Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Seeing a Stanley Cup playoff game in person has been on my bucket list for what seems like forever (even before bucket lists were a thing).  I have seen NBA and NFL playoff games but never an NHL one even though hockey is my favorite sport (it was always impractical to travel to Denver to see the Avalanche because the postseason coincided with the last two months of the school year and that was not a great time to be away).  I finally got to cross this item off the list last night by seeing the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1 Game 4 and I am so glad that I decided to splurge on a ticket because feeling the energy in the Delta Center was definitely an experience that I will never forget!  It was an incredible game and I felt every emotion imaginable!  I was beyond excited when the game started and so were all of the people around me.  They waved their rally towels and cheered so loudly I couldn't even hear the music in the arena!  All of that energy from the crowd slowly dissipated during the first period after a goal from Pavel Dorofeyev in the first minute and a short-handed goal from Brett Howden in the final two minutes gave Vegas the 2-0 lead.  I was really frustrated with all of the costly turnovers and, in my opinion, this was the Mammoth's worst period of hockey in the playoffs thus far.  I hoped that they would come out strong in the second and create more scoring chances to slow a highly motivated Vegas team down.  I almost gave up on the Mammoth early on after Cole Smith tipped in a shot to go up 3-0 but then Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole scored goals for Utah within 29 seconds of each other.  The crowd went nuts!  Michael Carcone tied the game with a pretty one-timer at 1:45 in the third period and I was thrilled to see Dylan Guenther get the assist (everyone around me high-fived me because I was wearing his jersey).  The Mammoth got the 4-3 lead with a deflected shot credited to Clayton Keller and I couldn't believe that they might actually win the game after being down 0-3!  Then Howden evened it up for Vegas at 10:25 and this eventually sent the game to overtime.  I was so nervous but I was on my feet with the rest of the crowd for practically the whole time!  It looked like Vegas had won with a goal from Dorofeyev at the 10:22 mark but it was recalled after the play was ruled to be offside.  That gave the crowd a bit of hope once again and the energy was absolutely electric!  However, in the last minute of overtime, Karel Vejmelka (who had some great saves) stopped Jack Eichel's shot but his stick was knocked away in the melee and he couldn't make it back to the net before Shea Theodore hit a one-timer to win the game 5-4.  It was definitely a heartbreaking loss after how hard the Mammoth fought but I am so glad that I got to experience a playoff game!  The series is now tied 2-2 so I still have hope that Utah will advance.

Note:  This experience was also bittersweet because I really missed my dad.  I have so many memories of cheering for the Oilers and then the Avalanche in the playoffs with him and I know he would have loved this game (even with a loss).

Mammoth vs. Blues

Last night I had a last minute opportunity to see the Utah Mammoth play the St. Louis Blues and I took it because it was the final game of the season.  I am really glad that I did because, even though they lost and even though Dylan Guenther wasn't in the line-up, I had a great time (at least until the last three minutes).  The Mammoth played a lot better than they have been recently and had a lot of good chances (they ended the night with 23 shots) in a back-and-forth game that was really fun to watch.  Pavel Buchnevich put St. Louis on the board first with a goal at the 3:45 mark in the first period and then Michael Carcone evened it up at 16:55 with a pretty wrist shot.  The second period was very exciting because Lawson Crouse scored within 45 seconds when he backhanded the deflected puck from MacKenzie Weeger's missed shot in traffic.  The crowd was on their feet again when Brandon Tanev scored a goal less than a minute later (his first of the season) to make it 3-1 but St. Louis challenged it for goaltender interference and it was overturned.  That took the wind out of Utah's sails a little bit and Robert Thomas scored twice in a row to put St. Louis up 3-2.  In the final minute of the period Kailer Yamamoto put a wrist shot past Joel Hofer from the slot to tie the game at 3-3.  Karel Vejmelka (who allowed three goals on 18 shots) was replaced by Vitek Vanecek to start the third period and it was a defensive battle until the 2:57 mark when Logan Mailloux scored the go-ahead goal.  The Mammoth did everything they could to score but they didn't have enough time and eventually pulled Vanecek which resulted in an empty-netter from Thomas (giving him his first NHL hat trick).  The Blues ended up winning 5-3 but it was a better game for the Mammoth than the score suggests and I liked that they were more aggressive in the offensive zone.  I was sitting next to three Blues fans who were really obnoxious and I wanted to remind them that the Mammoth were going to the playoffs (they play the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round) while the Blues were done for the season but, thankfully, reason prevailed!  After the game, team awards were given to Michael Carcone, Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse, and Dylan Guenther and the whole team thanked the fans for supporting them this season.  I'm glad I rearranged my schedule for one last game (I probably won't get to a playoff game unless they make it to the second round).

Mammoth vs. Hurricanes

My friend Angela has recently become a hockey fan so I was really excited to see the Mammoth take on the Carolina Hurricanes with her yesterday afternoon!  The atmosphere in the Delta Center was electric because the Mammoth clinched a payoff berth for the first time in franchise history during their last game against the Predators.  Unfortunately, the Hurricanes deflated the energy of the crowd early in the first period with a power play goal by Andrei Svechnikov after Mikhail Sergachev took a holding penalty.  Jordan Staal had a pretty wrist shot from the slot to put Carolina up 2-0 (it was his 20th goal of the season) and soon after it looked like Clayton Keller had scored for Utah but the goal was called back for being offside.  The Mammoth couldn't seem to get anything going in the offensive zone against a tough Carolina defense and were often forced to dump and chase the puck (I hate it when teams do this).  They played much better in the second period with a few good chances (they ended the game with 27 shots against a team who have held their opponents to the fewest shots in the NHL) and some great saves from Karel Vejmelka (he ended the game with 26), although they couldn't capitalize on a slashing penalty called on Shayne Ghostisbehere (they ended the game 1-5 on the power play).  Utah started the third period with a lot of energy and Dylan Guenther, my favorite player on the team, hit a beautiful one-timer from a tough angle to score on the power play.  The crowd went crazy and I have to admit that my cheering was quite enthusiastic because I had never seen him score in person before (I think he knew I was there and scored just for me)!  This goal gave the Mammoth some momentum, which was really fun to watch, but a late goal by Sebastian Aho and an empty-net goal by Sean Walker gave the Hurricanes the 4-1 victory (and snapped Utah's five game winning streak).  The outcome was a bit disappointing but at least I got to see Guenther get his 40th goal of the season (he now ranks among the top ten scorers in the league).  I really like him as a player (he is also very easy on the eyes) and I have seen a lot of development from him this season so I am happy that he reached this milestone.  There are a few regular season games left and then it will be so much fun to see this team in the playoffs!

Note: I was quoted in The Salt Lake Tribune about my frustrations with the Jazz this year (go here).

Jazz vs. Nuggets

I always pick the Denver Nuggets game when my friend Angela offers me my choice of Utah Jazz tickets because I really love to hate them (I have lots of friends and family who live in Denver so it is a bit of a rivalry).  Last night's game is most likely going to be my last for the foreseeable future so I tried to enjoy myself despite the fact that I knew the Jazz would lose (more on that later).  As predicted, the Nuggets took an early 17-3 lead when they got 12 unanswered points, including three 3-pointers from Jamal Murray, in the first four minutes of the first quarter.  Several baskets from Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski got Utah to within 30-27 but Murray continued to impress with a dramatic half-court buzzer-beater to end the quarter up 39-28.  Sensabaugh, who ended the night with 28 points, and Filipowski, who added 25, continued to score for Utah but Cam Johnson's 14 points and more from Murray, including a really pretty step back three, put the Nuggets up 68-54 to end the half.  The Jazz stayed with the Nuggets to start the third quarter and, when Ace Bailey hit a pull-up three, they cut their lead to six which got the crowd cheering (I have to admit that I spent more time talking to Angela than watching the game but this play definitely got my attention).  The Jazz held the Nuggets to that six point lead until Nikola Jokic (who was pretty quiet during this game with just 15 points) scored and Murray hit another one of his 3-pointers (he ended the night with ten) to bring their lead to 14.  The Jazz got a bit of chaotic momentum late in the third to cut the lead to 97-90.  I have been very critical of how the Jazz have been tanking in the fourth quarter but I think they put forth a good effort last night and I was impressed by Cody Williams (9 points), Bez Mbeng (7 points), and Kennedy Chandler (16 points) off the bench.  The Nuggets still ended up winning 130-117 which means that they swept the Jazz for the second year in a row.  I hate it when the Nuggets beat us but, as always, it was fun to watch the game with Angela.  She has decided not to renew her tickets next season (it is disheartening to pay so much money to see them lose every game) so it looks like I will be attending more Mammoth games!

Mammoth vs. Oilers

When I was a teenager I loved the Edmonton Oilers (I was a huge fan of Wayne Gretzky) and I used to watch every game with my dad.  I still enjoy following them because Connor McDavid is such a great player so I specifically chose to see the Utah Mammoth play them last night with my sister.  I was very excited for this game and it was so much fun when Alex Kerfoot scored in the middle of the first period on a really pretty drop pass from Sean Durzi!  The Oilers tied it up with a goal from Jack Roslovic to end the period 1-1.  Then the second period was absolutely wild!  Zach Hyman took a high sticking penalty to put the Mammoth on the power play.  Matthew Savoie scored a short-handed goal for Edmonton but then 35 seconds later Lawson Crouse scored a power play goal to tie it up.  It was so exciting and I loved seeing our new player MacKenzie Weegar get the assist.  Before the crowd had even taken their seats again after the celebration, Connor McDavid scored eight seconds later and I have to admit that it was a pretty goal (it was his 400th career goal).  Roslovic got his second goal of the game to end the second period up 4-2. Karel Vejmelka was replaced by Vitek Vanecek in goal to start the third period and he stopped all ten shots from the Oilers but it was really frustrating to watch the Mammoth because they lost all momentum.  I thought they had some good chances but they were not aggressive enough on offense and were often very sloppy in the neutral zone.  Utah pulled Vanecek in the final minutes and McDavid got the empty-netter to give Edmonton the 5-2 win.  It was a disappointing loss because we are in the hunt for a playoff spot (Utah is currently three points ahead of Nashville) but I had a lot of fun with my sister.  I still can hardly believe that SLC has an NHL team!

Jazz vs. Knicks

Last night I went to see the Utah Jazz play the New York Knicks with my friend Angela.  I specifically picked this game because I wanted to see Jordan Clarkson's return to the Delta Center.  I really liked him when he played for the Jazz (Angela liked him, too) so it was bittersweet to see him playing for another team (especially since he had such a great game for the Knicks).  The fans gave him a very warm reception when he came on to the court and there was a nice tribute video during a timeout.  After the game he interacted with Jazz players, trainers, and coaches (I even saw him hug one of the team photographers), he gave multiple interviews, and he signed lots of autographs.  He is definitely a class act!  The game was really exciting and I think it was the most fun I've had watching the Jazz in a very long time (the crowd was really hyped up) because the Jazz got to an early lead when Brice Sensabaugh, Ace Bailey, and Kevin Love combined for seven three-pointers to end the first quarter 41-26.  I saw a huge improvement in shooting and rebounding, both offensively and defensively, since the last game I saw and it gave me some hope that we could win.  In the second quarter, the Jazz let the Knicks cut their lead to nine to end the half 65-56.  I have often witnessed the Jazz have a disastrous third quarter and, true to form, they started to fall apart in the last few minutes.  Clarkson got them within a point when he hit two free throws and then the Knicks took the lead for good when Jalen Brunson made three points after being fouled on a jump shot.  The Jazz started the fourth quarter down by two but then Clarkson spurred a 20-4 run with two back-to-back baskets (he finished the night with 27 points) to push the lead to 22.  New York ended up winning 134-117 and, even though it was great to see Clarkson again, this game was frustrating because I really think we could have won it after such a great start.

