Well…one of my favorite times of the year is upon us and I thought I’d talk about it a little bit….damn….I keep burying the lead in all of these and I don’t know why right now..it is the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting Wednesday night and I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the journey to get where we are with our team. It has been a season of inconsistent play that has left us faithful frustrated and confused at times, excited at others, and with the hope that our team will drive on to the cup finals and win it….that was the rabid fan in me talking and it really does mask the uncertainty that shrouds these playoffs…what team is going to show up? The dominant one that uses power, speed, and skill to amaze us, or the one that leaves us scratching our head and looking at the ice to see if it is really mud they look so slow. That type of performance has made me hold my breath during almost every game, to wonder when the self-destruction will come….but still always hoping it won’t.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the particulars that I think are necessary for us to get out of the first round….it’s one of the things that M and I were talking about this aft; that we just don’t have the goaltending that will steal us a game or two when we are not playing as we can. I just don’t think Jimmy Howard is that type of a goaltender but we don’t have anyone else with Osgood being hurt. That leaves us with another great big unknown…when will Hank Zetterberg be back? I know, no one player is essential for the success of a team, but with how Hank has played this year with all of the injuries, I think he is the one we can least afford to lose. One last thing, we need to start to play like we want it, there has been too many games where we have phoned it in and if anyone does that, Babcock should sit them and let one of the youngsters give it a try…after all, it was a couple of years ago the the unknown Darren Helm came into the playoffs and won a starting job for himself by outplaying everyone on the ice. So, I think you are going to see a few of these as the playoffs progress….Let’s Go Red Wings!!
Well….I did get a bunch of music ripped last night but didn’t sleep very well….never do when I’m away probably because I don’t travel much anymore. It has stormed here in Chicago already this morning, and there is more coming to look at the radar, so the blues fest may be out. Not sure what is on the agenda for today if that goes away but I’m sure we can find something to do; need to say away from downtown, though, since the Blackhawks are having the Stanley Cup parade today. Don’t know why I’m so uncomfortable staying in my daughter’s place but I think it’s that I spend so much time alone now that it is strange when I’m with people for extended periods of time. Trying to just live in the moment and enjoy the time here and I hope I’ll be more successful doing that later today and early tomorrow…but I will be going back to GR Sat aft….more later….
Well…it was a little encouraging to see England struggle in a World Cup prelude soccer match with some South African all-stars and only score 3 goals. I had hoped to see a little weakness that would possibly give us a chance Saturday and it did occur. I guess the coach was so disgusted he didn’t even go into the locker room at the half to talk to them. Now, I’m not usually one to celebrate others’ failures, but I have to grasp any straw possible that the US may not be as embarrassed as I anticipate. Remember, this is soccer that has a different set of rules for us fans than other sports….much more rabid than we are all used to…well, if you exclude college football.
On hockey, GO Blackhawks!!! (I know, I’m a Wings fan but this is a midwest team that hasn’t won the cup since ’61).I had to explain to one of the youngsters during Sunday Funday how I can root for the Hawks…it goes like this: The Hawks are in our conference for one, second, I have to root against any east coast team especially when it has Ville Leino who dogged it in Detroit and got himself traded…now he’s a superstar in Philly? I know, I shouldn’t hold that against him since he wasn’t getting playing time in Detroit. but, as Babcock says…you earn playing time by working your butt off….and Ville just didn’t have any fire. Maybe more later….
Well…don’t like the idea of Philly getting even with the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs….but that will make it more interesting to watch the game that I can see Sunday since it’s not on Versus. Still want the Hawks to win, though.
Oh, and the USA beat Australia today 3-1 but looked like crap….if they play like that next Sat against England, it will be 6-0 England in the first half…guys, let’s avoid going out in the first round again, please.