Suggestions as i go to my 1st NHL game tomorrow?

I'm actually from San Jose myself and have been to four Sharks games, been a hockey and Red Wings fan for 11 years.

SO,

pay attention to the small details that players try to accomplish. Things such as avoiding icing...this is when a team is getting attacked relentlessly in the defensive zone and so they try to get the puck out of their zone to the opposing team's zone...if the opposing team gets to it before it's icing. Then the team that iced the puck CAN'T CHANGE, therefore they'll have tired players on the ice while the team that forced icing can have fresh players out...this often sets up a scoring opportunity...

defensively forcing an offside is really important when opposing teams are attacking. If a defenseman or a forward can force one attacking player to be in their zone while another attacking player with the puck is still in neutral, that is offsides on the attacking team, and they are thus prevented from continuing forward.

Watch how forwards try to create open spaces for a pass and a shot from a teammate when they carry the puck and attract the attention of the other team. Sometimes by this distraction, especially if it's a star player, they can attract two opposing players, someone will be left open and that's when they try to get a pass out to the guy for a clean shot. Joe Thornton is really good at creating those situations as he is one of the best play makers in the league.

On the powerplay watch how the defensive guys try to win the face-off and have their defenseman in the back try to swing the puck around the boards and out of danger.

Watch for a "bad change" when a team dumps the puck towards the opposing end while trying to change their guys, if the goalie is sharp and quick enough he can intercept the dumped puck and pass it to one of his forwards going the other way.

Hope this helps and hope you fall in love with hockey as I did!!! :)

My advice, along with the advice provided above by others is to try to get the rink/arena/game about an hour to 2 prior to the start of the game to watch the warm-up. Go and try to get as low or as close to the ice as you can get. I prefer behind the net so you can see how hard the shots are coming at the goalies in the warm-up. It has always been my observation that if you stand or sit behind the goalie, you will have pucks flying at you left and right and listen to the sound of the puck smashing into the glass. The players are sometimes trying to pick corners (of the net) or ring shots off the post. Some players are trying to just miss the net and trying to hit the glass right behind the net for fun and to see the reaction of the fans as they duck etc. You will start to get the sense of how fast the game is and how hard these guys shot the puck. Just don't be the guy who stand/sits behind the glass and ducks every time the shots come....It's funny to see people move as if the puck was going to hit them.

In conclusion, get to the game early and try to get down behind the net to watch some of the best athlete's do amazing things with the puck during warm-ups. As far as the actual game is concerned, sit back and relax. Make sure you keep your head up and pay attention as this is a fast game, especially in person. Pay attention to the defensive zone and watch the players rotate and shift to follow the play and also their defensive coverages and responsibilities. Watch how the defense tries to make the breakout pass to quickly turn into offense and a possible scoring chance. Watch how the forwards cycle and rotate in the offensive zone to look for an open are where they might receive a pass for a scoring opportunity. Just be a good fan and not stand in the way of others and make sure you are loud when your team scores or makes a good play or for a big hit.

I hope you enjoy yourself and that your experience lasts a lifetime!

Good on ya for going to a game. I appreciate defencive plays.... watch an odd man rush of a 2 on 1, or a 3 on 2, and watch the players caught at the other end of the rink skate their butts off to try and break up the play. On the powerplay, watch the battles in front of the net. A guy will stand right in front of the goaltender to screen him.... watch his strength/positioning and the abuse he takes from the goalie and the defenders.

If you pay close attention, you can see some set plays like this one http://sabres.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlg=20082009... The puck carrier goes in and stops at the blue line, thus stopping the defenders, then a player goes in with speed catching the defenders flatfooted and blows right by them.

Don't yell until you've been to a handful of games and get to know what's going on. God I can't stand it when someone is at their first game and a team dumps the puck into the zone and someone yells, "hey, where are you passing, c'mon". Don't be that fan!! Sit back ask intelligent fans around you what's going on, observe, jump up and down and go nuts when your teams scores.

Hmmm... don't look at the puck. Look at #26 and #29 for Dallas and #19 for the Sharks.

That's what hockey is about. #26 (Lehtinen) is pure skill... #29 is pure stubborn agression (I have a feeling that he will be all over the game tomorrow).... #19 (Thornton) is all about power.

Also look for #63 (Ribiero) for the Stars... he slows down the game or controls the tempo when he is on the ice. You'll see players double him and he still distances himself from them and you will see players panic around him.

And #26 (Grier) for the Sharks... fast and powerful and smart.

Support your team! Hell Hooray when they score, jump up and high five the person next to you, most of all... try to make it worth your while by trying to get on tv. Make sure that you record the game so you can go back and look at yourself later. :)

Enjoy not having to worry about anything but which players are going to get in a fight. Never "boo" the other team, its very unsportsman like conduct!

Oh yea.....drink lots of beer!!!

i presumed it exchange into especially cool whilst they coated Wrigley in ice. i'm no longer a Hockey fan yet i think of that's a appropriate thought. possibly it could open greater eyes to the sport purely with the help of being held in a stadium like Fenway. and that i wager Hockey followers like the assumption. I say why no longer, that's iciness and if it would not reason any injury choose for it.

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Hockey fans are very knowledgeable. Someone around your seats will be glad to explain and answer any questions you have.

My only suggestion to you would be to paint half your face black and the other half deep pacific teal. Oh, bring extra money for beer too.