Cup-Clinching Open Thread? Let's Go, Red Wings!

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 2, 2008 4:00 PM EDT in News Comment 28 comments

I don't know if I should do this, but before (and during) tonight's Tigers-Athletics ballgame, many of us will be watching Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, in which the men of the Winged Wheel might clinch a championship, so I thought I'd post an Open Thread where we can discuss the game.

For the sake of SB Nation solidarity, I'll nudge you toward Winging It in Motown and Pensburgh first. But here are a few Wings blogs worth checking out, if you're not already familiar with them:

I realize that not every Tigers fan is necessarily a Detroit sports fan, but I'm going to presume that the majority of people reading this are excited about one of the local teams being tantalizingly close to winning a title.

When the NHL resumed play for the 2005-06 season, I wrote a magazine preview on the Red Wings, and I remember there being a lot of talk that Detroit wouldn't find as much success without being able to put together a big-name, big-salaried roster. Ken Holland has obviously shown that Mike Ilitch's checkbook wasn't the only thing that made him a great general manager. Finding and developing young talent, fitting veterans around it, and hiring the right coach to make it all work is an example of team building and roster construction to learn from.

Posting something about the Wings feels a bit bandwagon-ish, since I haven't paid much attention to them throughout this season. I used to be quite a hockey fan - it's difficult not to be in this area - but admit that the sport kind of lost me with its work stoppage in 2005. However, the Wings winning the Cup in 1997 is one of my favorite moments as a sports fan, and the anticipation of another victory celebration is bringing some of those feelings back.

I'm just glad I didn't miss any Stanley Cup celebrations while in Malaysia. I love a good parade. So if you're so inclined, chat about the game here, and if you want to make it a long night, stick around for the usual Tigers talk. Go Wings!

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For all the good work on some of those Wings blogs, they don’t draw much in the way of comment, or don’t offer a game thread. Both A2Y and Pensblog are too homeristic for me, either way.

So I’ve been hanging out at Pensburgh, the sbnation offering for the enemy in this series. You’ll get crap for being a Wings fan, but it’s good enough natured, and there are a few folks on there, got a good few comments for the last game’s open thread. Join us tonight, just ignore the baiting…it’s worse when the avalanche fans show up, FrankD who runs Pensburgh is pretty cool.

by ahtrap on Jun 2, 2008 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To tell the truth I probably will not be watching too much of the Tigers game because of this, I mean it’s 1/164 of the season of a shot a the championship, and to truly establish Detroit as a hockey dynasty. I am SO excited, it’s too bad I have my high school baseball banquet on the day of game 5, but I won’t be missing ANY of the game. I’ll be here!

Go Tigers

by Tony K on Jun 2, 2008 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wings

No doubt I follow with great passion all Detroit teams, and have followed the Wings since before they were dead last in the league 20 something years ago..used to watch more Red Wings games together as a family then we ate dinners together..When the wings were on the west coast I did not have a bed time…Cant wait to see Nicky hoist the cup as the captain for the first time tonight and it will be the first cup clincher that I will be togethter with my entire family..really looking forward to it…Go Wings

by PBURGTIGER on Jun 2, 2008 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll keep you updated on the Tigers at 10!

Not much of a hockey fan myself, but I always want to see Detroit teams win.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by MackAveKurt on Jun 2, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I grew up in Northern Michigan.

Only got a few television channels up there. One of the ones that we did get was CBC (Canadien) so I rarely watched the Wings and developed a liking for the Canadien Teams on Hockey Night in Canada. More specifically, I became a fan on the Quebec Nordiques. Unfortunately for me, living in Michigan, the team left Quebec to become the Avalanche. Now everyone that I know that likes hockey thinks that I am a grade-A sonovabitch.

by Grant E. on Jun 2, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, that happens being an Avs fan^

But at least your a fan of the right ball team!

Go Tigers

by Tony K on Jun 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, save for hockey I root for all the right Detroit teams.

by Grant E. on Jun 2, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice goal, Kronwall.

Maybe later he can score for the team he plays for.

by Grant E. on Jun 2, 2008 8:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bad memories of 1996

Paul Coffey and that own goal that started the Nordilanche on their way to the cup that year….

by ahtrap on Jun 2, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

work

Just got back from work tonight.. Dude, what’s going on, are the pens just playing really well or did the Wings come out flat like they did in the middle of the Dallas series?

by busta on Jun 2, 2008 8:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, geez

Did I jinx this with the whole Open Thread thing? Was that cocky of me?

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 2, 2008 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if it goes wrong, we’ll know who to blame

by ahtrap on Jun 2, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So Ian...

Will this serve as the open thread for the Tigers game, too?

by Grant E. on Jun 2, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

I was originally going to combine the two threads – and maybe I should’ve – but the GameThread for the Tigers game will be up shortly.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 2, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta keep those page views workin’, ya know. ;-)

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 2, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty good baseball game over on ESPN right now

Twins have come back from three deficits tonight and Mauer just suh-moked his first homer of the year off of Pettitte to make it 5-5 going to the 8th. Just in case there is anyone here not interested in the hockey game.

by Grant E. on Jun 2, 2008 9:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Since this IS a Detroit Tigers blog...

The GameThread for tonight’s game is now posted. In the interests of keeping the discussions together, we probably should’ve kept the hockey talk over there. Ah, well – you live, you learn. Thanks for indulging the Red Wings stuff tonight.

Anyway, if you’re switching over to the Tigers game at 10 p.m., join the GameThread.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 2, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs