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Abel to Yzerman

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Saturday Deep Digging

by IwoCPO on 04/14/07 at 06:34 AM ET
Comments (7)

Oh, we’re gonna get nuts this morning.  There’s so much, so very much.  And it’s all fresh, new and exciting...like a puppy, a little puppy frolicking in the summer sunshine.  That’s what I have for you this morning: links and links and more links to happy Detroit Diggers and sad, befuddled, downright angry scribes in Calgary. 

Just when you thought the train of joy couldn’t move any faster, couldn’t gather any more steam...along came news yesterday that The Unforgiven would most likely join a Wing lineup that is now considered downright badass.

Khan(!)/MLive

But, you can never have too much size, strength and grit in the playoffs, and the Wings are about to become even bigger and stronger.

Todd Bertuzzi passed his neurological tests Friday morning and received medical clearance to play.

Oh, but we know it’s not that simple. It’s not just about clearance, it’s more about comfort.  Bertuzzi said he’s not suffering through headaches, back pain, neck pain, any pain.  So, you know, he’d kinda like to play.  But, it’s hockey, so it’s cliche’ time.

“I’d love to be in there, but the team comes first so we’ll play it by ear and see what happens.”

Yep, we’ll go ahead and play that one by ear.  Here’s how Uncle Mike sees it:  cleared? He’s in.  Questions?  No? Great.

Ahhh, but the Flames believe they can counter.  Wing fan favorite Robin Regehr appears ready to play tomorrow too, at least in the mind of Flame coach Jim Playfair.

St. James/Freep

“We’re hoping to bring a big player back in our lineup as well on Sunday and hope that will compensate for Todd.”

Not a bad idea Jim boy.  But, see, that “big player” doesn’t sound quite as encouraged.

George Johnson/Calgary Herald

A prickly Robyn Regehr, his ailing knee now more than ever the subject of scrutiny, surveyed the media mob descending on his dressing stall with a sort of disdainful resignation.

“Let’s get this over with,” he murmured.

“Nothing’s changed.”

Not so fast, Robbie.  Lots has changed.  Don’t believe me?  I offer a few examples from the Calgary papers who are seemingly more suited to a Legace suicide watch than covering a team down 0-1 in a playoff series.

Randy Sportak/Calgary Sun

The Detroit Red Wings closed the coffin Thursday night.

Not on the Calgary Flames post-season hopes. It’ll take three more wins for that to happen.

We’re talking about the fond memories the Flames and their fans have of the team’s improbable 2004 post-season series victory over the Wings and any similarities to this year’s series.

I knew it was over.  I told you it would be over in 1.  Wait...there’s more.

They’re a maddening lot, these Red Wings.

They force opponents to tightrope a fine, fine wire, without the aid of a parasol for balance.

If you don’t flex the pecs and at least attempt to mulch them into Hamburger Helper, it’s nothing less than licence for them to free-wheel in that inimitable way of theirs.

If you do try to tenderize them, but get it the slightest bit wrong, they can toss out a bewitching power play capable of turning heads 360, like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.

Bewitching power play? The same one that looked anemic during a prolonged 5-3 on Thursday? The same power play that nestled comfortably around 20th in the league most of the season? 

Flex the pecs? Hamburger Helper? Linda Blair?  Man.  One loss and these guys turn into a 9th grade creative writing class.

Wait...there’s more.  Want to motivate your boys? Question their...boys.  How about this?

Bruce Dowbiggin/Calgary Herald

After months of wondering whether the Flames had a killer wardrobe for the playoffs, we now know. They don’t. Talk about shrinkage.

Shrinkage?  Ouch.

Well, if you suffer from shrinkage there’s only one real solution, or so I’m told.

The onus is clearly on the Flames to nut up and provide Miikka Kiprusoff with a lot more help. It’s difficult to imagine their season not hanging precariously in the balance.

Shrinkage? Nut up?  Lose Game 2 and we’re talking serious surgical recommendations in the Province.

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Comments

Grade 9 is right - its just one game!

Having said that the Wings looked terrific, Datsyuk could have had three in about five minutes were it not for Kiprusoff and without Regehr the Flames don’t stand a chance.

On the other hand, Flames could lose the first two and even it up at home - they’re a different team there.

Posted by Pat from Toronto on 04/14/07 at 07:14 AM ET

IWO, you make me laugh!  Now that you have “made” my Saturday, I can’t wait for Alanah to awaken and cry over the game last night.

Posted by w2j2 on 04/14/07 at 07:27 AM ET

It was a pretty dominating performance Thursday night, but my lord it’s one freaking game.  One freaking game on the road where Calgary have been craptacular all season. If Calgary can respond a pull out a win tomorrow it’s “Mission Accomplished” (and not in the George W. Bush sense of the phrase either).

You have to expect that even if the Flames lose Sunday, they have a real good shot and evening the series in Calgary.  The combo of them being nigh invulnerable on the road and the Wings’ horrible history of playing games in the great province of Alberta gives them the edge.

Posted by Ajax19 on 04/14/07 at 07:51 AM ET

It’s just one game. As always, if the lower seed can steal one on the road, everything changes, especially with the home record of the two teams in this series.  If Detroit can win the second at home as well, then we’ll see how Calgary responds in game 3 at their own place.

I had no idea that you can prepare Hamburger Helper my mulching.  Silly me, I always thought it required a skillet.  I have rarely read such dreadful (and yet very amusing) writing.  They would be better off in style and perspective if they let some of the Flames bloggers write the stories for them. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/14/07 at 08:12 AM ET

More wishful thinking from “Battle of Alberta”:

7) Now Datsyuk isn’t due to score again until 2012

http://battleofalberta.blogspot.com/

Posted by w2j2 on 04/14/07 at 09:41 AM ET

Thanks for the laughs Chief!  Flamers are crying as badly as if they had spilled a John Labatt’s!!  One game played extremely well by the Winged Wheel and one game played very poorly by the Flame and now the world as the Albertans know it is coming to an end.  Good Grief Charlie Brown. 

Ajax is right, Wings are likely to have a much tougher challenge at the Saddledome.  It will be very interesting to see how the Wings play there.  But I jump ahead, lets pray for a rerun of Thursdays game tomorrow—and the Flamers will think armageddon is upon them!!!  Go Wings!!!!

Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from Far Far from Motown on 04/14/07 at 10:54 AM ET

You really have to wonder just how different Game 1 wold have gone if Hasek hadn’t robbed Conroy on that early shorthanded attempt…

Posted by Ajax19 on 04/14/07 at 11:03 AM ET

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