Under The Ice

Corresponding with starting my new job back in April, the NHL hockey playoff started. This year, with my new schedule, I was able to watch many games. Often one or two every night!

I'm not a big hockey fan, but I do enjoy the game; they're fast and things can change in the blink of an eye. After watching a bit you wonder how anyone could ever score a goal.

The playoffs are great because the same teams will play each other for many games and you start to see how they adjust, where they are strong and weak, and which players have heart to play those grueling long games into overtime (no ties allowed).

The last game of the Dallas / San Jose series went into quadruple overtime. That was a hell of a game. The Sharks lost, but they showed a lot of heart.

After many playoff series it was finally the last two standing; Detroit and Pittsburgh. The first two games were boring; Detroit dominated and scored many times. Amazingly Pittsburgh adjusted and beat Detroit in a stunning game three. Detroit won game four, barely. And game five was a nail-biter with Pittsburgh tying in the last 17 seconds and, finally, winning the game in triple overtime.

Last night, in a game of inches, Detroit won the series and the Stanley Cup. It was a hell of a season and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This picture is from the last exciting second of the 2008 Stanley Cup (notice the time on the scoreboard has run out and the puck is in the air next to the goal post!).

Now I see it's Spring. There are bills to be paid, errands and chores to be done...