Its on like Donkey Kong - Stanley Cup Finals

[Saint John]

Luongo Comes Up Short Again


A couple of years ago, the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated by Anaheim in the second round of the playoffs because Roberto Luongo got distracted arguing for a penalty call late in the clinching and was beaten for the winning goal.

It was an embarrassing episode, although it was generally forgiven at the time because the veteran goaltender had been a standout in leading the Canucks to the division title that season and was appearing in the playoffs for the first time in his career. But there may not be as much compassion now for Vancouver's franchise player, who is considered by many to be the NHL's best goaltender. Or at least there shouldn't be because the Canucks failed his team in far worse fashion in another elimination game, this time against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I let my teammates down," said Luongo, who has one year left on a contract that pays him $6.75 million a season. "It was pretty wide open but I had to make the saves."

Especially since the Canucks tepid offense provided Luongo with the kind of offensive support it rarely does. The Canucks fired 38 shots at Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin -- two more than they had in the previous two games combined -- and they scored five times which should be enough for a goalie of Luongo's caliber to win.

But after a good start, including a big save on Martin Havlat's breakaway early in the first period, Luongo basically fell apart and ended up with his worst game of the post season. Luongo faced only 30 shots and failed to hold three leads in a 7-5 loss that clinched the second round series for the Blackhawks in six games.

Of course you can credit the Blackhawks explosive offense and its talent for staging comebacks for part of Luongo's problems. The upstart young Chicago team has shown a remarkable ability to come from behind in these playoffs, and usually from deficits much larger than the one goal it had to overcome a couple of times tonight. But with baby faced superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews flying all over the place and combining for five goals, the Blackhawks were even more difficult to contain than usual.

"We couldn't keep up," Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin said.

Even so, the Canucks had their chances to send this series back home for a deciding game, particularly in frenetic third period that saw Vancouver take its second lead less than four minutes in and then go ahead for the third time before the 13 minute mark. But that was the last answer the visitors had for the Blackhawks, who erupted for three goals in less than four minutes to keep the franchise's remarkable turnaround season moving forward and send it to the conference final for the first time since 1995.

[StevePerryHair]

Congrats Blackhawk fans... must be nice to wrap up the 2nd round! Good luck.

Yeah babyyyyyyy!!!!!!! I was there last night, one of the screaming 22,500 and let me tell you it was one of the best nights of my life! BEAUTIFUL, just freaking BEAUTIFUL!!! Still on an adrenaline rush, wore my #37 Burish shirt, and whaddya know, the boy scored a goal!! You're welcome, Bur.

Onto the next...!

LMAO! I just love that you've gone full-tilt puckbunny this year. It's great to see you and BJG getting into the playoffs! Only gals in the hockey thread last year were Treetop, Lula and I. NHL playoff hockey, no sport like it! Now if I could only get my Flames past the first round one of these years.

You know, I owe the hockey interest to my adoptive Chicago family. I went to several ECHL games in North Carolina as a kid, but never was "into" hockey at all... but I swear if this isn't ranking right up there with football for me now.
I take back all the stabs I hurled at the sport, I was oh so wrong.

It's the best "live" sport out there...just doesn't transfer to the tube so well....

Bah, Tommy! Local pub full of crazy red-wearing Flames fans, big screen, long island icetea in hand......transfers just fine!

Yeah, I don't see how it's any different than watching any sport on TV. Live is ALWAYS better, but TV is STILL exciting. I had an adrenline rush going last night with the Pens game, and it was on my HDtv

[StevePerryHair]

[
You mean kinda like I'm doing now. And that's true, you did post during the playoffs last year. Ooops, revoking your playoff newbie status now.

I'm a semi newbie! Actually, I grew up loving hockey as a kid. I grew up in little Erie, PA, and we did not have an NHL team, but we had a little EHL/AHL team back then, called the "Erie Blades" and my dad took us to "live" games every season. It was fun! And since Erie is not far from Pittsburgh, I have always rooted for the Penguins and as far as football the Steelers. My husband NEVER watches any sports, except the Super Bowl every year. So I guess I got away from it for a long time. But this last couple of years, with the Pens making the championship last year, and then doing well again this year, I guess it peaked my interest again. I forgot how much fun it can be! And then the Steelers and their play offs to the super bowl too! It's been an exciting few years with them too! I'm not much into baseball though, so I was never a Pirates fan It was the Yankees for me growing up around my dad. I can't really watch baseball anymore though. I need fast action! I think that's what I love about hockey!

