Versus guy last night after the game:  “The Red Wings have now appeared in six of the last twelve Stanley Cup Finals, winning their last three.”

Fooking dolts.

Posted by O-Joe on 05/28/09 at 07:02 AM ET

Over that time frame, the Red Wings’ average point percentage is .666

Thank you, Satan.

Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 05/28/09 at 07:43 AM ET

The early line from both ESPN as well as SI is that the Wings are too banged up and the Pens will take the series.

It helps when you run through the East’s collection of papier-mache defensemen, I suppose.

Posted by Zoogz on 05/28/09 at 08:01 AM ET

The early line from both ESPN as well as SI is that the Wings are too banged up and the Pens will take the series.

At least that’s an argument based on discernible fact rather than the “It’s just their time” arguments that I’m sure we’ll be reading ad nauseum for the next two days.

Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 05/28/09 at 08:05 AM ET

Versus was all over the Pens last night, big surprise.  Saying that Detroit is too banged up.  Let’s GO RED WINGS!!

It is a travesty that Games 1 and 2 are back to back.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/28/09 at 08:06 AM ET

Wait wait wait. When did Hossa get injured?

did anybody here watch any of the Pittsburgh/Carolina games?  if so, please answer a question for me.  during the intermissions, did they gush all over Franzen and Zetterberg, or did they actually talk about the game that was on at the time?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/28/09 at 08:13 AM ET

It helps when you run through the East’s collection of paper-mache defensemen, I suppose.

That’s the thing with PIT this year.  They got to the Finals going through a depleted PHI, a WAS squad that doesn’t even know what “defense” is, and a hard-working CAR team that knocked out, in my opinion, the 2 toughest Eastern teams already (BOS and NJ) despite having a terrible defense as well.

As a result, we really don’t have any kind of handle on what PIT can do.  They’re not tested enough at this point.  DET had a cakewalk in CBS… but then a war against ANA and a tough one against CHI.

Posted by Primis on 05/28/09 at 08:16 AM ET

did they gush all over Franzen and Zetterberg, or did they actually talk about the game that was on at the time?

Absolutely not.

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 05/28/09 at 08:17 AM ET

did anybody here watch any of the Pittsburgh/Carolina games?  if so, please answer a question for me.  during the intermissions, did they gush all over Franzen and Zetterberg, or did they actually talk about the game that was on at the time?

What is this “Western Conference” you speak of?

They said Scuderi made a “Lidstrom-esque” move.

Who’s this “Lidstrom” fellow? Is that a Finnish name? I’ve never heard of him.

Posted by thethirdcoast from Rottenchester on 05/28/09 at 08:19 AM ET

As a result, we really don’t have any kind of handle on what PIT can do.  They’re not tested enough at this point.

This.

A thousand times, this.

We just don’t know what level PIT is at based on who they’ve played in the East. I do have to say that I don’t think their supporting cast is as deep as ours. DET will be fine as long as Helm, Cleary, Sammy, etc. keep coming up big when it counts.

Posted by thethirdcoast from Rottenchester on 05/28/09 at 08:21 AM ET

Both intermissions last night had Penguin features in them.  Kind of unbelivable.  I am not sure about before overtime, I didn’t watch.

Posted by Bent from The U.P. on 05/28/09 at 08:22 AM ET

Over that time frame, the Red Wings’ average point percentage is .666

God Bless Satan.  He wears red too, ya know.

If anything, it is injuries that scare me.  But these are the Finals now, everyone who can play, will play.  And they know what’s required.  We’ll have a better handle on the opposition in Game One—whether this will be a case of the Pens hitting the brick wall again or not.  But there’s one player I’m looking at who must play like there’s no tomorrow—Hossa.  In order to validate his decision, to prove all the naysayers wrong, that he made the right choice, he is going to have to MAKE a win happen.  If not, he may never live it down, especially given who the opposition is.  I can understand him not being too fired up over previous opposition.  But now he’s here, the goal in site, with the most ironic twist possible—let’s see him show the tenacity we know he has, and get this done.  He doen’t want to end up slumped on the ice, dejected, once again, not while his former team hoists the Cup.  He HAS to step up and dominate in this series.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 05/28/09 at 08:27 AM ET

I was at the game last night and got to sit right by the Zamboni entrance. It was freaking amazing. Everyone was no excited and nervous that most of our chants weren’t in sync; it was crazy.

