Wild Wing…You Make My Heart Sing!
For many RSM residents an enhanced sense of community is developed through their involvement sports. This is true for children and adults involved in local youth sports, adults participating in team sports, and it’s true for avid sports fanatics rooting for their local professional team of the season. During hockey season I place in the latter of these three groups. I can skate but I tend to fall down when I’m bowled into at break-neck speeds.
Last night, feeding my intense desire to be a part of the greater OC community, I piled the kids in the car and headed out to Honda Center. The name change from Arrowhead Pond to Honda Center still ruffles my feathers. Arrowhead Pond is a much more appropriate name for an arena where the featured team is The Ducks. Ducks, water, pond. Makes sense. I am disappointed in Arrowhead. They should have tried to negotiate a sale to Evian.
Aptly named or not, Honda Center was charged last night and Orange County residents, sporting Anaheim Duck jerseys of many styles and colors, were there to root their team on. The double overtime victory, a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, had fans holding their breath and rocking back and forth on the edges of their seats. Shot after shot was taken and missed, taken and blocked. Canuck goalie Roberto Loungo took 56 shots from Anaheim, who had a club-high record of 63 shots on goal.
Our seats had a clear-shot view to the Ducks goal in the second period of overtime. I’ve never seen hockey so up close and personal before. The tension of the crowd was palpable. The victorious cheers raised the roof.
There were several moments when the Canucks got in some very close shots, but Jean-Sebastien Giguere had it covered. The winning play of the game resulted from Rob Neidermeyer’s hit on Canuck’s Jannik Hansen. It was hard and it was loud, drawing the attention of the crowd. Meanwhile, as the crowd was processing the hit, the loosened puck slid right over to a perfectly positioned Scott Niedermeyer…and PRESTO! A beautiful Duck’s win advancing them to the Western Conference Finals.
Game 5 of the Western Division Semi-finals was Anaheim’s 28th straight home game sell-out and I don’t see that changing anywhere in the near future. Tickets for the upcoming Playoff went on sale this morning and were anticipated to be sold out immediately. The Ducks will face either the San Jose Sharks or the Detroit Red Wings for the Western Conference Finals. The teams are currently tied 2-2.