Archive for May, 2009

Pre-Finals Press Conferences: Lidstrom and Hossa

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Via NHL Media:

Q.    How are you feeling and we heard you’re ready to go; is that true?

NICKLAS LIDSTROM:  Yeah, I’ll be ready to go tomorrow night.  I skated a little bit yesterday, practiced today, and felt fine today.  So I’ll be ready to go tomorrow night.

Q.  Big question, do you expect to be feeling the love when this series moves to Pittsburgh?

MARIAN HOSSA:  Well, obviously it’s going to be an interesting series.  This doesn’t happen every day being in this kind of situation.  But I am on this side, looking forward to it.  It’s going to be a great challenge because Pittsburgh’s a really good team.  You know, we’ll try to have fun.

Q.  Can you talk a little bit about what happened to you?  Was it a freak accident?  Something in practice or a game and what it was like to watch playoff games the first time in your career?

NICKLAS LIDSTROM:  It was very hard watching, sitting on the sidelines and watching the guys play.  I haven’t experienced that before in the playoffs.  It was very tough to sit and watch.  It happened during Friday night’s game, Game 3 in Chicago.  And just couldn’t play on Sunday.
Same thing the other night, Wednesday night for Game 5.  I wasn’t ready to go.  So I feel good now, and feel fresh and feel ready to go and go at it now.

Q.  How different is this team from last year?  I think, obviously, Helm was maybe a guy that’s come a long way, but overall what else can you see in there?

NICKLAS LIDSTROM:  I think a lot of the players gained a lot of experience from last year’s playoffs and being able to win it last year.  You mentioned Helm.  Other players have stepped up, too, that had an opportunity to play.  I think Filppula has gotten better, gotten more experience.  You can go down the line, Samuelsson, Cleary, Franzen had a good playoffs last year, he’s been playing well for us now, too.  So I think just knowing what it takes to play in the playoffs from last year helped us to get to this point right now.

I think you can see in our team with the depth that we have.  A few guys go down and other guys step in and play real well.  And being able to win a series for us like we did the other night when our top line didn’t score, but Helm came up big for us.  He played a tremendous game and got the winner at the end, too.  So I think it shows we have a lot of depth on our team.
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Pre-Finals Press Conferences: Osgood and Zetterberg

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Via NHL Media:

Q.  Just thinking back to last year, Marian Hossa, having to play against him in the Final and what it’s been like having him on your team this year?

HENRIK ZETTERBERG:  I think he’s, you know, contributed a lot.  Just his skating ability, his size and the force he’s been for us this year, he’s been unbelievable.

Q.  Talk a little bit about in the middle of the year when you took a little bit of a break, and cleared your mind and that sort of thing?  Take us through where that has brought you now and to be here in the Cup Final has got to be obviously outstanding for you?

CHRIS OSGOOD:  I mean, by no means did I enjoy the first half of the season.  It was a struggle.  I wasn’t mentally prepared to start the year.  I know that sounds bad but that’s the truth.  I mean, coming off last season I didn’t do the right things.  To be ready.  And I know I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen between.  I can guarantee you I’ll not have a regular season like that again.

But I’ve known Ken since I’ve been 14 years old.  I don’t want to say he’s a second father to me, but pretty close.  And he’s called me in and just told me to be me.  I had to get back to being I myself and what I need to do to get back.  Just kind of a wake-up call, kind of.

He told me you’re going to work with Jim Bedard for three days, it was on the weekend, you’ll be practicing with the team again, but you’re not going to play for 10 days.  Which, at the time now that I think back, probably should have happened in November earlier.  But given the fact that we had won, I think it gave me more time to try to work my way through it.

But it was good.  I got a good break.  Got to work on some things with Jimmy and cleared my mind.  It was kind of like that was my new starting point to get ready for the playoffs was that January break.  It was really good.  I just cleared my mind, and I just 100% on, got myself ready for the playoffs.  Worked hard in practice on and off the ice.

