Like a Kid On Christmas

The title for this post sums up my feelings about tonight perfectly. I honestly was having trouble sleeping last night for reasons other than midterms.

It's finally here. The day we've waited for since April has finally come. It's Hockey Night in Buffalo once again.

It's funny when you try to measure your life in hockey seasons, matching each one up with specific time in your life. Though times have changed, it's great to see that every opening night feels the same since I was a little kid. No matter what happened the previous season, be it President's Trophy or early golfing, the opening night is always one of optimism and excitement. There's always that voice in the back of your head that, despite your best intentions, keeps whispering What if this is the start of our year?

I'm a very detail-oriented person, and it's the little things that often matter the most to me, so it seems fitting that the things that have me most excited would be many of the things that may seem ridiculous and minuscule compared to everything else a new season has to offer.

I can't wait for...

"Hurricane 2000" to come blasting from my TV, getting my pulse racing for another game

The first time Pat Kaleta draws a penalty and my dad yells from the other room "I love that kid!"

Craig Rivet to take the ice, wearing the "C" proudly, ready to punch anyone in the face who even so much as looks at one of our guys the wrong way

The sound of the goal horn

Lindy's frank and oftentimes witty postgame comments

Jaro Spacek's unintelligible voice to grace my ears

The Pominville Population to get its first resident this season

Mike Robitaille's cranky words of wisdom and emphatic hand gestures

The first time you hear the "Drewwww" and "Gooooose" chants in the arena (though I may have to wait awhile for the latter)

The sight of Roy and Vanek on a 2-1 and knowing their going to score

The typical MSG commercials, wondering which is going to be the "real good, Steve" or "Wizard of 'Za" of this year

The sight of Tim Connolly quarterbacking our powerplay once again and feeling like we really do have a man advantage

Looking at Ryan Miller's eyes through his mask and seeing a whole different person in his intense focus

The sound of an opposing player crashing into the boards

The first opponent to get booed at HSBC this year

The first time one of our guys sticks up for a teammate, which I feel will happen a lot more this season

The first big win that makes the guys pile over the boards, when you know that they live for playing for and with one another

I hope that last one comes tonight, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. It's a long season, and I don't know what I'd do without it.

Forget December, this is the "most wonderful time of the year"

Let's Go Buffalo!