Folks, we are going to overtime. And this is what we in Tapelegland call “Free Hockey.” Why?
My first live NHL game didn’t happen for a while. Sadly, money on being on the road for six years on tour didn’t allow me much opportunity. The first one was a tilt between the two bottom dwelling teams of the time, Atlanta and Buffalo. If it tells you anything, Byron Dafoe was in goal. Yeah, I know.
Nothing is settled in regulation, and so we are going to overtime. A father and son are sitting behind us, and we heard something that will forever be in our lexicon.
“Son, do you know what this is?”
“What, Dad?”
“This is free hockey”
Overtime is now and forever known as free hockey.
That’s why.
And, since we have the outdoor and snowy conditions, we have another dry scrape. And that means another unusual situation, as overtime usually starts only a minute after regulation play ends. Another rest for the players, meaning the top lines get another rest. The longer the game goes, the more unusual the game is. At least, in the fairness of placing these two teams in this situation, they have each earned a point in the standings.
And more end switching insanity. The teams were going to switch ends, then went back. At 2:30, they will blow the horn, if they get that far, and switch ends. Penguins have the long change being shorthanded. Still, I think we are going to see a shootout. And even though they already determined that this would be the case with overtime, it seems insane to stop overtime, more insane than stopping in regulation.
These nets suck. Specifically, the pieces anchoring the net to the ice suck. Finally, something, other than that one piece of ice, that sucks. Other than that, what a great game this has been. An absolute pleasure to watch.
2:30 left, and everyone plays musical chairs again.
And Conklin is huge in net, and we are going to the shootout. Is Kristopher Letang going to be another shootout hero tonight?
