March 12, 2006

Just hold on to this feelin'...

JORDAN GOT HIS FIRST PRO SHUT OUT TODAY. AND I WAS THERE. ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT IS EEEEEEP!

Ok; I must take a deep breath. For weeks now, whenever Jordan got the start, I was hopeful that this game against whoever, this would be the one where he got his first pro shut-out. It never was. I became more and more determined that he was going to get a shut out, and I was going to be there to witness it. When the pBs went away to PA last weekend, I freaked out a little bit, torn between wanting Jordan to get a shutout when he started last Sunday, and wanting it to not happen (though he would still take the win, because I want those pBruins to make the playoffs) because I wasn't there. (I am selfish)

Friday, I wanted him to get a shutout over Lowell, but it didn't happen. Yesterday, he came within a period of having one, but Springfield had to go and score. (It was always the third period that would trip up the shutout bid.) Tonight though... tonight, all the stars aligned.

The first period flies by; Hershey's keeping us pretty busy defending our 1-0 lead (Ben Walter via Nate Robinson and Pascal "I-have-36-points-in-37-games" Pelletier). I'm worried that one of Hershey's eighty billion shots was going to go through. Ha, laughed Jordan, as he turned away all their attempts. Second period is also fast, and full of Hershey just trying to get on the scoreboard. HA HA! Their attempts are foiled, even when they try to run over Jordan and squash him into the ice so he can no longer react and block their attempts to win the game despite our 2-0 lead (second goal from Jon Sigalet by way of Nate Robinson and David Lundbohm). Shot total by the end of the second: 24 for Hershey, 11 for Providence.

Little tiny hockey boys and girls play an intermission game. They're so tiny and adorable that they need help stepping over the edge of the boards. Jess, Rachel and I are all chitchatting, pointing out Ray Bourque to each other (his son Chris plays for Hershey). We are all painfully aware of the score and what might happen, but we're all trying very hard not to think about it or mention it. I am not a superstitious person, but of the hard and fast rules I abide by is that thinking or saying the word 'shutout' is absolutely, positively illegal until the final buzzer sounds. The only exception to this rule is when the opposing goalie has a bid going and I wish to see that bid ended. When it's one of MY goalies (I own them all, dontcha know), you do not even think that word. It's a dirty, dirty, dirty word.

We see our friends in the penalty box return to their positions in the boxes. We know that this is it. This is the period that will try our (my) nerves and our (my) souls. Silence befalls us (me). Well, except for when one of the Guite guys rings out the "GEEEEEEE-TAAAAY!" call. Then we are compelled to echo it, because, well, Ben Guite rocks. Other then that, it's silence for us (me). This period is taking eleventy hundred years to be over. I look at the clock; it's barely been 5 minutes. We celebrate the 10 minute-ish mark with a goal from Eric Healey (assists to David Lundbohm and Jon Sigalet). Every Providence player on that ice is playing like this is The Game To End All Games. There are shots from Hershey that Jordan doesn't even see because a pB has blocked it with their body or deployed a nifty defensive play that's just pretty and effective, and it has become official- I wouldn't trade any one of those players on that ice for anyone else. Inside my heart, in a deep, quiet place no one sees much, I pity those who do not watch Providence, those who do not follow the AHL because it's just not as great as the NHL. Those people do not know what they are missing. But I love this team enough for those people. Because I'm a good kid like that.

The clock is winding down; play is paused for a face-off with 2:43 to go. Already, I think, we've beaten the bid that Albany destroyed a few weeks back (57:07 minutes of almost). At one minute and thirty seconds to go, Rachel and Jess are holding hands tightly, willing with every thought that Providence will clear that puck. I'm sitting as still as I can; I've lost the ability to focus on anything other then this game and the boys on that ice. My hands are balled into fists; the muscles in my arms clenched tight, sending all my energy and thoughts into the effort of keeping that little frozen rubber disc out of Providence's net.

The announcer's voice comes over the loudspeaker; less then one minute left to play in the game.

Time is going so slowly.

A second feels like a minute feels like an hour.

I can't take this. I look up; thirty seconds to go. Providence clears the puck. Hershey uses some kind of inhuman speed to fly down the ice, retrieve the puck, and fling it back into our zone.

Twenty seconds. Providence clears again. Hershey flings it back. WHEN DID THEY GET SO FAST? WHEN DID TIME SLOW DOWN TO A CRAWL? I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to stand the suspense much longer.

The kids in the arena start counting down. Ten. ...

Nine. ...

Eight. ...

Seven. ...

Six. ...

Five. ...

Four. ...

Three. ...

Two. ...
...
...
...

One. ...

The buzzer sounds. I start to breathe normally. Rachel and Jess are jumping up and down, screaming and hugging. I'm trying to make my brain make my body realize it's ok to move now. I think I've forgotten how to do anything except smile like a big dopey fool.

We win, 4-0. Jordan gets his first pro shut out. I'm excited; I'm almost about to cry because I'm such a girl like that. After the game, Rachel calls him out on it -- "Last night, you said that it was never going to happen!" Jordan smiled and laughed, "I should say that before every game."

I'm not quite sure I could handle that, but like the Journey song says, don't stop believin'.

In other "firsts" news, rumor has it that Andrew Alberts got his first NHL goal (shorthanded!) in Buffalo against the Sabres this evening. (Boston lost, 6-2. Braddy Boyes had the other Boston goal.) Tonight was a night for Providence boys- past and present - to represent. Awwww yeah.

Can't wait for Friday. (Pictures from this weekend will be up tomorrow night.)

Note: this week starts Official Birthday Week. Jenni arrives on Wednesday, so pictures and stories will be possibly be delayed. I may make you check the newspapers yourselves. I may completely ignore the internet all together. (O, the insanity!) I haven't decided. The plans so far are: Boston on Thursday, Providence on Friday, Springfield on Saturday, Providence on Sunday, and that's as far as I've thought ahead. Hooray for birthdays and hooray for shutouts that make me stupid with glee. I love March.

Heather | 10:24 PM | 7
filed under: boston bruins || game-related || p. bruins