NHLwithdrawal: The first step...

...is admitting you have a problem.

So there's a fun little hashtag some of we hockey fans use on twitter - NHLWithdrawal - whenever there's no hockey on TV, we laugh and talk about the stupid/silly things we do to combat lack of our favorite sporting pastime.

I guess at this point it should technically be NHLaddiction - I have it, I have a lot of it, but I only want more more MORE. It's a selfish addiction, one that is rather cruel to fans of any team besides the Still-In-It-Eight (but hey, those fans still get hockey on their TVs, so I guess that's still okay!)

I think the first time it really hit me that HEY, I DON'T WANT HOCKEY TO END was last night, after that overtime Bruins loss. The buzz of nervous energy that comes from waiting for OT to start, the crush of defeat (or extreme high of a win), the thrill of just watching a Sweet Playoff Game - it's all good until the other team goes up in the series. Then, fear kicks in. Am I going to have to sink to the level of Islanders, Predators, and Senators fans - fans with teams no longer playing for the season, who have to muster the effort to care for a second-love team (or maybe not even, since both of my second teams are both being just as faily as the Bruins)? Will Rangers and Sharks fans laugh at us, or will they welcome us into the fold of fans of playoff-ejected teams? Is it a brotherhood of mourning, out there, or is it a harsh world of angry hockey fans, unwilling to sympathize with those who made it a little bit further this year?

I'm scared, Hockey Nation. Hold me.

Granted, last night was only game three. However, last night marked a scary turning point in the Bruins' season. The B's have been ahead for all of 2009. They haven't chased anyone in the standings since 2008. Now they're down a game in the series against the Whalercanes.

They weren't hungry, last night. Maybe this is what my team needed - a kick in the pants. Get hungry, Bruins. Take a note from those Meat Hats that good old Marco Sturm made for you. I'm sure the Good German won't be too happy if you sad-sack another game like you did last night.

Game specifics, in +/- form:
- Marc Savard's terrible penalties NEED TO STOP. When he came to Boston, that was one of the negative things about him that everyone spoke about. It looked like he'd learned his lesson, but echoes of Savvy Circa 2006 rang around the RBC Center last night. Get out of your time machine, Marc. It's 2009, you KNOW this stuff.
- Zdeno Chara needs a Meat Hat. He hasn't been hungry all series. Yeah, it was nice to see him staple StaalClone1, but...not enough.
+ Tim Thomas is standing on his head, still. One thing about this playoffs round - it is an Ultimate Goalie Showdown. (on that note, I am sort of DYING to see a Varly vs. Timmy showdown. MAKE IT HAPPEN, NHL. And by NHL I mean Bruins and Capitals players/coaches, not referees/administration, thanks.)
-Shots on goal. Thomas' save percentage was STILL higher than Cam Ward's, yesterday; Timmy was .926 to Ward's .913. The Bruins took 23 shots. THAT IS HEINOUSLY LOW, dudes. The Whalercanes had 41 shots on goal. If the B's improve one aspect of their game, it has to be taking more shots - which means getting the puck CLEANLY closer to Ward's end of the ice.

Friday. Meat Hats. It's on.

For tonight, go Blackhawks! (Okay, yes, I admit - I have a problem.)