Taking in some hockey

Last night, I got to see the Rangers in person for the first time in three years. Josh had gotten the tickets back in the fall, and, as a thank you for my covering a few of his shifts at work during the holidays, he brought me to this game.

What a game it was.

Things started out kinda shakey, as the Flyers were on the power play for what seemed like the entire first period. Yet, when the first 20 minutes were up, the score was 1-0, Rangers. This with the shots on goal favoring the Flyers 15 -5.

It was during the second period that things got crazy. New York scored four goals (two on the power play), and since we were sitting in Section 204A, all of the action took place right beneath us. At 3-0, the crowd cheered as Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock pulled goalie Robert Esche in favor of Olympic MVP Antero Nittymaki. At 4-0, the Flyers scored a power play goal of their own, but some terrible puck handling by their defense presented a gild-edge opportunity to Jason Ward right in front of the Flyers net, and it quickly became 5-1.

Josh has been fighting pnumonia for about two weeks now, and was actually home sick all last week, but had decided to go to the game anyway. Well, at 5-1 after two periods, his illness suddenly became much more acute, and he succumbed to his fatigue.

Not being an a-hole, I agreed that we could head home. To show his appreciation for my understanding, we stopped by the pub down the street from his house for a Guinness and watched the last eight minutes of the game. Donald Brasher got tossed, racking up a total of 35 minutes in penalties, and the Rangers scored another power play goal, making the final 6-1 in favor of New York.

Thanks to Josh for bringing me to the game, and thanks to the Rangers for making it a night to remember.