Du kan vara min äppelkaka Henrik

Somehow, I had forgotten this little gem until I happened across it when looking for videos for the last post. This combines two of my favorite things, Henrik Lundqvist's pretty face and Martha Stewart in all her uptight glory.

I really can't put my finger on my favorite part. The audiences reaction once they realize what Lundqvist looks like, the awkward small talk, Martha being Martha, it's all so amazing.

Happy Valentines Day!

I think today is the perfect day to make my triumphant return to the world of blogging about how yumtastic goalies can be.

I also think the best way to make my triumphant return is to present all you lovely ladies with some delightful videos of goalies doing what they do best: getting hearts pumping before the game has even started.



I have no idea what I would do if the only thing separating me from a stretching goalie was some plexiglass and maybe half a foot.







Of course, I've saved the best for last.



I swear, Henrik Lundqvist could talk about the stock market and I would still be mesmerized.

ASG (All Star Goalies) !!!!

First, apologies for being so neglectful of my responsibilites duty to all women of the world on keeping up with the blogging here but I am back and excited to share with you some photographs/video from this little event the NHL puts on every year -the NHL All Star Game- this year held in my fair city! I wish I could show you some of my own pictures from the event but I was unable to sell my car, house, or soul for tickets so I'm hoping between my words and the pics from the pros, the story will tell itself! First off, can I just toot my own goalie lovin horn and say how proud, elated, jumping for joy I was that my goalie love Sens Avs St Louis goalie Brian Elliott was invited to the All Star Game?!!? There is a good chance I was more excited than he was upon hearing this news. So he in all his handsome sweatered glory:



Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas, Carey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, and Jimmy Howard came to town to spend the weekend checking out my city! Three of my goalie crushes all in one place...trouble....two of them are in this picture...anyone else wish they were in the middle of this goalie foursome?


I'm easily distracted which probably explains why I have watched this about one two hundred times

The more videos I see the more it's obvious goalies are not as weird different as players will tell you! In fact they look like a lot of fun don't they? 

I had originally intended on posting this all in one post focusing on the ASG but there is just too much good stuff to put all in one post (good news because I still must do one devoted to Carey "Could I Be Any More Handsome" Price and one to Jonathan "You wanna pinch my cheeks don't you" Quick) and this one seems to be looking more and more like a Brian Elliott love in (so intentional) so before I head off to goalie dream land let me share with you a few more snaps from the weekend



Don't get to see them sans mask and goalie pads very often so this is a little treat no?


Before I leave you behind...let me leave you with a photo of a very fine behind....

The Luck of the Irish

I've been extraordinarily absent of late and send my sincere apologies. On the plus side we've added some terrific new ladies to the G5H family.

To make up for my absence I've decided to bring you someone I find completely shiver inducing.

His name is Patrick Killeen. They call him Killer and for good reason. He is big, bendy and deliciously aggressive.

All of this documented amazingness has been provided courtesy of the lovely Swamphockey. I close with this warmup video.

YouTube Tuesday: La Fleur de Mon Cœur

We've done posts on Marc-Andre Fleury before, but let's be honest, he's just too fantastic to only do one post on him. On top of him being awesome, is my excitement at getting to see him when I make the haul up to Tampa Thursday to see him. SQUEEEEE!



Consider this a warm-up for hump day people. Tomorrow I have a post on the newest target of my goalie love and he is pure adorkable.

Reasons To Get To Your Seats Early

Sure you want to avoid the rush at the parking lot, get in line first at the concession stands, take your jacket off, get settled in but this is the reason I always make sure to get to my seats early...You don't see much in the first 20 seconds but trust me, you'll want to hang around til about the 22 second mark...this is Semyon Varlamov of the Washington Caps settling in for another day at the office....

Don't always count on seeing that during warm ups (although it is always a nice way to start the game off if you do) but who doesn't love the variety of the "goalie warm up". No two masked men do the same thing but rumor has it, their routine, uniquely their own, is the same day in and day out.  A ritual if you will and we're all invited to watch! A close second to bearing witness to any man that can do the splits is watching them chalk the crease. For those who don't know, exhibit A...chalking the crease...brought to you by Caps Prospect and Hersey Bears netminder Braden Holtby

And when the goalie warm up ends with Brian Elliott my future husband doing this

You too may be finding you need a bit of H20 to cool yourself off rehydrate. And just in case you were going to get up to use the ladies room, grab a drink, or stretch yourself you may want to stick around for the start of the 2nd and 3rd periods or you may miss Neuvirth doing this

Or  Bryan Pitton doing this

What have we learned today? Sure there is a ton of action during three periods of hockey, but if it's the goalies that hold a special place in your inappropriate "I hope nobody can see what I am currently thinking" daydreams heart, the real action happens before the game /period even begins!

