If you're a hockey fan and you live in Dallas...well, you're probably going to be a wee bit late getting into work this morning. After 129:03 of playoff hockey (three regulation periods, three 20:00 overtime periods, and almost half of a fourth overtime), the Dallas Stars finally managed to beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1, winning the Western Conference semifinal series four games to two. That the winning goal came during that rarest of overtime playoff phenomena- a power play- only added to the drama. For you local trivia buffs, the winning goal was scored by former Portland Winter Hawk Brendan Morrow.
The suffering drama finally came to an end at 1.24am in Dallas, so if you're short a few employees this morning (and they happen to be hockey fans), you can bet that they're sleeping this one off. I'd like to say that I stayed awake to the bitter end, but it was 11.24pm here on the West Coast, and I have to work this morning. If it were the Minnesota North Stars (the team I grew up living and dying with) we were talking about, I'd have stayed up all night if the boys still had life. Since 1993, though, they've been the Dallas Stars (fifteen years laters, and NORM GREEN STILL SUCKS!!), so my allegiance runs hot and cold. I've been to a Stars game at American Airlines center in Dallas...and I've gotta tell you, it's just not the same. My childhood memories died in Minnesota, and they have yet to be ressurected in Dallas (though finally winning a Stanley Cup in 1999 didn't hurt their cause...and yes, Brett Hull WAS in the crease....)
While watching SportsCenter this morning, I noticed that, while a reporter was interviewing Stars' goalie Marty Turco, a number of fans strolled through the background wearing Minnesota North Stars sweaters. Yes, I was happy the Stars won, but seeing all those fans in North Stars sweaters was what really put a smile on my face...and I still have mine hanging in my closet.
Thankfully, the Stars at least have three days to rest up before starting the Western Conference finals Thursday night in Detroit against the evil, blood-sucking Red Wings. I may actually have to care about this series....
