I was at the game last night so just some notes about what I saw:
Things you never fully realize until you are watching up close:
1) How big Taylor Pyatt is
2) How fast Max is
3) How good Vanek is - Florida couldn't handle him so they resorted to punching him and slashing him continually when he wasn't on the puck - didn't get to him -best player on the ice.
4) What a smart player Lydman is
5) I know Rory Fitzpatrick is a local fellow, but he was the worst player on the ice.
6) 7 shifts for Peters is about 5 too many
7) Derek Roy plays much bigger than his size because he is fearless. He makes you proud to be a hockey fan.
8) This team is going to be fun to watch for years : Vanek, Pommenville, Gaustad, Roy, Miller....
One thing that is different about HSBC and the old Aud, and it has taken me quite a few visits to really put my finger on it. At the Aud, there was the organ and rock music, and the humor of the fans. At HSBC the bells and whistles are fun, but there is so little entertainment time that is unmanaged that I miss the quiet lulls were you could hear a guy from the oranges yell something that would crack the whole arena up. No bedsheet signs, no chants that aren't fed from the scoreboard, (though USA did get through). HSBC is great, there was just something that was edgier, more authentic and intimate about a hockey game in the Aud.