The Finals Really Suck So Far

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 6:51 AM MDT in News Comment 41 comments

Wingsscore_medium

Wow.

The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the Stanley Cup Finals as the underdogs to the Detroit Red Wings, sure, but nobody expected them to be so heavy on the "under."

With last night's shutout victory ---the second of the series---the Wings took a 2-0 series lead and have outscored the Penguins seven goals to none. Who would have believed that a team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa wouldn't be able to buy a goal after dominating their previous three playoff opponents?

And what happened to Marc-Andre Fleury? Is it time to call in Ty Conklin?

The good news for the Penguins is that they now head back home to Mellon Arena, where they haven't lost since February (no kidding). Also good news is that a 2-0 deficit is not nearly as tough to overcome as a 3-0 deficit.

But the odds are still against them.

I was in Pittsburgh this weekend (the Cubs lost in extra innings on both Saturday and Sunday, darn it), and I have to say the city has really come alive for the team. There are "Let's Go Pens " signs in every window downtown and half the jerseys worn at PNC Park were Penguins jerseys. That's dedication considering one of their primary colors is black and Sunday's game had direct sunlight for four hours. I hope the intensity that's sure to be present in the Mellon crowd for game 3 will propel the Penguins to a victory.

I'd hate to see the Wings get another Cup.

As for game threads, the one here for game 2 was most impressive, but I suggest everyone take the fun over to Pensburgh , the SB Nation Penguins blog. Frank D runs a great site and it's never been easier to join and comment on other blogs in the network, so help support hockey on SB Nation! Support Pensburgh and contribute to his game 3 open thread. His game 2 thread surpassed 100 comments, just like ours, so combining ours with his would make for quite a party.

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Or..

We could take over this one

But the poor misguided girl who runs that site seems nice enough.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on May 27, 2008 8:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

She’s written to Frank at Pensburgh a few times and is very polite. I’m still confused as to just what team she’s a fan of, because manners and Wings fans usually don’t mix…to understate the matter.

by JDunman on May 28, 2008 7:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I have a guy, who i even call a friend, who didn’t even rub it in too much after the Wings beat the Avs. I think it’s because I didn’t rub it in when tOSU beat his Michigan squad, but he was still polite about it

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on May 28, 2008 7:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a red wings fan who hasn’t started rubbing it in yet, could be cause he’s over east and haven’t spoken to him all year. I’m debating whether to ofer my congratulations to him or pretend the whole thing never happened.

by Savage33 on May 28, 2008 6:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

debating?

the choice is easy. Never speak to him again. He’s a red wings fan for crise sake.

by Bob in Boulder on May 28, 2008 6:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

that is one option i’m looking into.

by Savage33 on May 28, 2008 9:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually it gets worse

He decided to get a dead wings jersey with Lidstrom on it which i was fine with since Lidstrom’s not a tool but since were both scrubs fans he decided to follow Dr Cox’s advice, he ended up getting a Chelios jersey which caused a few problems when i saw him with it.

by Savage33 on May 28, 2008 9:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh. I vote never speak to him again.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 29, 2008 3:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually did a radio interview with her about the “Brawl In Hockeytown” anniversary last year for an NPR show and she (Christy) seemed both knowledgeable and friendly. I’m still curious how she became a Red Wings fan with traits like that.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 28, 2008 8:14 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The finals are making me very, very sad.

by JDunman on May 27, 2008 8:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

When are they going to start?

Booosh!!

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just enthralled

I can’t wait to see the unadulterated passion of tears and ecstasy when the Red Wings raise the cup. Bourque and Messier eat your hearts out. Just wait until you see Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datsyuk raise the sacred chalice. I fear it will be so emotional that Tyler Arnason might sob.

There’s no doubt this is a fantastic Red Wings team. But they remind me of the San Antonio Spurs, no one could like this team but a fan of that team. I suspect lifting the cup for most Red Wing players will be as exiting as storing their overhead luggage for a flight to Hawaii.

by Dario on May 27, 2008 9:10 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Eh

The players aren’t all that unlikable. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom. Even guys like Franzen and Cleary aren’t exactly McCarty and Hasek.

I realize those two are still on the team, but McCarty, Hasek, and Chelios play such a minor role it’s hard to get too worked up over them.

It IS still easy to hate the fans though

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on May 27, 2008 9:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that any of the Detroit players are UN-likable (except Chelios and Hasek, IMO), but none of then are LIKE-able. You know what I mean? They’re just boring people from everything I’ve seen and heard.

by Mike @ MHH on May 27, 2008 9:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Osgood has become pretty unlikable

Seems to have taken extreme diving lessons from Hasek. Two dives last night. That horrible display against Dallas. Touch the guy and he goes down like he has been shot.

by Bob in Boulder on May 27, 2008 9:26 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to say the same thing. I may be a diving apologist, but I believe with all of my heart that if you’re going to dive, at least do your best to make it look real.

Is there any other goalie tandem in the history of the sport that is as bad as Hasek-Osgood are at diving?

