The Quest for the Cup: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Detroit Red Wings

Christ. That headline was so much easier to type a year ago, when the Cup Champions were the Anaheim Ducks. As a fan of the St. Louis Blues, I firmly state that no other fan could possibly hate the Red Wings more, but let's face it: they deserved it. This was, albeit triple overtime is pretty intense, far and away the best game of the finals. Pittsburgh gave it their all, but the Red Wings were the better team in every facet of the game. I'm sure the Lone Reader will find many a reason wrong with my assessment of the game, which is why I'm not going to assess it. I will, however, offer a small photo gallery, after the jump.

Okay. A bit of assessment. The hustle of game six was perhaps the most impressive thing. Again, Detroit dominated the play of both zones; Pittsburgh's scoring chances came in a state of semi-disarray, but they should not be denied credit for putting the rubber in the twine. They simply could not compete, though, with the veteran -- yes, veteran -- force of the 23-cup-bearing Detroit powerhouse. Marc-Andre Fleury played a great game between the Pittsburgh pipes, and anyone that rides his case for the proverbial one that got by is crazy.

Ogsood's play on the other end was equally impressive, and the Detroit D manned the trenches like only they can. They were the President's Trophy winners, and they showed the world why throughout the playoffs. Don't get me wrong: Pittsburgh was impressive. A Finals run -- six games, no less -- always is. This franchise acquired excellent experience by their deep run, and it will pay off, perhaps not next year, but soon. Until then, as much as it pains me, the Red Wings must be recognized as the best club in hockey.



As tradition suggests, the winning goalie's crease is the first place to celebrate.



And of course Phil was on hand, ready with his 'do to deliver the cup.



Nicklas Lidstrom, the Cap-Cap-Cappy, proudly displays his "C" with the commish,



which naturally precedes the first skate with the hardware.



Henrik Zetterberg won the Most Valuable Player for the Finals, the Conn Smythe trophy,



got a moment with the most-important hardware,



and was wanted by the masses for a description of his feelings.



Those who've hoisted before wait a moment for a chance for the youngsters to have their moment, but netminder Chris Osgood waited little time for a chance to skate again with Lord Stanley's trophy.



Personally, I was most happy for Dallas Drake, just as netminder Chris Osgood mentioned that it was Drake for whom he wanted to win. Fifteen years into his career, Drake began as a Red Wing, and traveled to various clubs -- most recently a stint with the Blues -- before returning to Detroit. With new front teeth.



The 46-year-old Chris Chelios tasted glory. Again.



Osgood interviewed with the medias, the fact that he's won three Cups, displayed for the viewers.



Finally, Head Coach Mike Babcock put together the ultimate squad, and they were not to be denied.

And there, folks, are your 2008 Stanley Cup Champions. Rest easy, Cecil. For now. Training camp for '09 starts Tuesday.
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Stanley Cup Finals: Game Two Re-Cap

Call it domination. Call it a mismatch. Call it home-ice advantage. I call it getting smoked. And that's just what happened to the Pittsburgh Penguins when they fell two games to none to the Detroit Red Wings in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals. It's been more than six periods since the Penguins last scored a goal, and if the home-ice edge doesn't sway in their favor tomorrow night, that drought could very well continue. Let's hope they don't jump ship. There's still time for some quality hockey.

I fear, however, that we won't see any. The best way to analyze this series is as such:

Take this from the ground,



unless you're this guy,



in which case you'll probably find it here,



and firmly gouge it here.



It won't look like this,



rather this.



That's right. Mario Lemieux, Michel Therrien, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the entire Pittsburgh Penguin crew, are finished. They may salvage a game, perhaps two, but there is no way in Hoth they climb out of this monster of an ice hole into which they have fallen. Without doing any research for accuracy, I'll just throw out the friendly reminder that the Red Wings have 23 -- 23! -- championship rings on their roster. Okay. It might be 13. It definitely has a three in it, and it's not three. The Pens are just way too overmatched. Even when they break the scoring drought -- and they will -- the Wings will not back down, and Osgood will not play any worse. Better luck next year, Pittsburgh.
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The Quest for the Cup: HoG's Finals Preview

It's that time of year again. The excitement, agony, anxiety and pride of fighting through an 82-game season and three best-of-seven playoff series are over. Seems like yesterday guys were reporting to camp for pre-season workouts. Now, late in May, the quest for the Cup has reached its acme. Two teams, one shot at the most coveted trophy in professional sports. Like the clip in yesterday's post says, "It weighs 35 pounds, except when you lift it." A look at Michel Therrien's Pittsburgh Penguins and Mike Babcock's Detroit Red Wings, after the jump.

This no doubt is the most difficult prediction post I've written to date. I'm going to examine some of the tangibles from both of these squads, but it, as players frequently say, will all boil down to who gets out there and plays better hockey four out of seven times. Sounds silly, I know. But this is where the overdrive kicks in, where 100% hustle for every loose puck is demanded of every guy on the ice for every second he's out there. This is where, if need be, a defenseman errs on the side of caution, and shows restraint against those tempting opportunities to pinch in along the halfwall. Those defenders must stay at home, never forget the weak side, and deliver crisp outlet passes on every occasion, regardless of the hit that's coming.

This is where wings and centers must continue to cycle in the offensive zone. They must remember to use their points often, and stay moving down low afterwards. This is where using all the ice, especially to gain the neutral zone, will be pivotal. And goalies? Goalies must simply be goalies, and be awarded clear lanes of vision in all instances possible.

This Finals epitomizes experience versus youth. Neither team gets the edge on those identifiers alone. It will be a matter of who better uses their strengths to their advantage when it comes to tilting this series.

The Prince-of-Wales-Trophy-holding Penguins have a sleuth in Therrien as their bench boss. He's emerged from a moderate playing career, and an only mildly-impressive-at-best coaching past to assemble one of the best single-season NHL records in history with last year's 105-point campaign in Pittsburgh. His club, the talk of the league, was filled with potential, a chance to become the next Edmonton Oilers of the 80s and win multiple championships. They bowed out early in the first round, and have achieved the crucial: bottling their potential and exhibiting a marked improvement upon last year's impressive season.

The Penguins are loaded with talents seldom-seen in the league. They have the uber-young, coveted heir to the Gretzky throne in Sidney Crosby. He dons the "C," and leads veterans like Petr Sykora, Marian Hossa, Sergei Gonchar, and Pascal Dupuis. He also leads peers in Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. Throw in the oft-improving netminding of Marc Andre-Fleury and x-factors like (House of) Georges Laraque and Gary Roberts. A guy can't find enough to say about Gary Roberts. In his own way, he's the journeyed version of clutch other sports see in the likes of Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, or Tom Brady. If Therrien's Penguins want this Cup, it's theirs for the taking.

Standing in their way, however, are the icons of professional hockey from around the world. Seldom does Detroit put together a less-than-excellent club, but this just might be the best they've skated in a long time. Better, perhaps than the days of the Federov/Yzerman-centered clubs that threw teams around for many years. This Red Wings team, if it can harness all its potential, has the ability to throw around all the talent and leadership in the seemingly unstoppable Pittsburgh Penguins.

Detroit can stop them, but they've faltered in two of their three previous rounds, nearly letting Nashville back in the Quarters, and the Stars in the Conference Finals. Tonight they square off against a Pittburgh club that becomes the 11th squad to reach the Finals with two or fewer losses since 1980. Hockeytown's mix of Czechs, Slovaks, Swedes, Fins, Canadians, and -- yes, even Americans could destroy the Penguins if they choose to take this team seriously.

