Red Rising
It was SO weird to be getting ready for a hockey game with it being 86 degrees out. Seriously, it was really strange. I was in jeans with a lightweight T-shirt, socks and real shoes and I was so hot. I tied a long sleeve shirt and a vest around my waist in anticipation of the iced UC air and set off for the night.
I told my friends that we could just buy tickets there because no one ever goes to Blackhawk games except Red Wing fans. It's the truth. I go to all of these games every year. I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of lines at the box office. It was great. We still managed to get fairly good seats and headed in. It was by far the biggest hockey crowd I have seen at the United Center in years. The even bigger surprise, the majority were actually Blackhawks fans.
Just before the National Anthem was of course a brief ceremony honoring recently deceased owner
William Wirtz, which lead into a very rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. Mention had been made of Wirtz's patriotism and his love of our National Anthem and how he loved cheering throughout the entire song. Fans on both sides did not disappoint. It was one of those special moments that you felt American pride. One of those times that you felt we are all on the same team, our military service is not in vain, the USA is THE BEST place on earth. For lack of better words...it was really cool. You wish there were more people there to share in that moment.
As I mentioned a few days ago...I am a Red Wing fan at heart. I felt like a traitor all day today, I went back and forth on what I was going to wear. Would I be incognito or wear one of my Wings shirts? The shirt tied around my waist tonight was my Wings shirt. Sorry Chicago. I seriously feel like a jerk but I love that team. That's not to say that I don't want the Blackhawks to be good because I do. If you read the entire post I mentioned earlier you will know this. It was just as strange to go to the game feeling some affection for both teams as it was going to watch hockey in summer weather, it's a rarity for me. Very odd. I mean, I really wanted the Wings to win but the only team I was really rooting for today was the Diamondbacks. DOH!
Anyway, the game begins...and did I mention the number of 'Hawk fans there? It's the first time in recent memory that there were actually more Chicago fans there than Detroit fans. I always get a kick out of the traditional "Let's go Red Wings, DE-troit SUCKS" chant. Tonight was no different but it's funny to hear when the UC is actually full and like I said, the scales were tilted to the 'Hawks side.
Less than seven minutes in Wisinewski and Drake throw their gloves to the ice and go at it! HA HA, it's hockey season baby!! WoooooHooo! It was pretty good and the refs let them have at it for a bit. It ended with both players and two officials lying on the ice. The best one of the game and I was surprised it came so quickly.
Red Wings struck first with a goal by Rafalski and then another by Lindstrom.
Their third was by Holmstrom. Zetterberg assisted on all three. Meanwhile, Ruutu, Wisinewski and former Red Wing, Robert Lang, scored for the Blackhawks. The first Hawk goal was what it was but I have to say the next two surprised me when they got past
The Dominator. They didn't look that tough. I hope it's just a little rust and not a sign of things to come. I know it's only the second game of the season but please don't let this be the beginning of the end of an era. Hopefully I'm just overreacting but this is "
the" innovator of goal-tending, this guy is amazing (OK, that shower picture is disturbing--sorry) and it will be a sad day in hockey when he's done.
The third goal hurt. Not because it was the game tying shot but because it was one that looked kinda easy to stop and because it was Robert Lang. :( Ouch.
I was saying just the other day that I actually felt good about the Hawks this year (not Stanley Cup good but an improvement from the last few years) because of Robert Lang and #1 draft pick, 18 year-old
Patrick Kane. Well, I guess my feelings were validated tonight because not only did Lang have the game tying shot but Patrick Kane had the only goal in the second overtime shoot out and won the game for the 'Hawks.
It was a good game. Lots of excitement and really good to see Blackhawks fans out in force. I hope it keeps happening.
Thanks to Amanda and Gemma for going with me. I'm so glad we went and even happier that you had fun and want to go again!