Behind the Net goes to an actual NHL game

by Hawerchuk on Nov 29, 2009 2:17 AM EST

I don't actually live very close to an NHL arena - the Sharks play 55 miles from my house, which is a huge time investment to see a game. Their games are almost always completely sold out these days, which has driven prices up - a friend of mine bought season tickets last year, but I think he sold 90% of the games rather than take his freeloader friends.

That means I only get to see live games when I'm out-of-town, so I headed over to the Staples Center to see the Kings and Blackhawks tonight. It was an exciting game - tied til the 2nd; then the Kings led 1-0 until the mid-3rd. We had overtime where teams actually tried to win (including a penalty call!), two timeouts and an anti-climactic four-shot shootout.

It was very interesting to see some of the things that get discussed here and on other stats-focused sites: Chicago was down for over 20 minutes; they significantly outshot the Kings. Anze Kopitar had a breakaway and didn't score - but of course shooting percentage is only 33% on a breakaway; rebounds are vastly more dangerous. I suppose I could have counted shots directed at the net and compare them to the official count...But that really wouldn't have been much fun...

Anyways, the next live game on my schedule is whichever Olympic quarter-final Canada is playing in. More then...

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I have to say, I’m surprised that you would think 55 miles is a huge time investment. In the Bay Area that really isn’t that much. People commute for that just for work. Nevermind the lenghts we go to for play.

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)

by ang6666 on Dec 1, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions

I’ve been commuting 35-45 miles a day for 10 years. On Saturdays, I’d rather not drive that far too.

Anyways, what time do you need to leave San Francisco to get to San Jose by 7 pm on a weekday? 5? It’s a lot of driving – or 4 hours on the train.

by Hawerchuk on Dec 2, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

I work in Emeryville, so if going to a game during the week, I leave earlier to get my boys at home in San Bruno then continue to San Jose. But for hockey, I don’t think the time is that much hassle. That is just me.

There are only a few times I take the train, and that would be on the weekend when I use my oldest’s monthly pass. Even that, it’s 45 minutes there then back.

But each of us evaluate time value differently and the value of going to games. :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)

by ang6666 on Dec 2, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

Among commuters, there is a tendency to underestimate travel times to make yourself feel better! It takes me 25 minutes to drive to Millbrae to catch the Caltrain. I need to leave 15 minutes early to allow for traffic, parking and buying a ticket. So to get to SJ at 6:32, I need to leave my house around 4:50. Add a 10-minute walk at the end, and it’s 1:47 to the rink.

The train home waits for the Sharks game to end. So I have a 10-minute walk plus a 10-minute wait for everyone else. The ride is one hour to Millbrae, and then between the walk to the car and the drive home, about 25 minutes. That’s 1:45, 3:32 round-trip travel – and that’s optimistic.

If I get stuck in traffic and miss a train, it’s 4 hours. And I get home after midnight.

by Hawerchuk on Dec 2, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions