The Press Box: The 'Wild-Card Game'
Joe Scaringi
Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: Sports
On the night of May 26, 2009, an idea was struck that would forever change the game of hockey. Well, that is to say, it would if it were to ever be implemented.
On this Tuesday eve, my cousin and I were enjoying a third round matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. With Carolina facing elimination, Pittsburgh was in position to pick up the sweep, up by a score of 3-1 in the third period.
As the period wore on, it became more and more evident that Carolina was going to fail to mount a comeback as Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was looking solid, and it just didn't seem believable that the Hurricanes would be able to muster two goals in the five minutes or so that remained in regulation.
Even though one should never-say-never in the game of hockey, or any sport for that matter, it just seemed to be one of those situations where you knew the game was over.
While we both felt this to be the case, we sort of hoped against hope that it didn't have to be so. Nothing against Pittsburgh, just as a die-hard hockey fan I am always yearning for more. If it were up to me, every game would go to overtime and every series to seven games.
So anyway, as we sat there with a case of Coors Light that seemed to be much fuller than it should have been, we wondered aloud what we were going to do with the rest of our night.
If only there was more hockey.
"What if there could be a fourth period?" I wondered aloud.
Ladies and gentlemen, the "Wild-Card Game" was born.
Picture the following scenario: with only a few minutes to play, a siren abruptly sounds. The rink announcer takes centre stage and joyously declares to the city of Raleigh that we are officially in the midst of a "Wild-Card Game!"
What does this mean, you ask? It means that this playoff contest is going to a fourth period. No, not overtime, a fourth period of regulation.
Can you imagine the excitement? The roof would come off the RBC Center, as fans who were preparing to head for the exits would now be in a stupor of uncontested bliss with the knowledge that their beloved Hurricanes would now have a whole extra period to continue their attempt at a comeback.
On this Tuesday eve, my cousin and I were enjoying a third round matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. With Carolina facing elimination, Pittsburgh was in position to pick up the sweep, up by a score of 3-1 in the third period.
As the period wore on, it became more and more evident that Carolina was going to fail to mount a comeback as Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was looking solid, and it just didn't seem believable that the Hurricanes would be able to muster two goals in the five minutes or so that remained in regulation.
Even though one should never-say-never in the game of hockey, or any sport for that matter, it just seemed to be one of those situations where you knew the game was over.
While we both felt this to be the case, we sort of hoped against hope that it didn't have to be so. Nothing against Pittsburgh, just as a die-hard hockey fan I am always yearning for more. If it were up to me, every game would go to overtime and every series to seven games.
So anyway, as we sat there with a case of Coors Light that seemed to be much fuller than it should have been, we wondered aloud what we were going to do with the rest of our night.
If only there was more hockey.
"What if there could be a fourth period?" I wondered aloud.
Ladies and gentlemen, the "Wild-Card Game" was born.
Picture the following scenario: with only a few minutes to play, a siren abruptly sounds. The rink announcer takes centre stage and joyously declares to the city of Raleigh that we are officially in the midst of a "Wild-Card Game!"
What does this mean, you ask? It means that this playoff contest is going to a fourth period. No, not overtime, a fourth period of regulation.
Can you imagine the excitement? The roof would come off the RBC Center, as fans who were preparing to head for the exits would now be in a stupor of uncontested bliss with the knowledge that their beloved Hurricanes would now have a whole extra period to continue their attempt at a comeback.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jamie R
posted 6/11/09 @ 11:00 AM EST
That might possibly be the stupidest thing I have ever read. It's good to have an imagination. Not always good to share it with the rest of the world. (Continued…)
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