Jazz vs. Pelicans

Last night I went to my first Utah Jazz game of 2026 with my friend Angela (she has season tickets and very graciously allows me to pick several games to attend with her) and it was a lot of fun despite the final score.  The Jazz, who were without Jaren Jackson, Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Jusuf Nurkic, and Vince Williams, Jr. because of injuries, played the New Orleans Pelicans and lost to them for the second time this week in a very sloppy game.  They didn't even score until the middle of the first quarter when Ace Bailey hit two free throws (I joked at the beginning of the game that he was our only hope).  That seemed to give the team a bit of a spark and they went on a 14-6 run to end the quarter 27-22.  The Pelicans deflated the crowd by hitting two quick shots to increase their lead to 10 in the first few minutes of the second.  After that, the Jazz couldn't seem to get anything going offensively or defensively so they ended the first half down by 25.  Keyonte George, who was back after missing 9 games with an ankle injury, scored 12 points in the third quarter, including a really pretty three-pointer and several free throws, and Elijah Harkless hit back-to-back three-pointers to spur a 13-0 run (and to spur the crowd back into the game) to get the Jazz within 16 points at the end of the third quarter.  I got really excited when the Jazz went on a 9-0 run to begin the fourth quarter but the Pelicans answered back with a 8-2 run.  Isaiah Collier got 12 points (he led the Jazz with 21) and Brice Sensabaugh got an exciting three-pointer at the end of the quarter but it wasn't enough and New Orleans won 115-105.  It is a bit frustrating to be a Jazz fan (I've only seen them win once in two years) but I always have a good time at the games with Angela!

Jazz vs. Thunder

My friend Angela had her seats upgraded for the Utah Jazz game against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night and, luckily, this was a game that I had selected to go with her!  We got to sit on row two in the lower bowl and it is the closest I have ever been to the action!  It was so much fun!  I got to the arena early so I could watch the warm-up and I loved being able to see the players up close.  The Jazz started the game really well and scored 44 points in the first quarter, including eight 3-pointers, with 12 from Kevin Love (he electrified the crowd with every basket) and 11 from Lauri Markkanen.  Their 14 point lead at the end of the first quarter was their biggest of the night because the Thunder answered back with an 8-0 run to begin the second.  They eventually cut Utah's lead to one to end the first half 68-67.  Then the Jazz had an absolutely disastrous third quarter, as they often do, and let the Thunder go on a 33-4 run.  It was really frustrating to watch because the Jazz got lots of breakaways but they couldn't keep control of the ball once they ran it down the court (they ultimately had 28 turnovers during the game which resulted in 44 points for the Thunder) and ended the third down 110-88.  Utah had fewer turnovers in the fourth quarter and they got a spark from Walter Clayton, Jr. and Taylor Hendricks but it wasn't enough to stop Oklahoma City who went on to win the game 144-112.  Keyonte George had 20 points, Lauri Markkanen had 19, and Kyle Filipowski had 18 for the Jazz while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 for the Thunder (I have to admit that I really like him because he is Canadian).

Even though the Jazz lost (and were eliminated from the NBA Cup), I had a great time at the game because it was really exciting to sit so close!

Jazz vs. Clippers

Last night was the Utah Jazz season opener at the Delta Center and I got to go with my friend Angela (she has a season package and very graciously lets me pick several games to attend with her).  The game against the Los Angeles Clippers was so much fun (it is probably the most fun I've had at a game in over a year) because the Jazz dominated them from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer and they had a considerable lead during all four quarters (something fans haven't seen in over a year).  Keyonte George was the starting point guard and, despite the fact that he looks about 12, he did a great job leading the team.  He ended the night with 16 points and 9 assists (including an amazing steal in the first quarter).  It was great to see Lauri Markkanen shooting well again, after struggling last year, with 20 points and 5 assists.  The veteran of the team, Walter Kessler, was outstanding (he was the player of the game) and shot 7-7 from the field and 2-2 from the three-point line to end the night with 29 points.  He did a little bit of everything had the crowd cheering every time he touched the ball!  Our newest player, Ace Bailey (another player who looks about 12), didn't play much because he is still recovering from the flu but he scored his first points in the NBA with a really pretty breakaway dunk!  The crowd went crazy and he was so excited!  Our other rookie, Walter Clayton, Jr., also had a nice night with 10 points and it was good to see Taylor Hendricks back on the court with 13 points after an injury that sidelined him for most of last season.  Finally, I was really impressed with Brice Sensabaugh who scored 20 points and looked great with several three-pointers.  The Jazz got a decisive 129-108 win over the Clippers (the most points scored in a season opener in franchise history) and I loved cheering with the large crowd because it was electric.  I don't want to get my hopes up but it really looks like this team has some depth and I am actually looking forward to going to games again after so much disappointment last season!