[Deb]

Congrats Blackhawk fans... must be nice to wrap up the 2nd round! Good luck.

Yeah babyyyyyyy!!!!!!! I was there last night, one of the screaming 22,500 and let me tell you it was one of the best nights of my life! BEAUTIFUL, just freaking BEAUTIFUL!!! Still on an adrenaline rush, wore my #37 Burish shirt, and whaddya know, the boy scored a goal!! You're welcome, Bur.

Onto the next...!

LMAO! I just love that you've gone full-tilt puckbunny this year. It's great to see you and BJG getting into the playoffs! Only gals in the hockey thread last year were Treetop, Lula and I. NHL playoff hockey, no sport like it! Now if I could only get my Flames past the first round one of these years.

You know, I owe the hockey interest to my adoptive Chicago family. I went to several ECHL games in North Carolina as a kid, but never was "into" hockey at all... but I swear if this isn't ranking right up there with football for me now.
I take back all the stabs I hurled at the sport, I was oh so wrong.

It's the best "live" sport out there...just doesn't transfer to the tube so well....

Bah, Tommy! Local pub full of crazy red-wearing Flames fans, big screen, long island icetea in hand......transfers just fine!

Yeah, I don't see how it's any different than watching any sport on TV. Live is ALWAYS better, but TV is STILL exciting. I had an adrenline rush going last night with the Pens game, and it was on my HDtv

LOL, actually, he's got a bit of a point, being at a football game is about the same as watching it on tv. No comparison to live hockey.

And speaking of long island iceteas........one life lesson learned, don't ever mix.......dressy sandles, US long island iceteas, Southbend, and Dan's (half in the bag) directions.

[treetopovskaya]

Luongo Comes Up Short Again


A couple of years ago, the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated by Anaheim in the second round of the playoffs because Roberto Luongo got distracted arguing for a penalty call late in the clinching and was beaten for the winning goal.

It was an embarrassing episode, although it was generally forgiven at the time because the veteran goaltender had been a standout in leading the Canucks to the division title that season and was appearing in the playoffs for the first time in his career. But there may not be as much compassion now for Vancouver's franchise player, who is considered by many to be the NHL's best goaltender. Or at least there shouldn't be because the Canucks failed his team in far worse fashion in another elimination game, this time against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I let my teammates down," said Luongo, who has one year left on a contract that pays him $6.75 million a season. "It was pretty wide open but I had to make the saves."

Especially since the Canucks tepid offense provided Luongo with the kind of offensive support it rarely does. The Canucks fired 38 shots at Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin -- two more than they had in the previous two games combined -- and they scored five times which should be enough for a goalie of Luongo's caliber to win.

But after a good start, including a big save on Martin Havlat's breakaway early in the first period, Luongo basically fell apart and ended up with his worst game of the post season. Luongo faced only 30 shots and failed to hold three leads in a 7-5 loss that clinched the second round series for the Blackhawks in six games.

Of course you can credit the Blackhawks explosive offense and its talent for staging comebacks for part of Luongo's problems. The upstart young Chicago team has shown a remarkable ability to come from behind in these playoffs, and usually from deficits much larger than the one goal it had to overcome a couple of times tonight. But with baby faced superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews flying all over the place and combining for five goals, the Blackhawks were even more difficult to contain than usual.

"We couldn't keep up," Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin said.

Even so, the Canucks had their chances to send this series back home for a deciding game, particularly in frenetic third period that saw Vancouver take its second lead less than four minutes in and then go ahead for the third time before the 13 minute mark. But that was the last answer the visitors had for the Blackhawks, who erupted for three goals in less than four minutes to keep the franchise's remarkable turnaround season moving forward and send it to the conference final for the first time since 1995.

should read... "luongo comes up short... again"

luongo is prolly the most over-rated goalie in the league... & he proved it yet again this year in the playoffs. so happy they are out. }:C)

FORE!!



(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

[StevePerryHair]

[
Yeah, I don't see how it's any different than watching any sport on TV. Live is ALWAYS better, but TV is STILL exciting. I had an adrenline rush going last night with the Pens game, and it was on my HDtv

LOL, actually, he's got a bit of a point, being at a football game is about the same as watching it on tv. No comparison to live hockey.

And speaking of long island iceteas........one life lesson learned, don't ever mix.......dressy sandles, US long island iceteas, Southbend, and Dan's (half in the bag) directions. [/quote]

Part of that was poor Jen and her cell phone being upside down. Her GPS had us going the wrong way for a while, which made a long walk even longer!!!!!!! LOL

And I guess since I have never seen live NHL hockey, I cant' really make a comparison. I guess I need to trek it over to Tampa next year and catch a Lightning game and see for myself. I still think the TV action of hockey is enough to keep it exciting enough for me though. It's not boring and slow like baseball.

