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Toledo Walleye goalie Billy Christopoulos skates onto the ice during team introductions before Game 2 of the ECHL Kelly Cup finals. (Matt Buchanan/Huntington Center, downtown Toledo, Ohio)

Goose!

The best part of Game 2 of the Kelly Cup finals may indeed have been the introductions. This show never gets old.

tags: toledowalleyehockeyechltoledo

photo posted by matt in Saturday, June 4, 2022

We went to Game 2 of the ECHL Kelly Cup finals last night. The Walleye continued to struggle, spanning four periods between goals (going back to Game 1). The team is struggling all around - passing is less crisp and guys are just not in the positions they should be, leading to missed opportunities and turnovers. The first two games of this series are not representative of Toledo hockey, but, unfortunately, we've got to live with it. Hopefully they can start a rally in Game 3...on the road.

tags: toledowalleyehockeyechl

postposted by matt in Saturday, June 4, 2022

I broke a long-standing vow of mine yesterday.

Well, kind of.

Long ago, as a freshman at Ohio State, I left a football game in the fourth quarter as my beloved Buckeyes trailed LSU by 13 points. The game looked hopeless to me and my mates, so we decided to pack it in and head home early. When I eventually made it to my dorm room, I noticed my roommate glued to the tiny television in our common room. He glanced at me and my friends and gave us a simple "you're not going to believe this." We knew right away that the Buckeyes had somehow made a game of it, and then sat and watched—on television—the last few seconds of what is considered one of the greatest games ever played in Ohio Stadium.

I missed it. And I vowed right then and there to never again leave a game early.

And I haven't. Whenever we go to a sporting event, we stay to the end, no matter what. Usually we even stay a bit longer, especially for hockey games—you've got to see the three stars, after all.

Well, I broke that vow last night. Sort of.

Our beloved Toledo Walleye are playing in the ECHL Western Conference Finals. I watched the first period at Renee's parents' house, and it was awful. It's probably the worst twenty minutes of hockey I've ever seen a Walleye team play. They were down 0-4 at the end of the first, and I packed it in. Hopeless, I said, and left.

I couldn't watch the game at home (it's minor league hockey…streaming is a bit of a challenge), but checked the score later as I was headed to bed (they're playing in Utah, so the game was on relatively late). 2-4 half way through the third period.

Interesting.

I checked again with five minutes to go.

Tied.

Again.

Overtime.

Again.

Still tied.

Again.

Walleye win 5-4, about five minutes into the overtime period.

Damn! Probably one of the greatest comebacks in Toledo hockey history, in a playoff game no less, and I missed it!

But, technically, I wasn't at the game, so I didn't break my vow to never again leave a game early.

Right?

Anyways, the Walleye play again tonight and could win the series on the road. I'll be at Renee's parents' house again, and there's no way I'm leaving early.

No matter what.

tags: toledowalleyehockeyechlsportsohiostatebuckeyes

postposted by matt in Saturday, May 28, 2022

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We went to the Walleye game tonight—first game in the second round of the playoffs. They looked fairly good, maybe a little winded from just finishing a seven game series with Cincinnati. And I believe Wheeling was playing with a replacement goalie considering the goalie situation the Penguins, their NHL affiliate, have right now.

Walleye won 5-1. If last night's on-ice tension carries over, tonight's game could be quite interesting. We're not planning on going but will be watching.

Let's go Walleye!

tags: hockeytoledowalleye

photo posted by matt in Friday, May 6, 2022

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Who let these knuckleheads into the game?

It's funny, the Hanson brothers are like Mickey Mouse for middle-aged hockey fans. Every guy sitting around us started cheering once we realized the Hansons were surveying our section like they were looking for the fan who threw the car keys (or was it a tire chain or monkey wrench?) at Jeff.

As a serious Slap Shot fan, I had one question, though.

Why was Ogie Ogilthorpe helping them?

tags: hockeyslapshothansonbrothersoldtimehockey

photo posted by matt in Saturday, April 23, 2022

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There's so much I love about hockey, but the post-game handshake line has to be near the top. While the NHL only does it at the end of a series, college players still line up at the end of every game and shake hands, just like the little kids playing pee wee. After beating the living daylights out of each other, each of these guys congratulated every opposing player and coach. It's such a hockey thing, and I love it.

tags: hockeysportstradition

photo posted by matt in Friday, November 5, 2021

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It's been awhile since we've been able to watch a game with the boys, so the Harvard game was great just from that perspective. But what a game! Harvard is ranked 8th, Cornell 14th, and it's an intense rivalry. Both teams have some incredible talent, and the small, nay, intimate, arena intensified everything. This was one of the best hockey games I've seen in years.

tags: harvardhockeysports

photo posted by matt in Friday, November 5, 2021

Well, I've never seen this in a hockey game before - the scoreboard at Little Ceaser's Arena is malfunctioning during tonight's Red Wings game against the Lightning. The buzzer is going off constantly, seemingly ever minute, on the minute. The refs stopped play when it happened the first time, but told the players to just ignore it after that. So, the buzzer's buzzing but the game continues. It's weird and funny at the same time. And, of course, this is all happening with only 750 fans in the stands because...pandemic

I'm betting someone is on the phone with customer support at Datroniks. We'll see if they get it figured out before the second period.

tags: hockeynhlredwingstblvdet

postposted by matt in Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Chicago Blackhawks - Detroit Red Wings - February 15th, 2021 (nhl.com)

The improvements are there, but aren't routinely resulting in wins. Yet. Let's keep it moving in the right direction, Red Wings.

tags: nhlhockeychivdet

posted by matt in Monday, February 15, 2021

Well, the Red Wings picked up right where they left off. Miserable performance, lost 3-0. Shots on goal tell the story - 43 to 14. Hard to wind a game when you don't shoot the puck. Game 1 has set the floor. Up from here.

tags: hockeynhlredwingscarvdet

postposted by matt in Thursday, January 14, 2021