Can we do it again? Wings 97-98 We Want Stanley!

Sep 24 04:36 UTC 1997

     OK, so the pre season of hockey is here. This item's purpose is
to discuss, report and to pick apart the latest from the NHL and to ponder
the notion of a back to back Stanley Cup for our beloved Red Wings, the only
team with Win built right into thier name.
     We enter the 97-98 season missing a few, Vernie is now gone, and Vladdie
is still unable to play, but most of all the other guys are back, and it is
hoped that the other Russians will come to terms with thier contracts.


  In that spirit, gentlemen, I hereby open the discussion, and let us never
lose sight of the end goal.... STANLEY.

response 2 of 51:

Sep 27 01:58 UTC 1997

I have nothing to add to Kevin's comment, except to muse, sadly, that 
the Vladinator is not likely to play ever again. I just wish for him 
recovery to the point where he can have a normal life.

The Wings can repeat. I will be rooting for them. Defense is key.

response 4 of 51:

Oct 10 03:37 UTC 1997

  I watched the banner raising ceremonies and all that before the game and
it finally hit me, WE HAVE STANLEY. Now it's official. Ted and Gordie were
there as were the wives of Vladdie and Sergei. I didn't watch the game, but
they won and that's the most important part.

  I got today's Freep and there is a nice picture of the arena during the
banner raising, as well as a panoramic shot of the arena. It's not the
Olympia, but it will do. I wish I could have been there, but....

response 6 of 51:

Oct 18 16:52 UTC 1997

Sergei was probably off on a beach somewhere with his 14-year old 
girlfriend, tennis star Anna Kournikova.  

The Wings wont repeat because last year was a fluke.  The Flyers 
*lost*, the Flyers choked like dogs.  The Wings werent tested.  The
Cup was given to them on a silver platter.  They didnt earn Stanley.  They
won it because they were at the right place at the righttime, watching an
opponentgo up in flames.

Im pulling for the Rangers (we call'em the Broad Street Blue Shirts)
Even though captain Mark Messier defected back to Canada.

response 8 of 51:

Oct 19 19:55 UTC 1997

But it *was* a fluke..the Flyers played as bad as any team ever 
has in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Maybe the Wings would have won 
against a Flyer team playing as it should have, but we'll never 
know because the Flyers laid down.  This is the year the Wings 
prove themselves.  They have to repeat to show they really are 
worthy of Stanley!

response 10 of 51:

Oct 21 00:37 UTC 1997

Richard is just jealous.

The wings were worried about how strong a start they were having. 
Everyone knows that teams that start the season strongly never finish 
with the cup.

Well, it is *almost* always true. The last time a strong starting team 
won the cup was during the Edmonton Dynasty.

We are seeing the second year in the Wing's Dynasty. Theyare indeed 
5-1-1, and without Fedorov. Aaron Ward and Mike Knuble are two U-M 
hockey players who are now on the team. They evern brought the STanley 
cup to Ann Arbor for the U-M - Northwestern football game, so it got 
explosed to about 106,000 fans (not counting television). Well done, 
guys.


THey are playing the Blues tonight and appear a little lackluster. They 
gave up the first goal with the defense out of position. The they tied 
it on a pretty play which was claled bac because a small portion of one 
skate was on the line defining the crease. We have *got* to do something 
about that rule. I am all for protecting the goalie, but the current 
rule is stupid.

So it is 1-0 Blues after a period. Gotta go back to the TV. 

response 12 of 51:

Oct 21 13:10 UTC 1997

I have to apologize to Richard, I was a little harsh. I was just in a bad mood
this weekend and bad-mouthing the wings isn't usually the *best* way to get
on my good graces. =P But again, I apologize.

response 14 of 51:

Oct 23 17:58 UTC 1997

Richard is just a total idiot - aren't you glad he's returned to grex? 
Federov's flame is no longer 14.  Meanwhile, the flukey Wings have only
managed to win 9 out of 11 playoff series the last 3 years, so yeah, they
don't deserve Stanley.  This season's edition are at the tops in scoring and
near the tops in scoring defense, sounds like a good combination to me.  Which
will only get better when Maltby & Federov return to action.  I think Nick
Lidstrom should keep the assistant captain A even if Federov returns.

response 16 of 51:

Oct 30 06:21 UTC 1997

The Wings won their tenth game of the season. The Blues also have ten 
wins, but the Wings are the only team in the NHL with but one loss. They 
have the best record in hockey, but as long as the Blues are in the 
Central Division, it will be a very tough division.

They beat the sharks at home to win 4-3. That's 12 victories over the 
sharks at the Joe without a loss to them. It was a night of mixed 
feelings for the fans, who warmly welcomed the sharks new goalie back to 
the Joe. Mike Vernon played tonight under the banner that he help raise 
and against the team he helped raise it for. The fans still love him, 
but most were glad to see Yzerman score against him on a great pass from 
McCarty to tie it in the second period. They won on Larry Murphy's goal 
at the beginning of the third, scored while Draper was partially in the 
crease after having been dumped there by a defenseman, invoking the rule 
that allows a goal under those circumstances.

Next game - the Kings at the Joe, Friday at 7:30

response 18 of 51:

Nov 4 20:04 UTC 1997

They are 11-2-2. thats 24 points out of 30, or 80%. Out of 164 total 
points, that is 131. Of course we all know that it is possible to finish 
with a zillion points and still get knocked out of the playoffs, but 
lets keep the horse in front of the cart.

response 20 of 51:

Jan 5 16:24 UTC 1998

OTOH, the Wings just sleepwalked thru 2 lackluster performances to start out
1998, losing 2 in a row for the first time this season, 4-1 to San Jose and
the Joe, and 3-1 at Chicago.  Both games ended with empty net goals for the
opposition, so things were closer than the scores indicate.

response 22 of 51:

Apr 5 16:51 UTC 1998

Well as we all know, Sergei's back, and back in his old form. He's even looked
more physical in the games he's played.

The Russian 5 is back, sorta, kinda, not really. Well, there's a new "-ov"
on the team. The forementioned Mironov looked great in the 3-2 win over
Chicago yesterday, with a goal and two assists. 2.8 seconds left and Shanny
scores. :) What else can I say except I LOVE THAT MAN!!!!

response 24 of 51:

Apr 6 19:26 UTC 1998

That's all they've been talking about on the sports talk shows all 
weekend. No one can figure out what Roy was trying to accomplish. Most 
conclusions are that he didn't accomplish anything good for the 
Rockies.

It was pretty evident that Roy was the one "itching" for that fight.
Maybe he won the fight, but I didn't think it was decisive at all.

Yeah the rematch will be one to watch for sure.