I’ve been giving strong consideration to using a Seger lyric as the title of tonite’s live blog, but decided against it. A few of you have suggested I go with a couple, more obscure Lightfoot songs. I thought of doing that too, and taking full credit for the idea. But, I can’t. The Wings are now 3-0 since we went with “Fitzgerald” and I’m not turning back. Plus, I’m chomping at the bit to use a particular line and I can’t until the number reaches “1”.
On to the keys, the fact-driven, stat-backed, heavy-handed analysis A2Y has become famous for.
Composure. The Wings have had plenty of it, while Senior just can’t seem to find any. Mike Ribeiro gets to play tonite and I’m on record as saying I don’t mind that decision. Do I agree with it? No. I think it’s an example of the hypocrisy of this league and the spineless, gutless, incompetent manner in which a little man runs it. Gary Bettman is the worst, and there can be no comparison, commissioner in professional sports. That’s saying something when a counterpart of his can turn a blind eye to his best players injecting their bodies with chemicals not used in most livestock factories.
Osgood threw a butt end? Did he? Just for fun, let’s pretend he did. While you’re imagining that, I’ll let long-time member of the A2Y 19 explain why this situation is so...Bettman.
If the Stars fans and the league offices would be fine with Holmstrom turning around at any point during any game when Turco slashes, punches or tries to castrate him with his fists and goalstick and swinging his stick two handed into Turco’s chest as hard as he can, then I don’t have a problem.
If they’d say one word, utter one peep, or in any way evince even the slightest discomfort with that, then they and the league offices can absolutely go f*** themselves.
That’s HockeyinHD, in the comment section of this post. He’s right on the money. Let’s be real clear about what he’s saying. Tonite, when the mental midget slashes Homer, or rattles his puppies, or punches the back of his head, Gary Bettman has said that when Holmstrom turns around and gives Sybil a BC two hander to the chest, all he can expect is a fine. Good to know.
The key we were talking about is composure. When the real rednecks get riled and Senior starts flying around, maybe even when Dallas takes a lead tonite--which would be an interesting development, considering they haven’t had one in six periods now--how the Wings react to that will be significant.
But don’t sit there and fret about that, because there hasn’t been a hint of panic in this team since the two-goal-choke-the-shaft trend we saw in Round 1 against Senior’s little brother. That’s long gone. Solved quickly enough by a goalie change.
Speaking of. We said prior to Game 2 that we wouldn’t be mentioning Osgood as a key factor anymore, that it’s a little too obvious and that there’s no reason to think his steady play won’t continue. Well, three factors have intervened since then. (1) I called him your Conn Smythe leader (winner). (b) He’s going to face more than the 20 shots/game he faced in 1 and 2. (3) Dallas feels they may have rattled him a bit after the back alley smack addict attack at the end of Saturday’s game.
Osgood will probably have to have his best game of the playoffs tonite. I’d guess he’ll see 25 shots and a bit more traffic.
Slush. That ice is going to absolutely suck tonite. Forecast calls for 83, sunny and slow. Back in ‘98 that was a story because that Stars team was built for those conditions. Hatcher was real comfortable slogging rather than skating and so was Ken Hitchcock. Not so much anymore. Dallas likes to move the puck as much as the Wings do, they just don’t do it as well. They claim puck possession as a strength, and speed as an asset. Both teams are going to be equally affected. The main difference being Senior is used to playing in that crap.
Babcock. Uncle Mike is close. So much closer than when the Wings were two victories away from the Final last year. Still without a deal for next year, but that’s a foregone conclusion. The guy has proven to us that he’s a keeper. Tell me a wrong move he’s made. Sitting Lilja? Replacing Hasek? Inserting Helm? Playing Maltby in Game 1? Disregarding matching lines in any series? The only decision I’ve questioned was the move to separate Kronwall and Stuart early on. But he reversed that quickly. But he’s beyond proving he belongs. Now the guy’s inching up on a Cup and his foot is on the gas. I don’t think any coach left is having the impact he is, and his influence has got to be huge in that room.
Faceoffs. The Stars have been little bitches in the faceoff circle, losing more than 70 percent the first two games. First stick down may be a slight reason for that. We’ll see tonite.
Finally, the violence factor. Don Cherry, the “flamboyant” voice of all things Canadian, continues to blast the Wings as being too soft, not “rock ‘em, sock ‘em” enough for you rednecks. Not sure what Don’s been doing during the first two games, but it sure hasn’t been watching hockey. The Wings have owned the corners. Every big hit has been at Dallas’ expense. There has been no question as to which team has played more physically and there’s no reason to believe that can’t continue tonite. The best line of the year was Uncle Mike’s when he said Drake likes to run dmen and he likes to watch Drake run dmen. We need Uncle Mike to be nearly giddy tonite.
I have no idea why you’re up so late Iwo, and I’m not sure why I’m reading you now either.
Great write up! But I have a couple of disagreements.
1) Ozzie did try to get in Ribiero’s way, but it was to protect his D behind the net. A lot of goalies do this, frequently. Georgeums has a good write up about it. The basic idea is to make the forward take a longer path around the extended stick so he doesn’t have a direct line to the D. If you raise it just as he’s coming in, they may even have to stop or severely slow down. I don’t mind Ozzie showing a rough edge, or making look subtle. Better than Turco’s sparring with Homer’s head.
2) I don’t think Ozzie will have to play the best game so far. He’ll be solid and make the same (sometimes great) saves he did in game 2. Why? Because the Wings will be even more defensive minded as a road team and suffocate Dallas, especially if they feel their game is being hampered by bad ice.
Babbles is the best! I’m sure he’ll win a Jack Adams trophy in the next few years, or even a couple of years in a row. We may even have to call him Jack Babcock.
Did you see this article about Z from The Dallas Morning News? Lids thinks Z will be the next Yzerman!
The one thing that concerns me is how both teams will respond to Ribiero’s slash. Are they going to try and run Ozzie again? Are we going to pound Ott? Or send Drake to hunt Ribiero? Maybe Dats, since he has been hitting a lot lately!
Also, is anyone else getting a little nervous whenever Lebda and Cheli are back there? I’ve actually begun to get worried about Cheli, although he’s been pretty good on the PK. Please tell me that it’s just me!
Posted by Osrt on 05/12 at 04:41 AM