Game 7 Excitement Builds Among Wild Fans
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Whatever the sport, wherever it is played, Game 7's of any series are as good as it gets. Who can forget the 1991 World Series when the Minnesota Twins won their second world title?
"He scores, he scores and Minnesota has won ... upsetting the Colorado Avalanche," was the play-by-play call back in the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs.
That was also a Game 7 when the Minnesota Wild stung the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, ending goalie Patrick Roy's illustrious hockey career. Now, Roy is behind the AV's bench where the Wild hope to end his season once again.
Wild fan Chris Zweber once again has visions of Déjà vu.
"Hopefully, Zach Parise steps up like the other night and we're going to have a great victory, hopefully tonight," Zweber said.
To recapture the magic, more than a dozen St. Paul bars and restaurants will host viewing parties - where fans will both cheer and jeer.
"A lot of them are giving away the fan towels to cheer on the team. It's nuts, it's crazy, you can already feel the excitement down here so we're already looking forward to a big night," Terry Mattson, president and CEO of Visit St. Paul, said.
But to get in on game time specials, you'll have to show up in Wild wear. Perhaps that explains why the Xcel Center's Hockey Lodge was buzzing with logo grabbing Wild fans.
Admits fan Bridget Kratt, "yes, yes, I'm nervous right now!"
Though not playing at the Xcel Center on home ice, the old fog horn will still blare for every Wild goal at Shamrock's on West 7th Street.
With a jab at Colorado's marijuana laws, Wild fans are now calling the guys in stripes "Reefer-ees." It's a not so subtle reference to what many saw as blown calls that may have cost the Wild Game 5 in Denver.
Katie Dandrea just hopes the refs let the players play – in the typical wide open game seven style.
"The weather outside is horrible so this is just something to look forward to. It's big for hockey, it's big for Minnesota," Dandrea said.
There are more than one dozen bars and restaurants signed up for the Game 7 viewing party. Each one will have their own drink and food specials.
To find the list of participating establishments, click here.