USA and Canada 2013: Vancouver and the ice hockey

Had a late start to the day. We were kept awake most of the night by a couple in the next room deciding it was time to sort out all their differences. They finally fell asleep exhausted at 4am. They did checkout today so we should do better tonight. Made us a little tired today. Lucky we had no plans. Went and did our laundry, went to the Post Office, collected some autumn leaves and then headed to the Granville Markets for late lunch, walk around then home by 4pm.
We had to get home early, we were watching an ice hockey game (National Hockey League - NHL) on TV in a pub in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago and decided to try and get some tickets to a game. Managed to get tickets to a game tonight - Vancouver Canucks against Edmonton Oilers.
Checked the venue, Rogers Stadium, a 15 minute walk along Georgia Street down from the motel. Walked along Georgia Street which goes across a bridge. The crowd headed left instead of towards the stadium. We presumed there were steps down and under the bridge to the stadium. Pam even took a photo of me in front of the stadium. Followed the crowd and we were suddenly at a stadium on the left side of the road.....we must have looked like idiots getting a photo in front of the wrong stadium. Never mind, didn't see anyone we knew.
Big sellout crowd as it was the first home game for the Canucks for the season and they were confident with a new coach in charge. Both teams are rated by the bookies to make the finals and both teams had lost their first away games. Big pressure. The pressure only got worse for the home team when the Oilers scored in the first 2 minutes.
We found out there are 3 x 20 minute periods and the game takes about 2 hours. Plenty of entertainment, light shows and hype.
The home team scored twice in the last couple of minutes of the first period and the crowd was awake and loud.
The home team went on to win 5-2 and it was very exciting after a miracle goal with about 3 minutes to go after the opposition goalie was binned and a 'Hail Mary' shot from the back field by a Canuck ricocheted off the wall and rolled slowly but surely towards the goal with Oilers chasing in vain.. We had some very friendly Canucks fans around us who tried to explain (in between them spilling beer and screaming at the Oilers fans) all the rules and tactics of the game. I think they enjoyed having some aliens in their midst.
Walked home, stopped for coffee and a wind down before getting to our (we hope) quiet room for a well earned rest.

Our leaf collection on the rocks.

Taking a beak on our walk around Stanley Park.

Pam is an artist really

Another one of her suggestions for the art show.

Our leaves on grass.

Pile of sulphur on the wharf opposite Stanley Park.

Totem poles in Stanley Park.

Waterfront opposite Stanley park. The mountain behind the sulphur pile is Grouse Mountain, lucky we squeezed it in yesterday.

Canada Place, where the cruise ships dock. None in today, very late in the season.

Burrard Bridge from the Granville Markets.

Game night.

Just not at this stadium...try this side of the road.........

Warm-up. Both full teams on the ice.

The National Anthem.

A little team-v-team disagreement.

At the break between periods a couple of ice skimmers come on and resurface the ice while a few blokes do any repairs to the goal nets.

Due to it having such a big TV audience, every 5 minutes there is a break. During the break a heap of people come on with snow sweepers and sweep all the excess ice away while a couple of them shovel it into a rubbish bucket.