SB Nation User Blog: Mr. K.

Mr. K. as a kid, with Sandis Ozolinsh

Mr. K. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:16:06 -0000

I drove to my parents' house in order to carpool to my grandma's, and guess what I find on the counter = this photo of Sandish Ozolinsh, my little brother, and yours truly. Circa 1992-93.

While this should help my street cred, I have to admit = I have literally zero recollection of this happening.

Neither would Sandis, I imagine...

Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:40:12 -0000

Can ~~Gary Bettman~~ you believe it?

The Penguins have tied the series yet again, and the series returns to the Joe Louis Arena for one of the most exciting things in hockey - a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

What could more exciting, you ask? Game 7 in overtime.

But I'm getting ahead of myself - the game is Friday, which gives us 72 hours to salivate and battle hypertension while mulling over hypothetical scenarios.

In the comments, please place your final vote BEFORE THE GAME STARTS as to who you think will win the Conn Smythe. Will it be Evgeni Malkin, win or lose? One of the Wangs?

And of course, there's our standard poll (sorry to beat this issue to death) =

Poll

Will Marian Hossa hoist the Mug?

Yeah...

13 votes

BWAHAHAHA!!!! NO!!!!!!!! KARMA'S A BITCH!!!!!

43 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:16:52 -0000

Yeah, this thread is going up almost 48 hours ahead of time - I'm getting ready to leave on my summer trip, and I don't want to forget about this in the midst of my personal craziness.

Also, this could be the final game of the season. While I certainly hope that it's not, this could be the last gameday thread until September (preseason). It's been great chatting with you all, and though I won't be around this summer (unless I log in from Mother Russia), Plank and TCY will undoubtedly have you happy and well fed with Sharks roster shakeup news and discussion.

I hope this "goodbye for the summer" of sorts is premature (i.e. - GAME 7, PLEASE) - but given how Detroit slaughtered the Penguins in Game 5, I'm beginning to feel pessimism.

All the same - GO PENS.

Poll

Is the Stanley Cup going to be hoisted by Detroit, in Pittsburgh, for the second year in a row?

Yes

21 votes

NO!!!

21 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 Open Thread, plus points leaders

Mr. K. — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:07:20 -0000

Amazingly, the Stanley Cup will not be in the house tonight - and for that, we (except ang6666 who sold her soul to the Winged Wheel) are grateful.

Keys for a Pittsburgh win? In no particular order = the Penguins need to continue to exploit Detroit's weaknesses with special teams. Marc-Andre Fleury needs to continue to play like Chris Osgood played in the first two games. Marian Hossa needs to be reminded of the bad karma, because I guarantee you the thought has crossed his mind since Game 4 ended. Pittsburgh needs to win one away from home, because if the home team keeps winning, it's Wings in 7.

Game 6 will, of course, be an elimination game, and the Stanley Cup WILL be in the Mellon Arena on Tuesday. The team that faces elimination will be decided tonight. GO PENS.

POINTS DURING THE FIRST FOUR GAMES OF THE FINALS

Detroit

Justin Abdelkader = 2 goals, 0 assists
Dan Cleary = 0 goals, 0 assists
Jonathan Ericsson = 1 goal, 0 assists
Valtteri Filppula = 1 goal, 0 assists
Johan Franzen = 2 goals, 1 assist
Darren Helm = 1 goal, 1 assist
Tomas Holmstrom = 0 goals, 2 assists
Marian Hossa = 0 goals, 1 assist
Jiri Hudler = 0 goals, 1 assist
Niklas Kronwall = 0 goals, 1 assist
Brett Lebda = 0 goals, 0 assists
Ville Leino = 0 goals, 2 assists
Nicklas Lidstrom = 0 goals, 0 assists
Kirk Maltby = 0 goals, 0 assists
Brian Rafalski = 0 goals, 2 assists
Mikael Samuelsson = 0 goals, 0 assists
Brad Stuart = 2 goals, 0 assists
Henrik Zetterberg = 1 goal, 3 assists

Pittsburgh

Craig Adams = 0 goals, 0 assists
Philippe Boucher = 0 goals, 0 assists
Matt Cooke = 0 goals, 0 assists
Sidney Crosby = 1 goal, 2 assists
Mark Eaton = 0 goals, 1 assist
Ruslan Fedotenko = 1 goal, 1 assist
Hal Gill = 0 goals, 0 assists
Sergei Gonchar = 1 goal, 1 assist
Bill Guerin = 0 goals, 1 assist
Tyler Kennedy = 1 goal, 0 assists
Chris Kunitz = 0 goals, 1 assist
Kris Letang = 1 goal, 2 assists
Evgeni Malkin = 2 goals, 5 assists
Brooks Orpik = 0 goals, 0 assists
Miroslav Satan = 0 goals, 0 assists
Rob Scuderi = 0 goals, 0 assists
Jordan Staal = 1 goal, 1 assist
Max Talbot = 2 goals, 1 assist

POINTS LEADERS

Evgeni Malkin, 7 points
Henrik Zetterberg, 4 points
Johan Franzen, 3 points
Sidney Crosby, 3 points
Kris Letang, 3 points
Max Talbot, 3 points

Poll

Which team will face elimination in Game 6? (i.e. - the opposite of who wins tonight)

Detroit

10 votes

Pittsburgh

11 votes

21 votes | Poll has closed

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:52:23 -0000

Destiny awaits...

Poll

What shall it be?

3-1

21 votes

2-2

26 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:52:46 -0000

via graydarka.com (that's CTGray's artwork, for ya!)

You know what to do.... does Pittsburgh?

Poll

So, what will it be after tonight?

2-1

19 votes

3-0

8 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:39:58 -0000

Hmmm... I dropped the ball on the fanpost for Game 1. Much like the Penguins with their power plays...

Game 2 is at 5pm PST.

Poll

Will Pittsburgh tie it today?

Yes

15 votes

No

14 votes

29 votes | Poll has closed

WCF Game 5 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:03:01 -0000

Onward to Pittsburgh...

Poll

Handshakes tonight?

Yes

11 votes

No!!!!

10 votes

21 votes | Poll has closed

ECF Game 4 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:58:30 -0000

Pittsburgh is trying to keep this brief - and so will I. Game time 4:30pm PST.

Poll

Will Pittsburgh sweep tonight?

Yes

11 votes

No

4 votes

15 votes | Poll has closed

WCF Game 4 Open Thread

Mr. K. — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:54:02 -0000

Detroit doesn't want this series to return to Chicago for Game 6 - I'm pretty sure we all feel otherwise. Game time at NOON PST.

Poll

Will Chicago tie it today?

Yes

13 votes

No

6 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed