OT: Nothing to Hang Our Heads About

Submitted by the_big_house 500th on

We all know what happened, we all watched the game and felt the same feeling when it was over. Pain; But we really have nothing to hang our heads over. For the last 19 seasons we have made the playoffs, gained amazing players like Hasek, Hull and Robatile, won 4 stanley cups, including 2 in the past 11 years. We have proven to the NHL that we are one of the greatest franchises in professional sports and one of the winningest. If it is not our year then it is not our year. We don't need to prove anything to anybody other than the fight to get our title back which we have won back to back in the past 2 years. San Jose is the better team and if they go to the finals then we can look back and say we lost to the western conference champions or even the Stanley Cup champions. San Jose has earned my respect because this team has played hard to win in all 3 games and I have no shame in losing to them. The penatly shot was the key to the win but Nabakov made an incredible save. I'm still a Wings fan no matter what. I was born a Wing and I'll die a Wing. Howard is the future for our net minding and now it is up to players like Abdelkader, Eaves, Zetterberg and Datsyuk to lead this team next year. Most likely Osgood, Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Draper and Maltby will retire and skate right into the Hall of Fame. We will probably lose Bertuzzi but we still have a game 4 so it isn't over yet.

dinkmctip

May 5th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^

"Most likely Osgood, Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Draper and Maltby will retire and skate right into the Hall of Fame." I bet only Lidstrom makes it...

Steve Lorenz

May 5th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^

With all due respect to Draper and Maltby especially, they won those cups on teams where they were probably the least talented players on the team. Yes, they played important roles at times but it was guys like Fedorov, Kozlov, Yzerman, Shanahan, Hull, Robitaille, Chelios, Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Coffey, Franzen, Osgood, Larionov, Konstantinov and Hasek that played the most primary roles. I hate to sound brutally honest because they have been part of Detroit hockey for so long, but they just simply aren't HOFers. 

Osgood should get in IMO. Holmstrom is a different case. If it's all about numbers, than he probably won't or shouldn't get in, but if it's based at all on one's effect on the game and the way it's played, he should be a shoo-in. His ability to get (and stay) in front of the net changed the game to an extent, forced rule changes and ultimately wreaked havoc on opponents. 

Monocle Smile

May 5th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^

But let's be serious. They won by one goal in each of the first two games and needed a 5-on-3 in each game to do it. Last night was the first game they deserved to win. This series could easily be 2-1. I understand that life's not fair, especially when you get Shegos'd, but we'll move past it. I'll toast to no retirements.

the_big_house 500th

May 5th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^

It hasn't happened since Anaheim did it in 2003 and I would hate to see it now. If we win in game 4 it would make me feel a little better if we lose in game 5. I just want somebody to end Pittsburgh's title.

jg2112

May 5th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^

If you use the analogy that you cannot complain for five years after your team has won a championship, no one on this board who is a Red Wings fans can complain about anything Wings related until 2017.

They're an amazing team with amazing talent. The fact is that they have played the equivalent of 4 seasons in the past 3 years, and also many played in the Olympics.

I personally would prefer these guys get an additional month off to rest in anticipation of a successful 2010-11 season.

And, there is no shame in losing to a number one seed. They're where they are for a reason.

jg2112

May 7th, 2010 at 12:43 AM ^

Uh, no. Since 1997 the team has won 4 Cups. The 5-year window has never run out, so, after 1997, the window went to 2002, after 1998, the added five years pushed it to 2007, in 2002, add five years to 2012, and then the 2008 one pushed it to 2017.

MGoJen

May 5th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^

I know I'm probably being overly-optimistic, but we could totally stage an epic Detroit comeback.  I know it's not likely, but it's possible, and hope dies last. 

Once again, I refer you all to the motto of the city of Detroit:

"Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus."  (We hope for better things; they shall rise from the ashes.)

bronxblue

May 5th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

The Wings battled injuries all year, have been playing into June for years now, and also contended with the Olympics.  This was supposed to be a down year for the club and they still garnered 100+ points for the 10th straight year.  They were due for a bit of a letdown, and San Jose may well be the best team in the Western Conference this year.  Coupled with a slew of bad penalties (some deserved, some pretty sketchy), I'm not surprised that the Wings are on the brink of elimination.  I still think they win the next 2 and set up a tight Game 6 back in Detroit, but either way I think most people are proud of this team.  Maybe having a couple more week to recover in the off-season will be good for this squad, and I fully expect them to be back amongst the elite teams next year.  

Maizeforlife

May 5th, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^

It still hurts.  The thing about sports is that you can never be satisfied.  I'm still trying to distinguish between a "distinct kicking motion" and a good goal.  Apparently the execs in Toronto can read minds when they know what the intent of the player is.