I’m surprised that I really don’t feel as bad about all this as I expected to. Believe it or not, I didn’t get as excited about this year’s playoffs as I did last year. If this had happened then, I’d have been in mourning for a month. The playoffs almost came as a surprise to me, when they started. I guess I’m still in shock. I was in a nasty mood all day today, though not very many people mocked me (yes, it does happen here, even in the Detroit area…..there are too many bandwagon fans here, by far……the problem with being a fan of a good team, I guess). The worst thing is that there won’t be any Red Wings hockey until September. I’ll have to settle for the other playoff teams, I guess. I’m still having trouble believing they’re done. This is the second time I’ve seen the Wings get eliminated in the 1st round and both times were California teams in OT. Both times I stood there, staring at the TV, hoping the goal would be called back somehow, for some reason. Of course it never happens, unless it’s the Wings who “scored” and the goal was by Luc Robitaille. Both years the Wings did not deserve to win. I don’t know what happened. How they could go from being the best team in hockey to being the first team since the ‘53 Leafs to win the Cup and then get swept in the next first round (vs. the Wings, no less). UGH
Monthly Archive for April, 2003Page 4 of 9
I think Gerry basically expresses my feelings on the game (though mine probably involve a little more anger) so I won’t say much myself about it. (see the guest writer’s game report below)
I won’t be surprised if Sergei does not come back, not just because he had a bad playoff series (like everyone else) but because of the money the Wings won’t get now that they are done this early. He will ask for too much and the Wings will be hard pressed to pay up. I’m not sure if Illitch will be so generous with his money after seeing one of the potentially best teams in a long time getting swept. I’m not sure that I care if Sergei returns.
I’m also wondering about Lewis as the Wings coach. Does he really have what it takes to motivate these guys and out-coach another coach when it really matters? From what I saw in this series, I don’t think he does. I have a feeling that if Bowman had been the head coach, the Wings would have won. Lewis seemed to be randomly mixing lines and he did not seem to motivate the team very much. I know that he had reasons for his lines and I know the Wings shouldn’t have needed any motivation from Lewis but I have to wonder.
I also wonder if Yzerman will return next year. He says he will but I’m not so sure. Nice try, Stevie. You’re not the one who failed.
I’m officially cheering for the Blues, from now until the end of the playoffs.
Guest writer game report
Sergei Fedorov battles for the puck
The Red Wings went from “Red Storm Rising” to “Red Storm Crashing” as they lost to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in O.T. 3-2, ending their defense of the Stanley Cup with a 4 game sweep.
A four game sweep….
“Swept. Days from now, months from now — maybe even years from now — these moments will come back to the Red ings, haunting them with the worst kind of echoes. The clanged posts, the missed defensive moves, the goalie straying from the net — all those false little stitches in the fabric, coming unraveled in one gnawing realization: You only get so many chances at a Stanley Cup.
This chance is gone forever. The Red Wings hadn’t gone out this early since 1991.
Mike Babcock- “the hockey gods reward the hardest workers”.
Sums it up in one short sentence. The hockey gods were no where to be found for anything/anyone wearing the Winged Wheel.
Sergei may have given some hope but I thought one of the defining moments of the entire series was watching Dandenault stop skating on a delayed penalty call allowing former Wing Adam Oates to grab the loose puck, hit Kariya, and then watch him skate in and blow the puck past Joseph. I knew then and there that it was over. As Babcock said-”the hockey gods reward the hardest workers”. There were few hard workers wearing the Winged Wheel.
What really is the point of calling games one specific way during the regular season, make a big issue about it, claim “things” will be different this time, and then suddenly all of that changes as soon as April rolls around?? It isn’t occuring just in the Wings series either it’s the league norm. Clutch, grab and interfere are back, skating and flow are gone again.
The Wings caught one break, Fedorov’s goal and that was that. They were hauled down all game long and that was that. They won the Stanley Cup last summer, now that is that-history. As might the Wings depending on how Illitch handles the $$ losses which are inherent with a 4 game sweep. This may be that as well.
Two mistakes made, underestimating the Ducks, while overestimating the Wings desire to win. The fire was gone and now it has to be hoped it’s not gone for another 42yr wait. Everything comes to an end. No team in any sport stays on top forever. We’ve had a great run with this team. As was said the last report, I appreciate the Red Wings and what they’ve given all their fans over the last 12 years. In some ways it’s been bright going all the way back to Demers and the two WCF’s against the Oilers of the 80’s. I still appreciate them sweep or no sweep. It wasn’t to be this time around and that has been clear since Shanahan scored the PP goal back in game one. It’s been downhill ever since.
