23-3-4

 I've been fortunate enough to see a few NHL games at Rogers Arena over the years but I've never seen the Leafs there. I saw the Leafs tonight. I haven't been to a Leafs game in over a decade and the last one was at the Air Canada Center (now Scotia Bank Arena, but it was ACC when I saw them there) Last time I had tickets for a Leafs game at the home of the Canucks Covid cancelled the game. Twice. The first game was cancelled and then rescheduled and just days before the new date the game was played but without an audience. 

Seeing hockey live is magical and I've loved every time I've seen a game. It's always incredible to be a part of a "thing" that affects so many, in a room with so many, to be a part of a "thing." The Canucks won. The Leafs have secured a playoff berth and the Canucks have been all but eliminated at this point of the season. It's a silly thing, following any sport. What else was I going to do? 

It was good to see "my" team play. They only come once a year and tickets aren't easy to get. This photo, taken with a cell phone (because that's all you can bring in) shows a Leaf's player taking a shot, the perfect one on one times two of forwards and defensemen fighting for ice in front of the net, an attempted block, and a box formation pushing the last of the Leafs to the periphery. It's textbook. I'm glad I was there to see it. I'm grateful for all the games I've seen there.