The games: Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta. Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants (WHL Playoffs, Round 2, Game 5).
Why I chose them: I'm still trying to figure out how Atlanta pushed Pittsburgh to an overtime last time. It's win or go home for Portland. If we lose tonight, we're done. Sadder, though, is that it would be the last WHL game for Chris Francis, Stefan Schneider and Eric Doyle.
This wasn't exactly what I had in mind/final score: Atlanta 1, Pittsburgh 0. Well, at least they didn't go to OT again. Portland had a 3-0 lead midway through the second, which we just lost in 1:37 during three consecutive power plays and three consecutive Vancouver goals. Oh wait...we're back thanks to a goal by resident playmaking genius Ryan Johansen...we're up 4 - 3 at the end of the second.
The rules: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 419, Ice Cleaning. Rule 420, Timing of Game. Rule 421, Overtime Period.
Pretty standard fare, except for this: 421, Overtime Period. In a game where a winner shall be declared, the game shall be prolonged by an actual time "Sudden Victory" overtime period. If no goal is scored, game winning shots shall apply. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if there's a winner declared, what do you need an overtime for? Perhaps its the European meaning of "shall be declared"... as in the winner "shall be declared" AFTER the overtime. Also, if no goal is scored, how can there be a game winning shot? I give up. There may be hope for the Winterhawks, but there is none for me.
Seriously, do we need a rule for this?: 419, Ice Cleaning. Referee has the authority to remove a build up of snow around the goal post or on the goal line near the net. And they look so authoritative when they're squatting down scraping ice into a pile, don't they?
Morals of the story:
The game: Getting to the top is easier than staying there. Atlanta has nothing to lose...so they didn't. Portland has everything to lose...so they aren't. So far.
Life: I now have a new way to de-stress at work when I'm taking more crap than I get paid for. I will just picture my higher-ups at my cube, removing a build up of lint and croissant fallout around the garbage can or near the line of "floor fur" around my file cabinet. Because after all, only they have the authority to do so.
Next up on 4/11: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 422, Time Out.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Never Mind the Injured Player, Get That Puck Back Over Here
The games: Chicago vs. Colorado (NHL). Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants (WHL Playoffs, Round 2, Game 4).
Why I chose them: Because apparently, there's baseball games on my Center Ice hockey channels, and Versus is showing the Chicago vs. Colorado game. Dude, get your baseball crap off my hockey channels. The regular NHL season isn't over yet.
I'm the most boring woman in Portland: I'm a little too excited about pan frying the trout fillet in my fridge. But in my defense, I just spent three weeks on anitbiotics, steroids or pain medication, and I couldn't and didn't eat any normal food. Unless you consider whole wheat crackers and Reese's peanut butter chocolate eggs to be normal food.
Coffee, tea, or Boston?: The Bruins are in the hunt for a playoff spot, but it depends on the Rangers and whether John Tortorella calls somebody's bluff and actually starts a fight.
As for the Winterhawks: Did I call it or what? Six is the magic number. The Central Scouting Report reveals that six Winterhawks are in contention for the draft: Ryan Johansen (jumped to 10 from 16), Nino Niederreiter (up to 12 from 14), Taylor Aronson (leads all WHL rookie defensemen in scoring), Brad Ross, Troy Rutkowski, and goalie Mac Carruth.
But let's reflect on last evening's festivities for a moment: If you're a dedicated Sidney Crosby hater, you might want to skip this section. Best move last night: In the last-ever regular season game in Mellon Arena, Sidney Crosby came within a hair's breadth of being the first player to reach 50 goals. Originally he had it, but it was overturned on a post-game review. He's also reached the 500 point mark and is in a serious hunt for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He's all of 22 and in less than one year's time, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup, carried the Olympic torch and scored the winning goal in the gold-medal Olympic game (after being notoriously excluded from the 2006 roster).
Friends, haters, fans and others....what had YOU achieved at 22? Myself personally, I can make no such claims. My big achievement at 22 was surviving finals week and successfully avoiding a hangover the morning after my college graduation. That being said... as for hockey's boy wonder, you don't have to like him, but at least have some respect for what he's done for the sport. We all benefit from it in the end. For example, more public interest in him means more hockey on Versus, TSN, CBC, NHL Network and NBC, where we can watch an actual sport, instead of flippin' baseball.
The rules: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 416, Injured Players. Rule 417, Injured Goalkeepers.
Proof that there's no crying in hockey, and pussies can go home: 416.1, If a player is injured and cannot continue to play or go to the bench, the play shall continue until his team has secured possession of the puck, unless any team is in an immediate scoring position. Never mind that open ice hit that gave a young, talented player a concussion that must be treated immediately or he'll suffer lifelong damage, get that puck back in our mitts.
Why I chose them: Because apparently, there's baseball games on my Center Ice hockey channels, and Versus is showing the Chicago vs. Colorado game. Dude, get your baseball crap off my hockey channels. The regular NHL season isn't over yet.
I'm the most boring woman in Portland: I'm a little too excited about pan frying the trout fillet in my fridge. But in my defense, I just spent three weeks on anitbiotics, steroids or pain medication, and I couldn't and didn't eat any normal food. Unless you consider whole wheat crackers and Reese's peanut butter chocolate eggs to be normal food.
Coffee, tea, or Boston?: The Bruins are in the hunt for a playoff spot, but it depends on the Rangers and whether John Tortorella calls somebody's bluff and actually starts a fight.
As for the Winterhawks: Did I call it or what? Six is the magic number. The Central Scouting Report reveals that six Winterhawks are in contention for the draft: Ryan Johansen (jumped to 10 from 16), Nino Niederreiter (up to 12 from 14), Taylor Aronson (leads all WHL rookie defensemen in scoring), Brad Ross, Troy Rutkowski, and goalie Mac Carruth.
But let's reflect on last evening's festivities for a moment: If you're a dedicated Sidney Crosby hater, you might want to skip this section. Best move last night: In the last-ever regular season game in Mellon Arena, Sidney Crosby came within a hair's breadth of being the first player to reach 50 goals. Originally he had it, but it was overturned on a post-game review. He's also reached the 500 point mark and is in a serious hunt for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He's all of 22 and in less than one year's time, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup, carried the Olympic torch and scored the winning goal in the gold-medal Olympic game (after being notoriously excluded from the 2006 roster).
