Thanks all for your help on picking a game and prepping for it! I’ve got questions at the end if you want to skip me wittering on about the match.
I watched them play and I LOVED it. I barely blinked during play, I was gripped and I’m officially a hockey girl now. I was lucky enough to sit near a huge fan who told me loads through the game, although neither of us took our eyes off the game while talking.
Neither team was playing that great, they were a little all over the place, people around me didn’t know why. It went to overtime and we won, probably because they heard me repeatedly screaming “COME ON BOYS GET IT TOGETHER!!!”
Alas, no fights although there was nearly one. I did see quite a few deliberate barges into the barrier and boy, Merlott is a forceful player! Him and Kempe were my favourites.
I really, really enjoyed it and I found it a really welcoming place. Nobody cared that I’m english, and knew little about the game. Everyone I spoke to was genuinely supportive about me making them my team and happy to have me on board.
I’m gonna start following hockey now, obviously particularly the kings but are there any other teams that are good to watch? Who is playing best atm?
I was looking forward to watching this game on catchup (I’m in the UK) tomorrow and successfully avoided knowing the result. Until now :(
Glad you enjoyed the game and happy to help welcome a new fan to the sport.
Also good teams to watch at the minute: Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks are all up and coming teams with excellent young players. Still putting their core rosters together and very rough around the edges but all very fun to watch, high event hockey (lots of goals).
Edmonton Oilers (though it pains me to say it) have one of the greatest to ever play the game on their team in Connor McDavid and their other top forward Leon Draisitl is top 10 in the league when he’s rolling.
Florida Panthers are the current reigning champions and are starting to look like they could make another deep playoff run after a shakey start, plus they’re among the more physical (and some could say dirtiest) players at the moment and have their fair share of fights.
Colorado Avalanche have an amazing 1-2 punch in one of the best forwards in the game with Nathan McKinnon and the best defenseman in the league with Cale Makar.
Or you could do what I did and fall in love with a team destined to be permenantly in a state of self-destruction and sure to never hoist the big trophy in my life time: the Vancouver Canucks.
Mate I’m so sorry I didn’t think! I’ve edited the post although alas it’s too late for you. Thanks for all the really helpful info, I’ll do a proper deep dive later. Are you British? What got you into the game?
I had a year travelling in Canada in 2011-12 and flew into Vancouver after watching all the footage of the Olympics in 2010.
Got some cheap tickets to watch a game with someone I met at the hostel and saw Canucks vs Sharks and I was hooked from then.
And if doesn’t matter about the spoiler lol, if you’re a Canucks fan you get used to not paying attention to the score lines!
Also, the PWHL (women’s top tier) is having an explosion in popularity right now and is great hockey but tickets are half the price of NHL. Go Goldeneyes!
Mate i really appreciate all the info, I’ve screenshotted it to pour over. I looked it up and they play in europe sometimes which isn’t too far for us brits to travel too! I’m definitely going next time they play somewhere not too far. Looks like we’ve both fallen into foreign hockey in similar ways!
Good tip on the women’s hockey. I googled and it looks great, plus I discovered Hilary Knight 😍😍😍