Last Monday, I experienced hockey at its best: a playoff game six. Yes, the Wild, in only their third season of existence, made it to the playoffs. Not only that, but they held off the heavily favored Colorado Avalanche long enough to bring Game Six of the seven-game series home to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I was able to buy tickets to the game via Ticketbastard last Friday. At the time, the very existence of Game Six was in question — for it to occur, the Wild needed to win Game Five on the road in Colorado. Fortunately, they broke a three-game losing streak, and in the face of elimination, triumphed, sending the series back to Minnesota.

When Vince and I arrived at the Xcel, spirits and excitement were sky-high. Everybody in the arena was energized. Later in the game, whenever the Wild scored, the stands erupted with cheers, shouts of delight that lasted until the next stoppage of play. Despite blowing a 2-0 lead in the third, the Wild came back to win in overtime. Against all odds, the underdogs from Minnesota forced Game Seven.

More shocking still, the Wild just won Game Seven in overtime, utterly stunning Colorado and adding yet another upset to the 2003 NHL playoffs. Go Wild!