Friends, haters, fans and others....what had YOU achieved at 22? Myself personally, I can make no such claims. My big achievement at 22 was surviving finals week and successfully avoiding a hangover the morning after my college graduation. That being said... as for hockey's boy wonder, you don't have to like him, but at least have some respect for what he's done for the sport. We all benefit from it in the end. For example, more public interest in him means more hockey on Versus, TSN, CBC, NHL Network and NBC, where we can watch an actual sport, instead of flippin' baseball.
The rules: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 416, Injured Players. Rule 417, Injured Goalkeepers.
Proof that there's no crying in hockey, and pussies can go home: 416.1, If a player is injured and cannot continue to play or go to the bench, the play shall continue until his team has secured possession of the puck, unless any team is in an immediate scoring position. Never mind that open ice hit that gave a young, talented player a concussion that must be treated immediately or he'll suffer lifelong damage, get that puck back in our mitts.
And if he does try to show what a man he is and come back into the game: If an injured player returns to play before his penalty has expired, the Referee shall assess additionally to this player a minor penalty.
And if you're a goalie, just shoot yourself, because nobody is going to have a shred of sympathy for your weenie little netminding ass: 417.1, If a goalkeeper sustains an injury or becomes ill, he shall be ready to resume play immediately or be replaced by a substitute goalkeeper.
Final scores: Chicago 4, Colorado 2 with 9 minutes to go in the third period. Vancouver 3, Winterhawks 2 about midway through the second. The quirk: Nearly all the goals in the WHL game have gone to video review.
Morals of the story:
The game: Hockey is not and will never be for pussies. My mom likes it because, and I quote, "if you don't like what some guy did, you just hit him." True, I did grow up in a desert, but clearly hockey is in the blood.
Life: What with swine flu and flesh-eating bacteria and the return of smallpox and such, most companies, stores, etc. have adopted an attitude and policies that basically amount to "don't bring your germs in here." After my recent barrage of illness, medication side effects and weird hand thingys, I'm on board with this philosophy. However, even in cootie-fearing corporate America, there are those employees who fancy themselves little office versions of hockey players, in that they come in sick, injured or carrying all manner of germs because they want to avoid using vacation time to be sick, or because they get paid by the hour and it's lost paycheck money.
Here's the deal: Being a tough guy is fine in hockey, because let's face it, who wants to watch a bunch of pussies faking an injury or illness? If I want to be bored, I'll watch major league baseball. But in life, if you think you're coming down with something catching, be a wuss and stay home. If you want to supersize the wussiness, check into an emergency room. I don't care. Just don't bring your cooties anywhere near me. Because if you do, I will not be responsible for my actions and this blog entry will disappear.
Next up on 4/10: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 419, Ice Cleaning. Rule 420, Timing of Game. Rule 421, Overtime Period.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I Don't Care Who's In and Who's Out...I Freakin' Love Playoff Mania
The games: St. Louis vs. Chicago (NHL) and Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants (WHL Round 2 Playoffs, Game 3).
Why I chose them: Chicago has clinched a division title and a playoff berth. Portland Winterhawk Captain Brett Ponich may be playing for St. Louis next year at this time, having just signed with them after being drafted in 2009. As for the Winterhawks, it's exactly why I love the playoffs in any league...it's do or die time. There's no in between..we either go big or go home. Games on.
Major bummer alert: Anaheim is out of the playoffs. After coming within sight of the Stanley Cup finals last year, sending a record number of athletes to the Olympics, and crawling out of a very large hole to come within 3 points of 8th place this year, they are done. Plus, cutie pie Swiss goalie is still injured anyway, so that would have still put a damper on it.
On the other hand: Phoenix is in the playoffs for the first time since I don't even remember when. And they were in an even bigger hole than Anaheim. And how can you argue with this?....
Best play: Rookie Matt Duchene scoring the winning shootout goal last night against Vancouver to put Colorado in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The only thing more perfect was Evgeni Malkin's back-handed, no-look hat trick into Carolina's net during last year's playoffs. On that alone, I'd hand the Calder to Duchene right now.
Also: I'm off pain meds and steroids. Which means: this is the best glass of red wine I've ever had in my life. EVER.
Ooh, did I say that out loud?: Matt Kirk is refereeing the Portland vs. Vancouver game. I will now admit publicly to a huge crush on said official, who works in Vancouver by day as a corporate lawyer. Not that I would waste my precious free time Googling WHL refs to find out that they work as LAWYERS by day, but if I did...
The rules:
Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 413, Change of Players from the Penalty Bench. Rule 415, Change of Goalkeeper During Stoppage of Play.
So, this explains why some players come off the penalty bench directly to the player's bench and some go right back into the game: 413, A player serving a penalty, who is to be changed after the penalty has been served, shall proceed at once, by way of the ice, and be at his own player's bench before any change can be made. I love that they specifically say "by way of the ice." Like the player's going to just wander out into the stands and meander his way back on foot?
As for the goalkeepers, they are pretty much stuck in their little crease: 415, During a stoppage of play, goalkeepers shall not be permitted to go to the player's bench except to be replaced or during a time-out. Violation is punished with a minor penalty.
As for rule 414: It's nowhere to be found, not even in a list of outdated rules. Maybe it's like 13th floors or whispering "shutout" when it's 3-0 with 2 minutes to go in the third. You know it's there, but you just don't say it or think it.
Morals of the story:
The game: I've said it once, I'll say it again. Give the goalkeepers some space! Now I see why it's easier for them to meltdown on occasion. If you had to stay in a little 4 foot by 6 foot box, with limited range of activity allowed within a little trapezoid, and you could only go to the bench under one or two select circumstances while your teammates get to roam freely all over the ice and come and go from the bench, you'd go insane too.
Life: At some point, most of us get stuck in life's creases. It could be small things like an office cubicle, our cars in rush hour, a small apartment, tiny airplane seats, or the one scrap of a seat way in the back at a sold out concert. On a bigger scale, we take on mortgages, car payments and credit card debt that can make us feel very small and trapped. Except in life we don't get to go back to the bench after we've served the penalty. Continuing on the playoff theme of "do it or else" I propose my own life rule for "change of players after a stoppage of play." It would go like this:
1) During a stoppage of play during which they will be given the chance to rethink their life choices: Individuals who choose to give in and not to break out of life's traps will not be permitted to be replaced by some other idiot who hasn't figured it all out yet...until said individual can demonstrate that they are willing and able to take the chance and seek their dreams no matter how scary it is.
2) If said individuals choose at a later time to break out and pursue their dreams, they will be permitted to proceed to the bench to be replaced during the next stoppage of play by some other idiot who still wants to earn his or her mortgage payment by working in a little cube all day.
Next up on 4/9: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 416, Injured Players. Rule 417, Injured Goalkeepers.
Why I chose them: Chicago has clinched a division title and a playoff berth. Portland Winterhawk Captain Brett Ponich may be playing for St. Louis next year at this time, having just signed with them after being drafted in 2009. As for the Winterhawks, it's exactly why I love the playoffs in any league...it's do or die time. There's no in between..we either go big or go home. Games on.
Major bummer alert: Anaheim is out of the playoffs. After coming within sight of the Stanley Cup finals last year, sending a record number of athletes to the Olympics, and crawling out of a very large hole to come within 3 points of 8th place this year, they are done. Plus, cutie pie Swiss goalie is still injured anyway, so that would have still put a damper on it.
On the other hand: Phoenix is in the playoffs for the first time since I don't even remember when. And they were in an even bigger hole than Anaheim. And how can you argue with this?....
Best play: Rookie Matt Duchene scoring the winning shootout goal last night against Vancouver to put Colorado in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The only thing more perfect was Evgeni Malkin's back-handed, no-look hat trick into Carolina's net during last year's playoffs. On that alone, I'd hand the Calder to Duchene right now.
Also: I'm off pain meds and steroids. Which means: this is the best glass of red wine I've ever had in my life. EVER.
Ooh, did I say that out loud?: Matt Kirk is refereeing the Portland vs. Vancouver game. I will now admit publicly to a huge crush on said official, who works in Vancouver by day as a corporate lawyer. Not that I would waste my precious free time Googling WHL refs to find out that they work as LAWYERS by day, but if I did...
The rules:
Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 413, Change of Players from the Penalty Bench. Rule 415, Change of Goalkeeper During Stoppage of Play.
So, this explains why some players come off the penalty bench directly to the player's bench and some go right back into the game: 413, A player serving a penalty, who is to be changed after the penalty has been served, shall proceed at once, by way of the ice, and be at his own player's bench before any change can be made. I love that they specifically say "by way of the ice." Like the player's going to just wander out into the stands and meander his way back on foot?
As for the goalkeepers, they are pretty much stuck in their little crease: 415, During a stoppage of play, goalkeepers shall not be permitted to go to the player's bench except to be replaced or during a time-out. Violation is punished with a minor penalty.
As for rule 414: It's nowhere to be found, not even in a list of outdated rules. Maybe it's like 13th floors or whispering "shutout" when it's 3-0 with 2 minutes to go in the third. You know it's there, but you just don't say it or think it.
Morals of the story:
The game: I've said it once, I'll say it again. Give the goalkeepers some space! Now I see why it's easier for them to meltdown on occasion. If you had to stay in a little 4 foot by 6 foot box, with limited range of activity allowed within a little trapezoid, and you could only go to the bench under one or two select circumstances while your teammates get to roam freely all over the ice and come and go from the bench, you'd go insane too.
Life: At some point, most of us get stuck in life's creases. It could be small things like an office cubicle, our cars in rush hour, a small apartment, tiny airplane seats, or the one scrap of a seat way in the back at a sold out concert. On a bigger scale, we take on mortgages, car payments and credit card debt that can make us feel very small and trapped. Except in life we don't get to go back to the bench after we've served the penalty. Continuing on the playoff theme of "do it or else" I propose my own life rule for "change of players after a stoppage of play." It would go like this:
1) During a stoppage of play during which they will be given the chance to rethink their life choices: Individuals who choose to give in and not to break out of life's traps will not be permitted to be replaced by some other idiot who hasn't figured it all out yet...until said individual can demonstrate that they are willing and able to take the chance and seek their dreams no matter how scary it is.
2) If said individuals choose at a later time to break out and pursue their dreams, they will be permitted to proceed to the bench to be replaced during the next stoppage of play by some other idiot who still wants to earn his or her mortgage payment by working in a little cube all day.
Next up on 4/9: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 416, Injured Players. Rule 417, Injured Goalkeepers.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Note to Self: Self-Medicate BEFORE the Game Next Time
The games: Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancover Giants (WHL Playoffs, Round 2, Game 2). Boston vs. Washington (NHL).
Why I chose them/major bummer alert: I had hope for the Hawks until last night. But alas, our playoff run may very well come to an end on the road in Vancouver. As for the NHL. I'm only watching this game because nothing else is on tonight. Plus, with baseball season underway, there's all this baseball crap taking up the empty NHL Center Ice Channels. Dude, don't put your lame baseball programming in my hockey space. It's just wrong.
But this might have set up one of the worst weeks on record: Final score (WHL), Vancouver 7, Portland 4. Before the game, I went to buy a tuna sandwich at Subway and they were out of tuna. The hell continued at the game, where I could not consume a beer because I can't drink any adult beverages until I'm off steroids and painkillers. Plus, I just read that Peter Mueller, my favorite story from the trade deadline, is out with a concussion after producing some excellent results in his first month or so with Colorado.
There's always Wednesday: At which time I will be off meds, on a very large glass of red wine and listening to the Winterhawks take back what is ours from the road.
Until then, back to the rules: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 412, Change of Players Procedure During Stoppage of Play. They should just call this the five-second rule:
412.a. Following a stoppage of play, the visiting team shall promptly place a line-up of players on the ice for play and no substitution shall be made until play has resumed. The home team may then may any desired substitution which does not result in the delay of the game. If there is any undue delay by either team in changing lines, the Referee shall order the offending team or teams to take their positions immediately and not permit a line change.
412.b. The procedure shall be carried out as follows:
1) The Referee shall take his position for the start of the next play, and the Linesman dropping the puck shall proceed promptly to the location of the face-off.
2) The Referee shall allow the visiting team five seconds to make their player changes.
3) After the five seconds, the Referee shall raise his arm to indicate that the visiting team shall no longer make a player change.
4) With the arm still up, the Referee shall allow the home team five seconds to make their player changes.
5) After the five seconds, the Referee shall drop his arm to indicate that the home team shall no longer make a player change.
6) As soon as the Referee drops his arm, the Linesman conducting the face-off shall blow the whistle, which signals to both teams that they shall have have no more than five seconds to line up for the face off.
7) At the end of the five seconds, or sooner if the facing-off players are ready, the Linesman shall drop the puck. It shall not be the responsibility of the Linesman to wait for the players to come into position for the face-off.
Ok, math majors: How many total minutes does it take to make a line change after a stoppage of play? Also, what if the Referee and/or the Linesman are tired and drop their arms too soon? Is there a do-over? Does the team so affected by said action get an extra second to report to the face-off? I'm serious...'cause there's no answer for that in this book.
Morals of the story:
Life/game: There is a reason the playoffs (NHL or WHL) matter more than the regular season. Because there are no second chances. Because you have to make it happen. Right here. Right now. There's no tomorrow. You go in. You do what you need to do. And you get out or go on. We should live this way, but we don't. Most of us play like there's another game tomorrow and we'll get it right next time. In the spirit of the WHL playoffs and the approaching NHL playoffs, I propose that we all try the following in our lives this week:
1) Try something you are afraid of. At the very least, try something new: food, movie, book. Whatever. Just do it.
2) Stop procrastinating. Whatever it is, if you at least take the first step today, you'll be closer to your dreams and goals than you are right now.
3) Believe in the impossible. I stole this one right from a press release about one of our most popular Winterhawks, Nino Niederreiter. It's from a Swiss-German expression that basically means believing in the impossible makes the impossible possible.
3) See through the noise. Watching the Winterhawks play Vancouver this weekend was a lot like trying to tune in your favorite song on a static-ridden radio station. You know it's there, and you can hear it, but not quite. But if you remember the pre-iPod and CD player days, you know if you really wanted to hear that song, you just listened though the noise anyway.
Vancouver got to the Winterhawks early because they got inside our heads and made a lot of noise. Just like life...only in the everyday world we are detracted by noise that comes from other people, societal expectations and constant advertising and marketing in our faces. Surviving the playoffs is a lot like surviving life -- you just have to keep listening even when the static interferes. Look at this way: just like driving in your car, sooner or later you'll drive back through a place where you can hear the song clearly.
Next up on 3/7: A very large glass of red wine, hope for the Portland Winterhawks and Rule 413, Change of Players from the Players' Bench and 415, Change of Goalkeepers During Stoppage of Play. Speaking of math: Also on deck, the search for the missing rule 414.
Why I chose them/major bummer alert: I had hope for the Hawks until last night. But alas, our playoff run may very well come to an end on the road in Vancouver. As for the NHL. I'm only watching this game because nothing else is on tonight. Plus, with baseball season underway, there's all this baseball crap taking up the empty NHL Center Ice Channels. Dude, don't put your lame baseball programming in my hockey space. It's just wrong.
But this might have set up one of the worst weeks on record: Final score (WHL), Vancouver 7, Portland 4. Before the game, I went to buy a tuna sandwich at Subway and they were out of tuna. The hell continued at the game, where I could not consume a beer because I can't drink any adult beverages until I'm off steroids and painkillers. Plus, I just read that Peter Mueller, my favorite story from the trade deadline, is out with a concussion after producing some excellent results in his first month or so with Colorado.
There's always Wednesday: At which time I will be off meds, on a very large glass of red wine and listening to the Winterhawks take back what is ours from the road.
Until then, back to the rules: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 412, Change of Players Procedure During Stoppage of Play. They should just call this the five-second rule:
412.a. Following a stoppage of play, the visiting team shall promptly place a line-up of players on the ice for play and no substitution shall be made until play has resumed. The home team may then may any desired substitution which does not result in the delay of the game. If there is any undue delay by either team in changing lines, the Referee shall order the offending team or teams to take their positions immediately and not permit a line change.
412.b. The procedure shall be carried out as follows:
1) The Referee shall take his position for the start of the next play, and the Linesman dropping the puck shall proceed promptly to the location of the face-off.
2) The Referee shall allow the visiting team five seconds to make their player changes.
3) After the five seconds, the Referee shall raise his arm to indicate that the visiting team shall no longer make a player change.
4) With the arm still up, the Referee shall allow the home team five seconds to make their player changes.
5) After the five seconds, the Referee shall drop his arm to indicate that the home team shall no longer make a player change.
6) As soon as the Referee drops his arm, the Linesman conducting the face-off shall blow the whistle, which signals to both teams that they shall have have no more than five seconds to line up for the face off.
7) At the end of the five seconds, or sooner if the facing-off players are ready, the Linesman shall drop the puck. It shall not be the responsibility of the Linesman to wait for the players to come into position for the face-off.
Ok, math majors: How many total minutes does it take to make a line change after a stoppage of play? Also, what if the Referee and/or the Linesman are tired and drop their arms too soon? Is there a do-over? Does the team so affected by said action get an extra second to report to the face-off? I'm serious...'cause there's no answer for that in this book.
Morals of the story:
Life/game: There is a reason the playoffs (NHL or WHL) matter more than the regular season. Because there are no second chances. Because you have to make it happen. Right here. Right now. There's no tomorrow. You go in. You do what you need to do. And you get out or go on. We should live this way, but we don't. Most of us play like there's another game tomorrow and we'll get it right next time. In the spirit of the WHL playoffs and the approaching NHL playoffs, I propose that we all try the following in our lives this week:
1) Try something you are afraid of. At the very least, try something new: food, movie, book. Whatever. Just do it.
2) Stop procrastinating. Whatever it is, if you at least take the first step today, you'll be closer to your dreams and goals than you are right now.
3) Believe in the impossible. I stole this one right from a press release about one of our most popular Winterhawks, Nino Niederreiter. It's from a Swiss-German expression that basically means believing in the impossible makes the impossible possible.
3) See through the noise. Watching the Winterhawks play Vancouver this weekend was a lot like trying to tune in your favorite song on a static-ridden radio station. You know it's there, and you can hear it, but not quite. But if you remember the pre-iPod and CD player days, you know if you really wanted to hear that song, you just listened though the noise anyway.
Vancouver got to the Winterhawks early because they got inside our heads and made a lot of noise. Just like life...only in the everyday world we are detracted by noise that comes from other people, societal expectations and constant advertising and marketing in our faces. Surviving the playoffs is a lot like surviving life -- you just have to keep listening even when the static interferes. Look at this way: just like driving in your car, sooner or later you'll drive back through a place where you can hear the song clearly.
Next up on 3/7: A very large glass of red wine, hope for the Portland Winterhawks and Rule 413, Change of Players from the Players' Bench and 415, Change of Goalkeepers During Stoppage of Play. Speaking of math: Also on deck, the search for the missing rule 414.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
No...I Said WIN on Home Ice This Time
The games: Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants (WHL).Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta.
Why I chose them: WHL - I don't remember. Oh right, I think it had something to do with declaring that we were going to win on home ice this time. Why didn't I just whisper "shutout" and get it over with? Plus, I wanted to see Colby Armstrong face off against his former teammates, but he's on a two-game suspension for elbowing some dude.
The final scores: Vancouver 9, Portland 6. No, that's not a typo. Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 3 (in OT). Excuse me, how did a rat-squat team like Atlanta force an overtime on the defending Stanley Cup champions?
So, major bummer alert all around: The Hawks go down. On a Saturday. On home ice. With a nearly sold-out crowd. Armstrong's out. My fave cutie pie Swiss goalie for Anaheim is down with an injury and Tampa just ate it against the Rangers yesterday. Plus, Luongo let in, what...like...8 goals the other night against LA? Just shoot me.
On the other hand, there's nowhere to go but up: The Penguins are in the the final days of their games at Mellon Arena and looking to end it with a bang, and Gonchar and Malkin are back in the lineup. As for the Hawks, how could they do any worse?
Plus, the final minutes of the Hawks game was a humdinger: Brett Ponich ended up in an instigating, misconduct, unsportsmanlike, fighting pile that also involved Brad Ross and Taylor Aronson, all of whom got kicked out of the game. I think Brett might have actually eaten someone alive for real. It was hard to tell....but he did look pretty hungry. But you gotta love Luke Walker - he just played on and didn't take any crap. Right to the end. Look out Rangers fans, he may be coming your way in the next year or so. Stay tuned...he's worth waiting for.
Now I love line brawling, foul language, dirty looks, dirtier words, mitts flying, helmets off, sticks on the ice, who started what and why fighting: But I think the Hawks might have eviscerated our starting lineup due to the fact that most of the penalties happened in the waning minutes of the game.
So now would be a good time to refresh on a few of the physical foul rules (all of which happened in the last five minutes of the Winterhawks game, at or after the buzzer): NHL Rulebook, Section 6, Physical Fouls.
-- Rule 47.1, Fighting. A fight shall be deemed to have occurred when at least one player punches or attempts to punch an opponent repeatedly or when two players wrestle in such a manner as to make it difficult for the linesman to intervene and separate the combatants.
-- Rule 47.4, Clearing the Area of Fight. When a fight occurs, all players not engaged shall go immediately to the area of their players' bench and in the event the altercation takes place at a players' bench, the players on the ice from that team shall go to their defending zone. I'm not exactly sure what happened at the end of the Winterhawks' game, but it definitely wasn't this.
-- But I'm pretty sure this did: Rule 47.16, Third Man In. A game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player who is the first to intervene (third man in) in an altercation already in progress except when a match penalty is being imposed in the original altercation.
Morals of the story:
The game/life: Home ice does not automatically equal advantage. The Penguins had quite a mighty winning streak on the road this year, coming within just a game or two of being perfect on the road. Ditto for the Winterhawks. I sympathize. I love travel and I never really feel at home unless I'm on a plane, in a strange city or speaking a language that isn't my own. Some people aren't meant to stay in one place. Some of us, it seems, are better in the world that is not our own. If that's the road to Vancouver, BC, then so be it. I trust that 9 goals in one night on home ice in game 1 of round 2 of the WHL playoffs will serve as a turning point...one in which we turn the other way and lay waste to Vancouver. And, as for Pittsburgh... thank god Malkin -- my favorite cutie pie forward who's way smarter than he seems -- is back. That was the longest week and a half of my life.
Up next: Hold that thought. I can't drink any adult beverages while I'm on all these stupid pain and steroid medications, and what's left of the Winterhawks may eat it on home ice again tomorrow. I might possibly die in my sleep on Sunday night from a lack of beer and winning playoff hockey on home ice. I shall report back on Monday if I'm still here. Wait a minute...what am I thinking? I have a month's supply of Vicodin at my disposal...and there's no rule banning fans from taking a painkiller during games, when required under desperate circumstances. Stay tuned...
Why I chose them: WHL - I don't remember. Oh right, I think it had something to do with declaring that we were going to win on home ice this time. Why didn't I just whisper "shutout" and get it over with? Plus, I wanted to see Colby Armstrong face off against his former teammates, but he's on a two-game suspension for elbowing some dude.
The final scores: Vancouver 9, Portland 6. No, that's not a typo. Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 3 (in OT). Excuse me, how did a rat-squat team like Atlanta force an overtime on the defending Stanley Cup champions?
So, major bummer alert all around: The Hawks go down. On a Saturday. On home ice. With a nearly sold-out crowd. Armstrong's out. My fave cutie pie Swiss goalie for Anaheim is down with an injury and Tampa just ate it against the Rangers yesterday. Plus, Luongo let in, what...like...8 goals the other night against LA? Just shoot me.
On the other hand, there's nowhere to go but up: The Penguins are in the the final days of their games at Mellon Arena and looking to end it with a bang, and Gonchar and Malkin are back in the lineup. As for the Hawks, how could they do any worse?
Plus, the final minutes of the Hawks game was a humdinger: Brett Ponich ended up in an instigating, misconduct, unsportsmanlike, fighting pile that also involved Brad Ross and Taylor Aronson, all of whom got kicked out of the game. I think Brett might have actually eaten someone alive for real. It was hard to tell....but he did look pretty hungry. But you gotta love Luke Walker - he just played on and didn't take any crap. Right to the end. Look out Rangers fans, he may be coming your way in the next year or so. Stay tuned...he's worth waiting for.
Now I love line brawling, foul language, dirty looks, dirtier words, mitts flying, helmets off, sticks on the ice, who started what and why fighting: But I think the Hawks might have eviscerated our starting lineup due to the fact that most of the penalties happened in the waning minutes of the game.
So now would be a good time to refresh on a few of the physical foul rules (all of which happened in the last five minutes of the Winterhawks game, at or after the buzzer): NHL Rulebook, Section 6, Physical Fouls.
-- Rule 47.1, Fighting. A fight shall be deemed to have occurred when at least one player punches or attempts to punch an opponent repeatedly or when two players wrestle in such a manner as to make it difficult for the linesman to intervene and separate the combatants.
-- Rule 47.4, Clearing the Area of Fight. When a fight occurs, all players not engaged shall go immediately to the area of their players' bench and in the event the altercation takes place at a players' bench, the players on the ice from that team shall go to their defending zone. I'm not exactly sure what happened at the end of the Winterhawks' game, but it definitely wasn't this.
-- But I'm pretty sure this did: Rule 47.16, Third Man In. A game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player who is the first to intervene (third man in) in an altercation already in progress except when a match penalty is being imposed in the original altercation.
Morals of the story:
The game/life: Home ice does not automatically equal advantage. The Penguins had quite a mighty winning streak on the road this year, coming within just a game or two of being perfect on the road. Ditto for the Winterhawks. I sympathize. I love travel and I never really feel at home unless I'm on a plane, in a strange city or speaking a language that isn't my own. Some people aren't meant to stay in one place. Some of us, it seems, are better in the world that is not our own. If that's the road to Vancouver, BC, then so be it. I trust that 9 goals in one night on home ice in game 1 of round 2 of the WHL playoffs will serve as a turning point...one in which we turn the other way and lay waste to Vancouver. And, as for Pittsburgh... thank god Malkin -- my favorite cutie pie forward who's way smarter than he seems -- is back. That was the longest week and a half of my life.
Up next: Hold that thought. I can't drink any adult beverages while I'm on all these stupid pain and steroid medications, and what's left of the Winterhawks may eat it on home ice again tomorrow. I might possibly die in my sleep on Sunday night from a lack of beer and winning playoff hockey on home ice. I shall report back on Monday if I'm still here. Wait a minute...what am I thinking? I have a month's supply of Vicodin at my disposal...and there's no rule banning fans from taking a painkiller during games, when required under desperate circumstances. Stay tuned...
When Changing Players, Use Your Imagination
The games: New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants (4/3, WHL).
Why I chose them: Cutie pie goalie Henrik Lundqvist and honkin' tall French captain on the same ice at the same time? Please. Game on. Portland vs. Vancouver - Duh. Round 2 here we come.
The final scores: New York Rangers shut 'em out 5-0. Good thing I like both sides, or this would be a major bummer alert. Portland vs. Vancouver face off is at 7 pm, Memorial Coliseum. Join us. It's pouring rain outside...what else are you going to do?
As for Round 2: Let's try winning on home ice this time around, shall we? I see we followed my advice and cooked Kyle Beach and his peeps to a crisp in their own house, and I was right about a dramatic Game 7 end to Round 1. It's my new good luck charm. I'll write it here and it will happen. End of story. Games on.
The rule: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 411, Change of Players and Goalkeepers from the Player's Bench During Play.
It's easy, just use your imagination: 411.a. The players and goalkeepers may be changed at any time from the player's bench while the game is in progress, provided that:
1) The changing players and goalkeepers are within an imaginary area limited by the length of the respective player's bench and 3 m from the boards, as illustrated on the opposite page,
2) The changing players are out of the play before any change is made. Bench minor penalty (see Rule 573).
It is my revised New Year's resolution to be able to memorize everything there is to know about face-offs, including when, where and why: 411.b. If, when a goalkeeper leaves his goal crease and proceeds to his player's bench for the purpose of substituting another player and if the substitution is made prematurely, the official shall stop the play when the offending team gains possession of the puck. The ensuing face-off shall take place at the center ice face-off spot, except in cases where the offending team would gain as a result a territorial advantage, in which cases the face-off shall be where the stoppage of play occurred (See Rule 440g).
Morals of the story:
The game: Either use your imagination or don't. If you're going to define the area as imaginary, then don't limit it. Let the little whippersnappers run wild. As long as they don't engage in play, what's the harm? A few extra men on the ice never hurt anyone. Except Don Cherry, who is still blamed for losing a Stanley Cup because he couldn't count.
Life: We need more imaginary lines and areas and such in life. For example, when on the train, other individuals shall stay within an imaginary boundary around my person, defined as at least two bodies' worth of personal space. Any attempt to encroach on this space shall result in said parties being removed from the train for a face-off in front of the train. Winner of said face-off will be allowed to re-enter the train, provided they stand in accordance with the personal space bubble, as defined above. Or...offices for middle managers in corporate America shall be defined by an imaginary area of the manager's choosing, which will include but not be limited to a corner office with a large window, space for a cabinet into which he or she can fit a small mini bar, a large couch and a wide screen TV, in the event said professional becomes bored with their 9 - 5, three-martini lunch, suburban dream/nightmare and needs to escape for a few hours.
Next up on 4/4: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 412, Change of Players Procedure During Stoppage of Play.
Why I chose them: Cutie pie goalie Henrik Lundqvist and honkin' tall French captain on the same ice at the same time? Please. Game on. Portland vs. Vancouver - Duh. Round 2 here we come.
The final scores: New York Rangers shut 'em out 5-0. Good thing I like both sides, or this would be a major bummer alert. Portland vs. Vancouver face off is at 7 pm, Memorial Coliseum. Join us. It's pouring rain outside...what else are you going to do?
As for Round 2: Let's try winning on home ice this time around, shall we? I see we followed my advice and cooked Kyle Beach and his peeps to a crisp in their own house, and I was right about a dramatic Game 7 end to Round 1. It's my new good luck charm. I'll write it here and it will happen. End of story. Games on.
The rule: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 411, Change of Players and Goalkeepers from the Player's Bench During Play.
It's easy, just use your imagination: 411.a. The players and goalkeepers may be changed at any time from the player's bench while the game is in progress, provided that:
1) The changing players and goalkeepers are within an imaginary area limited by the length of the respective player's bench and 3 m from the boards, as illustrated on the opposite page,
2) The changing players are out of the play before any change is made. Bench minor penalty (see Rule 573).
It is my revised New Year's resolution to be able to memorize everything there is to know about face-offs, including when, where and why: 411.b. If, when a goalkeeper leaves his goal crease and proceeds to his player's bench for the purpose of substituting another player and if the substitution is made prematurely, the official shall stop the play when the offending team gains possession of the puck. The ensuing face-off shall take place at the center ice face-off spot, except in cases where the offending team would gain as a result a territorial advantage, in which cases the face-off shall be where the stoppage of play occurred (See Rule 440g).
Morals of the story:
The game: Either use your imagination or don't. If you're going to define the area as imaginary, then don't limit it. Let the little whippersnappers run wild. As long as they don't engage in play, what's the harm? A few extra men on the ice never hurt anyone. Except Don Cherry, who is still blamed for losing a Stanley Cup because he couldn't count.
Life: We need more imaginary lines and areas and such in life. For example, when on the train, other individuals shall stay within an imaginary boundary around my person, defined as at least two bodies' worth of personal space. Any attempt to encroach on this space shall result in said parties being removed from the train for a face-off in front of the train. Winner of said face-off will be allowed to re-enter the train, provided they stand in accordance with the personal space bubble, as defined above. Or...offices for middle managers in corporate America shall be defined by an imaginary area of the manager's choosing, which will include but not be limited to a corner office with a large window, space for a cabinet into which he or she can fit a small mini bar, a large couch and a wide screen TV, in the event said professional becomes bored with their 9 - 5, three-martini lunch, suburban dream/nightmare and needs to escape for a few hours.
Next up on 4/4: Section 4, Playing Rules. Rule 412, Change of Players Procedure During Stoppage of Play.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
What Wine Goes With Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs?
The game: Portland Winterhawks vs. Spokane Chiefs in Game 7 of the first playoff round. We had been perfect against them on the road all season, and had taken the lead in the series 3 - 2, also all on the road.
The final score: I hate to say I told you so, but I sorta did. It went to a 20 minute overtime, and in US vs. Russia Olympic gold medal fashion, we beat Spokane 5-4. Although I was mistaken about the shootout. If the first 20 minute overtime runs out, they just play another overtime instead of a shootout. Also, the replay of them piling onto one and other in an on-ice victory celebration will never get old. Ever.
But still: Can you say comeback? We were down 2-0 at the end of the first period. Led by NHL legend-in-the-making Nino Niederreiter, we roared back to tie the game at 4 in regulation.
Experience preferred, not required: Early predictions and critics had us going down in this round, what with our blown opportunity to win Game 6 at home to take the series and our apparent lack of motivation early in games. Lack of experience was blamed. Forget that. Three of last night's goals were scored or set up by rookies. Nino, Ryan, Taylor and Ty are all 18 or under. That's right... three of the four are top NHL prospects and all are playing in the WHL for the first time this season.
But their experience off the ice cannot be overlooked as an equally important asset: I don't like whiny hockey ranters because they never take the time to see the qualities and talents in players that you will never see on a scoreboard and never read in a scouting report. And it is these qualities of character, grit, determination and leadership that are equally key to making a successful run at the playoffs. For example, did you know that many of the Winterhawks have already been through far more challenging times than a playoff run?:
-- Overage player Chris Francis, in his final season this year, suffered a devastating loss last season when his father died while he was on the road with the Hawks in Canada. At the time he was considering leaving the team after several losing seasons, and was not actually playing. Enter Mike Johnston, new management and a new attitude. In addition to being our Most Valuable Player this year, Chris is the team's leading scorer for the regular 2009 - 2010 season.
-- Luke Walker and overage player Stefan Schneider were never taken in the Bantam Draft and never snatched up when they became eligible for the NHL Draft. Stefan was signed earlier this week by the Vancouver Canucks and won this year's team awards for sporstmanship, scholastic achievement and best defensive player. Earlier this year, Luke brought back a gold medal from being on the winning World Junior team and he is being watched closely by the New York Rangers.
-- Ian Curtis, after being bumped around from one WHL team to another and never building momentum as a starting goaltender, found a home in Portland and twice this year was named CHL goaltender of the week. He also backstopped us to notable shutouts against Seattle on New Year's Eve and again against Vancouver in late January, stopping a way too lengthy losing streak against the Giants.
-- Captain Brett Ponich led a fundraising effort to help a childhood friend who was paralyzed in a pool accident. Portlanders answered the call and some very lucky fans won prizes ranging from signed jerseys to a personal car wash by rookies to dinner with Chris, Luke and Brett. I would have gone for the dinner, but at 42, I would have required several chaperones in order to avoid going to the pokey.
Major dilemma: I can't pick a best play: Nino's snapper to score the first goal in the second period and put us back in the game....Ryan getting down low in the crease with the second goal... perhaps Riley Boychuk realizing that Reid hadn't stopped a shot and sending it into the slot...or maybe Luke Walker's game-tying shot that took us to overtime. But let's face it...that final winner by Ty Rattie with a nice setup by Taylor Aronson takes it.
So, in the spirit of dramatic Game 7 I-told-you-so overtime wins: Here is a refresher on the OT and shootout rules for playoffs in the NHL:
Rule 84, Overtime: 84.5, Overtime - Playoffs -- In the Stanley Cup playoffs, when a game is tied after three (3) twenty (20) minute regular periods of play, the teams shall take a fifteen (15) minute intermission and resume playing twenty (20) minute periods, changing ends for the start of each overtime period. The team scoring the first goal in overtime shall be declared the winner of the game.
Never blog under the influence: I'm taking Vicodin for some weird hand injury that happened while I was asleep. I'm so whacked out I almost wrote something praising Kyle Beach for leading his team to a noble finish to their season. I better wrap this up or the next thing you'll know I"ll be declaring that head hits are ok in certain circumstances, like it's ok as long as you don't like the way the opposing player glared at you in the second period.
Morals of the story:
Oohh did I say that out loud?/Life and Game: I will admit that I had my doubts too, until I found out that we had won every game against the Chiefs on the road. And I almost tuned out Andy Kemper's broadcasts from the road. But a funny thing happened while the players were on the bus to Spokane. I tried, but I couldn't turn the radio off:
-- Because I still believed we stood a chance. Even if we lost, we did it. We made it to a place no one thought we would.
-- Because I hate could have...what if I didn't listen and we won and I missed the game of the century?
-- Because I refuse to join the ranks of nitpicking, naysaying, number crunching anti-fans and ranters.
-- Because I love the idea of being a silent fan, listening on my computer or in my car, cheering from my couch and believing in something bigger than myself.
-- Because a gaggle of 16 - 20 year old boys believed it was possible. Why shouldn't we?
Here's my theory about all those naysayers, ranters and so-called fans who sit in the stands and cross off players they don't like from the free roster they hand out before games. (Yes, I know where you sit and I can find you if I want to. Be glad I don't know how to operate my cell phone camera.). It goes like this:
1) If we as adult fans believe in the impossible (like say, making it to the playoffs and round 2 to boot)... then it means we have to recall what it was like to be young like the players, and to believe in anything no matter what because you didn't know any better and you really believed you could do it.
2) As such... we'd have to think about all the dreams we had that didn't work out or that we sold out to the highest bidder, and all the things we once believed in that faded from our view as life got in the way.
3) Then we'd have to dig even deeper and realize that some of those dreams are over...long past being possible and real. Redemption makes for great comeback stories, but let's face it, it's always better to live it right the first time around.
My parting shot to fellow Hawks fans: In the early days of this blog, I wrote about how even though I think the Philadelphia Flyers are crazy, they play the way we should live: Out loud, without apology and in your face. The Portland Winterhawks will need to play that way to get deep into this playoff run. I have no doubt that they will. As fans, we have the chance to follow their lead by forgetting our own mistakes and leaving our lost dreams in the wind...even if only for a few months. The real question is... will we?
Next up on 4/3: Playoff mania continues with a preview of Game 1 of the second round WHL playoffs: Portland vs. Vancover game on home ice. And yes, I'll get back to the rules. I promise.
The final score: I hate to say I told you so, but I sorta did. It went to a 20 minute overtime, and in US vs. Russia Olympic gold medal fashion, we beat Spokane 5-4. Although I was mistaken about the shootout. If the first 20 minute overtime runs out, they just play another overtime instead of a shootout. Also, the replay of them piling onto one and other in an on-ice victory celebration will never get old. Ever.
But still: Can you say comeback? We were down 2-0 at the end of the first period. Led by NHL legend-in-the-making Nino Niederreiter, we roared back to tie the game at 4 in regulation.
Experience preferred, not required: Early predictions and critics had us going down in this round, what with our blown opportunity to win Game 6 at home to take the series and our apparent lack of motivation early in games. Lack of experience was blamed. Forget that. Three of last night's goals were scored or set up by rookies. Nino, Ryan, Taylor and Ty are all 18 or under. That's right... three of the four are top NHL prospects and all are playing in the WHL for the first time this season.
But their experience off the ice cannot be overlooked as an equally important asset: I don't like whiny hockey ranters because they never take the time to see the qualities and talents in players that you will never see on a scoreboard and never read in a scouting report. And it is these qualities of character, grit, determination and leadership that are equally key to making a successful run at the playoffs. For example, did you know that many of the Winterhawks have already been through far more challenging times than a playoff run?:
-- Overage player Chris Francis, in his final season this year, suffered a devastating loss last season when his father died while he was on the road with the Hawks in Canada. At the time he was considering leaving the team after several losing seasons, and was not actually playing. Enter Mike Johnston, new management and a new attitude. In addition to being our Most Valuable Player this year, Chris is the team's leading scorer for the regular 2009 - 2010 season.
-- Luke Walker and overage player Stefan Schneider were never taken in the Bantam Draft and never snatched up when they became eligible for the NHL Draft. Stefan was signed earlier this week by the Vancouver Canucks and won this year's team awards for sporstmanship, scholastic achievement and best defensive player. Earlier this year, Luke brought back a gold medal from being on the winning World Junior team and he is being watched closely by the New York Rangers.
-- Ian Curtis, after being bumped around from one WHL team to another and never building momentum as a starting goaltender, found a home in Portland and twice this year was named CHL goaltender of the week. He also backstopped us to notable shutouts against Seattle on New Year's Eve and again against Vancouver in late January, stopping a way too lengthy losing streak against the Giants.
-- Captain Brett Ponich led a fundraising effort to help a childhood friend who was paralyzed in a pool accident. Portlanders answered the call and some very lucky fans won prizes ranging from signed jerseys to a personal car wash by rookies to dinner with Chris, Luke and Brett. I would have gone for the dinner, but at 42, I would have required several chaperones in order to avoid going to the pokey.
Major dilemma: I can't pick a best play: Nino's snapper to score the first goal in the second period and put us back in the game....Ryan getting down low in the crease with the second goal... perhaps Riley Boychuk realizing that Reid hadn't stopped a shot and sending it into the slot...or maybe Luke Walker's game-tying shot that took us to overtime. But let's face it...that final winner by Ty Rattie with a nice setup by Taylor Aronson takes it.
So, in the spirit of dramatic Game 7 I-told-you-so overtime wins: Here is a refresher on the OT and shootout rules for playoffs in the NHL:
Rule 84, Overtime: 84.5, Overtime - Playoffs -- In the Stanley Cup playoffs, when a game is tied after three (3) twenty (20) minute regular periods of play, the teams shall take a fifteen (15) minute intermission and resume playing twenty (20) minute periods, changing ends for the start of each overtime period. The team scoring the first goal in overtime shall be declared the winner of the game.
Never blog under the influence: I'm taking Vicodin for some weird hand injury that happened while I was asleep. I'm so whacked out I almost wrote something praising Kyle Beach for leading his team to a noble finish to their season. I better wrap this up or the next thing you'll know I"ll be declaring that head hits are ok in certain circumstances, like it's ok as long as you don't like the way the opposing player glared at you in the second period.
Morals of the story:
Oohh did I say that out loud?/Life and Game: I will admit that I had my doubts too, until I found out that we had won every game against the Chiefs on the road. And I almost tuned out Andy Kemper's broadcasts from the road. But a funny thing happened while the players were on the bus to Spokane. I tried, but I couldn't turn the radio off:
-- Because I still believed we stood a chance. Even if we lost, we did it. We made it to a place no one thought we would.
-- Because I hate could have...what if I didn't listen and we won and I missed the game of the century?
-- Because I refuse to join the ranks of nitpicking, naysaying, number crunching anti-fans and ranters.
-- Because I love the idea of being a silent fan, listening on my computer or in my car, cheering from my couch and believing in something bigger than myself.
-- Because a gaggle of 16 - 20 year old boys believed it was possible. Why shouldn't we?
Here's my theory about all those naysayers, ranters and so-called fans who sit in the stands and cross off players they don't like from the free roster they hand out before games. (Yes, I know where you sit and I can find you if I want to. Be glad I don't know how to operate my cell phone camera.). It goes like this:
1) If we as adult fans believe in the impossible (like say, making it to the playoffs and round 2 to boot)... then it means we have to recall what it was like to be young like the players, and to believe in anything no matter what because you didn't know any better and you really believed you could do it.
2) As such... we'd have to think about all the dreams we had that didn't work out or that we sold out to the highest bidder, and all the things we once believed in that faded from our view as life got in the way.
3) Then we'd have to dig even deeper and realize that some of those dreams are over...long past being possible and real. Redemption makes for great comeback stories, but let's face it, it's always better to live it right the first time around.
My parting shot to fellow Hawks fans: In the early days of this blog, I wrote about how even though I think the Philadelphia Flyers are crazy, they play the way we should live: Out loud, without apology and in your face. The Portland Winterhawks will need to play that way to get deep into this playoff run. I have no doubt that they will. As fans, we have the chance to follow their lead by forgetting our own mistakes and leaving our lost dreams in the wind...even if only for a few months. The real question is... will we?
Next up on 4/3: Playoff mania continues with a preview of Game 1 of the second round WHL playoffs: Portland vs. Vancover game on home ice. And yes, I'll get back to the rules. I promise.
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