Ray77

BC was 3-12 at Thanksgiving time last year? That is crazy.

This is a HUGE delimma for me. As a lifelong Bruins fan you can imagine how hard it is to enjoy a win for the Bruins when the goals were scored by Kessel and Wheeler. ARGH!

Gregoire.

Redwing, I agree. However, I'm not too sure how long Young will be around to develop into anything with the Twins.

Yeah...I hope they follow through and do crack down as well. Maybe I'm just not as optimistic as you.

The face off being brought into the offensive zone is interesting...not sure what I think of that but my gut instinct says I don't like it. As for the puck being able to go in off your skate - that's a no-brainer. A shot from the point can ricochet in off of your knee pads and it counts, so it only makes sense that off your skates should count as well. I actually have no idea why you can't kick the puck in, either. You can kick the puck at any other time during the game, but can't kick it into the net? You can kick it from in your skates to your own stick and you can also kick it to a teammate in open ice, along the boards, etc. but can't kick it in the goal? Makes no sense to me. Anything short of catching and throwing the puck in the net with your hand should count as a goal.

Haven't we heard this before?

I will never understand Mauer trying to bunt for a hit. The guy wins the batting title in the AL and he's bunting? Really? In a 1 game playoff to go to the postseason - you're bunting for a hit? He's not a fast runner and would either have to lay down the perfect bunt or REALLY catch the other team sleeping to bunt for a hit. Anyone have any info on how many bunt attempts he's had in his career vs. how many hits he's gotten off of a bunt?

I can think of a few more descriptive words than crud!

I must say, Blackburn pitched very well tonight. That HR by Thome was a BOMB. The Twins are down to their last 3 outs...let's hope they can do to Jenks what they did to him last week. Mauer and Morneau going 0-6 so far certainly doesn't help. I'll never for the life of me understand why Mauer tries bunting...that is frustrating. I'm hoping that both Mauer and Morneau get up in the 9th with a chance to redeem themselves.

Tony Romo is an idiot! Don't get me wrong...there's nothing wrong with Jessica Simpson's appearance, but good lord - Carrie Underwood!

Man, I hope Blackburn is solid tonight, but I'm worried. If the Twins do make the playoffs their pitching will have to step it up big time for them to do anything. I guess for a 1 game playoff I'd rather have Liriano or Baker on the hill. As for Morneau, man he is due. Tonight is the night to shore up the AL MVP award!

Ditto - I will be one of Detroit's biggest fans tomorrow. Looks like the game will be in the afternoon - I might have to adjust my lunch plans accordingly.

I see what you're saying about losing Santana and Hunter, but Silva? Yuck. That was a blessing that Seattle overpaid for him and he left! I really hope they make the playoffs this year, but with how shaky their pitching has been I'm not too confident that they'll go too far if they should make it.

Same reply as my reply to SiouxKid12 - I think your scenarios are exactly the same as what I said, only I said they'd win/lose by 1/2 game. My bad.

Sorry...was boozing last night when typing! I think your scenarios are exactly the same as mine. The only thing I had wrong was the "1/2" game deal, right?

I agree. If they would have won even 1 of these 2 games their fate would be in their hands. Win tomorrow and they win the Central. The way it sits now there are a few possibilities: 1. Twins win tomorrow and ChiSox win - Twins are 1/2 game up and the Sox have to play Detroit on Monday. If the Sox beat Detroit the Twins go to Chicago for a 1 game playoff. If the Sox lose to Detroit the Twins win the Central by 1/2 game. 2. Twins win tomorrow and ChiSox lose - Twins win the Central. 3. Twins lose tomorrow and ChiSox win - Central is tied and the Sox play Detroit. If they beat Detroit they win the Central...lose and the Twins go to Chicago for a 1 game playoff. 4. Twins lose tomorrow and ChiSox lose - Twins win the Central by 1/2 game. Man, they are frustrating, aren't they? Just win a game! Can't depend on Cleveland, although they've helped us out these past 2 games. Nothing like coming down to the last game of the year (or a playoff) to decide things!

Absolutely! Now let's hope they don't !@$! down their leg against KC. Sweeping the White Sox was great, but it's not over yet.

Ugh...not a very good mascot! I'd go with "McFeeley" as the mascot's name and then send him out on the ice and let the player shoot slapshots at him. Actually, that Chucky mascot would be much better!

Correct...and I'm not upset with Wisconsin. I guess my point was intended more at anyone recruiting and giving offers to kids at such a young age, whether it be UND, Wisconsin, Minn, etc. The kid is too young to drive a car, probably has a 9:30 curfew and has not begun high school, and a school is going to offer him a college athletic scholarship already? Heck, how does he know at this age that he'll want to go to Wisconsin 4 years from now? This trend is not good.

Well...good luck with that, Wisconsin. If he doesn't pan out you'll have nobody to blame but yourself. Recruiting/signing kids at such a young age is getty very rediculous.

I also wonder how much of a factor it will be that both the Twin Cities and Grand Forks have already hosted it. As you mention, Buffalo is a very good location for Canadians to get to, so I would assume that it would be well-attended and would make money in Buffalo. So being that Buffalo has never hosted it yet I wonder if they have the inside track.

I got to tour the UP Center today and pick out my seats - has anyone else? WOW...that place is going to be nice. I can't wait for the start of the season. Also, surprisingly, a nice article by McFeeley (which shocked the heck out of me when I saw it). I'll bet it took all he had to finish and submit this article. UP Center Leaves Great Impression

Yeah...I was just teasin' ya anyways.

So what am I missing? You said they were going to sign one of their young defenseman and the article says he is a forward?