Y'all wanna hear a story?

If you haven't really appreciated your life in the last few days, consider this epic tale from another world.

Follow the whole story here.

Onto other things.

Perhaps a mid-40s man wasting his valuable computer time on comparing the 2 fledgling careers of 2 18 year old hockey players isn't the smartest use of my insights. But it did get me back (slightly) onto the computer, which is good. Perhaps my choice of subjects was wrong but in the end, it was an attempt to make fun of the situation; it's hockey. But then baseball happened and whatever comment I was trying to make of the attention being paid to these kids was nothing compared to the Blue Jays making it to the playoffs.

Last year, as a sort of in-joke, a boss of mine gave me an award for 'broker with the most hats'. This was in reference to all that I was/am trying to be; a mortgage broker, a care aide, a writer, a firefighter, home renovator, and last but most important to me, a good father, a good long-distance father and lastly, a good husband.

Ron Swanson has a saying "Don't half-ass two things, whole ass one thing" that struck a chord with his followers (me included). It's about making a choice and committing to one choice. I totally understand what the message is but in my world that one choice, as much as I would prefer, is not going to happen anytime in the near future.

I have whole-assed many things in my life. In a way, I half-assed them but I'm proud of all the experiences I had but in the end I am the only one who knows about most of them.However, I am tired. I want to simplify my life. I'm tired of being tired all the time.

Last year was supposed to be a game-changer for me. Money was supposed to be pouring out of at least one of those many hats I wore. I thought I would be spending more time on my financial career, helping my community by responding to fire calls, fulfilling my inner child by publishing some long-buried novels I needed to get some closure on. But there was no money rain; fire calls came either when I was at work or alone with the children. I needed to learn to market myself, either in brokering or in publishing but to choose either road would mean I would lose what little time I have with my youngest, a time I won't ever have a chance to repeat again. And I would be half-assing two things.

It was a tough sacrifice. I'm still tired. Maybe even more tired than two years ago. I was able to accomplish some goals, but as always seems to be the case, I fell short of time. There is still a lot to do around the house and no money to pay others to do it, so it falls to me. My kids don't understand Dad has other things he should be doing. The weather doesn't understand. My night job doesn't understand. My bank account understands. My body is trying to get me to understand. It warns me every month that something has to give; I need to start whole-assing one thing and re-prioritize what I should be concentrating on.

So what is it going to be, Dad?

2013 6 NHL playoff rivalries and chances if we will see them again

THE RETRO-FILES: Golden Oldies 2013
or Better save this for posterity before the original website goes belly up and deletes all my contributions. 

The NHL playoffs start on April 30th. Here is a quick primer for your hockey sports fans on playoff series to watch, why, and chances of it happening.

The NHL is about to begin its 95th Stanley Cup campaign. It’s 2.5 months of heightened intensity and do-or-die attitudes and for many men it will be their only chance to have their name etched forever on hockey’s holy grail. It’s a dream many have had since they first laced up a pair of skates and have worked on all their lives. It takes 16 games to win the Stanley Cup but only 4 games lost to have that dream crushed. As with all great sporting leagues, there are a few rivalries that all marketing men and homer fans hope for as teams with a history of going head to head in the playoffs bring some of the most exciting hockey that will be witnessed this lock-out shortened year.

Thanks to the internet and proliferation of free televised sporting events sites, new and old fans from overseas have more opportunity than ever before to watch some of the greatest, high-intensity hockey you will see this year in an ever-evolving game for better or worse.

Here are 6 of the biggest rivalries in the NHL and the chances of us seeing them on the ice this year…

6. Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Philadelphia Flyers AKA The Battle of Penn State.

Philly has some of the most vocal, passionate fans in the league, Pittsburgh is one of the most talented. There are a number of current and future hall-of-famers on this year’s Penguins while the best one can say is that this year’s Philly team has a number of future ex-NHL’rs on theirs.

Yet, when the two teams meet up it makes for some of the most passionate and exciting hockey in the league. They have met 6 times in the playoffs, playing 35 games with the Flyers having the edge 19-16 in wins.

Last year, the teams combined for 45 goals and 309 penalty minutes in a spirited 6 game series; that’s an average of just over 7 goals and 50 penalty minutes a game which is 1980′s numbers. Last year, the underdog Flyers surprised the league’s best team 4 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. If you want goals, hits, controversy and fans being spit on, Pittsburgh and Philly are an Eastern Conference dream match-up that will be hard to beat.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013 – 5%

Pittsburgh is pretty much guaranteed 1st in the East, with 10 games left. Philadelphia has to somehow gain 6 points on 3 teams to get the final playoff position. With less than 10 games remaining and having to rely on at least two of the other teams involved choking, sadly the possibility is pretty unlikely this year.

Read more at http://whatculture.com/sport/nhl-2013-6-biggest-playoff-rivalries-and-if-theyll-happen-again.php#PqlfO7krwOhKCe0Z.99

5. Montreal Canadiens Vs Boston Bruins

These teams have met a record total of 170 times in the post season, with Montreal having the huge edge in games won, 102-68 and series wins 24-9. Their first match up was in 1929, the last one in 2011. There was a period of 18 straight times the Canadiens beat the Bruins in the playoffs, a total spanning 45 years which was finally broken in 1988. Since then the teams have been on much more equal footing play-wise but Boston is considered the more dominant
physical team while Montreal the much more hospitalized team.

For example, to keep things interesting for the doctors, there was this famous donnybrook, then this straight-to-the-hospital hit by the world’s tallest player, Zdeno Chara, and then this incident last year.

And in a classic “I’m screwing your ex-girlfriend’ move, in 2012 the Boston Bruins drafted the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens star defencemen P.K. Subban in the NHL entry league draft, making for future family gatherings at the Subban household somewhat uncomfortable I am sure.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013- 60%

With Montreal and Boston both in the upper half of the current standings, a renewal of the league’s longest rivalry is within possibility. Both teams would have to beat their first round opponents and survive the inevitable Montreal riots that will follow each series victory. Boston, having won the Cup 2 years ago and standing behind the giant Zdeno Chara would be a ‘tall’ test for Montreal but all bets are off when it comes to the Canadiens and their storied history of beating the Bruins when it matters

4. Edmonton Oilers Vs Calgary Flames AKA The Battle of Alberta

During the later eighties, the victor of this series was all but guaranteed to go on and win the Stanley Cup, 7 times in 8 years. Geographically Edmonton and Calgary are a short (for Canada) 4 hour freeway ride from each other which made for plenty of beer-drinking fans making the trek either way to show their support. The Oilers, the undisputed (except by Calgary) team of the eighties were packed with hall of fame talent that were setting records at an amazing pace, the Flames were like the little brother tired of big brother getting all the attention. The Flames only managed to beat the Oilers once in the playoffs back in 1986, thanks to a fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on which team you were rooting for) bounce that thanks to the internet and Flames fans, will never be forgotten.

They met a total of 30 times, with the Oilers coming out on top 19 of those. They haven’t met each other in the playoffs since 1991, when the Oilers once again eliminated the Flames from Stanley Cup contention. The Flames finally returned to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 putting the city into such an uproar that their fans created the now legendary Red Mile, a zone of post-game partying of New Orleans Mardi-Gras proportions. They went on to lose to an upstart Southern US expansion team. The following year the Oilers were quick to repeat the same feat, losing to another Southern US expansion team but in the more important category, named their party zone the Blue Mile showing that even in letting down all of Canada, the two still love a good competition.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013 - 0%

Unless there's a tragic double-booking at a golf course in Red Deer, situated as it is right between the two Titanic-esque franchises, the Titanic has a better chance of rising from the ocean floor filled with Water Zombies (has that genre been created yet?) than the league has of seeing these 2 compete, not just this year but in the foreseeable future. Edmonton has a host of young stars with the right chemistry and veteran leadership have a distant shot at the playoffs if not this year, then soon. Calgary has a new juice blender in their dressing room and has just said good-bye to their team’s all-time leading scorer. Unless 7 teams above them suddenly all disappear in a tragic Titanic Water Zombie invasion the Flames and Oilers can start polishing their golf clubs now.

3. New York Rangers Vs New York Islanders Vs New Jersey Devils AKA The Battle Of New York AKA The Hudson River Rivalry

In this strange hockey love triangle in the heart of the world’s biggest market, these three teams are literally spitting distance from each other yet due to the years of inept performance mostly on the Islanders part, they have never met the Devils in the playoffs. The Rangers have no problem stepping out on their long-time state rivals to make some sweet hockey love with cross-river rivals the New Jersey Devils when it comes time for the playoffs.

The Rangers and the Devils have renewed shenanigans 6 times in the playoffs, with the Rangers coming out on top 16 of the 34 times they have faced off against each other, winning 4 series out of six.

