Shamefaced I tuned into the Stanley Cup playoffs right after first period this Monday night. I made a run out to see Zamboni's little hockey hot shots. Consequently I missed tips I normally glean from several key indicators that help me predict a game. I had that important trip out of town to make and returned later than planned. I'm left needing critical information to guess tonight's winner.
Usually I watch the anthem to check out who's properly imploring the Hockey Gods and check out the concentration deprived. If, for starters, I don't see the start up expressions on the bench my crystal ball is a bit fogged. A unified attitude is what I'm scoping for. Despite those cheap looking Detroit's hockey socks, the player's have their wings on, and seem to have more determination but Pittsburgh's score is up.
Entry into third period doubt began nagging at the Penguins. Flury made a pretty basic technical error of no stick down on the ice and in it zips. 3 to 2. Flury seems shaken in disbelief but flips to composure mode. Good goalie. He keeps on ticking like an Energizer Bunny. Malkin, whoops, obviously feels defeated as he hits the bench. Warning. That sentiment can trickle down and dull the Penguins flap. Bad news seems looming over the Penguin bench. Here is when seasoned players know to suck it in and young players fail or learn to keep on keeping on playing their dreams out.
Less than three minutes to go. A sneaky "Famous Danny" style shot by the Penguin Talbot and it's tied. Us fans want an extended season. GIVE US OVERTIME! ... Thank you. Now THIS is a hockey game. Both teams back now believing. Time out and then we proceed to see if Hockey's over for the season or at worst case for Detroit another game for fans. I need some coffee but I'm glued in. It will come down to the most initiative on the lines of one team vs. the other. Its overtime!
I started out thinking. "Oh heck Detroit, slip on those horrid styled socks of yours and show them age before beauty. But now I have the pre-overtime break to start to grieve because of an impending season end. Watching reruns and frequenting local rinks to get a sniff of ice. LET PITTSBURGH HAVE THIS ONE. Drag it out guys for us, the fans. For Pittsburgh it can not get more sudden death overtime than this game. I'm tired. Gee guys I bet you're all tired .. SO WHAT. 20,000 fans are in the arena and heating up the place until the ice is less than perfect. The players are slip, slide, falling, over each other's sticks and chirps. I'm rubbing my eyes in disbelief. No additional score.
It's overtime AGAIN. Detroit is looking good and solid but no goals. Pittsburgh is running their stars extra hard but no goals. Both goalies keep the scrape going around the blue. Ice is not A1. My pup Zamboni's giving me the eye for attention so we settle on the upstairs couch. I forgot my coffee. The players are muscle memory and auto pilot. My brain is humming along as I scratch Zamboni's ears. It's nearing the end of second overtime. My eyes are glazing to the red and whites left to right rhythm on the screen. My brain is saying get closer to the TV go ahead lay down on the bed. Both teams want this game bad, just as bad as I need ... sleep. Pittsburgh's playing with heart just like the penguins in my "Hockey Legend Myth & Verse " book. I wish both teams could win this. Even to the super players this is hard hockey. Promos on players don't count tonight.
Zonk. Oh the guilt this AM! It went to a
third overtime. I must have heard it in my sleep because I knew hockey season continues on. A quick tune to ESBN and sure enough spunk prevailed. Malkin played on past his ego. He now might be worthy to be in my All Star game story. We'll see.
Well alright. Sabres fan that I am, in the end all I can not regret yesterday's emergency run to Glanmire Westies in Cohoctan. I finally got to see and appreciate in person the 5 little wonders - Zamboni's litters of pups, the three born on Marty Biron's third shut out day, and the wonder of wonders - the pup I nicknamed "Andy Peters". He's still young and his ears have not come to points yet but he's sure built for kitchen bowl hockey and hopefully his new master will be a Sabres fan. I noticed Peters sister was no slouch at the bowl either.