Alright. It's NHL playoff time again. Only 7 short months since my last post. That's one way to get the regular season over with in a hurry, skip it. The Wings looked oh-so-average in many tilts this past season when I expected them to play far better. Thankfully, they played Wings hockey on a few occasions when it really mattered to them, The Winter Classic being one of those.

However, now is the time for the experts picks from ESPN for the post season. In the spirit of full disclosure, here are my picks from Rinkotology.org.



And here are the picks from ESPN's panel;



I'll check back after a game or two and see how everyone is stacking up.

Cheers,

J

Upon hearing that the new Sports Illustrated cover would feature one Marian Hossa I decided to take a trip to si.com. Needless to say, seeing that they too had made bold predictions about the upcoming season I thought it only fair to post their thoughts as well (after mocking ESPN's yesterday).

Here for your enjoyment are the picks from Sports Illustrated;



It seems that those who cover all sports make more informed decisions than those who only cover some sports. At SI, 4 out of 6 experts pick the Wings to repeat. Even I would say that's a little heavy. I'd expect about half the experts to go with the repeat. But compared to the 'experts' at ESPN these folks are head and shoulders better at making 'objective' picks for the upcoming season. Interesting how not one of these six picked an Eastern Conference team to hoist the Cup.

My only complaint about the experts picks would be in the area of the Norris Trophy. Not one of the six picked Lidstrom?!? How is that even possible. And picking Pronger.... Almost unforgivable.

Here's that cover by the way. It is officially Thursday, the puck drops in three hours.



It's going to be a great year.

Cheers,

J

Go Wings

It's about that time of year again. The weather turns a bit colder and the rain comes back. That can only mean one thing....Hockey Season!!

After watching the Wings play their final pre-season game yesterday I'm ready for the season to start. Imagine a power-play unit of Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Lidstrom and Rafalski. Damn, this is gonna be a great season.

Let's take a look at how the brain-trust at ESPN thinks this season will play out;



I think the world might just be a better place if everyone got some of what Linda Cohn smokes. Even just a little. That has got to be some powerful stuff. The Wings dominate the playoffs last year, add Hossa, and now one guy picks them to win... Maybe Gary has already put the word out that the Wings repeatedly crushing the rest of the league is bad for Cindy Crosby's image as the 'Face of Hockey'. I loved the announcers saying that Crosby was the face of the league world-wide Saturday before the Pens/Sens game in Stockholm. I'm sure nobody there thinks Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Forsberg or Sundin is any good. After the reaction Sundin got dropping the puck he should probably run for office. If he doesn't come back.

Let's take a look at the 2008-2009 ESPN picks for post-season awards;



Again, all I can say is wow. E.J. is the only one picking Lids for the Norris? 6 out of 7 years he wins it and one guy thinks he might have a shot again? At least Z got some love for the Hart. Probably won't happen but at least it's nice to be mentioned. I think it takes a little 'me first' attitude to win the Hart and Zetterberg is definitely a team first type guy. And not one columnist picks Datsyuk for the Selke?? 144 takeaways, +41, 97 points and 20 PIM not Selke worthy anymore? I can see the picks for Z but nobody picking Dats is mindboggling.

ESPN does realize that the trophies all have names, right?

For the record, here are my picks;

Atlantic - Penguins
Northeast - Canadiens
Southeast - Capitals
Central - Red Wings
Northwest - Flames
Pacific - Stars

East - Canadiens
West Red Wings

Cup - Red Wings

Post Season Awards;

Hart - Crosby
Vezina - Lundqvist
Norris - Lidstrom
Selke - Datsyuk
Byng - Datsyuk
Calder - Stamkos
Adams - Carbonneau

Maybe next year I can be an 'expert'. Only time will tell. I can't wait for Thursday.

Cheers,

J

Go Wings.

I had to fly out to our World Headquarters in New York this week. I made sure to book the flight through Detroit so I could pick up the latest in Wings Championship materials for the house. I have to say, I’m somewhat disappointed in the Detroit Metro Airport.

There’s only one store and it contained two jerseys (a junior Datsyuk) and an adult sized generic. They had two t-shirts, one with Z and the Conn Smythe and one red with the white logo, which I bought.

You have to be kidding, that’s it for the Stanley Cup Champs? Get some banners up and make this a year-long parade for folks that come into the city through your airport. I want to know that I’ve landed in Hockey Mecca and that this is our holy site. Make sure that every team that disembarks this coming year knows exactly where they are, ‘Hockeytown’. Hope you brought your ‘A’ game ‘cause you’re going to need it.

I didn’t think this would piss me off so, but I’m pretty miffed. As a long-time traveler it has always escaped me why cities don’t use their airports as more of a gateway to the city rather than some bland monument to air travel. ‘We don’t want to upset people’ is one of the arguments for the low-key approach. This is your town, if you don’t promote it no one will. You only get one chance at that first impression. Make them look around in awe. ‘Holy Crap, they have 11 Stanley Cups and call themselves Hockeytown, maybe they take this seriously.’

