OT: On this day, 15 years ago...

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March 26th, 2012 at 6:11 PM
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pasadenablue
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OT: On this day, 15 years ago...

What does the date March 26, 1997 mean to you?

 

Today is the 15 year anniversary of what I consider to be the single most significant game in modern Red Wings history.

In a single game, the Wings were able to exorcise the demons of a playoff series past, launch themselves towards their first of four Cups over the next 11 years, and cemented the Wings-Avs rivalry as one of the best of its era.

I still remember listening to this game on my walkman radio while following my parents around as they got their taxes done by a real accountant.  The rush of elation and joy after McCarty scored in OT was something I'll never forget.  I was hooked on the Wings for life.  We'd won the game AND we'd won the fight.  And that bastard Claude Lemieux had answered for his crimes.  And even Patty Roy had gotten his face bloodied.  It was sublime.

 

Here's what I believe is a mostly-full replay of the game (minus commercials/intermissions).  Embedding for that vid is not allowed by yootoob.

http://youtu.be/OlWMitUqMNo

 

For the fight alone, here you are:

 

 

Enjoy.

This is home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgijdypJUEQ

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March 26th, 2012 at 6:17 PM | The 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs (Score:5 Normal)
julesh
Joined: 11/28/2011
MGoPoints: 594

The 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs were the first time I realized I can use sports to bond with my dad. 

Want a winged helmet hat? See this post: Link

March 26th, 2012 at 10:25 PM | I dunno (Score:3 Normal)
Drkboarder
Joined: 01/24/2010
MGoPoints: 2724

Man, the 96 game 7 double OT winner by Yzerman about gave me a heart attack at the age of 10.

*bonus points for MacTavish not having a helmet, Gretsky having the turnover to Yzerman's winner, Lidstrom jumping for joy and Scotty Bowman on the ice in about .02 seconds (briefly seen at 1:38 with a shitface grin).

 

 

 

 

 

March 26th, 2012 at 10:32 PM | This. (Score:3 Normal)
Corey
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This.

"Are you coming to bed?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Someone is WRONG on the internet."
March 26th, 2012 at 10:46 PM | Wow, I forgot that Gretzky (Score:2)
Corey
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Wow, I forgot that Gretzky was right there too...

"Are you coming to bed?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Someone is WRONG on the internet."
March 27th, 2012 at 12:25 AM | "Gretzky had it, lost it...." (Score:2)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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"Gretzky had it, lost it...." is for me the most memorable hockey call ever.  (No, I wasn't alive in 1980.)  Gary Thorne is one of the most underrated announcers there ever was.  I believe he's working for the Baltimore Orioles now, which is a waste of his talents.  Would love to see him paired up with Doc Emrick instead.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

March 27th, 2012 at 8:29 AM | MacTavish was the last man in (Score:2)
Baldbill
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MacTavish was the last man in the NHL to not have to wear a helmet. He was grandfathered in since when they passed the helmet rule they let guys who had not worn them, continue to not wear them if they wanted.

 

Semper Fidelis

March 27th, 2012 at 9:27 AM | I honestly have no (Score:3 Normal)
julesh
Joined: 11/28/2011
MGoPoints: 594

I honestly have no recollection of the 95-96 season. I imagine my dad was pretty into it since Detroit made a decent run in the playoffs, but I don't remember ever watching games with him until the 97 playoffs.

Want a winged helmet hat? See this post: Link

March 26th, 2012 at 6:20 PM | Thank you for posting this! (Score:3 Normal)
Hoke-ish
Joined: 01/30/2012
MGoPoints: 72

Thank you for posting this! It never gets old

"Gentelmen, this is football"

March 26th, 2012 at 6:21 PM | Wow.Darren Mccarty really (Score:3 Normal)
redwhiteandmaize
Joined: 02/04/2012
MGoPoints: 1058

Wow.Darren Mccarty really fell off.Its always good to look back at this and think of how great of a franchise the red wings really are.

"Are you an official here?Because you've officially given me a boner."

March 26th, 2012 at 6:25 PM | he had some amazing moments (Score:4 Normal)
pasadenablue
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he had some amazing moments when he was younger.  he's still one of my fave wings of all time.  but his troubles with substance abuse were a huge burden.  i am glad he got his shit together, channeled his inner Joey Kocur, and helped the team to the 2008 cup.

