Reviewing My Night In Sports, October 22/09
Last night was a fantastic night to be a sports fan with a good cable package. There was lots to watch, lots to cheer about and lots to fret about from start to finish.
First I got to see the Montreal Canadiens play a solid 60 minute hockey game against the lowly New York Islanders. Even though the Isles aren’t good there were good things to take from the game. Speed, shots, positioning, and effort were all there, I was happy to see it. Jaroslav Halak was solid in goal for the second straight game while Carey Price sat on the bench. TSN’s Pierre MacGuire was very clear with his opinion that Price will be the #1 goalie in Montreal for a long time, but right now Halak is hot and the team would be dumb to ignore that.
Marc-Andre Bergeron had a great night on defense scoring his first goal and recording his first assist since joining the team. If he can keep that up I’ll be a happy boy.
Montreal also got goals from Scott Gomez and Mike Cammalleri and cheered like the Habs fans are known to do. There was singing and cheering and chanting. The players were into it, the coaches were into it and I was into it at home.
With a final score of 5-1 I was a happy guy. A 2nd win in a row is good for the standings and good for the moral of the club and the fans.
After the game ended (and for quick moments during) I was able to flip to the Yankees versus Angels game 5 from LA. The Angels jumped out to a 4-0 lead and looked like they had the game in hand. John Lackey looked good, AJ Burnett also looked good and the game turned into a pitcher’s duel more or less.
The game started with 4 runs for the Angels in the first inning. The first time that they have scored in the opening frame in the play-offs. Both pitchers were calm until the 7th inning when John Lackey did what he has been known to do for too long… lose his cool.
Lackey didn’t get a called strike 3 and lost it. He waved his arms, yelled at the umpire and generally showed everyone up. Not good. Lackey lost him composure and his control of the strike zone, not to mention any goodwill he had with the home plate umpire.
He ended up with the bases loaded and Manager Mike Scioscia decided that it was time to go to the bullpen where he found the ageless Darren Oliver. Oliver promptly gave up a 3 run double to Mark Teixeira and the game was turned on its head. When the dust settled the Yankees had a 6-4 lead and I was pretty sure it was over.
The Angels though showed a glimpse of what they did all season long and manufactured a little come back of their own. They managed to score 3 times in the bottom of the 7th inning using singles and bunts and clutch hitters to take the lead back from the Evil Empire.
Jeff Weaver was great for the Angels in the 8th and should have pitched the 9th, but Scioscia went back to the ‘pen to get his Closer, Brian Fuentes. Fuentes quickly retired Johnny Damon and Teixeira to start the inning and looked like he may send the series back to New York. But then it all went to hell. Scioscia had him walk Alex Rodriguez intentionally then Fuentes walked Matsui and hit Cano to load the bases. I held my breath, gripped the edge of the mattress and hoped for the best.
The best happened when Nick Swisher popped out the shortstop to end the threat and the game and start the jets for take off.
During the game I was following Jim Lang @SportsnetJim on my Twitter feed to find out that the Edmonton Oilers were getting pasted by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Oilers were down 4-1 and according to Mr. Lang there was an angry look on Coach Pat Quinn’s face.
His updates brought the Edmonton score back up again and the look on Pat Quinn’s face got softer and the look on Coach Ken Hitchcock’s face got sharper and a little full of angst.
I was able to get the game on Sportsnet out west with the Super Sports Pack. I was able to see a little of the Dustin Penner and Ales Hemski show as both had 5 points in the come from behind 6-4 win.
All in all I enjoyed what the night had to offer. I’m a Derek Jeter, Yankee hater and I’m a bleu, blanc et rouge Habs lover. And the Oilers are always fun to watch when they play barn burning, fast paced hockey.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that there’s another night like that sometime soon.
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