I can’t tell you how happy I am that Helm scored the overtime goal. That kid was all over the place. Every time he skated down, I’d yell “Get em Helm” and he’d line up Campbell’s bitch ass and pound him against the glass. Awesome. 12 freaking hits in the game. Clutch. And watching him be Z like during that PK was tear jerking. 

Hossa limped to the bench at one point after what looked like, in real time, a normal collision. But that bastard came out and tried to take over the game again.

Stuart was just amazing. During one of the PKs he took a shot of some part of his leg, started limping and was about to go to the bench but came back because the puck was coming back. He broke up the play. It was just an amazing shift.

Huet did really well and even had his moments of swagger, but dude was throwing out rebounds like they were bad meat. He made up for it by making tremendous second and third saves. Props to you sir, but whatever. Kate’s silver lining carried the day. He said during the press conference that he knew Huet would be solid because “goalies know other goalies,” and that he would have to step up to keep up. A HOF game goalie delivered a HOF game.

I call for a ban on TPSH blog; I have a feeling that he and Chen write their garbage for hits from indignant Wings fans. Lets see what happens when the 7 people who agree with them read their shit.

If Gary hates the Wings, everyone hates the 19 and our massive, passionate presence on KK. And the haters are trying to bring some parity to the game by writing anti-Wing garbage. Douchenozzels.

Posted by Osrt on 05/28/09 at 08:31 AM ET

He will Andrew…he will. If that last two games showed anything, especially last night with him coming out on basically one leg…I think Hossa will determine a game…or 3.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/28/09 at 08:31 AM ET

If anything, it is injuries that scare me.  But these are the Finals now, everyone who can play, will play.  And they know what’s required.  We’ll have a better handle on the opposition in Game One—whether this will be a case of the Pens hitting the brick wall again or not.  But there’s one player I’m looking at who must play like there’s no tomorrow—Hossa.  In order to validate his decision, to prove all the naysayers wrong, that he made the right choice, he is going to have to MAKE a win happen.  If not, he may never live it down, especially given who the opposition is.  I can understand him not being too fired up over previous opposition.  But now he’s here, the goal in site, with the most ironic twist possible—let’s see him show the tenacity we know he has, and get this done.  He doen’t want to end up slumped on the ice, dejected, once again, not while his former team hoists the Cup.  He HAS to step up and dominate in this series.

——————————————————-

Amen, amen and AAAAAAA-freakin-men.

Posted by Wings_Fan_In_KC from ...somewhere southwest of The Motor City... on 05/28/09 at 08:33 AM ET

Versus guy last night after the game:  “The Red Wings have now appeared in six of the last twelve Stanley Cup Finals, winning their last three.”

Fooking dolts.

They also referred to Maltby as a “three-time Stanley Cup winner.”  You may want to check Malts’ hand, guys… count the rings, bitches!

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 05/28/09 at 08:41 AM ET

But there’s one player I’m looking at who must play like there’s no tomorrow—Hossa.  In order to validate his decision, to prove all the naysayers wrong, that he made the right choice, he is going to have to MAKE a win happen.  If not, he may never live it down,

Pasted salient points to make one of my own…

I feel badly for Hossa myself.  The Penguins managed to put up a 27-25-6 record through the two-thirds mark in the season.  Their front office panicked, moved the coach, traded players, and they got lucky with all the moves they made.

The Penguins only finished six points above the ninth spot in the East.

I would like to think that Hossa really had a long look at what was going on in Pittsburgh.  The team he saw in the summer was far closer to the 27-25-6 team than the one that put up a 18-3-3 over the last 24 games.

