February 08, 2006

Providence 5, Lowell 1

Tonight.
Was.
Awesome.

Tonight's story starts last Friday. In the middle of one of the more terrible days of my recent past, I got myself a ticket for the Lowell/Providence game tonight. I figured that if my days were going to suck out loud, then I was going to take a step to infuse a little bit of happy in there.

Best decision ever.

The AHL says that there were just over 2100 people there, but that's a flat-out lie. There was maybe 500 people there, in the stands. The other 1600 must have been there in spirit. Anyways, low-attendance games like this are some of my favorites, because you can hear the boys yelling back and forth on the ice. If you haven't busted out your eardrums with headphones like I have, then you might even be able to decipher what they're saying. Either way, I like the intimacy that comes from games with a low attendance.

So, I'm at the game alone because Rachel has to work and Jess has class (what is with this "money" and this "smart"? Crazy!). I brought a book to read during intermissions. I texted back and forth with Jess throughout the game. She kept me updated on the Boston score (yay Boston winning! I heard Andrew Alberts busted up Tim's bid for a shut-out. Tsk!), I kept her updated with the Providence score.

Jordan started in net. This is a double-edged sword. I am excited because Jordan! Is playing! But... then, Jordan. Is playing. I am nervous; I want for Providence to do extra-super-great. And Lowell wants to win. So, of course, this makes the nerves worse. First period ends, and the score is 0-0. Providence had 13 shots on net, and Lowell had 8. Eight shots of nervousness, eight shots of, "Don't score don't score don't score..."

Second period, Providence scores (Pascal Pelletier from Ben Walter) just a little halfway through. We head into the intermission with the score at 1-0. Providence is outshooting Lowell terribly (24 to 17 [two period total]), but I'm ok with this. It means a lower probability of Lowell scoring. I am all about the lessened chances for Lowell to score.

Less then thirty seconds into the third period, Jeremy Reich scores - shorthanded - off a pass from Nate Thompson. (They announced the goal as Nate's at the game.) We're up 2-0, and I'm still pulling for a shutout for Jordan. Three minutes later, Lowell captain Paul Healey scores on the power play (assists to Ryan Glenn and Krys Kolanos; Providence's Eric Healey was in the box for tripping), and dashes my hopes for a shut-out. Blah!

It's the only goal Lowell will score (so of course, I am taking this personally). Following Lowell's goal, Providence goes on to score three more- one from David Lundbohm (assists to Jon Sigalet and Shawn McEachern) that I'd thought Jon'd scored, but I was no less psyched that he'd gotten an assist, a second goal from Pascal Pelletier (assist from David Lundbohm) that I missed because I was texting Jess about the previous goal and the guys behind me were talking to me at the same time, and then the fifth and final goal from Ben Guite (assist to Scott Ford). All three stars were pBruins (1- Pascal, 2- David, 3- Nate T.).

Is it Friday yet? The more I see these boys, the more I WANT to see them. It's a sickness.

--

Boston traded Zdenek Blatny to Tampa Bay for goalie Brian Eklund; he will be in Providence. This adds to our surplus of goalies. Brian is supposed to be here in time for Providence's game on Friday. I am bummed about this in more ways then one. One is because that Zdenek fella was starting to grow on me. I will miss him. Two is because I don't want Jordan to see decreased ice time. Call me selfish, but I have been digging on the fact that he's been playing so much. However, if it's beneficial for his health and his play, then I will just have to suck it up. And then, of course, it brings up the whole concern over the goaltending situation- we have Tim, Hannu, and Andy Ray up in Boston, and we'll have Brian and Jordan in Providence. (I am taking a liberty and guessing that Mike Brown will be returned to the ECHL, much to my chagrin.) I am too tired to hypothesize further about what this means. Maybe I will make some coherent words for you about this tomorrow.

Heather | 11:59 PM | 2
filed under: game-related || p. bruins