Visitor:  Kansas City Blades

Home:  Detroit Vipers

Date:  October 3, 1997

 

Scoring:

Team                1          2          3          SO       Final

KC                  3          0          1            3          5

DET                 1          2          1            0          4                                 

 

Visitor playmakers:

Dale Craigwell, Brent Cullaton, Claudio Scremin, John Purves, David Bruce

 

Home playmakers:

Dan Kesa, Phil Crowe, Scott Thomas, Clayton Beddoes

 

Network:  ABC (KMBZ Kansas City) (Metro Sports rebroadcast)

Announcers:  Bob Kaser, Don Fortune

 

Pregame:  Yes

Intermissions:  Yes – 1^st  - interviews with Iain Fraser and Paul MacLean.  2^nd – Gordie Howe press conference, interview with John Purves

Postgame:  Yes

Commercials:  No

 

Grade:  90/100.  Annoying score updates at the bottom and Metro Retro overlay during parts of the game.

 

Notes:  Gordie Howe plays with the Detroit Vipers playing his sixth decade of hockey, even though his ice time is limited to one shift.  The Blades score in a flurry in this season opener, but the Vipers manage to tie it up and force the shootout.  The Blades score three times to win the shootout and beat the defending champions. It was Howe's 2,421st and final game.

 

Running time: 2:41 (2 discs)