Game Three

Marner’s game was insane.

“No lead is safe.”

By: Gabriela Yareliz

‘Chaos’ was the main word used to describe game three. There was a bizarre ‘Welcome to Vegas’ Cirque du Soleil situation at the beginning, a moving National Anthem, and the game began. It was a total snooze fest until the last half of the second period, where the gridlock was broken.

Some of the most impressive parts of the game were— McNabb returned with the cage on his face. He got 33+ minutes of ice time. His team was yelling “Warrior” when he was on ice.

Two VGK goals were disallowed after two Brind’Amour challenges. Carolina was watching the iPad like a hawk. The crowd was frustrated, but these seemingly were the right calls. VGK had to come again, and come correct— which they did thanks to Mitch Marner.

The turning point of this game was the penalty on Carolina for too many men on the ice. Things got spicy. There was a goal from Hertl, Walker put the puck into his own net (everyone cringed; this counted on Marner’s score sheet), and Marner had the insane breakaway before the end of the second period. Marner ended up scoring the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup final history.

This gave VGK a false sense of security. This sounded the alarm to the Hurricanes to wake up. It was thrilling, though.

When the second period ended, I knew VGK’s lead was not safe. I said it out loud. I was like, VGK cannot get comfortable. They need to score again. Carolina loves to be asleep at the wheel, and suddenly wake up fifteen minutes out from the end of the game. In true Hurricane fashion, they stormed the third period, twelve minutes out from the end of regulation and tied this game. They had three goals in :39 seconds. This was insane.

Does Carolina want to win? I mean, yeah. No doubt about it. As no doubt as Gwen Stefani is. It’s like they see the third period ending, and suddenly get some sort of jolt. Major respect to Carolina for how they came back out of nowhere to push this game into overtime. We were shook. Tortorella’s face went from sassy-smug (his tan looks amazing and his hair is on point, though) to deeply concerned. Brind’Amour went from clenched jaw and tear-filled eyes to confidently serene (looking like freakin’ Gaston from Beauty and the Beast).

Tell me you don’t see it. And the brother is like fifty-something and ripped. The resemblance is uncanny.
Tortorella glowing like a true “golden” knight.

At the end of the first OT, the teams were still tied. It was truly anyone’s game. This series has been absolutely insane. Carolina’s desperation driving the action, and VGK slapping itself awake to remember it can’t be coasting.

When interviewed by media, Tortorella said he still hadn’t seen that last goal in the second OT and how it went in. I hadn’t seen it until this morning because your girl was asleep. (Not for lack of thrill, but that is how sleepy I got— it was midnight ok? I sleep like a grandma, and I was on ET).

VGK got a lucky bounce from a VGK-Hurricanes interaction that sealed VGK’s victory.

Marner was sassy and feeling himself the whole game. Can’t blame him. This photo captures it.

They say this game was one of the best in hockey history. Why? It was pure chaos. It’s clear that both teams want it. Both have gotten Lady Luck to kiss their die.

They say that 70% of the time, the winner of game one wins the series. And 77% of the time, it’s the winner of game three. So far, that pattern would point to VGK. But I don’t know. Carolina seems to come alive as the walls start closing in on them. And boy, do they come alive. They go from tropical storm to category four in :39 seconds.

The locker rooms seem to have a different approach. Tortorella has said that due to the team being veterans, he doesn’t say much in the locker room. He said not much was said ahead of OT when they knew they blew their four-point lead. They knew what needed to be done. Brind’Amour seems to be leading good old fashioned southern pep rallies back there.

VGK was sassy with that last lucky goal, saying it went “according to plan.” Tortorella said that was draws him to this game is the camaraderie.

“The camaraderie of it all. To watch a team be a team.” John Tortorella

Also, can we take a moment to discuss how ESPN is doing Emily Kaplan dirty again? I wrote about it here, before. Whoever is styling her needs to stop and give this job to whoever is in charge of Messier and PK. It’s pure sabotage on this poor woman. ESPN needs to invest in its women as it does with its men. Messier looks ten years younger this playoff season. Come on! Emily deserves the same.

I am advocating for Emily to have the stylist she deserves.

Carolina was devastated but the cards were dealt as they were dealt. Props to VGK for not getting in their heads after two disallowed goals, and to Marner, who probably had the best game of his career. Respect to Carolina who woke tf up in the second half of the third period and decided to fight until end of regulation and beyond. Their second goalie Bussi (a Western Michigan U hockey player) was fantastic.

The question now becomes, as we head into game four territory, will the teams establish a rhythm or dominance or will it be pure chaos through the last buzzer in game seven? Nobody knows. But hey, there are two American teams fighting for the Stanley Cup— so I guess no matter what happens, America, on its 250th birthday, WINS. 🇺🇸

I leave you with the goal that won the chaotic game three:

This Week’s Favorites 06.06.26

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Welcome June! I decided to start the summer with a trip to refresh Sephora favorites and a fake tan I forgot to wash off (true story).

Why do people on 90s tv shows have breakfast with friends? Who has this kind of time other than the leadership at work who doesn’t show up until 2pm on a regular day anyway? What kind of life does one lead to be able to have a breakfast with someone else? This is the mystery.

It’s getting warmer. Thunder storms loom, and I am pumping Flonase into each nostril until they arrive. I finished the Stay Hot MWH series— I am not gonna lie— I wanted more than just five days. A new challenge starts Monday with Vita Sidorkina’s The Core.