We're Back...and We Brought a Friend

As the kids go back to school and summer comes to an end it's time to get back into the swing of things. I was recently surfing through our Twitter feed when I discovered a gem of a lady. Her name is Rachel Lindstrand and she writes a charming blog entitled huggingthepost56.

Her posts explore her life, love and happiness in the crazy world of professional hockey. Her latest post inspired (full paragraph 22) me and so I pass that inspiration on to you.

Now most of the time I'm unaware of goalies significant people so we unashamedly ogle. This time I'm going for mostly classy and we mean no disrespect to either party.

We're simply about admiration, Rachel and Mike are both cute as a button.

Photo courtesy of 560XLS

See the story behind this game on Rachel's blog.

Dishy Goalie Monday-Henrik Lundqvist

I know it's been awhile, but we're back with DGM. Seeing as how the 2010-2011 hockey season is at a close I was looking for inspiration, I did what most modern writers do when they're looking for inspiration... I googled. I'm not ashamed to say that I googled "shirtless hockey goalie" because you would too (or already have).

The result of my search is the one and only Henrik Lundqvist. Now I will fully admit that I have respected Mr. Lundqvist's skills in net for quite awhile, but before today I never paid attention to his engaging smile or powerful eyes. Boy was I missing out.

Now I think that the pictures mostly speak for themselves....

Starring Pekka Rinne as Mr. Darcy

As summer approaches I've made a pact with myself to expand my mind and not my waist line. With that goal I've begun reading the complete works of Jane Austen (in between hockey games).

Pride and Prejudice got the honour of being the first and with it Mr. Darcy makes an appearance. No, he isn't really named Mr. Darcy. No, I'm not Elizabeth Bennet. No we don't hate each other then fall in love. In fact he doesn't know I exist (though until recently I didn't know he existed either).

Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators is one attractive man. He came to my notice during this years playoff run (lord I've been missing out).

So why Mr. Darcy...

Pekka Rinne is honourable. He stood on his head for his team, made some incredible saves, and remained poised throughout the high pressure playoff atmosphere.

Dishy Goalie Monday-Michael Leighton

Pokechick gleefully pointed out that we here at G5H shun the Philadelphia Flyers and all of their affiliates. It's true. For the most part I can't stand the Flyers, but their is something about a goalie in orange pads that warms my heart (see Zane Kalemba).

So without further ado, this weeks DGM is......... Michael Leighton.

Leighton was not on the casual hockey fans radar until the 2009-2010 playoffs where Leighton proved clutch for the Flyers.

This year he has spent most of the regular season playing in the AHL for the Adirondack Phantoms. Over 30 games with the Phantoms Leighton posted a respectable 2.22 GAA and a .926 SV% and looked mighty fine doing it.

Leighton has once again joined the Philadelphia Flyers for a playoff run.

Is there anything sexier?

Friday Quickie

He's like a fine glass of wine people.



A veeeerrry fine glass of wine.

Dishy Goalie Monday- Michal Neuvirth

Warning: I LOVE Michal Neuvirth

Stanley Cup Playoff's are in full swing and as we watch the first-round match ups, it comes as no surprise that rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth has been outstanding.

The 23-year-old Czech native has been a work horse for the Washington Capitals this season. While many were debating which goaltender would start for the Caps, there was little question in my mind, Neuvith has the net.

Through his first three playoff appearances, Neuvirth stats are spectacular, 1.22 GAA with a .951 SV% and a shutout.

None too shabby for a rookie goaltender in his first full season in the NHL. The former Hershey Bear is ranked first among Rookie goaltenders in the playoffs.

Neuvy played in 48 games this season, winning 27 of them.

While Semyon Varlamov struggled with injury, Neuvirth shined....

and stretched.....

and stretched a teensy bit more.

While I can't (won't) speculate on the outcome of the playoffs, I can say that I thoroughly enjoy watching Neuvirth in net and that's enough of a reason to wish for a long run for the Capitals.

Dishy Goalie Monday- Jose Theodore

Playoffs are right around the corner and this week we're featuring a none playoff contender, who nonetheless greatly impacted the playoffs.

Jose Theodore is a goaltender for the Minnesota Wild. His 26 save effort against Dallas on April 10, 2011 granted the 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion, Chicago Blackhawks a playoff berth.

