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December 27:  Denver, CO
Detroit Red Wings vs Colorado Avalanche
Pepsi Center

He was born in the summer of his 27th year....that's right, we were crankin' Rocky Mountain High driving to Winter Park on a cold sunny day in Denver.

Great to be back here, I think we're starting to figure this place out.  Sad that my brother Pete and his family are in Kenya for the Holidays and we'll miss them this time.

We set out early for Breckenridge, driving west into the mountains (always strange for me) and right past one of my favorite places - Red Rocks Park in Morrison.  Multiple accidents at the Eisenhower Bridge had traffic backed up for miles, blocking the path to Breckenridge.  One of many great things about Colorado, you can circle back from one world class ski resort to another, and we landed at beautiful Winter Park.

Winter Park is about 90 minutes west of Denver, out I-70 and then north on US40.  Ben and I didn't ski enough last year, and this is a great way to reconnect with our sport.

This is a cool little resort town, and easy to navigate.  Easy parking, short walk through town, easy rentals, up the express chairs.

Rocky Mountain High is right.  We're skiing above 11,000' today and it really shows.  Cold, sunny, gorgeous, and absolutely perfect snow.

We took full advantage of it.  Ben got off to a rough start, but by the end of the first run he was tearing it up.  He told me what is initial problem was, he "forgot to ski fearlessly".

After that first run I watched him ski faster and more fearlessly than ever.  We had a tremendous day up there. 

Ben thinks we must be part Canadian.  Ski by day, hockey by night.  And tonight it's two of the best hockey teams in the West at a sold out Pepsi Center.

Detroit has a lot of hockey fans.  There are a large percentage of road Red Wings jerseys here and they're all chanting "Ozzie!  Ozzie!"  They're cheering for Red Wings Goalie Chris Osgood.

Norman Osborne was the Green Goblin, and on this night Chris Osgood is Spiderman.  The Red Wings goalie, in his 17th season, had a career high 46 saves.  He was critical in the 2nd period when he stopped all 23 shots from the Avalanche and kept his team in it 2-2.

Ben and I are not fans of the Red Wings.  They lead the Central Division, nine points ahead of my Blues.  And they're good.  Detroit scored all four goals on the powerplay, including the game winner with a minute remaining in overtime to win.

The Detroit victory was Chris Osgood's 400th, making him only the 10th goalie in NHL history to reach that mark.  Ozzie's career record is an impressive 400-216-95.

After the winning shot, the Red Wings new who to thank, the Blizzard of Oz (left).

I don't know what Seattle's problem is.  Go to a major event of any kind in our hometown and you can count on some nice idle time in your car trying to get out.  After the 18,000 seat game at a sellout, Ben and I are in the car and back to the hotel in minutes.  We need some rest, we have another tour city tomorrow.

Strange thing we saw:  Yours truly on the diamond vision.