So I knew when the playoffs started, I knew I was ready.  I didn’t have any doubt in my mind I had done the right things in practice and done the right things off the ice.  My mind was in the right spot that I knew I was going in the right — in a good spot.
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Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Draper Skate, Ericsson Skips Out

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Update (1:45 PM): Babcock, through Chris Johnston: I think everyone’s ready to go. Pavel (Datsyuk) is the only last-minute decision.” - Matt

Update (12:43 PM): George’s got an audio clip from Draper in which he talks about his status and says to expect him to play. Meg suggests he’s taking it easy in practice in order to avoid tweaking anything. - Matt

Update (12:36 PM): Just now remembered Lilja’s lightning-fast return from an appendectomy earlier this year. So, Ericsson could be back in time for Game 1, assuming his recovery time is similar. - Matt

Update (12:17 PM): From his Twitter account, good news from Johnston: Lidstrom’s looking good. And bad news from Johnston: Datsyuk not so much.

Here’s hoping “ginger” means “careful,” not “still in pain.” Realistically, though, I have to say that Sunday really is looking like the more likely return date of the first possible two.   - Matt

Update (11:56 AM): I initially ignored the part of today’s practice reports that included Lilja’s presence on the ice because he’s been skating with the team for a while now and by all accounts was no closer to returning.

Well, MacLeod now suggests he might be ready to return since he’s skating with Lebda on the third pairing. Unless Ericsson really is going to be back for Game 3, that may indicate Chelios and Meech are losing out to Lilja, who hasn’t played since February.

On his blog, MacLeod leans toward “filling in for Ericsson,” but could Jonny really be back that fast? - Matt

Bruce MacLeod reports that Lidstrom,  Datsyuk and Draper are on the ice in practice this morning. From yesterday’s reports on Nick’s status, that part of the news isn’t surprising. Apparently he’s “practicing as though he’s playing,” and skating with Rafalski.

Draper’s presence is more so, though I’m guessing he’s still ruled out for Game 1.

As for Datsyuk, based on CP writer Chris Johnston’s Twitter report, it sounds like he’s just testing his foot again. And it doesn’t sound like great news. In his latest Twitter update, MacLeod says he’s filling in on the Filppula line. Still, nothing’s certain yet. Apparently Game statuses will be updated this afternoon. So we’ll know more later, but even that likely won’t be the final word on Pavel.

Ericsson, obviously, isn’t skating. “Next game” was probably very optimistic.

Tip: Datsyuk expects to be back for Game 2, at the latest

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Update (29. May, 12:40 PM): Latest on Datsyuk here. - Matt

Reader Dave sent me and a few other Wings bloggers this email:

Hey all! I’m a big fan of each and everyone of your blogs (TTD, A2Y, OtW & BingoBango) and you’re really the only source of reading I do based on hockey.  Anyways, I’ll get to the point of this email and not only is it a cool experience for me but it’s some good news I heard along the way.  I work at Outback Steakhouse in Canton, MI.  The ex-girlfriend, who is still a good friend of mine, also works at the Canton location.  Mandy, my ex, is dating the owner of the Novi location where her sister also works.

So, on to the point.  I just get a call from Mandy (again, my ex, for those of you who can’t keep up) and she is sitting at Novi Outbacks bar.  Oddly enough, she is calling me to tell me that just a few feet away is Pavel Datsyuk and her sister is waiting on him.  So of course the first thing I want is an autograph.  So I can clearly hear them talking back and forth, they got some pictures to with Pav.  After it finally sets in I immediately have her ask Pav when he’ll be back.

He says his foot is getting better and hopefully it’ll be Saturday but chances are he will be back Sunday without fail.

Obviously you all might find this either bullshit or just some heresay which I totally agree.  Maybe it was Pavel just being a typical cliche hockey player.

To me, it was the best news I could hear!  Nowing Lids and Ericcson will be back Saturday and now having Pav back by Sunday at the latest has just brought my spirits right back up.

With a fully healthy team, the Pens are going down.

Soon as I get the pictures I’ll try and send them over so you guys know I’m not just B.S.’ing ya

Thanks

-Dave

Well, I believe the story, but here’s hoping Pavel was being truthful. A day may not make a huge difference in terms of healing, but a fresh Datsyuk in Game 2 sounds very appealing.

Thanks for the tip, Dave.