I've moved!
I hinted at some site news in the last post. I've been on Blogger almost two years now, but it still frustrates me. I looked into maybe moving on to something on WordPress. I didn't know much about it, but as soon as I read some of the features I decided it was something I must do. It's more complicated, but it offers a lot more at the same time. I've yet to read a really bad review from someone who has switched from Blogger to WordPress.
I debated waiting. I set it all up last week but I was going to wait a few weeks after the Finals for everything to blow over. I didn't really take into account how things would go if Detroit lost. I'm still feeling pretty miserable about it, but I'm forcing myself into offseason mode as quickly as possible. I'll have some offseason ideas up later today, over at the new place, so I figured for my own benefit I may as well get it out right now so I can tweak it over the next few weeks if there are problems.
Also, the name WTF Holland is done, the new blog title will be Babcock's Death Stare. For one, I was never sure how that name would be received, as I really doubted I would be able to keep a blog active and figured it would become another failed attempt. Somehow, it didn't. I never really got anything but compliments about the name, but I'm kind of going for a more professional look/feel so I figured I would eventually change it. Additionally, the blog was named for the way that people reacted to everything Ken Holland did from 2002-2008, even though we still won like crazy. After the Cup last year and the long contracts this year, he's getting more of the credit he deserves, so I figure to some new readers it might not make much sense. The new title, however, makes sense as soon as you watch a Wings' game.
It's still the same thing. Still just me blogging, not like I went and sold out or anything. Still the same long-winded rants and obscure prospects news as always. For one thing, cosemetically, I feel like it looks a lot better and it should be a little easier to read -- I got really sick of the red background here, I could never really get this blog to look the way I wanted it to so I just kept it simple after a while. Also, with the "pages" that WordPress provides it will be a lot easier for me to put prospect information at the top of the page so it can always be accessed, instead of having to sort through years of archives. I can do a lot of fun stuff with that, even like salary cap information and the like, so readers don't really have to leave the site
So update your bookmarks, RSS feeds, etc, because everything after this post will be at the new place. I imported all of the old posts and the comments but there's too much to go through and double-check, so I'm sure there are a few errors. For some reason, the first line in each post is at a smaller font size than the rest of the post. Some of the posts duplicated. I'm not sure whether or not all the comments got in there or not but the most recent ones are. Everything else looks pretty good. Most of the changes will be behind the scenes. It'll be a lot easier for me to post, so hopefully I can do so more frequently, and also it allows me to monitor traffic so I can actually see what posts interest people the most, and exactly how many readers I have.
So if you haven't already, click on over there. I'll welcome any comments about the name, layout, design, any errors or trouble viewing the site over here or over there, or you're always welcome to e-mail me.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Ultimate Tease: Season Summed in 60 Minutes
Devastated.. Can't say much else.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Pittsburgh played very well tonight. But Detroit only played well in the first and last 7/8 minutes. They were their own undoing. But again, Pittsburgh played well, you can't say Detroit would have won. Pittsburgh wouldn't have sat back so early in the game if Detroit wasn't having such problems bringing it over the blueline. But in terms of Game 7 urgency, only one team and Henrik Zetterberg showed any of it.
I'm very upset with a few players in particular. Johan Franzen was pretty bad all Finals long but I feel like he's even worse in person. He has no urgency away from the puck. He, and Dan Cleary each had the same thing happen. They had been either knocked down or held up in the Pittsburgh zone, while Pittsburgh went to dump it in and change. Then they slowly got up and made their way to the Detroit bench. However, the Detroit defenders moved the puck out of their own zone so quickly, that both Franzen and Cleary were still offsides when Detroit brought it back in. It's just that kind of urgency. You don't have to sprint to the bench, but you have to get off the ice at some point. At the very least make it an effort to clear the zone, then you can glide to the bench (you are on ice, you know).
Tomas Holmstrom was awful all playoff and even more tonight. At the same time, I've gotta frown at Babcock for putting this guy out there in the waning minutes. Yeah, he's still a good screen even when he isn't getting his stick on it, but he was just so stupid with the puck all playoff long. Obviously, he's never been a skilled guy but he can usually get rid of the puck if his linemate accidentally gave it to him, but all series long it was missed simple passes and turnovers. It's just brutal to watch. But what did he do deserving of ice time at the end of the game like that? Hossa can stand in front of the net if you tell him to. It's not like he was going to touch a puck either. Holmstrom's quickly falling into the doghouse now, I can't imagine next season will be too pleasent if he keeps scoring at his playoff rate.
Samuelsson was just retarded today. It's either going to be the perfect send off to the end of his tenure as a Red Wing or the perfect final picture of him from this season that's going to send me into a rage when he's re-signed.
Kronwall, Rafalski, and, to a lesser extent, Lebda, are all in the same boat. They can look like great defensemen capable of outstanding offensive totals and solid defensive play, or they can look lost as they spin around with a puck in between their feet. I don't know how the ice was, but it looked bad. I'm not really a scientist or smart person in the least but I know they always say that changes in humidity are what makes for bad ice, and it rained yesterday before being warm today, so I'm going to assume it was as bad as it looks. But all three of these guys had awful times keeping the puck in, keeping their passes flat, and just generally carrying it up ice without something terrible happening.
Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Hudler, Hossa. File under: Too cute. You don't pass up open shots in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Specifically, Hossa. I tried, buddy. I pulled people's attention to the fact that even when you're not scoring, you're a good two-way player. But I just don't know what happened. Hossa just constantly got himself into trouble in the offensive zone. He flubbed like every strong shot he had. He ran into Datsyuk on a backcheck. He fell near the bench when no one was near him. He either tried to rag the puck through 4 people or he'd dump it in on a 3-on-2. Not happy. He looked like he'd explode offensively eventually. He didn't. I don't think he's too well-liked in Detroit right now. And I don't know if I want him back next season, he became too much of a rallying point and a distraction. He became a reason on his own for people to root against Detroit, and as we all know, there are no shortages of reasons to root against Detroit. But I don't know that I don't want him back either. More on that another day.
What else? I don't know. Zetterberg was the only guy busting his ass out there. Ericsson wasn't terrible I guess -- he tied for 6th on the team in playoff goals. Helm I didn't notice that much, so that's probably good and bad. Stuart had a giveaway that is making everyone call for his head, but they forget that he was levels above Kronwall and Rafalski for almost the entire playoffs.
It hasn't entirely set in yet. I keep using the wrong tense, i.e. "Holmstrom has been terrible all series" instead of "Holmstrom was terrible." I'm sure there's still a few errors, and I'm sure this will be much worse when I start using past tense without thinking about it. I won't go into too much detail about being there because it makes me feel awful. The first period was exciting and electric. The Wings dominated until the Stuart penalty. Life was good. But after the two goals in the second, the building was lifeless. I sat hunched forward with my chin resting on my hand for almost the whole time. I couldn't bring myself to do every chant. I felt hopeless, but at the same time, it was sad. A large group of Pens fans sat a few rows behind us. They started a bunch of Lets Go Pens chants. In the first period, those were easily drowned out with "Lets Go Wings". In the second, they started, but quickly died off as the Pens chant kept going. I doubt it sounded that loud on TV, but in the rink, it was disheartening. It didn't get loud until Ericsson scored.
Everyone stood for the last few minutes. Details are fuzzy now. Detroit had some good chances, Kronwall ringing it off the bar stands out. Although at the game, not having access to replays, I was surprised how quickly I'd forgotten about that and moved on to looking at the clock and seeing how much time Detroit had left. Fleury made a great save at the buzzer, and it was over. I made an abrupt decision. I left before the handshakes. Not something I'm really proud of after applauding how many Pens fans stayed for Game 6 last year when Detroit won. But at the same time, I think it's going to haunt me for a long time. Just thinking about it is miserable. All I see is Fleury making that last save, three zeroes on the clock, then a flash of white tearing towards the Pittsburgh net and a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach. Walking out, hearing the Penguins announced as 2009 Stanley Cup Champions -- I felt like collapsing. It felt like a dream, it felt like it shouldn't have been over yet.
It's not as though they don't deserve it. And it's not as though Crosby is as bad as everyone makes him out to be. I think with this playoff, Malkin is now the better player. I don't think Crosby is captain material, though there's not many standout candidates on Pittsburgh. I think he'll be great in five years, but he looked "very 21" a lot in this series. I didn't want to see him lift the Cup. And I didn't want to see the smug fucking look on Gary Bettman's face getting to hand the Cup to him, definitely more pleased than if Detroit won but not to the point where he rigged anything. The officiating was consistent. But I want to ask if anyone else feels they'd let a lot go if it was Detroit/Carolina. But anyway, I heard Bettman's weasel eyes lit up when he passed the Cup to Jesus H. Crosby. But I haven't seen it yet. I'm going to go as long as I can without seeing it. Not because I'm bitter (but I am), but because that's going to be the image in every single NHL/NBC/Versus ad for all of next season, and likely seasons beyond that even if Pittsburgh doesn't repeat. The Golden Boy won. What now? Are people going to watch hockey now, Gary? Or will fewer watch, because Crosby winning at 21 is like a movie ending in it's third scene?
But the tease. These problems that Detroit had, the small things like breaking the puck out, turning it over in the neutral zone, general defensive awareness and giving up odd man rushes, poor line changes, were things that were noticed all year long. No team is perfect, but this team was definitely frustrating and anyone can tell you that. After dominating most of last season without an issue, the addition of Hossa this season provided mouth-watering possibilities. Those levels were never reached. Sure they won 50 games and scored 270-some goals and won 15 playoff games. But there were very few A-game efforts. There were very few games that came close to the level of play we saw throughout the 2007-08 season. They would do it once, so you'd figure "hey, they must be rounding a corner." Then they drop three straight. They win two straight, with 20-minute efforts and you say "well, they could play better, but at least they're winning."
That feeling never went away. The playoffs, on average, saw a much higher level of play. But the Finals saw them outplayed in most games, but that having no effect on who actually won the game. This game would have been the imperfect capper to such an inconsistent season. A 20-minute effort in a Game 7. They tried it. Didn't work. Still a successful season, but its an additional reason to be bitter. This was my first full season blogging and really reading other blogs and paying attention to their comments. They won 50 games, but I think everyone will tell you this team was a hell of a lot different from the 2007-08 team, and it wasn't just because they didn't have Dallas Drake.
This one stings. I can't write much else about it right now. If I feel better in the morning (i.e. sometime around nightfall when I decide to get out of bed), I might. But this ended up being longer than I expected. I don't know how to deal with this. I'm proud of the team. But I'm soured by the fact that they could have played so much better. I can't forgive and move on to next year yet. Many of these problems were things that occurred all season and were never fixed.
Anyway, I didn't think I'd be able to write tonight. But it's helped me feel a little better. I think I would be much more torn up if they didn't win last year. I'm not entirely ready to look forward to next season yet, because we'll be weaker. But just slightly. Two out of three isn't bad. There's a lot to figure out before then. Sometime over the weekend I might throw together some offseason scenarios, but no promises. Some semi-insignificant site news coming in the future. Draft preview on the table. We'll see. Throw out other ideas for the offseason. Should be an interesting one, I hope to be able to keep this place pretty active.
Go Wings is a little hard to get out right now and a little cliche. The kicker to this post, should be one thing, and one thing only:
OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE!
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Pittsburgh played very well tonight. But Detroit only played well in the first and last 7/8 minutes. They were their own undoing. But again, Pittsburgh played well, you can't say Detroit would have won. Pittsburgh wouldn't have sat back so early in the game if Detroit wasn't having such problems bringing it over the blueline. But in terms of Game 7 urgency, only one team and Henrik Zetterberg showed any of it.
I'm very upset with a few players in particular. Johan Franzen was pretty bad all Finals long but I feel like he's even worse in person. He has no urgency away from the puck. He, and Dan Cleary each had the same thing happen. They had been either knocked down or held up in the Pittsburgh zone, while Pittsburgh went to dump it in and change. Then they slowly got up and made their way to the Detroit bench. However, the Detroit defenders moved the puck out of their own zone so quickly, that both Franzen and Cleary were still offsides when Detroit brought it back in. It's just that kind of urgency. You don't have to sprint to the bench, but you have to get off the ice at some point. At the very least make it an effort to clear the zone, then you can glide to the bench (you are on ice, you know).
Tomas Holmstrom was awful all playoff and even more tonight. At the same time, I've gotta frown at Babcock for putting this guy out there in the waning minutes. Yeah, he's still a good screen even when he isn't getting his stick on it, but he was just so stupid with the puck all playoff long. Obviously, he's never been a skilled guy but he can usually get rid of the puck if his linemate accidentally gave it to him, but all series long it was missed simple passes and turnovers. It's just brutal to watch. But what did he do deserving of ice time at the end of the game like that? Hossa can stand in front of the net if you tell him to. It's not like he was going to touch a puck either. Holmstrom's quickly falling into the doghouse now, I can't imagine next season will be too pleasent if he keeps scoring at his playoff rate.
Samuelsson was just retarded today. It's either going to be the perfect send off to the end of his tenure as a Red Wing or the perfect final picture of him from this season that's going to send me into a rage when he's re-signed.
Kronwall, Rafalski, and, to a lesser extent, Lebda, are all in the same boat. They can look like great defensemen capable of outstanding offensive totals and solid defensive play, or they can look lost as they spin around with a puck in between their feet. I don't know how the ice was, but it looked bad. I'm not really a scientist or smart person in the least but I know they always say that changes in humidity are what makes for bad ice, and it rained yesterday before being warm today, so I'm going to assume it was as bad as it looks. But all three of these guys had awful times keeping the puck in, keeping their passes flat, and just generally carrying it up ice without something terrible happening.
Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Hudler, Hossa. File under: Too cute. You don't pass up open shots in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Specifically, Hossa. I tried, buddy. I pulled people's attention to the fact that even when you're not scoring, you're a good two-way player. But I just don't know what happened. Hossa just constantly got himself into trouble in the offensive zone. He flubbed like every strong shot he had. He ran into Datsyuk on a backcheck. He fell near the bench when no one was near him. He either tried to rag the puck through 4 people or he'd dump it in on a 3-on-2. Not happy. He looked like he'd explode offensively eventually. He didn't. I don't think he's too well-liked in Detroit right now. And I don't know if I want him back next season, he became too much of a rallying point and a distraction. He became a reason on his own for people to root against Detroit, and as we all know, there are no shortages of reasons to root against Detroit. But I don't know that I don't want him back either. More on that another day.
What else? I don't know. Zetterberg was the only guy busting his ass out there. Ericsson wasn't terrible I guess -- he tied for 6th on the team in playoff goals. Helm I didn't notice that much, so that's probably good and bad. Stuart had a giveaway that is making everyone call for his head, but they forget that he was levels above Kronwall and Rafalski for almost the entire playoffs.
