On how I might sort of watch the Florida Panthers this season.

This isn't some late April Fool's joke. I have been contemplating over the past month whether or not I should try watching the Panthers this season. With the departure of Michael Grabner from Vancouver to Florida, that gives me a good reason to watch how he develops with the team. At least he's on the East Coast now and I can see him play more if he stays up with the club, which I think he will. Even if he doesn't he'll be on Rochester, and I would LOVE to go to a game just to see him. That would be awesome. Then Rochester would've had the pleasure of having two Austrians on their team, OH MY GOD?!

Breathe.

This morning before work I decided to go on the Panthers site to see if there was any information on Grabner, when I thought to myself 'hey, I kind of like David Booth too...' He seems like a sweetie and I nearly forgot Mike Richards almost killed him with his elbow last season. If I'm not mistaken, I THINK he played with Ryan when he was still at Michigan State. He's also one of the better players on the Panthers. This made me contemplate even more 'should I give in? Should I just watch if Grabner's up? Why would I follow a team from the Sun Belt?'

I don't even know any Panthers fans so I have no idea how this is going to work. I'm diving in head first.

Stay healthy, k?

In a galaxy far, far away...

I sadly couldn't pay much attention to the game last night because I was part working on a five page paper (which only reached three pages and a few sentences) and on my application for an EDL.* I did pay enough attention to watch the Sabres dominate in the goal scoring department in the first period. I completely missed Clemmensen get pulled though? Fail by me. Vokoun shut down the Sabres pretty well after letting in three in the first, but at least they scored a ton in the first.

While doing my EDL application and having my mom talk to me, I missed most of Chris Butler's interview. I am a sad Shelby. I know it's on the website so I will eventually get to watching the entire thing. Give me time Chris, give me time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Carubba Collision not just because the Austrian was involved, but because it was a pile up. I love those. I'm just glad no one had gotten hurt because of it.

Speaking of Austrians, if I'm not mistaken Michael Grabner from the Vancouver Canucks scored his first NHL goal and point last night! There are high expectations for him because he's playing well for the Manitoba Moose and I'm glad he was called up! Woooo!


I find him to be very adorable. (: Aww. I'm so excited for him.

I'm surprised I even have a voice still.

I am clearly high and insane in this picture, so please disregard that!

What a game that was last night! I'm glad that they snagged a win with me being in attendance. I have a 3-2 record so far this season. I think this is the last time I'm going so I am happy that they had a winning record this year when I attended, unlike last year.

My stepdad and I arrived early because I wanted to take pictures of the boys for my Photography class. We went into the store early and I got myself a Thomas Vanek picture and a Pominville shirt. I really wanted to see if they had any All Star t-shirts but they didn't. Bummer!

We were originally going to go up to our seats but then my stepdad figured we should probably just hang out near one of the sections in the 100s until warm ups so I could get my photos. We both had fries and water in the meantime, and then we sat in the Headliners restaurant and watched a game from '96 or '97, I think. It was 5-0 at the end of the second, and that's all I really remember besides there being a huge fight.

Warm ups had started and I headed on down in the one corner of the arena to take up close pictures. I get startled easily so it was funny when the puck hit the glass. I jumped everytime. I got a few good photos, and when I went back up, my stepdad was like 'Vanek was skating right at you twice and you didn't take his picture!' but then I told him if I looked into his eyes my soul would've been taken away so I couldn't do it.

I met up with Sam in the section next to that one because she went to the game with her dad. She pounced me. That was...interesting, haha. But it was nice to see her after so long...

We went up to our seats and the only Florida fans near us were in the next section over. One lady was wearing a Meyer Florida jersey while her husband was wearing an Amerks jersey. They must've came from the Rocha-cha area. It was funny when the 5-on-3 was going on because the woman was going nuts. So she thinks they would score on it...

I have a problem with watching penalty kills in person for many reasons. I get on the very edge of my seat and my legs tend to tense up. I fold my hands together and hope that someone can block a shot and get it out of the zone. I'm glad they went 0-for-4 on the power play yesterday because I would've had a heart attack if they scored on that 5-on-3.

Speaking of heart attacks, Thomas Vanek nearly gave me one at the beginning of the game. I think he had a good chance to stuff the puck in on the side but it didn't work. Then the amazing save Vokoun had on him in the second. I started screaming and then was like 'NOOOOO, EVERYTIME I GO THIS HAPPENS!' Of course when he had scored on the power play in the third, I went bonkers and yelled that I loved him. So thank you Thomas for making my night yesterday.

Someone explain to me how, no offense to him, Henrik Tallinder was the third star? Did I completely miss something that occurred last night with him? Jaro and Patty deserved their stars but Hank...eh. I don't know...

Overall, I had an amazing time last night. (: Nice to be happy about a win after those two awful losses.

Guys. That was gross.

I don't want to talk about last night's game because I left after Philly scored in the beginning of the third. I know what the outcome was. Ugh.

Good news is that I am going to the game tomorrow! I had the option of choosing a game (I mentioned this previously) and I chose this one. Should be a great and close game. I also feel like a lot of people I know are going. My ex is going with her dad. Melissa is going. Cari and Kim are going, and are sitting with S(h)ara. I am sitting near their section so we're going to try and meet up. *crosses fingers* I sure hope I can meet you ladies!

Please, Sabres. Please win tomorrow. It'll probably the last game I go to this year so wrap it up in a bow and such, and get a win against a team that you're trying to catch.