It’s gotta be one of my favourite times of the year: cool nights, mild sun-drenched days and the greenest hillsides of the year in these parts, not to mention the blossoms.
So what am I doing watching playoff hockey every night?
That’s a very good question seeing how my Canucks are out there enjoying all spring has to offer with the rest of us.
In fact I think I swore in this very space that I wouldn’t watch any more of Canada’s national pastime once the Nucks were toast, thanks Calgary.
However it hasn’t quite worked out that way as I take an interest in the Habs and the Flames and the, well, let’s face it whoever happens to be playing when I get home from work that day.
It’s just too easy, I’m afraid. And I’m kind of tired already, not to mention my lazy tendencies.
Of course I could blame it on my recliner, once you get in that baby it’s lights out, as my comfort zone becomes a corner of the TV room that swallows me whole and it’s almost like the outside world doesn’t exist.
Well, except for the sun shining through the makeshift blinds which ironically make it difficult to watch the men playing on ice at this time of year, heavy sigh, and there’s the dishes waiting to be done in the other room and I try to get a walk in every night and the lawn may need cutting and a telemarketer may call forcing me to run for the phone…….
I know, I know what an exciting life I lead.
Actually we are getting spring things done around the house, not quick enough for my wife of course, but we’re getting there.
And I’m working on my hockey problem, and hockey is doing its part too.
For some reason the first round is the most exciting: more upsets, more wide-open action, even more overtimes for some reason.
And don’t even get me started on the scoring, or lack of it.
After a season where the leading scorer couldn’t even reach the century mark (remember when Gretzky regularly registered over 200 points?), the goals are even harder to come by in the playoffs, and it just gets worse as the teams are eliminated and the play tightens up considerably.
Some say the goalies are better, maybe. Some say it’s because the players are bigger, maybe.
But the real reason is the emphasis on defence and tight checking and the new mantra, blocked shots.
Gee, when there’s 10 or more legs standing between the shooter and the goalie it’s amazing anything gets through to the net. Mostly it doesn’t.
But that’s OK, apparently, as the colour commentators glowingly talk about the Rangers’ shot-blocking capability and quote stats about how they, or some other team, or individual, leads the league in blocked shots.
Yes, they now keep track of blocked shots and it seems to get mentioned as many times as shots on goal, or saves, or, oh yeah, goals.
How long can it be until there’s a trophy for the leader in blocked shots every season?
I’m thinking Band-Aid or Absorbine Jr. could sponsor it and I’m sure it’s already written into somebody’s contract with bonuses for having more blocked shots than anybody else on the team.
Now don’t get me wrong. I respect anybody who gets in front of a flying frozen rubber disc on behalf of his teammates to help them win.
It’s even heroic and unsung and even kind of Canadian, doing what you have to do, knowing that it’s going to hurt or even result in injury, no matter what it is to win.
It just doesn’t make for exciting hockey. I’m so tired of 1-0 playoff games (of course the night before I write this rant there’s 15 goals in two games but then they weren’t close soooo…), I have half a mind to get out of that recliner and actually go outside.
You know, and actually do something out there in the beautiful outdoors that I claim I love at this time of the year.