Note:  My sister made me this awesome hoodie when I complained that all of my jerseys were for players who are not on the team anymore.

Utah Hockey Club vs. Calgary Flames

My sister Marilyn is not a hockey fan (we are not really sure how this happened) so, when one of her colleagues gave her four tickets to last night's Utah Hockey Club game to thank her for helping him with a big project, she invited me, Kristine, and Trent to go with her because the three of us are huge hockey fans.  We had so much fun (even Marilyn) and I know my dad was so happy that his three daughters were together at a hockey game (especially against a Canadian team because we got to hear "O Canada").  Utah played the Calgary Flames and it was a really important game with playoff implications for both teams so it was very exciting!  Both teams are very evenly matched but goalie Karel Vejmelka was the difference for Utah because he made 33 saves.  Kevin Stenlund scored first for Utah with with a really nice one-timer at the end of the first period and the crowd went crazy!  It looked like Calgary had scored early in the second period when Mikael Backlund's shot hit the skate of Utah's Nick DeSimone but the goal was disallowed after it was reviewed (which also made the crowd cheer).  Thirty seconds later Barrett Hayton scored on a backhander to put Utah up 2-0.  Rasmus Andersson got one by Vejmelka (I thought he had it) mid-way through the second and then there were a few penalties and a fight to end the period.  Calgary had a few good chances in the third but Utah never gave up and the captain Clayton Keller scored (with an assist from my favorite player Dylan Guenther) on an empty net goal in the final seconds to win 3-1.  I was so happy to see them win because they lost the only other time I've gone to a game this season!  We had such a great time so I think Marilyn might be a new fan!

Jazz vs. Celtics

Last night I went to another Utah Jazz game with my friend Angela and I had a lot of fun even though the Boston Celtics beat them pretty soundly.  I think there were twice as many Celtics fans than Jazz fans (a conservative estimate) at the Delta Center and that made it really interesting because they were very vocal whenever their team scored (and that happened often).  The Jazz won the opening tip off and Collin Sexton scored with a jump shot.  One minute later he got a nice three-point shot to put the Jazz ahead 5-0.  I joked that this would be the only lead the Jazz would have during the whole game and, sadly, I was right!  Boston went on to score six three-point shots out of their first seven baskets and they ended the first quarter firmly in control leading Utah 35-18.  The Jazz really struggled with offensive rebounds but they stayed competitive in the second quarter to end the first half down 60-51.  The Jazz battled back in the third quarter with three three-pointers from Sexton and a nice shot from Keyonte George to cut Boston's lead to 71-69.  Then Jayson Tatum (a lot of people sitting near us were wearing his jersey) scored 19 seconds later and that sparked a 13-0 run to put the Celtics up 89-75 at the end of the quarter.  Sexton, who ended the night with an impressive 30 points, and George tried to keep it close in the fourth quarter but Payton Prtchard scored 10 points to lead the Celtics to a 121-99 victory.  It seemed like the only fans in the arena at the end of the game were wearing green!  It has been hard to be a Jazz fan this season (we have the worst record in the entire NBA) but it is always fun to go to games with Angela!

Jazz vs. Pelicans

My friend Angela has a Utah Jazz season ticket package and she very graciously lets me pick a few games to attend with her.  Last night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans was my first of the season.  The Jazz have not been doing very well and last night most of the veterans, including Markkanen, Kessler, Collins, Clarkson, and Sexton, were out with injuries.  The Pelicans took an early lead and kept it for three quarters and, honestly, I kind of stopped paying attention to the game and just chatted with Angela (I hadn't seen her for a long time) which was actually a lot of fun.  Then there was a spark when Cody Williams made a three-point shot at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give the Jazz their first lead of the game.  It got really exciting when the Jazz went on a 27-8 run, including five baskets from Oscar Tshiebwe, to go up 100-94.  The crowd got loud and it really seemed like we had a chance to win but then CJ McCollum hit three straight three-pointers for New Orleans to put them ahead 118-108.  This deflated the crowd and the Jazz ended up losing 128-121 despite 28 points from Keyonte George and 21 from Brice Sensabaugh.  This game was dubbed the battle of the two worst teams in the Western Conference but I had a great time despite the loss (and despite seeing my favorite former Jazz player Kelly Olynyk score 26 points for the Pelicans).

Note:  With five seconds left in the game, the Jazz got a delay of game technical foul after Hardy called a timeout. We thought it was really weird but it turns out the Jazz didn't have any timeouts left.

Utah Hockey Club vs. Ottawa Senators

After seeing a preseason game against the Colorado Avalanche, I have become a huge fan of the Utah Hockey Club (I will be happy when we finally have an actual name).  I have had a lot of fun following the team because they have had a great start to the season (unlike the Avalanche) and I am still a little bit giddy at the thought that the NHL is in SLC.  Tickets are pretty expensive but they are all resell tickets and I've noticed that the price varies from game to game based on the opponent and decreases the closer you get to game time.  I found three good seats (the Delta Center has terrible sight lines) at a reasonable price for last night's game against the Ottawa Senators (I always like seeing a Canadian team because that means I get to hear "O Canada") and I was beyond excited to go with my sister and brother-in-law.  The three of us already have lots of apparel (my sister urged me to step away from the black and get the blue hoodie) and it was a lot of fun to be with a large crowd showing so much support for the team.  Utah came out in the first period with a lot of intensity and outshot Ottawa 8-1.  Then it all seemed to fall apart when Ottawa's Noah Gregor and Utah's Jack McBain got offsetting penalties at the 11:22 mark resulting in a four on four.  Drake Batherson scored for the Senators 21 seconds later then Claude Giroux made it 2-0 less than 90 seconds later during the same four on four.  Robert Bortuzzo got a holding penalty at 17:50 which allowed the Senators to get a power play goal from Ridly Greig to make it 3-0 (Utah was 8-8 on the penalty kill before tonight) and Brady Tkachuk scored with 8 seconds left in this disastrous period to go up 4-0.  Karel Vejmelka replaced Connor Ingram (who let in four of the nine shots he faced) in net to start the second period and Utah, once again, did everything but score with 14 shots to Ottawa's five.  Utah had a few good opportunities, including a power play, in the third period and ended the night outshooting Ottawa 31-22 (Anton Forsberg was amazing in goal for the Senators) but they still came away empty handed.  They were undefeated at home until last night so it was a bit disappointing to see them lose but I still had a great time.  I loved being able to go to an NHL game with Kristine and Trent and I'm hoping we can go to a few more (we already have tickets to the Calgary Flames game next April with Marilyn).

Utah Hockey Club vs. Colorado Avalanche

I still cannot believe that Utah now has an NHL team!  I was beyond excited to see a preseason game between the Utah Hockey Club and my favorite team yesterday.  I usually have to drive eight hours to see the Colorado Avalanche in action but yesterday it only took about 20 minutes to get to the Maverick Center (it will be even closer when Utah plays in the Delta Center).  I went to the game with my sister Kristine, who has already become a rabid Utah fan, and it was so much fun even though we were cheering for different teams!  There were not a lot of goals scored but the game was still really exciting because of the goaltending by Connor Ingram, especially during the three Utah penalties in the third period because Colorado really put the pressure on.  Utah eventually got the 2-1 win but, even though I was sad to see the Avalanche lose (the preseason has been a disaster for them), I have to admit that I enjoyed seeing the home team for the first time (I never really followed them when they were the Arizona Coyotes).  Besides Ingram, I was really impressed by Dylan Guenther, who got a goal and an assist, and Nick Schmaltz, who got the go-ahead goal.  I will always be a Colorado Avalanche fan but I think I am going to have a lot of fun cheering for Utah this season!

