Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: It’s Official: Chelios Won’t Be Back
Previous entry: Why Hossa Will Stay
How’s The Hate? Want Some More?
by IwoCPO on 06/19/09 at 07:11 AM ET
Comments (133)
I’m not sure the Gore could handle it, but George Malik points us to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ditty that focuses on the joys of a Wings/Pens trifecta.
The loathing between these teams and their cities has only begun to boil, so, no, it cannot end now.
Loathing? I can dig that. And here’s the thing. As this rivalry gets meaner and even more intense, that’s a good thing for the league. There are is no middle ground with any hockey fan anywhere. You hate the Wings, or you love the Wings. You genuflect in front of a Sidney Crosby poster every morning, or you admit he’s a pathetic example of what a captain should be. Not much neutrality there.
The fans of each team are getting there. We’ve seen what a rivalry looks like, before Denver tanked. And Pittsburgh’s in the midst of a few of their own with Philly and Washington. We have Chicago yapping a bit and I suppose Columbus could eventually evolve into a hate-fest.
But this one has awesome potential. All the ingredients are there: exceptional skill, playoff history, rabid contingents of fans rapidly developing a healthy level of hate, dislike between superstars, and the very real possibility that each team could be very good for years to come. There’s also respect. We point to players like Talbot, Orpik and Malkin as examples of clutch play, grit and huge talent. Pens fans can admit there are players on the Wings that scare and impress them at the same time.
Rivalries between Eastern and Western Conference teams are tough to sustain, mainly because they’ll probably play just twice, if that, during the regular season. If Gary.Ass had any marketing instincts at all (what an idiotic “if” that is) then he’d make sure Wings/Pens happened twice every year until this thing has run its course.
Another SCF between the two is statistically unlikely, but Detroit is as close to a guarantee as you can find in the West while Pittsburgh might be able to avoid Boston again and find their way to the Final, as well. There is that gnawing feeling, though, that things are a bit unsettled. Pens fans, misguided as they may be, point to last year and claim their team was all nervous and shell shocked for Games 1 and 2, and had they not been so uneasy, they would have won the series. Naturally, they’re forgetting that the Wings owned much of Game 5 and all of Game 6.
And Wing fans, at least those of us here, will not back down from our view that injuries, officiating and even a little help from Sidney’s Daddy contributed to a Pens Cup win.
So a third one could potentially settle that. A home-and-home in January would help set the stage. And don’t forget the Olympics in February. If Canada and Sweden meet for the gold? Who do you think is going to be all over Crosby…again?
All the ingredients of a traditional rivalry, plus a few added bonus hate points. Awesome.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
« Previous 1 2 3 Next »
We’re putting the coversheets on all TPS reports. Did you get the memo about this?
Jenn, I’ve been meaning to ask you…have you seen my stapler? It’s the red Swingline stapler. I kept it when everyone else switched over to the Boston staplers because it doesn’t stick as much…
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/19/09 at 12:09 PM ET
I was told that I could listen to the radio during work at a reasonable level.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/19/09 at 12:12 PM ET
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that’s on the worst day of my life.
I freaking love that movie.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/19/09 at 12:14 PM ET
o that means that every single day that you see me, that’s on the worst day of my life.
So, today is the worst day of your life? Thats !@#@ed up.
Sorry.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/19/09 at 12:15 PM ET
Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I’m working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
Story of my life… especially during hockey season.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/19/09 at 12:20 PM ET
Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 06/19/09 at 12:31 PM ET
Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta
A niggaz always got a high-cap
Tellin’ all his boys how he shot ‘em
But real gangsta-ass niggaz don’t flex nuts
‘Cuz real gangsta-ass niggaz know they got ‘em.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/19/09 at 12:41 PM ET
That song, partly because of that movie, just makes me want to chill out and not do jack.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/19/09 at 12:42 PM ET
Posted by Deuce from Brooklyn on 06/19/09 at 12:47 PM ET
C3PO… you can dish it, but man you get SOOOO defensive when someone gives it back.
How’s that Detroit economy whiner?