It hasn't entirely set in yet. I keep using the wrong tense, i.e. "Holmstrom has been terrible all series" instead of "Holmstrom was terrible." I'm sure there's still a few errors, and I'm sure this will be much worse when I start using past tense without thinking about it. I won't go into too much detail about being there because it makes me feel awful. The first period was exciting and electric. The Wings dominated until the Stuart penalty. Life was good. But after the two goals in the second, the building was lifeless. I sat hunched forward with my chin resting on my hand for almost the whole time. I couldn't bring myself to do every chant. I felt hopeless, but at the same time, it was sad. A large group of Pens fans sat a few rows behind us. They started a bunch of Lets Go Pens chants. In the first period, those were easily drowned out with "Lets Go Wings". In the second, they started, but quickly died off as the Pens chant kept going. I doubt it sounded that loud on TV, but in the rink, it was disheartening. It didn't get loud until Ericsson scored.
Everyone stood for the last few minutes. Details are fuzzy now. Detroit had some good chances, Kronwall ringing it off the bar stands out. Although at the game, not having access to replays, I was surprised how quickly I'd forgotten about that and moved on to looking at the clock and seeing how much time Detroit had left. Fleury made a great save at the buzzer, and it was over. I made an abrupt decision. I left before the handshakes. Not something I'm really proud of after applauding how many Pens fans stayed for Game 6 last year when Detroit won. But at the same time, I think it's going to haunt me for a long time. Just thinking about it is miserable. All I see is Fleury making that last save, three zeroes on the clock, then a flash of white tearing towards the Pittsburgh net and a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach. Walking out, hearing the Penguins announced as 2009 Stanley Cup Champions -- I felt like collapsing. It felt like a dream, it felt like it shouldn't have been over yet.
It's not as though they don't deserve it. And it's not as though Crosby is as bad as everyone makes him out to be. I think with this playoff, Malkin is now the better player. I don't think Crosby is captain material, though there's not many standout candidates on Pittsburgh. I think he'll be great in five years, but he looked "very 21" a lot in this series. I didn't want to see him lift the Cup. And I didn't want to see the smug fucking look on Gary Bettman's face getting to hand the Cup to him, definitely more pleased than if Detroit won but not to the point where he rigged anything. The officiating was consistent. But I want to ask if anyone else feels they'd let a lot go if it was Detroit/Carolina. But anyway, I heard Bettman's weasel eyes lit up when he passed the Cup to Jesus H. Crosby. But I haven't seen it yet. I'm going to go as long as I can without seeing it. Not because I'm bitter (but I am), but because that's going to be the image in every single NHL/NBC/Versus ad for all of next season, and likely seasons beyond that even if Pittsburgh doesn't repeat. The Golden Boy won. What now? Are people going to watch hockey now, Gary? Or will fewer watch, because Crosby winning at 21 is like a movie ending in it's third scene?
But the tease. These problems that Detroit had, the small things like breaking the puck out, turning it over in the neutral zone, general defensive awareness and giving up odd man rushes, poor line changes, were things that were noticed all year long. No team is perfect, but this team was definitely frustrating and anyone can tell you that. After dominating most of last season without an issue, the addition of Hossa this season provided mouth-watering possibilities. Those levels were never reached. Sure they won 50 games and scored 270-some goals and won 15 playoff games. But there were very few A-game efforts. There were very few games that came close to the level of play we saw throughout the 2007-08 season. They would do it once, so you'd figure "hey, they must be rounding a corner." Then they drop three straight. They win two straight, with 20-minute efforts and you say "well, they could play better, but at least they're winning."
That feeling never went away. The playoffs, on average, saw a much higher level of play. But the Finals saw them outplayed in most games, but that having no effect on who actually won the game. This game would have been the imperfect capper to such an inconsistent season. A 20-minute effort in a Game 7. They tried it. Didn't work. Still a successful season, but its an additional reason to be bitter. This was my first full season blogging and really reading other blogs and paying attention to their comments. They won 50 games, but I think everyone will tell you this team was a hell of a lot different from the 2007-08 team, and it wasn't just because they didn't have Dallas Drake.
This one stings. I can't write much else about it right now. If I feel better in the morning (i.e. sometime around nightfall when I decide to get out of bed), I might. But this ended up being longer than I expected. I don't know how to deal with this. I'm proud of the team. But I'm soured by the fact that they could have played so much better. I can't forgive and move on to next year yet. Many of these problems were things that occurred all season and were never fixed.
Anyway, I didn't think I'd be able to write tonight. But it's helped me feel a little better. I think I would be much more torn up if they didn't win last year. I'm not entirely ready to look forward to next season yet, because we'll be weaker. But just slightly. Two out of three isn't bad. There's a lot to figure out before then. Sometime over the weekend I might throw together some offseason scenarios, but no promises. Some semi-insignificant site news coming in the future. Draft preview on the table. We'll see. Throw out other ideas for the offseason. Should be an interesting one, I hope to be able to keep this place pretty active.
Go Wings is a little hard to get out right now and a little cliche. The kicker to this post, should be one thing, and one thing only:
OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE!
Friday, June 12, 2009
I'm going to throw up at some point tonight
Not sure when.
As possibly some of you may perhaps be presently and currently aware of, I have tickets to Game 7.
I am still going.
I am leaving in an hour.
I feel miserable. I have tremendous confidence that this team will get it done. But I don't expect Pittsburgh to go quietly. No 5-0s, though I would enjoy it. I'm going to be wrapped up into this one, and before I can blink, either Nicklas Lidstrom or Sidney Crosby will be lifting the Cup. One of those options is just much more nauseating than the other.
No screw ups tonight. Cannot afford it. Game 7s are all about those game-changing mistakes.
And whoever the first player to knock Crosby on his ass is will be my new favorite player. Even if it's Mikael Samuelsson. No jokes.
If I get thrown in jail, killed in a riot, or shanked by a "6'3, 3 bills" Penguins fan, I just want you all to know: it's been a pleasure to have some great activity and discussion during these playoffs. It's been real.
See you on the other side, gentlemen.
As possibly some of you may perhaps be presently and currently aware of, I have tickets to Game 7.
I am still going.
I am leaving in an hour.
I feel miserable. I have tremendous confidence that this team will get it done. But I don't expect Pittsburgh to go quietly. No 5-0s, though I would enjoy it. I'm going to be wrapped up into this one, and before I can blink, either Nicklas Lidstrom or Sidney Crosby will be lifting the Cup. One of those options is just much more nauseating than the other.
No screw ups tonight. Cannot afford it. Game 7s are all about those game-changing mistakes.
And whoever the first player to knock Crosby on his ass is will be my new favorite player. Even if it's Mikael Samuelsson. No jokes.
If I get thrown in jail, killed in a riot, or shanked by a "6'3, 3 bills" Penguins fan, I just want you all to know: it's been a pleasure to have some great activity and discussion during these playoffs. It's been real.
See you on the other side, gentlemen.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
One more.
Wow.
What an experience. I got downtown really early to scope out the atmosphere, deciding along the way I was going to be hostile to any Pens fans I happened across, the first being one wearing an Ulf Samuelsson jersey. I wasn't out to start a fight, and I'm all for visiting fans coming out to make something interesting, but I was amped up for this game and I wasn't about to let a sea of Crosby and Malkin jerseys make me any more nervous before the beginning of this one.
Ended up eating at some dive bar that was crawling with them. The meal was interrupted frequently by fans of both sides starting chants before the game. Hours before the game. With a few TVs playing Game 7 from 2002 Detroit/Colorado. Wings fans cheered every goal as if they'd just happened. A few pre-game drunks made violent passes at each other. Nothing big, but it got me going.
We made our way to our seats and our section was crawling with Pens fans. It was over an hour before the puck drop, but in the upper bowl in our corner, Pens fans nearly outnumbered Wings fans. I was worried, I don't like being near the enemy. But I figured since they were coming for Pittsburgh, they would be there early, and Wings fans would filter into the empty seats. They did. Not before a few "Let's go Pens" chants from the early-arrivers, and their subsequent criticism of Wings fans for not chanting back. "Get it all out before the game, because Datsyuk's playing today," I warned.
The warmup freaked me out a bit. As usual, I watched the 3-on-2 drills to figure out Detroit's line combos. Datsyuk was in but the lines weren't too consistent, Cleary rotated in on a bunch of lines. Cleary and Datsyuk left the practice early, and for some reason I didn't see Rafalski out there at all. Leino and Abdelkader were, and Chelios too, for the last couple drills, so I was terrified at the thought of that lineup going into the game today. I guess my eyes just weren't sharp enough, because all three players in question played, and ironically, all picked up a point on the first goal.
After having a beer spilled all over my leg by this guy, who I had seen days before on Puck Daddy's Jersey Fouls, but he turned out to be a stand up guy and knowledgeable fan, unlike the degenerates in the section over who tried to start "Red Wings suck" chants all game. I didn't approve of the "Crosby sucks" chants later in the game, but the taste of dejection floating my way filled up my self-satisfaction meter to dangerous levels.
They went quiet pretty quickly. They all left early. I wished them a safe drive. Or maybe I laughed in their faces. It's all so hazy. Nah, I kept it classy, but on the inside I was standing up on the row in front of them and screaming in their faces.
On to the game.
Pavel Datsyuk.. you tease. How dare you? Why would you put everyone through this? It was obvious in the warmup which foot he was favoring, and he stumbled on it several times throughout the game as well. He couldn't accelerate like he wanted to. But this is a guy who is still the best player on the ice almost every shift. He controlled the play, did magical things with the puck, threw his weight around, and made some hilariously easy-looking steals. He is the reason I am actually confident Detroit can wrap this up in six.
Everyone was much better tonight, I can't single out any stars. But Chris Osgood once again silencing doubters which a shutout in possibly the most crucial game of the playoffs.. well, it feels good. He really only saw difficult shots in the first period, but at some point in the second I decided there was no way he was letting up a goal today. Because that's how he rolls.
Hossa was better tonight. He needs to handle the puck less along the boards, because he's started to get himself trapped. I would not be surprised to learn that he has a hand/wrist injury. Something's wrong with his release and he's been pushing the puck ahead of him a lot more often than handling it. But he hit a post tonight and had his best chance of the series in the third only to find himself makin a move too close to the net. Oh well. I have faith that he'll show up for Game 6. Even if he doesn't score, what better feeling for him than lifting the Cup in front of everyone that's been booing him.
