Contains 100% Pure Juice and no High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Normally after a big Wings game I write my detailed edition of “The Good the Bad and the Ugly” and try to be funny and insightful…but I am sure there have been hundreds of Pens/Wings blogs talking about last nights game.. .so here is the “Concentrated Juice”- my thoughts upon waking up after that loss:
2012-An Ice Odyssey
It is not end of days, Doomsday, Armageddon, the Apocalypse or even the end of the Mayan Calendar. Its not a sign of anything. It was an exciting game. It was fun to watch. The Rapture Blondie? I think not.
Wings lost. Pens won. The better team, who wanted it more in the 3rd period clearly won. Wow, would you look at that, the earth didn’t open up and swallow me into fiery pits of hell…The Wicked Witch of the West hasn’t ridden in on her broom stick and demanded that I hand over my Larionov sweater.In fact the sun is shining, and it’s a gorgeous Malibu morning.
First Goal
Sid did exactly what any player with heart and a desire to set a tone and the will to win should do. He scored the first goal. I give him props, as Captain and (for the first time ever) for finally showing some character.
Officiating
I didn’t see the first period – damn work got in the way- but anyone crying about officiating in the 2nd, 3rd and OT is a fool, and should sit down, shut up and drink quietly from their sippy cup. The officials let a fast paced game run its course. True, Rafalski took a penalty for having someone else’s stick hook his bawls, but honestly, you ain’t a true Wings fan if you aren’t used to stupid game altering penalties by now. Red Wings play so as to over come whatever non existent penalty is called. That is what makes them champions even when Homer’s Butt is not in the crease.
Nico, Nic, Lids, Lids, The Captain
Two theories on the uncharacteristic mistakes and the sometimes “off” play of our Dear Cappy-tan:
First, my favorite. Its early in the season and Nick knows this and isn’t killing himself out there on the ice yet. I’m not questioning his character, in fact I’m lauding it. A captain killing himself and setting that tone 15 games into an 82 game season will have only himself to blame when the team exhausts itself by April. That said, this was a pretty important game, more on that later.
Second- either the eye or the Visor is really bothering him. That sucks, but if it’s the visor- that is a little odd. Plenty of guys play with one.
More importantly- “Lidstrom had two assists, giving him 949 career points to move past injured teammate Chris Chelios for ninth place among the highest scoring blue-liners in NHL history.” (nhl.com)
Embarrassment
It doesn’t happen often, but letting Staahl score a hat trick in our barn, in the scope of a single period? That is humiliating. And the second hat trick of the season against us? Frankly, We should have known. Someone should have been on the look out for Staahl. If you look at my “Good Bad and Ugly” playoff blogs from last year I talk about this kid not getting enough praise, but being all over the ice. Its as if the Red Wings aren’t even reading my blogs!!?!?!?!!! Srsly, tho’, watch for him. He’s the real deal.
One Minute of Play
If you’re a Wings fan and you weren’t having bone chilling sweat inducing paranoid flash backs as the clock ticked down to 60 seconds of regulation, you might be a dead cephalopod. I literally crawled onto the floor in front of the TV Watching that clock with 1:58 left in regulation thinking “Mothra Fauxer, I hate the last minute of play, especially those last 34 seconds”. Speaking of which…
The Chase is Always Better Than the Kill?
Look, I like a good game of chase as well as anyone boys, but if your gonna continue to do this, then you need to figure out how to win one against a good team once you let them back in it.
The Wings did what they always do. They go up a couple goals early and then settle in. Then they get bored and coast and zip zip zip, the other team comes back. I call this game: “Cat and Mouse –Wings Stylee”…flip the rodent a few times in the air, let it catch its feet and try to run again before you slap the paw down on its tail. I personally find it a bit exciting and fun. But it back fires, and has been back firing in crucial games this year. We really need to work our 6 on 5 drills. That is our weakest link.
I only expect my team to win a couple games this year: The Home Opener, anything I attend personally, and the SCF rematch. So far we are 1 for 2. And we lost what I considered a key game against the Sharks this year..so really 1 for 3, and you know how we lost those games?
In the last minute. Wings have let more games get tied up in the last minute of play this year than Zetter has goals. Ok not true but it sure feels that way. And never the less, the wings are letting teams catch up in the third. Letting 3 goals, in one period against a good team that clearly has something to prove, (as well as your number at home) is a complete inexcusable melt down in defense.
6 on 5, 6 on 5, 6 on 5- figure it out. Stop hovering around Ozzie, screening your own goalie and letting the other team cycle through their PP drills until the get a good shot.
Wow would you look at that, the sun is still shining and I have not been swallowed up by the earth. All of that could change later today when, due to this loss, I have to change my profile theme to penguin gold and photoshop my profile picture in a pens jersey- oh you know I’ll be diving or crying in this one…UGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.
Losing SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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