Posted by Sig from DC on 06/19/09 at 01:02 PM ET
LOL OMG HE CALLED U C3PO GOING 2 RTWEET THAT LOL MY FRENDZ AT THE MALL WILL LOL 2 STAR WARZ 4 LOZRS
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/19/09 at 01:06 PM ET
How’s that Detroit economy whiner?
wow, you sure got us. what a phenomenal retort on a hockey blog.
of course, if you were to pay attention you’d see that many (most) of the A2Yers do not actually live in Detroit. so…..
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/19/09 at 01:09 PM ET
Paul, you’re using logic. That doesn’t work on trolls. They’re immune to logical, well-reasoned statements of fact. And they appear to be inoculated to humor as well.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/19/09 at 01:12 PM ET
How’s that Detroit economy whiner?
Posted by Sig from DC on 06/19/09 at 02:02 PM ET
Bend over and I’ll show you.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 06/19/09 at 01:20 PM ET
Andrew, I actually own the Geto Boys CD that song appears on.
Along a similar line ...
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/19/09 at 01:23 PM ET
Posted by Sig from DC on 06/19/09 at 02:02 PM ET
Coming from someone who constantly changes his name because he’s a pathetic pansy.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/19/09 at 01:24 PM ET
Coming from someone who constantly changes his name because he’s a pathetic pansy.
and too stupid to realize that the person who runs a blog can see the IP address each post comes from, so they KNOW if it’s the same person.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/19/09 at 01:29 PM ET
Andrew, I actually own the Geto Boys CD that song appears on.
Any good, Alan? I toyed with the idea of getting it, but got the Office Space soundtrack instead. I don’t regret it, though it does make me a bit of a ‘bandwagoner.’ What can I say—old-skool rap is just that bit before my time, so I’m not au fait with it.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/19/09 at 01:30 PM ET
feeling a warming of the subcockle area of the heart
Damn, learned a new phrase today, “subcockle area of the heart”.
That will be the word for the weekend. It will be used when it is appropriate, and not appropriate.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/19/09 at 01:41 PM ET
How’s that Detroit economy whiner?
Posted by Sig from DC on 06/19/09 at 02:02 PM ET
It’s getting pretty bad. In fact, if it gets worse the city may end up like an old, washed-up steel city with the crime rate of D.C.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/19/09 at 01:43 PM ET
I thoroughly enjoy that album. Then again, it’s the greatest hits album. I can’t seem to find the album that has the original recording on it.
I still remember buying “We Can’t Be Stopped” when I was a kid, and my dad hiding it for me so my mom wouldn’t see it when I walked in the house. Good times.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/19/09 at 01:47 PM ET
For that matter, could Pittsburgh have gotten through the Ducks?
Yes, only because of how dirty the Ducks play. That combined with the refs neverending blowing of the whistle against any team the Penguins play would basically lead to 40 minutes of power play time per game for Pittsburgh.
I got my pistol pawn cocked, ready to lay shots nonstop until I see your monkey ass drop. And let your homies know who done it. Cause when it comes to this gangsta shit you motherfuckers know who run it.
Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 06/19/09 at 01:54 PM ET
It’s getting pretty bad. In fact, if it gets worse the city may end up like an old, washed-up steel city with the crime rate of D.C.
I hate to break it to you, but Pittsburgh long ago shifted toward education and health care, and because of it they are weathering the economic storm very well.
http://pittsburgh.about.com/b/2009/06/18/pittsburgh-ranked-among-top-20-healthiest-metros.htm
The City of Champions (it’s so sweet to be the first city to win the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup in the same year) ranked 18th in the Brookings Institution listing that ranks 100 metropolitan areas based on the strength of local economies. This is in stark contrast to the economies of the nearby “rust belt,” which includes nearby cities such as Youngstown, OH (#90) and Toledo, OH (#92). San Antonio topped the list at number one, with Harrisburg ranked 17th, followed by Detroit which came in, unsurprisingly, at number 100. Pittsburgh’s relatively stable economy is credited to its focus as a center for both health care and higher education.
