Chelsea hockey traveled to Allen Park to face Allen Park in the state quarterfinal. The winner would get a trip to Compuware Arena. The loser — or, for you non-competitive types, the second winner — would have more time to catch up on all its favorite tv shows on Hulu.

Chelsea jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, and before long things got even worse for Allen Park: the referees awarded Chelsea a penalty shot after a non-goalie Jaguar closed his hand on the puck in the crease. This was a dangerous moment for Allen Park.

“See here, he’s going to skate towards you with the puck, see, and he’s going to shoot the puck, see, and if you want — that is to say, if you’re so inclined to do so — you can maybe try to stop the puck from going into your net, see.”

Sadly for the Bulldogs but happily for the Jaguars, the goalie made the stop. However, later in the first period the Bulldogs did manage to score a second goal.

The first period ended with Chelsea enjoying a 2-0 lead, and the second period featured even less scoring than Michigan State basketball managed against Louisville. I know that’s hard to imagine, but it’s true. (Neither team scored in the second period.)

Though there wasn’t any scoring, there was good action and a few indelicate interactions…like this:

There were some good hits, too.

Much to the chagrin of the many Bulldog fans in attendance, Allen Park managed to score a goal in the third period.

This made the score 2-1, leaving Chelsea a lead of one lonely little goal. One scrawny goal in the third period of a hockey game in a single-elimination tournament. That’s it.

If you’re not a hockey fan, let me explain to you what a one-goal lead in the third period of a hockey game in a single-elimination tournament is for anyone with a rooting interest in the game: it’s miserably thrilling. You’re watching the game begging the clock to move faster, begging the puck to clear the blue line even if only by an inch so you can get a chance to breathe, begging that shot to be wide or high or directly into the goalie’s chest or in Lenawee County or really ANYWHERE BUT IN THE NET. In playoff hockey it takes only one shot to ruin everything, and you spend the waning seconds living both in fear of that one awful shot and in hope of the appearance of those glorious zeros on the clock before that one loathsome shot can be created.

Playoff hockey can lift your heart to absurd heights of joy, but it can also tear your heart out of your chest.

Much to the delight of the Chelsea faithful, the Bulldogs kept the puck out of the net to preserve the 2-1 victory. When time expired, they poured onto the ice to rejoice over their second trip in three years to the state semifinals.

As Chelsea celebrated, Allen Park mourned the end of its season.

This Allen Park team bore some resemblance to the Chelsea team of two years ago: both produced somewhat below-average regular seasons, but both surprised plenty of people by finding a way to win in the playoffs. The main difference: Chelsea’s team of two years ago reached the semifinals, while Allen Park’s 2011-12 team fell one goal short of that accomplishment. Just one scrawny little goal. It’s the thinnest of margins, but it looms large when you no longer have time to erase it.

Playoff hockey can lift your heart to absurd heights of joy, but it can also tear your heart out of your chest.

Back on the other side of the scoresheet, the Bulldogs received a rousing ovation from their fans as they walked through the lobby on their way to the bus.

When next you see photos of these Bulldogs on this blog, they’ll be in Compuware Arena facing University Liggett.