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It Just Doesn’t Matter
by IwoCPO on 04/02/09 at 06:14 AM ET
Comments (24)
I believe, and therefore it must be true, that only one team can make this claim: it makes no difference who the Red Wings face in the postseason. If they raise their level of play to what we’ve seen maybe ten times this year? They will win the Stanley Cup. Again. If the Wings lose focus and slip into the type of apathetic, defenseless, shoddy mode of play we’ve seen consistently almost all year? A first round exit.
It doesn’t matter who they play. How far they go is entirely up to them.
Take tonite for instance. Oh, yes. We know. The Blues are a hungry, young team, chomping at the bit to get to their first postseason in years. How many years? I have no idea. It doesn’t matter though. Because, tonite, if the Wings play the way they can? Blowout. The difference in talent, experience, smarts…it’s a huge gulf. Like the difference between, say, someone who’s read more than 4 books in the last two calendar years and the kind of bitter bitch of an idiot who frequents a class joint like, I don’t know, this.
But if the Wings slip, if they decide tonite’s yet another in a long season of games that just don’t matter to them? Then they lose. It’s that simple, and it will be that simple in the playoffs.
And we’re torn. A Wing win over the BBBB’s tonite would hurt their playoff chances considerably. And that would be fun to watch, the Blues chances diminished and their fans hopes dashed. Just typing that makes me feel all fuzzy and warm. But…would it be more fun to see the Wings face them in R1 and see Blues fans crushed after a long run for the 7 or 8 seed? I just don’t know.
I poke fun at Game Time, mainly because they hate us like no one else. Oh, it’s a deep, burning hate. The kind of burn penicillin won’t cure and they’ve tried it in St. Louis. We know why and that’s what makes it that much more fun. Because their team has been decimated, denied, demoralized by the Wings. Again, and again. And that’s nice to see. And it will be nice to see again, and then a few more times, and then for a few more years after that. Providence says so.
But. But, I have to give them credit for this. In their morning links thing, something I’d do for you if I wasn’t so damn lazy, Average Joke takes the time to point this out: Also from the Wings ... the lamest playoff slogan ever.
Absolutely correct. “The Beard is Back”? The next time I see that stupid-ass slogan it better be embroidered on a flannel shirt worn by Miss St. Louis. Holy christ. Note to John Hahn: frigging quit. Soon.
Here’s a playoffs slogan for you: Play good bitches. Play good and win. Play good and you’ll kick the crap out of anyone you face. Play good and make me happy. Play good and make up for the absolute garbage regular season. Play good and I’ll forget about the money I shelled out for Center Ice. Just play good. There’s your slogan bitches: Play Frigging Good.
Yes, grammar geniuses. Yes, I get it. I know. “Good” instead of “well” was used for a purpose…like “tonite”.
So who do you want? Just a few weeks ago I was scared of Anaheim. I don’t care now. I don’t care if it’s the Poultry or Bubba or a quick first round BJ. I don’t care if it’s the Blues or even the Oil. It just doesn’t matter.
Because if Chris Osgood sucks? We’re done. If Conklin doesn’t perform? Done. If the defense decides to stay home? Done and done quickly.
President’s trophy? Don’t get me wrong. It would be nice to have. Not gonna happen, of course…but it doesn’t matter. Not a bit. If the Wings play “good”, they beat San Jose in a seven game gamer, and that seven gamer doesn’t go past six anyway and that frigging series isn’t even gonna happen because SAN JOSE’S NOT GETTING OUT OF THE SECOND ROUND. Nabokov. And that’s all I’m saying.
None of it matters. The regular season doesn’t matter. The Bubba blowout, the BJ blowout, the Flame collapse, the Pen collapse, the shutout to the Islanders…all gone and trivial if the Wings “turn it on.” But, the wins against San Jose, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Chicago, Chicago, Chicago, etc…none of those matter if they don’t, you know, “turn it on” again.
Here’s what matters: Lilja. I think we need him back and we need him back badly. We need that anger back there and his guts on the PK. Something else that matters? Helm and Leino. When are they coming back up? Can someone give me a heads-up on that?
Osgood? Oh, he frigging matters. Enough said.
But you know what matters the most? Uncle Mike. He’s been largely quiet all year. He’s let this team, as far as we know, coast and deal with the hangover. Ahhh…“coast” is probably the wrong term. From an outsider’s perspective it appears he’s let them find their way this season, kind of a hands-off approach. He’s never seemed stressed and I think we’ve all been waiting for that one big blowup, you know? Hasn’t come.
