Winning is the Best Medicine

I've been sick for about a week, but it's funny how something completely unrelated to my antibiotics can make me feel so much better.

I've barely made it off the couch since Wednesday, but once Jason Pominville's shot went into the net, ending overtime and sealing the 5-4 win over the Caps, I was jumping up and down in the living room.

So, I have a couple of thank-you notes to send out tonight:

Dear Buffalo Sabres,

Thank you for making me forget about my sinus infection for a few hours. Tonight, you played with heart and effort the whole game through. Did I like all those penalties? No. Did that game make me nervous at points? Of course. Still, you proved that you're not going to go away quietly. Four points out with a game-in-hand over the Rangers - tomorrow just got very interesting, indeed. That group hug after the win was fantastic; let that emotion carry over into another solid game against the Devils.

Dear Ryan Miller,

Please continue to punch Ovechkin in the face whenever you like (ok, so it was more push than punch). I love it when you get snippy. For that alone, I name you my Unsung Hero of the Game.

Dear Jason Pominville,

You're awesome. Remember how nice scoring goals is? Think you can try to do that even more? I know that I would love to see that goal-celebration smile more often; it's one of my favorite sights in hockey.

Dear Colby Armstrong,

Thanks for the two assists in Atlanta's 3-1 win over Florida, putting the Sabres only two points behind the Panthers! Does this note make up for all of the obscenities I was hurling at you and your team on Wednesday?

*Edit: Just heard the news about Carly Bragnalo, the fiancee of former Sabre and current Canuck Taylor Pyatt, who passed away in a car accident in Jamaica. The two had been together for 11 years, since they were high school sweethearts. This news is truly heartbreaking. My prayers tonight go out to Pyatt, the Bragnalo family, and the Canucks family.

Pommer and Kaner and Ovie - Oh My!

It's time to talk about the award show everyone was glued to last night...

Bravo's A-List Awards!

Just kidding!

The NHL gave out its annual awards last night, and, of course, they had to schedule the ceremony while I was still at work. That, combined with my family's aversion to getting Tivo, means that all I have to base my opinions on are the photos from Yahoo!, the brief but helpful new coverage, and the recaps provided by all of my favorite bloggers.

What I missed:

• Alexander Ovechkin can now add Hart Trophy and Pearson Award-winner to his resume along with his invention of the concepts of "fun" and "enthusiasm."


• Vinny Lecavalier spoke in French during his acceptance speech for the award for being not only beautiful on the outside but the inside as well. It may be a good thing I missed this because my body may not have recovered from the massive swooning.


• Apparently, voters think that Pavel Datsyuk is more of a gentleman than Jason Pominville. That's ok, Pommers, if they gave out awards for dedication to "The System" and most endearingly delusional optimism - you would win in a heartbeat. Oh well, you still get to room with Goose, which, in my mind, is better than any award.


• Pat Kane is doing nothing to combat my desire to marry him and join his adorable family. His speech was delivered surprisingly well - you did us proud once again, Kaner!

And now for the award that really matters: Katie's Most Attractive Man of the Evening Award (and the 3 runners-up - because I just want an excuse to post pretty pictures of studly men):

4.) Jarome Iginla

The smile! The polka dots! I'm still trying to figure out how I managed to watch the West before I loved Iggy.

3.) Vinny Lecavalier

I know that he shaved his beautiful head, but he is still more attractive than 99% of all the men I've ever seen.

2.) Jason Pominville

I like the lighting in this picture - it makes him look even more like the cute, little angel that he really is. Now, that is the face of a gentleman (no offense, Datsyuk).

1.) Patrick Kane

I need to get out more if there are other guys like him wandering around our fair city.