[RedWingFan]

(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

Hey Treetop. Would you be a sweetheart and run off 15,000 copies of this and pass them out at the game tonight before all them disrespectful dumbasses start chanting "Red Wings suck"??? Thanks hun!

Anaheim columnist: Wings are the most successful organization in pro sports

By MARK WHICKER
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM -- You win Stanley Cups in June.

Sometimes before the summer solstice, when the guys in the white gloves bring out the silver, across a carpet on slushy ice.

Sometimes afterward, deep into the debris of the second day of the NHL entry draft, when someone numbly announces that, with the 210th pick overall in 1999, the Detroit Red Wings take Henrik Zetterberg.

That's the same Zetterberg who was the Conn Smythe Award winner in '08 as the most valuable player in the postseason, an Olympic gold medalist for Sweden in 2006.

"I was too little," Zetterberg said Monday, referring to that '99 draft. "I wasn't ready to be drafted high at that point. I hadn't played much internationally. So I was fortunate that somebody saw me and took a chance."

But then when you pick that low, it really isn't much of a chance.

There was not a murmur in the room when the Red Wings got to the 53rd pick in 1989 (Nicklas Lidstrom, six Norris Trophies), or the 210th pick in '99 (Pavel Datsyuk, reigning Selke Trophy winner).

Or the 95th pick in 2002 (Valtteri Filppula, 40 points this season), or the 97th pick in 2004 (Johan Franzen, 34 regular season goals, a league-high 20 goals in the past two postseasons).

Or the 257th pick in 1994 (Tomas Holmstrom, four Stanley Cups, 189 regular-season goals).

Or the 291st pick in 2002. That was the final pick of the whole draft. By then the coffee machines are empty and most teams have already packed away their computers.

Detroit chose that moment to take Jonathan Ericsson, who has played alongside Lidstrom on the top defense pairing in this Western Conference semifinal against the Ducks. At 6-foot-5, the 25-year-old Ericsson might be the league's next significant defenseman.

"The scout came to see another player," he said, "and wound up seeing me. The guy they saw was Andreas Sundin, and the Red Wings drafted him, too. But I had just been moved from forward to defense. Besides, I was a late bloomer — maybe 6-foot-2 at the time. I had barely reached puberty. It all worked out for the best."

The Red Wings haven't had a first-round pick as high as No. 10 since 1991 (Martin Lapointe). Since then they have had only one Top 20 pick, Jakub Kindl at No. 19 in 2005.

Instead, they count on a steady flow of Swedes and other Europeans, none well known as juniors, each of them seemingly more sturdy and ready than the last.

"This franchise always looks at what you're going to be in the future," Zetterberg said. "The scouts are able to see the things you'll be able to do when you get bigger and stronger."

Or, as General Manager Ken Holland simply said, "We like skill."

That doesn't sound revolutionary, but Holland means the Red Wings will take a chance on size and strength because, after all, kids get bigger and stronger. But you can either handle a puck or you can't.

Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill lead the most successful organization in the four major pro sports. This is Detroit's 18th consecutive playoff appearance. The San Antonio Spurs are next with 11.

But Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings' director of European scouting, is the one who found Datsyuk in Siberia and who has mined his Swedish and Finnish contacts to assemble a nucleus that will be very nuclear for a long time.

Kronwall is signed through 2012, Filppula through '13, Datsyuk through '14, Franzen through '20 and Zetterberg through '21, by which time all the ice in the world might be indoor.

"Another thing is that we've been lucky enough that we don't have to play these kids before they're ready," Holland said, noting that Ericsson played much of this season at the Wings' Grand Rapids affiliate.

"When they're young they have no rights," Coach Mike Babcock said, speaking of contracts. "Do they like being sent down? They have no choice."

"I thought it was a good idea to go back to Grand Rapids," Ericsson said. "I didn't have a good camp and I needed some work. It's better to wait your turn to play on a team like this one."

Scouting is also networking, not just evaluation.

"When I got drafted Hakan took me to a grocery store and showed me the right things and the wrong things to eat," Kronwall said. "It's something I could use when I played professionally."

"Hakan stays in touch with the players, has dinner with them, wants to know how we're doing," Zetterberg said. "And that's something he can pass along with the younger ones coming."

Yes, more are coming, quietly for now, like championship pods on time-release.

