I only got to see the second due to being at the All-Eastern Chorus/Music Teachers In-Service and having to leave to do dinner with my student's parents. I checked the score when I got to the restaurant, and it was tied. I tactically excused myself to use the men's room after ordering and I'm sure my cheer was heard when I checked the score on my phone and saw the win.
Great comeback. I'm one of those who will call out poor play, but despite calling a spade a spade when things aren't right, I do constantly maintain hope in the comeback. Even during the 10-3 blowout, I kept the game on. As fans of an original six franchise, and one that has sustained a level of excellence for the last 20 years including 20 playoff runs, 4 cups, 2 other finals appearances, and I believe 13 division titles going on 14 and a heck of a streak of 100 point seasons, in all honesty, we're spoiled. We look at the Division Title as rightly ours based on how things have been in most seasons. Quite a few of the fans these days are too young to remember the Darkness under Harkness and the Dead Things era, and you know what? I'm fine with that. In general, the Wings fans I've dealt with in person and online tend to be much classier and knowledgeable than other team's fans. Yes, there is a lot of complaining during GDT's and in other threads, but I honestly feel that it's a byproduct of being used to the sustained level of excellence the Wings have displayed for so long. When there are stretches of mediocrity, Wings fans get upset because it's below the standard the franchise has set. I'd rather have to be complaining about sinking into mediocrity then suffer with a crappy on-ice product. I think fans who were around before the playoff streak began would agree completely.
When there was a stinker like the game against the Blues on Wed, it's such a shock because of how rarely it happens, and it's made even worse in the eyes of Wings fans since what we perceive as mediocrity on the ice would be considered a very good effort or even excellence by most other teams. 100 points in a season is pretty darn good, no matter how you slice it, and fans should be thrilled for their team to reach that plateau. Not in Hockeytown, where it's become so commonplace as to be almost expected. The team clinched a playoff birth, whoopdeedo. Most teams' fans would make a big deal. 20 years straight in Hockeytown. For many teams, making the playoffs is a successful season, second round is excellent, semifinal or finals is simply awesome. In Hockeytown, making the playoffs has been a given, and not making it past the second round is considered failure by a lot of fans, regardless of injuries or other factors. Excellence has become so commonplace, so ingrained in the fabric of the Wings organization that when things don't click on the ice like we all know the Wings are capable of doing, regardless of injuries, people will grouse about it. When I complain about something on the ice, or something affecting the game, I'm by no means bailing on the team, like some others seem to be. If a Wings fan is passionate, great, more power to them. Fans of other franchises WISH they could cheer for what we are able to cheer for. The Canucks are having a franchise season. It doesn't guarantee them a cup, but I can respect what they're doing this season, and even their fans who have a clue would have to admit that they've got a ways to go before they can be accurately compared to Detroit in terms of sustained excellence.
Today their comeback showed a lot of backbone. I think the conversation Babcock had during the timeout and making them stand on the ice had a good impact, and I'd love to know exactly what was said. The Todd and Abdelkader had awesome games, and that kind of intensity and passion and pride in the crest on the front of the jersey is what the team needs to show on every shift from here on out as they head down the stretch. The switch may not have been flipped, but I think we saw the flashes of what the Wings can bring when it counts. Once everyone is healthy and on that same page, they will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
