Amidst all the postponements and outright cancellations involving sporting events across the spectrum these past few months, I was fortunate enough to attend two games over the course of the 2021-22 NHL campaign.
The first was in early December up in Ottawa, home of my alma mater, and a city for which I still have a lot of sentimental fondness and a number of friends still residing there. A buddy and I took a rip up and saw a peach of a game, an ‘exhibition of defensive skill’ between the Senators and Colorado Avalanche that resulted in a 6-5 overtime win for the home side. A barnburner that coaches and goalies hate but everyone else loves. Save percentage effectively destroyed for both netminders, but definitely highly entertaining for the crowd.
The second was just a couple weeks ago in Toronto, with the Leafers taking on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. Not nearly as close this time; the hometown Buds kicked the crap out of the Caps from opening puck drop, winning 7-3 in a final score reminiscent of a low-scoring football game.
My buddy, a Toronto fan, left extremely satisfied. Myself, an impartial observer neutrally clad in a Team Canada jersey and Flyers hat, also left satisfied. Several $20 gin and tonics will typically do that. I should note I had disposable booze income because we got a solid deal on the tickets; paying full price at Scotiabank Arena usually forces a casual attendee to put a second mortgage on their house while being forced to cup water from the washroom sink in a cheap effort to stay hydrated. From a hygienic standpoint, I hope no one has ever done the latter in that scenario.
I’ve always enjoyed attending games where Philadelphia is not on the proverbial playbill. Being neutral in the equation allows me to actually relax when I have no stake in the outcome. You can cheer for every goal if you want to, or just suck up to the home side fans and root for their club in the interest of self-preservation. I was able to take this stance at both games I took in this season.
Almost 10 years ago to the day of this week’s publication, I got to experience what it felt like to be amongst ‘my own kind’ when I made a pilgrimage to South Philly and the Wells Fargo Center for the 2012 playoffs. There was still an aspect of stress to be sure – it being the second round of the post-season and playing a heated rival in the New Jersey Devils – but it was still the best time I’ve ever had at a professional hockey game by far. It certainly helped that the Flyers won that opening semifinal game 4-3 in overtime, epic stuff. And then we proceeded to lose the next four games of the series. Anyway…
There was an instance during that game when I felt an odd emotional convergence, something I had never experienced before. The best way to describe it would have to be pity wrapped in pleasure.
We were enjoying a cocktail at the outdoor bar area during an intermission, when several orange and black-clad fans suddenly surrounded a poor soul wearing a Martin Brodeur Devils jersey. The chant of ‘Marty sucks!’ became loud and repeated, as the clearly uncomfortable Jersey fan hurriedly finished his cigarette so he could get the hell out of there. My friend had apparently turned to me to point this out, but I was already gone. I had happily joined the group of good-natured tormentors. These were my people. I had never been on that side of the coin before and I wasn’t going to let it pass me by.
And so the pleasure aspect was obvious but the pity was certainly there as well, for I had been that poor soul at another point in time. Six years earlier during the 2006 quarter-finals in Buffalo, to be precise. It was Game 5 and the series between the Flyers and Sabres was tied – it was a big game to say the least. Philly lost 3-0 so I literally had nothing to cheer about. Holy did I get a rough ride that day.
I suppose I ultimately got a degree of revenge against Buffalo later that year (and every year since?) in the sense that they didn’t seal the deal and win their first Stanley Cup, despite having a roster that could have went the distance. Just like that Devils fan getting the last laugh (if he actually survived that game), as his team would win the next four games against us and go on to a surprising Cup Final appearance against the Los Angeles Kings.
As I said, it’s much easier to not be invested in a game as an impartial observer. Ultimately it’s also much safer for your physical and emotional well-being.
Let’s go Flyers? Anyone? Anyone? Fine.
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This is a bi-weekly opinion column; for question or comment contact Dan McNee at dmcnee@midwesternnewspapers.com.