The most memorable moment came in 1994 when NY captain Mark Messier, with his team facing elimination, took time out from apparently dating Madonna to ‘guarantee a victory’ in the upcoming game, which usually means ‘guarantee a loss’. Messier scored all 3 goals that night to defeat the Devils 3-2 and guaranteed himself a place in New York sporting history along the lines of Babe Ruth’s calling-his-shot baseball legend. The Rangers went on to win the series and their first Stanley Cup in 44 years, defeating the Vancouver Canucks in one of the closest Stanley Cup series ever played in modern times, 4 games to 3.

While the last 20 years the focus has been on the much more likely Devils/Rangers match-up the possibility of an Islanders/Rangers playoff match would have NY hockey fans salivating and an ‘all bets are off’ mentality in backing a winner, due to the bragging rights that come with each cross-town victory. Back in the day when the Islanders were considered a powerhouse team, the teams faced off in the playoffs 8 times with the Islanders having a slight edge in wins 20-19.

Another great byproduct of this series would be the re-introduction of some of the most spirited crowd taunts in league history; Ranger fans have their favourite; “Potvin sucks“, a reference to the all-star Islander defenceman Denis Potvin who retired decades ago yet apparently is still popular while Islanders fan have adopted a rendition of ‘The Rangers suck’ to accompany the Chicken Dance Polka. Yes, it sounds lame but one has to admit is pretty funny when you hear it.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013 - 10%

All 3 of these teams still have a viable chance to make the playoffs, it will be an uphill battle much like Toronto and Ottawa. All will have to defeat far superior opponents (and/or Ottawa) to get the chance to be able to ride the bus to their next away game and be back before bedtime. The Devils do have the greatest goalie in the game in net and the Rangers have the handsomest one. The shock of having to consider that the Islanders might beat one of them out of a playoff spot will be pretty awkward on the final day of the regular season. 

2. Toronto Maple Leafs Vs Ottawa Senators AKA The Battle of Ontario 

Another all Canadian match-up, these two teams have met 24 times in the playoffs since the year 2000 when they faced off 4 of 5 years, with Toronto coming out on top in 16 of those games, eliminating the Ottawa Senators in every series they met.

The bitterness between the two teams has had some great moments, with Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredson going all Mark Messier and guaranteeing a win in a do-or-die game back in 2004. The Senators won the game but forgot that they still needed to win one more, bowing out in an anticlimatic 4-1 loss in game 7.

Toronto has long been considered the center of the hockey universe by Torontonians but the pecularity of the team having to play in the post-season, something that hasn’t been done in nearly a decade may be too much for their collective head to fathom as they usually reserve the Spring for watching baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays start their yearly fall from playoff contention.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013 - 20%

While it is likely both these teams might make the playoffs, they will both first have to beat far superior opponents (Pittsburgh/Montreal/Boston) in the first round. For both teams to pull off major upsets will be a great surprise, but stranger things have happened. Toronto will have to shrug off the celebration of just finally making the playoffs having been in the longest playoff drought in the league and their storied history. Most of Ottawa is still not aware their team is in the playoffs yet and will wonder why it’s so hard to find parking around the hockey arena.

1. Vancouver Canucks Vs Chicago Blackhawks AKA TBA

Although these teams have met relatively few times in their history it has really gathered steam in the last few seasons as most other playoff series in the Western Conference are only a prelude to this match up, much like the Battle of Alberta in the 80′s.

Ironically, Vancouver owes Chicago for it’s wildly popular ’Towel Power’ playoff theme from their first playoff series back in 1982. The scene of Head Coach Roger Nielson holding up a white towel in surrender to the game’s officials has become iconic in NHL playoff lore and Vancouver has been waving that flag ever since, without really understanding the irony. I guess because it’s Vancouver.

Chicago won hard-fought and hair-pulling (literally) series in 2009 and 2010 in 6 games. Vancouver finally beat Chicago in 2011, surviving blowing a 3 game lead to win on an overtime winner in game 7, 4 games to 3.

Adding fuel to this rivalry were some comments made by Chicago’s Dave Bolland on a local radio station a couple years ago regarding the Canucks star twin forwards, Daniel and Henrik Sedin and the city of Vancouver itself;

“[The Sedin twins will] never become ‘Hawks,” Bolland said. “I don’t think we’d let them on our team. That’d probably be one thing. We’d be sure not to let them on our team. And, yeah, they probably still would be sisters. I think they might sleep in, like, bunk beds. The older one has the bottom one, the younger one’s got the top.

“There’s a lot of weirdos [in Vancouver]. You don’t want to be out there too long.”

To be fair, Vancouver does have a lot of weirdos, having lived there myself for five years. With both teams consistently in the top 5 of league standings over the last half-decade, the passion and hatred that fuels this rivalry make it hard to beat.

Chances Of It Happening In 2013 - 90%

Both these teams are tops in their conference and are considered Cup favourites again. An anomaly last year led to both teams being defeated by far weaker (on paper) opponents, denying hard-core fans a 4th straight year of amazing intense hockey. I don’t see that happening again. Chicago has been amazing this year, going the first half undefeated over 24 games. Vancouver has 2 arguably all-star goalies on their roster to lean on if either one goes south. However, so does Chicago.

If you only pick one series to watch, this is it. If either team is able to get out of this series with relatively few injuries, look for the eventual Stanley Cup winner

5 of 82 posts McDavid vs Eichel

GAME 5(s)

McDavid vs. Calgary

Headline; McDavid Shines as Oilers Top Flames

Between The Lines Summary; McDavid FINALLY gets some points. Watch out, Gretzky

The Stat Facts;

2 goal, 1 assists. 4 shots

W 5-2
Year To Date 3 G 1 A

Eichel vs. Tampa Bay

Headline: Bishop, Killhorn lead Lightning past Sabres
Between the Lines Summary; Eichel, a rookie, took a right circle shot which Bishop saved.
The Stats Facts:

0 goal, 0 assists, 4 shots

L 2-1
Year to Date 2 G 0 A

Winner; McDavid finally scores 3 points in a game.   

Season Record 

                               W L    T

Team Eichel          2    1     2

Team McDavid     1    1     2

4 of 82 Posts McDavid vs Eichel

GAME 4(s)

McDavid vs. St. Louis

Headline; NHL life ‘not going to get any easier’ for Connor McDavid

Between The Lines Summary; He's a boy playing with the Big Boys Now. Edmonton still sucks.

The Stat Facts;

0 goal, 0 assists.  shots

L 4-2
Year To Date 1 G 0 A

Eichel vs. Florida

Headline: Jagr continues hot start to lead Panthers over Sabres
Between the Lines Summary; Jack 'Rodney Dangerfield' Eichel gets one line at the bottom of the article. McDavid gets a whole fan blog for the entire year. 

The Stats Facts:

0 goal, 0 assists, 2 shots

L 3-2
Year to Date 2 G 0 A

Winner; Eichel. based on the fact it seems he actually touched the puck 2x in his game.  

Season Record 

                               W L    T

Team Eichel          2    0     2

Team McDavid     0    1     2

3 of 82 Posts McDavid vs. Eichel

GAME 3

McDavid vs. Dallas

Headline; Connor McDavid, Oilers centre, scores 1st NHL Goal

Between The Lines Summary; Oh thank God, he finally scored. CBC readers don't know who Connor McDavid plays for. 

The Stat Facts;

1 goal, 0 assists. 3 shots

L 4-2
Year To Date 1 G 0 A

Eichel vs. Tampa Bay

Headline: Eichel's impressive snipe worth another look
Between the Lines Summary; We expected these kind of goals from McDavid. 

The Stats Facts:

1 goal, 0 assists, 2 shots

W 4-2
Year to Date 2 G 0 A

Winner; Tie

Season Record 

                               W L    T

Team Eichel          1    0     2

Team McDavid     0    1     2

2 of 82 Posts: McDavid v Eichel

GAME

McDavid vs. Nashville

Headline; It's Going to Take Some Time For McDavid to Adjust to NHL

Between The Lines Summary; Maybe everybody should lower their expectations. He's 18.

The Stat Facts;

0 goals, 0 assists. 2 shots

L 2-0

Eichel vs. Tampa Bay

Headline: Sabre's Eichel Impresses Lightning
Between the Lines Summary; Nobody else is impressed anymore. No headline on Sportsnet or tsn

The Stats Facts:

0 goals, 0 assists, 1 shots

L 4-1

Winner; Tie

Season Record 

                               W L    T

Team Eichel          1   0     1

Team McDavid     0   1     1

1 of 82 Posts: McDavid v Eichel

Ali vs. Frazier. Gretzky vs. Lemieux. Barkley vs. NBA's Buffet Tables. And now Jack Eichel vs Connor McDavid.

Unless you live in a box with no Internet or have no interest in hockey, much like I have no interest in the rankings of European Union Football Clubs, you've heard so much about Connor McDavid over the last year, you feel like a bit of a creeper, wondering why so many grown men are talking about this young man who can not yet legally drink a beer. You probably cringe at the words 'generational talent' and laughed at the guy in your hockey pool who picked him as his first round pick. Then there's this Jack Eichel guy, the 2nd prize at the NHL Prom. Wait? He's another 'generational talent'? He's born American? The propaganda writes iself. Let the battle begin!!!

and Jack Eichel.