The Highs and Lows of Hockey

Sorry, but that took a little longer than expected. Went for coffee, but I then felt the cultural pull of the St. Marks Three Brothers pizza joint on the corner of Ninth Avenue and 40th Street.

Two slices and a Coke for $2.75 or a chicken leg and a bountiful helping of broccoli sauteed in garlic. Same price. Two great meals. A must stop for those in Midtown Manhattan. Since the place does not use traditional restaurant doors -- why use them when you can just open the place up like a garage for all to enjoy the great outdoors -- one can be treated to watching the horrified faces of tourists as their tour buses roar through the intersection and then immediately slam the brakes to fit into the little hole called the arrival chute at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Today's line had me, a few cops, a painter and few neighborhood regulars who have no known addresses other than this street. We listened to Mexican classics that my grandmother used to play when she baby-sat me way back when. (Who knew I had it so good. She provided a daily helping of rice, beans, fried potatoes and her own fresh flour tortillas. And she made her own chile. I ate like a king, and I was only 4.)

I talked Rangers hockey with the man in front of me, appropriate because the Rangers finally play a home game. Tonight the Maple Leafs roll into the newly updated MSG 3.5.

There is optimism among the locals. Perhaps the crowd will roar tonight. They probably won't reach the decibel levels that were hit last night in Montreal when the Canadiens dominated the Flyers at the Bell Centre. But hockey nights in Montreal seem to have always been this way, in good times or bad.

For those Canadiens, fans I have placed Malajube's "Montreal -40C" on the Lounge playlist. Good tune, in good times and bad.

Truly enjoyed the game, and then the way the TSN crew questioned the Canadiens' firing of Perry Pearn, the doubters of Carey Price, those who proclaimed the Canadiens as troubled and pretty much anybody who had anything to negative about the team other than perhaps Jacques Martin and GM Pierre Gauthier, who pretty much remain under the hot lamps.

Gee whiz, the Canadiens win and suddenly all is well with the rather smallish squad in brilliant red sweaters. The Habs are in Boston to meet the Bruins tonight. Win there and who knows how high hopes will soar. Isn't hockey grand?

The game erased the cat fur and pork rinds taste that was left in my mouth courtesy the Kings' efforts in the game with the Devils on Tuesday night. Time to check my notes on Terry Murray's brilliant offense.

Let's turn to coverage of the third period. Kings gain the blue line, dump the puck and then retreat the zone to play defense. Gain the blue line, dump the puck and set up the cycle on the left-wing half boards -- two passes, one too many -- and retreat the zone to play defense. Gain the blue line, dump the puck and retreat the zone to play defense.

In all that, do you see room for the talents of Anze Kopitar or Mike Richards. I managed to forget that Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown were on the team. But I did see Dustin Penner. His play you cannot ignore. But I will continue to try.

More in a few. I've worked up a good head of hate and I need to cool down.

Time for this selection from Dan Mangan.