That is all.
Well, its all I’d like to write, and its all I have time to write these days, but frankly, I feel like I ought to explain myself.
First, I apologize for my uncharacteristic silence. I have not abandoned my team or you. I have had to refocus my energy into two things:
- My job, which has been hella busy; Why do people have to bug me during Playoff season?? Can’t we reserve crises until after the Cup???
- Some work on my book, as requested by the publishing powers that be. (Sorry all you know I have been determined to get it published.)
Ok second, I apologize that this post will be a bit disjointed, unorganized, but as I mentioned: swamped.
Today we will all watch Game 3 of the 2010 NHL Western Conference Semi-finals between my Beloved Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks, and I haven’t uttered a word about the series I fear the most.
As you know, Wings are down in this series, after two hard fought games decided by neglectful officiating and uncharacteristic penalties. For the Wings, its looking like we need to find a way to either get the officials some “sexy specs” (thanks Kristie Jo for that awesome blast from the past) or call Dr. Ramani in to perform some emergency lasik surgery on the refs. The last time I saw officiating this awful (and yes I am remembering last year’s WC final series against the Thucks) was in the 2008 WC final against Dallas
I don’t blame the Sharks for most of our penalties, although I do think for the first time ever I am witnessing a rise in the incidence of shark diving. I have always heard that Nabby was a diver, but I never really believed it. Anyway, no matter, because the bottom line is this: Overcoming adversity, in any form, is what makes the Detroit Red Wings perpetually successful.
The problem this time is that we do have to be careful about sloppy penalties, because like the Wings, the Sharks will make you pay and that is exactly what they are doing.
A Wings-San Jose series is one I have both longed for and feared for three years. You see, I have watched this SJ franchise meticulously model itself after The DRW franchise for the past 4 years with pride and fear. They have built a phenomenal program and throughout the regular season they are truly my second favorite team in the league- because their puck possession style is so successful.
And as you know my perfect hockey world is one where the game is played so furiously fast and skilled that fighting, brutal injurious body checks and head shots are a faded memory of a stereotypical past. In my dream NHL everyone plays like Pavel Datsyuk.
But SJ’s talent and style- because let’s face it, you can’t play successful puck possession hockey without a good degree of talent- are also the very reason to fear them.
Last year, I literally jumped for joy when SJ drew a first round match up against the Thucks. Oh I honestly thought they’d prevail in 7, but as any good Wing fan knows, you don’t get past the Anaheim Thucks in the playoffs without significant casualty. There is a price to pay. I was confident that even if SJ prevailed over the Thucks, they would be so battered, broken and bruised that they would be a shell of their talented selves. I was Ok with that, as long as someone ELSE took the Thucks out.
And of course when they failed to defeat the Thucks, I was mad. Pissed, hugely torked. I held that grudge for a long time, especially embittered when my Wings had to then finish the job. And you see how that cost us.
I still hold a grudge against SJ for failing to make it to the second round in 2009.
I still hold a grudge against SJ for failing to make it to the second round in 2009.
But I also knew that the 2009 Sharks was a far better team than such a record shows. And again this year, they are, if anything, tighter, stronger, more cohesive.
And that is why I fear this series so much. Two teams playing the exact same style of game, both arguably the best in the league at their game. It’s a nightmare for a Wings fan.
Noooooooo I don’t think they are better at our game than us. And I fart in the general direction of the silly English “Kah-nigghets” who think the Wings are on the decline, or pull that lazy “Wings are old” jibe out. For the record, the average age of the Detroit Red Wings is 29 years. The average age of the SJ Sharks is 27. So let that one go homers.
Truly, this is the closest matched series the Wings have been in since the late 1990’s. And if you recall correctly, in the late 1990’s, it wasn’t our star players who kept us alive, it was a grinder or two and some amazing goaltending. (which is why we better shut Joe Pavaleski and the gooch down tonight.) I think we still have more talent in Z and D and Filps than their Marleau, Thornton
Game to game, I don’t know who will prevail as the final minutes of each game of this series ticks down, and if you think you know- you are mistaken.
The Sharks are hungry, hungrier than they have ever been, and frankly if they cash out again in the second round, I think it might break their spirit. I think they will be digging deep deep down into the depths of their souls, hearts and talent this time. If they find a way to stop doubting themselves (and it looks like they are doing just that) then we will be facing a confidence no one in the league is used to.
The Wings are, well the Mothra Fokking Detroit Red Wings, 11 time Stanley Cup Champs, 19 seasons in the playoffs. The behemoth RWO- Red World Order ( or- if you must: the Red Wing Organization) that everyone should always fear. Living and breathing for the playoff season. We are doing everything we always do, as well as we usually do it. Jimmy Howard is utterly amazing me with his poise, heart, and talent and really his rookie status was the only question. Asked and Answered. Next? Ahh yes. Pasha and Z, Filps, Dan Cleary, B-Raf, Abs, Kronner, and – of course- HOMER, all stepping it up and following the Perfect Captain’s lead. I don’t fault my team, I don’t think they are doing anything wrong, in fact I have been swooning with joy over the drive and skip in their step that I see from buzzer to buzzer, end to end. I haven’t even bitched at Ericsson, in this series. So far. (Don't get me started on the Phoenix series. and yea I am tough on the youngins- cripes this is his third payoff year. snap out of it. Mo Mistakes)
I see the heart, drive, intensity and desire. I see how hard we are working in the corners, and the face offs, shooting. Our Power Plays and Kills are better. The way the Wings have taken their energy, confidence, focus and- for our youngins- talent, and kicked it up at least a couple notches since Phoenix
These really do go to Eleven.
Everyone’s heart and soul are in it. And I love my Wings for it.
But SJ is better than they were last year, and if you want to argue about their tepid faulty 1st round performance, If you want to mock Nabby when he gets lazy (as he does) or Big Joe T- who has not lived up to his nickname, then I just want to remind you of a similar first round in 2008, a certain Red Wing team against Nashville, who didn’t get their poop in a group until Ozzie stepped on the Ice and lit the fire.
As long as these two teams continue to play at the level we have so far seen, this series will go to 7, and wont be decided until the final minute ticks down.
Ultimately, this is the best Sharks team that we have had to face- ever, and I am convinced that the series will go to the team that wants it just a little bit more than the other. And while I will never doubt the heart and drive of my Wings, I know SJ wants this just as bad.
And I can’t even hate them for it. Dammit- where is Claude le Pew when you need him? Oh yea, he left SJ in 2009 for a stint on “Skating with the Stars”.
Ahhhhhhhaaaaaahhhhaa. Ahem.
In the end the team that digs deeper, finds drive talent and heart that it didn’t even know it had will win the series.
So. Whoever wins this series - and it better be my Wings- better fokking win the Cup, or I am going to beat someone down.
I hate this, really I do.
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