Jazz vs. Nuggets

Last night I went to my final Utah Jazz game of the season with my friend Angela and it was against a team that I love to hate!  Unfortunately, the Denver Nuggets are really good (they are battling for the number 1 seed in the Western Conference) and the Jazz have been struggling lately without Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Walker Kessler.  The shorthanded Jazz did play with a lot of heart all night and, whenever it looked like Denver would break the game wide open, the Jazz would find a way to stop them and, while the Nuggets had the lead for the entire game, Utah got within six multiple times and within three late in the third quarter (which got the Delta Center cheering as if it was a playoff game).  Horton-Tucker is one of the biggest reasons why the Jazz were able to stay in the game and ended the night with 24 points including the electrifying three-pointer to get the team within three.  Yurtseven also had a good night with 20 points and I thought he did a good job matching up with Jokic who is so good (at one point he had such an amazing three-pointer that even I had to admire it).  Semanic ended with 15 (including the first double-double of his career) and George (I really like him) and Sensabaugh each had 10 points but it wasn't enough and the Jazz ended up losing their 13 straight game 111-95.  I am usually a good luck charm for the Jazz but clearly not this season because I only saw them win once!  At least I have had a lot of fun watching the games with Angela!

Jazz vs. Celtics

It is always a lot of fun going to Utah Jazz games with my friend Angela even when it is not a very good game!  Last night the Jazz played the Boston Celtics and I think there were more Celtics fans at the Delta Center than Jazz fans (it definitely sounded like it).  The Jazz were without their leading scorer Lauri Markannen but they started the first quarter strong.  Then they relinquished their early lead at the 9:00 minute mark and never gained it back for the rest of the game.  They ended the first half down 72-57 but they rallied in the third quarter (and I started paying attention again) with some pretty three-pointers from Sexton, Collins, and Samanic.  Clarkson got them within two (and got the crowd back in the game) after trailing by double digits for most of the game and they ended the third quarter 98-91.  Then the Jazz had a disastrous fourth quarter and let the Celtics go on a 20-0 run which got the Celtics fans in the crowd (at least the ones around us) up and screaming at the top of their lungs.  It is pretty embarrassing when your team doesn't even score a basket for most of the fourth quarter!  George, who ended the night with 26 points, and Clarkson, who had 21, did what they could with a few nice jump shots in the final minutes but the Jazz had no answer for Jayson Tatum, who scored 38 points, and Derrick White, who scored 24.  They ended up losing 123-107 but I still enjoyed the game because it gave me a chance to catch up with Angela!

Jazz vs. Thunder

Last night I went to another Utah Jazz game with my friend Angela (she has a season ticket package and she very graciously allows me to pick several games to attend with her) and it was so much fun because it was such a great game!  The Jazz played the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best teams in the league, and they got a hard-fought win!  They stayed with the Thunder through the first quarter but then Oklahoma City built a double digit lead with lots of three-point shots (8 for 15).  Kris Dunn and Walker Kessler really stepped up the defense to keep the Jazz in the game but the Thunder were up 89-77 with five minutes left in the third when the offense exploded.  Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George (I really like him) hit some really impressive shots and the energy in the Delta Center was absolutely electric!  It was so much fun to be in the crowd!  The Jazz ended up going on a 19-3 run to close out the third quarter 96-92!  The fourth quarter was a battle because the Thunder did not give up (their big three, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, combined for 76 points during the game) and got within one but it was not enough because Dunn and Kessler eventually shut them down while Markkanen and George traded shots to lead the Jazz to a big 124-117 win.  I love it when the Jazz beat a really good team in front of a loud and enthusiastic crowd and it it was so much fun to catch up with Angela!

Jazz vs. Kings

My friend Angela renewed her Utah Jazz ticket package and, just like last season, she very graciously allowed me to select several games to attend with her.  The first game I picked, against the Toronto Raptors (for reasons), is not until January but, when Angela let me know that the ticket for the game last night was available, I jumped at the chance to go!  The arena is once again known as the Delta Center (which is really funny to me because I still called it the Delta Center for years after the name changed) so there was a big celebration out on the plaza before the game and it was so much fun to be there.  The atmosphere inside was just as electric because it was the first game of the season and we have several new players with a lot of promise on the roster.  The Jazz played the Sacramento Kings and they let them take an early lead in the first few minutes of the first quarter.  Despite 24 points from Jordan Clarkson, 19 from Lauri Markkanen, 15 from John Collins and some exciting back-to-back layups from Talen Horton-Tucker and Walker Kessler, the Kings never relinquished that early lead for the rest of the game and even led by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter.  It was a bit frustrating because the Jazz couldn't seem to stop Sacramento's offense, especially their three-point shots, while their own offense struggled to find a rhythm (I think they are still learning how to play together as a team).  By the fourth quarter, the Kings were basically having their way with the Jazz and they ended up winning 130-114.  Despite the loss I was really excited by what I saw from our rookie Keyonte George (I like him a lot).  He ended up playing 19 minutes and finished with eight points (including an exciting dunk that got the crowd cheering), two rebounds, and two assists.  I am looking forward to watching his progress this season!  It was also a lot of fun to spend time with Angela and I'm so glad I got to go to the game with her even with the final outcome.

