z_The Hockey Page - Toronto Star

"An issue"

It's 'fessin' up time: For once, this had nothing to do with technical difficulties at my end. Or a stomach bug.
Honest, Mr. Denial -- the computer ate my homework.

Actually, Typepad did. At around 4 a.m. Friday morning Toronto time -- right about the time I turned the computer on, actually, and yes, it's early, but I do it all for you -- it all went kablooey, and then came the message.

"During routine maintenance of our network and storage systems last night, we experienced an issue with our primary disk system where data from published blogs are stored."

That's pretty technical stuff, I know. "An issue" -- that's weighty. The upshot is we lost a day. There goes the Cal Ripken streak, although I'm hoping the Hall of Fame committee will accept this in lieu when it comes time.
Here's the good news: we'll be back on Monday. I hope. More good news: boy blogger Spencer is running the show. Best of all: I'll be on holidays, so I'd like to wish you all the best of the Christmas and New Year's, if I'm allowed.

Oh, but you didn't think you could leave without at least a link, did you? No such luck:

From the good (and twisted) people at Divealanche, some last-minute gift ideas for the Forsberg floppa on your list.

See you in '06. I hope.
(C.Y.)

All this, and Theo Fleury too

A light links-oriented filing today, as we tape our ankles for tonight's live text commentary of Leafs at Thrashers -- and if you'd like to get in on that, and help me stagger through wittily assemble the preamble with some of your thoughts, predictions, and streams of consciousness, by all means the comments are open below (afraid this is the first regular-season broadcast for Leafs on Leafs TV, and for more on that, Chris Zelkovich takes a profiling look here):

This just in ... yet another primer on the new rules.

Let's start off with a couple of our favourite blogs:

Japers' Rink takes a biting look at the state of rivalries in this postmodern NHL (no more of this "new NHL" nonsense here, sir!) and finds himself pining for "something similar to the old playoff format" (JP, I remember the Wales vs. the Campbells. I wore the bell-bottoms and the platforms. I am not going back there.)

And Jes Golbez has a good catch on Patrick Sharp, now wearing a -- wait for it -- visor. And here's an afternoon addition from Chris Corrigan of the excellent Hockey Pundits -- why visors matter from a fan's perspective.

From the treeware people:

Damien Cox gives us your threatened, your overworked, your bullied -- awww, give it up for the lot of the goalie in the postmodern NHL.

Marius Czerkawski talks! (and no louder than he's played, at that).

Mats Sundin is healing, but it's a slow process (and Jes, have a lookee -- L.A. Kings voted against mandatory visors). Jason Allison, meantime, is not thrilled about his own start.

From the tonight's game file: Paul Hunter weighs in on the Thrashers, and the Sun has this one on Marion Hossa.

And here's a little something from an e-mail received yesterday:

"Giants & Theo Fleury go live on the Net

CP PHOTO

Theo Fleury, Canada's little big man.

For the first time this weekend the Coors Belfast Giants will broadcast live on the Internet full commentary on the Elite League clash with the Edinburgh Capitals. The game at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast will mark the debut of former NHL superstar Theo Fleury, as Canada's "little big man" officially becomes a Giant.

Calgary based software millionaire, Jim Yaworski, has inspired the initiative. He wants to make sure that all worldwide hockey fans can listen to the latest chapter in Fleury's career and hear the Giants light up the Elite League.

You will be able to log on to the Giants Web site www.belfastgiants.com and go to the live commentary box. Click on then sit back and enjoy the action."

Belfast-Edinburgh at the Odyssey, and Fleury in the lineup. Does it get any better? It's audio only, at 6:55 p.m. GMT, or 1:55 pm in Toronto. (C.Y.)