Captain Blye and the Rabbi: Episodes 8 and 9

Sorry for the lack of updates on this space. We've been a little busy here at Unfinished Business with a trip to Las Vegas, Christmas and now New Year's Eve. But, The Rabbi and I were able to record two shows over the last couple weeks.

In Episode 8, we talked about three teams heading in different directions after their starts. The Leafs had improved, the Senators were odd and the Flyers were in a full tailspin. Ethan and I closed with a discussion of the almost sixth sense shared by identical twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin and how Daniel's return from injury prompted but Henrik and the Vancouver Canucks to recover the form that many had expected from them this season.

In Episode 9, we delved into my trip to Vegas - specifically the subject of hockey gambling. Where to play, where not to play and how you the Canadian Hockey fan can beat the house. In addition, we chatted on yesterday's Canadian Olympic roster announcement discussing who they got right, who Stevie Y got wrong and who might have been slighted. Finally, the two of us got into the Canadian phenomenon that is the World Junior Hockey Championship. Sure, we love it in Canada but why doesn't the rest of the world get into it like we do?

Check them both out.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

So let me get this straight:
The Leafs can go into the Bell Centre two nights before the Centennial and spank the Habs 3-0 (with Joey MacDonald in gaol for the final two periods). Then the Canadiens have the single biggest and most lavish ceremony I've ever seen at an NHL rink and with the legends of the team (and the game) watching, they destroy the Bruins 5-1. And finally, the Leafs go into Boston were Phil Kessel used to ply his trade and get rooked 7-2 to by the Bruins. Have I got it right? None of these teams seem to be able to win the Northeast division.

Meanwhile, the Centennial Celebration on Friday was nothing short of spectacular culminating with Gordie Howe introducing Jean Beliveau and the Canadiens paying homage to its two oldest living players (Elmer Lach and Emile Bouchard) by retiring their numbers 16 and 3 - although 16 had been retired for 34 years after they retired it for Henri Richard.

And of course the following texting session went on around 9:30 on Friday night

theactivestick: Oh guess where I am?
Unfinished Business: Bell Centre?
theactivestick: Yes!

Sufficed to say, theactivestick had a great time on Friday. I just enjoyed watching it for the pomp and circumstance. And Leafs Nation collectively puked in its mouth all weekend.

Captain Blye and the Rabbi: Episode 7

Welcome back to the show. Sorry about the layoff, but yours truly was off in Calgary last week for the Grey Cup. Full post on that still to come. But on to the show.

We went a little Habs crazy this week. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens, this week's show looks back at the history of Les Glorieux. We highlight the triumphs and the tragedies over the past 100 years. The 24 Cups, the 42 Hall of Famers are covered but also in this show are the struggles of the first few seasons, the team's almost failure during the Depression and of course how the team has struggled since 1993.

Happy Birthday Les Canadiens.

Check it out.