Hockey teams aspire to develop a winning rhythm in the postseason, but hockey fans develop rhythms to their television viewing of the action. Tuesday night was my fourth recliner-and-pilsners immersion in the Philly-Pittsburgh series, and I am here this morning to report: I am in a wonderful rhythm of dual loathing.
Can’t we make this series best of one hundred and eleven, and have it end some time near the start of fall camp?
We in Washington must come up with a name for nights like Tuesday. Our Caps prevailed in mega-impressive fashion the night before, under the bright lights of MSG, not just winning well but supercharging us with optimism, and all that was asked of us on Tuesday morning was to return home from work in eight hours’ time, slip into a favorite pair of bluejeans and a red Caps’ t-shirt, open up a cold one, plop our feet up before Versus in high def, and root for the arrival of ambulances on the ice in Philly.
In Washington, we might call this Hockey Christmas. Or: Heaven.
There are two kinds of nights for hockey fans in the NHL postseason — the high-stress showdowns of game night for your team, when really life and even family matters altogether go on call waiting for three hours, and then the next evening, when the rest of the playoff pack engages in postseason ferocity and savagery, and the puck junkie takes it all in stress-free with a few of his buddies named Bud.
But this April, our “off” nights are far from trifling affairs of indifference; having sadomasochistically followed the real heavy hitting between the Pennsylvania clubs, I can attest: for Washington hockey fans, this is virtual puck pornography, and I’m in a raincoat in the front row for every showing.
The Penguins lead the series three games to one, but Sidney Crosby is playing only a minor, support role in the Orange and Black demise. I will remind my Flyers’ fan friends of this all offseason.
Tuesday morning felt very special in the pucksandbooks home. The early morning light creeping in between the blinds awakened the recollection of triumph from just hours earlier. Allegedly, it was raining then. I didn’t notice. A bit creaky in the joints from the arrival of middle age, I shuffled out of bed and ground the coffee beans in the kitchen with a wide smile, feeling 20 years my junior. Why? Because at that very moment it seriously sucked to be a Ranger fan standing over a coffee bean grinder in lower Manhattan. They didn’t just lose, they lost badly (the head coach said as much). Tuesday morning I was suffused with perfect postseason success — Wednesday night’s next-needed win was too far off to engage.
Better still: this a.m. elation was joined by an awareness that I had ahead of me that evening something almost as appealing as Monday’s momentum-turner in MSG — game 4 between two diseases of hockey franchises. We in HockeyWashington who endured the bitter outcomes here of games one and two with the Rags deserved this evening of indulgence.
The Flyers last night directed 46 shots on Marc Andre Fleury. They got just one by him. I don’t think they shoot so well. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, both of whom enjoyed such stellar regular seasons, seemed conspicuously uninvolved in period three, and seem to be coming up small this postseason. Much of this summer I will remind my Flyer fan friends that this poor-shooting, heartless-in-crunch-time crew is hard-pressed against the salary cap. I’m a big believer in sharing knowledge with friends.
Improve your Wednesday morning as I plan on doing with mine: as you grind your coffee beans in your kitchen log on to your computer and surf over to Philadelphia sports radio 610 WIP. The on-air personalities, I think, will have a few thoughts about Tuesday night’s game.
7 Comments
I would be just as happy to watch these teams literally devour each other.
Pilsner=yucky
I think I one-uped you…I watched the reshowing of Caps-Rangers Game 3 and enjoyed every minute of it!!!
btw- I thought that since Avery received a major misconduct that the League will review the play, is that correct? And if so, is there any word on if he is going to be suspended for a few games for his actions because he’s a repeat offender?
I”m not sure a 10-minute misconduct leads to automatic review. And either way, much as I hate him, I don’t really feel like he did anything suspension-worthy. Other than being a giant d-bag, of course.
A sports radio station talking about hockey? Not in Canada?
Surely you jest.
Since they haven’t suspended him yet, I highly doubt they will. And while I may end up regretting this, I really don’t want Avery out of the line up. The Caps didn’t take his bait at all and he ended up in the box because of his antics. If he wants to come out and sucker punch our guys in the face a few times and give us a man advantage, I say let him do it. Big John didn’t seem to mind all that much and pretty much owned Avery all game. Varly is paid to take 100 mph slap shots to the face and head, I’m not sure what a no look sissy slap from a 5 foot 4 piss ant like Avery can really do in damage.
Let him play and let him contribute to the down fall of the blue shirts.
Hey good post. As a Pens fan I can definately say a best of 7 is plenty but I see your point. This is some outstanding hockey that we are all witnessing.
It is my hope that both the Pens and Caps will prevail and meet somewhere down the road. Now that, my friend, will be some entertainment!
Flyers have a much greater presence in the Philly media and among the local residents. Having to the Philly area about 5 yrs ago, they get almost
equal coverage to other sports teams.
Flyers should enjoy the media coverage this week, because next week will be all about how the Eagirls screwed up the draft and the Phillies championship hangover.
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