Now that’s the reaction I’m going for. When someone comes into my house the first thing they see is the Championship Banner flanked by home and away framed Wings jerseys. They know what kind of house it is. Don’t bring your weak crap about Patrick Roy being the best goalie ever, I’ll duct-tape my Sawchuk jersey to your ass and make you watch game 7 of the 2002 Wings-Avs series and see if your perspective has ‘improved’ any.

Cheers,

J

Where it belongs! Oh how nice to see the Wings lift the Cup again. Lidstrom is one hell of a good Captain, I can't imagine anyone better to assume the role after Stevie retired. What a class act. Drake skating his first Cup, and Buckets the first Newfounderlander. I'm ready for training camp already. Enjoy your summer boys, I know 30 other teams would like to try taking it from you next year. Here's some images of the Cup and the two Detroit papers' headlines from last Thursday.










Another great hockey season comes to a close, on to summer vacation.

Cheers,

J

What a kill by Z. 5 on 3 with the game on the line and Zetterberg comes up huge. Cindy said in his post-game comments, "I don't think he did anything special (on the kill)". That's the difference between Cup Champs and Cup Contenders. You've got to have heart 'Kid'.

As for Crysby, watch some old tapes of press conferences. Find out what it means to lose with class. After game 3 he says the Pens dominated (the Wings actually dominated the 2nd and 3rd periods of that game). A game they won by 1 goal. Tonight, lose by one and "it could have gone either way". What a punk. At least he'll have a front row seat for the Cup presentation on Monday night.

And nice work by the 4th line tonight. The goal was a crazy hustle play. Hudler's backhand goes post/arm/net. Shows what hustle can get you.



As predicted before the Finals - Wings in 5.

Go Wings!

Cheers,

J

I refuse to make the same excuses after a loss that the Pens did after games 1 & 2. No, credit is deserved by Crosby and Crew. Crosby was the best Penguin on the ice last night, just as he was in games 1 & 2.



Ozzie let through two softies, goals 1 & 3. The first was a direct result of a bad pass by Stuart. Probably won't happen again. The third, oh Lilja. Please play the puck and stop ducking before the check comes. He may be done in this series and as a Wing. I don't think Uncle Mike will have that kind of play from his D-Men. I'd look for Chelios to suit up the rest of the way. Hall's kester goal was brilliant/lucky. All goals from the back of the net are. That being the winning goal despite outplaying the Wings most of the night should have the Pens concerned. I had said before the game, if the Pens are to make a series of it they had to win game 3 by a wide margin. Show the Wings that the Pens are as good at home as Detroit is. They failed in that task and will now likely pay a steep price in game 4.

I think the Wings will play better in game 4 and take down the series in 5. I don't see the Pens playing any better then they did last night and I don't see the Wings missing the same opportunities (Homstrom off the post from 4 feet) in game 4.

Look for Dats and Z to get going in Game 4. I predicted Datsyuk would go for 4 point in game 3, maybe I was a game early?!? Dats with no points in the series will not continue.

Go Wings!

Cheers,

J

Ozzie...Ozzie....Ozzie....Ozzie. You can keep on chanting it. C'mon Ozzie, at least let them think they have a chance. Nah, let's go for another shut-out. After a game 1, 4-0 shut-out Ozzie posts an even more impressive 3-0 shut-out in game 2.



Sooner or later the media is going to have to realize it's the Wings play and not the Pens underacheiving that's the issue. What happens next if the Wings go into Pittsburgh and hammer the Pens in game 3? What's the excuse then? I can hear Therrien now, "We got the matchups we wanted and we're usually pretty good at home, the Wings must still be cheating." Nice try, how about, you getting pasted by the much better team.

Speaking of cheating, or at least bushleague play. How many shots are the Pens going to take at Franzen's head? Roberts, after the game, said. "He was going to hit me with his shoulder so I gave him a shoulder first." Nice try. Video clearly shows you sucker-punched Franz in the back of the head. I'm sure we're not going to see Roberts in game 3 as the league will have to do something there. This was just a tad too close to the Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore a few years back. Attacking a player from behind with a blow to the head. Don't worry Gary, maybe you'll be back in the line-up in time to watch the Wings hoist the cup in front of you.

Go Wings!

Cheers,

J

For all the bad mouthing of Sammy by Detroit fans he sure came through in the clutch Saturday night. Two unassisted goals to start the Finals will kick start a team nicely. Way to go Sammy. Nice to see Cleary break out of his slump as well.



Too many missed opportunities by the Penguins doomed them from the first period on. Four straight power plays and getting a goal waved off by Holmstrom is the definition of lucky start. Unable to capitalize on these is the definition of inexperience.

And back to Holmstrom's disallowed goal. How many more of these must we have before the league allows instant replay to assist? This was even more heinous then the goal against Dallas that was waved off. More on this at a later date though. I'm off to Poker tonight.

Go Wings!

Cheers,

J

It seems some dirt has been dug up in Detroit. With Babcock saying Franzen has been flying around the ice at 100mph and tipping pucks into the back of the net it seems the Mule could be sprung for Game 1 Saturday night. Check out A2Y for the whole story.



28 hours to go!

Go Wings!

Cheers,

J