On the road, in Dallas, just in time to go catch the second playoff game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. The American Airlines arena is surprisingly comfortable, a little smaller than some of the other venues I've been to this season. And the parking actually comes in 3rd in pain inflicted, behind Anaheim and Nashville. It's a newer facility overall, and it shows.
I rooted for Colorado; I feel vaguely ashamed by this. It's true to say that I delighted in
every goal scored, coming against Western rivals as they did, but I actually wanted the Avs to win. The only way it could be weirder is if I had been wearing my Wings jersey. I'd have been the only person in that arena with the winged wheel, that's for sure. Dallas is a long way from any other NHL city, and almost every person in the (full) arena was there to root for the Stars.
And they lost, again, on home ice, to the Avs, who came into this seeded 7th. Bwahahahaha.
The root of my seeming disloyalty is that (
previously, anyway), I thought Dallas would be a tougher playoff opponent for the Wings, and should be eliminated early. I may have to rethink this in light of Colorado's last two games.
And it's all moot if Detroit can't put away the Oilers. They need to come up with something; they haven't really had to face a neutral-zone trap all season. And while it makes for some dreary, boring-ass hockey, Edmonton knows they can't win any other way.
