A belated good morning, Snakes fans. So sorry I didn't post last night. My son was ill after the game. He may be 30 years old, but when he's sick, he wants his mom. :) He's fine now and off to the movies with his dad, so...

The post-mortem from last night:

First of all, the news isn't good about Sam Bowles. He was the miserable looking one wearing a suit instead of number 24 last night...UGH. It turns out that Sam will be out several weeks. He reaggravated (is that a word?) an earlier injury and has to have a procedure done on Monday. He looked pitiful, which I just hate. Maybe because I'm old and a mom, but I just hate it when they're bummed, as Sammy definitely was last night.

The good news is that this investment of more time and healing will pay off in the long run...playoff time!! Brad Prefontaine reminded me that number 30....Frankie "the Wall" Ouellette missed a whole month during the '98 championship run. He came back stronger and better than ever.

In the meantime, Daniel Amesbury took regular shifts last night. He did just fine...even scoring the lone Snakes goal!...but my bet is that Jerome will bring somebody in.

This team is just out of sync right now. As I told Ian Vigier earlier today, it happens to every team. Rather now, than in the playoffs! Nobody played his best the past two games. Even the hottest line on the team...Derek Pallardy-Orrin Hergott-Greg Beller...didn't complete the passes we're accustomed to seeing.

The second goal Ian let in was kind of symbolic of the whole night's performance. Close...but no cigar. :( Jerome said if Ian doesn't make the play at all, the puck sails over the net. I likened it to an outfielder who doesn't complete the catch. He doesn't look the ball into his glove, but looks up to check the runner, etc. I asked Ian if he heard me squeal. He didn't...but I did.

The penalty situation was ridiculous. I still can't believe that he called a slashing penalty on Tom Maldonado in such a critical situation. Don't get me wrong...a slash is a slash. But when you've called 8 minor penalties in the first 58 minutes, you pick 2:19 left to call a slash??? Jerome said Tom probably did slash him, but his point is the same as mine....you call slashing at that moment? The most penalized team in the league gets two minors for the whole game? Wow.

Tonight I'm headed to the induction ceremony for Jerome into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame. So happy for him as this is a huge honor. For him (and me) to miss a game...you know it is! haha My pal Kevin Mills is sending me text updates on the game in Knoxville. :)

I truly expected 4 or 6 points this weekend and now the guys will have to travel to Knoxville to grab 2 to salvage the weekend. Not the easiest task to NEED a win on game three of three, but they can definitely do it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Stay tuned.