Should we take comfort in that, assume it’s supreme confidence that they can flip the switch? Or is it bad, an indication that he doesn’t know how to handle a talented team that can’t get motivated? Don’t know. We’ll see.
So there are some things that matter. Plenty of them. But they’re all in the Wing room. Who they play? It doesn’t mean jack squat. Seriously. It just doesn’t matter because no team out there has the talent to stay with the Wings over 7…if the Wings play like they can.
Live blog tonite bitches. See you there.
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Comments
I think for a slogan they should go with:
Multiple personality disorder… it’s a team thing.
Or:
Sybil… it’s how we roll.
Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 04/02/09 at 07:53 AM ET
Or:
Sybil… it’s how we roll.
Or, “Sybian, it’s how we ride”, for the ladies.
Sorry everyone, I just cannot resist. I just learned of this “sybian” thing the other day, pretty weird. RWBill, Google it, you’ll be glad you did.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/02/09 at 08:04 AM ET
I said it awhile ago, matters not whom we play in the playoffs. Take care of our business and things will sort themselves out.
Well be fortunate to see Lilja back by the end of the second round, if there is one for us. He hasn’t lifted a finger in a loooong time, conditioning, timing etc all take a couple of weeks or more to get back. Any minute setback or headache and he’s got to sit out and start the process all over again.
Helm & Leino? Good question….
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/02/09 at 08:11 AM ET
If Lilja’s not playing, he needs to be there with the guys, letting them know how lucky they are to be getting a chance to play playoff hockey; reminding them that he got hurt defending them in a meaningless blowout loss that came about as a result of lack of focus.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/02/09 at 08:20 AM ET
Maybe the Wings should “win one for Lilja”?
I’m so tired of the season. Let’s just get the playoffs started and get it over with.
Posted by Primis on 04/02/09 at 08:27 AM ET
From an outsider’s perspective it appears he’s let them find their way this season, kind of a hands-off approach. He’s never seemed stressed and I think we’ve all been waiting for that one big blowup, you know? Hasn’t come.
If we’re waiting for Dr. Sigmund Babbles to “blow up”, we’re going to be waiting forever. He’s simply not that kind of coach and I’m glad he’s not. Coaches who do that sort of thing are almost always perennial losers. Championship teams don’t need that kind of external motivation. It either comes from within or it doesn’t come at all. A coach can’t motivate a team to win a championship in professional sports. High school and college? Maybe. But in the pros? Sorry. They just can’t.
Coaches blowing up at their players usually makes the fans feels better, but it’s almost always a sign of weakness in the locker room and within the organization, in my opinion.
That’s not to say Babcock doesn’t engage in devious, Bowman-esque psychological mind games. I’m sure he does. But that’s only to satisfy his own insane bloodlust and to keep his pimp hand strong.
“Whatcha laughin’ at?
Ain’t a damn thing funny.
Bitch betta have my money.”
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 04/02/09 at 08:35 AM ET
He’s simply not that kind of coach and I’m glad he’s not. Coaches who do that sort of thing are almost always perennial losers. Championship teams don’t need that kind of external motivation.
Mike Keenan surely jumps to mind. I plain hate that a$$. Marc Crawford’s another explosive arse that fits that bill too. Yeah yeah, both have a Cup Ring, lah tee dah, both are $hitty coaches that players hate, turn out & management tires of and boots out the door.
External motivation, as I mumbled last week.. if we need it we’re *$^@*% (rhymes with ducked).
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/02/09 at 08:43 AM ET
Coaches blowing up at their players usually makes the fans feels better, but it’s almost always a sign of weakness in the locker room and within the organization, in my opinion.
Scotty Bowman had some pretty famous blow ups. Used to break hockey sticks over lockers and other fun stuff. Unlike Keenan he didn’t cut them with a saw first.
That said I don’t think it will work for this team. I’ve missed alot of the recent games due to school, but every time I see the scores I hang my head a little. I hope they can flip the switch once the playoffs start, but Ozzy still gives me The Fear.
Posted by wingsfanindenver on 04/02/09 at 08:55 AM ET
Scotty Bowman had some pretty famous blow ups.
Yeah, but weren’t all of them directed entirely at Aaron “F*cking” Ward? That doesn’t count. 