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t hate them Jib. I’d be more interested if I did. Just like I don’t hate Duncan. I just don’t like them, or care one way or the other. I appreciate their skill, I just hate their dispassion for what they are doing.

by Dario on May 27, 2008 9:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. They seem so technically sound that there’s no passion—-they don’t need it. Their talent level is so high and their system is so good that they hardly break a sweat. Or at least, that’s how it seems.

I know that this is a criticism I could only dream of hearing about the Avalanche…

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It ain't MAF

that is the problem. No goalie will look good when his players continually turn the puck over to forecheckers within 10 feet of the goal.
Detroits system and the lack of experience up and down the Pens’ lineup have combined to show that maybe the Pens aren’t ready yet.

by Mike @ MHH on May 27, 2008 9:13 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Western Conference FTW.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is

One nice thing about the Wings dominating so badly…

We can crow about how good our conference is. I know it’s a stretch, but it’s something (After the first two games, I think the Pens would be the 8 seed out west. I think Calgary, the Avs, Stars, Ducks Wild and Sharks would all beat the Pens in a 7-game series)

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on May 27, 2008 12:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The first two goals in game 2 seemed to be stoppable, Fleury got a big piece of both and they still went in.

by Savage33 on May 28, 2008 12:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather

clean dog poop off of my shoes than watch the wings win another cup. Speaking of dog poop, have I mentioned how much I hate the wings?

by Bob in Boulder on May 27, 2008 9:18 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

No, I don’t think so.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Random Thought

I think I’ll start a blog called “From Abdelkader to Zunich – 807 Reasons to Hate the Wings.”

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/ttotdisplay.php?tid=34

by Bob in Boulder on May 27, 2008 3:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Abdelkader and Zunich may have only played two games, but they were two games too many.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on May 27, 2008 3:38 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disgusting

The last thing I want to see when I go to this site is a picture of the Wings celebrating. Maybe you could find a picture of the Pens looking depressed instead? I feel sick every time I come here now.

by Rather Dashing on May 27, 2008 9:27 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Soiled. That’s the word you’re looking for. You (I).... feel … SOILED.

by Dario on May 27, 2008 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. At least photoshop a tutu around the waist or have him dismembering a care bear or something…
I’d do it, but I don’t have any photochop skilz.

by Mike @ MHH on May 27, 2008 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is your hatred of the Wings increased by seeing that picture? If so, I’ve done my job.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 12:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, yeah, it is. But so is my level of nausea.

by Rather Dashing on May 27, 2008 4:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Threadjack

“I try to collect some memorabilia personally for myself, and when you’re standing there with one of the greatest centermen and greatest captains who have played the game, that’s something special. So I wanted to see if I could get that picture.”

This quote was said about Joe Sakic… who said it? (Hint: Not Thomas/Neptune)

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on May 27, 2008 1:04 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw that. Kris Frickin’ Draper, for what it’s worth.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on May 27, 2008 1:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some dog poop

wearing a winged wheel 33 jersey.

by Bob in Boulder on May 27, 2008 1:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone see

The grey haired man (lady?) on the right side of the picture just above the cameraman. He (she?) looks like they just busted 18 blood vessels in his (her?) face and crapped their pants.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on May 27, 2008 4:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

A la Munch…and his painting the scream….

Damn, do you think Munch would have been a wings fan?

Can I still hold out hope that this series goes to a game 7 and that during the game a meteor hits the Joe?

"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-

by Americanario on May 27, 2008 5:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The resemblance is erie.

"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-

by Americanario on May 27, 2008 5:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

And

In his (her) right hand is a roster sheet since this is the first Wings game he (she) has seen all year. Getting in the action at the proper time for many Wings fans.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on May 27, 2008 5:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

What, i thought all Dead Wing fans were hardcore fans, i never would have thought their were bandwagon fans of the Wings.

by Savage33 on May 28, 2008 12:38 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

he he

You know. I have only known one Wings fan, out of the 20, that actually grew up in Detroit. He is actually a friend of mine but I have to admit….he is a complete douche-bag. And not even over hockey related issues, he is a douche-bag. We never talk about hockey because of the alliances but he is a douche-bag over everything. I will even let him know I wrote this because….it won’t surprise him. He at least he admits he is a douche-bag. End mini-rant

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on May 28, 2008 12:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coming from the part of the country

that I previously lived in, I knew two RW fans, one was another goalie who worshipped Hasek and we’d have these long drawn out arguments about Roy vs. Hasek during the late 90’s/early part of this century. Now that I think of it, I’m not sure if he was a RW fan or just a Hasek fan, but he had mediocre levels of toolishness. The other guy was an ankle bender in our roller hockey league who jumped on the Detroit bandwagan 100% in the late 90’s. Complete and utter shit-dick. We even got in one fight during a pickup game after he slashed the shit out of me and I returned the favor.

There are two RW fans on my current team. One is a nice guy, the other, I have a few issues with. They’re like a study in opposites…

by Mike @ MHH on May 28, 2008 11:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs