINAL POINTS TALLY: 
NUGS 9, ALLISON 11

So that sucked. I don't do well with losing. At any rate, congratulations to Allison, and to the Blackhawks for their awesome and well-deserved conquest. Also congratulations to Chicago goalie Corey Crawford for being super hot. How come I never noticed that before?



Uh, hi.
Did you guys watch any of the Finals? Did you care who won? Do you read my sports posts at all? Or do you really want me to go back to posting pictures of SNAKES THAT CAN OPEN FUCKING DOORS?

Yeah. This is a thing.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Evolution 1; Humanity 0

I was never a fan of Jurassic Park. I know it's considered a classic and everything, but come on. In what actual One Direction Dance Party Hell would somebody greenlight an amusement park where real dinosaurs could get the chance to eat people? Keep in mind this was before Kim Kardashian was around.

You would do it too.
One of the dumbest scenes in that movie was the one with the velociraptors in the cafeteria. It's like, are they serious? Velociraptors were awesome, and also kind of looked like Kim Kardashian now that I think about it, but there's no way they could have figured out how to push against a doorknob. That's where I checked out.



So that film always bugged me because I figured that it could never happen, but then I came across this ridiculous bullshit from Uproxx.com:

http://www.uproxx.com/webculture/2013/06/this-video-of-a-snake-opening-a-door-is-the-beginning-of-mankinds-end/

Oh, yes, there is a gigantic snake that KNOWS HOW TO OPEN A FUCKING DOOR. Here's the video again, for those of you that aren't terrified enough:



This is thirteen seconds of the most heart-pounding, gut-punching, soul-crushing horror I have ever seen. Good luck sleeping tonight, everyone.

What is it with you snakes? Why are you such dicks? Is this because Justin Bieber owns a Batmobile?

I'm done. Night, Lois. 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Oh, Canada! (Nugs vs. Allison 2013 Edition: Stanley Cuppage)

Well, this blows.

If you're new here, Allison and I have been recapping the NHL postseason by guessing which teams emerge victorious in all four rounds. To make it interesting (and possibly less humiliating for Allison, who's Canadian and should know this stuff), we've been awarding each other one point for each correct prediction in the Quarter- and Semifinals, two for the Finals and three for the Stanley Cup. Whoever wins has to mail the loser a hockey-related gift. We also did this for 2012 and I forget what the actual score was, but I'm pretty positive that it was something like 20,000 to 2, me.  




This year was looking like it was going to probably be the same outcome- and then the Finals happened. I'll give myself a pass on the Western Conference, because I still maintain that that series could have gone either way (that's what she said). But the East? Where the hell did that come from? Now I'm still in the lead, but Allison is steadily approaching. If I get the Stanley Cup wrong, she receives a shiny new gift.

I'm a Jew- we like getting money, not giving it away.

Here's a recap of the Conference Finals round of the 2013 NHL postseason, where I receive no points. 




NUGS vs. ALLISON, ROUND 3:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

STUPID BOSTON BOO-URNS over PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Not only did the Stupid Bruins win this round and advance to the Stanley Cup finals, but the one-seed Pens got totally swept. I mean, zero games. At all. I can't even explain this. I have no idea what happened. 
POINT: NEITHER

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS over LOS ANGELES KINGS
To Iron Man's credit, he totally called this one. "Chicago is going to destroy LA. 5 games." Yeah, I look like a jackass. 

POINT: ALLISON

FINALS ROUND POINTS TALLY: 
NUGS 9, ALLISON 8


I don't like this. I don't like this one bit.



Now, to add to my incompetency, here are our prognostications for the Stanley Cup Final. You can also read Allison's version on her blog, My Quarter-life Crisis.

I fail at life.

BOSTON BRUINS vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
NUGS: STUPID BOSTON BOO-URNS over HAWKS in 7
That actually just happened.

I feel like Peter Parker when he discovers his first web-shooters, only much less awesome because what came out of my hands is that the BRUINS WILL WIN THE CUP (technically it was wrists with Spider-Man, not hands, but you get what I mean). 


There are so many reasons why everyone should hate the Bruins, even tiny puppies who love anyone and anything as long as it pets them and feeds them cookies:

1) Patrice Bergeron. Patrice is a girl's name. It has no business belonging to a hockey player. 

B) Team owner Jeremy Jacobs is an asshole. He was the head of the owner's group during the lockout and pretty much the reason why we had a shortened hockey season this year. NHL players can't stand him, either. So to give him the Cup would be like rewarding him for being a selfish billionaire. Well done. 


SNOW LEOPARD) Zdeno Chara is a worthless piece of shit. Observe:


DD) I have nothing against Tuukka Rask in particular, but he's on the Bruins, too. So I'm going to go with "he sucks." Also his name is stupid.

This is one time where I hope that I'm wrong and that Chicago wipes the floor with them and Chara cries. I really want to argue against the Bruins, who barely got out of a Quarterfinal series with the Leafs. (Really??? The Leafs???) They played seven games, including two that went into OT and two that were only decided by one goal. Then came the Semifinals, which we won't get into here in case I have a stroke.


The Finals were up next, against top-seeded Pittsburgh. Everyone put their money on the Crosby-Malkin combination and figured that Boston would get annihilated. Of course that didn't happen, since neither Crosby nor Malkin scored ANY points the entire series and the Pens were swept. One could make the case that the Bruins were just that good during the playoffs, or that both the Rangers and the Penguins played like total shit. I would say that it was probably both. 

In any case, the Bruins are on a high from a strong playoff run, and boast more massive players than Chicago. They're also bigger douchebags (save for the Hawks' Patrick Kane, who is a horrible human being), which makes for a very physical series. This will push Boston past Chicago, just barely, and the series will last seven games. I'm also predicting that at least two will go into overtime.

