Making Up for Lost Time

Too sick for hockey. I had never uttered that one before. Put it in the books.

Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Turned the set on. Focused on the game. Head began to hurt. Eyes began to hurt. The set goes off.

Darkness. Relief.

What did I miss? The Chicago Blackhawks building a big lead, losing it and then winning in overtime against the San Jose Sharks. The Atlanta Thrashers waiting until the third period to come alive and snuff the Philadelphia Flyers. The New York Rangers taking another beating, this time at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Actually, the last one I started to watch. But I felt as bad as the Rangers. I had the luxury of leaving the scene of the accident. The Rangers had to stay for the duration.

After two days off, I am ready to resume my spot behind the bar in the Lounge. We're going to have Toronto/New Jersey on the main screen starting at 7 pm Eastern, but the the college game takes over the main screen at 8:30, with Denver facing North Dakota on the NHL Network.

Reminds me of time last year. I was feeling good on a Friday evening, running from the office to Grand Central Terminal. Made the eight-block commute safely without incident, and I headed to the lower concourse for my train. Two strides down the wide ramp, I noticed a guy in his NoDak gear (cap and sweatshirt) as he and his girlfriend (wife, friends??) were preparing to order from the To Go window at the Oyster Bar.

Well, the little Pioneers fan in me (I grew up in Colorado at a time when Keith Magnuson and the DU Pie-Ohs ruled the NCAA scene in the late 1960s) emerged in a devilish smile and a desire to slam that NoDak wearin-soup slurpin' guy right into the glass at the Oyster Bar. His body was turned slightly toward me, so it would have been a legal hit. OK, on the ice it would have been a legal hit.

I had to pass it up. But if that NoDak guy walks into Lounge tonight, he's gonna get hit. No question.

For those who want to watch more college hockey, the Big Ten Network will have the Michigan at Michigan State game tonight at 7 Eastern. The CBS College Sports channel will have Nebraska-Omaha at Notre Dame at 8 Eastern. The Denver-North Dakota game can also be seen nationally on the Fox College Sports Central channel at 8:30.

Wouldn't you know it, the Lounge gets all of those channels, as well as the NHL Center Ice package, the NHL Network, Versus, MSG, MSG-Plus and MSG-Plus2. Is this a great country or what? Let's watch some hockey.

THURSDAY'S SCOREBOARD
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Atlanta 4, at Philadelphia 3
Ottawa 4, at Pittsburgh 1
At Carolina 4, N.Y. Islanders 1
Los Angeles 4, at Columbus 1
Minnesota 1, at Colorado 0
At Phoenix 3, Calgary 2 SO
St. Louis 2, at Edmonton 1
Chicago 4, at San Jose 3 OT
The standings are here.
Recap by Sportsnet.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

WEDNESDAY'S SCOREBOARD
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Buffalo 2, New Jersey 1 SO
Carolina 5, at N.Y. Rangers 1
At Washington 5, Anaheim 1
At Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 0
At Minnesota 5, Detroit 2
At Dallas 4, Calgary 3 SO
At Vancouver 3, St. Louis 2
Recap by Sportsnet.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.