Say, here I am, on the road again. There I go, up on the stage.
Here I am, playing the star again.
There I go, turn the page.

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/05/08 at 12:35 AM ET

And second, the officiating was overall bad.
Posted by Joe from Pittsburgh on 06/05 at 01:28 AM

It sure was bad Joe, the players had no idea what was a penalty and what wasn’t.  Pretty disgraceful.

Good luck next year beating the freaking Flyers, I hate those guys.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/05/08 at 12:46 AM ET

You know what is going to be worse than NHL reffing?  NBA finals reffing.  The NBA sucks so bad.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/05/08 at 12:49 AM ET

if you haven’t seen don “can’t admit he’s a douche” cherry’s post game on espn.com, watch it, then never watch him on a broadcast ever again. that guy is half the man lidstrom is. *#$%@& him.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 06/05/08 at 12:53 AM ET

Last post, then I’m sleeping:

Thank all y’all.

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 06/05/08 at 01:00 AM ET

Thank you all for keeping me (semi) sane the past 2 months.  I love you all and have a great summer!

Posted by scsgoal31 from Huntington Woods, MI on 06/05/08 at 01:00 AM ET

Hey Chief,

Your banner’s sorely out of date.

I’m just sayin’

Good night Wings fans,

Drunk,

Charlie

Posted by Charlie from Hollywood, FL on 06/05/08 at 01:08 AM ET

un-friggin be-lievable! I watched the game at friends so no LB for me. I nearly died watching that puck trickle across the goal mouth. Then I couldn’t stop cheering.

Tough playoffs, tough series, tough guys. Go Wings!

Posted by wingsfanindenver on 06/05/08 at 01:08 AM ET

The only thing I love more than a Superior North wind ... a Stanley Cup Championship!!!

WOOHOO!!!

Like many of you, my only contact with the outside world in the last 48hrs were the jackasses I work with (“Hey Hoser, what happened to your Wings, eh?”  Hoser: “@*%# you ... er, boss.”) and The 19.

I don’t comment much as I’m not as eloquent as Baroque, don’t have Dub’s Photoshop skills and I’m not witty like the rest of you.  But my post-game decompressions are much more palatable when I go back through the live-blogs (I watch from the Bat-tub equipped Bat-zebo: hot water and electronics don’t mix, see Hoser’s cellphone for repeated test results that yielded less-than desireable results… the company’s laptop wouldn’t last a 34.7 seconds out there) and unwind with the re-wind of The 19’s ups and downs through each game and especially throughout this playoff run.

The Chief’s a great ring-leader, but collectively The 19 make this place what it is.  Thanks.

HT: Pens fans (including Mr. White Noise) who came back tonight: classy and gutsy, kinda like Malone, who embodied everything that is right about the NHL (though I wouldn’t have held it against him to protect that proboscus of his - I mean, really…).

Gonna sleep a LOT better tonight, let’s enjoy this, eh?!

Stanley is coming back home!!!

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 06/05/08 at 01:19 AM ET

There were many non-calls on the Wings, bad calls on the Wings, non-calls on the Penguins, bad calls on the Penguins.  There was no officiating conspiracy so give that a rest already.

True enough Joe, but even players made joking suggestions about a conspiracy theory; see my post/ transcript above. Messing up major calls in the dire seconds of a SCF game does leave a bitter taste though.

Anyway, classy of you to congratulate. I hope the Pens can stay together and meet up again in the finals.

Posted by Osrt on 06/05/08 at 01:44 AM ET

if you haven’t seen don “can’t admit he’s a douche” cherry’s post game on espn.com, watch it, then never watch him on a broadcast ever again. that guy is half the man lidstrom is. *#$%@& him.

Yes, definitely worth seeing if only to check your gag reflex. Such a shame too; Cherry taught me quite a bit about hockey nuances but his xenophobia has gotten ridiculous. Have to wonder though, if his comments would have been the same if Sundin had won the cup.