That's how the Red Wings have turned this icy thing into their own Summer Game. Draft late. Play later.

Find complete Ducks coverage from the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/sections/ducks-664489/" target="top">here.

[treetopovskaya]

(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

Hey Treetop. Would you be a sweetheart and run off 15,000 copies of this and pass them out at the game tonight before all them disrespectful dumbasses start chanting "Red Wings suck"??? Thanks hun!

Anaheim columnist: Wings are the most successful organization in pro sports

By MARK WHICKER
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM -- You win Stanley Cups in June.

Sometimes before the summer solstice, when the guys in the white gloves bring out the silver, across a carpet on slushy ice.

Sometimes afterward, deep into the debris of the second day of the NHL entry draft, when someone numbly announces that, with the 210th pick overall in 1999, the Detroit Red Wings take Henrik Zetterberg.

That's the same Zetterberg who was the Conn Smythe Award winner in '08 as the most valuable player in the postseason, an Olympic gold medalist for Sweden in 2006.

"I was too little," Zetterberg said Monday, referring to that '99 draft. "I wasn't ready to be drafted high at that point. I hadn't played much internationally. So I was fortunate that somebody saw me and took a chance."

But then when you pick that low, it really isn't much of a chance.

There was not a murmur in the room when the Red Wings got to the 53rd pick in 1989 (Nicklas Lidstrom, six Norris Trophies), or the 210th pick in '99 (Pavel Datsyuk, reigning Selke Trophy winner).

Or the 95th pick in 2002 (Valtteri Filppula, 40 points this season), or the 97th pick in 2004 (Johan Franzen, 34 regular season goals, a league-high 20 goals in the past two postseasons).

Or the 257th pick in 1994 (Tomas Holmstrom, four Stanley Cups, 189 regular-season goals).

Or the 291st pick in 2002. That was the final pick of the whole draft. By then the coffee machines are empty and most teams have already packed away their computers.

Detroit chose that moment to take Jonathan Ericsson, who has played alongside Lidstrom on the top defense pairing in this Western Conference semifinal against the Ducks. At 6-foot-5, the 25-year-old Ericsson might be the league's next significant defenseman.

"The scout came to see another player," he said, "and wound up seeing me. The guy they saw was Andreas Sundin, and the Red Wings drafted him, too. But I had just been moved from forward to defense. Besides, I was a late bloomer — maybe 6-foot-2 at the time. I had barely reached puberty. It all worked out for the best."

The Red Wings haven't had a first-round pick as high as No. 10 since 1991 (Martin Lapointe). Since then they have had only one Top 20 pick, Jakub Kindl at No. 19 in 2005.

Instead, they count on a steady flow of Swedes and other Europeans, none well known as juniors, each of them seemingly more sturdy and ready than the last.

"This franchise always looks at what you're going to be in the future," Zetterberg said. "The scouts are able to see the things you'll be able to do when you get bigger and stronger."

Or, as General Manager Ken Holland simply said, "We like skill."

That doesn't sound revolutionary, but Holland means the Red Wings will take a chance on size and strength because, after all, kids get bigger and stronger. But you can either handle a puck or you can't.

Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill lead the most successful organization in the four major pro sports. This is Detroit's 18th consecutive playoff appearance. The San Antonio Spurs are next with 11.

But Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings' director of European scouting, is the one who found Datsyuk in Siberia and who has mined his Swedish and Finnish contacts to assemble a nucleus that will be very nuclear for a long time.

Kronwall is signed through 2012, Filppula through '13, Datsyuk through '14, Franzen through '20 and Zetterberg through '21, by which time all the ice in the world might be indoor.

"Another thing is that we've been lucky enough that we don't have to play these kids before they're ready," Holland said, noting that Ericsson played much of this season at the Wings' Grand Rapids affiliate.

"When they're young they have no rights," Coach Mike Babcock said, speaking of contracts. "Do they like being sent down? They have no choice."

"I thought it was a good idea to go back to Grand Rapids," Ericsson said. "I didn't have a good camp and I needed some work. It's better to wait your turn to play on a team like this one."

Scouting is also networking, not just evaluation.

"When I got drafted Hakan took me to a grocery store and showed me the right things and the wrong things to eat," Kronwall said. "It's something I could use when I played professionally."

"Hakan stays in touch with the players, has dinner with them, wants to know how we're doing," Zetterberg said. "And that's something he can pass along with the younger ones coming."

Yes, more are coming, quietly for now, like championship pods on time-release.

That's how the Red Wings have turned this icy thing into their own Summer Game. Draft late. Play later.

