Well, I guessed it right again, although this time, with good results. ^_^ After the Leafs, I'm cheering for the Avs, because, after the Olympics, I think Joe Sakic is cool. =P
Maybe it's just me, but today's Colarado @ Detroit game seemed a lot...fiercer...than the Toronto @ N. Carolina game yesterday. There were a lot more harder checks in this game, or so it seemed to me. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it also seemed like there was just so much more action. You could feel the energy, determination, and...aggression of the players today.
Yzerman seemed to take a lot of hits too. And Rob Blake...wow, I wouldn't want to get hit by him. @_@ That little scuffle at the end, between Kasparaitis and...forgot his name ^^;; was kind of odd. Wonder if that happens often? It was kind of sad though, because it took some of the glory from Drury's goal. That was sweet. ^_^
Forsberg seems pretty awesome too. I mean, he assisted in pretty much every (?) Colorado goal tonight. I think they were also talking about him being the leading scorer in the playoffs? Well, now I know why. Darn impressive.
I think Olympic hockey has really helped increase my appreciation for NHL hockey simply because I like hearing players' names and being able to recognize them. ^_^ Today for example, there were a bunch: Sakic, Foote, Yzerman, Blake, Shanahan, Hull, etc. Probably I'd be a lot less interested if I was totally lost, as opposed to just very lost. =P There's still a lot that I need to learn about hockey. I am proud to say, however, that I can usually tell when there's going to be an icing call. Laugh if you want, but that's no small accomplishment for a girl who knew basically nothing about hockey, except that the Leafs played it, until this year.
Watching the games I've really come to appreciate insightful commentary. I think Don Cherry was mentioning something during yesterday's game, or maybe it was during the Olympics, about how he grabbed the stick of a player, but the player outsmarted him by letting it go and getting a penalty called on him (Cherry). Well, I saw it today, and it was like a lightbulb in my head: "oh yeah, there's the trick Don Cherry was talking about."
Unfortunately, it wasn't Cherry today, but Hrudey. Man that guy is irritating. I mean, I know that I really don't know anything about hockey, but at least when Don Cherry analyzes plays from the game I can sort of understand what he's talking about. With Hrudey, I don't know if I'm the idiot, or if he is. Plus, that picture of his old haircut in his early NHL days was just stupid. Not to mention his helmet. Why on earth was it so huge? A friend pointed this out to me during Olympic hockey, and I really noticed it when the showed the picture today. Good grief. And what was that babbling about the changes in the Tiger uniform? He's one I'm not exactly proud to claim as a Canadian.
I admit though, I am biased. The friend who first invited me over to watch the Canada-Russia Olympic game had a really low opinion of Hrudey, and I guess I kind of picked that up. Maybe when I start to learn more about hockey my opinion, being more informed and therefore less biased, will change. But then again, maybe not. =P
Anyway, sorry all of my posts seem to be hockey-related. ^^;; When I get into something, I really get into something. You can probably expect more of the same until the playoffs are over. Hopefully you can at least be amused by a totally...amateur, newbie fan's perspective on the game. ^_~
Darn it! I just remembered that I was planning on helping to stuff goody bags for Anime North on Thursday night, but the Leafs have a game that night!! DARN!! Now I'm going to have to decide between patriotic duty and, well, another duty. I didn't promise I would help, but I had been intending to, so it'd kind of be like reneging if I stayed home and watched the game instead. Plus, I wouldn't be able to meet all those cool Anime on DVD forum people!
Man, looks like this is going to be a competition between my two "obsessions," my longtime anime obsession, and my new hockey obsession. Which one will win out? Who knows? I guess you'll find out on Thursday night; if I write about hockey, you'll know what I chose, and if I don't, well, you'll know I chose the other way. ARGH! Feeling torn...
