more NHL series endings, a creepy moment between Canadian actor Jim Carrey & resident Knicks "super fan" Spike Lee, weird awards show happenings, & "random red couch" hatred

(EDIT: That might very well be by far my longest title so far!)

 

3 more NHL playoff 1st round series ended this weekend, lessening the wait between now & the 2nd round later this coming week... The Eastern matchup has already been set, with another original 6 matchup between Boston & Montréal, while the Western matchup will be between defending champs Chicago & either Colorado or Minnesota, depending on whether Colorado can close up shop tomorrow night (9 P.M. EDT, CNBC/TSN/RDS2 nationally; Altitude Sports in Colorado; Fox Sports North in Minnesota), or whether Minnesota can win on its home ice tomorrow night and steal game 7 back in Denver Wednesday night (time & broadcasters still TBD)! Meanwhile, Anaheim pulled off a stunning comeback O.T. win over Dallas last night with 2 extra attacker goals, & then with the game-winner early on in the O.T. to eliminate Dallas from contention!

Speaking of playoff hockey, this happened during game 5 between the N.Y. Rangers & Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon, as captured by all networks in attendance:

That's right, people: Canadian actor Jim Carrey & director/resident N.Y. Knicks "super fan" Spike Lee were caught engaging in some questionable "embracing" somewhere inside MSG this afternoon, & apparently, the girl behind the 2 of them couldn't resist sneaking up behind them to get at least partially captured by the NBC/TSN/RDS/MSG/CSN-P/etc. cameras! This reminds me of something from last week, when somebody I've mentioned before apparently made some comments suggesting that she likes Carrey sorta like that: EDIT: Naturally, now that I just went looking for those comments, they're nowhere to be found, but still, guess who made them:

You might be wondering why she was wearing "Mickey ears" there... well, look no further: 

There's only 1 word I can use to describe that weird coincidence/non-coincidence, depending on your perspective on that matter: 

...which manages to somehow get even weirder/more weird/whatever when you consider the history that both of those 2 have not with Disney, but with: 

See what I meant when I made the following comments just after the very beginning of 2014 here on the East Coast? 

"...(she) was an actress on a few Nickelodeon shows in recent years, & honestly, had I not given up on that channel before the beginning of this decade because of my belief that almost all of its 90s & earlier 2000s shows had turned to crap long ago, & that the shows that Nickelodeon attempted to revive its then-fledgling network with were trying too hard to be considered "hip" among its slowly changing target teenage/under 20-something demographics, along with its removal of all the familiar logos & consolidation of other "spin-off" channels, I would've stuck around through that mess just to witness this then-teenager's rise to fame! Putting my complaints with Nickelodeon aside, however, her story, for those of you who've followed the aforementioned network from the beginning, mirrors that of bilingual Canadian actress-turned-performer Alanis Morrissette, who started when Nickelodeon began back in the late 1970s, & then released a few hits of her own, some of which were in French along with her English-language hits! I'm not saying that Ariana needs to become bilingual or even multilingual to achieve even more success than her debut album achieved, but considering the combination of that & a few spectacular (& live) performances, I'd say she's got more success upcoming in her 2014 & beyond than most of us could ever imagine at the young age of 20 21!) 

short social psychology lesson incoming: Granted, their careers did span 2 different millennia, but my point still stands: loyalty & trust are infinitely more important than anything else people could possibly entrust in anything else, & even if something like performing at an awards show hosted by another network, that, as far as I'm concerned, presents a sizable risk to the person-company relationship, since who knows what could be going on behind the scenes, as executives from Disney, Viacom, & a bunch of music labels perhaps come "too close for comfort" for some people in attendance! That being said, I may or may not be biased, since (if you people don't mind me quoting myself again): 

"...your state might have been responsible for starting so-&-so's career in something, be it movies, music, sports, television, or something else, but the Prudential Center in our state (sorry, Boston! I just couldn't help myself!) played host to (her (on-stage) debut), so I'll repeat myself, yet again: your state might have some of its own "best-kept secrets", but trust me: starting somebody's career here, I think, is infinitely more rewarding than any of the more typical "best-kept secrets" that your states might have held onto..."

Last but not least, I've got a message for NBC & McDonald's RE: their mind-numbing commercial: 

the 1st playoff series win occurred last night...

... north of the border, that is!

somebody get out the brooms, 'cause I think a sweep just occurred! 

If you thought the fact that Montréal being the only Canadian team in this year's NHL playoffs, out of 7 teams up there (Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, & Vancouver), was enough pressure, then remember this: the last time a Canadian team won that...

