Winter Classic: Bruins and Blackhawks’ heck of a play

By Josie Lemieux – Consultant – @HockeyPsyched – Mental toughness – Emotional control

Indiana’s Notre Dame Stadium was packed with 76,126 privileged fans who attended the NHL Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 1st, 2019.

Although the Bruins won 4-2, the Blackhawks had nothing to envy from Boston except for the reach of the game. How can this epic game be described. Probably the best way is to note and be inspired from NBC’s play-by-play announcer Mike Emrich, along with color commentator Eddie Olczyk, whose imagery words are renowned and praised. And each time, Emrich never ceases to amaze me.

You don’t need to know who, when and how were made the following actions. It gives the essence, rhythm, individual and team efforts and moves. It all sums up the Winter Classic:

 

¨ Deflected ¨

¨ Reached by ¨

¨ Set Back ¨

¨ Chances to break the tie ¨

¨ Played back ¨

¨ Punched back ¨

¨ Sent back across ¨

¨ Hold once more ¨

¨ Stuck in the glove ¨

¨ Comes out ¨

¨ Locks himself in ¨

¨ Absorbs shots ¨

¨ Rattle back ¨

¨ Kicked along ¨

¨ Blocked away ¨

¨ Cannot get out ¨

¨ Battled for by ¨

¨ Taps his stick ¨

¨ Wants it ¨

¨ Watching it tight ¨

¨ No luck ¨

¨ Go to work ¨

¨ Midst of a chance ¨

¨ Now he comes ¨Intercepted by ¨

¨ Moves in along ¨

¨ Pinch in ¨

¨ Pressured on the wall ¨

¨ On the draw ¨

¨ Kicked behind ¨

¨ Up for grabs ¨

¨ Back to the attack ¨

¨ Around it comes ¨

¨ Sold it there ¨

¨ Back behind ¨

¨ Took care of his men ¨

¨ And they won this battle ¨

¨ Breakdown ¨

¨ Raising the roof here ¨

¨ Concerned about the majority of fans ¨

¨ Great big hits ¨

¨ Mr. Everything when it comes to offensively and defensively (Patrice Bergeron) ¨

¨ Fill in for ¨

¨ Helped around by ¨

¨ Husked away ¨

¨ We can bring them all ¨

¨ Off the charts ¨

¨ Played across ¨

¨ Attempt by ¨

¨ Back up with ¨

¨ Dancing on skates ¨

¨ Outside-inside ¨

¨ Easy save ¨

¨ Very good defence ¨

¨ Whirling back ¨

¨ Hope to make a play ¨

¨ Directed by ¨

¨ Sought after ¨

¨ Banged along the boards ¨

¨ Reset in center ¨

¨ Able to spin it along ¨

¨ Controlled by ¨

¨ Roll it back ¨

¨ Given back across ¨

¨ Wants to play the point ¨

¨ Ice conditions are good ¨

¨ Holds the side of the net ¨

¨ Little extra after the whistle ¨

¨ Walked right back across ¨

¨ Get it back over ¨

¨ Tried for ¨

¨ Drop it back off ¨

¨ Once more right along the blue line ¨

¨ Flexs the puck back ¨

¨ Flooded back in ¨

¨ It would not go ¨

¨ Released by ¨

¨ So solid offensively ¨

¨ Brings it further ¨

¨ Sent it out for control by ¨

¨ Backed defensively ¨

¨ Plays one in the basket ¨

¨ Extraordinary work ¨

¨ Down below ¨

¨ Can he get this thing done? ¨

¨ Guided away ¨

¨ Remember that stop ¨

¨ Out of the traffic ¨

¨ Dealt back in ¨

¨ Shipped back in ¨

¨ Behind away from ¨

¨ Pipe ¨

¨ Takes on over ¨

¨ Laid back ahead ¨

¨ Fights his way ¨

¨ Freezed by ¨

¨ Able to prevail ¨

¨ Work his way through ¨

¨ Gets in the high slot ¨

¨ Watch this ¨

¨ Rolling puck ¨

¨ Big time stop ¨

¨ Reminders of what you do when you win it or lose it ¨

¨ Wanting to feed ¨

¨ Directed wide ¨

¨ Went out of play ¨

¨ Faceoff will stay inside ¨

¨ Hangs on to it ¨

¨ Gotta give him credit for pressuring ¨

¨ Stop it right around the boards ¨

¨ Wanna keep the guys here ¨

¨ Back in his goal ¨

¨ Hit the trust bar ¨

¨ Chased down by ¨

 

And great mentions for the final overall description of both teams’ efforts:

 

¨ Always enjoy the experience regardless of the outcome ¨.

¨ Heck of a job ¨.

 

Happy new Year!

Photo Credit: By Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA (IMG_2410) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons