Whoa, postage!

First off, it 'twas a good game. Mainly because the Canadian based team won. I do appreciate the commentators pointing out that Ontario could support another team easily as there were 6000 people in the parking lot in Buffalo to watch the game outside. And who would want to watch such a game. Tied by Buffalo in the last 7 seconds. Nice goal but ridiculous timing! Sheesh! Ottawa won with a nice faceoff play early in the 2nd OT. Definitely there is something to be said about certain hockey traditions, like sudden death overtime. I like the idea that games during the regular season have a bounded time, as playing every few days for 82 games is tiring on its own. But sudden death OT is one thing I like about the time when things matter, i.e. the playoffs.

Andrew Potter's column in this weeks Maclean's was another example. Mr. Potter wrote of the honour in hockey - letting honourable people resolve their differences without outside interference. The entire episode seems absurd - things get said in the heat of competition. If something occurred on the ice, the officials on the ice should have dealt with it. Otherwise, let it go and move on. If attention is brought to bear in this manner, it does nothing to solve the problem, if it so exists. The participants should agree to a framework that defines unacceptable behaviour, discourages such behaviour and then move on. That is, if something is "bad", make a rule, enforce the penalties and leave it at that. Funny how in part of being "sporting" is to ignore and move past tenuous and even blatant rule violations. The definition I like is that all participants agree to avoid infractions and don't sweat the occasional hiccup. I guess that is the aspect of "political correctness" that has always grated on me - the incessant flogging of an infraction. I agree that there are ways to engage in discussion that do not denigrate anyone, which would be the main thrust and purpose of "political correctness" as I see it. The ability to move on has been suppressed and parliament interfering in sport because of a (possible) frustrated utterance is absurd.

Guess I've been holding off a little too long on that one... Nothing brings out the big words like pregnant debate... Or lack of debate? Now I'm not sure as it is getting to far past my bed time. Still, it was a good game. Buffalo owned the first, Ottawa played better in the second and third. I'm still amazed that they were able to push the one-goal lead for almost 10 minutes at the end of the third. They were able to keep the puck in Buffalo's end for most of that time. Buffalo's drive and skill got them that tying goal, but still - good hockey.