Best Game I've Ever Attended

Last night, I was in attendance to the best Carolina Hurricanes victory ever, marking the first "championship level" game I have attended in person. While I'm sure that other Canes games were just as exciting, I doubt that they were both as exciting and as important as Game 1 of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals. 

However, the game started off as a dud.  The Canes played some lackluster hockey, by turning the puck over, giving up several shots and generally not skating as well as they should.  Poor play by the Canes led to golden opportunities for the Edmonton Oilers, including a questionable penalty resulting in the first converted penalty shot in a Stanley Cup Final by Oiler Chris Pronger.  (Pronger is WAY good, by the way).  In the second period, the Canes were faced with a 0-3 deficit.  The outlook was bleak.

Then, with about 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, captain Rod Brind'Amour got the scoring started with his first goal of the night.  By the beginning of the 3rd period, the once sulk-ridden fans on the bad end of 0-3 got their second wind.  Being down 2 goals is something the Canes have come back from during these playoffs, so there was a glimmer of hope.  Then the flood gates opened.  Justin Williams capped off a 3 goal run in 10 minutes with his short handed breakaway goal, following 2 Ray Whitney goals.  Canes were winning 4-3!

Although this comeback looked like a fairy tale, fans were brought back to reality after Ales Hemsky's sweet backhand goal.  As time was waning in regulation, Canes fans were preparing for overtime.  After being down 0-3, forcing an overtime seemed like a gift.  Then with 35 seconds to go, the Canes received a much better gift:  A turn over behind the goal, with no goalie in net!  Rod Brind'Amour grabbed the mishandled puck, wrapping it around the front of the net for an easy score.  The RBC Center erupted!  Decibel levels were peaking near 130db, which is the equivalent to a jackhammer or an air raid.  After Canes Goalie, Cam Ward withstood an "everything but the kitchen sink" style of offensive rush from Edmonton, the Canes held on for the victory. 

Although I have seen exciting OR important games in the past, there was nothing that filled both of these characteristics like this game did.  This was a historic game, and I was there!