OT: Greatest Red Wings memory

Submitted by Steve Lorenz on

In honor of the possibility of another great Red Wing memory tonight, I'm just wondering which game or moment has defined your allegiance to arguably the most successful professional organization in sports over the last twenty years. 

Mine is McCarty's goal against Philly in 1997. My grandma was a diehard fan and McCarty was her favorite player. Everytime I watch that video now I have a hard time fighting back tears. 

 

Wenham Wolverine

May 12th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^

I know things were different back then...

but how did people not die all the time?

imagine kronwall coming at you if you didn't have a helmet. terrifying...

then consider that konstantinov played against mctavish and a couple other grandfather clauses...

sucks to be them.

tk47

May 12th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^

I remember WRIF putting together a mash-up of "Hey Man Nice Shot" with clips of Mickey LOSING HIS SHIT from the call of that goal.  I wonder if it still lives on somewhere in the internets...

 

On an unrelated note, it looked like there were a few empty seats in the lower bowl at the start of OT #2, I wonder how many people missed the goal b/c they were in an infamous Joe Louis bathroom line.  THAT.  WOULD.  SUCK.

Elise

May 12th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^

This. Beat me to it!

Second:  When the Wings won the cup in 2002, there were a bunch of us in the living room watching the game.  When Shanahan scored the last goal to clinch the game, we all went nuts.  My poor cat was sitting in the middle of the room and bolted for the screen door, which was shut.  He hit the screen so hard that he bounced back into the middle of the room.  Once he regained his footing, he realized we were still going crazy and did it AGAIN.  He then proceeded to run into the basement.  We felt bad for a moment, then continued celebrating.

I3lackcell

May 12th, 2011 at 2:34 PM ^

-The game 7 blow out against Colorado when Roy held up the save and it fell down his arm into the net.

-Getting Ted Lindsey's signiture at a game as he sat a few rows behind us.

-Playing with McCarty at Shaun Burr hockey school.  (and basically all the other cool stuff for the few years I went to it.  Meeting amazing wings)

-McCarty's goal against Philly

 

stillMichigan

May 12th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^

That game 7 was one of mine too. Roy got pulled in the game. It was over in the first period.

I have to say 1997 tho, when we finally beat the Avs in a series.... game 6 at home. I drove 300 miles on the spur of the moment and gladly paid $300 bucks to see it.  It was sweet. During warmups Offsprings' Gone Away blared. They played "what a night" by Frankie Valley on the speakers afterward. Even today when I hear those songs it takes me back..Fedorov had a huge game and Vernon stoned em. It was so huge to finally beat the Av's and we swept the finals.

BOX House

May 12th, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^

They also blasted that at Joe-Vision when the Wings beat the Caps in Washington to win the 1998 Stanley Cup. I was only 10 years old or so, but I remember that song like it was yesterday and will remember it the rest of my life. It was only Joe Vision, but watching so many fans celebrate while confetti fell and that song played was an amazing feeling.

CapedBlueSader

May 12th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^

 Vladimir Konstantinov hitting on open ice, as a kid that is what made me want to play hockey. He was by far my favorite player and was crushed when the accident happened. Still brings me to tears when he came onto the ice in the wheel chair to hold the cup.

Waters Demos

May 12th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^

Good use of the word "possibility." 

Although this may be sufficient to disturb the space-juju continuum. 

I'd have perhaps gone with even more limited/cautionary language. 

dlcase1708

May 12th, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^

Being a kid and watching Osgood or Vernon fight Roy, and the all out team brawls between the Avs and Wings...I loved those. Also, seeing Konstantinov come out on the ice to lift the cup, that definitely brought a tear to my eye. Everything the Wings have done for him, and Jiri Fischer following his collapse, just makes me proud to be a Wings fan. Classiest organization in all of sports.

kdhoffma

May 12th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^

Greatest:

1a.  Stevie Y lifting the Cup in '97

1b.  Stevie Y immediatly placing the Cup on Vlad's lap in '98.

2.  Stevie Y blueline goal against the Blues in 2OT of game 7.

3.  March 26th, 1997 (still remember the exact date some 10+ years laters)

 

Worst:

1.  Limo

2.  1995 sweep in the Finals

3.  1994 1st Round against the Sharks (Damn you "History will be made!")

 

 

a2bluefan

May 12th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^

Well, I was at the Joe on Tuesday night for Game 6.... and it will be a long, long time (read: never) before I forget how crazy and loud and awesome that place was. Just might be the most thrilling sports event I have ever attended.

