The Ending Will Come - From Out Of The Blue

At some point, you just want it to end.

That's what former National Hockey League goaltender and coach Glen Hanlon said after his Portland Pirates won a grueling overtime hockey game a few years ago. As we stood in the hallway of the Worcester Centrum following the early morning win that kept the Pirates playoff hopes alive, Hanlon talked about the seemingly never-ending string of overtimes his team had just endured. It was as if we all wished for some kind of ending, not really caring who actually eventually won.

Whenever I see an overtime hockey game, that comment comes to mind. And last night, it was prevalent once again. I happened to pick up the Detroit-Pittsburgh playoff series on NBC last night. Because of the NHL's idiotic television coverage on obscure cable channels that I don't have, I didn't even realize the game was on REAL TV last night. I jumped on the bandwagon early in the first overtime and quickly was drawn into the drama. One goal would give the Red Wings the Stanley Cup or one goal would give the Penguins a chance to play another day. I'm not a fan of either team but can't stand the Penguins. So, I was a Red Wings fan for a night.

Overtime hockey is the game at its best. You can't beat the drama where the next goal decides it all. I especially enjoy them when I'm watching at home. I can enjoy the excitement and the suspense without the stress of deadlines and editors breathing down my neck.

Of course, some of the overtime games that I've covered are the most memorable, and like that comment by Hanlon, they all come to mind when I watch a game like I did last night.

That game in Worcester is one I won't soon forget. The Pirates were favored to win the series but dropped the first two games at home. Facing elimination in Game Three, it appeared they were headed for a sweep. They were trailing in the second period, and I had already begun tinkering with a potential obituary - (the lead I had was used two days later when they were ousted in Game Four). Portland rallied in the third period and took the lead. So I rewrote the story and had it done. From the make-shift press row in the upper deck of the Centrum, I had my computer shut down and put away. I was just waiting for the Pirate win before rushing down below to the media room to file a quick story before getting quotes. Then Portland got a late penalty, and Worcester scored in the final seconds to tie it. Fortunately, there were thousands of screaming Wildcat fans there, and nobody heard the words that came out of my mouth. They certainly would have warranted the soap treatment.

Fortunately for me, I had had a gut feeling overtime was due that evening. So prior to the game, I had done a 20-plus inch notebook to use as filler, just in case. Good thing I did.

Two or three overtimes later, the Pirates won. It was like 12:30 in the morning. I was sitting in the stands by that point so I'd be close to the press room when the winner was scored. When I sent a rushed story without quotes, I asked how much time I had for a write-through. I was told 15 minutes. I got home about 4 a.m. or so and had to drive back to Worcester two days later to watch the Pirates lose.

Then there was the Easter Sunday Pirates game that went on forever. Fortunately it was an afternoon affair. Deadline was no worry. This was another two or three overtime game and had Portland fans recalling the "Bud Stefanski Game" back in the Maine Mariner days. I was at that playoff game. It was the longest game in Mariner history at that time. I can still vividly recall Stefanski diving across the crease for a loose puck for the tying goal in the final seconds of regulation. The Pirates weren't so lucky. Saint John dominated most of the game and ultimately won. Portland goalie Sebastien Charpentier played outstanding and you couldn't help feel bad for the guy afterward. With his playoff beard in full bloom, he kind of looked like a sweaty Ewok from Star Wars. He said sullenly that he was just trying to play his best and please all the fans that had doubted him earlier in the season. You just wanted to hug to poor guy.

There was also an elimination Game Five in Springfield one year. The Pirates had won the first two games on the road but couldn't close it out at home. I ended up having to return to Springfield for Game Five on my birthday. The Pirates lost on a redirection in front in the third period, 1-0. It was a stunning loss and the playoff season that was expected to go on for weeks was over.

As stressful and unpredictable as those games are, they're pretty fun. I might be a bit nerved up because of deadlines, but I can be freakishly calm during those affairs. It is one of those instances where I know I'm doing something most people probably couldn't do. It's not often my job gets the adrenaline flowing like that, but it can be a thrill to get your story done and filed in minutes in those circumstances - even if you have a four-hour drive home afterward.

Last night, I couldn't help but want the game over with. But you can't just turn off a game like that, especially when the Cup is being shined in the back room somewhere just in case. I was dozing off at times, but got my second wind for the third period. There were people involved in the game that I've interviewed in the past, Penguins Coach Michel Therrien and players Sidney Crosby, Jimmy Howard, Sergei Gonchar. I remember Gonchar coming to Portland when he couldn't speak English.

He came on the ice after missing time to an injury and spearheaded the Penquins power play that produced the winner early in the third overtime. Just like the David Gilmour song says "The ending will come, from out of the blue. " Game over.

It was almost 1 a.m. Finally, the game was done. And even better, I didn't have a story to write. I shut off the TV and went to sleep.