I wasn’t sure if it was Homer’s head that was an issue after Gill took him down. I thought more of his knee - the bad one.

Then on the following power play Franzen was in instead of Homer maybe because Franzen was coming on and Homer needed to sit a few more minutes.

Posted by TheFreak on 05/29/08 at 07:33 AM ET

It looks like that was the best the Pens could throw at us, while we played our worst game in possibly the whole playoffs (or those since the first round, at least).  The result?  ONE goal difference.  If they can’t get any better, and Uncle Mike does his job and we don’t suck on Saturday, then I’m happy with the result last night.  A little bit of adversity to remind us that it isn’t done yet.

I’m thinking it’s five.  There won’t be another game as bad as those first two periods, we won’t get caught up in ‘their’ game, and should be good for a Cup hoist Monday at the Joe.  Even if not, this Pens team is not taking three of four from us barring some catastrophe or serious suckage.  Even if it goes to seven, we’ve got home ice advantage, where we’ve dominated every aspect of the game.

Worried about Homer too, but if he’s out, it’s probably a mixed blessing.  When he was on the ice, he wasn’t hugely effective.  Bring in Gator, who’s probably salivating like a dog at the idea of getting into a Stanley Cup Final game with the team he grew up watching, with fresh legs, ready to hit anything in a black jersey.  Possibly move Franzen up to play with Pasha and Sasha.  Can you imagine that?  They’d be unstoppable at either end of the ice.  And Dats appears to have something to prove.  Someone’s put a chip on his shoulder and he’s taking it out on the Pens.  That’s awesome.

I’d rather not wait for Saturday, but that’s the scheduling idiocy for ya.  I’ll be nervous today, tomorrow, and all through the day Saturday.  But optimistic.

And yeah, I’ll be liveblogging from wherever the hell I am.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from a mud hut? A palatial mansion? Who knows? on 05/29/08 at 07:44 AM ET

Definitely hope Homer is okay, but at this point, Cleary has had a little more jump, so it could be worse.

I know he was already doing it, but if his injury isn’t something that he can play on and risk his career as a result, he needs to take cortizone shots like they’re going out of style and get the hell back out there.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/29/08 at 07:53 AM ET

we’ve probably seen the last of Andres Lilja, this series or maybe ever.  God that felt good to type.

Feels even better to read it.

Ozzy: Still a stud. First goal shouldn’t have lit the lamp, but…

Pavel: Wants the Cup and the Smythe.

Stuart: I’ll take him and his faults.  He’s not a #5 by any means, but he could resemble a #55. And I like that.

Franzen… God, I hope this isn’t a contract year.

Gal Hill: Will somebody kick this bish in the nuts?!  For Pete’s sake, dress Downey for a game!

They’ll be ready on Saturday, and they’ll split in Pittsburgh, and joy will descend on the state of Michigan Monday evening.

Amen Brother. Amen.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 05/29/08 at 07:59 AM ET

Franzen… God, I hope this isn’t a contract year.

Next year, Slinger.  He’s got a year to go.  I expect he’ll hold out until at least February so he (and we) can see what kind of scoring touch he has.  We once had trouble re-signing him as an RFA and if nothing gets done he could be trade bait, but let’s hope he’ll take the hometown discount early (which, if he keeps up this pace next year could still easily be five million a year) for the chance to keep playing with the Eurotwins and a still-mindblowing team.

Here’s hoping…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the Holding Your Club Hostage negotiation team on 05/29/08 at 08:10 AM ET

The Wings were good last night. They were not great.  On the road you have to be great. As far as the Pens go they were only good, but I didn’t think they would lay down and give up. The officiating was sub par as usual, but whining about the zebras doesn’t help anything unless your name is Michelle. Our power play needs to be better but that is obvious. Our D was somewhat out of sync. All in all the Wings played a decent game and I am not wigging out today. Oh, Milbury was so unprofessional when he said Kronners deserves to be nailed. It’s called hockey Mike. Although you seem to have forgotten anything you might have known about the game. I was also overwhelmed when DC said the zebras missed a call when Homer was nailed. I can’t wait for Saturday. Maybe a family get together with four of my five sons. Numbers one,two,three,and five reside in Pa.now. Number four lives in Arizona. Oh, and can’t forget my bitter half. It’s pretty much like having six sons.

