Today was a whirlwind of hockey, and while we’re too busy being (in Dallas) to give it the full-on travelogue treatment (you’ll just have to wait a few days for our report about Sonic ice [hint: our conclusion? It rhymes with "blabulous"]), it’s definitely hockey- and blog-pertinent to do a quick write-up of our hockey adventures. Today was the centerpiece of our visit, the big day of meeting Caitlin, Myra, Hub and The Kid and seeing the Stars take on the Avalanche.
It should surprise absolutely no one to learn that the whole gang was awesome and not at all ax murderer-y (see kids? Meeting people on the interwebs is fun!), nor should it surprise any hockey fan who’s seen a game on TV from Dallas that the Stars arena is well worth the trip here. It was the 17th NHL arena that we’ve been to, and is easily the nicest of all the ones that don’t have Devils logos on the urinals.
We were feeling pretty confident that we were bringing “good game” mojo into the house with us, and we weren’t disappointed from a purely entertainment standpoint. From start to finish, the Stars and Avs gave us a taste of everything hockey has to offer: fights, chippiness, speed, good passing, good shooting, fights, crappy goaltending, fights, crappier goaltending, bad penalties, catastrophic goaltending, fights, overturned goals, moronic penalties, and lots of goals. The only problem was that the wrong team won. And while we were truly sorry for our despondent hosts, and felt our bile rising at having seen an Avalanche win in person that included a goal by Darcy Tucker, the thrill of a great game was enough for us to consider it an afternoon well-spent.
Caitlin steered us all after the game to a colossally good Tex-Mex place, Matito’s, where we gorged on crazy-good food and spent many, many hours enjoying fantastic company. And we have TiVo to thank for the easy, breezy nature of the get-together, because while we were being sociable in person, Patty’s massive TV set-up was humming away recording the Devils/Caps game for us. (Seriously, people, Patty’s TV is huge. It’s like having hockey games happen in your lap.) So after getting our fill of enchiladas de mole, stuffed jalapenos, and the like, we moseyed back to Patty’s, hunkered down, and soaked up the Devils offensive explosion (relatively speaking).
Our take on the game was that if it had ended the way the Hockey Gods intended, in a tie, it would be one of those where both teams have reason to be happy and both teams have reason to be pissy. We’re thrilled that they managed to score more than two goals for a change (and got an entire two in one period! Madness!). We loved the confidence the Devils generally had on the puck, and their assertiveness on the forecheck. We giggled with glee for Patty becoming the Devils all-time assists leader, and Vrana (Vrana Vrana) getting his first goal, and Zach scoring in the shootout on that sick move. We were less thrilled with all the penalties and the not winning in regulation. But you know what? So what! We’re on vacation, the Devils aren’t starting this season with only three wins in their first ten games, and life is grand.
From start to finish, the Stars and Avs gave us a taste of everything hockey has to offer: fights, chippiness, speed, good passing, good shooting, fights, crappy goaltending, fights, crappier goaltending, bad penalties, catastrophic goaltending, fights, overturned goals, moronic penalties, and lots of goals.
Excellent summary! Having y’all in attendance certainly made it much less sucky. So we aren’t too desponden. So glad the Devils won and Zach got the winning shootout goal.
It should surprise absolutely no one to learn that the whole gang was awesome and not at all ax murderer-y
That’s good to know, but why didn’t I get a “not ax murderer-y” endorsement? I better get one soon or I’m telling everybody about the sledge hammer.
What sledge hammer? *shifty eyes* Everyone! Frisby is NOT an axe-murderer! Happy now? :D
Myra, you all were surprisingly — nay, shockingly — not despondent after that game. I’m very, very impressed!
I better get one soon or I’m telling everybody about the sledge hammer.
Okay, okay, you win, Frisby! Everyone, Frisby is TOTALLY not an ax murderer. Not even remotely. :D
And Myra, I’m so glad that we were able to soften the blow of the sucktitude of the Stars yesterday. And I’m glad you’re not holding it against us that our promised mojo was nowhere to be found.
And YEE HAW, y’all! We just went to the Texas State Fair! I’m shooting pistols into the air, wearing cowboy boots and a ten-gallon hat, and basically feeling rootin’ and tootin’ all around!
Alright so I’ve been inspired (well not really just sort of bored and want a project to do) and have made a blog just for the news of the league. Here’s the link to anyone who wants to go, just starting up so it’s fairly sparse and simple. Any feedback would be great. Thanks.
http://frontpageofthenhl.wordpress.com/
basically feeling rootin’ and tootin’ all around!
Even I was struck by how Texas-y the Texas State Fair is.
I was struck by how Texas-y the Texas State Fair was until the Irish step-dancers. That didn’t seem very Texas-y…
Hey. I’M Irish!
How about the Polynesian dancers? That didn’t seem very Texas-y…
I only saw their costumes. It could have just been visitors from out of town and they just put their grass skirts down so they didn’t get any fried bacon grease on them.
I was so pissed that I didn’t have room in my suitcase for my non-chicken-fried-bacon-grease grass skirt.
AHAHAHA. Soupy just did his stupid spin-o-rama move and crashed into the boards.
Glad you ladies are having fun!
alix, we really enjoyed the Soupy wipe-out on the spin-o-rama!
It could have just been visitors from out of town and they just put their grass skirts down so they didn’t get any fried bacon grease on them.
Hm. That’s highly likely.
Sigh. Could my team look any more pathetic? At least it’s a crazy deep draft this year.
My daughter was one of the Irish dancers and believe me we are all Texans! Just Texans with Irish in our history somewhere. This was at the International stage and there were also Hula dancers, Aztec dancers heck even a Middle Eastern group, why you hatin on the Irish?
Hi Renee — I’m not hatin’ on the Irish at all! In fact, I’m Irish, too! I just loved what a wide grab-bag of traditions were grouped into the performance event “Ethnic Entertainment”. It was such a cool statement about how many different heritages a person can find all over the US. Normally you’d think that the Aztec dancers would be in one spot, and the Irish dancers in another, and so on and so on. It was so cool (and I thought remarkable) that instead they all just danced in the same stage! (I also thought the Irish dancers were wonderful — you and your daughter should be very proud!)
Sorry Schnookie I was replying to #7 Pookie’s comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the Irish Dance performance. The kids have been working hard and it was hot, hot, hot yesterday. Thanks for the kind comment.
Renee, sorry if it sounded like I was hatin’ on the Irish Step Dancers! I, too, am of Irish ancestry and I, too, thought the performance was great! The kids should be super proud of themselves because they did a great job! I was just making a little joke for my friends about how we flew from NJ to TX and saw the kind of dancing we’re more used to seeing in, say, Boston! It’s an awesome thing that there are so many parents and kids who are interested in keeping Irish heritage alive no matter where they live.
It’s all good Pookie I really don’t have a thin skin and I understand. I get the irony. Ya’ll come down for a hockey game & the State Fair to TX and see Irish Dancers! Up in your part of the US you probably can’t throw a rock without hitting an Irish Dancer (metaphorically speaking only). Down here in Texas we’re a rarer bird. Believe me we belonged on the International Stage in between the Aztecs and Belly Dancers because to many of our fellow Texans we are a rarity. Glad you enjoyed the show. Hope you enjoyed your time in Dallas and come down again, we like our “yankee” friends.
Thanks, Renee! I’m sure we’ll be back — Dallas and Texas are fabulous! :D