Last week I realised what NHL experience I had been really missing out – the Twitter fun.
As a lover of Twitter, and with friends that are mad NHL supporters, I have always seen conversations, ribbing and “my team is better than yours” kind of stuff.
But in the past week I have really noticed it and better yet, I knew what is actually going on.
What I really enjoyed was all the suggestions of games I should catch and rivalries I should keep an eye on. I asked, and you guys definitely delivered. Thank you!
A few suggestions I received were:
St Louis verse Chicago. This one was from Simon Kirkman on Twitter. Simon says (that was intended) St Louis verse Chicago is quickly becoming one of the best rivalries in the NHL along with Flyers and Pens (I have watched those two play against each other) and Sharks verse Kings (one I need to keep my eye out for).
Simon also said Detroit verse Chicago is a “real barnburner too”, which is another game I’ll need to catch.
NHL game suggestions from Simon Kirkman
Side note: I really need to figure out a scheduling system so I catch all teams in action.
Andrew Donnelly, also on Twitter, said I should pick a city I have or want to visit. Well, I haven’t been anywhere yet (anywhere that has a NHL team that is) and I want to go everywhere so, that rules that out.
Any Canadian rivalry (have already checked off Habs verse Canucks – was very impressed) or any original six games were also suggested. Will do!
Thanks for the suggestions, Andrew!
Something I really loved seeing on Twitter this week was courtesy of the Colorado Avalanche. It was a video of a goalie (sorry, didn’t catch who) sitting on the bench and getting the attention of a small boy in the stands to give him a puck.
I’m not sure about you, but I don’t know what other non-hockey professional athlete – or sports star – would do that for a fan. I think that is what makes hockey so great. It is so kind.
Also, I love the Avalanche’s Twitter feed (I’m sorry, I’ll stop harping on about Twitter now. But seriously, I sit on that… social media platform… for about 80% of my day).
Some games I did catch this week (which were limited… I am still getting into the habit of watching NHL) and my impressions from them are listed below. As to why I chose these games, well, I don’t have a rhyme or reason. Just cos this week:
Ottawa Senators verse LA Kings, 2-1, November 11 (US time)
Sens
Pros: Goal celebrations. The two the Sens scored in this game the goal-scorer and the crowd went wild. Ottawa scored the tie-breaking and game-winning goal with 6.5 seconds left in the game. It was a crazy goal, too, in off Mark Stone – his first in nine games. Boy could you feel Stone’s celebrations coming out of the screen! Talk about pumped.
Cons: Kind of don’t have one. The Sens looked pretty good. Their Twi… I mean, social media, is a bit boring compared to the other teams.
Kings
Pros: Their lone goal was pretty classy. I like the LA Kings’ uniforms. And their Twitter (I said it) feed is brills.
Cons: You barely realised they scored (in the Sens game at least) because it was so quiet. Where the cellies at? That’s about it though.
Who came out on top? It was the Sens. Mainly because I really enjoy a good goal celebration.
Washington Capitals verse Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-1, November 16
Caps
Pros: Well, six unanswered goals. The Caps looked really strong in this one. And I liked the look of TJ Oshie, a player I had heard of before.
Side side note: The Caps are a team I plan to look into further as the season goes on. They appeal to me as Nathan Walker, an Aussie ice hockey player, is on the Hershey Bears team – a feeder for the Caps. And we would all love to see Walker in the Caps colours one day. Also, Grassroots producer and Kings fan Michael reckons I’d be a Caps fan. So, I’m curious to find out more about the side.
Cons: In red, the Caps look a lot like the Sens. That’s pretty much it for cons.
Pens
Pros: Their hats! I saw a goalie on the bench wearing a super cool Pens hat. I’d wear it. I like the Pens’ uniforms.
Cons: Well obviously with that score line defence was a little lacking. Picking up the rebounds was a bit of a problem for the Pens in this game.
Who came out on top? This one is a little hard, actually. It’s not like the Pens were letting the Caps walk all over them. The score just looked that way. But it was the Caps who swayed me more in this game.
Keep the conversation going. Tell me who you think I should follow and why, or tag me in a NHL video you think I should see on Twitter (E1MaWa).
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