Long Overtime Games

LONG OVERTIME GAMES tire out even the best athletes. In the 2000 National Hockey League playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins played to the brink of exhaustion.

The Flyers journeyed to Pittsburgh, attempting to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. But the Penguins took a 1–0 lead about two minutes into the game on Alexei Kovalev’s slap shot from the high slot.

Philadelphia tightened defensively and didn’t allow another Penguins goal. Then early in the third period, Daymond Langhow won a face-off in Penguins territory. The puck flew to Eric Desjardins, whose slap shot missed. But John LeClair redirected it into the net, tying the score at 1–1.

Neither team scored again before regulation time elapsed, and the contest went into overtime. Minute by minute, the players grew more weary, but no one could force the puck into the net. The Flyers and the Penguins played four full overtime periods with the scoreboard stuck at 1–1.

An unlikely hero emerged in the fifth extra period. Philadelphia’s Keith Primeau, who had scored only seven goals in his 78 playoff games, carried the puck along the right wing boards. After putting a move on defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, he powered a wrist shot past goalie Ron Tugnutt to give the Flyers a 2–1 overtime win in the NHL’s third-longest playoff game in history.

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POINT Even the Penguins probably breathed a sigh of relief when the game finally ended. Philadelphia likely won because Primeau knew where he planned to skate, and Kasparaitis’s legs felt too tired to move quickly.

In life, we often grow tired. Our body needs rest and rejuvenation. Our mind becomes weary. When we reach exhaustion, others can’t depend on us, and we can’t depend on ourselves. We need recreation and relaxation.

God, on the other hand, never grows tired. He never becomes weary. The Lord is always ready to hear and help when we call.

GOAL! Think of a time you grew so tired you couldn’t function well. Thank God for being constantly alert and always available.