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 04/02/09 at 09:07 AM ET
But you know what matters the most? Uncle Mike. He’s been largely quiet all year. He’s let this team, as far as we know, coast and deal with the hangover.
I agree with Mandingo that Babs is not a “yeller” but he’s been waaaaay too “positive” this year to suit me. He seemed to find a silver lining in almost every loss. I’m still waiting for some of those back-handed jabs that he used to throw out to the media last year.
Something else that matters? Helm and Leino. When are they coming back up?
According to Khan(!), Leino has been in and out of the line-up with some sort of leg injury. But it doesn’t matter because the Wings don’t have the cap space to bring anyone up until the playoffs start. Roster limitations ended after the trade deadline, but not cap considerations.
And that’s one more reason I think the Wings need to let Hossa go this summer and do whatever they have to do to leave some cap space available next year. It’s seriously hampered their ability to move guys around this year.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 04/02/09 at 09:38 AM ET
So the Wings will not turn it on until the playoffs. OK. That is settled.
Can they turn it on in the playoffs? Not just one game, but every game? Not just the last 10 minutes, but the whole 60? Not just most guys, but every guy?
Only time will tell. We who watch every game will know.
It is obvious to the A2Y 19 when the Wiings turn it on.
It will be interesting to watch. It is almost like studying a psychology experiment.
There will come a gut-check time, in some 2nd period, when they desperately need a win, and they are tired and don’t feel like paying the price. What happens then will be your answer.
Posted by w2j2 on 04/02/09 at 09:40 AM ET
I hate the playoff slogan. It is the lamest crap I have ever heard of. Not to mention gender bias.
I am a female. I can’t grow a beard unless I start taking some kind of male hormone therapy.
My alternative, I guess, is to not shave, legs and pits. No problem here. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/02/09 at 10:31 AM ET
Redwings on Versus playoff slogan: “Show ‘em your bearded V.”
There. Now it’s not gender bias.
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/02/09 at 10:39 AM ET
Redwings on Versus playoff slogan: “Show ‘em your bearded V.”
There. Now it’s not gender bias.Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/02/09 at 11:39 AM ET
I guess that can go both ways. So, O.K.
I still hate the slogan however.Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/02/09 at 10:50 AM ET
Uncle Mike needs to make a video montage of all the non-calls and called back goals starting from last year’s playoffs through this year. Get the DC to narrate. Follow it up with the Jack commercial depicting how the Pen(i)s won the cup last year. End it with the following pic.
Show that bitch before every game. That would get me motivated.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 04/02/09 at 11:09 AM ET
Cementslinger, kinda of a quiet guy hanging in the back left corner of the Hasek.
Buys ya a drink with a nod now and then.
....... every once in a while ......
BAM.
“Show ‘em your bearded V.”
Priceless.
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 04/02/09 at 11:17 AM ET
Detroit Red Wings: They put the “fun” in dysfunctional!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/02/09 at 11:53 AM ET
“The beard is back?” You have to be kidding me that is the best they could come up with. What are they going to put Katie Holmes on everything?
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/02/09 at 12:38 PM ET
Why not just make a big ass poster of Claude Lepuke and hang it from the scoreboard at center ice.
I want to see him in the playoffs against the Wings…BADLY.
Posted by The Hurricane on 04/02/09 at 12:38 PM ET
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3S_k1dRbXY
It just doesn’t matter. My favorite scene from “Meatballs”
Its the playoffs…Bitches..now there’s a slogan.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 04/02/09 at 12:39 PM ET
It just doesn’t matter. My favorite scene from “Meatballs”
Its the playoffs…Bitches..now there’s a slogan.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 04/02/09 at 01:39 PM ET
Thank you. I have been in love with Bill Murray since I first laid eyes on him back in 1974.
Yes, my husband knows and accepts. That clip just made my day. It just doesn’t matter. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/02/09 at 01:18 PM ET
I’m already on the Hasek with the resignation that the season is boring now. These last six games are like that last five minutes of the school day in high school on a Friday afternoon: the looooongest five minutes of the week.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 04/02/09 at 02:50 PM ET
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Kinda sucks that it’s with that kind of tone of resignation that we all board the Hasek this year, no? I mean, I’m used to being stressed this time of year, but come on…
Posted by kemeisel on 04/02/09 at 07:46 AM ET