I’m convinced that Chelios will have knee surgery shortly. I thought it was painfully obvious that his knee has some damage. Reports are it’s his ACL. He and Schneider struggled mightily throughout the series-emphasis on Schneider. I’m convinced Yzerman will be back. I thought he got better every game and showed some of his old moves last night. Too bad there weren’t any other players around to pass the puck to that weren’t 40′ from the net. 40′ shots low to the ice are not going to beat most goalies in the league much less a positional goalie like Giguere.
I’m convinced it’s a sad day today but I think and believe there will also be a tomorrow. The Wings will be back. I don’t believe this is the end. Some changes will be made no doubt but some of those changes are needed.
Congratulations to the Mighty Ducks. They worked hard, took advantage when the opportunites arose, and frankly deserved to win the series. I just wish I/we didn’t have to watch the Mighty Red Wings go down without a fight.
Three series stars-
1. J.S. Giguere
2. Steve Rucchin
3. Rob Niedermeyer
Three goats of the series-
1. Matt Schneider
2. Brendan Shanahan
3. Curtis Joseph-I want to make it clear, I do not pin the blame on Cujo. His failure was hardly solitary. The Red Wings lost as a team.
Gerry Brierley-who thinks the road to Stanley just got a whole lot clearer from the Colorado Avalanche.
Lines-
Maltby-Draper-McCarty
Yzerman-Fedorov-Shanahan
Zetterberg-Datysuk-Hull
Robitaille-Larionov-Holmstrom
Maltby-Fedorov-McCarty
Robitaille-Fedorov-Holmstrom
Yzerman-Larionov-Shanahan
Draper-Larionov-Hull
Defense-
Lidstrom-Dandenault
Schneider-Chelios
Woolley-Bykov
Woolley-Scheinder
Woolley-Chelios
Lidstrom-Chelios
4 on 4-
Fedorov-Hull
Yzerman-Shanahan
Schneider-Woolley
LIdstrom-Woolley
PP-
Holmtrom-Yzerman-Shanahan
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Hull
Draper-Larionov-Shanahan
Draper-Larionov-Hull
LIdstrom-Schneider
Fedorov-Lidstrom
Woolley-Schneider
PK-
Yzerman-Shanahan
maltby-McCarty
Fedorov-Yzerman
Draper-McCarty
Maltby-Draper
Fedorov-Shanahan
Zetterberg-Hull
Lidstrom-Chelios
Lidstrom-Dandenault
Woolley-Dandenault
Net-
Curtis Joseph
It really is over now. The Ducks have won in OT. 3-2.
It will be very interesting to see what ESPN’s The Season Part II will have to say about this point in the Wings’ season. They have exclusive locker room access and that will give a different spin on what’s being said in the papers. I think Part II airs later in May.
Ray Ferraro has some comments on the game. He’s the same guy that picked the Ducks to win.
Tonight’s other games:
Colorado @ Minnesota (Avs up 2-1) who I want to see win: the Wild
Vancouver @ St. Louis (Blues up 2-1) who I want to see win: the Blues
Ottawa @ NYI (Sens up 2-1) who I want to see win: the Sens
Philadelphia @ Toronto (Leafs up 2-1) who I want to see win: neither but I think the Leafs will
Series update: Edmonton and Dallas series tied 2-2. Who I want to see win: Oilers
Interesting fact: Red Wings head coach Dave Lewis was on the ‘75 New York Islanders team, the 2nd of two teams in the history of the NHL to come back from a 3-0 deficit. They beat the Penguins to do it and the other team was the ‘42 Leafs (as I’ve already said).
from 4/16/03 Freep
Despite 0-3 hole, Wings stoked by hope and anger
April 16, 2003
BY HELENE ST. JAMES
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
ANAHEIM, Calif. — There is a bone-deep conviction of hope, and there is anger. There is vivid realization of what’s at stake, and utter disdain for those who dare point the finger foremost at Curtis Joseph.
Descriptions of the state of the Red Wings have, in less than a week, changed from Red Storm Rising to red alert, from favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup champions to potential first-round fodder. But even after they lost, 2-1, Monday night to the Mighty Ducks and fell into an 0-3 abyss, captain Steve Yzerman all but dared anyone to give him a good reason the Wings can’t become the third team in NHL history to rally from such a deficit. And after a brief practice Tuesday, his teammates stood their ground with him…….[more]