“THIS IS THE YEAR!”
“BRING IT ON!”
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 05/29/08 at 08:11 AM ET

My dog about hit the ceiling when Homer rang the iron, I thought it was in too. Sure thing, had to be in. Up off the couch and bellering, but why do I still hear play by play blather? Ack.
“The shift” by Orpik was amazing indeed. It’s that kind of individual effort that inspires benches.
And like I said last night, the next bone head to fluff a pass between the dots in our end outta sit in press box for the night. Uncle Mike will not let you give away pucks & goals subsequently.
Didn’t seem like Raffy had much of anything going on last night either.
One goal game and damn near coulda-woulda-shoulda…. yeah I pretty much ok today as well.
The extra day gives me time to clear my slate a little, but would MUCH prefer they played tomorrow. Thanks Gary. Ass.
BTW, I think I’m the bad juju. When I post in the lie game blog Bubba SR beat us & Cindy got us last night. Saturday I’ll be going back to my usual of “radio silence” during games. NO computer, no phone, no texts…
Let’s not get into thinking they have to take the next 3 of 4 games. Pedal down, skate to the throat mentality.
Chief,
Put on your jersey, run a few miles and break a good sweat, spill a beer on it… whatever it takes to get it back to where it was before the washing!

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 08:19 AM ET

And I’m practically giddy that we’ve probably seen the last of Andres Lilja, this series or maybe ever.

I’m crossing my fingers on that one. And maybe some toes. I know there’s a few people who think we’re being too hard on him for last night, but maybe they haven’t paid as close attention to him all season long as a lot of us have. 

As play kept going, I kept waiting for the whistle because I was convinced there’d be a review.

Really Chief? This is Homer we’re talking about.

He was on fire last night and I’m shocked he only scored once.  But the one he did score was brilliant.

No doubt about that. For a split second, the way he was weaving his way into the zone, I thought it was Dats. Then I realized it was the Mule. That magnificent bastard is starting to really display some Datsyukian like moves. And I like it. With his size and scoring ability, to become as skilled a stick handler as Dats would make him one incredibly valuable player. Let’s hope he feels Detroit is a good place to stay for a long time.

Mike Babcock has three days (thanks Gary. Ass.) to prepare his team.

If the Wings had won last night, those three days off would be awful. But my hope is those three days off are a momentum killer for the Pens.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 05/29/08 at 08:24 AM ET

Errr…live blog that is.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 08:25 AM ET

Let’s Go Leafs!

Posted by Kosta from Surcin, Serbia on 05/29/08 at 08:37 AM ET

He (Stuart) chokes it a bit in his own end, or in the neutral zone when the heat’s turned up.  The pass off Zetterberg’s skates was…bad.

Actually, Chief, I blame Hank on that one. For some reason, he was looking up ice and not back at Stuart like he normally would. I think he might have looking to get off the ice, but he still should have been watching the puck. If he had, he would have picked it off his skates and carried out of the zone.

As for Pavel, I personally thought his passing and decision-making was sub-par last night. The passes were more off the mark than usual and there were a number of times where he shot the puck when the best play seemed to be to pass it (or vice versa). But, on the other hand, who the hell am I to question Pavel’s decision-making ability. I have enough trouble trying to figure out what pants to put on in the morning. I went with the big green checks today.

The prison-bitch mugging that Homer took in front of the net was unmerciful. Gil could, indeed, have been called for a dozen penalties last night. But that would have spoiled Lil’ Gary’s grand plan, so, what the hell, Hal, feel free to plant your stick in Homer’s back whenever you feel like it. Ass.

Bye, Andeas. Thanks for the memories (or is it nightmares). Hope you enjoy your next job with LA or Florida or Columbus or whatever other crap team you end up with. At least you’ll be able to look back at the year your teammates survived your boneheaded plays and you ended up with your name on the Cup.

Full credit to Babs for taking full responsibility for his role in the loss last night. No crying about the lack of penalties. No excuses. Just this about his handling of Hank and Pavel: “I thought the coach played them too much…”. Are you paying attention here, Michelle. That’s the way a professional coach acts.

And I have a feeling that Babs will have a better plan for Game 4…one that Michelle hasn’t even thought about yet.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 05/29/08 at 09:33 AM ET

I have to say, after watching last night there’s now no doubt in my mind DET is going to win the series, probably in 5 games.

PIT needed every bounce to go their way last night, every non-call, and needed to basically be allowed to mug DET players left and right to basically eke out a 3-2 win.

