What a game and what a finish. Wow. I hate overtime in the postseason, but there aren’t many things more exciting in the end. Nothing like having your heart overclocking while you watch, waiting to explode into cheers when your team sinks the game-winner. Thank you, Johan!
Congratulations to Calgary on a hard-fought series. And a special nod goes out to Miikka Kiprusoff for his otherwordly performances at key points in the series. While not quite as good as his 2004 show, Kipper was pretty much the sole reason the series was not shorter. You have a gem, Calgary.
My condolences to Flames fans. Believe me when I say that I know what it’s like to get your hopes up about a team only to have them dashed in a kind of betrayal of trust. And to the Flames bloggers, it was a pleasure reading you guys over the past couple weeks. For whatever reason, I’d not had exposure to the Calgary blogosphere before and it was good to learn about the high quality of it.
And Wings fans, revel in this. But only until the Canucks and Stars decide their series tomorrow night. After that, it’s time to get serious again and to measure our chances in the second round. There is still a long haul ahead.
I’ll have a more complete reaction posted Monday as soon as I can.
It’s nice to see one Wings fan that has a bit of an appreciation for players on the other team.
I agree that Kipper played great. 55 shots is pretty unbelievable, and he was the Flames best player for the whole series. The rest of the team never really showed up.
I’m a little dismayed at your fellow Red Wings fans who don’t seem capable of much more than SPAM commenting on Flames blogs like mine.
Most Red Wings fans have proved that they are an unclassy bunch by trying to rub dirt in the faces of the Flames fans out there.
It’s nice to see you actually watched the game, instead of just Lidstrom, Filppula, Bertuzzi and Datsyuk, etc.
Good luck in round 2. You’re gonna need it when you play a team that can actually show up on the road.
And Congrats on the win. Must feel good.
The Flames played a great series, even though it was really more lopsided than it appeared. Kipper definitely gave his team a chance to win. It was an exciting end to an exciting series. Flames fans, you have my sympathy. If anyone knows how you feel, it is Wings fans. It’s been fun talking with you guys. See you next season!
On the other end of the ice, Hasek was phenomenal. I have to say, I was quite proud of his effort, especially being the first back-to-back games he’s played this year. He really kept the Wings in it when they were down 1-0, and held his own during overtime. He made a few key saves that really allowed the Wings to get the W. Overall, he had a great series, even with his one bad choice. Even if he were to go down in the first game of the second series, it was a great signing by Holland.
After David Moss missed for the Flames, I just kinda felt relaxed actually. It was a nervous relaxation lol. I knew we were controlling the Flames and it was only a matter of time. The Mule just endeared himself to Red Wings fans everywhere, just like Yzie in 96. I’m just glad we didn’t run into another hot goalie. Kudos to the Flames for playing hard, and especially Kipper for standing on his head.
I can’t wait for the second round to start. We’ll be in very tough if we have to play the Sharks.
GO WINGS GO!
“I knew we were controlling the Flames and it was only a matter of time.”
I was that way, too. I was never worried last night. The fact that the Wings smoked the Flames every game in Detroit, and game 7 would have been in Detroit, probably contributed to my calm – but the biggest difference I notice in this year’s Wings is that they do not get rattled, they don’t change their game, they don’t shrink when the other team scores and think “uh oh.” They keep charging, keep passing the puck, keep shooting, and it paid off.
In the last few years I hated when the Wings were throwing 40 or 50 shots at a goalie, because they would lose those games – 20 good shots is better than 40 shots from bad angles and into the goalie’s chest. This series, though, never felt like that for me. They proved that they can beat the hot goalie, and that is a relief – and one more monkey off their backs.
Let’s count the monkeys:
– Datsyuk scoring in the playoffs
– nobody will call the Wings soft any more
– they showed they can beat the hot goalie
– fought through their special teams problems and improved to win instead of tightening up and losing
“I’m just glad we didn’t run into another hot goalie. ”
But that’s the thing, they did. And they overcame it – which is HUGE for this team.
Congrats on the series win – your team most certainly deserved it in every imaginable way. Babcock certainly has your boys firing on all cylinders right now. Good luck going forward.
So – next round matchup is still up in the air. What teams do you think will give the Wings the most trouble? In my opinion, Vancouver, and by Vancouver I mean Luongo, would be the roughest.
To the Flames fan who posted,
Sorry to hear that there have been classless Wings fans being jerks on varous Flames blogs. I hate sore winners as much as I hate sore losers, but it’s an unfortunate fact that every team in sports will have their fair share of both.
To fellow Wings fans,
Damn it feels good to win a playoff series again! It’s been too long!