Find complete Ducks coverage from the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/sections/ducks-664489/" target="top">here.

i said "prolly"... grr... i'm hoping those ducks surprise all us duck fans & win the next two games. it can happen! }:C)

the past proves they can come back & win... go DUCKS!! }=C)

[Melissa]

[
Yeah, I don't see how it's any different than watching any sport on TV. Live is ALWAYS better, but TV is STILL exciting. I had an adrenline rush going last night with the Pens game, and it was on my HDtv

LOL, actually, he's got a bit of a point, being at a football game is about the same as watching it on tv. No comparison to live hockey.

And speaking of long island iceteas........one life lesson learned, don't ever mix.......dressy sandles, US long island iceteas, Southbend, and Dan's (half in the bag) directions.

Part of that was poor Jen and her cell phone being upside down. Her GPS had us going the wrong way for a while, which made a long walk even longer!!!!!!! LOL

And I guess since I have never seen live NHL hockey, I cant' really make a comparison. I guess I need to trek it over to Tampa next year and catch a Lightning game and see for myself. I still think the TV action of hockey is enough to keep it exciting enough for me though. It's not boring and slow like baseball.[/quote]

I remember that Long Island Iced Tea scary stuff!!

[Behshad]

Jen's GPS wasn't upside down. She was holding the damn phone upside down but at least we all got there safe .

[StevePerryHair]

Jen's GPS wasn't upside down. She was holding the damn phone upside down but at least we all got there safe .

That's what I meant Actually that's what I said I know it's hard to read with my quote malfunction And what's more amazing is we made it BACK safe, after the party!!

[Deb]

Jen's GPS wasn't upside down. She was holding the damn phone upside down but at least we all got there safe .

That's what I meant Actually that's what I said I know it's hard to read with my quote malfunction And what's more amazing is we made it BACK safe, after the party!!

Still have to giggle over that. Behshad and all his ladies traipsing around Southbend.

Lynn, I got one of the biggest blisters on my foot I've ever had. I thought Cindi and CrazyDeb were going to piddle their pants when I got to the party complex and sandles flying, I hit the nice lush cool grass. You have no idea how great that cold grass felt on a huge blister. Can't believe I stood/boogied all day at the MRfest show in boots the next day too. Crazy fun!

[StevePerryHair]

Jen's GPS wasn't upside down. She was holding the damn phone upside down but at least we all got there safe .

That's what I meant Actually that's what I said I know it's hard to read with my quote malfunction And what's more amazing is we made it BACK safe, after the party!!

Still have to giggle over that. Behshad and all his ladies traipsing around Southbend.

Lynn, I got one of the biggest blisters on my foot I've ever had. I thought Cindi and CrazyDeb were going to piddle their pants when I got to the party complex and sandles flying, I hit the nice lush cool grass. You have no idea how great that cold grass felt on a huge blister. Can't believe I stood/boogied all day at the MRfest show in boots the next day too. Crazy fun!

I didn't even remember when you guys left the party! It was time to go and I remember thinking "where are Deb, Cindi and Debbie" We were lucky to find a BIG cab half way back to get us! I think Gayle or Jen broke a flip flop, and the rocks hurt! That cab came by JUST in time It really was a great time!

[Indyjoe]

(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

Hey Treetop. Would you be a sweetheart and run off 15,000 copies of this and pass them out at the game tonight before all them disrespectful dumbasses start chanting "Red Wings suck"??? Thanks hun!

Anaheim columnist: Wings are the most successful organization in pro sports

By MARK WHICKER
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM -- You win Stanley Cups in June.

Sometimes before the summer solstice, when the guys in the white gloves bring out the silver, across a carpet on slushy ice.

Sometimes afterward, deep into the debris of the second day of the NHL entry draft, when someone numbly announces that, with the 210th pick overall in 1999, the Detroit Red Wings take Henrik Zetterberg.

That's the same Zetterberg who was the Conn Smythe Award winner in '08 as the most valuable player in the postseason, an Olympic gold medalist for Sweden in 2006.

"I was too little," Zetterberg said Monday, referring to that '99 draft. "I wasn't ready to be drafted high at that point. I hadn't played much internationally. So I was fortunate that somebody saw me and took a chance."

But then when you pick that low, it really isn't much of a chance.

There was not a murmur in the room when the Red Wings got to the 53rd pick in 1989 (Nicklas Lidstrom, six Norris Trophies), or the 210th pick in '99 (Pavel Datsyuk, reigning Selke Trophy winner).

Or the 95th pick in 2002 (Valtteri Filppula, 40 points this season), or the 97th pick in 2004 (Johan Franzen, 34 regular season goals, a league-high 20 goals in the past two postseasons).

Or the 257th pick in 1994 (Tomas Holmstrom, four Stanley Cups, 189 regular-season goals).

Or the 291st pick in 2002. That was the final pick of the whole draft. By then the coffee machines are empty and most teams have already packed away their computers.

Detroit chose that moment to take Jonathan Ericsson, who has played alongside Lidstrom on the top defense pairing in this Western Conference semifinal against the Ducks. At 6-foot-5, the 25-year-old Ericsson might be the league's next significant defenseman.

"The scout came to see another player," he said, "and wound up seeing me. The guy they saw was Andreas Sundin, and the Red Wings drafted him, too. But I had just been moved from forward to defense. Besides, I was a late bloomer — maybe 6-foot-2 at the time. I had barely reached puberty. It all worked out for the best."

The Red Wings haven't had a first-round pick as high as No. 10 since 1991 (Martin Lapointe). Since then they have had only one Top 20 pick, Jakub Kindl at No. 19 in 2005.

Instead, they count on a steady flow of Swedes and other Europeans, none well known as juniors, each of them seemingly more sturdy and ready than the last.

"This franchise always looks at what you're going to be in the future," Zetterberg said. "The scouts are able to see the things you'll be able to do when you get bigger and stronger."

Or, as General Manager Ken Holland simply said, "We like skill."

That doesn't sound revolutionary, but Holland means the Red Wings will take a chance on size and strength because, after all, kids get bigger and stronger. But you can either handle a puck or you can't.

Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill lead the most successful organization in the four major pro sports. This is Detroit's 18th consecutive playoff appearance. The San Antonio Spurs are next with 11.

But Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings' director of European scouting, is the one who found Datsyuk in Siberia and who has mined his Swedish and Finnish contacts to assemble a nucleus that will be very nuclear for a long time.

Kronwall is signed through 2012, Filppula through '13, Datsyuk through '14, Franzen through '20 and Zetterberg through '21, by which time all the ice in the world might be indoor.

"Another thing is that we've been lucky enough that we don't have to play these kids before they're ready," Holland said, noting that Ericsson played much of this season at the Wings' Grand Rapids affiliate.

"When they're young they have no rights," Coach Mike Babcock said, speaking of contracts. "Do they like being sent down? They have no choice."

"I thought it was a good idea to go back to Grand Rapids," Ericsson said. "I didn't have a good camp and I needed some work. It's better to wait your turn to play on a team like this one."

Scouting is also networking, not just evaluation.

"When I got drafted Hakan took me to a grocery store and showed me the right things and the wrong things to eat," Kronwall said. "It's something I could use when I played professionally."

"Hakan stays in touch with the players, has dinner with them, wants to know how we're doing," Zetterberg said. "And that's something he can pass along with the younger ones coming."

Yes, more are coming, quietly for now, like championship pods on time-release.

That's how the Red Wings have turned this icy thing into their own Summer Game. Draft late. Play later.

Find complete Ducks coverage from the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/sections/ducks-664489/" target="top">here.

i said "prolly"... grr... i'm hoping those ducks surprise all us duck fans & win the next two games. it can happen! }:C)

the past proves they can come back & win... go DUCKS!! }=C)

They sure can!



Go DUCKS!

[YoungJRNY]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

It doesn't get much better than this.

May the best team win! Win or go home!

[bluejeangirl76]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

[Saint John]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

Boston and Detroit are both going to win. The Pittsburgh/Washington game is a toss up, but I'm rooting for Washington. That should be the best game. Detroit and Boston will both win by at least 2 goals.

[S2M]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGfJ0_KMiro

[YoungJRNY]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

Boston and Detroit are both going to win. The Pittsburgh/Washington game is a toss up, but I'm rooting for Washington. That should be the best game. Detroit and Boston will both win by at least 2 goals.

I agree. Detroit and Boston are teams that just don't fold down the stretch, esp. in games like these. Still, there HAS to be an upset between these 3, don't you think? PITT/WASH is as unpredictable as you get, and I wouldn't call either team winning to be called an upset since this was pretty much the way I saw the series going.

Something tells me the Ducks are going to take care of Detroit if there is going to be one, but Game 7's are too hard to judge. These is going to be some EPIC games.

[S2M]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

Boston and Detroit are both going to win. The Pittsburgh/Washington game is a toss up, but I'm rooting for Washington. That should be the best game. Detroit and Boston will both win by at least 2 goals.

