If a team ever won a game based on the sheer will of a single player, then the Penguins won last night's triple overtime based on the will of Marc-André Fleury.
There is nothing I can say that has not all ready been expressed by a multitude of sports writers, bloggers and casual fans. I was not planning on watching Game 5. I was going to read quietly and go to bed.
Instead I stayed up until after 1:00 AM, with friends, witnessing a game I only dreamed about seeing and could barely stand to watch. I could not stand to watch a shot by Hall Gill go astray and break Ryan Malone's nose. I could not stand the look in the eyes of the normally stoic Sergei Gonchar, sidelined to the bench by a back injury.
But I watched it. All of it. All 110 minutes of it. And I'll do it again tomorrow night.
That was an incredible effort by the Pens. People who aren't sports fans just don't understand how incredible the human drama of sports really is.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jay. It also warmed my heart that a lunch pail kind of guy would score the tying goal. It reminded me of a goal Phil Bourque scored in Game 1 of the 1992 finals. Talbot even looked a bit like Phil.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree, Jen, that Fleury was the man of the hour. And even though they lost game 6, I think game 5 will live in my memory for many years to come.
Hi Lou (and Jay)
ReplyDeleteFleury was stone cold amazing in Game 5 and put to rest any lingering doubts that he could not make it as a franchise goalie.
And yes, it was fantastic to see Max Talbot score that goal.