Those who know the sport best will tell you hockey has a certain rhythm to it. Every shift, every game, every season is inevitably packed with ups and downs. The very best clubs then must be not just talented, but resilient; not just hungry, but focused. Their sport demands it. The New York Rangers are currently on a six game winning streak, making them the hottest team in the NHL. On November 6th2011, the Rangers faced off against the struggling Winnipeg Jets at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Yet, go to the Garden for a Ranger’s home game, and the last thing you’ll see is an empty arena. Hockey fans from all over flood the Garden, dressed in Rangers garb, and cheer for their True Blue. As you walk up the Garden steps, you’re surrounded by the familiar red, white, and royal blue. There is no feeling like walking through the tunnel and the arena opens up in front of you. People everywhere, just like you, are hoping to perhaps catch a puck, get a broken stick, or somehow manage to high-five one of their favorite players. Camera flashes abound as fans snap pictures of the team and send those pictures to their friends to make them jealous (at least that’s what I do). The game starts and the mood quickly changes. All in attendance gaze upon the frozen pond with undivided attention. Sticks clash, bodies bump, pucks fly, and skates dig into the ice. Every time the puck nears the opposing net, the crowd sighs in unison. Every time the referee calls a penalty on the home team, the proverbial “BOO!” reverberates throughout the building. The Rangers beat Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec three times, winning the game 3-0, and earning a shut-out for back-up Rangers goalie, Martin Biron.
Hockey won’t hold still to give you a better look. It’s the action that makes the possibilities endless. The next practice, the next city, and the next game await.