This is home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgijdypJUEQ

March 26th, 2012 at 6:29 PM | The 6-5 game was the only (Score:3 Normal)
1484
Joined: 06/21/2010
MGoPoints: 14423

The 6-5 game was the only game that has rivaled the UTL game in terms of sheer excitement I have felt watching a sporting event.  I'll argue that since the first 3/4 of the game were more enjoyable than the first 3/4 of UTL, I'd have to list these two as 1a and 1b.

EDIT: Holy mother of balls... it's been 15 years?!?!?!

Hail.

March 26th, 2012 at 6:31 PM | Lidstrom is the only guy left (Score:2 Normal)
bacon1431
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Lidstrom is the only guy left on either team IIRC. Although the rivalry didn't last an incredibly long time, it'll always be one the highlights of my childhood. Always looked forward to the matchups.

For a' that, an' a' that, 
Our toils obscure an' a' that, 
The rank is but the guinea's stamp, 
The man's the gowd for a' that. 
March 26th, 2012 at 6:46 PM | Holmstrom, too (Score:2 Normal)
exmtroj
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Holmstrom, too

 

 

"All I've had today is, like, six gummy bears and some scotch"

March 26th, 2012 at 7:31 PM | Duh. Forgot about Homer. (Score:1)
bacon1431
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Duh. Forgot about Homer.

For a' that, an' a' that, 
Our toils obscure an' a' that, 
The rank is but the guinea's stamp, 
The man's the gowd for a' that. 
March 26th, 2012 at 10:15 PM | Huh (Score:-1 Flamebait)
March 26th, 2012 at 6:32 PM | There are few athletes I will (Score:4 Normal)
Michael Scarn
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There are few athletes I will ever hate more than Claude Lemieux and Patrick Roy.  

Also, I'm desperate to find the Ken Kal audio from this, it's how I'll always remember it.  "Roy with a right, OH VERNON WITH A LEFT!"

March 26th, 2012 at 6:58 PM | I too hated Roy, which is why (Score:2)
WolvinLA2
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I too hated Roy, which is why that game we lit him up for 6(?) goals in game 7 will always be one of my favorite Wings games.

March 26th, 2012 at 7:58 PM | Patrick Roy (Score:2 Normal)
goblueram
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I understand not liking the Avs, and believe me I hated them during the rivalry, but I would never say I hate Patrick Roy.  He is arguably the greatest goalie of all-time.  Maybe it's just because I am also a tender though..

March 26th, 2012 at 8:41 PM | i think people hated him (Score:3 Normal)
pasadenablue
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i think people hated him because he was really the face of that franchise (sakic be damned). he embodied the avalanche so well - tough, skilled, exceptionally-talented.  he was such a thorn in our sides.  we hated him because he was good, not because he was a classless asshat like claude.

This is home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgijdypJUEQ

March 27th, 2012 at 12:27 AM | Well, not as much of a (Score:2)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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Well, not as much of a classless asshat as Claude.  He was an asshat, though.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

March 27th, 2012 at 12:42 AM | Roy was indeed a classless (Score:2 Normal)
WMUgoblue
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Roy was indeed a classless asshat, but for this clip I thank him for his douchebag personality.

 

Blank.....Blank......You're not looking at the big picture here.

March 27th, 2012 at 4:21 AM | I hated everyone on that (Score:1)
MattisonMan
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I hated everyone on that team, but as a goalie myself, I had to respect Roy.  It was awkward.

-Hail-
 
March 27th, 2012 at 1:07 PM | The nice thing about Roy was (Score:3 Normal)
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
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The nice thing about Roy was that he was insanely cocky, and that led to occasional meltdowns when he gave up a bad goal.  To this day I believe - and I'll believe it to my grave - that the 7-0 beatdown in Game 7 was directly caused by the Statue of Liberty goal in Game 6.  When Roy gave up a really bad goal that he felt he should've saved, he melted down.  The same thing happened in '97 - Game 4, I think - when Marty Lapointe ripped a shot from near the bottom of the circle that blasted through the Velcroed-on extension to Roy's glove and went in.  It precipitated a 6-0 beatdown and led to the infamous episode where Crawford spewed obscenities at Scotty in the third period.

"We've beaten Michigan the last four years.  So where's the threat?"

- Mark Dantonio

Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com/<

March 27th, 2012 at 2:49 PM | Ahh yes I remember Crawford (Score:1)
WMUgoblue
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Ahh yes I remember Crawford getting all upset because Corbet had to answer to Shanny for running Vernon a few moments eariler. God those playoff series were epic, but I still remember Scotty just looking around the crowd while Crawford was in his face trying to belittle him. 

PS I think my favorite moment in any of those series agaisnt the Av's was when Kozlov did the old, "okey-doke" on Foote and threw his face into the boards. 

Blank.....Blank......You're not looking at the big picture here.

March 27th, 2012 at 8:32 AM | No, I think he is pretty much (Score:2)
Baldbill
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MGoPoints: 2017

No, I think he is pretty much up there on the jerk list. He has since been a complete and utter idiot as a lower level coach, check his record of classless acts and the fact that he has coached his kids to act like morons also. Yes he was a good goalie but beyond that, there is a lot to dislike.

 

Semper Fidelis

March 26th, 2012 at 9:34 PM | especially when the first (Score:3 Normal)
goblue27
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especially when the first goal he gave up that game he was showboating and practically threw it in his own net....ahhhh, the wonderful memories

March 26th, 2012 at 10:38 PM | The Statue of Liberty goal (Score:4 Normal)
wile_e8
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The Statue of Liberty goal was in game six, but it was still awesome

March 26th, 2012 at 6:35 PM | I remember watching this in (Score:3 Normal)
joeyb
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I remember watching this in my basement and wondering if they were going to have enough players to finish the game. I do seem to remember it being even bigger, though.

March 26th, 2012 at 6:37 PM | http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/b (Score:3 Normal)
1484
Joined: 06/21/2010
MGoPoints: 14423

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/billy-sauer-goalie-fight-echlI

 

I think that the Wings/Avs rivalry peaked right before emotion was taken out of most pro sports.  That's why I love college sports so much more these days.  And the NHL playoffs.  I'm sorry, but I love dirty, hateful, spiteful contests.  As much as it pissed me off, I look back at OSU tearing down the banner, bomb dogs, and going for 2 when they had a clear win as high points in the rivalry.  It just seemed to breed that passion that has been lacking in most teams that I follow closely.

Hail.

March 26th, 2012 at 9:09 PM | The link you posted with (Score:2)
hillbillyblue
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Joined: 03/17/2012
MGoPoints: 157

The link you posted with Sauer's fight was like watching two guys who had never been in a fight before. 

If you're not living for something then you're dying for nothing.

March 27th, 2012 at 11:35 AM | I agree (Score:1)
coastal blue
Joined: 11/13/2010
MGoPoints: 1791

Moments like that make the rivalry. 

Now, if anything like that happens, everyone starts to snivel. 

March 26th, 2012 at 6:38 PM | Awesome.  Wings are the best (Score:5 Normal)
Rather be on BA
Rather be on BA's picture
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Awesome.  Wings are the best professional franchise in sports in my humble opinion.  Go away Yankees fans.

March 26th, 2012 at 8:16 PM | You must not have spent much time around Habs (Score:1)
LB
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MGoPoints: 5168

fans. They are totally insufferable.

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift

March 27th, 2012 at 10:07 AM | Huh... (Score:1)
Blue in Yarmouth
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I don't think I'm THAT bad....

March 26th, 2012 at 6:38 PM | Wonderful Moment... (Score:5 Normal)
LSAClassOf2000
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I get chills to this day watching Shanahan check Roy into Foote and into next week at the same time. Great memories abound here. 

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3

March 26th, 2012 at 6:43 PM | I was just watching this (Score:1)
d.
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MGoPoints: 189

I was just watching this video!  Ha, the game that turned me from a fan to die-hard.

March 26th, 2012 at 7:00 PM | wow, (Score:2)
Bryan
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Joined: 07/10/2009
MGoPoints: 8111

I was there and was 11 at the time. Can't believe it was that long ago. There was so much blood on the ice when things were finally cleared up. 

I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge

March 26th, 2012 at 7:04 PM | Good memory (Score:1)
goblueva
Joined: 04/06/2011
MGoPoints: 107

Can you just imagine the unity felt by the team following that? Its one thing to be unified to win a Cup but that was the signature moment that put that team over the top. 

