The Severed Cortex

Link: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290120018

I'm in San Jose this week and realize that the HP Pavilion is a short 6 blocks away. On a whim I mention hockey to some of my travel partners and one of them scores 2nd row tickets behind the Vancouver bench. Pricey, but great seats for sure. (Thanks Mamie) Little did I know it was the return of Claude Lemieux, one of the venerable players of the game. The guy has won 4 Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe trophy, and now 5 years from leaving professional hockey he returns. Oh yeah, he's 43 years old and 9 months older than me. I couldn't skate for 2 minutes and this guy plays the 3rd line like he never left the game. I was lucky enough to be there and witness this history and for that it was totally worth the price.

Great game too. Roberto Luongo stopped 22 shots before giving up a goal with 39 seconds left in the game. In overtime Daniel Sedin took a bad penalty and the Sharks scored on the power play to win. Lemieux was totally stoked. Joe Thorton egged on the Canuck bench throughout the 3rd period and as the teams were leaving the ice after the game, a couple of Canuck players took the liberty of a body check to a couple Shark players. A scuffle ensued. Good times.

Vancouver's coach and a couple of their players were constantly checking out Mamie throughout the whole game. The coach even winked at her at one point. It was definitely funny.