I could see a lot of Pittsburgh fans writing this one off and complaining about the officiating. But honestly, those weren't even borderline calls -- those were stupid. Kunitz's goalie interference was weak, but that's a call that would certainly go both ways. Everything else was stupid. Kunitz trying to fight Darren Helm of all people, Malkin going high on Franzen, Crosby two-handing Zetterberg, Talbot obstructing/tripping/slashing on Datsyuk, conveniently, on the bad foot. It's a lack of discipline and a sign of inexperience. They're going to want to come out physical or Game 6, but if they continue with this stuff, it's going to be a quick game.
Malkin absolutely took the night off. Six penalty minutes and one shot. It wasn't even Datsyuk -- he went against Hossa/Filppula all night again (with Cleary/Franzen rotating in and out). He seemed preoccupied with starting stuff after the whistle, mostly on Filppula. I don't know why teams think this type of thing works on Detroit. Overall, this series has made me feel like he's a better player than Crosby, because the best players don't get shut down. But he's worse when he takes the night off. Crosby is just too easy to frustrate. Pittsburgh doesn't have the depth for these two to take the night off and it showed. And they don't have the leadership to win this series if both their stars, wearing the C and the A, are more worried about the post-whistle junk than commanding the team. Lead by example.
No Game 7. I have the ticket, and I'd love the thrill, but just win the thing. This team is too good to look good losing. A loss will only upset me to the point of no return. I don't think I'd survive the drive to the Joe.
If Detroit plays like this on Tuesday, we'll be seeing #12. One more for one more. Go Wings.
What an experience. I got downtown really early to scope out the atmosphere, deciding along the way I was going to be hostile to any Pens fans I happened across, the first being one wearing an Ulf Samuelsson jersey. I wasn't out to start a fight, and I'm all for visiting fans coming out to make something interesting, but I was amped up for this game and I wasn't about to let a sea of Crosby and Malkin jerseys make me any more nervous before the beginning of this one.
Ended up eating at some dive bar that was crawling with them. The meal was interrupted frequently by fans of both sides starting chants before the game. Hours before the game. With a few TVs playing Game 7 from 2002 Detroit/Colorado. Wings fans cheered every goal as if they'd just happened. A few pre-game drunks made violent passes at each other. Nothing big, but it got me going.
We made our way to our seats and our section was crawling with Pens fans. It was over an hour before the puck drop, but in the upper bowl in our corner, Pens fans nearly outnumbered Wings fans. I was worried, I don't like being near the enemy. But I figured since they were coming for Pittsburgh, they would be there early, and Wings fans would filter into the empty seats. They did. Not before a few "Let's go Pens" chants from the early-arrivers, and their subsequent criticism of Wings fans for not chanting back. "Get it all out before the game, because Datsyuk's playing today," I warned.
The warmup freaked me out a bit. As usual, I watched the 3-on-2 drills to figure out Detroit's line combos. Datsyuk was in but the lines weren't too consistent, Cleary rotated in on a bunch of lines. Cleary and Datsyuk left the practice early, and for some reason I didn't see Rafalski out there at all. Leino and Abdelkader were, and Chelios too, for the last couple drills, so I was terrified at the thought of that lineup going into the game today. I guess my eyes just weren't sharp enough, because all three players in question played, and ironically, all picked up a point on the first goal.
After having a beer spilled all over my leg by this guy, who I had seen days before on Puck Daddy's Jersey Fouls, but he turned out to be a stand up guy and knowledgeable fan, unlike the degenerates in the section over who tried to start "Red Wings suck" chants all game. I didn't approve of the "Crosby sucks" chants later in the game, but the taste of dejection floating my way filled up my self-satisfaction meter to dangerous levels.
They went quiet pretty quickly. They all left early. I wished them a safe drive. Or maybe I laughed in their faces. It's all so hazy. Nah, I kept it classy, but on the inside I was standing up on the row in front of them and screaming in their faces.
On to the game.
Pavel Datsyuk.. you tease. How dare you? Why would you put everyone through this? It was obvious in the warmup which foot he was favoring, and he stumbled on it several times throughout the game as well. He couldn't accelerate like he wanted to. But this is a guy who is still the best player on the ice almost every shift. He controlled the play, did magical things with the puck, threw his weight around, and made some hilariously easy-looking steals. He is the reason I am actually confident Detroit can wrap this up in six.
Everyone was much better tonight, I can't single out any stars. But Chris Osgood once again silencing doubters which a shutout in possibly the most crucial game of the playoffs.. well, it feels good. He really only saw difficult shots in the first period, but at some point in the second I decided there was no way he was letting up a goal today. Because that's how he rolls.
