There is nothing in sports like overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two evenly matched teams, tired as hell, going at it, with a goal ending it. So much pressure, with both teams a great play -- or costly mistake -- away from elation or devastation.
Even better, it's the rare sporting event that comes with zero commercials. Hockey broadcasters wait until the end of the game (or the entire 20 minute period) before interrupting beautiful sports with somebody yelling FLATIZZA at us. This is awesome, but it also allows the stress and intensity to build up and build up without the logical release of a commercial break.
I made a joke about this from our Twitter account Wednesday night:
13 people die every year because playoff hockey doesn’t have commercials.
— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 24, 2014
But I quickly found out that stress and intensity were not the only things building:
Yes, with no commercials, you cannot pee. I decided to inspect, and found Twitter is FILLED with people expressing their hockey playoff overtime-caused urinary situations.
Have to pee something fierce, but no commercials in Overtime Playoff Hockey, guess I'll have to hold it.
— Cougs (@wsucougs19) April 24, 2014
Forgot that overtime playoff hockey is commercial free. Damn it! I have to pee, but I don’t want to leave.
— #1975 B to the Mac. (@bmac2838) April 20, 2014
Having to pee during a playoff hockey overtime period is the worst
— Trenton Coleman (@TColesss11) April 18, 2014
Literally gonna pee my pants because of this game holy moly #overtime
— Sops (@kangstuh_2) April 22, 2014
Having to pee during playoff overtime. Just the worst
— Jacob Grainger (@JacobGGrainger) April 20, 2014
I gotta pee but I'm not missing this overtime
— Jake Fiegl (@JustFIEGLitout) April 18, 2014
I have to pee but overtime
— Megan McDonald (@megancapri) April 18, 2014
Overtime stresses me out so much I'm going to pee my pants
— Monica Reneé (@mpitti42) April 24, 2014
there is an overtime. therefore i cannot leave the TV.(even if i have to pee)
— Claire Worthen (@claire_bear_00) April 18, 2014
Overtime begins, and NOW I have to pee. Hurry up with a goal, Blackhawks.
— Krista (@lechatsavant) April 18, 2014
And why do we hold it? Fear of missing out:
I've had to pee through all of the 2nd overtime but I was scared I would miss something #BecauseItsTheCup
— nahla hamdan (@holla_its_nahla) April 18, 2014
Because if we pee, this will happen:
I watch 99% of the Blues/Blackhawks game and miss the damn third overtime goal while taking a pee. The world is unfair.
— Marc-Jondré Fleury (@JonYe_West_) April 18, 2014
Twice today I stopped watching hockey to pee. And twice today I missed an overtime goal.
— Thomas Wilson (@_thomas_wilson_) April 20, 2014
So let's salute the people that made it!
@SanJoseSharks, you're making my roommate @sarahh_rose8 pee angrily with that overtime... -Esa #shehelditforyouguys
— Esa (@EsaChen) April 23, 2014
And try to avoid the people that didn't:
Having to pee during overtime is quite the dilemma...already chose to pee my pants. There really was no choice. #OTmagic
— Stephen Hall (@Stephen_Hall31) April 18, 2014
Maybe we all should just take precautions:
Note to self: Don't drink a lot during the 3rd period because you will have to pee during overtime and the bad guys will score
— Stephanie Whitehead (@stephaniejayne2) April 19, 2014
Wait, precautions means not drinking? Oh, no. Let's not do that.