For all you hockey freaks… This piece was written hours before the Pittsburgh Penguins incredible victory over the Detroit Red Wings…
From pre-season, through the regular season and the playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins have played over 100 games in the 2008-2009 NHL season. And now, just one more match will determine who gets to pose with Lord Stanley’s most coveted and prized gift to North America.
Each team has won its three games in their arena. But for some reason, I don’t think home ice advantage matters in a game 7 of this nature. If you can’t get up for this one, you must be dead. Nerves are out the window and instinct and adrenaline take precedent. Both teams are consummate professionals and at this point, know EXACTLY what it takes to win. And I don’t think it’s fair to say that one team or any player wants it more than an other. This is the pinnacle, and tonight, the leagues finest will put on a show.
Stupid penalties must be avoided at all costs. But I don’t believe the refs will call a “tight” game – only the blatant infractions and when a scoring chance is taken away. The goaltenders must be flawless and can you imagine what those two men are feeling today? Lunch will not be easy to hold down.
I’m an impartial observer tonight, and a life long lover of hockey. There’s nothing like the Stanley CUP playoffs – absolutely nothing. For the fan of either team, I know how you feel – all day long you’re edgy with a spiraling pit in your stomach. My team is the New York Rangers and in my lifetime, they have only appeared in three finals, and one heart stopping game 7 against Vancouver in 1994. I was sick to my stomach for two days before that game. Watching Mark Messier hoist that big-ass silver chalice after 54 years of losing in NY was way beyond priceless.
Yes, I am the self proclaimed great seer of hockey, the prognosticating Polack who picks. Tonight I see the flightless birds of Steeltown hoisting the hardware in an incredibly memorable game 7. To my friends of team octopi, this is not a dis of the mighty Red Wings, whatsoever. Your team is amazing and worthy of high praise. But, I am simply going with my innate seerish instincts as I see the passing of the torch to the young warrior known as “The Kid.”
So, guys… Feel free to add your comments and either toast me or roast my ass, tomorrow!
Get ready, oh lovers of the ice hockey, because tonight the elite meet at the Joe, where the tentacles will fly and the winners will have their names etched into immortality.
And on a final note, as you can see, Hayden Panttiere sure loves Lord Stanley!
- ZMAN
June 12th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
GO WINGS!!!
June 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I am only a seer who passes along the information that the gods tell me.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
All hail the mighty seer. Toast is on me!
June 13th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
After having the opportunity to sit back and reflect….this has been maybe THE most amazing playoff run in Pittsburgh sports history. Pittsburgh has fallen in love with the Pens over the last 2 months…even more so than their 3 straight years of 100% sell outs might suggest. This team has shown so much heart…NOTHING could make them quit. To further illustrate…..the star core of this team averages 21 years old. Jordan Staal is but 20 years old and has over 50 playoff games under his belt already. This was like the boys against the men.
These 2 teams met in this same arena just one year ago. The wings were CLEARLY the better team. Over the off season the wings added to their roster the Pens 2nd or 3rd best player. BIG addition for the wings….BIG loss for the Pens.
Nothing that happened in the regular season could be used to argue that the Pens belonged on the same ice with the wings. After the first 2 games there was still no argument to be found.
I made the observation though, that the wings being another year older was a negative, the Pens being another year older was a positive. Despite the 2 early losses the Pens believed they could win 4 of 5 from the best team in hockey…and this city believed it as well.
I picked the Pens to win it in 7 on another board although I had no idea how they would be able to pull it off. I just knew that they never ever quit…and the longer the series went the more it would favor the younger legs.
After all this 2 finger typing…I’d like to thank the one person most responsible for bringing the cup back to the burgh.
Thank you……TOMMYZ!!!
With out your bold prognostication none of this would have been possible. The entire city of Pittsburgh sends its gratitude.
June 14th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Gosh… um… speechless…
June 15th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Excellent series. Couldn’t ask for better than that. In my opinion the entire playoffs this year were excellent. The fans and the NHL are the true winners this year. Dont’ you know as they were shaking hands all the Pens were saying to Hossa “DUMB ASS”