Obviously, the conventional wisdom that the NHL and Gary.Ass likes to crow about is that Thid and Company are the Second Coming, and that it was a foregone conclusion that the Penguins would be back.  The journalists are taking that and running with it, because there’s a hook.

For everyone here at KK (and all the Penguin trolls likely looking on), let’s be honest.  If this season was played through ten times, would the Penguins have honestly made the SCF more than the Wings?  Especially considering the team they started with?

Posted by Zoogz on 05/28/09 at 08:41 AM ET

Both intermissions last night had Penguin features in them.  Kind of unbelivable.  I am not sure about before overtime, I didn’t watch.

During intermissions of Pittsburgh / Carolina games, they did do features on the series between the Red Wings and the Blackhawks.  They just did those features with more objectivity than the features done during our games’ intermission reports (before the Penguins finished off the Hurricanes)

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 05/28/09 at 08:51 AM ET

I feel badly for Hossa myself.  The Penguins managed to put up a 27-25-6 record through the two-thirds mark in the season.  Their front office panicked, moved the coach, traded players, and they got lucky with all the moves they made.

Well, the Ducks were an 8 seed also, and we can all agree, they were not your “typical” 8 seed… combine that with how many 7 or 8 seeds have gone to the final in the past decade, and we can’t tell much by regular season record.  It’s better to look at the roster and see the playoff experience a particular team has on board.  The Penguins have a fair amount, and added plenty at the deadline.

Another point in defending Hossa’s decision… this was the first chance Hossa has had to choose where he wanted to play.  It’s also fairly clear that he was not interested in playing for Michel Therrien.  Neither were a few other Penguins, from what I’ve read, but they managed to outlast Therrien.  No one can blame Hossa for thinking he had a better shot elsewhere—NOT because of the talent on the roster, because as he has said and everyone else knows, the Penguins are loaded—but because of the coaching.  Even the most diehard of Pens fans can’t argue that they probably agree with Hossa about Therrien’s coaching.  It’s clear that Bylsma is doing quite a job… would Hossa have stayed in Pittsburgh if Bylsma had the job last year?  No one can say, but I’d certainly guess it would have been more likely.

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 05/28/09 at 08:56 AM ET

Versus guy last night after the game:  “The Red Wings have now appeared in six of the last twelve Stanley Cup Finals, winning their last three.”

During the game, they also called Malts a three-time cup winner. Um, no. Freaking idiots.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 05/28/09 at 09:02 AM ET

Sorry Incognetis… I didn’t see that you already mentioned that. 

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 05/28/09 at 09:06 AM ET

Sorry Incognetis… I didn’t see that you already mentioned that.  red face

I’ll let it slide.  THIS time!!

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 05/28/09 at 09:08 AM ET

I enjoyed the win for 15 seconds. Now it’s on to bigger and better things. Forward, with a push that will indeed stun the hockey world. It isn’t enough that we were missing Lids,Pavs,Drapes,Big E, Lilja, and Kopy and, still won convincingly.

Against all odds The Wings made it back to the finals again. We are ready. Bitches.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 05/28/09 at 09:21 AM ET

I call for a ban on TPSH blog; I have a feeling that he and Chen write their garbage for hits from indignant Wings fans.

Don’t forget Jiz Globass.

(I have no idea what or for whom Jiz blogs about.  I just like typing then reading ‘Jiz Globass’).

Posted by O-Joe on 05/28/09 at 09:21 AM ET

The Penguins only finished six points above the ninth spot in the East.

The Wings had the *#$%@& defense we’ve seen from them in a long, long time for all but about ten games of the regular season.

Both our stats and the Pens’ record mean nothing now.  This is the playoffs, and regardless of what the teams looked like on the final day of the regular season, there are only two left, who have made it this far.  That isn’t a fluke, or luck, for the most part.  It means that they are very good, and that they’ve gotten some breaks.  Regardless of what the teams looked like last summer, NOW is the time for Hossa to prove he made the right decision, now is the time for him to make the biggest difference he can.  They don’t award the Cup based on regular-season records, mitigating factors, or lucky moves.