Hossa was better tonight. He needs to handle the puck less along the boards, because he's started to get himself trapped. I would not be surprised to learn that he has a hand/wrist injury. Something's wrong with his release and he's been pushing the puck ahead of him a lot more often than handling it. But he hit a post tonight and had his best chance of the series in the third only to find himself makin a move too close to the net. Oh well. I have faith that he'll show up for Game 6. Even if he doesn't score, what better feeling for him than lifting the Cup in front of everyone that's been booing him.
I could see a lot of Pittsburgh fans writing this one off and complaining about the officiating. But honestly, those weren't even borderline calls -- those were stupid. Kunitz's goalie interference was weak, but that's a call that would certainly go both ways. Everything else was stupid. Kunitz trying to fight Darren Helm of all people, Malkin going high on Franzen, Crosby two-handing Zetterberg, Talbot obstructing/tripping/slashing on Datsyuk, conveniently, on the bad foot. It's a lack of discipline and a sign of inexperience. They're going to want to come out physical or Game 6, but if they continue with this stuff, it's going to be a quick game.
Malkin absolutely took the night off. Six penalty minutes and one shot. It wasn't even Datsyuk -- he went against Hossa/Filppula all night again (with Cleary/Franzen rotating in and out). He seemed preoccupied with starting stuff after the whistle, mostly on Filppula. I don't know why teams think this type of thing works on Detroit. Overall, this series has made me feel like he's a better player than Crosby, because the best players don't get shut down. But he's worse when he takes the night off. Crosby is just too easy to frustrate. Pittsburgh doesn't have the depth for these two to take the night off and it showed. And they don't have the leadership to win this series if both their stars, wearing the C and the A, are more worried about the post-whistle junk than commanding the team. Lead by example.
No Game 7. I have the ticket, and I'd love the thrill, but just win the thing. This team is too good to look good losing. A loss will only upset me to the point of no return. I don't think I'd survive the drive to the Joe.
If Detroit plays like this on Tuesday, we'll be seeing #12. One more for one more. Go Wings.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Clarity
I am headed out the door within an hour for my first ever Stanley Cup Finals game.
And I'm at peace. When I'm too pissed off to make fun of bad players like Rafalski, you know the loss hurt. But it's 2-2. It's a best-of-three series and, worst case scenario, the Wings have two games at home.
I listened to Mike Babcock's off-day comments last night, and I couldn't have felt any better. The guy knows what he's doing. He picked up on some brilliant things and said most of the team reviewed some video/photos of when they're forcing passes. That's the biggest thing to me. This team is too skilled to have to saucer a pass through four sets of legs. There's gotta be someone else open. Patience.
Very few Wings skated yesterday. Tired? Fatigued? Please, tell me that the Pens aren't. I'm sure they're tired, but they're not burnt. The media is having a field day. Crosby's closer to the Cup right now than he'll be for the rest of the series. Everyone thinks the Staal goal changed the series. How do you know that? It's just mindless predictions. Detroit is too veteran of a team to dwell on that. It takes a few minutes to shake off, which is why that goal set off an onslaught of three. How often does that happen to Detroit? It won't happen again.
Pittsburgh thinks they've worn Detroit down. They think they've finally proven to themselves that Detroit is beatable. Really? You didn't believe that going in? It's just part of the mind-games that go on. For their sake though, a team with still very little experience, they shouldn't dwell on what they've accomplished too much because as of right now, both teams have accomplished the exact same thing. Pittsburgh just did it more recently, in their own building.
Babcock is confident. I can't find a link to the presser anymore because NHL.com sucks, but if you'd care to, search for the "Off-Day Interview." The man is brilliant. He's confident with a smirk that slaps you in the face with smug. But he's right. He believes that this team can do it and he has no reason not to. "I'm a big believer in us," he says.
Me too. This is it. Wings fans are spoiled. The ones calling for Hossa's head in the offseason and writing the team off -- fuck 'em. We've been blessed with four Stanley Cups in recent history and we've been fortunate that they've come 4-0, 4-0, 4-1, and 4-2. In those series, we've only had a series tie once, which was the 1-1 tie after the first two games of the '02 Carolina series. 2-2 seems unfamiliar. It seems like it's the worst we've ever done. It's fine. We just have to pick our game up to the next level.
Datsyuk's coming back. Pavel Datsyuk. Hart Trophy candidate. We'd watching the parade right now if Pittsburgh didn't have their Hart Trophy candidate. Absolutely, Malkin has completely outplayed the field all playoffs long. Datsyuk doesn't have much to show for his effort. But that's a hell of a hole in the lineup. Like Babcock says, that's a guy that's going to have the puck for the majority of his 21 minutes. He slows the game down and forces everyone to play at his pace. Unlike Hossa, he can get stuff done along the boards without moving his feet.
He's ready. He's hungry. He's pissed. He's pissed that he was held out of Game 4. He's pissed that it's the playoffs and the doctors wouldn't let him play through it. This is his team. He's part of the elite group of players on one of the elite franchises in NHL history. This relfects on him. He doesn't want to be part of the group that gave Sidney his first Cup. People will look back, "Wow, Crosby beat that Detroit team when he was 21," they'll say, "that team was stacked." Not gonna happen, not if Pavel has anything to do with it.