...was 1993, & coincidentally, Montréal defeated L.A. in 6 games that June to win championship #24 in that franchise's storied history! Perhaps even more coincidentally, L.A. defeated 2 western Canadian teams (Calgary & Vancouver), & 1 "western" Canadian team (Toronto) to make it to the Finals to face Montréal that season! 

For those of you who've never visited that city before, 1st, what the **** are you still doing not visiting that city, & 2nd, I'm sure you've already figured out that it's mostly French, but, perhaps somewhat oddly, it's less French than most of its suburbs & the province's other major city, Québec City! Despite the different primary language (French 1st, then English, whereas it's English & then everything else here), their hockey is practically the same as everybody else's hockey, except with both main languages represented rather equally within the arena's walls! The main difficulty with getting into the arena is the sellout streak: the fans up there have sold out almost every game since January 2004, meaning that 21,000+ fans have crammed themselves in there almost every game for the past decade+! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7DNau3UBqQ That's just part of the spectacle that goes on up there before every game... recent highlights not just on the 4 video boards above center ice, but also down on the ice surface via a bunch of super powered video displays! Mind you, unlike the rest of the wimpy NHL, which reserves such spectacular shows for the playoffs, the Bell Centre makes sure to have 1 of those types of pre game presentations every regular season, constantly update it throughout the playoffs (obviously, when they do make it there, which they didn't, most recently, back in 2012), & debut a new presentation the following regular season, at least from what I've noticed up there! 

If you don't think the fans respond to such displays, then I've got news for you: they almost always do so, especially when their guys are leading a game!

http://www.lapresse.ca/la-tribune/la-nouvelle/sports/201005/22/01-4282994-une-fievre-des-series-drolement-forte.php <<Une fièvre des séries drôlement forte>> - "An especially strong playoff fever"

... in which it is mentioned that crowds inside that building have reached up to 135 decibels at their loudest, specifically in the 2010 East semifinals against Pittsburgh, & the following comparison is made later on:

«On a évalué à 135 le nombre de décibels dans le Centre Bell ce soir-là. Je me suis informé, 135 décibels c'est comme se tenir à côté d'un train qui siffle ou à proximité d'un avion à réaction.»

(approximate) translation:

"People have evaluated 135 as being the # of decibels in the Bell Centre on this night (5/10/10, game 6 of those East semifinals). I've (Pierre Turgeon of La Presse of Montréal) been told that 135 decibels is similar to being on a moving freight train or in proximity to a plane at takeoff."

I've got just 1 word for you people to describe such loud settings: ddaaaaanngg! Fortunately, there have been very few instances of people needing hearing aids/cochlear implants/etc. after visiting that building , myself included, so that's certainly a positive in that situation!

2014 NCAA Frozen Four: final: Minnesota - Union

MATCHUP: (1) Minnesota vs. (3) Union College

LOCATION: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

1st TIME HOSTING? Yes... the former (since demolished) Spectrum, which was across the parking lot until late 2010, never hosted the NCAA's premier hockey tournament!

SOUNDS OF THE GAME: John Buccigross & Barry Melrose on ESPN; as for the background music, that, unlike my visit to Albany, N.Y. for Union-RPI in late January, was approximately 1/2 Minnesota/Union bands, & 1/2 Wells Fargo Center producers with all the pre-recorded playlists... Certainly provides the bands a break from having to play during every play stoppage/intermission!

ODDITIES: Minnesota fans were all over social media, bashing what they alleged to be Barry Melrose's bias against their team... On a more personal note, this certainly wasn't the same Union team I saw face crosstown rival RPI up in Albany, N.Y. back in late January!

RPI REPRESENTATION: by athletic director Jim Knowlton, whose presence was acknowledged by Philadelphia Flyers/2014 Frozen Four P.A. announcer Lou Nolan after Union clinched its 1st ever D1 championship!

REFERENCE: http://anytandeverything.blogspot.com/2014/01/this-was-college-hockey-at-its-most.html

KUDOS: (& I don't usually give anything from Philadelphia "kudos") to the Philadelphia Flyers for "loaning" 40+ year P.A. announcer Lou Nolan to the NCAA for these 3 games! Also, to ESPN/ESPN2 for bringing back the network's original National Hockey Night theme, which played throughout every ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 NHL telecast throughout the 1980s, 90s, & up until the 2004-5 lockout that canceled that entire season & ended the NHL/ABC-ESPN T.V. deal!

ANTI-KUDOS: to the Wells Fargo Center producers, for only playing the Rocky theme once during all 3 games!

1ST PERIOD SUMMARY:

the record-setting score after 1 period... not since 1963 had this happened previously!

...see what I mean?

...the shots were equally numerous!

There were surprisingly few penalties for such a hectic 1st period, but knowing the tendency for games to "settle down" after seeing something like this 1st period happen, I think there will be more penalties upcoming!

