~ Ohhhhh... What a Night ~

Where do I start?  The day flew by and before I knew it my niece and I were meeting up at a local restaurant for dinner.  I just want to clarify my niece is 21.  She is not a little kid... well in my eyes she always will be but she really isn't.   We had a quick bite to eat and headed to the hospital in two cars.  Plans had changed earlier in the day and we needed to drop the car off for her Dad, who stayed at the hospital the entire day with my sister.  She parked the car, jumped in mine, and we were on our way.  As we headed to the arena the anticipation built as we passed fan upon fan walking.  Jersey's and cheers all the way.  We parked and got to our seats in time for the National Anthem.  Nothing like cutting it close.  Buffalo is one of the few arena's that play both the American and Canadian anthem for every game.  As the American anthem started and I lifted my eyes to the American flag and began to sing along,  the tears welled up.  They always do.  When it was over the crowd erupted in cheers and the players made their way to center ice for the first drop of the puck. 

 

I was a bit crazy with the camera and got several good shots.  The game is fast so I wasn't too successful in action shots, and I was shooting through glass.  On occasion you will see scratches and scuffs.  Nothing I could do about it.  I decided to do a little video of my pictures and add sound.  The audio is from a couple years ago so the names don't always match with the pictures, but it works.  LOL  Sabre fans will know :)  No sense in boring non fans with who is who..................

 

        

 

We were four rows from the ice and had a great view of our goalie, Ryan Miller in net.  The boys came out flying and a good portion of the play was at the other end of the rink.  Shot after shot, aggressive around the boards not allowing Washington out of their zone.  We just couldn't get the puck in the basket.  Washington's second shot of the game, over 11 minutes into the game beat Miller.  Washington up 1-0.  Damn!   Though you love to see the play in the opposing zone it can back fire.  Miller not being involved in the game did not allow him to get in a groove.  Ok, it's one goal and lots of time left.   The Washington fans sitting behind us got a little cocky and prematurely celebrated a win getting in the faces of all us Buffalo fans.   Period ends Buffalo out shooting Washington 13-4, but down 1 goal.  The boys get a cheer loud enough to raise the roof. 

 

The second period starts and now the boys are shooting at the end we are sitting.  Fabulous!  Watching the play develop, seeing how fast the boys pass the puck.  Moving side to side, grinding deep behind the net to keep the puck down there.  Giving themselves a chance to tie it up.  Not letting the puck come out of the zone.  It took some time, but about 13 minutes into the period a Washington player goes off on a penalty.  Not a minute later Spacek takes a slap shot from the blue line and beats the goalie!  The crowd erupts.  Spacek was brought to Buffalo for just that reason, but last year he was bust.  He scored a total of 6 goals all season.  So far this year, he's at 4 goals.  Yeah baby!  Score tied.  The players head to center ice to drop the puck.  The puck gets picked up by Buffalo and back into the zone.  My Maxie has the puck, some razzle dazzle and the puck is in the net.  Nineteen seconds and the boys score again, score Buffalo 2-1.  They never looked back!  A little over two minutes later Hecht makes a pass to Jason Pominville and in the net it goes.  The population of Pominville increases by 1.  'What the Hecht, are you Jochen?'   I think I heard the fans from Washington mutter.  LOL  Score now 3-1.  Another two minutes and Adam Mair gets an ugly goal as he battles in front of the net.  Ugly?  Who cares, it went in and we are winning 4-1.  Ohhhhh I wanted to get in the faces of those Washington fans, but to be honest seeing the look of total dejection was enough.  Second period ends and the boys out shot Washington 24-6 and now also lead on the scoreboard 4-1.

 

Third period starts and boys are sitting pretty.  They still control the play and most is now down at the other end again.  The Craps get a break out pass and in they come.  Miller, hesitates coming out for the puck and that split second made all the difference.  Green, from Washington, grabs the puck and slaps into the net behind a sprawling Miller.  The boys do not miss a beat, two minutes later Derek Roy scores to get the boys up by 3 again.  A few minutes later we get called for a penalty and Ovechkin gets his goal for the night.  Pretty play and Miller had no chance.  No worries, Derek Roy will have nothing to do with that.  Less then a minute goes by and he comes back and tips in a Brian Campbell shot and the score is 6-3.  Spacek scores four minutes later for good measure.  Washington had 16 shots that period, trying to make a run, but so did we.  Final buzzer goes and we win 7-3. 

 

The three stars of the game?  Ohhhhhhhh I'll let you see and hear the live version.   MY Maaaaaaaaaaxie is number 3.  Way to go boys.  Division rival, Toronto, on Monday.   Let's Go Buffalo!!!

 

             

Tags: NHL, Buffalo Sabres