Versteeg and Ladd about to hug it out after shootout victory
Attempting to watch a hockey game at my girlfriend’s place usually goes over well, but I think the long season is starting to take a toll on her. A show about of some vapid housewives located in the continental United States was on. She already saw that episode two times, but apparently she had to watch it again. After a minute or two of bickering, I was able to put the game on. Chalk one up for me.
Now, I wouldn’t put it past her, but well into the first period I think she started to distract me on purpose. She proceeded to tell me about her day and asked about our plans for Valentine’s Day. How dare she. Everything else takes a backseat to hockey, right? I doubt it bothered her one bit that my gaze was diverted from the television when Patrick Kane scored his two goals in the period. Not much happened in the second period, but by the third she fell asleep on the couch next to me.
The Blackhawks took the lead early in the third period when my boy Troy Brouwer scored his eighteenth goal of the season. Marian Hossa shot wide of the net, and the puck bounced off the boards right to Brouwer. As a result Marty Turco was out of position, and Brouwer scored with relative ease. Later in the period Loui Eriksson tied the game at 3-3 for Dallas. Our Norris caliber defenseman, Duncan Keith, provided no resistance in front of the net as he watched Dallas find the open man to beat Antti Niemi. So, off to overtime they went.
Halfway through the extra period Keith was called for hooking, and the Blackhawks were down four men to three for two minutes. The penalty kill has been great this season, but the ‘Hawks already surrendered a goal while down a man in the first period last night. Due to the solid play of Niemi and Brent Sopel, the Blackhawks kept the Stars scoreless to take the game to a shootout.
By this time my girlfriend woke up and immediately made some snide remark about the game going into yet another shootout. It took five rounds for either team to finally score when Kris Versteeg (her favorite player for some reason) beat Turco to win the game. Someone should go out and buy him a milkshake. The Blackhawks defeated the Stars 4-3 (SO), and the game was over. Chalk one up for her.
Next up, the Blackhawks will host the Kovalchuk-less Atlanta Thrashers at the United Center on Saturday. Coach Quenneville will relish the three-day layoff so some of his guys can get some rest. Ben Eager is day-to-day with a ‘lower-body’ injury, and Colin Fraser and John Madden left last night’s game early with injuries as well.
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I laughed at “Her favorite palyer for some reason” try being a girl and explaining every sport possible to your boyfriend =/
I really hate shoot outs, sometimes they make me cringe, over all I was ok with the game.
Thanks for the comment, Michelle. I can’t imagine what it would be like attempting to explain sports to a boyfriend. I have a hard time ‘teaching’ the girlfriend anything about many sports – she has no desire to retain any of it.
I did forewarn her that I was going to mention her. Hopefully it doesn’t get my in trouble.
Speaking of girlfriends, I was lucky enough to see only the Kane goals in the first period. That made my total viewing time of the game around, um, 1:30.
@1 Don’t think I’ve ever heard of the sports knowledge flowing in that direction. Good luck with that!!
@Leigh “Mention” the GF?! This article is less a mention than it is a lament.