Over the years, I have taken a lot of people to their first hockey games. (Or one of their first, or the first where they've been forced to pay attention) And almost every one of them have made the same joke:
"I hope they do the Flying V!"
It is so funny. Every time.
If you are not familiar with the V, then we're not friends. No, I'm kidding, but you're probably not familiar with the Mighty Ducks movies, in which the maneuver is made to look like the most brilliant offensive formation in the history of hockey.
In fact, in D2, when the Team Iceland (Really? Iceland?) disrupts the V, the film (and ultimately, the audience) treats it as the moment where you know the heroes are in serious trouble. (Like Bane vs. Batman Round 1 in Dark Knight Rises, Morpheus getting captured in The Matrix, or the kid watching Lucas rock the power glove in The Wizard). They broke up the Flying V, the audience thinks. These guys must be hardcore!
Inevitably, I usually end up explaining why the Flying V is actually a horrible, horrible idea, why it would never work in a million years. However, I'm apparently terrible at explaining things, because I usually only get blank stares as replies.
Well, folks, here we have it: a Flying V (sort of) attempted in game. While the team doesn't form a perfect V, they do gather behind the net and then mount a five-man attack, starting with the rear player carrying the puck and passing it back and forth in an attempt to confuse the opponent. It even starts with the guy behind the net signaling "Flying V" behind the net.
Behold as the whole thing unravels at the hands of a single forechecker.
I'm so glad this happened. I've been watching this video a lot today.
(Tip o' the hat to Puck Daddy)