I had no idea it was Larinov involved n the beginning? Glad to see D-Mac stick it to the Turtle!

"Some people say soccer is America's sport. I say 'BULLSHIT"!! Football's America's sport!"- Bo Schembechler, Football Camp 1995

March 26th, 2012 at 7:08 PM | one of the best rivalries in (Score:3 Normal)
heisman97
Joined: 07/02/2011
MGoPoints: 6

one of the best rivalries in the history of sports...these guys were the cream of the NHL crop 5 stanley cups in 7 years between them....will always hate the avalanche even though most of the players are gone

March 27th, 2012 at 11:18 AM | Rivalry? (Score:1)
French West Indian
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MGoPoints: 958

As much as I despied the Avalanche I've also always been annoyed referring to them as a rival.  The problem with it from my perspective is that fans in Denver never really had to suffer through any kind of lean years.  The Avalanche were simply a transplanted (and very good) team that seemed to come out of nowhere and win championships.

To hear people in Colorado interviewed about the "rivalry" and how much that hated Detroit...I mean, fuck you Colorado. You have no idea what hate is. You had a Stanley Cup winner dropped in your lap.

I suppose that after the beatdown, they'd taken their lumps and earned the right to hate Detroit.  But initially that rivalry talk really annoyed me.

Also, in the mid-90s that whole Kordell Stewart Hail Mary was still a very sore wound.  So yeah, lots of Colorado hate.

March 26th, 2012 at 7:16 PM | I remember watching this game (Score:2)
Hoke-a-maniac
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MGoPoints: 481

I remember watching this game live. Single greatest hockey brawl of all time!! Brings back so many great memories. Hard to believe it's been that long though!

March 26th, 2012 at 7:16 PM | When I watch the highlights (Score:2 Normal)
denardogasm
Joined: 09/11/2011
MGoPoints: 1948

When I watch the highlights from this game it makes me sad at how much pro sports have fallen in my estimation.  There are just no rivalries like that anymore.  I don't think I've ever hated an individual player as much as I did Claude Lemieux.  I wanted that guy to get knocked out every time the wings played him.

"Michigan Defense" is dominating everything, in every aspect of life. That's a rough definition.

-Craig Roh 10/29/2011

March 26th, 2012 at 7:21 PM | Witness (Score:1)
Le_Blue
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MGoPoints: 107

I was at the game.  Unforgettable memory

March 26th, 2012 at 7:48 PM | Hockey (Score:3 Normal)
FreeTheFabFivePlz
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Y U no exciting anymore?!!

So hot.  Milk was a bad choice.

March 26th, 2012 at 7:49 PM | Best Game Ever (Score:1)
raleighwood
Joined: 11/26/2008
MGoPoints: 1036

I truly think that was the best regular season game that I've seen in any sport.

March 26th, 2012 at 8:14 PM | 15 years ago (Score:2)
mvp
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 558

I was ignorant of the pilgrimage to football's Mecca that would take place over the next 8+ months.

March 26th, 2012 at 8:17 PM | Wow, 15 years.I forgot that (Score:4 Normal)
The FannMan
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Joined: 11/25/2008
MGoPoints: 1630

Wow, 15 years.

I forgot that McCarty scored the winner.  HAHA Patty HAHA. 

I don't think I ever appreciated what a sick move Larionov made at the blue line to set up the winner.

Not to sound like a cave man, but sports need more teams that actually hate each other.

 

"Nobody cares what you think!"

March 26th, 2012 at 8:34 PM | Knee Pick (Score:1 Normal)
lklein04
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Joined: 01/23/2011
MGoPoints: 32

Im impressed with that Knee Pick that Vernon hit. 2!!! Takedown!! 

March 26th, 2012 at 8:39 PM | And the Wings are even (Score:2)
pasadenablue
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Joined: 11/18/2008
MGoPoints: 4873

And the Wings are even winning 4-0 over the Jackets as we speak!

 

Playoff push, GOOOO!

This is home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgijdypJUEQ

March 26th, 2012 at 8:40 PM | It means we were in the early preparations (Score:2 Normal)
M-Wolverine
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MGoPoints: 39229

For an undefeated season.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

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