The Red Wings are making a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, their fifth in 14 years.
Wings’ Captain Nicklas Lidstrom poses with the Campbell Bowl and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
I haven’t been able to watch many of the Wings’ games over the years, but my heart is still in Hockeytown. I will be making a point though of watching the Finals. Probably even taping them like I did the previous four Cup Finals appearances in my lifetime.
They will have their work cut out for them this year. Like three of the four prior times (1997 was the exception), the Wings go in as the favorites. But the Penguins could be seen as the favorites by others. They have been everyone’s pick as the “team of the future”, but have arrived a year or two ahead of schedule. And deservedly so, too. Crosby and Malkin are probably more talented then Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Though Hank and Pavel are better defensively then Sid the Kid and the probable league MVP Evegni.
Like ESPN analyst Barry Melrose has said, it’s probably the Wings experience that should help them win this thing. Draper, Maltby, McCarty, Holmstrom, and Lidstrom were with the Wings in all three of their recent Cup wins. Chelios and Datsyuk were there in 2002. (Chelios also won a Cup in Montreal in 1986!) Osgood was the starting goalie for the 1998 Cup win. And Rafalski won two Cups with the Devils (2000 and 2003). For the Pens, only three guys have won Cups (Gary Roberts with the Flames in 1989, Darryl Sydor with the Lightning in 2004, and Petr Sykora with the Devils in 1995 and 200). That’s does play a part. Especially on defense.
Should be a great Finals though regardless of who wins.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Best of luck…… I think it’s Penguins (youth & speed) in 6 games over the Red Wings (Old guy’s and a great defense).
Chelios should be collecting his SS checks and playing golf! (just upset since he left the BlackHawks).
John
May 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I work with a few guys that are originally from Pittsburgh. We are working out a friendly wager.
Yes, the Pens speed worries me. They have many weapons that need to be shut down or at least controlled. Though the Wings have that, too. Especially if Franzen is back in time.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Game one set for 8p.m.this Saturday. Make sure you wear out Nigel all day so he is fast asleep b/4 the puck drops.
Glad to see game 1 & 2 are on Vrs. and not NBC. I wanted to kick in my TV watching the local NBC chanel out of Philly shrink my screen to advertise the 2009 Flyers season tickets are still available (duh!)
John