You're seeing correctly, this was taken from our seats.

The matchup alone between Detroit and Ottawa promised to make the game an enjoyable one; add in the awesome seats and you're guaranteed to have a good night. What happens to many fans that get to experience the life of luxury for one night is they end up getting stuck with a horrible game. You know the way it breaks down. Someone with great season tickets can't make the game and offers you their tickets. You say yes without hesitation and then find yourself at a Calgary-Nashville game. Detroit and Ottawa are front-runners for the Stanley Cup and so this game may have been a Stanley Cup final preview. When is it too early to call a game between two good teams a potential championship preview? Shouldn't we impose some sort of time period on hyping matchups? It's like getting asked if an appointment six months from now would be a good time for your next visit to the dentist. "Does Tuesday April 13th look clear for you Mr. Fournier?" "Sorry, my day already looks booked with my meeting with TBD and I have the cable guy scheduled to come over sometime between 9:00 and 5:00."

	Lisa's a big fan of Yzerman as you can see.

Before I continue further I should let you know that Lisa is a huge Steve Yzerman fan and since this may be his last game in Ottawa before he retires Lisa was very eager to see him and that doesn't necessarily refer to his hockey ability. She's gone as far as knowing that his wife's name is also Lisa and therefore it would be a very easy transition into her spot. Given the chance she would drop me for him like Simeon Rice drops Quarterbacks. I didn't want to break her heart that Yzerman couldn't see her every time he skated by and she tried waving to him.

The first luxury that I noticed was the personal waiter/waitress that was assigned to each section to take your order. Prior to the game, attendants came around and handed out menus of different drinks and food you could order directly to your seat throughout the game. Although I did order a chicken sandwich and beer through the waitress I think I would have preferred to stand in line to get a beer. There's something about waiting in line with other people talking about the game that adds to the whole experience. I guess that's the nose bleeder in me talking. The crowd in the first section was also much more subdued. The cheap seats are legendary for their hecklers, and loud, boisterous fans. Ottawa isn't that best example of this. I wouldn't exactly classify Ottawa as a volatile and hostile sports environment. Like I told Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in my chance encounter when they asked about the city, Ottawa's a government city that is pretty conservative and quiet. Not that that's such a bad thing. Ottawa is simply a much different environment than other larger cities that constitute the majority of homes for professional sports.

Another observation I had that I normally wouldn't have been exposed to was the amount of older businessmen with younger attractive women. At first I wanted to give them the benefit of doubt that they may simply be at the game with their daughters. That theory was quickly thrown out the window when you see the way these girls are dressed. No daughter would attend the game with her dad in that way. You definitely don't see that in the third level. It was like a flashback to Vegas with all the businessman and their "dates" at the high roller tables.

	The reluctant hero.

This game was also the first time I noticed the new ice crew that shovel up the excess ice between whistles. The ice crew is composed of a couple of young guys and a few young women. It's a gimmick that many teams are deploying around the league. I think the ice crews are in place more for their eye candy appeal rather than their usefulness. I hadn't seen the Ottawa ice crew before and so I commented to Lisa "They must be new." I should have known I walked right into a trap. "Oh, so I see you've noticed that girl's chest then." Funny stuff. Speaking of boobs, the new Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty was seated in our section. I'm sorry. I shouldn't voice my political views like that in this forum. People are free to support whatever political view speaks to them. So from now on when I discuss politics I'll be sure to choose the high road and choose change…….that one may only click with Ontario citizens. Funny thing about sitting in the same section with Dalton is that we had far better seats than he did. Lisa was perplexed: "How do we have better seats than the Premier of Ontario?" I didn't have an answer for her the same way I don't have an answer if news networks and news magazine shows like Dateline have to clear consent with those people featured on stories about obesity and poor health. You know those videos where they videotape people from the waist down to capture their large beer guts and asses to serve as a visual background to a story about a new study that shows increase of obesity in North America or something like that? I mean do they approach people and ask them if we can show your large ass on tonight's news? And if so do people actually agree to it?

The actual game was a good one. Steve Yzerman scored a powerplay goal so it gave Ottawa fans one last potential chance to cheer for their local hockey hero. The game ended on a Nicklas Lidstrom OT goal, which was fitting because I think Detroit deserved the win. While the game was closely contested it appears to me that Ottawa lacks the polish and calmness needed to score a goal when the momentum of the game is in limbo. Call it killer instinct but what comes easy to Detroit looks like it takes tremendous effort for Ottawa. Although that's the type of thing that comes with experience and Ottawa is working their way towards that.