Despite having a few opportunities, neither team was able to convert on any of its man advantage opportunities!

2ND PERIOD SUMMARY:

 the score after 2 periods...

 ...which was not nearly as record-setting as the 6-goal 1st period!

 Minnesota almost completely recovered its shots disadvantage in the period, & it showed on the scoreboard!

In contrast to the 1st period, it seemed as if there were too many penalties for the much slower-paced 2nd period!

3RD PERIOD/2013-14 NCAA SEASON SUMMARY:

 After taking control in the 3rd period, Union College has made history, winning its 1st-ever NCAA hockey championship, in the city known for its pro hockey!

 Much like the 1st period, Union had 2 more goals than Minnesota, & the last 2 goals were especially crucial, considering Union pushed its lead from 1 goal to 3, effectively clinching the championship a few minutes early!

 After almost completely surrendering its shot advantage in the 2nd period, Union more than doubled up Minnesota in the 3rd period, allowing it to pull away on the scoreboard!

 Minnesota did itself in, to an extent, with all those penalties...

...yet, it was Minnesota getting the only successful power play goal of the game, looking to cut into the then-2-goal Union lead, before Union pulled away & made history!

THOUGHTS: After seeing Union in late January 2013, when it was barely in the top 20-25 overall after making a surprise run to the 2012 Frozen Four in Tampa, FL, I knew back then they were going places... When the program made it to the top 3 a year later, for its 2nd neutral site rivalry game against RPI, I figured the program would have its best chance in its entire Division I history, & sure enough, that just happened in front of a few thousand people in Philadelphia & nationally televised on ESPN!

Isn't it truly fitting that the only member of this Union team who was drafted into the NHL won the championship in the building in which he'll be playing the majority of his NHL games? That's right, people; Union junior D-man Shayne Gostisbehere will start his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers!

WHAT'S NEXT? The NCAA is planning on taking its regionals slightly further "off the beaten path" next year:

EAST: Dunkin' Donuts Center - Providence, RI

NORTHEAST: Verizon Wireless Arena -  Manchester, NH

MIDWEST: Compton Family Ice Arena - South Bend, IN

WEST: Scheels Arena - Fargo, ND

...with the national semis & final to be held @ the TD Garden in downtown Boston!

2014 NCAA Frozen Four: 2nd semifinal: Minnesota - North Dakota

MATCHUP: (1) Minnesota (BIG 10 - Minneapolis, MN) vs. unranked North Dakota (NCHC - Grand Forks, ND)

LOCATION: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

1st TIME HOSTING? Yes... the former (since demolished) Spectrum, which was across the parking lot until late 2010, never hosted the NCAA's premier hockey tournament!

SOUNDS OF THE GAME: John Buccigross & Barry Melrose on ESPN2; as for the background music, that, unlike my visit to Albany, N.Y. for Union-RPI in late January, was approximately 1/2 Minnesota/North Dakota bands, & 1/2 Wells Fargo Center producers with all the pre-recorded playlists... Unlike B.C./Union, however, the bands played quite a bit more often during Minnesota/North Dakota... Either way, that certainly provides the bands a break from having to play during every play stoppage/intermission!

KUDOS: (& I don't usually give anything from Philadelphia "kudos") to the Philadelphia Flyers for "loaning" 40+ year P.A. announcer Lou Nolan to the NCAA for these 3 games! Also, to ESPN/ESPN2 for bringing back the network's original National Hockey Night theme, which played throughout every ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 NHL telecast throughout the 1980s, 90s, & up until the 2004-5 lockout that canceled that entire season & ended the NHL/ABC-ESPN T.V. deal!

1ST PERIOD SUMMARY:

 no goals whatsoever...

 no penalties, either...

 North Dakota had slightly more shots in the opening frame, but (see above)

(insert sarcastic/witty comment here)

2ND PERIOD SUMMARY:

 still no scoring?

 finally!

(insert anything here)

 That finish, tho... More on that later!

 Usually, 1 team scoring almost immediately after getting scored upon can lead to some feisty play later on in the game, but for the most part, both of these teams seemed as if they were waiting for their opponents to break under pressure, & finally, with just .6 seconds left in regulation, Minnesota scored shorthanded to win this latest Minnesota - North Dakota rivalry matchup, & move on to Saturday night against Union! (7:30 P.M. EDT, ESPN)

 This was the only penalty in the 3rd period... quite surprising for such a heated rivalry, am I rite?

Sometimes, not even outshooting your opponent by a wide margin can help, unfortunately for North Dakota!

UP NEXT: (1) Minnesota vs. (3) Union, Saturday night @ 7:30 P.M. EDT on ESPN!