That said.... one of my favorite Red Wings memories was in 1998, after Yzerman raised the cup, the first person he handed it off to was Chris Osgood, who had endured all grades of criticism from fans and media. Already teary-eyed in disbelief that the Wings had done it again, I completely lost it when the captain handed the cup to Ozzie.

ChuckWood

May 12th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^

The 1997 fight was a great game to be at.  Also, I've been to every single Wings vs. Coyotes game in Arizona for the last 5 years.  Those are always great experiences.

If I had to chose, it would be my first memory of Red Wings hockey.  My dad has been taking me to games since I was 2 years old.  My first actual memory though involves Coffey, Dino, and Probert.  The early 90s were a great time to develop fanhood.  Watching the team becoming a Stanley Cup contender and eventual winner was amazing.  There was nothing like 1997.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

May 12th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

I can't pick one.  How do you pick one?  Yzerman's goal against the Blues, winning the first Cup, any number of wins against Colorado, Statue of Liberty goal, turtle power, Game 3 against the Canes, 7-0, #19 retirement ceremony, Lidstrom center-ice goal....20 years of the best modern-day dynasty in sports.

NCMtnBlue

May 12th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^

Recall watching Yzerman steal the puck short handed, take it behind the other team's net, and procede to kill about 45 seconds of power play while 2 opponents beat the hell out of him, unable to get the puck away.

Most specific memory outside of the Game 7 DOT goal was watching Chris Pronger (can't stand that guy) line him up for a huge hit against the boards, and end up injuring himself on the play when Yzerman ducked - ending Pronger's playoffs for that year.  David vs. Goliath baby.

Seth

May 12th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^

Dammit, Casey.

ARGH Dammit Casey.

Dammit Casey.

Dammit Casey!

Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Dammit Casey! Yzerman blue line SCOOOOOOORRRRRRES!!!!!!!!!!

BOX House

May 12th, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^

Like many have said, 1997 was incredible.

There are so many moments you could focus on from that year, but I loved the way the city just went crazy with the thought of the Cup. It had to be that 1 out of every 3 or 4 cars on the roads had those Red Wings car flags flying from them on a daily basis that Spring. Never have I seen a city embrace a team like Detroit did that 97 Wings team.

MichFan1997

May 12th, 2011 at 3:19 PM ^

These are in order they occured

1. The blood bath-I was in 5th grade on March 26, 1997. Listened to it unfold on the radio as I didn't have PASS sports.

2. Eliminating Colorado in the 1997 WCF. I still have a VHS of that game somewhere.

3. Winning the Cup a few weeks later over my brother's favorite team.

4. Vladdy skating the 1998 Cup around with his wheel chair.

5. 2002 Cup, specifically Game 3 of the 1st round which turned the series around. Also, the 3OT game on a Saturday night that made me very tired at church. Also the 7-0 beatdown of Colorado.

6. 2007-Staying up late with classes the next morning (at CMU) to watch the Wings beat the Flames. Then we had an unlikely comeback against the Sharks the next round (HALOL) where we scored with 30 seconds left (Robert Lang) to tie a game which would have put us down 3-1.

7. 2008 Cup, watching from an ice cream parlor that a guy I know was running at the time. We all gathered around a big screen for the finals then walked around town in celebration after.

8. Game 7 win over the Ducks in 2009.

9. Game 7 win over the 'Yotes in 2010.

10. ?????????



P.S. My Game 7 record as a Wings fan is 4-1

cazzie

May 12th, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

Abel, Lindsey and Howe. 1950's. I was very little. Riding on my big brother's shoulders. We took the bus to Olympia Stadium. SRO tickets but i was hoisted up and sat on the top of the wall in the back and had this whole wonderful dream emblazened forever in my brain of Red and noise and octopus and hats on the ice.  and alot of wins.

Just like tonight.

Candor for Sale

May 12th, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

Agree, hard to pick one. I never had ESPN growing up, so I listened to a lot of Red Wings games on the radio, if they weren't on ABC. Sitting alone in my parents' bedroom listening to the McCarty goal and eventual cup celebration in '97 was special. It was like a fireside chat.
<br>
<br>The only thing better was seeing the goal on the news later that night.

Benoit Balls

May 12th, 2011 at 3:40 PM ^

but even in Cleveland, we could get WJR clear as a bell. Not only do I remember how happy my Dad was when they won the Cup for the first time since he was 9, but I also remember Bruce Martyn coming out of retirement to do a bit of the broadcast for game 4. Seemed like a real classy move by the franchsie to allow Mr. Martyn to be part of the occasion. "He shoots, he SCORES"...man do I miss that