Saturday May 6, 2000
I have an almost impossible time being bummed out regarding the seasons end. I wanted another Cup as much as the next guy but it wasn't to be. I do know this....right now I hate the Blues and the Sharks. The Blues cause they failed so miserably and the Sharks for playing good enough to beat them. I feel the Wings weren't expecting, wanting or prepared to play the Aves at all this play-off year. It showed. Our defense was real good and Osgood played well enough to win but we didn't score goals. Colorado played real well. I think Yzerman played hurt..his knee and Federov failed to play as well as Forsberg. Holmstrom took the licking and kept ticking. Also, we didn't play smart. What concerns me more is the lack of rookie talent on offense....Where is it?
Why aren't I too bummed about the Wings losing. I had a great season and for me it isn't all about the Cup. It is about watching on TV, listening on the radio, reading the paper on sundays,enjoying the goals and scrums, just Red Wing hockey in all it's manifest forms.
Sunday Feb 13, 2000
Even when the game was 3-0 I didn't think the Wings were doing anything wrong. Tonight was some bad luck early then good luck late nothing other than that. Both teams played very well and the game could have gone either way. I do derive a special satisfaction watching Roy get upset. I am very grateful to ESPN for broadcasting hockey but I must add they have the crappiest announcers. How do they decide who is going to do the broadcast? Anyhow that Saunders fellow is especially inept and Clements is the supreme homer. My player of the game.....#20
Tuesday, June 19, 1999 16:35:10 PM
You can't do anything about it. The Change that is.
I haven't written about the Red Wings in a long time.
I haven't had anything to say that I was sure off and I
don't like plain prattling for the sake of ink and to be noticed.
I just realized when when the change occured. Oh I knew it
was in game three after MR. Yzerman's goal but it was sometime
soon after when the collective Red Wing team
realized they had these hacks from Colorado.
We all remember The Game, Colorado had just scored to go up 5-3
and the camera was panning the bench. Claude Lemeiux was talking
with a team mate and I could tell they were agreeing that the
Red Wings were hacks and we have them. At that point the
collective Avalanche concious defeated itself.
Some changes have occured with our Red Wings that I want to comment on. Sure Doug Brown went and came and Rouse is now a Shark but those aren't really of much consequence for our team. What does matter is the departure of Slava Fetisov. He was the most experienced player on our team. I measure experience not by number of years played rather by knowledge. IMHO no one has more. If we are to beleive what the announcers and papers tell us he was also most respected by the players. If a person can survive and thrive for 22 years in hockey at the level Slava did then the other players say to themselves......SHIT he must be doing something right or DAMN......This guy knows what he is talking about. Unfortunately for the Red Wings Jersey realized this and offered him a position. I feel sad that he is leaving. Some folk that come to the Red Wings I am ambivolous towards(case in point, Brent Gilcrest) others I am most glad to have and Slava was one of those. He will be missed by me and the players. It was a mistake not to retain him in the organization.
The Red Wings won the Cup this season not because of anything management did. Scotty isn't management. They won it because as players they were able( notice I didn't say willing, BIG difference) to maintain the drive necesaary to believe in themselves and there teamates. Other less important factors that allowed the repeat were no injurys and great coaching. The end of the Fetisov era is going to make it more difficult to maintain the cohesiveness of the unit which will affect the team in ways that can't be predicted.
Goodbye Slava.......A Red Wing forever.
Friday, June 26, 1998 9:37:15 AM
Lidstrom was ripped off just like Vlad last year....what game are the (clear my throat) professional hockeys writers watching?
Monday, June 22, 1998 11:57:20 AM
Tuesday, June 16, 1998 10:36:03 PM
Friday, June 12, 1998 10:10:45 AM
HOOOOOOOO BOY!!!!!!!! After the second period last night I decided something else would be more fun, can't waste your opportunities...doncha know! I popped in a tape and went upstairs. Sure glad I did. What a team!!
I had this little notion that the Red Wings weren't through.
A little Ozzie bashing........I didn't hear a whistle. That sure changed the game. It reminded me of Paul Coffey's marvelous goal for Colorado a couple years ago. This sure is a different team.
Saturday, June 06, 1998 9:41:00 AM
There are alot of folk that have hopped back on the Ozzie bandwagon after crucifying him
after that 2nd or is it 3rd 800ft goal. I gentle readers am not one of them. Let me state that
I have not been a big Ozzie fan for years as thorough readers of this page can attest but neither
have I ever bashed him for poor performance. Ozzie is a very good NHL goaler. I would rather
have Vernon in the nets. Ozzie is our goalie and I back him 100% ......Bring on the Caps.
