After a nearly three-week holiday layoff, the Madison Lightning looked to continue their unbeaten season against the Sun Prairie Rage Blue (as in Blue Division, not as in "rage so much that their faces turn blue"). A win today would be special: not only would it be 10 straight wins but it would be a "win one for the gipper" kind of thing. The Lightning's first-year coach, Coach Thunder Road, is currently convalescing after surgery.
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| Assistant Coach Johnny Bye-Bye rocking the fashion faux pas: two sports teams at one time! |
But the Rage, division leaders as well and featuring some super fast skaters, including a player known only as "The Zero", had New Year's Resolutions of their own to keep: namely, "show those haughty Lightning what's what!"
It almost worked. They almost prevented the Lightning from scoring in the first period, but a successful give, go, give, bounce, between Amanita and Nicole's friend with 4 minutes left to go in the first opened the scoring. Who was to get credit for the goal? The confused ref said "number 3" - Nicole's Friend. Thirty seconds later, the ref comes by and says, "Give number 32 an assist" and voila, Black Locust tallies a point playing on Amanita's line. Where was Vito, Nicole's Friend's usual wing pair? She was off playing defense, subbing for the missing MJ.
The Rage continued to play tight. What was the phrase? "Play up to the level of their competition"? And so they did, matching shot for shot, playing with speed. Warren Peas proved up to the task, lack of depth-perception be damned! The second period: lots of drama, no scoring.
The third period proved to be the most exciting bit of Lightning hockey this season. Who knew? Even when The Bearcat scored a beautiful backhand goal (patent pending) to make it 2-0, the Rage would not wilt. With Vapo Rub out for a tripping minor, the Rage scored in a scrum in front of the net. It was a "play to the whistle" kind of thing, as the Rage coach kept yelling next to my ears goddamnit. 2-1 Lightning. They pulled the goalie. The Lightning sacrificed their bodies deflecting shot after shot. And that's how it would end.
Notes: In a nod to the bonds that competition forges, the Lightning eschewed their usual post-game drinking hole to hang out with the Rage at their drinking hole. And so it came to be that I ate my first veggie burger, accompanied with tater tots, of the year.
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| A distinctly average veggie burger |
I like the photograph through the glass. The customary handshake between competitors is something I know I did, when I played, but I don't recall ever sharing drinks with competitors after our games.
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