I agree. Detroit and Boston are teams that just don't fold down the stretch, esp. in games like these. Still, there HAS to be an upset between these 3, don't you think? PITT/WASH is as unpredictable as you get, and I wouldn't call either team winning to be called an upset since this was pretty much the way I saw the series going.

Something tells me the Ducks are going to take care of Detroit if there is going to be one, but Game 7's are too hard to judge. These is going to be some EPIC games.

I'm telling you right now:

IF Anaheim ousts Detroit - welcome to the Boston Invitational Cup Finals.....yep, you heard it here foist!

[bluejeangirl76]

Looks like we got a 3 way dance with teams that face a Game 7.

Carolina/Boston
Detroit/Anaheim
Washington/Pittsburgh

My picks are Carolina, Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

Carolina and Anaheim because I don't want the Hawks to face Detroit or Boston, and Pittsburgh because I want revenge for 1992.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGfJ0_KMiro

Oh, unclench yourself - I don't want them to face Boston because I want the Hawks to WIN. That was actually a compliment to your team.

But if they do face the Ruins, I hope they mop the ice with them and piss on that boring ass logo in the middle of Banknorth Arena for the Retarded, or whatever it's name is this week.

[Rhiannon]

IF Anaheim ousts Detroit - welcome to the Boston Invitational Cup Finals.....yep, you heard it here foist!

"Hey, somebody tell this cigarette to shut up!"

[treetopovskaya]

(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

Hey Treetop. Would you be a sweetheart and run off 15,000 copies of this and pass them out at the game tonight before all them disrespectful dumbasses start chanting "Red Wings suck"??? Thanks hun!

Anaheim columnist: Wings are the most successful organization in pro sports

By MARK WHICKER
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM -- You win Stanley Cups in June.

Sometimes before the summer solstice, when the guys in the white gloves bring out the silver, across a carpet on slushy ice.

Sometimes afterward, deep into the debris of the second day of the NHL entry draft, when someone numbly announces that, with the 210th pick overall in 1999, the Detroit Red Wings take Henrik Zetterberg.

That's the same Zetterberg who was the Conn Smythe Award winner in '08 as the most valuable player in the postseason, an Olympic gold medalist for Sweden in 2006.

"I was too little," Zetterberg said Monday, referring to that '99 draft. "I wasn't ready to be drafted high at that point. I hadn't played much internationally. So I was fortunate that somebody saw me and took a chance."

But then when you pick that low, it really isn't much of a chance.

There was not a murmur in the room when the Red Wings got to the 53rd pick in 1989 (Nicklas Lidstrom, six Norris Trophies), or the 210th pick in '99 (Pavel Datsyuk, reigning Selke Trophy winner).

Or the 95th pick in 2002 (Valtteri Filppula, 40 points this season), or the 97th pick in 2004 (Johan Franzen, 34 regular season goals, a league-high 20 goals in the past two postseasons).

Or the 257th pick in 1994 (Tomas Holmstrom, four Stanley Cups, 189 regular-season goals).

Or the 291st pick in 2002. That was the final pick of the whole draft. By then the coffee machines are empty and most teams have already packed away their computers.

Detroit chose that moment to take Jonathan Ericsson, who has played alongside Lidstrom on the top defense pairing in this Western Conference semifinal against the Ducks. At 6-foot-5, the 25-year-old Ericsson might be the league's next significant defenseman.

"The scout came to see another player," he said, "and wound up seeing me. The guy they saw was Andreas Sundin, and the Red Wings drafted him, too. But I had just been moved from forward to defense. Besides, I was a late bloomer — maybe 6-foot-2 at the time. I had barely reached puberty. It all worked out for the best."

The Red Wings haven't had a first-round pick as high as No. 10 since 1991 (Martin Lapointe). Since then they have had only one Top 20 pick, Jakub Kindl at No. 19 in 2005.

Instead, they count on a steady flow of Swedes and other Europeans, none well known as juniors, each of them seemingly more sturdy and ready than the last.

"This franchise always looks at what you're going to be in the future," Zetterberg said. "The scouts are able to see the things you'll be able to do when you get bigger and stronger."

Or, as General Manager Ken Holland simply said, "We like skill."

That doesn't sound revolutionary, but Holland means the Red Wings will take a chance on size and strength because, after all, kids get bigger and stronger. But you can either handle a puck or you can't.

Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill lead the most successful organization in the four major pro sports. This is Detroit's 18th consecutive playoff appearance. The San Antonio Spurs are next with 11.

But Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings' director of European scouting, is the one who found Datsyuk in Siberia and who has mined his Swedish and Finnish contacts to assemble a nucleus that will be very nuclear for a long time.

Kronwall is signed through 2012, Filppula through '13, Datsyuk through '14, Franzen through '20 and Zetterberg through '21, by which time all the ice in the world might be indoor.

"Another thing is that we've been lucky enough that we don't have to play these kids before they're ready," Holland said, noting that Ericsson played much of this season at the Wings' Grand Rapids affiliate.

"When they're young they have no rights," Coach Mike Babcock said, speaking of contracts. "Do they like being sent down? They have no choice."

"I thought it was a good idea to go back to Grand Rapids," Ericsson said. "I didn't have a good camp and I needed some work. It's better to wait your turn to play on a team like this one."

Scouting is also networking, not just evaluation.

"When I got drafted Hakan took me to a grocery store and showed me the right things and the wrong things to eat," Kronwall said. "It's something I could use when I played professionally."

"Hakan stays in touch with the players, has dinner with them, wants to know how we're doing," Zetterberg said. "And that's something he can pass along with the younger ones coming."

Yes, more are coming, quietly for now, like championship pods on time-release.

That's how the Red Wings have turned this icy thing into their own Summer Game. Draft late. Play later.

Find complete Ducks coverage from the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/sections/ducks-664489/" target="top">here.

i said "prolly"... grr... i'm hoping those ducks surprise all us duck fans & win the next two games. it can happen! }:C)

the past proves they can come back & win... go DUCKS!! }=C)

They sure can!



Go DUCKS!

i did not want to leave the pond last night. WOW! }=C))

i didn't make warm-ups but i hear the ducks were all biz/serious while the wings were more laid back & having fun... i guess they thought they had this series won... big mistake. };C)

GO DUCKS!!! }=C)

[Indyjoe]

(i'll proly be playing mini golf myself tomorrow... *sigh*)

Hey Treetop. Would you be a sweetheart and run off 15,000 copies of this and pass them out at the game tonight before all them disrespectful dumbasses start chanting "Red Wings suck"??? Thanks hun!

Anaheim columnist: Wings are the most successful organization in pro sports

...

...
Find complete Ducks coverage from the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/sections/ducks-664489/" target="top">here.

i said "prolly"... grr... i'm hoping those ducks surprise all us duck fans & win the next two games. it can happen! }:C)

the past proves they can come back & win... go DUCKS!! }=C)

They sure can!



Go DUCKS!

i did not want to leave the pond last night. WOW! }=C))

i didn't make warm-ups but i hear the ducks were all biz/serious while the wings were more laid back & having fun... i guess they thought they had this series won... big mistake. };C)

GO DUCKS!!! }=C)

It was loud! We heard you guys from here.

Awesome!

[YoungJRNY]

Slaughterrrrrrrr, a blowout was coming between these two teams, and it came in Game 7. LETS GO PENS, Eastern Conference Finals, here we come! Watch out!

Pittsburgh faces winner of Boston/Carolina.

[treetopovskaya]

congrats pens!

go danny!

go kuni!

}:C)

(if not the ducks i am hoping either the pens or hawks win stanley... tho i hear he REALLY enjoyed his summer vacation in socal a couple summers ago... so... };C)))

[Melissa]

I know L will be excited!

[StevePerryHair]

Slaughterrrrrrrr, a blowout was coming between these two teams, and it came in Game 7. LETS GO PENS, Eastern Conference Finals, here we come! Watch out!

Pittsburgh faces winner of Boston/Carolina.

All I can do is borrow your word from a couple games ago.... WOW It didn't even seem like the same teams playing tonight! I felt bad for the Caps at some point, does that make me a girl???

WAY TO GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StevePerryHair]

I know L will be excited!

[YoungJRNY]

Slaughterrrrrrrr, a blowout was coming between these two teams, and it came in Game 7. LETS GO PENS, Eastern Conference Finals, here we come! Watch out!

Pittsburgh faces winner of Boston/Carolina.

All I can do is borrow your word from a couple games ago.... WOW It didn't even seem like the same teams playing tonight! I felt bad for the Caps at some point, does that make me a girl???

WAY TO GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, that makes you a girl. That's what a game 7 is supposed to be.. SHOW NO MERCY! I also want to congratulate Sydney Crosby for showing why he is far and beyond the best player in hockey. His play is above and beyond that of Ovechkin's, and this is coming from someone who thought the opposite. Nice job Syd, we're going to need more of that in the next and Final rounds.