Washington has alot of positives such as our own Adam Oates (Tony McKegney and Bernie Federko). Who made that trade anyhow? Shoot them. Dale (king of the cheap shot)Hunter and some wise old defenseman. From what I saw in the Wash-Buff series they don't look like they have alot of ooommmppphhh left. Only time will tell.
Wings could sweep this series or get caught with their pants down. Wings in 5...
Tuesday, June 02, 1998 10:58:08 AM
The Red Wings are a better team than the Stars.
I need to emphasize team. Ed Belfour is
offering that we have been lucky.....and yes the breaks seem to be going our way. The Stars
have been unlucky, Why? Well they have Belfour. It was just bad luck that they decided to
lure him away from the Sharks. Why if it wasn't for Belfour the Stars might lead lead this series.
You don't see the Red Wings trying to hack someones balls off.
I have been following sports for 37 years. I have seen teams that I just knew were going to win. Some of these include: New York Yankees(from the early 60's), Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and L. A. Lakers. These teams had two things going for them. 1) They KNEW they could win 2) There opponents THOUGHT they could win.
After that third period goal on Sunday by Kozlov it occured to me that these Red Wings fall into that category. They will win this series and the Stanley Cup because they have arrived at a plateau in sports that few teams achieve. They played hard all game....then Wham-O they get what they need to win. I was mightily impressed.
The Stars say they need to hit, hit and hit the Red Wings again and again. Perhaps if they just played hockey........The reasoning being if your thinking about cranking some guy your not thinking about scoring or defense. Their game plan needs adjustment.
As for Terry Crisp......Man does he SUCK. Gimmee Don Cherry any day. He is one guy that hockey does not need speaking. He sounds like he has taken to many head checks. Hockey players are the most articulate group of athletes during an interview. Folk tuning into Fox to get an appreciation of the game will be turned off by Crisp. Bring back Stu Grimson.......a very good speaker
Sunday, May 24, 1998 7:36:34 PM
A nice business like win. The Stars didn't seem to have much. I saw alot of bush league stuff from the Star.....elbows, leaving their feet for a check and some lame stick work on Holmstrom by Belfour. If they wan't to play that way they only decrease their chances.
Friday, May 22, 1998 7:35:41 AM
6 to 1, eh? Well, the Blues were never in that last game. I really thought the Blue's were a better team than what I saw. Maybe they are that good but the Red Wings are better than I thought. We often hear from the players how they just need a few breaks. The fifth game of that series was a fine example of that. Osgood couldn't have stopped any of those goals. The Blues got some good breaks on those deflections and in the sixth game they got a bad break when the player deflected the puck away from an open net. I would have to call this series the "break" series. The losses Detroit did have, especially in game 1, were not because they were outplayed it was because the were outbreaked. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it suits the Red Wings just fine. All they need to do now is win that first game in Dallas. Historically the Red Wings have always had a tough time with both Washington and Buffalo......but lets beat the Stars first Why change things now? Detroit wins series 4 games to 2
Sunday, May 17, 1998 11:37:29 AM
Today's game is a biggy. My crystal ball says an overtime St. Louis victory....God I hope NOT!
Wednesday, May 13, 1998 11:39:39 AM
Well wasn't that some game last night. The wizard lets in an 800 foot goal. That was great. The first two games went pretty much as I expected. Last nights game was the crucial one so far and the Red Wings showed they still got it. Ozzie's fuck-up could have destroyed him and the team but it didn't.
In the first game I watched as the bounces did not go for the Red Wings and last night they did. Not to much more to say at this point.....except I think Holmstrom is in and Brown is out. Watch for the Red Wings to send Brown somewhere (EXPANSION TEAM) this off season.
Thursday, May 07, 1998 8:43:56 AM
Why the Red Wings will beat St. Louis
It comes down to two factors. The most important of which is Scotty Bowman. He is a superb coach. He has a plan based on what he expects his players can do and based on what he thinks the Blues will do. That in itself is no biggy. Should things go bad for the Red Wings the first couple of games Scotty will amend his plan based on what he sees his players can do against the Blue's and what the Blue's are doing. That also is not such a big deal. Whay makes it so important is that he does it better than any other coach. So.....if the Wings play to there potential....and I don't see how the players won't let themselves a victory seems certain. Also, Sergei gets 12 million if the Red Wings win so he will be FLYING.
Sunday, May 03, 1998 10:48:43 AM
Jersey Out? Philly Out? I tell ya.....I wouldn't want Lindross on the Wings for nothing BUT I would take Gilmour
what a great 3rd or fourth liner he would be.
This team is very different from last years model and I am not even refering to Vladdy's absence.
Man, I wish we still had Vernon. I will change my tune when Ozzie shows me he can do it.
Interview with Ken Daniels the Wings TV play by play guy
I don't believe he and Mickey are buddies....in fact I think just the opposite. I wonder if he is trying to save his job?
You remeber what happened to old whats his name.