also…
Pittsburgh was also one of 38 cities in the study that did not see a decline in housing prices from the first quarter of 2008 to the same quarter in 2009. Instead, Pittsburgh housing prices actually rose 2 percent during that period. The city ranks ninth in the country for the lowest rate of foreclosures.
see, this is called “good leadership” and “not putting all your eggs one one basket” - two things Detroit fails at miserably.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/19/09 at 01:57 PM ET
oh, and according to the FBI in 2007, Detroit had 2,289 violent crimes per 100,000 residents vs Pittsburgh at 1,107 per 100,000. based on the listed populations, that is a total of 19,707 violent crimes in Detroit, and 3,455 for Pittsburgh.
although it is ignorant, stupid, and ridiculous for trolls to use these as attacks on a hockey blog, they are not incorrect in their assessments of the two cities.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/19/09 at 02:07 PM ET
The flu is a virus. Anti-biotics wouldn’t do anything, except evolve greater resistances to anti-biotics for the rest of the population.
Good point Mark, I hadn’t thought of that. Still doesn’t stop doctors from prescribing antibiotics for viruses, and patients from demanding them. Though Baroque makes a good point about it possibly being bacterial in origin, and ‘flu’ being a catch-all term.
I suspected there was an undisclosed reason for the Gator scratch,
and commented accordingly.
Do not dismiss the possibility of Mono….
He is at the prime age group.
Often when Antibiotics are prescribed, there is a rapid recovery..
Not so with Mono.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/19/09 at 02:53 PM ET
they are not incorrect in their assessments of the two cities.
Super-deluxe reverse troll-baiting baiting. This place gets so meta sometimes…
Posted by Zoogz on 06/19/09 at 02:53 PM ET
“The Motor City” - not anymore!
“Hockeytown” - never was!
With Detroit’s unemployment rate skyrocketing, it’s no wonder this whiny little blog gets so many comments.
With all the whining you all do, you make Sidney Crosby look like Mark Messier… or Steve Yzerman for that matter.
Posted by Check my IP from DC on 06/19/09 at 03:07 PM ET
Not so with Mono.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/19/09 at 03:53 PM ET
Oh, god, no kidding. I had a mild case of mono and was wiped out for about six weeks. All I could do was drag myself to work, go through the day, and drag myself home and fall asleep.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/19/09 at 03:10 PM ET
I had a mild case of mono and was wiped out for about six weeks.
I had walking pneumonia earlier this year. That was the worst I’ve ever felt in my life.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/19/09 at 03:27 PM ET
Oh, god, no kidding. I had a mild case of mono and was wiped out for about six weeks. All I could do was drag myself to work, go through the day, and drag myself home and fall asleep.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan
Actually I have been told by a doctor that it never goes away it goes into remission but never actually goes away and can come back at anytime . they thought my daughter night have it and no she didn’t
nice to see you all again
Posted by M71 from Pretty Pittsburgh on 06/19/09 at 04:07 PM ET
Probably as much of a catch-all as upper or lower-body, and they might have given him antibiotics to ward off a respiratory infection or something.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/19/09 at 12:31 PM ET
Right. Bronchitis is treated with anti-biotics like tetracycline. My PCP recommends that I cut back on vigorous activity.
As for an SCF re-match with the Pens, I don’t mind it but we have to get there first. Let’s see what the draft brings us and then the free agent season opens on July 1st. Maybe we’ll see how things end up for us at the start of training camp.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 06/19/09 at 07:30 PM ET
Datsuuk. You gotta wonder if that’s on purpose.
Posted by Tyler from Arizona on 06/19/09 at 08:31 PM ET
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/19/09 at 02:57 PM ET
Paul, we know that…the lure was set for a Pens fan.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/19/09 at 10:23 PM ET
My PCP recommends that I cut back on vigorous activity.
My PCP recommends that I rip the tires off my cat and make myself a sandwich out of kill kill kill, kill them all honey, popcorn, and rancid meat.
What? We’re not talking abou phencyclidine?
