OT - Playoff rituals
WIIM has a good article on superstitions between the players involved and the commenters share their own.
link: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2011/4/14/2111137/hockey-superstitions#storyjump
For you hockey fans or even non-hockey fans...any rituals or superstitions you abide to?
I just have one: everytime I watch the national anthem (American or Canadian) the Wings lose. The only other general rule is: I like to drink a different beer for every game but I have no empirical data that suggests that has any effect. It worked mostly in '08 as I rotated through beers all throughout the playoffs and we know how that turned out.
April 15th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
I usually sit in the same spot and once things start I try not to move unless my team falls behind, if they do I change positions.
April 15th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^
I shaved off my beard after the first period of the wings game on Wednesday....seemed to work.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
One shot per series.
Yeaaa, it was about two weeks worth of growth, I'll make sure the next one counts as well.
April 15th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
I have this great tradition every Spring where I get my hopes up for the Bruins and then they take a collective shit all over the ice.
Go Habs Go!
April 15th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
It's not necessarily a ritual, but more of a subconscious habit, but I find myself standing during penalty kills.
This also occurs during 3rd down plays when UM is on defense.
I think it's because it is a lot easier to go right into the fist-pump at the end of the 2:00 or after a big stop than if you I were sitting.
Of course, in the last three years with UM it also made it a lot easier to throw my arms up in disgust and go to the fridge for another mind-numbing-brewskie before the next failed 3rd down stop.
Mattison's D can't come soon enough!
April 15th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
Not really a ritual, just a funny playoff hockey story.
I was born in 1992 when the Red Wings were making a playoff run, and my mom was going into labor during one of their games. Every time she would have a big contraction, the Red Wings would score. So my dad and the doctors were all rooting for her to be in pain, which didn't make her too happy.
But if I watch a game where Michigan or the WIngs win, I'll always repeat the same exact process for the next game. Like if I watch a with my girlfriend or family or anything, I'll watch the next game with the same people, eating the same food.
April 15th, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
I'd like to know more about this "playoff" you mentioned. It sounds like an intriguing concept.
April 15th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
I always drink alot...
April 15th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
For Michigan hockey this season I was planning on not getting a haircut until the very end of the season. unfortunately I had a job interview the tuesday before the Frozen Four, so I had to get it trimmed and cleaned up. We beat NoDak so I don't believe I jinxed the team. I went to Damons with some of my other friends who couldn't make it up to St. Paul. To keep good luck I ordered the exact same thing I did on Thursday night for the Duluth game.
For the Wings I grow a playoff beard. I don't know if I am going to continue it since graduation is coming up in a couple weeks. I need to find a new tradition.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
I did the haircut thing for the hockey team this year. It turned into a mullet only a team like Western could be proud of.
I believe you were witness to my hat jinx...
April 15th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
where they award the opponent of the Red Wings at least one 5-on-3 pp per game. Reports out of San Jose suggest it's a smashing success. Feelings in Phoenix are mixed.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
I generally watch with a group of friends, and when the Wings start losing we change the channel to some jewelry shopping network, it usually helps the Wings get a goal or two. We think that we're taking one for the team.
It worked for the Phillies run in 2008 (abandoned it in 2009 and look how that turned out) and trying its luck on the Flyers this year. We'll see how it goes but so far one loss and I was not drinking Busch Light. Coincidence??
Go Caps Go!
April 15th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
put my wings jersey on after they win a series.