Box Scores: Noble in Defeat

The best games aren’t necessarily the biggest wins. Sometimes, like Kotaku reader TundraWolf, you can still step back and admire the toughest defeats knowing that you played the best you ever have.

TundraWolf and a buddy are currently playing through a dynasty in NHL 09. “We position lock ourselves to right defense (myself) and right wing (my buddy) and play against the hardest difficulty the AI can send at us. We’re playing as the Edmonton Oilers, as they’re our hometown team (yes, you can pity us), but we’ve made some trades along the way, managing to get [Roberto] Luongo as our stopper and the likes of [Petr] Sykora on our wing again.”

Facing the New York Rangers in November of their current season, TundraWolf and the Oilers lead 1-0 early in the first on a Kyle Brodziak goal, only to see it tied near the end of the period when Scott Gomez slots home a Nikolai Zherdev feed. After the break, TundraWolf and pal decide they have to step up the physicality in the second period. But the Rangers climb on top early in the second when Markus Naslund steals the puck from Lubomir Visnovsky, dekes Luongo and goes five-hole for New York’s second power play goal and the 2-1 lead.

Flash forward to a minute and a half left in the game. Still trailing 2-1, the shorthanded Oilers win the faceoff, and Ethan Moreau flips a backhander off Henrik Lundqvist’s shoulders for the 2-2 tie and a surge of momentum. But Edmonton still must fend off New York’s power play for 40 seconds to make overtime.

New York’s Brendan Shanahan gathers up a Petr Prucha rebound and, with the Oilers’ Steve Staois diving to block the shot with his back, holds off until the way is clear, then slips the puck to Chris Drury, who tips the winner past Luongo despite a devastating check from Visnovsky.

All is not lost; the Oilers win the final faceoff and rush the goal, getting Sykora one last shot – but it clangs off the post as the buzzer sounds, and the Rangers take an exhausting 3-2 win.

“It was a loss, yes, but it was definitely the most engaging and compelling game that I’ve played in NHL in a very long time,” TundraWolf says. “I thought it would be appropriate to share with you and perhaps with the other Kotakuites, even despite the lack of a truly happy ending.”

Let’s go to the tape!

Remember, all you have to do to get yourself featured in Box Scores’ Game of the Week is take a picture of whatever you’ve been playing – crappy cell picture will do – write up a couple sentences about why it was so compelling, and email it to me, owenATkotakuDOTcom, with “Game of the Week” in the subject header.

Now our sports open thread commences with the sports TV schedule for today and tomorrow. All times U.S. Eastern.

World Cup

Tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. it’s the Netherlands vs. Spain, both nations seeking their first ever World Cup championship, Spain appearing in its first finals; the Netherlands in its third. Today, Uruguay and Germany face off at 2:30 p.m. in the third place match.

Baseball

Heading into the last weekend before the All-Star Break, today Fox broadcasts either the Cubs at the Dodgers, Braves at the Mets, or Twins at the Tigers, 4 p.m., check local listings. Tonight on WGN, the Royals are at Comiskey Park to play the White Sox at 7 p.m. Hope no base coaches get beaten into the grass.

Tomorrow, it’s the Braves and Mets at 1 on TBS and the Cubs at Dodgers in the national game of the week at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The All-Star Futures Game, at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, is at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Canadian Football

If you’ve got the NFL Network, the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats just kicked off an hour ago.

Motorsports

NASCAR’s LifeLock 400, from scenic Joliet, Ill., is tonight at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. Is it just me or are these NASCAR races all sponsored by the kind of snake oil hucksters you hear on satellite sports radio? Can’t wait for the Graig and Susan Zapper Nevada State Credit Network 400 from North Wilkesboro.

Remember, you may send Game of the Week nominations to owenATkotakuDOTcom, and flag it “Game of the Week” in the subject header. Please include your commenter handle for proper credit.