White Out

I was able to attend Game 2 of the Phoenix Coyotes vs. the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Playoffs this past Saturday and let me tell you: It was intense. The fact that there were a good amount of Chicago fans in close proximity added a layer of rivalry to the game, the arena was electric, and the game went down to the wire.

The game went back and forth throughout all three periods and it looked as if the Coyotes were going to pull out win #2. The desperate Blackhawks pulled their goalie and had a one man advantage throughout the last minute and a half. On the last shot of regulation, with 5.5 seconds left, the Blackhawks tied it up. How crazy is that kind of stuff? You couldn't script it any better (for Chicago fans at least)...

The game went into a sudden death overtime and the Blackhawks won on a deflected puck placed across the Coyotes net. It was a heartbreaker. 

What was the most interesting thing about the whole game (to me, at least) was the commentary that went on between fans after the Coyotes' goalie suffered a head injury during the game. He was hit in the head/neck area and immediately went to the ground and did not get up. Blackhawk fans then proceeded to yell: "Come on, this isn't basketball! Get up!",  "Oh, nice acting job!! You deserve an oscar!", and "Take a Tylenol! You'll feel better in the morning!". A Coyotes fan proceeded to yell at the opposing fans "Let's punch a Blackhawk fan in the face, see if they say it's a flop!" and other Phoenix fans continued to comment on the cheap shot to their goaltender throughout the game.

These are simply things you do not hear in other sports. When a player goes down in basketball or baseball, there is general worry or concern on both sides. Such was not the case at the hockey game. It might have been because Chicago was penalized with a 5 minute penalty and the player being ejected from the game.

This was only the 3rd professional hockey game I've ever been to. The whole atmosphere is new, fresh, and exhilarating. I am still getting accustomed to how different the sport is from the other big three, but I look forward to getting to know the differences.