HOCKEYTOWN = STANLEYTOWN AGAIN?

Posted by bigD | May 10, 2008 .

How about those Red Wings? The latest playoff run by Hockeytown has been very impressive to say the least. Today, our beloved Wings go for an unreal 8th straight playoff win and I see no reason why they won’t get it the way they’re playing. It’s funny to look back and see that the only real challenge in the 11 playoff games they’ve played in have been the Nashville Predators. It’s always typical of Detroit to struggle in Round 1 and sometimes (dare I say it) fall apart but Nashville gave the Wings just what they needed with a big wake up call and since then Mike Babcock and Co. haven’t looked back with convincing wins, dominate goaltending and the more impressively, physical play which doesn’t usually fit with this hockey team. Add it all up and it’s the perfect recipe for our Wings to take home their 4th Stanley Cup in 10+ years. Today, Dallas will come back to the Joe to try and steal one in Detroit but with Detroit’s recent dominance, my question is…DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Certainly Detroit has owned Dallas throughout the season and also past seasons and certainly the stat still on Turco’s back in that he’s never won a game at Joe Louis Arena as a pro has absolutely got to haunt him. Plus, the Stars didn’t show any discipline in Game 1. The Wings did. If you fill the box against Detroit you’re going to lose. It’s that simple. Detroit’s power play is phenomenal to say the least but what’s interesting is it’s clearly not putting all your eggs in one basket. Their power play is simply a normal line with the 2nd unit (another regular line) as talented as some team’s first. Speaking of the 2nd usual line, how about that Johan Franzen (12 goals, 3 assists a plus 9 and a kick ass 25% shooting percentage)? Word is, Steve Yzerman was the one who initially came up with the nickname “MULE” for him and it stuck. Apparently, Franzen looks like a mule when he skates but if you score that many goals when it matters the most, I don’t care if you look like FAT ALBERT when you skate. The fact is, I’ve never seen anything like this goal streak that “THE MULE” is on right now and with his goal in Game 1 yet again, I can’t see it ending anytime soon. Again, the amazing thing is Franzen isn’t even on Detroit’s top line. Instead, he has been skating with Samuelsson and Hudler making Detroit’s 2nd line a top line. Just think of how hard it is to beat such a line-up. As an opposing coach, one of your main duties is to figure out how your players and lines match up with the opposition and mainly, how you’ll defend the opposing teams’ top threesome during line changes and adjusting your personnel during games. Now think about having to worry about this times two. That’s exactly what other teams are having problems doing against the Red Wings. In the words of the “Spearmint Gum” commercials it’s “DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, DOUBLE THE FUN” but certainly NOT for the Dallas Stars. Skies the limit for “MULE”. He’s a shoe in for the Conn Smythe thus far and certainly a standout star in a Detroit galaxy of heroes.

Speaking of heroes, has Chris Osgood been eating Wheaties? What the hell has come over him? As Detroit fans, I think we always knew he had this kind of talent but really he’s never shown it completely. I think a lot of it had to do with the pressure that was put on him as the #1 goalie in the late 90’s, not only by Detroit but also by himself. Well, clearly Detroit is behind “THE WIZARD OF OZ” now, as are his teammates (the difference on a hockey team really shows when the players noticeably believe in their goalie) and mainly, Chris Osgood believes in HIMSELF fully now where I don’t think he ever did before. He is actually enjoying himself and having fun whereas I really think the pressure destroyed his game in the past. Osgood’s playoff win streak is getting absolutely ridiculous at this point. Ever since Osgood took over for a slumping Hasek he’s a crazy 7-0 with a 1.45 GAA. Am I seeing correctly? Only Superman has better numbers and he doesn’t even hail from Earth. Without a doubt these playoffs are OZZIE’S shining moment and they’ve made Red Wing coach, Mike Babcock realize that before the Jimmy Howard reign, it’s the end of Hasek and the beginning of Chris Osgood full time in Detroit’s immediate future.

Speaking of Mike Babcock, the Wings are going to try and work out a long term deal to keep him on as their head coach. Why wouldn’t they? There’s no coach out there who’s better or could do a better job with this group. Babcock is a reasonable coach, he believes in his players and they flat out respond to him. His success speaks for itself and if he doesn’t win the Jack Adams for NHL coach of the year, it better dam well be a close vote. The best part of Babcock’s coaching regime has been how well he has shown patience with the young as they’ve developed and how quickly they’ve gotten better as he’s coached. Most teams have growing pains and problems. Detroit never had those problems. Their rebuilding from the Shanahan and Yzerman days to the Zetterberg and Datsyuk days didn’t last very long. When most teams rebuild it takes years. When Detroit rebuilds it takes months. Why? The upper brass of Mike Illitch, Ken Holland, Steve Yzerman and Jim Dellevano have been a big reason for it. This organization flat out knows how to draft, how to develop and they’re committed to winning, perhaps more then any other franchise in hockey and without a doubt it shows. But still, someone needs to be behind the bench controlling it all, seeing it through and being the spokesperson for what clearly has been the best team in hockey in 2008 and some would argue for many years period. Mike Babcock is an exceptional head coach and he may soon be rewarded for it, and not just with the President’s Trophy, The Jack Adams (perhaps) Award or even a new contract. Polish off your mantle, Mike Babcock, the Stanley Cup could soon be on your doorstep.

Babcock has given props to many players on this hockey team for their strong season and terrific playoff run thus far. One player he really likes (and with good reason) is ex-LA King defenseman, Brad Stuart. When Stuart was paired with Niklas Kronwall, something began to take shape in Detroit that has seldom been seen since the days of Vladimir Konstantinov. Simply, Detroit’s defense just plain GOT PHYSICAL. Kronwall lines guys up and absolutely levels opponents on the ice and in Stuart you have a physical stay at home D-man who makes smart decisions with the puck and he certainly takes no crap from anyone. Forwards know where these 2 (particularly Kronwall) are at all times and together they make a great pairing for tough playoff style hockey. Sometimes, things just work. When these 2 were paired together by Babcock (a great decision in the first place), the best was brought out in them. How good must Stuart feel to be traded from the garbage Kings to the unbelievable Wings? Yup, Stuart’s loving life right now and indeed, Detroit is loving him.

Finally, a word or two on the fabulous 1-2 punch of Zetterberg and Datsyuk for a moment. These two are simply put, outstanding. The ability they have to constantly get open, control the puck, carry it over the opposition’s blue line and feed Lidstrom is nothing short of special. Combine that with Holmstrom screening goaltenders in front, Rafalski and the aforementioned Lidstrom with their magic on the back end and you have talent that’s just plain better then the team’s that try and defend them. Again, the phenomenal thing about this group of talented players is that, the Wings were always known for their above puck control which always seemed to exceed the rest of the league and for years have looked like they were playing monkey in the middle. But to replace those kinds of talents with the exact same thing years later is really saying something. Detroit is still that same old (not literally old any longer) talented team that carries the puck over the blue line, sets up, controls the play and again, plays keep away. I’ve seldom seen anything like it. Remember these days Hockeytown! What you’re seeing out of this organization is certainly worth appreciating and make a mental note of it because we may never see anything like this again. Congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings!!! Unless a “Walk on Water” miracle happens, it’s your Stanley Cup to win or lose! -D

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HOCKEYTOWN = STANLEYTOWN AGAIN?

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