Posted by Osrt on 06/05/08 at 01:49 AM ET

For those wondering about Fish:

A few feet away from the McCarty family, former defenseman Jiri Fischer was embracing teammates and friends. He nearly died on the ice two years ago, but remains a part of the team.

From Burnside

Posted by Osrt on 06/05/08 at 02:24 AM ET

Just wrapping up my private celebrations… I’ve been up for 25 hours straight already with only 3 hours sleep the night before… but who cares… the Wings are Champions again!

No more chanting for stress or otherwise…
okay one more,

LET’S GO RED WINGS!

Another shot of V.S.O.P. will help me sleep better anyways.

Small domestic animals can also breathe freely again!
~ Baroque

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/05/08 at 04:15 AM ET

if you haven’t seen don “can’t admit he’s a douche” cherry’s post game on espn.com, watch it, then never watch him on a broadcast ever again. that guy is half the man lidstrom is. *#$%@& him.

Saw that.  “There’s only been one in all that time, that has to tell you something!”

What a useless waste of xenophobic carbon.

Have to wonder though, if his comments would have been the same if Sundin had won the cup.

No - he would have been talking about how tremendous Darcy Tucker was all during the playoffs, and how he should get the Conn Smythe for showing such heart and character.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/05/08 at 04:47 AM ET

John Buccigross really let me down last night on ESPN. I know, I should expect the worst and I know Booch was pulling for the Pens, but after the interview packages were done and he was wrapping the hockey highlight mentioning the final play and save by Osgood saying that Osgood made the save with the extended part of the catching glove he called a “cheater pad” and handed off to Scott Van Pelt saying, “Hmm…something to think about there.”

Van Pelt then followed that set up by saying, “Oh, the same part of the glove Fleury stopped Kronwall’s slapshot in Game Five with - that’dve made it series over on Monday….right?”

One awkward pause later, they moved along to baseball highlights.

Scott Van Pelt = Street cred

Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 06/05/08 at 05:54 AM ET

John Buccigross really let me down last night on ESPN. I know, I should expect the worst and I know Booch was pulling for the Pens, but after the interview packages were done and he was wrapping the hockey highlight mentioning the final play and save by Osgood saying that Osgood made the save with the extended part of the catching glove he called a “cheater pad” and handed off to Scott Van Pelt saying, “Hmm…something to think about there.”

Van Pelt then followed that set up by saying, “Oh, the same part of the glove Fleury stopped Kronwall’s slapshot in Game Five with - that’dve made it series over on Monday….right?”

One awkward pause later, they moved along to baseball highlights.

Scott Van Pelt gets street cred for that subtle throwdown.

Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 06/05/08 at 05:59 AM ET

Joe, I would have been fine with the non-call on the blatant trip to Datsyuk. It was consistent with the way was being called up to and after the late (and borderline for even the first period of a regualr season game) hooking call that led to the PP goal. But in the waning minutes of a SCF game, with one team down by 2 goals, if you don’t think it’s an effort by the officials (probably coached by their superiors who wanted a TV appropriate dramatic ending) to place their own stamp on the game, you’re hopelessly naive.

Posted by BobS. on 06/05/08 at 07:04 AM ET

Congrats to the redwings on winning the stanley cup. You guys truly earned it, you were the better team. But the pens will be back next year and they will take the cup. Congrats enjoy the cup,congrats to the pens also on a great year and great series

Posted by Stanley Cup on 06/05/08 at 07:07 AM ET

I’ve read A2Y for a couple years now but never posted til this spring. Thanks to all for the circle of support, laughs, tears and all things Wings. I’ve lived and felt like I died living vicaroiusly through our team. The 19 of you all “get it” and it’s nice to be “around” you guys-gals and even some of the fans from the opposition.
It’s done. No coulda-woulda-shoulda this time around. No Slap to the Face, to Punch to the Gut.
Hats off to the Pens for putting all they had into this series and a little more from guys like Orpik n Malone. Hard to pick on a team that gives everything they have and fall short. The 19 of us know that one all to well. That knowledge makes bringing the Cup back to Detroit oh-so-sweet.

A few feet away from the McCarty family, former defenseman Jiri Fischer was embracing teammates and friends. He nearly died on the ice two years ago, but remains a part of the team.

Another touch of class for the sense of family this organ-I-zation has fostered for a good while now.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/05/08 at 08:42 AM ET

Love the references to The Tap. We need to get TeamDub working on some graphics to celebrate the 11th, in the vein of his classic (and classy), “The Detroit Red Wings: Smell the Glove” image. That was my desktop for this entire run, and I’m pretty sure that’s why they won…

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/05/08 at 08:51 AM ET

Man, it feels good today. I’m hung over, exhausted, blurry eyed, but I’ve never felt better.

Hey how do you embed an image?

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/05/08 at 08:52 AM ET

Hello again Lord Stanley!  Thank you my Red Wings.  Many thanks to the “19” here.  Great season Chief.  Thanks for everything.

Right back atcha. This has been a great experience. I’m glad to have been able to share this roller ride we call the Hasek with the 19. You guys have made this amazing.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/05/08 at 08:55 AM ET

RWBill

Here south of Richmond, VA I have seen several others besides me with Red Wings car window flags flying in the wind!  Red Wings Fans Rock!

Got you covered here in SW VA. The Red Wing flags - first hoisted in 1997 - are on my car this morning. Wonder if anyone in Roanoke will know why they’re flying…

Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 06/05/08 at 09:08 AM ET

What a wonderful season for the Red Wings, and a fantastic playoff run! Now I finally have my life back. I had forgotten how consuming a run up to lifing the cup was. My wife - who became a HUGE Red Wing fan this season - said she hated me for introducing her to hockey. Last night made it all better…

Thank you, Chief, for this blog and your incredible posts. Your insight and humor is thoroughly enjoyable (not to mention juveniliciousness). Ditto to all of you, the A2Y 19. Though I don’t post all that often, it’s been a pleasure for me to visit this community every day (and often hourly). Had I been back home in Grand Rapids last night, as in past years, I would’ve been watching this game at a downtown saloon, celebrating with a ton of fellow Wings fans. No longer an option living in Virginia. Having A2Y to share the ups and downs and to share - virtually - in our celebration has been awesome!

Kudos to Pens fans. I was surprised how many stayed around for the presentations. Most of you are classy. Hats off to the Pens too, they made it a series. Frigging Malone is one tough SOB!

IS THIS THE YEAR? HELL, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAY TO GO, WINGS!!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 06/05/08 at 10:26 AM ET

I’m going to forget officiating, and phantom calls, and Holmstrom maulings, and diving Penguins.  And forget Gary.

There will be plenty of time to be mad at him when the next season starts for the
Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

That looks pretty damn cool written out.

Well said, Baroque.

It will be a pretty tall order, but I’ll try to live up to those lofty ideals. At least until 4:00 p.m., when Mr. Bettman’s radio show comes on.

Thanks to you, the Chief, and the rest of the A2Y “19” (more like 19,000—no wonder they have problems filling “the Joe” sometimes, we’re all here). Thanks also to Paul, Alanah and the other folks at Kukla’s Korner. And, of course, our worthy adversaries at Pensblog and their beloved Penguins.

Most of all though, thanks to the best organ-I-zation in all of professional sports for continuing to “do what they do,” and giving us an incredible season!

GO WINGS!!!!!

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/05/08 at 02:01 PM ET

Thanks all you Red Wing Fans for this cool blog! I am elated to be a part of this winning Stanley Cup season. I can finally breath and my body aches are going away!

GO RED WINGS!!!

Posted by dwingsrock on 06/05/08 at 05:35 PM ET