Throw out the rap sheet on the Pens; it doesn’t matter anymore.  This is the Stanley Cup Finals.  Everything else is little more than dust, the record in the next four to seven games will stand forever.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 05/28/09 at 09:25 AM ET

They also referred to Maltby as a “three-time Stanley Cup winner.”

Missed that one.  Not surprising. 

Oh, and it’s six out of the last fourteen SCFs that the Wings have participated in. 

Dumbass Versus Guy…

Posted by O-Joe on 05/28/09 at 09:26 AM ET

Good gravy, KK ate my post.  I’m reposting, if it comes back later don’t blame me.

—Two posts ate now, but I get to respond to Andrew too:

Well, the Ducks were an 8 seed also, and we can all agree, they were not your “typical” 8 seed… combine that with how many 7 or 8 seeds have gone to the final in the past decade, and we can’t tell much by regular season record.  It’s better to look at the roster and see the playoff experience a particular team has on board.  The Penguins have a fair amount, and added plenty at the deadline.

I’m not arguing seeds here.  I’m putting forth an argument that Pittsburgh had a distinct chance to completely miss the playoffs.  They started barely .500 in a league where they give you two chances to win and each team gets points for overtime losses.  They were 27-25-6 and hovering around eleventh place… in the East.

To put it in context, they went 18-3-3 over twenty-four games.  If they had managed 14-6-4, that would still be 32 points and a .667 percentage, but they would have been 10th place with a 14-6-4.  I would argue that going 18-3-3 is at least a tiny bit of luck and that was just to *get* to the playoffs, regardless of seed.

When a player sees a team that’s built for 110 points and puts that against a team that was darned lucky to end up at 99 and had a distinct chance at 80, that’s not exactly a dumb move.

Both our stats and the Pens’ record mean nothing now.

I understand that, but I’m trying to defend poor Hossa because that “I signed to get a better shot at the Cup” is extremely defensible.  Yet it’s the hook that gets overplayed ad nauseum, and will be used as a bludgeon against him if things go wrong in the next two weeks.  All of my above arguments have nothing to do with future performance…

Posted by Zoogz on 05/28/09 at 09:32 AM ET

I settled for watching the Finals on TV last year, but not this year. One ticket for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Detroit has been bought and paid for.

Obscenely priced tickets? Not going to stop me.
Having to be at work the next morning? Not going to stop me.
Being awake since 3AM on Sunday? Not going to stop me.
Four hour drive to/from Detroit? Not going to stop me.
Ridonkulous construction on I-75? Well, that might stop me.

My plan was almost foiled by the work firewall as it borked the first ticket Ticketmaster found (and a mighty fine seat at that), but it let me buy the significantly less awesome ticket from my second attempt 30 seconds later.

Section 203B Row 19

I can’t help but take that as a good sign.

And now I’ll go back to my standard lurk mode. I just had to share the excitement with people who would actually appreciate it.

Posted by Modnar on 05/28/09 at 09:48 AM ET

I understand that, but I’m trying to defend poor Hossa because that “I signed to get a better shot at the Cup” is extremely defensible.

I understand what you’re saying Zoogz, but pointing to the regular-season record won’t cut it for Hossa when the questions come—it is no defense at all.  He needs to dominate every shift in every one of the next four to seven games and do everything he can to push himself and his team toward the Cup.  If he does, his decision will be validated and completely airtight, and nobody will dare question it again.  If he does not, then the way the teams looked during the summer, or on the last day of the regular season, is no defense for his decision and he may never live it down.  NOW is the time when he needs to make his decision count.  Otherwise he might as well go golf with the Sharks and all the other regular-season stars.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 05/28/09 at 09:49 AM ET

I missed the first two innings of a Tigers game once because of construction through Saginaw, as well as an autograph opportunity with Manny Legace (it was 2004, he was still a hero) who happened to be in the section where my seats were until the middle of the 2nd.  I wasn’t happy to say the least.  Make sure you check how long a delay it will be if possible, so you aren’t stuck not moving for an hour and a half like I was.

