Scooter Chronicles

Bud Ice commercials once said “beware the penguins”. For a crappy beer, they sure were right about something. Those darn Penguins just wouldn’t go away. For those that didn’t watch, the Pens almost stole another celebration chance for the Wings. With just over two minutes left in the game, and down two goals, the Pens pulled goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Less then 40 seconds later, the Pens scored. Then, with less then 10 seconds left, someone from the Pens takes a shot that nearly handcuffs Osgood, the pucks drops near his glove side post, where Marian Hossa jumps on it, flicks it towards the net, just missing the line a second after time expires. I just can’t take games like this anymore.

Zetterberg’s fluky goal is what helped. Sometimes even the better team needs a break or two.

Fleury backs the game-winning goal into the net.

Rafalski’s early goal on the Wings first power play I feel was also a big key. It let them play with more confidence.

Celebrating an early 1-0 lead.

But now, it’s finally over. Hats off to the Penguins for never quitting. Literally, even when the clock ran out, they didn’t want to give up. And congrats to Zetterberg on winning the Conn Smythe. From what I had seen of his play during the playoffs, it was well deserved.

Hank skates away with the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Niklas Lidstrom made history tonight. He became the first European born and trained player to captain a Stanley Cup winning team.

Our “favorite” commissioner presents Lidstrom the Cup.

And it’s always nice to see guys like Dallas Drake finally win a Cup. Especially since he was drafted by the Wings, spent a few good seasons with them at the beginning of his career, then was traded away just before they started winning them.

The joy of winning your first Cup.

I am also very happy that the Wings went out of their way to make sure they brought in Mike Babcock as the coach a few years back, and now am even happier that he recently signed an extension. He seems to be a great fit for the type of teams the Wings usually put on the ice.

After losing in 2003 Finals as the Mighty Ducks head coach, Babcock gets his hopefully first of a few.

I said at the beginning of the season that I didn’t think the Wings would make it to the Finals, let alone win it all. The Western Conference has the better teams and it would be tough getting through them. But after the Ducks went down in the first round. Then the Sharks went down in the second. So that left the Stars as the only team for the Wings to have to get through.

Though I couldn’t have handled it, it probably would have done the league a lot of good to see this series go all seven games, and to have had the Penguins actually show up to play those first two games. These last four were absolutely stunning games.