February 18, 2019: Luck of the Draw

Sometimes you just have to be a little lucky.  Kind of like I was for my son’s first Bears game this year.  The home game against the Lions when the Bears were lighting up the scoreboard, and most importantly, won the game; what a great first experience for my boy.  Now we’ve been to Blackhawks games before, but this was our only one this year.  In the house Monday night at the UC vs the Senators, we hit jackpot again;  I guess it’s just the luck of the draw.

Actually, they are the worst team in the league, and just because the Blackhawks are making their mighty playoff push, doesn’t mean they’re still not at the bottom of the standings in their division; it doesn’t mean their defense still doesn’t have lapses.  It was a good old shootout at the Madhouse.  15 total goals, an 8-7 Hawks win.  How can I live up to that going forward?

I worried about that the last game we attended.  That was the one in a snowstorm where we had pretty good seats in the first row of the 300 level.  That was the one where a guy offered me 2 of his tickets 9 rows off the ice.  I wanted to tell my son, don’t get used to sitting this close to the ice.  300 level is where we live.  Just like yesterday when we got there before the gates opened (thanks Amex).  We headed down to the ice at 6pm sharp.  We waited for the Hawks to hit the ice; waiting to see them and their pre-game routine up close and personal.  I made sure to tell my son… we’re just going to watch that; our seats are way up there… as I pointed to the Bulls championship banners hanging in the rafters.  And now this… an epic game… all these goals… all the singing and dancing… the celebration after a win.  It would have sucked had they actually blew that game.  I guess it all evens out.  I was telling the guy next to me that the 2 Bulls games we went to this year we lost by a combined 60 points. 

Yes, it was a great game to be at, no doubt.  My son has a favorite new player.  After his hat trick, Alex DeBrincat is now #1 on his list, followed closely by Kane and Toews of course.  His next favorite player is Koekkoek… of course because it’s pronounced KOO-KOO.  He got a real kick out of that.  I thought that dude was going to cost us this one.  He took a penalty early, and then another late, giving the Sens a 2 man advantage after they pulled their goalie.  I just knew this game was going to OT… that the 8-5 lead was going up in smoke.  But when the puck was sent down the ice for the last time, I knew we were good.  I lifted my son up, celebrating the Hawks win.

I’m glad too.  I didn’t want to write an obituary for the Hawks, which I may have had to do if they lost this one.  But instead, with that win, they’re now only a mere 18-4 away from 95 points and a playoff berth.  Thanks for scoring 8 goals in the 1 game I took my son to this year.  Go Hawks!