Guys,

I could barely get out of the bed this morning. That loss last night, that hurt.

So did my back, my groin, and my arms this morning. It’s never easy to get up after one of those late night games, but this time, after I rolled out of the bed, it took me fifteen minutes to get up from the floor. That’s what a loss after 50 intense minutes of shinny does to you. Or me.

Anyway, let’s focus on the positives. First of all, only one of us came late to the game, and even that didn’t matter because we already had two guys on the bench, so he had time to put his gear on, and get ready for his first shift – at the 10-minute mark.

Now, we all know that winning isn’t everything. It’s how you play the game. And we played our hearts out. Some of us took it a step further, coughing their lungs out, too, and you just have to respect that.

I think we had at least as many scoring chances as they had … goals. Basically, we could have tied the game, we just need to do those little things right in the future. For example, we can’t let the other team take any shots.

Another good thing: it was a close game. 8-3, right? I hope so because I already posted on my Facebook page that I scored two and picked up an assist. I guess it could have been 8-2, because I normally count setting somebody up with a chance that I think he should have scored on, as assists.

And that first-shift breakaway in which I totally fooled the goalie and was just going to finish it off top shelf when he somehow fell down and my shot hit his shoulder? In my books? A goal.

One of their goals, on the other hand, should have been disallowed, since the guy was basically hugging our goalie! One was an offside, and another just a lucky shot that bounced in off my pants. And if we don’t count their first – let’s face it, we weren’t really ready – and last one – we had let up on the gas a little bit – it was a tie game.

Also, we hit a post just before they got their third. Had our shot gone in, instead, it would have been a totally different game, and it is my firm belief that we would have won that game.

In other words, basically, last night’s game was a tie – with us being the moral winners – but we need to take our game to the next level, and we need to become a team that wins even when it plays like crap. That’s our only chance.

Ok, just wanted to let you guys know that I think we’re still a great team. We’ve been together for over ten years, and we know what it takes to win. We’ve seen other teams do it many, many times. And, remember in 1999 when we almost went to the cup quarterfinal? That’s also the last time I got my skates sharpened.

But boys, tomorrow, I’m going to get my skates sharpened again.

See ya on Sunday! Bring your A game! (And ten bucks for the ice and beer.)

Risto

PS. Don’t forget to stretch.