Just watching a replay of the awards show—The Professor’s looking dapper, but god do I miss Vladdie.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/20/09 at 01:14 AM ET
Ovechkin looks like a slacker at a middle-management job interview in that suit. Malkin looks crushed. Good thing too.
Right, gotta go.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/20/09 at 01:17 AM ET
have to get there first. Let’s see what the draft brings us
ohmygawd. in all the hubbub about losing to the Penguins in the Finals, I forgot all about the upcoming draft.
I can’t wait to see what diamonds-in-the-rough Kenny and the gang come up with this year! not that we’ll know for another year or two, but what are the odds they DON’T come up with at least one (considering their past performance in the draft)?!
I mean, wtf, we could end up with another Homer or Fedorov or Lidstrom or Datsyuk or Ericsson (ok, cart before the horse with him, but not by much) with some frigging late round pick.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/20/09 at 01:32 AM ET
Hey guys, if you’re online tonight and want to see what all my Derby fuss has been about, we’re streaming the game live! Or for the couple of you in Cincinnati, come on down to the Gardens tonight and see it in person.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cincinnati-rollergirls-vs-ohio-rollergirls
(Our last game against the Grand Raggidy Rollergirls is still up if you want to check that out.)
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/20/09 at 10:56 AM ET
For that matter, could Pittsburgh have gotten through the Ducks?
Yes, only because of how dirty the Ducks play. That combined with the refs neverending blowing of the whistle against any team the Penguins play would basically lead to 40 minutes of power play time per game for Pittsburgh.
Just wanted to point out…and know facts can be so misleading when having an emotional argument…that the Penguins actually had the most penalty minutes in the playoffs…closely followed by Detroit. 279 to 224 And when broken down by games played The Penguins actually had 2 more penalty minutes per game than Detroit.
There were 30 penalties called against Pittsburgh.
There were 18 penalties called against Detroit.
Do you really think the Penguins got away with more than the Wings did?
I’m not even saying the officiating is bad or good. But to say they never call anything against the Penguins is a bit misleading.
Posted by The Glenn on 06/20/09 at 11:36 AM ET
Crap…forgot to post the link for the stats:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20093ALLAAAAll&sort=minorPenalties&viewName=penalties
Posted by The Glenn on 06/20/09 at 11:39 AM ET
Double crap…lol.
I should have sorted before I posted.
Chicago had the most minutes then Pittsburgh (291-279).
Detroit was fourth.
Posted by The Glenn on 06/20/09 at 11:42 AM ET
There were 30 penalties called against Pittsburgh.
There were 18 penalties called against Detroit.
-The Glenn
Putting total numbers together doesn’t tell anything about how the finals went down. 9 of the penguins penalties were in their little meltdown in game 5. 12 if your stats include misconducts. The penguins also had 2 minor penalties in the last minute of game 2. Ignoring useless/outlier penalties and the calls go down to 19 against Pittsburgh, 18 against Detroit. Number don’t tell you what the players were able to get away with either.
The Pens were consistently able to get away with holding and interference at the blue line and even draw offsides calls by knocking a red wing over the blue line ahead of the puck. The only interference call all series went against the Wing and resulted in the game winning goal in the third period of game 3. That’s just the way they were calling the game and further to the Pen’s benefit, the one time they didn’t swallow their whistles was critical for the Penguins.
The Penguins had the advantage in officiating. It’s not a conspiracy by the NHL, just a simple fact of what happened and something that a lot of teams that end up winning the Cup have the benefit of.
Posted by UMcastaway from Ann Arbor on 06/20/09 at 12:13 PM ET
Do you really think the Penguins got away with more than the Wings did?
Just because they statistically had more PIM doesn’t mean they didn’t get away with more. It just means the officiating called more penalties on them. Don’t forget, there were three other series played before the Finals round.
Also, don’t forget the Penguins gooned it up in game 5, which caused a parade to the penalty box for them. You eliminate any penalties incurred during game five, and I’m willing to bet (don’t have time to do the math myself) that the penalties called are about even.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/20/09 at 12:15 PM ET
C’mon guys, give it a rest…..
