Does awesome have a title?

So much awesomeness packed into one game last night.

• Sister's birthday
• Johnny' had 2 sickkk goals
• AMS remain in 1st place
• AMS have outscored opponents at home 49-16
• 9th straight win at home
• Brett Plouffe played like he cared
• Everyone played 60 minutes
• ERIC MESTERY IS BACK

"I thought start to finish it was our best game of the year," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "We started off with a huge penalty kill, then we got our momentum back. And those two fights (late in the third) showed we were going hard until the end. That was impressive to me."

I love how often quotes from coach include "it was our best game of the year" there's been several of those. Does that mean they're improving and he's impressed or is that just the line he gives? I dunno, I don't care, I'll take it. It was really a damn good game.

"I just saw Feser coming off the bench and ripped it off to him before the defense got to him," Mestery said. "I was nervous driving to the rink to day, but once I got in the locker room I was OK. I really missed the fans -- they aren't that good in Lethbridge."

oh baby, I missed you too. On Twitter last night I said "sorry Neal Prokop, you had your chance, but Eric Mestery is back in town." But I realized I'm not fully ready to dump Neal as my hockey boyfriend. So I'll have to have 2 for now. I'm guessing when Mestery shaves off the porn 'stache, it'll be game over for Neal. Sorry kitten, defensemen win my heart every time.

All that being said, Eric had a good game. He could have easily cracked under the pressure of the haters and doubters. Instead, he showed that he's a good hockey player. At one point I believe I also tweeted "Mestery's skating makes me feel tingly in my lady bits". Srsly, that kid can skate.

"I'm a little more confident every game," said Lazo, who has 10 goals. "I was in a slump on that road trip, it's nice to get back on track. I think the comfort of playing at home has helped us."

It was great to see that line, especially Johnny get their mojo going. They'd been too quiet lately. In the past Johnny's been streaky so it was good to see his slump end quickly.

"When he needed to make the big save, he did," Hiller said. "I think he'd be the first to tell you it was a big team effort in front of him."

Oh Drew Owsley. You and your sexy shutout. I feared I jinxed it when I thought about the possibility of the SO in the 2nd period. But no, our little Owl held down the fort and for real, the team played phenomenal in front of him (minus some shifts by Riley and a near own-goal from Moser).


photo courtesy Brad Lindsey

Speaking of Moser, wow, I'm liking this kid. He took some big punches in his fight at the end of the 3rd but just kept going. Kid's got some moxie. I like it. Also feisty was that fight for Jordan Messier, nice to see him getting emotional and using his size.

All player quotes from the Herald.