We learned something over the weekend... there's hockey, and then there's ECHL hockey. Since our Hershey Bears are on a nine-game road trip, we decided to traipse over to Reading to check out the Reading Royals, the Los Angeles Kings' ECHL affiliate, for two games.

Saturday night's game took place against the Johnstown Chiefs (made famous in Slapshot). This is clearly a heated rivalry, which is usually a good thing - except in this case, the players were so busy hitting and checking that they forgot that the point of hockey is to play the puck. Sunday's game against the Dayton Bombers actually strongly resembled hockey and was much easier to watch. It was an adventure, but we decided that we vastly prefer AHL and NHL hockey.

Speaking of the Hershey Bears (and let it be stated for the record that my original suggestion for the weekend was a quick trip up to Toronto to see them play the Marlies), what the heck has happened? A great start to their road trip last week with a defeat of the Moose, then three consecutive losses (Moose, Bulldogs, Marlies). If the Bears truly want to make the playoffs, they desperately need a push through the remaining games on their road trip. I figure that they know this, but it nevertheless bears repeating.

Because of some cancellations in my schedule, I was able to catch nearly all of the Capitals' blowout of the Bruins. All I can say is, if the Caps put this much fire, energy, and consistency into every game, they have an excellent shot at the playoffs. I also hope that Huet's back spasms don't grow into something worse.