Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: Comment of the Day
Previous entry: Sammy Wants In
Just Another Day
by IwoCPO on 04/10/08 at 07:43 AM ET
Comments (18)
Has every year been like this? Every postseason I ask myself that. Was I this pathetically nervous last year? I must have been. Playing Calgary in the first round? All we must have been reading was how the big bad Flames were going to grind the Wings into the ice. Pound them into submission.
I don’t remember any of it.
Posting’s going to be light today. I’m sick to my stomach, ready to launch. I’m not gonna eat a thing. I’ll snap at co-workers, call my wife a few times and pick a fight here and there. There are scores of articles at all the normal places. Started to read a few. Got as far as this line in Wojo’s column (It’s April. He covers the Wings now).
Labels linger. So do awful memories. That series with the Ducks was 2-2, and the Wings led 1-0 in Game 5 with less than a minute remaining. A questionable penalty on Datsyuk led to a late Anaheim goal, and then in overtime, Andreas Lilja committed a huge turnover, leaving Teemu Selanne open for the winning goal.
Motherfu***. We had that series. God, we had it. That motherfu*** of a call on Datsyuk. That fluttering puck, then that kick in the sack of a giveaway. The ferocious comeback in Game 6. Man, I was proud of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. That third period left me doubtless as far as those two are concerned.
And we were the better team. With Schneider and Kronwall? There is no doubt.
I’m just babbling now. Maybe later I’ll have something. Yeah, I will. I have a few things we need to do before the puck drops. Stress train officially opens for business at 1400. That will be my goal. It’s what I need to get through today. Small, attainable goals. So at 1400 we’ll have the Game 1 preview up. I’ve got some ideas you need to read about.
But now? Now’s not a good time. I’m serious. I’ve got nothing for you this morning.
You know what it is? You know what causes this? We, Wing fans, have been called out a bit the last week or so. People like to mention the fact that we’re stressed out. It’s not that we don’t have confidence in our team. That’s not it. It never is. Here’s what is sticking in the pit of your stomach right now: the rock-solid knowledge that if the Wings lose Game 1, you have two days to soil yourselves before Game 2. And if they go down two games? Forget about any normal social or work-related capabilities you may have possessed as late as yesterday.
It’s not the fear of the team losing, it’s the dread of knowing how you react to those losses. Does that makes sense?
Let me make this perfectly clear. I hate the playoffs. If the league went on strike today, I’d be happy. Oh, I’d act all pissed off. But deep down? I’d be relieved.
I’ll be around today. Comment as you see fit. Do what you want. I’m sure you’re all going to be real productive.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
for once i’m thankful that i’m 5 hours ahead of most of you and i can happily sleep through the game, wake up in the morning and check the score with shaking hands....
it’s not a good feeling for those few seconds, but beats feeling that way for hours
Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/10/08 at 08:21 AM ET
Why do I feel so...fragile? It’s the playoffs, I should be ready to watch them steamroll Bubba. But every year I dream of pre-game Xanax. Yep, can forget productivity today. And can’t watch the majority of the game due to a 3rd grade singing concert/show/thing. Is this a blessing in disguise?? Don’t they know what tonight is??? Wife will appreciate ADHD (Adult Detroit Hockey Disorder) fidgeting in my seat and frequent ESPN.com Blackberry checks. Common Wings, don’t age me this year…
Posted by Ship It from 40 miles from The Joe on 04/10/08 at 08:47 AM ET
God bless my mother-in-law because it’s 14:30 and I’m already drunk. I guess she can sense the stress oozing from my pores. Best thing about this place is the slow, rural internet access, so I can’t hang around with the rest of the Stress Train while we egg each other on and collectively wallow in anxiety, and I can’t read all the idiotic predictions of the Ekspurts. It’s just going to have to wait until I get back to normal life.
William Tell? If he can play decent defense, because that’s all I trust him to do. I don’t want another bust jaw at this time. Hartigan in, Home Keys out. Playoff madness. Freshen my glass.
Pharazon, where are you to be five hours ahead?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the wine cellar, surrounded by barrels of fun on 04/10/08 at 09:44 AM ET
“frequent ESPN.com Blackberry checks.”
