Well, it was a great game, and a great series. One of the best I’ve seen for intensity. Hats off to Carolina, who dug down deep and found a way to win.
One of the things I love best about hockey is its culture. When hockey players score, they may hug each other, but they don’t do “in your face” gestures at the other team. Hockey players don’t brag that they are the best - humility is part of the hockey ethos. And what can you say about the fans? Hearing Carolina fans belting out the “Oh Canada” to the best of their ability, and Edmonton fans doing the same with the Star Spangled Banner just brings a lump to your throat.
Hockey players fight with every ounce of energy they can muster during a series. When Ryan Smith took a puck in the mouth, they scraped his teeth off the ice into a shovel, and he was back out taking a shift as soon as he had the holes stitched. Players play with broken bones and hidden injuries. They beat each other up mercilessly. But when it’s all over, the losers take it with good grace, handshakes all around, and the winners are conciliatory in victory. I can’t count the number of times last night I heard a Carolina player say, “You have to give Edmonton all the credit in the world. Great team, they played a great series.”
I hope a lot of people saw this series and came away with a new appreciation for the game and the people who play it.
Congratulations to the Hurricanes. It was great to see Brind’Amour get to lift the Cup, especially to be (as captain) the one who received it at the presentation. I always appreciated his play when he was with the Flyers, so it made Carolina’s victory that much better for me.
Pats on the back to Edmonton, too. They really made it a hell of a ride. A great example of fighting all the way to the end, when they should have been done a long time ago.
Oh, yeah, and add me to the list of folks who’d like to do away with the points for overtime losses. No rewards for losing. I’d even get rid of the shootout. Though I can see the appeal, I don’t think it’s necessary. When I go to the stadium or tune in, I want to watch a game, not a gimmick.
In fact, I had no problem with games ending in a tie. One of the best sporting experiences of my life was a game back in 1978, Flyers against the Canadiens in the old Spectrum, ended in a 3-3 tie. A great night in the stands, and this kid didn’t leave the arena feeling cheated. Ties are OK.
Hockey is a great game, and the NHL has many excellent points in its favor. My minor quibbles are small potatos compared to the strong points of the league.
Watching the third period last night, I was thinking about my attempts to get into World Cup soccer. Against the CR, I thought “this game sucks.” Against Italy, I was thinking “this is some exciting shit. Tie or no tie, this game was a satisfying viewing experience.”
Watching the third period last night? I was thinking “Holy shit, look at this fucking action; hockey fucking RULES! Goddamn this is so much better than soccer I can’t even begin to comprehend it.”
Not to bash soccer; as I said, that Italy tie was compelling and chock full of good action. I’m more trying to say that hockey kicks all kinds of ass. So amazingly fast, so brutally violent; what’s not to love?
One downer note was the almost-brawl that tried to erupt with less than a minute to go. Other than that, fantastic action. I am dying to see the ratings for the NBC telecasts. OLN’s early games in the series sucked ass, so I’m fervently hoping that the broadcast games more than made up for them. I’d love to see a 5+ rating for game 7.
Did anyone else have a problem with the way NBC handled the last seconds of the game? I was severely disappointed with the camera work at the end. The moment that time runs out in the last game of the Cup finals (or an OT game is scored in the clinching game) is one of the most priceless in sports. The players have survived a four series onslaught of hits and hard work that has finally resulted in immortality in the form of their names on the Cup. And what does NBC show instead of the players flinging their equipment and jumping into a mad pile of exhileration? A long shot of the Carolina coach, on the bench, surrounded by people. Why??? Maybe it’s just me but it was sort of a downer to the end of a great series.
Yep. It’s not the same without the goalie tossing of the gloves and getting tackled by his teammates. They did pull back a bit at the cup presentation to show us Brind’Amour keep trying to touch it before Bettman finished boring us. That was good. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody so purely happy to pick that cup up.
Boblibdem, I’m glad I’m not the only one to notice the brainfarts with those two shorthanded chances. If you’ve got that much alone time in front of the goalie, you have to try to make a move. He’s going to see the puck if you just throw it at him. If the Samsonov play is the one I’m thinking of, what caught be wasn’t that he passed it but that the intended recievers weren’t coming down the middle to get the puck.
Anyways, congratulations to the Oilers and Hurricanes for a great series and congrats to the Hurricanes on the win.
I was saying the 5+ number using the same mindset as Dave Chappelle when he talked about wanting to pull a 5+ with Chappelle’s Show during pre-debut promotion on Howard Stern.
After saying that a few times during the interview, Howard stopped him and said Dave, what are you talking about with that 5 number? Jon Stewart doesn’t pull a 5 on Comedy Central; if you get a 5, they’ll erect a giant statue of you on the top of the building. You should just be worrying about pulling a one, and be happy if you can manage that.
So, with that context in mind, I’m thrilled with the 3.3, although mildly bummed it was lower than the 2004 number. But with a year off for a lockout, I agree with the guy they quoted saying it was in line with expectations.