It’s Still The Verizon Center To Me

[text_output]Does Tim Wilson know he is the bad guy? I’ve seen more hockey games at the Verizon Center than I ever will in MSG. I’ve taken so many people to their first hockey game, I always get the same response “It’s too violent,” “It’s too fast,” “What does icing even mean?” I’ve been dating my girlfriend for about four months. She’s from Cuba, they don’t have a lot of ice sports in the Caribbean islands, but she agreed to go. My girlfriend looks way better in my Zucc jersey than I ever will. I’m pretty sure it’s her jersey now anyway.

There is a wonderful Japanese spot right near the Verizon Center called Izakya. A few Saporro drafts, and an incredible collection of Japanese tavern style food. So good in fact, that it caused us to miss the first 10 or so minutes of the first period. I think “well they won’t drop the puck on time they never do”…..as such we miss the first half of the first period. It was worth it just to eat the grilled avocado and both kinds of pork belly. If you find yourself in D.C. before a game go, doubly so if you’re on a date, I highly recommend checking this spot out.

I’ve been here dozens of times, but this time is like I’m at my first game all over again. Our seats are center ice, 200 section. So far, my girlfriend is less than impressed with the Rangers. The buzz is still electric though, and the game sort of slows down when you see it in person. Backstrom scores not long into the second period and all I can think is “Oh no they are going to get shutout at her first game!” Grabner misses a chance on Holtby and I crack that he can only score on an empty net. Shortly after, Grabner pots his 14th with under a minute left in the second period, and my girlfriend is out of her seat before I am.  The guy sitting one seat down from me (a Rangers fan) is there with his wife, who is a very vocal caps fan. He shoots me a smile as Grabner scores. Apparently he didn’t get the “Don’t date in the division” memo.

Third period starts and Joe (the Ranger fan husband) has switched seats with his wife. Everyone who isn’t me, my girlfriend, and Joe in our section is a Caps fan. The Rangers are their normal frustrating self, and I feel slightly bad for having dragged the woman I love into the emotional rollercoaster that is this team. She yells “Hen-rik” every time Hank knocks away a shot, and she cheers for every hit and clear on the PK.

Jesper Fast ties it. Damn do I love Jesper Fast is this moment. Holy god they actually tied it. They might do it. They might actually come through for me.

I could see the Niskanen goal before it went in, and I’m not even upset. This is still the most fun I’ve had a hockey game, they could totally tie it, plenty of time I’ve seen it happen.

Exactly two minutes later, Tom Wilson laughs right in my face and puts the game on ice.  There are few worse feelings than leaving as a visiting arena and having to get the train with a sea of opposing jerseys. My girlfriend’s takeaways are, “The Rangers aren’t agressive enough,” “Lundqvist is incredible but they let the other team take too many shots on him,” “Diet Pepsi is not Diet Coke,” “Hockey is way better than Baseball,” and “”Unleash The Fury” is the stupidest thing she has seen at a sporting event.”

We wait for the train and she asks if they always get your hopes up like that just to let you down. She seems to have figured it all out after having watched a whole one game. I kiss her and tell her I won’t hold it against her if she decides not to cheer for them after tonight. As she so often does she smiles at me and quickly says something in Spanish. Ten years of French and I fall in love with a Cuban… She says it again but this time in English, “hope is always born at the same time as love.”

So the Rangers didn’t win, but I’m not that heartbroken about it. My Zucc jersey doesn’t make it home with me, we have to figure out how to remake the grilled avocado at home, and I’ve agreed to go to Spain to watch Soccer.  I’ve never had such an easy time being happy after a tough loss. I left having had one of the best nights.  I Googled what she said to me as soon as I get home, I have Don Quixote sitting on my night stand as my current read. When I take her to MSG though they better win, or at least I have hope that they will.[/text_output][image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” src=”1143″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””]