He won't be 100%. But he'll be a lot better than most of the players on the ice. He'll pick Malkin's pocket the next time he oafs his way over Detroit's blueline. He'll give Crosby the shoulder right in the chops if he's going to continue to drape himself all over a Wing in the defensive zone. Datsyuk will find something for Crosby to complain about.
Osgood is about to play the game of his life. After the media verbally fellated him following the first two games, talking HOF and Canada 2010, Pittsburgh didn't have too much trouble putting it past him. He doesn't care, he doesn't dwell on those things anymore. These are the games where he shines the brightest. As if to say "you shut your whore mouth", in his usual polite yet honest tone, to the media and each and every fan out there doubting him after he was the Wings' greatest thing going after the first three rounds.
I believe in this team. People will look back in ten years and say, "well, of course they won the Cup with that lineup." Even over Pittsburgh. They just don't have this depth. They don't have this skill, and they don't have this drive. And they don't have the players who lost a series they should have won. Detroit has that. It's going to be all business tonight.
Go Wings.
And I'm at peace. When I'm too pissed off to make fun of bad players like Rafalski, you know the loss hurt. But it's 2-2. It's a best-of-three series and, worst case scenario, the Wings have two games at home.
I listened to Mike Babcock's off-day comments last night, and I couldn't have felt any better. The guy knows what he's doing. He picked up on some brilliant things and said most of the team reviewed some video/photos of when they're forcing passes. That's the biggest thing to me. This team is too skilled to have to saucer a pass through four sets of legs. There's gotta be someone else open. Patience.
Very few Wings skated yesterday. Tired? Fatigued? Please, tell me that the Pens aren't. I'm sure they're tired, but they're not burnt. The media is having a field day. Crosby's closer to the Cup right now than he'll be for the rest of the series. Everyone thinks the Staal goal changed the series. How do you know that? It's just mindless predictions. Detroit is too veteran of a team to dwell on that. It takes a few minutes to shake off, which is why that goal set off an onslaught of three. How often does that happen to Detroit? It won't happen again.
Pittsburgh thinks they've worn Detroit down. They think they've finally proven to themselves that Detroit is beatable. Really? You didn't believe that going in? It's just part of the mind-games that go on. For their sake though, a team with still very little experience, they shouldn't dwell on what they've accomplished too much because as of right now, both teams have accomplished the exact same thing. Pittsburgh just did it more recently, in their own building.
Babcock is confident. I can't find a link to the presser anymore because NHL.com sucks, but if you'd care to, search for the "Off-Day Interview." The man is brilliant. He's confident with a smirk that slaps you in the face with smug. But he's right. He believes that this team can do it and he has no reason not to. "I'm a big believer in us," he says.
Me too. This is it. Wings fans are spoiled. The ones calling for Hossa's head in the offseason and writing the team off -- fuck 'em. We've been blessed with four Stanley Cups in recent history and we've been fortunate that they've come 4-0, 4-0, 4-1, and 4-2. In those series, we've only had a series tie once, which was the 1-1 tie after the first two games of the '02 Carolina series. 2-2 seems unfamiliar. It seems like it's the worst we've ever done. It's fine. We just have to pick our game up to the next level.
Datsyuk's coming back. Pavel Datsyuk. Hart Trophy candidate. We'd watching the parade right now if Pittsburgh didn't have their Hart Trophy candidate. Absolutely, Malkin has completely outplayed the field all playoffs long. Datsyuk doesn't have much to show for his effort. But that's a hell of a hole in the lineup. Like Babcock says, that's a guy that's going to have the puck for the majority of his 21 minutes. He slows the game down and forces everyone to play at his pace. Unlike Hossa, he can get stuff done along the boards without moving his feet.
He's ready. He's hungry. He's pissed. He's pissed that he was held out of Game 4. He's pissed that it's the playoffs and the doctors wouldn't let him play through it. This is his team. He's part of the elite group of players on one of the elite franchises in NHL history. This relfects on him. He doesn't want to be part of the group that gave Sidney his first Cup. People will look back, "Wow, Crosby beat that Detroit team when he was 21," they'll say, "that team was stacked." Not gonna happen, not if Pavel has anything to do with it.
He won't be 100%. But he'll be a lot better than most of the players on the ice. He'll pick Malkin's pocket the next time he oafs his way over Detroit's blueline. He'll give Crosby the shoulder right in the chops if he's going to continue to drape himself all over a Wing in the defensive zone. Datsyuk will find something for Crosby to complain about.
Osgood is about to play the game of his life. After the media verbally fellated him following the first two games, talking HOF and Canada 2010, Pittsburgh didn't have too much trouble putting it past him. He doesn't care, he doesn't dwell on those things anymore. These are the games where he shines the brightest. As if to say "you shut your whore mouth", in his usual polite yet honest tone, to the media and each and every fan out there doubting him after he was the Wings' greatest thing going after the first three rounds.
I believe in this team. People will look back in ten years and say, "well, of course they won the Cup with that lineup." Even over Pittsburgh. They just don't have this depth. They don't have this skill, and they don't have this drive. And they don't have the players who lost a series they should have won. Detroit has that. It's going to be all business tonight.
Go Wings.
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