The Cup has been put to bed.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/20/09 at 12:26 PM ET
the Penguins actually had the most penalty minutes in the playoffs…closely followed by Detroit
you can’t look at the raw numbers. Pittsburgh and Detroit played more games than everyone else. you’d have to extrapolate everyone else’s PIM to the same number of games, or calculate it as a PIM/game stat which the NHL does. on that stat, Detroit was the LEAST penalized team in the playoffs, and Pittsburgh was third-least. if you take out the meltdown penalties from the Penguins, then they were about even. however, in the regular season the Wings were the second-least penalized team and Pittsburgh was the 14th-least.
without “help” from the officials, how exactly do the two teams end up even on PIM/game considering the regular season stats?
Do you really think the Penguins got away with more than the Wings did?
yes. most definitely. stats don’t tell the whole story. you have to watch what actually happened on the ice. you can’t possibly truly believe that the Penguins didn’t get away with a lot of the after-the-whistle crap that everyone does against the Wings, as well as things like hooking, tripping, interference, etc.
did the Wings get away with some? yes. but Pittsburgh got away with more. I’m no conspiracy theorist, but psychology comes into play in officiating - and it is very clear that the league is tired of Detroit winning.
look at some of the non-penalizable calls in the last game. Pittsburgh has an obvious icing not called, and scores seconds later…Detroit goes on the power play and on their rush into the Pittsburgh zone are called offsides. does this look offsides to you?
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/20/09 at 12:27 PM ET
Well, I had plenty of things to say in response to the question of if the Penguins were “really penalized more than the Wings” but it looks like everything has already been said. Way to be, 19.
Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 06/20/09 at 01:05 PM ET
Putting total numbers together doesn’t tell anything about how the finals went down. 9 of the penguins penalties were in their little meltdown in game 5
With that being the case (and I would argue that the number of penalties in that came were higher because of their poor play, but there were still other penalties called on the Penguins in that game) the total were still 21 to 18. And that’s without going back to see if any of the Wings penalties were late in the game.
The Pens were consistently able to get away with holding and interference
The Penguins had the advantage in officiating. It’s not a conspiracy by the NHL, just a simple fact of what happened and something that a lot of teams that end up winning the Cup have the benefit of.
Even with the caveat at the end it still sound like you think there is no way a team beats the wings without help from the refs.
Just because they statistically had more PIM doesn’t mean they didn’t get away with more. It just means the officiating called more penalties on them.
Well, duh. LOL. I guess the point was if the Penguins got away with so much why were they called for anything? A lot of stuff goes uncalled in these games…see picture above.
Detroit goes on the power play and on their rush into the Pittsburgh zone are called offsides. does this look offsides to you?
No, but I also cannot see where the puck is or tell when it crossed line. Nor do I know if there was anyone else in on the rush. But argument is not that there were not bad calls made, but that it went both ways too and even with the alleged disparity in calls the Wings had more oppertunities on the power play.
Posted by The Glenn on 06/20/09 at 01:46 PM ET
suck a fat one detroit
Posted by Joe from Detroit on 06/20/09 at 02:32 PM ET
The Cup has been put to bed.
HTT, you should have warned us about that link.
It was bad enough watching him SKATE the Cup.
I really didn’t need to see that today.
Posted by dougie on 06/20/09 at 03:54 PM ET
« Previous 1 2 3 Next »
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
GDT - Game #56: Red Wings host Ducks (7:30)
GDT - Game #55: Red Wings host Oilers (7:30)
The F Stands For Finger And The Finger Could Really ______ Us All
GDT - Game #54: Red Wings at Coyotes (8:00)
So Far 4 In 2, Why Not 6 in 3?
About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
Good point Mark, I hadn’t thought of that. Still doesn’t stop doctors from prescribing antibiotics for viruses, and patients from demanding them. Though Baroque makes a good point about it possibly being bacterial in origin, and ‘flu’ being a catch-all term.
.
Not quite—the Ducks were affected the whole year because they flat-out sucked, and because two of their cornerstone players took half the season off. We’re not at risk of either, and jetlag wears off after a week.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/19/09 at 12:05 PM ET