Its the 3rd period, and the clock is winding down. Unless you are Hamilton, you probably have experienced a time or two were you aren't winning comfortably at this point. Down by 1 is tense, but you are already down so it is more of a hopeful anticipation of maybe scoring a goal, but I don't find it as tense as being up by 1 personally, but more tense than a tie. I can't quite say why but I'm already ready to be let down at this point I guess. At a tie with the game winding down I also don't feel nearly as tense because with a tie at least you get points and its not a loss. Although you have to survive a shootout for a true tie and my team has abysmal luck at those (2-8 in shootouts over the last 2 seasons, ugh.) Up by one, now that's the 'ol butthole clencher. Just hanging on, afraid to look or that you'll hear the other team's goal horn. Because if they score then you'll have to make another OT period and maybe a shootout, which, again seem to go the other way.

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