Posted by Bent from The U.P. on 05/28/09 at 09:55 AM ET

I understand what you’re saying Zoogz, but pointing to the regular-season record won’t cut it for Hossa when the questions come—it is no defense at all.  He needs to dominate every shift in every one of the next four to seven games and do everything he can to push himself and his team toward the Cup.

Yes and no.  This idiocy would not even be brought up if not for the fact that Pittsburgh is the opponent.  I’m sure that this would be a minor story at best if the Wings were playing the Bruins or the Devils.

To validate his decision no matter what team he was against, he has to play terrifically through the next seven games.  This would be a non-story against any other team though.

Posted by Zoogz on 05/28/09 at 09:58 AM ET

Bylsma is a better coach; that fact alone makes the Pens more dangerous. (Here’s hoping he’s not a whiny bitch, either.) And our injuries really worry me. But goddamn, aren’t you incredibly proud of this Wings team? Many of us questioned their character, their passion during the regular season. We were fooled. Sure, Columbus wasn’t ready for prime time, but the Wings didn’t also didn’t screw around and waste any time sending them to the fairways. Then came seven games of Poultry cumraggery and overcoming the Hossa no-goal. (Compare that with Thid and Geno going seven against the Caps. I mean, Washington had Mike Green and all, but Anaheim’s D is a little tougher.) 

And this Chicago series. The Kronwall misconduct, the clusterf*ck of injuries. Chris Chelios played mroe than 10 minutes last night. Consider the horror of that last sentence. But it didn’t matter. Ozzie tells everyone, again, to STFU.

So yeah, being banged up could be a huge factor, and Gary.Ass’s ridiculous NBC ass-licking schedule doesn’t help. But it’s 4 to 12, bitches. Our boys our champions. And it think these next two weeks, they’ll prove it again.

Posted by Bella on 05/28/09 at 10:01 AM ET

Just voted in Mirtle’s Dynasty poll.

It is currently 91% yes, 8% no.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 05/28/09 at 10:16 AM ET

I missed the first two innings of a Tigers game once because of construction through Saginaw, as well as an autograph opportunity with Manny Legace (it was 2004, he was still a hero) who happened to be in the section where my seats were until the middle of the 2nd.  I wasn’t happy to say the least.  Make sure you check how long a delay it will be if possible, so you aren’t stuck not moving for an hour and a half like I was.

Oh, I’ll be leaving right after I finish with work at 12:30. I’m sure at sometime on the drive back I’ll start seriously regretting not taking some time to sleep, but I’d regret missing part of the game even more.

Posted by Modnar on 05/28/09 at 10:20 AM ET

(Here’s hoping he’s not a whiny bitch, either.)

He has actually struck me as a pretty good coach who teaches things the right way:  Work your ass off and good things happen.

Bylsma was an effort guy when he played for Babcock in Anaheim (I believe is where it was), and preaches the same in Pittsburg.

He also has managed to target what the Penguins can do well and gotten them to do it.  They underperformed under Therrien this year.  Not so under Bylsma.  Good coaching isn’t always about X and 0 game-time finickery.

Posted by shanetx on 05/28/09 at 10:23 AM ET

Red Wings = Yankees
Red Wings = Patriots

Posted by Jimmy from Windsor on 05/28/09 at 10:28 AM ET

I don’t know much about Bylsma, though he strikes me as less of a middle-manager than Therrien was, but I do know one irrefutable fact about him: he’s a Michigander.

This would be a non-story against any other team though.

Completely in agreement, and agreed that it IS idiocy—but it’s how the story will be written and remembered (by idiots, no surprise there) and “It seemed like a good idea at the time” will be no defense if he lets this opportunity slip through his hands.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 05/28/09 at 10:31 AM ET

Completely in agreement, and agreed that it IS idiocy—but it’s how the story will be written and remembered (by idiots, no surprise there) and “It seemed like a good idea at the time” will be no defense if he lets this opportunity slip through his hands.

