The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The NHL's 82 game schedule can leave a lot of mediocre games with few rivals or must-win situations to give the players an extra jump to put on an exciting contest for the fans. Sometimes we forget that: pro sports, like movies or TV, is entertainment. We watch to see some exciting action, hoping our team wins in the process. But I can't blame NHL players entirely. I mean, if you're about to play your third road game in four nights against the Florida Panthers in front of an empty arena, how hard would it be to get excited for that?

Last night's World Junior game pitting Canada against Russia was hockey at its best. And old rival renewed (although with Russia winning the World Championships in the Spring, it probably already has), players on both sides wanting it bad. It was a won or done deal: win and you have a shot at the gold, lose and the best you can do is third place. No one had any interest in a bronze medal, so seeing the goals go back and forth until literally the final seconds...Canada dramatically tying it up with 5.4 seconds left to play in regulation after pulling their goaltender for the extra attacker. A four-on-four overtime had the whole crowd on their feet (actually I don't think anyone was sitting down as Canada tried to tie it in the third)and a shootout victory sealed the deal.

I thought I already saw a memorable game after witnessing Canada storm back from a 3-0 deficit against the Americans on New Year's Eve, but Team Canada did it again. But please, no more dramatics...take charge against Sweden and get 'er done tomorrow. I don't know how much I can take.