Jersey turnpike traffic nightmare...

New Jersey was not the most pleasant rink to get to and maybe even the worst place to drive around but when you are going to watch someone from the County, it always going to be worth it. Whitey got us sweet tickets and we were treated to a great game but like the night before the home team (Devils) lost in a shootout to those pesky Leafs: 4 -3. Colin had an assist on their 2nd goal and dished out some great hits but the Devils blew a 2 goal lead when the Leafs lifted their game after one of their players was stretchered off the ice.

Colin had a fantastic hit on Sundin - here is the link to nhl.com to see it (select the 'Hits' tab when the page opens):

Devils - Leafs Highlights




Vicki drove down to meet us for the game, only took her 4.5 hours to drive 100 miles...the last 2 miles took her 2 hrs. See what I mean about traffic!! It was Laura's second shootout in as many games (not a good luck charm for the home teams though!).

If I look a bit stunned in this photo it's due to the quick snap by the person sitting in front of us. No "smile" or "ready", just bang! and the photo was over!


Colin left some "back stage passes" (as Laura liked to call them) for us so we were able to have a chat with him after the game. It always nice to get a feel for what the game was like for the players.

Laura, Colin and I after the game:


I'm back staying/free loading at Vicki's until the Bruins game on March 6th. I can't believe that I only have 8 games left! Oh about March 6th, a special day for one of the previous members of the trip (hint: he was also the oldest member of the trip!!).

I'm just saying...

This could possible be the greatest city in the world! That's based on the fact that everything in the city is the best/greatest/most famous in the world. Best detectives in the world, most famous arena in the world... Speaking of arenas..Madison Square Gardens isn't all that nice. It's pretty old and I'd have to say way behind the standard for quality sporting venues (compared to the other rinks I've been in). Besides that New Yorkers love their hockey and the love to hate any other team or opposing player.



Laura and Heather were treated to overtime and a shootout and what an anti climax when the home team loses in the shootout. Sid the Kid scored the only goal in the shootout and the Penguins won 4 - 3. It was a pretty slow game until the 2nd and it looked like the Rangers were going to run away with it until the Pens scored 2 shorthanded goals and the tied it up again in the 3rd to force overtime.



The fans were vocal and we had one dude sitting near us that treated everyone with some great shouts (albiet, pretty harsh) at Crosby:
1. "Crosby, you little cry baby prick."
2. "Yo Sidney, DIE."

Everytime Crosby touched the puck they wanted to see him get levelled...he took plenty, gave some back and then really didn't endear himself to the New York crowd when he scored in the shootout. I was cheering for the Rangers but was silently happy for the Nova Scotian boy to silence the crowd. Oh, this was the first game that I've watched in the company of women...can't have quite the hockey conversations as with the guys but they were pretty keen and were dissapointed that they're weren't any fights!

Empire State Building:


I've realised that a couple of days in Manhattan are just not enough. We're staying in Times Square and dang, there is just sooo much to take in and do.

Chrysler Building near Bryant Park:


I arrived 5 hours before Heather and Laura on Wednesday so I wandered around trying not to look too much like a tourist and then spent a few hours in MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) - it was warm and there were places to sit!!

Central Station/Chrysler Building:


Times Square (at night):




On Thursday, someone had a great idea to take a tour bus around the city (who came up the idea is not very clear as it was decided over a few ales at a Scottish pub the night before) and that's exactly what we did. It didn't start off too great when the ticket hawkers started to fight with each other over the commission they were supposed to get for our tickets and after having paid, they refused to hand a ticket over to Heather. The bus was waiting, supervisors were called in, at least 6 ticket guys were yelling at each other but all was settled when Laura stepped in and, with an ever rising voice, demanded the ticket be handed over!! With all the mayhem going on around us, the tour guide calmly looks at me and says, "Welcome to New York City."

After the game:


The Devils are the next game on the list and I'm really looking forward to seeing Colin play. Back to back games are hard on the head!

We're all Islanders...

What a day and what a night! The hockey game was a beauty - Islander's won in overtime, beating the Flyers 6 - 5 after successfully blowing a 4 - 1 lead. Witnessed the first hatrick of the trip and saw 2 fantastic fights (back to back). The only downside would have been the first intermission entertainment, which consisted of figure skating. Let me just say, figure skating has no place as hockey intermission entertainment.



They also had a karaoke competition and I loved the fact that didn't show any Flyers highlights when they showed the 'game so far' highlights. A small home crowd was in attendance but they didn't stop jeering and cheering all night and I had a good laugh when they started to boo their team when the Flyers tied it up.



I guess I was just happy to be at the game. How's this for great planning:

I decided to walk to the rink tonight from the hotel and thought I had it all worked out, except, I ended up walking 45 minutes then stopping at a pharmacy only to be told I was about 2 miles in the wrong direction. I started out again but it was dark, the game started in 50 minutes and I was sweating so I stopped at a beauty salon and had someone call me a taxi. Bloody $20 cab ride (maybe 5 minutes in the cab) and I was at the rink. I was a bit disappointed in myself but felt much better when I started talking to the family (of 5) that was sitting beside me. They were Swedes who had decided to come to NYC and bought tickets specifically to see Forsberg...a week after they purchased everthing, Forsberg gets traded! I know how they feel, he got traded a few games before I was due to see the Flyers and I don't see the Predators again. Dang!

The RAV has been left behind for my 5 day tour of Long Island and NYC. Don't worry, it's safe - my friend Vicki, who lives northwest of NYC, put me up for a couple of days and was kind enough to watch over it until I get back there on Saturday.



I am now taking advantage of the public transport and had great fun with it today. An hour and a half train into Central Station, transfer to Penn Station, another hour on a train and then a cab ride all just to get to the hotel on Long Island!

Central Station (not a great photo, maybe next time):


I'm heading back into NYC tomorrow - 2 more friends, Heather and Laura, are flying in to meet me for a few days. Can't wait to wander the streets and take it all in.

It means more here...

I was tossing up between that title (which I saw a few places around the arena) or Mmmmm..Philly Cheese Steak (damn they're good!). So the Flyers lost to the Leafs 5 - 2. The Leafs looked pretty good...what am I saying. I mean the Flyers just played bad!! Great rink, great fans and boy do they hate to lose - they targeted one Flyer defenseman in particular (anyone want to guess who it was??).

Centre ice seats but only one row from the top:


Since Mark and Ed departed, I have been down and out with a cold but I managed to drag my sorry butt out of the hotel room to have a look around Philadelphia today and I was glad I did. After not enough researching, I hopped in the car and drove to the rink, parked there and took the train downtown. Got off at City Hall:


and then commenced to wander...first in circles as I had no idea where I wanted to go, then I remembered the Liberty Bell and worked my way in that direction.

I walked around for a few hours - down Market St into the Old City and a brief visit at the Independence Visitor Center. I was going to see the Liberty Bell but there was a massive queue and as I have no patience, I just kept on walking. What's the big deal about a bell with a crack anyway?? Only kidding - check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell for more information.

Some old building??:


Off to New York tomorrow - if I can make it into and out of Philly alive, bring on the Big Apple!

Capital City hockey..

For a team that is struggling to get fans in the stands, the crowd last night was small in numbers but loud in voice. A great atmosphere and a great end to end game of hockey. Unfortunately for the Caps, they blew a 2 goals to none lead to lose 3 - 2 in a shootout. I think Mark and Ed were happy to see the shootout but it would have been better if the home team had won it.



As it was the lads last night on the trip we decided to hang around after the game for a few beers and a farewell eat fest. The rink in Washington is right downtown and built into other office buildings...you wouldn't really know it was there and it doesn't look like a rink from the street. The good thing is that the train (metro) takes you right there and there are also plenty of shops, pubs, resturants close by.



The trip to Washington was pretty good...we got some good advice from a fella in Pittsburgh to stop at a ski resort on the way to break up the days before the game last night. We stayed in Seven Springs, right on the slopes but for some reason we didn't make it out skiiing??? Those guys are a bad influence on me!!

Once we figured out where we were:


Game day was spent touring around Washington...nice city and of course we took in all the well known monuments and sights:






Had a lot of laughs and a great time with Mark and Ed...I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the flight home but I know I enjoyed the sleep in!! Now for some more lonely time before hitting New York.

We definitley experienced the evolution...

Man oh man, Sid the Kid is the show about town. We also saw the best goal of the trip so far, Malkin ripped a shot from near the goal line, bottom of the circle into the top corner...the direhard Penguin's fan that I was sitting beside was loving it. Penguins 3 - 2, and it was never a contest for the Pens.



It's all "Experience the Evolution"...which we all hope they get to realise, there's no doubt in their minds that the Penguins are here to stay:


Here's a stat - Penguins haven't lost in regular time since Jan 10th! Oh boy, Staal, Malkin, Crosby, Whitney, Armstrong, Talbot..Recchi...the list goes on and on...definitley the most exciting team to watch. Here's the 4th line:


Perhaps I am caught in the Penguins fever but dang, they are soooo fun to watch! Ovechin worked hard but he needs a lot more support!!

Now what do I have to say about Pittsburgh, or as I have politely heard it termed...Shittsburgh! That's pretty rough, I reckon! This city has been great to Ed, Mark and I since we arrived and besides the fact that there is nowhere to get a breakfast on Sunday morning it turned out to be an awesome hockey town.



Mario the Magnificient stilll rules the hockey world here and we met soooo many hockey fans...it's great to talk hockey with fans that love the game. Keep in mind that Ed's conculsion of the city is that everything is old!! If you drive into this city from the airport or from Columbus, you drive through a tunnel that shoots you out right onto a bridge across the river into town...not bad!

Wonderful scenic trip from Columbus to Pittsburgh:

First shutout...

Had to put the first photo in of the guys standing by the truck staring at the ice they were supposed to be breaking up, but here is one that does them justice!


Well this was the first game that I had to sit through on my own and I'm glad no one else had to suffer with me. I shouldn't be that harsh but it was quieter than the Panthers game until the Columbus scored their first goal in the 2nd period. They get big crowds though so I'll assume if they were in a position to make the playoffs the fans would have been a lot more excitable (or if they were playing a closer rival). The end result was a win for the Blue Jackets 3 - 0, which as the title alludes, is the first shutout in 16 games.



As not much has been going on since I left Greensboro (beisdes enjoying the silence!!) but here is somthing terrifying that happened to me. I went for the traditional 1st intermission beer and was asked for id (not uncommon in the US). I presented my Australian driver's licence and was informed that unless I could produce an American or Canadian licence then I couldn't buy beer. So I asked, "Could I use my passport as proof of age?" and the dude says,"Nope, only Canadian or American driver's licenses are allowed." Whaaa??? Anyway, in the interest of not meeting my newly established goal to have a beer in every rink, I walked down to the next vendor, handed them my id, and got myself a beer. Phew...

Metting up with Mark and Ed in Pittsburgh tomottow so get ready for some good tales. Oh, check out Brad's comment on the "Half way there" post - pretty good for an Aussie!

Half way there...

So after a five day layover in sunny Greensboro we finally got to watch the Hurricanes. They won (2 - 1 over the Kings), in what I thought, was a hard hitting, fast paced game of hockey. Some disagreed, some don't remember!



Jason organised a big crew for the Hurricane's game - Robbie, Chad, Josh, Eric, Pat, Art, James, and I all journeyed the hour to Raleigh and were going to set up for a tailgate party prior to the game. Tailgate party never happened as it was pouring rain so we headed to a local pub to pass the time.

Here are all the lads, prior to the game in Greensboro:


Here are all the lads, prior to the game in Raleigh (see any differences):
**If this video doesn't work, try to copy and paste this into your address bar:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1002481161264682205



Steaks for dinner, fire on the deck, a trip to Pinehurst and a round of golf (not at Pinehurst!) all highlighted a great stay in Greensboro with Jason, Missy and Riley. Throw in some great local beers, live music and a trip to Biscuitville and it gets even better!

Had a few friends over for a fire and beers on Saturday:


Treated to a trip to Pinehurst on Sunday:


Dinner at Harper's on Monday:


Game day attire (check out Jason going old school):


Art and James flew out from Raleigh on Wednesday and I now continue on the trip, solo, for the first time. I'll miss you Tubs and Lard Ass. The chirping and constant bickering won't be missed though!! James saw 5 games in all and I'm sure he would have loved to watch a lot more. Art's final stats: 14 games, approx. 22,000km, 23 states and provinces visited all completed in 48 days. What an awesome Road Dog!!

Fang Fingers...

We sang Oh Canada for the first time since San Jose and were treated to a wonderful display of the Predators beating the Leafs: 4 - 2. As I am a Canadiens fan, watching the Leafs lose is one of life's great pleasures. I feel for you Park.



If you were around when I was in San Jose, I wrote about the Shark Attack...well, the title to this blog is what the fans do when the Preds go "ON THE POWERPLAY!!!" You can take what you want from "fang fingers" but I'd have to say that it looked like most people were more embarrassed that proud to "fang" it up!!



After the poor display by the old guys on Wednesday night (you have to visit Tootsies when you visit Nashville), Doug was given the ultimatium by Karla to "not show his age" on game night and he didn't disappoint. There is so much going on around the Gaylord Entertaiment Center that we had to enjoy a couple of beers after the game while listening to the live music that never seems to stop.

James and Doug...if only they were really that sexy:


The Ryman Auditorium (or the Grand Ole Oprey). For the Neil Young fans, this is where the Heart of Gold concert was recorded...definitley a huge highlight of my trip:


Doug is heading back to Upper C tomorrow and the rest of us start the road trip to Greensboro. I've been trying to convince Doug to carry on with us but it seems he has to go...responsibilities really tie you down. Art and James only have one game left and then I'll be travelling on my own for a time. Hopefully the Blogs don't get wierd as I slowly go crazy after too much time alone!