Period 2 -- Live Blogging

The Lecture: Now Bill McCreary decides to tell Ray Emery that flopping outside of his crease in unacceptable. I wonder what Ryan Getzlaf thinks about that? Somehow I think Sidney's Crosby favorite word (at least the one he's typically caught on camera saying) is probably involved. Good thing no one's got a camera on Getzlaf. Wouldn't be family friendly TV.


Referee Rant: I don't like Bill McCreary. Never have. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever liked an official. Maybe it's because I also rooted for the Mario or Jagr-led Pens, who were never really, to put it mildly, the darlings of referees. The only official I ever liked was one Kevin Collins, a linesman who officiated some of big-time Pens' games, and who I nicknamed Curtis just because, well, he looked like a Curtis.

(Note to self and to anyone who's reading: In any case you hadn't figured it out by now, I'm a little goofy/crazy/other synonyms, and there's no snark involved in that.)

But seriously, I liked Curtis (Kevin Collins) because he always just did his job. He dropped the puck. He called off-sides when it was supposed to be called. He broke up fights.

When it comes to Curtis, though, I never noticed him because he was NOT doing his job. Curtis was always just a part of the game. The game wasn't about Curtis; Curtis was a part of ensuring the game ran smoothly. And most games with Curtis--and not just because the Pens won--did run smoothly.

If I could wish upon a star.....the NHL standard would be Curtis. Officials who call the game right and do their jobs and as such, we only notice them as part of the game--not as the ones who decide the game. Were I to dream, dream, dream, dream....



Baseball Jokes: Ha, ha, ha. Mike Emerick, like me, roots for the pathetic Pirates, who I think are still in contention in the Comedy Central Division in the NL despite a sub .500 record. Edzo jokes about the Pirates' bullpen (it's been VERY BAD lately, blowing leads here and there and everywhere). Yeah, I know it's irrelevant to the game. But these guys know each other and get along and I got the joke and--wow, I'm praising the announcers.

Must. Stop. Now.


Thank you, Mr. Emerick: For apologizing when you made a mistake. Rather than insisting you were right. Players, coaches, and general managers, not to mention on-ice and off-ice bigwigs, could learn a lot from you. When you thought a call was a goal, you didn't insist that it was. You apologized. Thank you for setting a remarkable example. I (no snark here) seriously encourage others in the hockey world to follow Mr. Emerick's example.

Shot Clock Update: The Ducks came to play in Period 2, or they channelled all that rage in the right direction, or something, at least that's what the shot clock says. The momentum has shifted in this period...for how long?

Goal: Andy McDonald, whom Brian Burke, who used to have Colin Campbell's job, jumped so vigorously to protect, scores a goal.

Tie Game. Yeah. The Senators crowd is quiet. Beautiful.