One Fan's Perspective

Like any self-respecting hockey fan, I found myself in front of the television taking in the Winter Classic. The game was incredible, and I’m certainly glad they add this game to the docket every year.

Since I’m not a fan of either team, I did find myself pulling for the Bruins – most likely due to the Derek Morris connection. Daniel Carcillo had a nice bout as he and Scott Thornton have the distinction of having the first fight during the Winter Classic. Congratulations to Tim Thomas being selected to the U.S.A. Olympic team as well, showing that people who are a little older can still be on top of their games.

The game was a spectacle, pure and simple, and a good one at that. The commercials were creative and it’s nice that advertisers are now paying attention to possibly the best sporting event on New Year’s Day.

There also has been talk of where to have next year’s game already, and even with our summer of discontent, I think next year’s version should be played up there somewhere. It would be certainly good for the game and good for the relationship between the Canadian fans and the NHL.

The production of the game fascinates me though, especially with turning a baseball stadium like Fenway Park, like Wrigley Field rich in history and tradition, be transformed into an outdoor hockey arena.

Tags: Boston Bruins, Hockey, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Winter Classic by pbcoyotes
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The Coyotes played an inspired game against the Flyers tonight.  Shane Doan has been completely snakebit and can’t buy a goal.

Unless the Flyers pull their goaltender Ray Emery in the final minute and Pronger can’t stop a Shane Doan rush.  Pronger commits a penalty as Doan attacks, and because of Rule 26.1 (the awarding of a goal), Doan gets his goal that he has fought so hard to earn.

Here is the text of Rule 26.1 for those that don’t believe me:

Rule 26 – Awarded Goals
26.1 Awarded Goal – A goal will be awarded to the attacking team when the opposing team has taken their goalkeeper off the ice and an attacking player has possession and control of the puck in the neutral or attacking zone, without a defending player between himself and the opposing goal, and he is prevented from scoring as a result of an infraction committed by the defending team

So, that’s what happened, not that they really needed that clinching goal, but Tyson Nash and Bob Heethuis stated that they have never seen that type of thing before.  I would have to agree as I haven’t either, but the logic of the rule sort of makes sense.  If Pronger didn’t commit the penalty because Doan beat him, Doan might have scored.

The Coyotes take 5 points of the last 6 available.  Hopefully, the trend will continue when they travel to the Great White North.

Tags: Hockey, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Shane Doan by pbcoyotes
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“Wayne came in and fired us up a little bit … we looked good on paper, we won the shots, but we were just fooling ourselves. We weren’t playing the way we should …”

Tags: Hockey, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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