No. It was not just a game. Canada lost, but that was kind of beside the point. The PA announcer before the beginning of the US anthem asked the crowd to respect both anthems. But his request was to no avail.

As soon as the US anthem started, the boos rang out in the arena. Then when the Canadian anthem was song, the crowd took over and sang it without the help of the singer. It was a lusty rendition of O Canada. The patriotism shone through. It was felt on the ice as well. There were three fights in the first 20 seconds of the game.

For all of us who are old enough, this brought back memories of the 1972 series between Canada and the Soviet Union. Two different ideologies playing head to head. Canada eventually won the series on a Paul Henderson goal with a little over a half a minute to play in the final game, in Moscow.

That series was between the good guys and the bad guys. This series is coming to be the same thing. The enemy is not really the US, it is more against one person and the ideology he represents.

So this is a series between the good guys the bad guys too. This was on US TV so they saw Canadian reaction to the US anthem. We are no longer a polite peoples, who say sorry all the time, eh.

So many similarities between 1972 and this series. Canada was trailing after playing four games at home and having to go to Moscow. This time Canada lost at home and will have to win in the United States.

It was not just a hockey game. It may be, it will most likely be a precursor of things to come outside of the hockey arena.

All I have for today.