Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Wheels Are Turning



Ah, a little Velvet Underground through the wide-ranging interpretive scope of Elvis Costello. A great way to start the quiet period known as the NHL's all-star break.

This is when the hockey season starts to get interesting, in a young schoolboy approaching the annual Valentine's Day disappointment kind of way. You probably know your team is going to break your heart again, much like sweet Liz, Gail or Sandy did in elementary school as they danced by with no Smarties or cheap card for you.

But we are not quite to the point were both victory and disappointment are in sight, at least for much of the league. Columbus, you can proceed to the checkout aisle now. No love for you this year. I'll throw in Edmonton, Anaheim, Carolina, Buffalo, N.Y. Islanders, Tampa Bay and Montreal. And yes I did see the Canadiens' scoreapalooza against Detroit on Wednesday night. Still not impressed.

But Montreal, a recent example of mine, remains a franchise that is not worried about being No. 37 in Femme Fatale's book. Optimism and the hope of spring clings to life. Too bad Pierre Gauthier's supply of Smarties ran out a long time ago.

ESPN's power meter, at last check, indicated that Boston and Vancouver were the two teams best suited to claim the Stanley Cup this season, based on a number of reasonable sounding metrics. The Canadiens are 17th, and the Rangers, who lead the Eastern Conference at the break, were 7th overall in the ranking of the Original 30® (Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe).

Ottawa and Florida, sitting sixth and seventh in the Eastern race, were way down on the leader board, in better position to look for a lottery pick than pick up some box office green that goes with a third-round or Cup final berth.

And this is where my focus is the rest of the way. I am counting down toward the playoffs. Starting today, all the good teams the top 10 teams in each conference get my attention on the main screens in the Lounge. Some of them will lose their way. Some will make large moves before the trade deadline. Some will stand pat at that time and be the better for it.

I am watching, all the while hoping that my team wins the Cup. But I am all in, win or lose. Hockey's femme fatale has my number, but I have her address. She is going to have to navigate around me when she steps out her front door each morning. One day she'll trip, and the Cup will fall into the hands of my team.

At least, I am hopeful.

More later. Have a cold one on me.



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