Theodore is a NHL veteran having played for the Canadiens, Avalanche, Capitals, and most recently the Wild. His indomitable spirit is truly inspiring.

Jose spent two seasons with the Washington Capitals before finding a home in Minnesota, splitting ice time with Niklas Backstrom.

Alot has been written about Jose Theodore. The tragedy he faced with the death of his infant son, being teamless at the end of summer 2010, and his time in Montreal.

Me, well I just want to write about his eyes.

The seriousness of his gaze is mesmerizing.

The Minnesota Wild signed Jose Theodore at the last minute and the decision was sound. While the team is in flux, one thing is for certain, the former Vezina winner has still got it.

Friday Quickie

Yeah, my NHL team's goalie can beat up your NHL team's goalie.



  Plus, he's easy on the eyes and pretty awesome. Oh yes he is.

Friday Quickie

Saw the love of my goalie life last night, and it was good.

Oh yeah, MAF. *unintelligible happy noises*. Yup. It. Was. Good.

Dishy Goalie Monday- Bryan Pitton

DGM is usually based on a feeling, some might call it intuition, I call it attraction. This week is special and features a repeat guest, Bryan Pitton. You might remember him from PokeChicks post "Pitton Goes Pipe-to-Pipe".

Pitton was brought to our attention by @msconduct10. He is a 23 year old prospect for the Edmonton Oilers and currently plays for the Oklahoma City Barons. Pitton has also played this season with G5H alum, Zane Kalemba.

Now I know you're all waiting for the photos, but we like to get to know our boys a little before we ogle them shamelessly. So here is 5 little tidbits on the admirable Mr. Pitton.

1. When assigned to the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, Bryan plays alongside his older brother Jason.
2. He is from Mississauga, Ontario (allegedly the current home of Don Cherry).
3. Was drafted in the 5th round #133 overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.
4. He stands 6'2" and weighs in at 176 lbs. He has a wiry strength about him.
5. He has dreamy bedroom eyes.

Refreshing.

Wait the best part is right around the corner (or down the page).

With moves like these, I'd love to see a goalie dance off with @Geffman47.

*In game photos and videos provided courtesy of @MsConduct10.

Anton Khudobin: Мило, как кнопка

If Google translate can be trusted, that means cute as a button.



I have to admit that I'm aware our poor coverage of AHL goalies is an injustice to all our loyal readers. To make it up to you, I will share with a goalie who is hands down the most adorable thing to ever step on the ice.



This is Anton Khudobin. He's from Kazakhstan. He's also so cute it hurts your teeth.



He was given the nickname Dimples by his adoring fans in Houston. This interview with him might give you a hint as to how he earned it.



Did I mention he gives the most wonderful interviews ever? 


(The previous three photos, and the interview are courtesy of Sarah C. from Something's Bruin)

You may remember him from earlier in the season when, during a call-up, he had a few starts for the Minnesota Wild. During one of those games he was able to shut-out some team called the Vancouver Canucks.

I can't be the only one to have a "OMG, must cuddle" reaction to this picture (I do forget who sent it to me though, sorry).

For some silly reason the Minnesota Wild chose to send him to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline. Because an AHL goalie on a call-up shutting out the Canucks is no big deal I guess. This ended up benefiting not just Khudobin, but the Providence Bruins as well. He reacted to the new atmosphere by playing some of his best game all season going 5-1-1.

Both of these photos are courtesy of @unsportscomments

His style is decidedly unique. One of the best descriptions I've ever heard described him as a whirling dervish. Having seen him in action several times over the last few years I couldn't agree more. He can give you palpitations with his play, but honestly, it's part of his charm and it works.

Friday Quickie

MUST... RESIST... URGE... TO... BECOME...BLACKHAWKS... FAN. Oh lord, who am I kidding? Look at him.

Photo courtesy of Hockey Broad, who is supremely evil for tempting me to the dark-side.

My UntoWARD Thoughts

Untoward (adj): Not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society.

Yup. No better way to describe how I feel about Cam Ward.




Neck scruff? Yes please.



Amazing mask? Ohhhh yeeeaaahh.



Adorable smile? Heck yes.



Piercing eyes? I'll take 'em.


Yup, Cam Ward is all around delicious. You really can't blame me though. He leads the league in games played and was named one of this weeks three stars. How can you not love him?


And, we can't forget his penchant for amazing saves either.



All photos are courtesy of the magnificent Hockey Broad, please check out her awesome Flickr stream. Alos, check out her blog for an interview with perennial G5H favorite Bobby Goepfert.