ALLISON: HAWKS over BRUINS
To sum up Round Three: Huh???

Nugs and I both picked Pittsburgh over Boston because....duh...they were the obvious choice. Little did we know that they would completely fall apart and get beat down in four pitiful games. Shit. Oh well - we both gained nothing from that. We're both losers!

The Chi/LA series also surprised me. I got the result I wanted but I was not that happy with how close some of the games were. Um, you were up 2-0 and you end up tied 3-3 by the end of the third period??? It went into double overtime! Way to give me a heart attack Chicago!

As much as I think Patrick Kane is the scum of the earth, he totally brought his 'A' game this series. Hopefully he keeps scoring against Boston.

I've said all along that if the Habs couldn't pull out a miraculous victory that Chicago would win the Stanley Cup this year. I stand by my original comment for two reasons:

1) The regular season record speaks for itself. They were virtually unstoppable during the shortened season. They are a talented and creative team.

2) Might be a risk, but my only shot at actually winning this bet.

So there they are. Our recaps, forecasts, and my slow descent into dismal failure. The first game was on last night, and Chicago has already won, so I'm looking forward into Allison being able to gleefully rip me apart. 

You can see a full schedule of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs here.

Monday, June 03, 2013

Oh, Canada! (Nugs Vs. Allison 2013 Edition: Round 3)

Round 3 of the NHL Playoffs started this Saturday, so of course I didn't post until today (I have an excuse, though- I was on vacation. More on that after the postseason). Allison, of course, got everything in on time, because she doesn't procrastinate like I do. You can see that version on her blog, My Quarter-Life Crisis

Here's a recap of the Semifinals so you can witness the demolition of Allison in the points department. It isn't pretty. Unless you're me. 

NUGS vs. ALLISON, ROUND 2:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS over OTTAWA SENATORS
Was this really a question? I know Allison is Canadian and everything, but I don't particularly like the Pens either and even I saw this coming (that's what she said). Anderson is an incredible goalie, but even he wound up getting pulled in favor of Pittsburgh's formidable four lines. This was barely a series. 
POINT: ME

STUPID BOSTON BOO-URNS over MY BLUESHIRTS 
FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCKING FUCK FUCK. DIE SLOWLY.


POINT: NEITHER

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS over DETROIT REDWINGS
I knew this would go to seven games, but the series itself was thrilling to watch. Chicago won, then Detroit came back to triumph three times in a row. The Hawks, who had been struggling and quite frankly playing beneath themselves, returned to take the last three. It was intense, and Chicago fans were no doubt left with a nail-biting Semifinals. The Hawks, however, came out on top, and Allison and I both gained another point.
POINT: BOTH

LOS ANGELES KINGS over SAN JOSE SHARKS
This was an easy series to call, but it lasted a bit longer than either of us (and possibly anybody) expected. With a sweep of Vancouver and an impressive three wins against LA, the Sharks may be ones to watch next year.
POINT: BOTH

QUARTERFINALS POINTS TALLY: 
NUGS 9, ALLISON 6

This does not look good for the Canadian. In our blogs or the NHL. (BURN!)



NUGS vs. ALLISON, ROUND 3:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. STUPID BOSTON BOO-URNS
NUGS: PENS over BRUINS in 6
Please. Like I would actually pick Boston (and Chara) to win anything. Fail.


Also now I kind of have to secretly go for the Penguins because I just realized that Left Wing James Neal looks uncannily like Iron Man, which I was dumb enough to actually tell him. It's not just me, either- people that know us are also struck by the resemblance. 


I'm still technically anonymous, so I won't post Iron Man's picture here, but I will put in a photo of Neal so you can see my predicament. So now not only is Iron Man's team officially better than mine, and could potentially win the Cup, but he's practically a mirror image of one of the most talented guys on the ice.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

ALLISON: PENS over BRUINS
Funny enough the four teams with the chance to win the Cup have each won it once in the past four seasons. 

Editor's Note: Truth. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston and LA have all just earned the Cup in the past four years, in that particular order.


I think Shitsburgh will win - and I say this without any bias. I might hate Boston, but I honestly believe they won't beat the Penguins.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS
NUGS: KINGS over HAWKS in 7
This one was tougher because both of these teams could easily contend for the Cup. Chicago has incredible forwards and are coming off of a President's Trophy win. Both the Kings and the Hawks are pretty evenly matched in their offense and defense, and both of their goalies have a scary postseason GAA (LA's Jonathan Quick has a 1.50; Chicago's Corey Crawford is just under that at 1.70). 

However, the Hawks' struggles against the Wings in the Semifinals have shown that once again, once the playoffs roll around, the regular season means nothing. Quick is looking to extend his status (AHAHAHA. "Extend.") as an elite goaltender with a repeat Cup win, and this will help LA advance to the Cup finals just over Chicago in 7. 

ALLISON: HAWKS over KINGS
Chicago is just a talented team. Yes, they surprisingly stumbled against Detroit, but they pulled it together in the end. The trouble with the Red Wings series was that Detroit was playing like they had nothing to lose and it almost worked in their favour. If Chicago brings out their strong forwards and has tighter goaltending against LA they should win it.

Also, I want to see my NHL boyfriend Jonathan Toews kiss that cup again. If it can't be the Habs, I'd be happy with the President's Trophy winners to get it.


Editor's Note: I'll still take James Neal since I've changed the locks on Lundqvist. Also I just realized that sometimes he looks like Aladdin.


Now it's bothering me.


Since I'm so late on this, the Finals have already began, and I'm well on my way to being completely wrong. Oops. At least I'll have a(nother) excuse to drink. 

Those were our predictions for the Conference Finals of the 2013 NHL postseason. As always, feel free to agree with us in the comments, unless you root for the Bruins. Then you don't count.