Go to Yahoo Alerts (alerts.yahoo.com) and you can set it up to text you every time someone scores for either team.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/10/08 at 09:45 AM ET
Hmm, watched the games last night and it just wasn’t the same...all the time, the anxiety in my stomach grew...and the excitement. What I wouldn’t give to be at the Joe tonight in my Winged Wheel gear cheering on the boys. It is the playoffs, nothing better and nothing worse. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I set the TiVo this morning just in case I don’t get off work early. It is snowing. Good hockey weather. Is it 5:00 yet?
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/10/08 at 09:47 AM ET
i’m in the UK, where a 7pm game begins at midnight.
Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/10/08 at 09:49 AM ET
Now I’ve got a case of collective anxiety. Repeat, I was fine until I came to this site and read this post. Hope the guys come out with tons of energy tonight. I’m gonna go read a bunch of other anxiety-inducing articles and predictions now.
‘Ekspurts’-hilarious.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/10/08 at 09:52 AM ET
hockeychic’s right, nothing worse and nothing better. bittersweet, but way more bitter until the puck drops.
weren’t you guys supposed to get a blizzard today in divetown? maybe you’ll get off work early.
somebody want to check on the chief? i don’t want to read about any police stand-offs in the dc area today.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/10/08 at 09:56 AM ET
Feeling strangley euphoric today; especially after canvassing the news and notes. Since I have incredible selective memory, all I recall from last years playoffs are two main issues: (1) the Wings having no depth, especially on the blueline; and (2) the Wings are too soft to grind it out with the Flame or Poultry.
Well, I happen to think Ken “Boy Genious” Holland, and the rest of the Organization has done a remarkable job addressing those needs.
Wings are deep, really deep. Just look at the lines the Wings practiced with yesterday, and the apparent healthy scratches for tonight:
Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom (LETHAL)
Filppula-Franzen-Cleary (Pretty Damned Scary)
Hudler-Draper-Samuelsson (Good +/-)
Drake-Hartigan-Downey (Grind and Hit)
Lidstrom-Rafalski (Move out and shoot)
Kronwall-Stuart (Knock Teeth out)
Lilja-Chelios (STAY AT HOME)
Healthy scratches ...
McCarty
Abdelkader
Helm
Lebda
Meech
Depth and grit. So long as CMOI does a half-way decent job, Wings will cruise past Bubba in 5 games; maybe 6, but only if that damned Ellis stands on his head.
Look at the numbers, especially the G/G and GA/G, over 82 games (a helluva measuring stick):
DET: 3.07 G/G (3rd), 2.18 GA/G (1st), 20.7% PP (3rd), 84.0% PK (8th) 34.4 S/G (1st), SA/G 23.5 (1st).
NSH: 2.77 G/G (12th), 2.73 GA/G (15th), 14.8% PP (27th), 85.4% PK (3rd), 29.6 S/G (12th), SA/G 29.8 (18th).
No stress here, but I’m the eternal optimist. Of course if we happen to lose tonight—I’ll be singing a completely different tune.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 19 on 04/10/08 at 10:07 AM ET
Yahoo alerts sound good to me. And after years of shouldering the burden of my own personal playoff Stress Train, I’m finding solace in these blogs and responses. I am not alone! Samuelsson is in??
Posted by Ship It from 40 miles from The Joe on 04/10/08 at 10:42 AM ET
Devorski and Leggo are working the game tonight.
I’m pretty damn sure it was that twatwaffle Devorski who made the horrible interference call on Datsyuk in Game 5.
And Leggo is a let-em-play kinda guy who tends to ignore all but the most blatant hooks and holds. That probably benefits Bubba.
Back to the head to pee out some more blood…
Posted by O-Joe on 04/10/08 at 10:47 AM ET
Either Divorski or Donnie Doughnut. Pretty sure it was Divorski.
http://www2.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20070520/Anh@Det
Posted by O-Joe on 04/10/08 at 10:53 AM ET
The Stress Train is open for business at 1400? Damn… it’s a good thing I’m semi-retired (unemployed) at the moment… otherwise being drunk at 11AM could be a problem. My small, attainable step for today is to greet each passenger on the train in an affable way… before blurting out “We’re all gonna DIE!” if the Wings go down a goal in the first five minutes.