Enjoy that win PIT—it was a very fortunate one and all indications are it’s the last one you’re going to get…

Posted by Primis on 05/29/08 at 09:52 AM ET

Great post IwoCPO. Definitely a fun game to watch if your more interested in good hockey than who wins. (I just want a good, long well played series.  I like both of these teams, and in Gary’s new league its like baseball where I can like both an American and National League team)

That stretch after Holmstrom hit the post was amazing.  I was thinking the same thing about the review. I agree that the Pens had to work so hard for that one goal win it seems unlikely they can win more than one more.  Scoring first was key, but what was interesting was to see how Detroit’s skill negated their trap.  When they got the lead against the Sens, Rangers and Flyers, they totally shut down the neutral zone.  None of that last night.

I couldn’t believe Datsyuk’s hit on Malone.  Wow…More than anyone else on either team, he is scary moving down the ice with the puck…his lateral movement, his acceleration, decelleration, the ability to keep just enough distance between himself and the defender, but he’s never caught from behind by the backcheck…you hold your breath when he’s got the puck.

Franzen’s goal was great, but what the hell was Scuderi doing putting himself on the boards like that?  Great awareness on Franzen’s part, and a great finish, but elementary defensive mistake by Scuderi.

I just wish now there was less crap talk about officiating.  They’re walking a fine line.  Hockey was horrible when guys like Crosby, Malkin, Datsyuk and Zetterberg were constantly negated by the grab tactics 4th line guys.  Should Gill probably have gotten a call for the Holmstrom thing…yes, but there could have also been a hook called on the Detroit player (?) on Hossa that negated a genuine scoring chance.  The point is, do you call nothing or absolutely everything including borderline calls?  Its a no win.  But god, after listening to the Philly media and Flyers complain non-stop through 3 rounds about officiating,I can’t take it anymore!  Every team every game has both legitimate and bogus claims about ref-ing.  Get over it.

Posted by dip from philly on 05/29/08 at 09:57 AM ET

I’m feeling pretty OK too.  Did anyone really think the Wings would get a sweep?  I didn’t.  so last night is the loss that had to come.  what do teams always want, a split on the road - especially if they have home ice advantage.

all the Wings have to do is win one game in Pittsburgh to make sure the Penguins have to win two in Detroit - something I can’t see the Penguins having a shot in hell at doing.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/29/08 at 10:04 AM ET

Chief, I feel pretty calm too.  BF was looking at me last night amazed.  He thought I was being calm because my Mom was visiting.  I feel o.k.  I’m sure come Saturday, I’ll be stressing as usual because I’m still in the Hasek you know.  It wasn’t the world’s worst loss, only one goal.  Lots of lessons to be learned from this game.  Let’s hope we are ready for Game 4. 

LET’S GO RED WINGS!!!

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/29/08 at 10:19 AM ET

I’m thinking six or seven today.  The Pens are young and emotional—they’ll carry this game close to their hearts, despite Detroit’s sub-par play.

I still think we win the series of course.

On the mojo front, I took my Wings hat out of the front window of the car and wore it yesterday—stupid move—it goes right back in the corner of the dashboard where it’s spent the entire season!

Who goes in place of Lilja?  Cheli?  Whether he’s dropped a step, or even two, you KNOW that sick bastard is READY TO GO.

Posted by Chris from in DC on 05/29/08 at 10:19 AM ET

When Homer hit the post, I’d thought it was in. As play kept going, I kept waiting for the whistle because I was convinced there’d be a review. Shot after shot. Multiple rushes from both teams. Hits all over the place. And I kept waiting. I actually began to worry that the whole world would forget about a goal I knew had it occured, that would be proven via replay. Finally a whistle. Just a post. Just a post.

That is exactly the same experience I had. I could have sworn I saw the twine move behind Fleury. I told my 15- and 12-year olds, “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Once there’s a whistle, they’ll have to review it and count the goal.” Then, as the clock kept ticking and ticking with no stoppage I thought, “Oh my God, they’re going to forget about it! Babcock will have to remind them. But what if he doesn’t? What if he forgets, too?” I’m pretty sure that was when my wife said she wishes I would show the same level of interest in doing yard work as I do in hockey. What is she talking about? That would be insane! 

