Go Stars, Please!

It starts tonight, and my nerves are beginning to kick in. I like the Stars chances to make this a rumble. Honestly, though, I wouldn’t bet on them advancing if I am forced to choose. I think they would be underdogs to Anaheim even if they had home ice. They don’t have home ice, and they don’t have playoff confidence. They have a horrendous record in overtime playoff games, and they have lost 6 of 7 home games in the playoffs.

But, I do like the Stars chance to make this real enjoyable. I am giving them a big chance to win this series.

I should remind you of a few things regarding the playoffs: First, a Dallas Stars Playoff Postgame show will commence after the game (provided our station still exists)…And 2nd, on this blog, after all playoff games, instead of normal blogging you will get my playoff game notes. So look forward to that in the morning.

In preparation for the series, I was reading the notes from last year’s playoff against Vancouver. It brings back memories of the good and bad variety. It also shows the emotional roller coaster of a 7 game series. Check them out if you like…

Vancouver vs. Dallas, 2007 Playoff Notebooks …

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

Game 7

LA Times Ducks Preview …

A year ago, the Ducks cruised through the season fueled by the conviction they were on a mission that would not end until they hoisted the Stanley Cup.

This season, they scrambled to score goals, find effective line combinations, and stay out of the penalty box.

"I think last year we had more of that eye of the tiger, 'We need to do this,' " defenseman Chris Pronger said.

"Going into this year it was, 'Man, it's here already?' "

A long playoff journey and short summer made it feel as if the Ducks began defending their title a few days after the last speck of confetti was scraped off the ice at the Honda Center.

It also feels like their reign will end short of a repeat.

It won't end in the first round against the Dallas Stars, a series that begins tonight in Anaheim.

Maybe not in the second round, either. The Ducks' terrific goaltending -- second-best in the NHL this season -- and experienced defense should compensate for an offense that was the weakest among the 16 playoff qualifiers.

Their reign will end, though, leaving the Detroit Red Wings of 1996-97 and 1997-98 as the last team to win back-to-back championships.

They gave it a good ride despite injuries that took goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, checking center Samuel Pahlsson and defenseman Mathieu Schneider out of the lineup for stretches.

And no team could avoid a decline after losing a playoff MVP and a 48-goal scorer to retirement, as the Ducks lost defenseman Scott Niedermayer and right wing Teemu Selanne for much of the season.

In this story, Dallas isn’t even mentioned …

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In other news, Don Banks has a new mock draft on …

Here is the playlist from the Bob and Donovan Old School Hip Hop Hour….

Rock the bells LL Cool J
I left my wallet in el segundo TCQ.
Childrens story slick Rick.
Bring the noise public enemy.
Brand new funk fresh prince.
Beats to the rhyme run DMC.
Funky beat Whodini.
It takes two rob Base and DJ ez rock.
Gangsta gangsta/express yourself NWA.
Bust a move young mc.
Just a friend biz markie

My Interview on Hockeybuzz.com …

Q. What do you feel is the main reason Steve Ott has improved so much this season?
A. He has been given a consistent role. He has taken advantage of it, but you really see how important it is for a player to be given confidence and then to jump at the chance. I think it might be the story of the year. He was a guy who did not have a roster spot nailed down in my estimation, and now is an untouchable commodity on the roster.

Q. Mike Modano and Sergei Zubov: Do either play another NHL game after the 2007/2008 playoffs?
A. Absolutely. They have no plans of either going anywhere. Zubov especially is nowhere close to the end of his rope.

Q. What does Dallas need to sort out in the final weeks before the playoffs begin to give them a legit shot at the cup?
A. Zubov and they need Turco to get his head examined by the playoffs. Because in the last few weeks, he has looked like the same shaky head case that always emerges this time of year.

Q. Will Brett Hull and Les Jackson return next season as co-gm's?
A. Yes, I think so. It may depend on the success of the playoffs, but I would imagine that given the way Tom Hicks operates, if anyone pays this spring, it will be Dave Tippett.

Q. What is your personal favorite moment from covering the Stars?
A. Surely, being in the dressing room in Buffalo after Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Having champagne dumped on my head and knocking Mike Keane's victory cigar out of his mouth by accident jump out at me.

Our Friend, Mike Haynes is having health issues ….Get well, homer!

Avalanche television play-by-play television announcer Mike Haynes will undergo surgery on a brain aneurysm and won't be available for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The surgery on the basilar artery aneurysm, according to Altitude Sports & Entertainment, will be performed by Dr. Robert Breeze, the vice chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado Hospital.
"I heard the news (Monday) night," Quenneville said. "It was tough news. We wish him all the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Random Email:

http://www.gwpark.org/

Dear guys at the ticket:

I don't typically write in things like this...but sometimes I see you guys promote something on your blogs or on your shows that are a charity like the GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood Oklahoma...maybe 20 miles north of Ardmore.

On the weekend trip up to Oklahoma City for a family party we stopped at Arbuckle Wilderness to drive through and feed the animals(donkeys, camels, & deers) and that's nice and all but this place blows those kinds of places out of the water. Don't waste your time or money on places like that...go to a real rescue center where they actually are there to help and heal animals and try to make their lives better. We stopped in on our way back just to see if it was worth a stop and we were glad we did.

It's a rescue park for exotic animals - it has over 125 big cats(lions, tigers, panthers, leopards, you name it) & other animals(bears, monkeys, alligators, wolves) on the premises that have been rescued from people around the country who either tried to keep them as pets or used them for personal profit including the circus. You are literally 3-4 feet away from these beautiful exotic animals. It really was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. I got to play with baby bear cubs - how F'in cool is that?!?!?!

I just ask you guys to check out the site and maybe post it on your blogs or pages so that all the P1's can know about this place. If you're an animal lover and you go to Oklahoma regularly or just make it a stop on the way to the Casinos or an OU game (Corby & Junior) you won't forget this place.
Kevin

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Bob,
I listen to you everyday, and rely on you for my Stars reality check that brings me back from homer-land. The other day Steve Ott visited the Hardline and he mentoined that he wanted the fans to wear black to the playoff games. I immediately started the chain to make sure all my Stars buddies knew what Ott expected of them. Now I have to ask you for a favor, could you please mention the black out during the broadcast? You reach so many more people than I ever could, and would really like a show of solidarity from all our Stars fans, but they can't show it if they don't know it. Thanks for your time.

P1,
Cory
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hope you guys enjoyed the cigars last night. if you want to thank "en fuego tobacco shop" on the air, ill give you my permission. were out in rockwall. im sure you dont have enough people asking for plugs as it is.


take care, marc

My Birthday Wish …


Monkey Rides a Bike