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 04/10/08 at 11:11 AM ET
Go to Yahoo Alerts (alerts.yahoo.com) and you can set it up to text you every time someone scores for either team.
Thanks Paul. More data...that will surely calm me down.....
Arrrgghhh!
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 04/10/08 at 12:31 PM ET
Whoever said BRING IT ON is right. Bring it. Z, Datsyuk, Kronner, Lidstrom. We’re as good as any team in the league. Bring it. Got a work function tonight and my future mother in law comes to town tonight, so game one silliness will be checked a bit. But BRING IT ON. We’re the Detroit Fu$king Red Wings, MotherF$kers. We’re the best hockey club on Earth.
Posted by TDeters on 04/10/08 at 01:05 PM ET
We’re the best hockey club on Earth.
Hey, quit selling the team short! On any planet!!!
Posted by BobTheZee on 04/10/08 at 01:34 PM ET
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.
Most Recent Blog Posts
LB: Do We Have Clearance For A Game Of Critical Importance, Clarence? Roger, Roger
GDT - Game #69: Red Wings at Flames (9:30)
Only Two Weeks Left To Get Your Pimp Hats
GDT - Game #68: Red Wings host Sabres (7:00)
LB: Only One Word Will Suffice
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:
Check the latest NHL odds at the Internet’s most trusted online sportsbook
Canadian players can also bet on NHL games at the Canadian sports betting site
A2Y Stuff
-----------------------------
Wanna Feel Smart?
Does confusion make you sad? When you read words like "enigma" and phrases like "Thanks Gary. Ass", do you wonder why mean people speak in languages you don't understand? Fret no longer friend! The A2Y Glossary will bring you great joy and enlightenment.
-----------------------------
How Others View The A2Y 19
"Like them or hate them, it's not a good idea to start a battle with "the 19" and the Chief. 'Nuff said."
--Astute reader at Dater's All Things Avs
"Hell, I guarantee the content co-opters at Abel to Yzerman were about to link this article under the heading “Bitter Blues Fans” again right up until they just read that last half-sentance. Thanks but no thanks, you Kukla hangers-on."
--St. Louis Game Time
"I realize it’s the slow summer season, but can this guy tone down the tough-guy histrionics? His posts are fatiguing on an otherwise excellent site."
--A2Y Fan, Eternal_Fields
"I constantly marvel at how Bill (IwoCPO) and his disciples at Abel To Yzerman can be so pompous and full of themselves throughout every regular season, but come playoff time they collapse into wavering puddles of stress and nervousness as they anxiously await the impending and unavoidable collapse of the Red Wings in the post-season."
--Mile High Hockey
"I hate them because they are better than us. Of all the frigging teams…"
--In The Cheap Seats
"It's just a shame that the most classless, uneducated, lowbrow fanbase in the league gets this sweep. Red Wing fans don't deserve their team."
--Thhom
"I really don’t care what fans or bloggers think."
--Drew Sharp
"Why is it you Detroit fans are still so classless when you have such a classy hockey team, with such a professional GM and gentlemen players? I understand that the author of this blog is a manner-less cad, but the rest of you should be better."
--A2Y Fan, Jeff Beaumont
"Have you ever *read* A2Y? Its the most opinionated, juvenile stuff i've read."
--Paul Nicholson
"I actually like the Detroit team and have a sh&% load of respect for them, but their fans are the biggest douches next to Canadians."
--KStewy, PensBlog Commenter
"Just when it looks like we have bottomed out, the 19 hit a new low."
-A2Y legend, Hockeytown Todd
"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski
"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President
"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
My slogan this playoff will be “BRING IT ON!” As part of the Wings faithful true red fan base I know that I am not alone. Gearing up for this time of year in my house is better than any holiday. Now I can pull out my Red Wings Ju-Ju and decorate the house in everything Red Wings. That is how I’ll keep busy until 1400. After that I might have to head to the Hasek Car and relax. Yea right,relax? Anyway,"BRING IT ON!” Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/10/08 at 08:08 AM ET