Comments on: Wings 3, Blues 4 (OT)

By: Matt Saler

Matt Saler — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:42:47 +0000

Baroque,

I did it to try and give my parents a heart attack.

I didn’t think of it that way. I guess it’s Hank’s way of getting a pre-game thrill.

As for Pavel’s “penalty,” did he even trip the guy? It didn’t look like it to me, but then again, I only saw it as it happened. No replay.

I’d always been quick to deride the Joe crowd because so much of it is rich businessmen with their trophy wives and/or clients. But being there Friday provided a slightly different perspective. There are plenty of actual hockey fans there and they definitely watch the game intently, if quietly.

“Dingy atmosphere with history.” An apt description, yes, and infinitely preferable to a “sterile mall with seats.”

Christy,

Heck yes we enjoyed it! That stats packet is impressive, to be sure. I didn’t know you contributed to it!

Scott H,

Yeah, there were a lot of kids, but I see that as a good thing. They’re growing up fans of the Wings and learning the game. That’s all positive.

You’re right, though. It must be nice to have parents who can afford to take their kids to the game all the time….

After Friday, I think I’d rather have a crowd intently watching the game and demonstrating mature knowledge of it than one incessantly cheering. Of course, incessant cheering is cool to hear on TV and you’d like to think it intimidates the opposition, but maybe a crowd that bursts into noise at certain moments is better. I don’t know.

I love going to games, but I do miss the replays and commentary provided by FSN. Next time I’ll bring a radio so I can at least get Ken Kal and Paul Woods.

Steph,

Yeah, I know. It’s like, “Get a $5 pizza - when you leave here!” The Hot-N-Ready pizzas at the Joe are more like frozen pizzas, though, which makes the $12.50 price tag even more obnoxious.

I can’t figure out what they see in Hartigan. He brings no offense and isn’t worth anything defensively. It’s odd that they’re so interested in him. To me, he’s a potential chemistry issue. I hope he’s not going to be a drag on their post-season hopes.

By: Steph

Steph — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:52:22 +0000

The most upsetting thing about pizza at the Joe is that DURING the game they’ll keep advertisting $5 Hot and Ready’s on the jumbotron. But if you want one there? $12.50.

I’m with you on Hartigan though - I’ve seen him a few times in GR and not been impressed, and he hasn’t done anything to change that with the Wings. And yet somehow he’s still around…

By: Scott H

Scott H — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 05:26:25 +0000

I appreciate your suggestions about the crowd, Matt, but i gotta say….doesn’t is seem like there are an AWFUL lot of kids at Wings games? It seems EVERY time I’m at the Joe I am surrounded by little crumb crunchers who are simply put there to test the patience of those around them. My folks couldn’t afford tickets to the Joe (or Olympia)….must be nice.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to go to a Panthers game in Florida and a few weeks later visit the Joe….BOTH games vs. the Avalanche. I must say, sadly, the Panther fans were much more ‘into’ the game. They were, however, much less mature on the details OF the game. Could it be that Wings fans are just that more savvy? At the Panthers game people were bugging me all night with questions about this rule and that….at the Joe, I just had to deal with the punk kids (about 20 of them) wearing Sakitch jerseys and routinely yelling “Wings Suck.” I will leave it up to you to determine which was the bigger annoyance.

Once or twice a year to visit the Joe for me….I like FSN a whole lot better….something about Mickey’s pepper simply makes the Wings that much tastier to this fan.

Keep up the good work Matt!

By: Christy Hammond

Christy Hammond — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:07:14 +0000

I’m glad you and Megan had a good time at the game despite the loss! And if you still have the notes, look for the page in the front half with the list of all the games divided by division and our record against each. That’s my one contribution to the notes section.

By: Baroque

Baroque — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:10:12 +0000

I can picture Zetterberg going full speed at the bench door - I’d do the same thing when I was a kid, and just jump off a swing at its highest point and hit the ground at a full run. (Also jump off my bike and run beside it instead of coming to a stop and then getting off.) I did it to try and give my parents a heart attack.
Ken and Mickey noted the same penalty you did, and had the same opinion. “They called that a slash? That wasn’t a slash!”

Interesting to hear about the crowd. Watching on television it’s too easy to dismiss a quiet crowd as obviously disinterested in the game, instead of concentrating and paying attention to what is going on instead of whatever crowd command is on the scoreboard. A loud crowd isn’t the same thing as a crowd paying attention to the game.

So your vote is clearly on the side of “dingy atmosphere with history” instead of “sterile mall with seats,” I see.