The Sidney Crosby Drinking Game

As if a battle between two teams with a combined 70 points in the standings in late January is not enough, I have come up with something to make tonight's Caps vs. Pengyunz game even more fun -- The Sidney Crosby Drinking Game!

• Sidney Crosby takes a dive - one shot
  
• Sidney Crosby whines to the officials - one shot
  
• Sidney Crosby is the coverboy of a national magazine - one shot
  
• Sidney Crosby appears in a national hockey commercial - one shot
  
• Another one of Sidney Crosby's aging teammates retires - three shots
  
• NHL rigs the draft lottery (again) to ensure Pittsburgh gets #1 pick - entire bottle

Of course, like the old Norman Chad picks column ("this should not be used for the basis of an actual cash wager"), these suggestions should not be used for the basis of actual alcohol consumption.

Contributions welcome! Leave them in the comments.

Rookie showdown part deux - The Annointed One vs. The REAL One

While I may be jumping on the Steelers bandwagon for a month, don't think I am going to go soft on the Pengyunz. The Capitals are up on Pittsburgh by eight points in the conference standings and have been playing pretty well as of late. Pittsburgh seems to be in a freefall with vets jumping ship weekly. Toronto's Globe and Mail even had an article last week (sadly blocked behind a registration wall) comparing the two franchises and concludes that the Caps are doing it the right way (building a young team around a superstar), while the Pens are doing the the old "Caps way" of building an old, overpriced team around a superstar. Also, Alex Ovechkin is having the superior season, on pace for over 100 points and he plays both sides of the ice. Sidney Crosby, while good, seems to take a few too many penalties, dives, and whines a lot.

Of course, when it comes down to La Coupe Hauxer, none of that matters, only games like tonight's count. It's time for the Caps to pick up some ground.

Oh and in celebration of Mario Lemieux's career, cheeseburgers and cigarettes for everyone!

UPDATE: The always excellent Off Wing Opinion takes a look at the Crosby hype as does Dave Fay in The Wash. Times.

Can Sidney Crosby do this?

Sure, it's a week old, but the goal of the year is still amazing.

So far, Alex Ovechkin has got to be the rookie of the year.

A fun little show when the fans come with the team

Friday night I got to attend my first hockey game at the MCI center. And I got to witness first hand the Flyers stick it to the Caps. As we approached the building I noticed Flyers jerseys all over D.C. and when we got to the game it was clear that all of them went to the game. Our seats were deep in Flyer fan territory. As I sat there watching my team not only out score, out shoot, and most deffinitely out hit the Capitals I thought, gee how sad is it when the home team gets out cheered by the opposing team's fans. And the Philly fans did not dissappoint with a colorful collection of cheers, rants, and raves. But the thing I enjoyed most, was the score. YEAH BABY! FLYERS STUCK IT TO THE CAPS WHOO HOO! CHALK UP ANOTHER POINT FOR WILEY'S TEAM!

Tonight, it gets PERSONAL

Now, we can really get excited about La Coupe Hauxer. For the second time in a week, the Philthadelphia Flyers are coming to D.C. and this time Wiley is coming with them. The Caps won the last one and let's face it, even Sam/Jake and Brad have to be rooting for our Nation's Capitals tonight. A Caps win tightens up the standings a little which you all need. The traditional Philly CHOKE started last Saturday, let's see if it resumes tonight.

Wiley defeated; Caps finally win

Somehow during our brief conversation exchanging New Year's greetings and making plans for Friday's Caps vs. Flyers game Wiley neglected to mention that his Phlyers lost to the Nation's Capitals (The Post), 4-3, in a shootout.

The Caps are now 1-5 in La Coupe Hauxer action. They'll make it to 2-5 with another victory over Philly this Friday. Wiley, Fritz, and I will be there to see it happen, anybody else feel like showing up?