Thetownend.com

Any other NHL fans in here?

Getting deep into the playoffs.

Typically I've been saddled with the Maple Leafs through family.
Typically they've not won it since 1967.
Typically they choked game 7 last night big time.
Typically the cheapo Chinese shirt I ordered arrives today,

I follow the scores because my son is a Stars fan.
Third conference finals in a row, fingers crossed they can win the cup this year

I used to quite like Ice Hockey and would follow the Swindon scores, in whatever guise they were in.

I've been to one NHL game, Tampa Bay Lightning against the Hartford Whalers. I think the game ended 5-2. As with all my experiences of going to American Sport, people seem to be more interested in spending their time going to get food and drink. Our seats were at the end of an aisle and it got pretty irritating in the end as I just wanted to watch the game.

Yeah, Maple Leafs here too. Managed to get to a few games in 2008 and 2009 back when they were truly terrible.

Choked again this year. Wouldn't mind the Panthers winning it again though!

Rangers fan here, their season fell apart very early on!

Yah, I've only been to 1 Leafs game Tails. Must have been before then, but was definitely in the Air Canada as it was. Always go to Toronto in summer so miss the hockey (married to a teacher, summer holidays).

Yeah, Panthers can win it now. And my best mate is a San Jose fan, so it could be worse :)

Went to watch NYR when I was staying near Maddison Square Garden at the end of 2021, it was great. I thought we'd support Rangers as they were the home team but we were surrounded by surprisingly noisy VGK fans, so ended up cheering for them. They won a shoot out too!

We got to a couple of Stars games when we went over to watch the NFL in Dallas. Our last trip we went to four games, two NFL, one HHL & one NBA. Ironically at a time the Town couldn’t buy a win the Dallas teams won all four.
Enjoyed the NHL much more than the basketball

The thing that surprised me most of all was just how fast the game was. Had been to see Swindon & Peterborough play a few times but the NHL was such a massive step up.

That is annoying, and a good reason to keep the ban on beer in football stadiums :) That said, don't recall it bothering me so much - been to a few games - maybe my memory is failing.

Anyway first game I went to was Sharks v Dallas Stars. Memorable for 2 things:
 1. Their old keeper had bad mouthed them and returned. "Beeeeeeeeeelllllllllllfooooooour"
 2. Everybody shouting "pizza" after a goal. After much puzzlement a regular told us "4 in the net, Pizza you get" was a local Pizza promotion - free slice next day.

Was that the new Stadium or old one? We did the old one but the new was just being built so around 1999/2000.

Definitely is quicker!

Caps fan - Saw them lots at Landover in the 90s before they moved downtown. My mate was in charged of Exec boxes and used to give me free tickets every now and then.

Went to see the Avs a few years later when I moved out there and it wasn't the same.

With US sports its always a better entertainment experience following the home team. You get used to the fact that US sports are about 'entertainment' rather than 'tribalism'. Having said that, in MLB, I went to see the Astros when on holiday as they were hosting the Rockies. I was the only one in the stadium who jumped up cheering (wearing my Rockies cap) when the Rockies scored a home run at the top of the first. There were some very unhappy bunnies around me. That was until the Astros won 13-1 !!!!  :doh:

Booked a trip to NY with the now-wife 12 years back, hoping to catch a Rags game... but MSG was being renevated so they just played road games for a few weeks. Managed to line up with precisely zero Rags games anyway, so couldn't even watch in the now-sadly-gone Flying Puck. Ended up getting tickets to see Devils - Islanders instead, which was a shame because I hate both teams, ha! Still, got to see Brodeur and Tavares play in person though.

We went to Texas Stadium a couple of times, which was a bit old & tired, but have been to the new stadium the last few visits.
It's massively impressive when you see it, but even better when you go in, as like many new stadiums the bit you see from outside is about half of it, as the rest is below ground level.

Ah it's good you've been to both! Yeah I'll bet it's impressive.

Only really new one I've been to is Vegas. Ok the air Canada was new when I went...

I’m a massive Maple Leafs fan and stayed up to watch the game 7 loss last night.

Took a trip to Toronto in January and watched 3 games.The city of Toronto is fantastic and a real passionate sports city and I would thoroughly recommend a visit to watch Leafs,Blue Jays,Raptors or Toronto FC.

I’ve Coached Hockey for the last 25 years including Swindon here in U.K. plus others and Two years in Sweden.

Even signed Petr Čech at my last club.Great guy he was too.

Great stuff Lethbridge. I'm ashamed to say I didn't make it last the first period, but it's ok, after that dodgy start we came back nto it.. Oh

Time to break up the core 4 do you think? Free up some wages? Or maybe that'll make it worse. Interested in your opinion.

I guess marner will be off anyway.

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I've just got FC Toronto to go on the list.

Saw a playoff raptors game, but not in the winning season.

Baseball in glad I went, but I'm not sure it's for me.

You didnt coach me did you? Was part of the rec Wildcats around 2008-2011ish

I don't remember any other Leafs fans though and I was normally always rocking the jersey.

Oxford City Stars?

Correct !

Maybe,I was with the Wildcats from 2009-2011.

I think all the noises being made,Marner will likely test free agency and look for the big bucks.

Maybe it’s time for a change,but be careful what you wish for.The free agent market does not look very good this summer,so he would be a massive piece to replace,but something has to happen,as these guys have had 9 years together and not done it Batch.

Very busy summer ahead in Leaf Land for sure…

Cheers Lethbridge!

Interesting times. One day I'll understand the draft system

Any time Batch.

Yeah the draft is easier to explain verbally than typing it out that’s for sure. :)