When the game started you could still feel the nerves. In the 1st period, Steve Bernier hit Rob Scuderi into the boards hard. It was scary and the fans all new it was one of those game changing moments that could either send us spiraling or make us fight. We got a 5 minute power play and ended up scoring 3 goals (by Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis). After the first goal, Staples went crazy and the nerves eased up a tiny bit. By the second goal, everyone was ecstatic and by the third we were all elated. After each goal, we would hug and high five all the people around us. I was tearing up after the third goal because I was just so overwhelmed by the fact that we had taken such an incredible lead in such a momentous game, plus it was starting to look very promising that we would win our first Stanley Cup! I also noticed by the third goal that I was having some contractions. I joked to my mom that the game was so exciting it might put me in labor.
Moments into the second period Jeff Carter scored another goal and we suddenly had a 4 goal lead!! This was turning out to be one of the best games I had ever seen. Again, the fans went crazy and again I had a contraction. Towards the end of the second New Jersey came back and scored a goal. It put a tiny bit of nerves back into the fans. Everyone knew a 3 goal lead would be hard to come back from, but hey, we scored 3 goals in 5 minutes in the first period so we all knew it wasn't impossible.
In the third period, as the clock hit 6 minutes left, then 5, then 4 it was getting surreal. We had a 3 goal lead and it didn't look like the Devils could do anything to take this away from us. Then, with about 4 minutes left, Trevor Lewis scored an empty net goal making the score 5-1. At that point it was clear that the Devils were falling apart and didn't have a chance of getting back in the game. 15 Seconds later, Matt Greene scored another goal making the score 6-1. At that point, the fans went nuts. This was going to happen, after 45 years, the Kings were going to win the Stanley Cup! When we got to the 2 minute mark, everyone started going crazy. I think we all counted down at the end as if it was New Year's, but it is kind of a blur in my mind. When the final buzzer went off, everyone started hugging again and my mom started crying. She is a huge Kings fan and this was such a great birthday present for her. We had been standing most of the game and I was still having some tightening in my stomach. I remember turning to my mom and again jokingly saying that not only had the Kings won for her birthday, but she might also be meeting her first grandchild that night too. We watched the Kings celebrate, we watched Quick be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP, and most importantly we watched the Stanley Cup get walked out, then passed around from player to player. It was such an amazing night!!!
We stayed for quite a while after the game ended, watching each player and member of the organization take their turn with the cup. Then we waited in a huge line at the Team LA store so my mom could get Championship gear. By the time we left it was pretty calm outside. The only people around were the cops and the fans leaving Staples Center. By the time we got to the car, I knew I had majorly overdone it. I had already not been feeling well and had done my 3 hour glucose test that day so it was a lot for one day. I ended up with a really bad cough and my stomach was hurting pretty bad. It was a night I will never forget though.
*Nic spent the night at Game Stop in Valencia and it was total madness too. The place was packed with Kings fans and the excitement was comparable to Staples Center. He said he had a great time!!
No comments:
Post a Comment