RE: Ozzie—I think he, like a lot of other guys (Babs mentioned Dats and Z specifically), was guilty of trying to do too much. Especially on the third goal. If he had stayed in the net—or even gotten back earlier instead of going for that last poke check—everything would have been okay. Heck, he may have even drawn another interference penalty—it seemed like everyone was in the crease except him and Hall (formerly of MSU and Bubba Jr. and “Mr. Grew Up in Kalamazoo, But Was Never a Wings Fan.” GRRRRR!).

RE: Franzen—We are witnessing the development of a great power forward.

RE: Homer’s status—If he is out for Game 4, I’d love to see Abbadabadoo, too. I’m worried that Uncle Mike will think it’s too much to put on a kid just out of college, though. But I’m even more worried that McCarty won’t be able to keep up with the pace of play. And I’m way less than thrilled at the prospect of Hartigan returning.

Finally, a question I hope someone can help with? Did I hear correctly in the 1st period that “HCMT” invited the referee crew into the Penguins’ locker room for a little video session? And they accepted? If that’s true, there should be stiff fines and possibly even suspensions coming for all involved. I’m sure that won’t happen, but still have to ask, WTF is up with that?!?

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/29/08 at 10:40 AM ET

I have been remarkably impressed with just how good the Wings are (as we all know, we didnt see each other this year).  But, you guys are tilting a bit to the delusional side in assessing last night’s game.

The notion that “every bounce” or that “every call” went Pittsburgh’s way is just silly.  For example, Hossa rang the post in the first period, just like you guys did in the third, Osgood pulled one off the goal line, and the non-call in the first on Lidstrom for slashing Hossa when he was looking at a wide open net after a ridiculous pass by Crosby was egregious (I think it was a great play on Lidstrom’s part, as he stops what would be an almost sure goal and he either 1) gets away with it or 2) makes Pittsburgh earn on the PP.  Play # 6,093 showing why he is the best D-man of the modern era).  The refs swallowed the whistles in the third period, like we all knew they would, and there were numerous calls that could have been made that weren’t, and the Wings STILL got a PP with the Malkin hook, which was at the bottom of the spectrum of penalties that could have been called in the third period.  The Wings had 5 power plays, and didn’t do enough to capitalize.  It’s that straightforward. 

At this level, when you have the two best teams on Earth playing the best hockey I’ve seen since before the mid-90’s devils destroyed the game (the 6 minute sequence in the third was amazing, I dont care who you are, it showed why this game is the best on earth), of course the margin for error is going to be razor thin.  Pittsburgh didn’t show up in the first two games for whatever reason, but the idea that you can start planning victory parades with any amount of certainty, is foolish.  Maybe you will win in 5, maybe not, but I have a feeling we’ll be heading back to Detroit for the start of what will be a very entertaining best of 3.

Also, I similarly thought the puck went on the play you guys are discussing.  I cannot believe he missed that shot.

GO PENS!

Posted by D. Myers on 05/29/08 at 11:35 AM ET

I’m pretty sure that was when my wife said she wishes I would show the same level of interest in doing yard work as I do in hockey. What is she talking about? That would be insane!

Yes it would.  You’d be out there with a laser level and a pair of scissors to make sure all the grass blades were the same height.

Grass evolved millions of years before human beings, and seems to get along just fine without our attention.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/29/08 at 11:45 AM ET

Myers, I don’t think any of us are really saying every call or bounce went in favor of the Pens, except perhaps mid-game frustrations last nite. Bounces and calls go both ways at different points. No point bitching about it.

Our point is, your team played their asses off(kudos for that), and the Wings were abnormally sloppy. And yet the score was only decided by one goal. Neither team really controlled the game except in a few stretches here and there. When the Pens were going crazy, Detroit didn’t panic and collapse. When the Wings were in charge, the Pens stayed tough and held strong.

Last nite was not the kind of loss we saw in games 1 and 2 that can crush team confidence. Full credit to Pittsburgh not giving up. They’ve certainly got fight in them.

Maybe it was coaching, maybe it was player mindset, whatever. They got the win, and that’s what counts. But as good as they are, can the Pens keep up that level of play, even at home again on Saturday? And even if they do, I think the Wings will clean up their game. If that’s the kind of effort it takes to beat a mediocre showing by Detroit, the odds are not in the Pens favor.

Saturday should be another good one.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 05/29/08 at 12:23 PM ET

If that’s the kind of effort it takes to beat a mediocre showing by Detroit, the odds are not in the Pens favor.

it looked a lot like the two we lost against Dallas.  the Wings weren’t terrible, but weren’t up to their usual standards. and it still took everything Dallas had to beat them.

Babcock is going to be focusing on getting back to the team effort, and crisp passing.  too many blown passes which resulted in at least losing momentum of the rush and at worse a turnover.  and the puck support was not good.  I remember quite a few times when one guy had the puck there was nobody around him to give him any options, and the Pens recognized this and collapsed on the puck.

also the Pens were doing a great job of bringing the puck into the zone a few feet and having a late man rushing up the middle to dish it off to.  the Wings did little, if any, of that.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/29/08 at 12:28 PM ET

But, you guys are tilting a bit to the delusional side in assessing last night’s game.

You must be new here. That’s what we do here in the comfort of the Hasek car surrounded and supported by the other Wing nuts.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 05/29/08 at 01:05 PM ET

The Wings had 5 power plays, and didn’t do enough to capitalize.  It’s that straightforward.

Agreed. And if this game won over some casual fans because it was on NBC, fantastic!

Despite the puke bucket and emotional exhaustion, that was a fun game to watch. A little fear never killed anybody…unless you’re on Cialis trying to get freaky with wifey and get caught by your college daughter who is playing off her pregnancy as the usual freshman 15.

Posted by Osrt on 05/29/08 at 01:32 PM ET

1. Yes, Kronwall does deserve to get crushed. Milbury was right. That’s what you get for leaving your feet on every hit to compensate for your small size. For a clinic on how to hit properly, see Orpik, Brooks.

2. Wah wah wah, Hal Gill hit Holmstrom. Ok, I’ll give you those cross checks in exchange for all the hooks, trips, and holds the Wings get away with.

3. Calling Therrien “Michelle”? Cute. Especially coming from the team with the female goalie. Good to see Christina didn’t bring her bathing suit. Either that or she just couldn’t find the diving board. Or the puck, apparently. 21 saves = the most Christina can make.

4. Franzen’s goal was incredible.

5. The Pens finally started to play their game. It wasn’t perfect, and the Wings played well, but maybe cut down on the clutching and grabbing a little more and the Pens might be able to truly dominate.

Posted by George from Pittsburgh on 05/29/08 at 01:51 PM ET

That’s what you get for leaving your feet on every hit to compensate for your small size.

I’m so tired of ignorant boobs saying this.  his feet come off the ice AFTER he makes contact.  perfectly legal, and logical.

Hal Gill hit Holmstrom

hit?  putting your feet between a guy’s legs, spinning around and pitchforking him so he lands on his back and hits his head on the ice is not a hit.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/29/08 at 02:42 PM ET

Paul come on, I’m not trying to argue that Kronwall leaves his feet everytime, because I don’t think that at all, but he most certainly does leap into his checks at times.  Its hardly unique to him amongst the big hitters in the NHL, but it’s there.

Posted by D. Myers on 05/29/08 at 02:47 PM ET

Franzen is reminiscent of the 1997 vintage Brendan Shanahan - “get out of my way because I am gonna score or run you over, or both”

We are fine.  I am just getting sick of these playoffs being “The Sidney Crosby Show”.

Posted by Cal on 05/29/08 at 02:49 PM ET

We are fine.  I am just getting sick of these playoffs being “The Sidney Crosby Show”.

It was obvious that was going to be the theme of the playoffs from the start, though.  The league doesn’t have any other ideas on how to market itself than to pick someone who is not only an excellent, highly talented young player but is extremely media-savvy and market him to death in the hopes that casual fans and non-hockey fans will pay attention.

They don’t have any other ideas.

As a result, Crosby gets over-exposed to hockey fans and is still nearly invisible to non-hockey fans.

(Does anyone doubt that they are already prepared to run out promotional spots with Crosby lifting the Cup if the Penguins win the series?  They likely already have mock-ups of what the shots will look like.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/29/08 at 03:03 PM ET

In the French language the name is pronounced as “Michelle”. There is no Michael in the French vocabulary.
Whining about non-calls is going from one side to the other. All I ask the zebras is to be CONSISTENT. Call it the same from start to finish & game to game, swallowing your whistles for the 3rd reverts the game to years when certain players were constantly on the soapbox about the clutching & grabbing. Gary. Ass. Is much to blame for much of the mediocre ref’ing.
Anyone who agrees with Milbury is rather suspect ticket holder of the Hasek, Stress Train or not.

Posted by MOWIngsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 03:10 PM ET

(Does anyone doubt that they are already prepared to run out promotional spots with Crosby lifting the Cup if the Penguins win the series?  They likely already have mock-ups of what the shots will look like.)

I’m sure they do. And that’s smart business…

except they don’t also have a similar campaign with Henrik Zetterberg ready if the Wings win. Or, on the odd chance that they do, it will only run on the NHL Network and Versus, while a Crosby/Cup campaign will be run with as great a reach and depth as their budget will allow, in TV, print and electronic media.

The funny thing is, Zetterberg is (IMHO as a straight, married guy) in many ways much more appealing as a prototypical “poster boy.” He not only has incredible hockey skills, but also is reasonably handsome. No offense to Sid (I’m no Prince Charming myself), but I can’t see the guy without thinking “Beavis.” Plus, in spite of Crosby’s relative youth, Zetterberg just seems a lot more hip/cool/whatever “the kids” call it nowadays.

Oh well, in spite of his supposed credentials as a “marketing genius,” I’ve never thought Gary Bettman had much of a clue. Guess this is just one more thing we probably disagree on.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/29/08 at 03:30 PM ET

Marketing genius?
He’s a weenie lawyer or has some paper that says so on the wall in his office (which he outta be peering out the window for INCOMING!!!).

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 03:44 PM ET

In re: Crosby v. Zetterberg, is the league just that convinced that North American audiences can’t become invested in a European player?  I find that really hard to believe, but then I find an awful lot of what happens in the US hard to believe.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 05/29/08 at 03:53 PM ET

If North America can’t embrace Euro stars, what the EFF was all the David Beckham excrement about?

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 03:59 PM ET

MOWingsfan19—

I can’t remember the where, when or why, but somewhere back in the deep recesses of my teeny tiny brain, I seem to have the memory of little gary being positioned as a “marketing wiz” when he became commissioner. I know, it’s more like Cheez Wiz in reality, but that’s what I recall. That’s why I said supposed credentials and put marketing genius in quotes.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/29/08 at 04:03 PM ET

“Weenie lawyer”?

No - David Stern’s poison pill for the NHL.

Posted by Cal on 05/29/08 at 04:16 PM ET

No offense to Sid (I’m no Prince Charming myself), but I can’t see the guy without thinking “Beavis.”

Wasn’t Beavis the blonde one?  Butthead was the dark-haired one.  Now that you mention it, Crosby DOES look like Butthead.  Huh huh…cool…huh huh

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 05/29/08 at 04:23 PM ET

Plus, in spite of Crosby’s relative youth, Zetterberg just seems a lot more hip/cool/whatever “the kids” call it nowadays.

He seems cooler because he is less coached, I think.  Crosby has been under the glare of the public spotlight probably for as logn as he can remember, so long ago learned not to say anything confrontational/unconventional/inflammatory (possibly also /mildly interesting).  He reminds me of Alex Rodriguez that way - whenever A-Rod says anything, I can’t help thinking it sounds as robotic as a line he ran past three focus groups and then practiced in front of a mirror for twenty minutes so it would be least offensive to the widest cross-section of humanity.

Zetterberg is more thoughtful - or comes across that way, at least.  Possibly some of that is age - in terms of intellectual depth, the average 28 year old is light-years ahead fo the average 20 year old.

In re: Crosby v. Zetterberg, is the league just that convinced that North American audiences can’t become invested in a European player?  I find that really hard to believe, but then I find an awful lot of what happens in the US hard to believe.

I don’t think it’s the fans; I think it’s the marketing people who can’t really see themselves embracing someone as a favorite player who doesn’t look a lot like them, so they don’t think anyone else can either.  Fans are more varied than the marketing firms.

The Chicago Cubs, for example, picked up a player from Japan to start the season - Fukudome - and the fans absolutely love him, chanting his name when he comes up to bat or makes a great play in right field - and Chicago isn’t as much of a city with Asian heritage as a city on the west coast might be (I’ve heard that explanation for the success of Ichiro in Seattle).

If North America can’t embrace Euro stars, what the EFF was all the David Beckham excrement about?

He’s British, and thus not exactly “European” in the minds of some.

Plus, a lot of women think he’s dreamy and he has a hot celebrity wife.

(I’m guessing here - I’m not a soccer person, so I don’t see what all the fuss was about, either.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/29/08 at 04:26 PM ET

Plus, a lot of women think he’s dreamy and he has a hot celebrity wife.

