Playoff beard precursor

Here I sit, beardy. In preparation for my playoff beard, I have not shaved in a few days. It's not really bothering me at the moment, which I think is an indication that last year's ridiculous playoff beard toughened me up for this season.

Tomorrow, I will shave pre-game and begin the wonderful journey of itchyness and annoying comments. I will document my progress as I become more homeless-looking over the course of the playoffs.

Here's last year's progression:











ewwww... that last Amish one was not a good look. Anyway, this year I expect to keep my beard for a long, long time. Meaning, I expect the Sens to win. Do it for the beard Sens - do it for the beard.

Sens face Anaheim for the Cup

I'm pulling the late shift here at the Sens Army blog. It was an exciting game between the Ducks and the Red Wings tonight, and I believe that this is the first time our blog has even acknowledged the existance of the Western Conference outside the playoff picks.

I was feeling pretty down about our chances against Anaheim until Detroit stormed back, scoring 3 goals in the 3rd period to make the game 4-3. I was thinking about the defence of Anaheim - Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin. They will undoubtedly prove a challenge for the Spezza-Heatley-Alfredsson line. In goal, J-S Giguere, a goalie who has now twice proven himself amoung the elite of the NHL. On offence, before tonight's game, Pronger actually leads the team in points, followed by Ryan Getzlaf and Teamu Selanne.

An interesting side-note: Ducks' captain Scott Niedermayer barely acknowledged the Western Conference trophy following his team's win. This indicates a philosophical difference between the two teams: whereas Ottawa seems to be enjoying their ride to the Final, the Ducks seem determined to capture the Cup, and nothing less.

The Stanley Cup Finals start Monday... yeah, a freaking week from now - what was even the point of the sens winning their series in 5? It could have gone seven, and we'd still have 5 days off. I don't know the cause of this, but because I am Canadian I am going to blame it on those damned American television stations.

Playoff beard update - pre-Finals edition!
Although I haven't updated you all in a long, long time, I have resisted the urge to shave my beard and return from the wilderness. I have had to modify it at the request of certain parties, but the spriti of the beard remains - and it's not gone until we win the Cup!

Beard tips for those who want to take up the challenge next year:

1. You will be shunned, try to accept it as early as possible.
2. It is itchy at first but it goes away eventually.
3. Don't be afraid to modify - you gotta live life too.
4. Try to out-last a friend, I've had no one to complain with.

Finally, this being my first and only attempt at a playoff beard thus far in my life, know that when you stop shaving, all your dreams come true.

Apparantly the sens will have to make one more species extinct... GO SENS!

Some pre-emptive call-outs

Now that PeteO's given you the in-depth hockey analysis, I want to focus on the Senators and the players that will (or should!) make the difference in this series.

Each of these players has accumulated 3 points, but have lacked the passionate spirit that has ignited the Senators this year. I will admit that they do have reasonable stats (in a series their team dominated), but I expect more - so I offer each of them some advice for the upcoming series against the Devils.

Peter Schaefer - where have you been friend? This is the playoffs. With your new deal signed last summer, you should be kicking ass out there with your fellow 2nd and 3rd liners, but so far you've just been overshadowed; invisible.

Wade Redden - I've heard that you're injured. I've heard that you're addicted to cocaine. I've heard that you took your 6.5 million dollars from this year and trained a monkey to put on skates and play for you this season. The last scenario is, sadly, the most likely so far this season.

Chris Neil - You got one sweet-ass goal against the Penguins... what have you done for me lately? With the Mikes (Fisher and Comrie) playing such physical games, is there no one left for you to hit? Grab someone off the bench and punch them in the face! Make you presence known!

Antoine Vermette - Again, one (very Crosby-esque) goal, but with 15 minutes of ice time each game, the coach is putting some real faith in you. So either be a Spezza and get some points, or be a Mike and throw your weight around. But don't be a nothing.

So there you have it. I've called them out. Expect these players to have the greatest series of their lives - I guarantee it.
(Not an actual guarantee.)

Playoff Beard Update!
It's coming along nicely. It went from casual Hollywood actor to crazy Hollywood actor. Like Johnny Depp trying to show everyone how eccentric he is... I've been getting comments at work, home, and from the girlfriend. Apparantly, you can't have a bad playoff beard and a social life. Right now, I refuse to choose between the two.

A close one makes it 3 - 1 for the sens

Maybe there will be a bigger blog tomorrow, but for now let's just say that game was extremely important for the Senators. Ray Emery stole this game for us and got CBC's first star of the game, dispite hardly being mentioned by Bob Cole, who doesn't seem to know Ray's name.

Unlike in previous games, Daniel Alfredsson was not the story of the game. We got some offense from unlikely sources. The Senators' first goal was a fluke. It reminds me of a blog by Ian Mendes that stated simply the sens would be successful because they were due for some good breaks - and I think we cashed them all in tonight.

The second sens goal came off some good work by Mike "Best trade ever" Comrie, who got the puck out to Volchenkov for the shot. Later, Emery made the 1-goal lead stand.

...and Senators, please end it on Thursday. You need the rest, and the city of Ottawa needs the relaxation.

Playoff beard update: It's getting there... I'd say it's somewhere around the level of a Hollywood actor who's trying to show how casual he can be off screen.

...and a shiny nickel to the person who can name the movie poster over my shoulder!