Skinner the Cats

Unveiled Thursday, March 21, possibly my last game of the season unless the Canes make the playoffs. I made this sign about 45 minutes before faceoff with an idea that surfaced about an hour prior. It's hard to think of new signs for opponents we play so often. I guess I work well under pressure. Gotta love a sign that relates not only to the opponent team, the Florida Panthers, but also to a Canes player, Jeff Skinner.

There are still so many other deserving players I'd like to honor with a sign. Your day will come! But it woulda helped if mom and dad had given you a punnier name.

Lose the Blues

Thanks to the fan behind me who snapped this picture for me at the game and emailed it to me, since I had left my camera phone in the car. The Canes did, in fact, put the lose in the St. Louis Blues Thursday night, shutting them out 0-2.

Our Staal Has the Goods

Made this just before the Canes v. New York Rangers game on March 1, 2012. Canes player Eric Staal has a brother, Marc Staal, who plays for the Rangers, and another, Jordan Staal, who plays for the Penguins. Hence the need to differentiate that it's our Staal who has the goods.

I don't know what I'll do if and when baby brother Jared Staal, who currently plays for the Charlotte Checkers, gets called up to play with Eric on the same team. I'm sure I'll think of something.

Buffalo Bitter

I'll drink to that!

Jerkyness

I think this sign is pretty self-evident.

Return of the Lake Effect

That Lake Effect causes all sorts of problems! I held off on holding up this sign too much during tonight's game because the level of douchebaggery from the Sabres fans was atypically low, comparatively speaking. I did hear that some got thrown out of the game, and I did see one giving the finger to a Canes fan a couple sections over.

One of the Barfalo fans had a sign that said, "CAM SAYS OOPS!" which I actually thought was cute.

By way of explanation, Buffalo has never won the Stanley Cup (or any other major league sports championship). It's anyone's guess whether this fact or the Lake Effect causes more bitterness.

Discount Pizza

Sometimes local businesses partner with the Canes to offer promotional discounts and freebies under certain circumstances. For example, several seasons ago, if the Canes scored a goal in the last minute of the first period, all fans in attendance could get a free gallon of windshield washer fluid by presenting their tickets at, I want to say, Advance Auto Parts. Last year, and I think this year, if the Canes score five goals in a game, anyone who asks can get free queso at local Moe's restaurants the next day.

New this year is the offer of a 50% discount on online orders from Papa John's the day after a Canes win. The offer is good for online orders in North and South Carolina and Georgia, with the secret code "CANIAC." Therefore, "I want discount pizza" means I want the Canes to win.

I didn't realize I hadn't blogged this sign yet and forgot to take a picture at the arena. It appeared on the Jumbotron during the first period tonight, and I got my wish.

I don't know how long this promotion will be in effect and how long this sign will make sense. But to this day, my husband is still known to yell, "I WANT FREE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID!" after the one-minute warning in the first period.