Just throw your head back and HOWL

The Phoenix Coyotes lost last night, Sunday, but not after giving the 18K faithful a howling good time. Yes, Wayne Gretzky is their coach and all eyes were on him and his likeness, which I will explain later, but the Glendale Arena literally howled with excitement. Here's the deal: the Coyotes lead 3-2 with 2.2 seconds to go in the third (and final) period when a faceoff near their net yielded an Oiler goal with just .3 seconds on the clock...incredible. But not to worry, they played 5 min. OT. The score remained 3-3; so under the 2006 format in the NHL there was a shoot-out. That is a mono-a-mono against the goalie. Each team gets five shots. We were still tied...so they go to a sudden death shoot out, meaning whomever scores a goal gets the win...well, the Oilers won the shoot out. Even though the home team lost, we saw it all and had a howling good time.

We saw The Great One from our up high seats, however the giveaway last night was a bobble-head doll likeness of Gretzky. Those things were going like hot cakes to the first several thousand fans. We got our, of course, and now can auction it off on E-bay. They say there is an after market for these creatures. In fact, when we were looking for our car after the game a gentleman was offering to buy any bobble heads. Really.

The crowd howled its way into partial hoarsness and paid way too much for beer and brats, but not us. Our tickets were part of the Pebble Creek package residents were able to buy for $15 that included a hot dawg and a small soft drink and a tour of the palacial ice rink...and a pretty good seat. It was a how-oooooowling good time.

Oh yes, the new sliding dome stadium that the NFL Cardinals will play in next year is located just next door. Glendale is just about 10 miles away from the Frens' house.