I gotta figure if women were exposed to Zetterberg, they’d find him dreamy.

and, uh, speaking of hot celebrity wives/girlfriends…

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/29/08 at 04:33 PM ET

Would love to see the Wings do it in 5- I had hoped for a sweep, but I guess that wasn’t meant to be.

Posted by DC Sports Chick on 05/29/08 at 05:04 PM ET

“Would love to see the Wings do it in 5- I had hoped for a sweep, but I guess that wasn’t meant to be.

Posted by DC Sports Chick on 05/29 at 06:04 PM”

If I were a Caps fan, I’d hate the Pens too.  Dislike borne out of jealousy really is the best kind.

Remember this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr_Nedvěd

Posted by D. Myers on 05/29/08 at 05:17 PM ET

Baroque, I was thinking the same thing about Japanese players in baseball.  I also lived in Houston when Hakeem Olajuwon was the most popular player in town, and Texas is pretty xenophobic overall.  People like skill.  It’s damned annoying that there are so many talented guys on the Wings and elsewhere in the league who aren’t getting the national recognition they deserve because they’re Swedish or Russian or whatever.  Seems like they pretty much have to score 65 goals to get half the attention Crosby gets.

PaulinMiamiBeach, thank you for that picture of Hank.  And the picture of his girlfriend.  Damn.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 05/29/08 at 08:51 PM ET

cephalopod—

Thanks for correcting me. I never really watched the show a lot. Just enough for casual familiarity. Anyway, “Butthead” may be a more appropriate nickname for the corporate tool that is the Wings current nemesis. Heh, heh, I said “tool.”

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/30/08 at 02:00 AM ET

In re: Crosby v. Zetterberg, is the league just that convinced that North American audiences can’t become invested in a European player?

As far as I can tell, that’s exactly what they’re thinking.  It’s condescending as all hell.

A gigantic marketing machine run by inept jargon-spouting Perrier-breathed guys in expensive suits with ponytails that are out of date by about twenty years is condescending toward its target audience.  Just what part of that surprises you?

For what it’s worth, I have yet to meet a Finn who wasn’t so cool he or she could make Fonzie look like Gary Gygax.

In any case, I’m of the opinion that the league should be less about marketing individual players and more about marketing the electrifying lines—our own Monty Babcock’s Flying Circus, Ottawa’s CASH line, Iginla and Tanguay in Calgary, and so on.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from I-94, burning down marketing billboards as I go on 05/30/08 at 04:09 AM ET

As far as I can tell, that’s exactly what they’re thinking.  It’s condescending as all hell.

Not a surprise, though.  To market the solid, reliably North American stars is the safe choice.  To go to someone different is taking a risk, and if either fails as a marketing attempt the reaction will be completely different - in one case, “you failed because he wasn’t North American” and in the other “you did everything right, but sometimes these things happen.” 

They would be surprised at the breadth of appeal non-North American stars would have if they would get out of their corporate coastal offices and see how varied the demographics of the country are.

However, that would require thought. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/30/08 at 07:26 AM ET

The officiating in this series has been debatable. The wings got some lucky breaks with no calls on holds, hooks, and interference all game.  Then they were blessed with a powerplay on one of the most questionable calls of the playoffs with 4 minutes to go. The wings were handed their chances left and right, but the pens just willed their way to win in this one.

Posted by d on 05/30/08 at 09:48 AM ET

The wings got some lucky breaks with no calls on holds, hooks, and interference all game.

Unlike, for example, Staal’s stick to Lidstrom’s face (drawing blood), Gill’s pitchfork on Holmstrom, several Red Wings’ sticks suddenly flying across the ice due to slashes (obviously “stick diving”) and the sequence where Crosby first slashed the stick out of Draper’s hands, then slashed him across the legs—all for the crime of skating next to “Butthead” (based on physical resemblance only, nothing personal) and not letting him get open.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/30/08 at 09:59 AM ET

Which game were you watching?

Posted by Cal on 05/30/08 at 12:23 PM ET

You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? I guess you must be talkin’ to me ‘cuz there’s no one else here. (end De Niro imitation)

Anyway, other than the Crosby on Draper stuff—which I think may have been on NHL Network’s “On the Fly: Final,” I saw all those other things and more on the good ol’ Peacock Network, NBC. Which doesn’t stand for Nothin’ But Crosby…at least not yet, anyway.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/30/08 at 03:25 PM ET