Aside from the fact that Detroit has Chris Osgood (backed by Dominik Hasek, no less) in net, they're so stacked with champions, it's sickening. Darren McCarty, Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kirk Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, Pavel Datsyuk, and of course Chris Chelios are the loaded anchors of veteran poise that can command this club's march to victory. Add the youth and flair of Johann Franzen, Valtteri Fillpula, and Henrik Zetterberg, and that's one frightening lineup. Throw in the wit and grit of Mike Babcock, and, from this vantage point, the edge seems in Detroit's favor.

So much so, that I don't think the march of the Penguins down championship road starts here. Not this year. This Goliath is a few notches too deep to be toppled by the spryness of the Davidesque Pittsburgh. Gary Roberts turned 42 yesterday. He's been a staple everywhere he's played. The 46-year-old Chelios knows a thing or two about being a staple. He hoists one more Cup before hanging up the skates.

Having improved to an overall post-season prediction record of 52-32, I'm feeling pretty confident. This championship series could go seven games, all of which include overtime. But it won't. A rejuvenated passion has come alive in the Steel City. Mario's manning the team, Sid the Kid is living up to expectations, and the Igloo will finally be replaced. This could be the end to the 16-year Cup drought in Pittsburgh. But the stakes are too high in Hockeytown. It's been six years since Detroit won a Cup, and they've only won three in the last ten years. Wings in six.
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Baseball In The Daytime: 4-2-08

As if the giant scheduling circus we've endured over the past week wasn't enough, baseball in its infinite wisdom denied us from any day games yesterday.

That's right. After Monday's orgy of eleven scheduled afternoon contests, the MLB slate was entirely after-hours on Tuesday. This in inexcusable. April is a month that needs games scheduled every day. There are kids somewhere in this country on spring break, and they need to stay out of trouble. Thousands of men are accustomed to feigning illness for the NCAA tournament and opening rounds of the Masters, what are they supposed to do? Go to work? Banky was forced to masturbate nine times, which is dangerous.

Most importantly, in the absence of day baseball, I'm forced to listen to Stephen A. Smith during the day. And doing that makes me want to go beat a child. Bud Selig is now causing the youth of America to get knocked the fuck out. But the kids are safe today, three games are scheduled. After the jump, your menu...

KC @ Detroit, 11:05 Mountain After a surprisingly good rookie campaign in '07, Brian Bannister takes the ball for your first-place Kansas City Royals in the Motor City. His opposition is noted gambler and chicken-roaster Kenny Rogers, who has promised to keeps his hands free of "dirt" over the course of today's game. After Monday's extra-innings thriller we demand another great game, or Baseball In The Daytime will ignore the Royals all season. Actually that might happen anyway.

Milwaukee @ Chicago Cubs, 12:20 This is another encore from an overtime Opening Day classic. On Monday the Brewers and Cubs' aces sent a scoreless game into the ninth, where Kerry Wood and Eric Gagne managed to both douse themselves in gasoline and play with matches. At least this guy managed to make headline writers' jobs easier (or harder, if they work for a family newspaper). Today they send Jeff Suppan and Ted Lilly into battle, and man let's just move on.

Boston @ Oakland, 1:35 I don't know if you watched these two clubs play last night, but if not you missed a true gem out of Daisuke Matsuzaka. He was brilliant in spurts last year, but spent much of the season working out of jams and nibbling with junk. Last night, we saw the Dice-K that was promised when he signed his wacky contract. He cut down on his variety of pitches, owned both sides of the plate and kept hitters guessing. Granted, it was against a weak Oakland lineup and home plate umpire Wally Bell had a zone that was about a yard wide, but Matsuzaka was spectacular. Francona shocked everyone when he pulled Dice in the 7th with the following line: 6 2/3 IP, 96 pitches (61 strikes), 2 hits, 1 ER, 9 K, 0 BB. I guess he's being saved for the long season. Today we get Jon Lester and Rich Harden, the same matchup displayed for the second Tokyo game last week.

And here's your scheduling info, kids--Play Ball!

XM Radio MLB game schedule

DirecTV Extra Innings schedule

MLB.TV entry page
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