The Arrae bloat gummies are spicy (it’s the ginger)! But I like them more than the capsule. And here we are. End of another week. I spent half the week with a migraine or phantom migraine, and now, I am back and energetic. The hormone balance protocol is working, and I feel human. These are the things that caught my eye this week!

I ordered one of these tea pouches because life is sunnier with a tea pouch.

“Your silence will not protect you.” Audre Lorde

Via Reclaim Your Energy.

“To clear your psychic weight, you must draw lines from one chapter to the next, end one version of yourself and welcome the next. You do not have to ruminate on what you once did because you are not that person anymore. You are different, and so is your life. With time, those memories will fade into a distant recollection, and most will disappear forever. You are allowed to close the door. You are allowed to let go. You are allowed to find your new, solid ground in the knowledge that you have learned the lessons you needed to, and you will walk forward with more grace, more self-awareness, and more patience. You will become who you always needed to be.” Brianna Wiest

Making Summer Fridays count…

“That’s the lesson of Marah. The journey wasn’t over, and every bitter moment was an invitation to depend on God again. It’s still true for us today. The hard seasons aren’t dead ends; they’re classrooms where we learn to pray with more honesty and trust with more depth.” Glorify Devotional

Might go back for this.

Song of the week:

Summer on the mind!

Game Two

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Is Vegas still calm? #NoPanicVGK

Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes flipped the tables on the Vegas Golden Knights. They spent the majority of game two at zero, and ten minutes before the end of regulation, they tied the game with the Golden Knights. You know what happens when it’s tied— you sigh and buckle up for overtime.

Was yesterday a stroke of luck for Carolina? Was it the no-goal call, Tortorella’s challenge (which did not go his way), McNabb taken to the hospital after the puck to the face, the Hurricane’s fourth line, and as coach Brind’Amour said— a result of “individual efforts”?

It was what one would call a result of momentum, persistence and several circumstantial factors. Tortorella told the media he has thoughts about what flipped the game (he also said he would not share those thoughts in his typical snark), and he continued to praise the team saying it’s a solid team and that he has no regrets on his challenge. He said he would challenge what he saw 10 out of 10 times.

Carolina was at the top of the Metro Division. The Knights barely made the playoffs but swept the Western Conference. Game three will let us know if lady luck stayed in Raleigh or if she came to Vegas to wreak havoc.

The thing about these games is I don’t think a team wins based on luck— it’s the team that becomes undeniable. We’ll see who that ends up being.

It’s gonna be a helluva ride.

Perfect

“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.” Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Consideration for others is important. Doing your best— also so important. Keys to a life well-lived.

You know what sucks and needs to be disposed of? Perfectionism. At times, it’s engrained in us as children from external sources. Sometimes, it’s personality driven. Other times, it’s an internal thing that emerges from dysfunctional relationships and how we derive value or praise (a survival mechanism!). I am here to confirm what Dr. Schaef says— it’s self-abuse. If it’s imposed by another, it’s abuse.

If the ‘P’ word creeps up on you, it’s time to explore ways to release this pattern and frame of thinking. It’s worth being intentional about this.

Game One

By: Gabriela Yareliz

The Knights aren’t panicked. They are cool, calm, collected and winning.

The Hurricanes and Knights battled it out yesterday in the Stanley Cup Final, game 1. It was such a fast-paced game filled with surprises. The scores crawled up the ladder for both teams, rendering them tied at many points in the game.

It could have been anyone’s game. Carolina fought hard, and it is going to be a hell of a series. Listen, if Rod Brind’Amour and his team take this, I wouldn’t be mad. They have been consistent in their grind. I do think the Hurricanes rely heavily on certain players— Ehlers being one (and that can get you into a pickle). But, it’s anyone’s cup.

Last night, I still saw the elements in the Knight’s game that were present in the games with Colorado— elements that I think will take them all the way. They came from a deficit and won.

“We are a really good team, and […] I think they understand these situations because they have lived through them, and they have won,” John Tortorella said.

Love Yours

By: Gabriela Yareliz

“Love yours,” was spray painted in red on a lamppost as cursive graffiti.

An excellent reminder to love your people and also, it reminded me of Emma Grede’s book, Start With Yourself.

As we start the week, I want us to focus on how we are actively showing love around us, but also, the actions we take to love ourselves.

I saw an excellent reminder from Mimi Ikonn on this. Mimi wrote:

“Here are 10 ways to become more self-possessed:

1. Tell yourself the truth, even when it’s inconvenient.

2. Stop seeking permission to be who you are.

3. Let people misunderstand you.

4. Trust your body’s wisdom over other people’s opinions.

5. Choose alignment over approval.

6. Stop abandoning yourself to keep the peace.

7. Take responsibility for your choices and your happiness.

8. Spend less time proving, more time being.

9. Keep the promises you make to yourself.

10. Become someone you can trust.”

While she writes about being self-possessed, I think all of these are elements of loving oneself, truly.

How will you love this week?

Maintenance

Posts by Chervin Jafarieh

“Everything sacred in your life requires devotion, not just desire.

Your body, your mind, your relationships, your purpose, they don’t fall apart overnight. They decay slowly when presence disappears.

Maintenance is love in action. It is the daily ritual of honoring what you say matters before life forces you to repair what neglect has broken.

Protect your energy. Tend to your people. Care for your vessel. Nurture your connection to God. Go FREAKING BERSERK!

What you consistently maintain becomes strong enough to carry you through every season.” Chervin Jafarieh