Lord Stanley Returns to Hockeytown!
June 4th, 2008
That’s right, the Detroit Red Wings are once again the champions of the National Hockey League! After a heartbreaking triple overtime game five loss the Red Wings returned to Pittsburghs’ Igloo to take on the Penguins in a thrilling game six. The Wings came out fast and furious in the first period where Brian Rafalski scored a powerplay goal and then Valterri Filppula doubled it up in the second period. In the third, Henrik Zetterberg ripped a shot that trickled under Marc-Andre Fleury’s pads, as he attempted to fall back on the puck he ended up pushing it over the goal line to give the Wings a 3-1 lead. Of course, this game wouldn’t be interesting without a powerplay goal being scored by Marian Hossa with 1:27 left to cut Detroit’s lead to 3-2. In the final seconds, Detroit failed to clear and “Cindy” Crosby put a backhanded shot onto goal where Hossa nearly knocked it in but Chris Osgood, who had 20 saves and improved his playoff record to 14-4, got just enough stick on it to not allow the goal as time expired.
The Wings celebrated behind their net and then went forward with the traditional handshake at center ice. Afterwards, the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP) was awarded to Henrik Zetterberg who had a goal and assist in the final game. Personally, it was a toss up for me between Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, who had 13 goals in the playoffs but suffered from concussion-like symtoms and missed a couple games, if not for this I believe he should have been the MVP.
Finally, the Stanley Cup was brought to near center ice and awarded to Red Wing captain, Nicholas Lindstrom who raised the cup high above his head for the fourth time in his career as a Red Wing. One of the best parts of the night was Lindstrom handing the cup off, second, to Dallas Drake who, before this, was playing his 14th season without ever winning a Stanley Cup.
This team is seriously unbelievable, I have great respect for coach Mike Babcock, whom also is relishing his first Stanley Cup victory and is proving to everyone that he will further carve Detroit’s name into the history books (and the Stanley Cup). This team has a great core of players both veterans and rookies and I believe they could repeat next year (not to get TOO ahead of myself or anything). Another reason I am so happy for this is because Detroit desperately needs something to cheer about. The city is struggling as most people know and this 2008 Stanley Cup Championship will give the people of Detroit a reason to be happy, well, at least until they watch another dissapointing Tigers loss anyway.
Congratulations Wings! You made this Detroit boy in Utah incredibly happy (and proud) to be a hockey, Wings, and Detroit fan! Hockeytown is shining once again!!