We’re still hearing “Hossa’s a mercenary” despite him having never done a team wrong- and having been treated wrong by a team he tried to show loyalty to, in Ottawa.  I wouldn’t expect people to get this new angle right either.

... but, man, would I love to see him get a couple game winners.

Posted by shanetx on 05/28/09 at 10:34 AM ET

but, man, would I love to see him get a couple game winners.

Tell Hossa every game is game four.

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 05/28/09 at 10:37 AM ET

It helps when you run through the East’s collection of papier-mache defensemen, I suppose.

Posted by Zoogz on 05/28/09 at 09:01 AM ET

They DID have to deal with Mike Green, Norris Trophy Winner!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 10:38 AM ET

Chris Chelios played mroe than 10 minutes last night. Consider the horror of that last sentence.

And he almost got the winner in OT!

Red Wings = Yankees
Red Wings = Patriots

So, what you’re saying is, they win a lot?  Yes, we know.

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 05/28/09 at 10:39 AM ET

Over that time frame, the Red Wings’ average point percentage is .666

Thank you, Satan.

Posted by Mandingo from Ann Arbor on 05/28/09 at 08:43 AM ET

So does that make 667 the Neighbor of the Beast? 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 10:50 AM ET

They DID have to deal with Mike Green, Norris Trophy Winner!

Don’t you mean Vezina?

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 05/28/09 at 10:54 AM ET

It is currently 91% yes, 8% no.

I blame you guys - 

Posted by James Mirtle from Toronto on 05/28/09 at 10:55 AM ET

Good coaching isn’t always about X and 0 game-time finickery.

I think the deeper you get into the playoffs the less important that is.  it becomes more about emotion, poise, and motivation.  by this time, the players know the Xs and Os.  in a particular game situation they know each other, have a feel for the fluidity of the moment and an idea of what might work next, and can communicate it to each other…assuming they speak the same language

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/28/09 at 11:01 AM ET

did anybody here watch any of the Pittsburgh/Carolina games?  if so, please answer a question for me.  during the intermissions, did they gush all over Franzen and Zetterberg, or did they actually talk about the game that was on at the time?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/28/09 at 09:13 AM ET

Crosby, Malkin, Staal (both brothers), and Cam Ward.  Some Fleury.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 11:01 AM ET

We’re still hearing “Hossa’s a mercenary” despite him having never done a team wrong

the word mercenary doesn’t automatically indicate evilness.  it just means you’re a hired gun who goes where you’re paid to.  I’m curious why we didn’t hear “Hossa is a mercenary” last year.  I mean, he played all of 12 regular season games for the Penguins…and 74 for the Wings.  seems to me he was more of a mercenary last year than this year.

I laugh when I hear people talk of how Hossa didn’t show any loyalty to the Penguins.  why should he?!  he was traded there at the deadline last year and played 12 games in the regular season and then played in the playoffs.  it’s not like he has been a life long Penguin.

for all we know, he hated the trade and wanted to get the hell out of Pittsburgh from day 1.  he obviously wanted to come to Detroit.  I think the main reason he took a one year deal was because there was no way the Wings could sign him long term thanks to salary cap issues.  if he leaves, it’ll again be because of salary cap issues and not because of any lack of loyalty to the Red Wings nor greed or any air of being a mercenary.  he’s a phenomenal player that thanks to gary.ass is probably going to end up a big fish in a small pond, playing for a second- or third-tier team who can afford him.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/28/09 at 11:06 AM ET

They DID have to deal with Mike Green, Norris Trophy Winner!

Don’t you mean Vezina?

Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 05/28/09 at 11:54 AM ET

He’s up for both.  Double threat.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 11:06 AM ET

  Red Wings = Yankees
  Red Wings = Patriots

So, what you’re saying is, they win a lot?  Yes, we know.

Damn. His bucket of water now has holes in it…

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/28/09 at 11:54 AM ET

Don’t you mean Vezina?

Wasn’t he in that movie “Princess Bride”?

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 05/28/09 at 12:29 PM ET