Note:  The Jazz won every game I attended for the past two seasons.  It looks like my streak is now over.

Avalanche vs. Oilers

Yesterday I went on my first road trip of 2023 to Denver to see the Colorado Avalanche play the Edmonton Oilers last night.  It was my first Avalanche game since I lost my Dad and I really missed him!  When I picked this game I was looking at dates rather than opponents but I think I subconsciously picked the game against the Oilers because my Dad and I were big fans when I was a teenager (because of Wayne Gretzky) and we watched almost every game together in the basement!  As much as I loved the Oilers back in the day, I am definitely an Avalanche fan now and I really wanted them to win!  Both are high scoring teams so this was a defensive showdown with stellar performances from both goaltenders, especially Alexandar Georgiev who stopped 38 shots.  It was my first time seeing Georgiev in action and I was really impressed with him.  The Avalanche scored first with a goal by Ben Meyers four minutes into the first period (which was really exciting) and then Mattias Ekholm scored for Edmonton 34 seconds later (which deflated all of the energy in Ball Arena).  No other goals were scored in regulation but it was still a really exciting game with several penalties and scoring opportunities from both teams.  I particularly enjoyed it when Georgiev saved a shot from a breakaway by Connor McDavid (who is an amazing player) in the second period.  The final minutes of the third period were really intense because Edmonton had a penalty and Colorado did everything but score (I think everyone in my section was standing up the last few minutes).  Just like the previous two meetings between these two teams, the game went into overtime but, unlike those other games, Edmonton scored on a power-play goal by Evan Bouchard to win (I think it is really unfair to call a penalty in overtime unless it is really egregious).  It is always a little disappointing to see the Avalanche lose, especially after driving eight hours to see the game, but I am really glad that I came because it was very cathartic for me.  It made me feel very close to my Dad (I cried a few times) because I have so many memories of Avalanche games with him.

Note:  The Avalanche did get a point for the overtime loss and, because the Minnesota Wild lost their game last night, they clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs!

Jazz vs. Nuggets

Yesterday afternoon I went to the final home game for the Utah Jazz 2022-2023 season with my friend Angela and it was so much fun!  The Jazz played the Denver Nuggets and I was really excited about this game when I picked it at the beginning of the season because I love to hate the Nuggets (I have a lot of friends and family who are fans).  However, I was a bit nervous when I walked into the Vivint Arena because the Nuggets are the best team in the West and our entire starting lineup, and even some of the bench, are injured (the only starter I recognized was Ochai Agbaji and there were only nine players dressed for the game).  I thought the best I could hope for was that it wouldn't be a blowout but I shouldn't have doubted because this team just does not give up!  The Jazz came out ready to play and went on a 15-2 run early in the first quarter!  It was so exciting!  They led by as many as 19 points but the Nuggets rallied after a sluggish start to get within three at the end of the first half.  The Nuggets got their first lead in the third after a 19-4 run and ended the quarter up 95-89.  The Jazz, as they have done so many times this season, refused to go down without a fight and battled back!  Agbaji scored three baskets in a 10-1 run to put the Jazz ahead 116-110 with one minute left!  I was pretty much losing my mind with excitement over the possibility that the Jazz could win this and so was the entire crowd!  Agbaji made two free throws and the Nuggets missed their last few shots to end the game 118-114 in favor of the Jazz!  Agbaji scored a career high 28 points and our new player Luka Samanic also scored a career high of 23 points.  The game didn't really mean anything for the Jazz in terms of the standings (many even thought it would be better for us in the long run to lose) but it was great to see them win the last home game for the fans!  It has been a fun season and I'm glad that Angela invited me along for a few games!  I can't wait until next season to see what this team does!

Note:  The Jazz won every game I attended both this season and last!  They might want to consider comping me some season tickets!