[GreenLantern2814]

I was on Youtube this evening and I happened upon a compilation of NHL trolling moments. No such thing is worth its salt if it doesn't contain this unforgettable moment in Flames/Canucks history.



Seeing this reminded me that I was, in fact, at this game. To this date, it remains the best hockey game I have ever attended live.

November 5, 2005 was a Saturday. Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey is better on Saturday nights. It just is. Disagree if you want, but you're wrong. It was early November, but it was December cold. My dad and I came right from my own hockey game, and the only reason I remember this is because I showered after the game. I hated arena showers as a kid. But there simply wasn't time to go home. Since I wasn't about to walk into *16-year old reverence* the Saddledome smelling like a hockey bag, I was left with no choice but to be a man.

In the first period, Byron Ritchie fought Jarko Ruutu. Some might remember Ruutu catching Ritchie with his head down in pre-season; I was also at that game, on the same day I was fired from the FanAttic. Story for a different time. Anyway, you might remember that hit. Byron doesn't. Iggy was heroic - went right after Ruutu, took of his helmet and everything. Before the game, somebody showed him a clip.



and 6:52 into the game, Byron Ritchie threw hands with Jarko Ruutu.




Tonight was to be a party of special magnificence.

Midway through the first, Marcus Nilson scored his 2nd of the year. Craig MacDonald, captain of your Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, assisted along with Andrew Ference. I have no idea what this goal looked like. I could look it up, but it's a Marcus Nilson goal from Craig MacDonald and Andrew Ference in 2005. You know what it looked like.

Immediately after the goal, however, Darren McCarty and his chin pubes fought Wade Brookbank.



Funny enough, the Nilson goal is at the beginning of this highlight. It's aiight. It's better than I thought it would be, but don't wake your mom up in Sweden for it.

This might actually be the game of Marcus Nilson's life. Who are we kidding, Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the game of Marcus Nilson's life.

Regardless, Nilson wasn't about to spend the rest of his evening signing tits. Five minutes later, he fought Trevor Linden.



Then the first period ended. This used to be called hockey.

In the middle frame, traditionally the worst part of any hockey game, Lee Goren (Who?) boarded Jason Wiemer. I remember thinking it looked like it hurt, and that I was glad it had not happened to me.

After Goren emerged from the penalty box, Jason Wiemer hit him in the face a bunch.



Old time hockey. Eddie Shore.

Now, some of you may know that I despise Todd Bertuzzi. I have never been as disgusted by an acquisition as I was when the Flames signed him that summer. Seeing that man in my team's colors was nauseating. I know I'm in the minority, but I have never understood why we let this man back into the game when Steve Moore was done for good. Side note: I hold two people responsible for the Olympic debacle in 2006 - Wayne Gretzky is one, Todd Bertuzzi is the other. Should never have worn our sweater again.



Justice miscarries in the emergency room. I can't do anything about that. But what I could do is cheer louder than at any time during Game 4 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals (went to that - shout out to the Calgary Co-Op ticket lottery, and more important, my mom for going to the grocery store before she went to work on the off chance she could get tickets) when this happened.



Look at that. That is a work of art. Bert's helmet pops off and everything. And afterward, all he can do is pray the linesman doesn't let Rhett hurt him anymore.

Seriously. #### that guy.

Nothing much happens in the 3rd except for the Phaneuf clip that started this whole post off. On that topic, I can watch Ruutu trip Phaneuf for twenty minutes and laugh every single time. It's a Hall of Fame trolljob up there with Perry stealing Semin's stick. Plus, it's Dion. It's hilarious.



I haven't talked at all about Kiprusoff. Truth be told, he didn't have much to do. These were the peak-Sutter days - Calgary held Vancouver to 23 shots. But I will say this, it was a special thing to watch #34 at the height of his powers. I'm sure he made some difficult stops that night but nothing stands out. That's sort of the year Kiprusoff had in 05/06, though. He was Neo at the end of The Matrix, plucking bullets out of the air. Vancouver never had a chance.

And that's the story of the best game I ever saw.