Red Wings fan in Pittsburgh

[xtrememachine1 795]

Hey everybody! I've been a big fan of this board for a couple years and I always enjoyed reading what people had to say around playoff time. The first hockey game I ever watched was around 20 years ago when the Pens played the Wings at the Joe. Mario and Stevie both got hat tricks (as I remember, but it was awhile ago) and the Pens won 6-5. I became a huge fan of hockey and of both teams. Throughout the years, people would see me wearing Red Wings jerseys, t-shirts, etc and naturally everyone started associating me with the Wings. Everytime they lost, I would hear "Hey what happend to your Wings? Why was Osgood Osbad last night?" and so on. Fortunately the Wings won the Cup in my senior year of high school (97) and I got the last laugh. From this experience, the Wings became "my" team, more so than the Pens. I got engaged to my wife in my first trip to Detroit after seeing my first game at the Joe Louis Arena on New Years Eve. My 5 month old son's middle name is "Yzerman". When I gave him that name people said, "Wouldn't that be something if the Pens played Detroit in the Finals? Who would you root for?" Cmon now, my son's middle name is "Yzerman" who do you think? But instead I responded with "Nah, that'll never happen. Both teams were in the final four only once in the last 20 years, what are the odds they'll meet in the finals in same season my son is born?"

And here we are... its the Finals I've been indirectly cheering for, for over 20 years. I have every intention of cheering for the Wings in the Finals behind enemy lines, but the ribbing is going to be non-stop for the next week or so. This morning there was a "No Red Wings fans allowed" sign on the door of my office and I know that's just the beginning. Every sports talk show host and fan in this city is bashing the Wings and I need this board just for my own sanity.

It should be a great Finals and I can't wait to see how these two teams matchup with one another, although I do know this much, from having watched a lot of Pens game, the Pens need to be better if they're going to beat the Wings. I've watched both teams very closely for years and I can see the Wings really putting it to the Pens defense. Everyone keeps asking how the Wings are going to stop Crosby and Malkin. How are the Pens going to stop Dats and Hank? The only part of this series I worry about is Osgood vs Fleury. Fleury is the real deal and Ozzie will need to at least match his talent even if its just for one series.

[Wing Fanatic 3]

Welcome and my condolences for having to be a Wing fan in a hostile environment! I am expecting this to be a good series but I definitely think Detroit will win. The east coast teams don't seem to play the same level of hockey as the west. This is just my OPINION! Crosby and Malkin are good but I don't feel that they are as tried & true as Dats and Zetts. Once again, just my OPINION! Either way, I am looking forward to some great hockey.

[HkyTwn 5]

His middle name is Yzerman? That's ADORABLE! Good luck with your environment until the series is over!

[xtrememachine1 795]

Crosby and Malkin are definitely as advertised when it comes to offense, but if there's one thing people know (especially in Pittsburgh), its that defense wins championships. Detroit has the best defense by far. I've seen a lot of Pens game this year and they're not as good a passing team as the Wings and tend to turn the puck over at the blueline, throw around passes and just hope it hits someone's stick. Crosby is a fantastic passer, no argument, but he does have his fair share of bad passes too and the defense on the Pens don't really back him up when he makes a bad pass.

Its hard to watch a Pens game after watching a Wings game. The Wings' passes connect, everything flows people are where they should be. That says a lot about coaching and strategy. I think the Wings have a big advantage in the coaching department and that will be the difference. Before this playoff run, everyone in Pittsburgh wanted Therrien fired.

Edited May 20, 2008 by xtrememachine1

[irishtemper14+25 11]

Crosby and Malkin are both so ******* good, but i say as hockey players go dats and hank are more complete players and are the best defensive forwards in the game.

But theres a huge difference....crosby and malkin arent even in their prime yet, thats ******* ridiculous how good they are for being kids. In my opinion, Detroit will win the series but it will be a huge experience for the young pitt team and they will go nowhere but up.

[SteelTown66 0]

First post. Big Pens fan here and I come in peace. I must say, this is a great site. I'm finding Red Wing fans very knowledgeable and passionate...w/out being annoying. I guess you'll have that with the rich history. I knew in due time I would read something that would get me to apply for a sign-on...."Every sports talk show host and fan in this city is bashing the Wings...." I'm finding just the opposite so I needed to defend. The Pittsburgh sports talk shows are not bashing the Wings. They have been very complimentary....almost too much. I do not sense throughout our fanbase what the OP is talking about.

I will say I've read some Pens Fans posts here and think they're not giving enough praise to the Wings defense and more importantly "team defense." There's been some unfair comparisons. You have at least four studs on defense (I don't even have to name them...afterall this is a Wing site) and two Selke candidates on offense. Enough said. I remember back towards the end of the season when the Wings had trouble winning and thought to myself...."how in the world with that defense, can they lose that many games in a row." Anyway, the Pens will have to work hard and support each other when in the Wings zone. If they can have some quality shifts where they out work the Wings D, I think that will bring some quality scoring chances. The Pens need to capitalize on those scoring chances because I think they'll be few and far between. I think the overall assumption out there is that this will be a high scoring series. I disagree. I think you'll see a lot of 2-1 / 3-2 wins. I've said a lot of "I think" in this post....but there one thing I know....this will be a great series!

[Dabura 12,232]

Welcome. I'm in Pennsylvania, so I feel for you.

[dicksmack 33]

Well I didn't pick any wings to name my child after but I'm a big fan too... I was in a hostile environment in the playoffs once (Vancouver) and it was tough at work going down 2-0 but sweet as candy to sweep the next 4 games, i.e. after another victory: "Hey guys, what's new?" hahahahahahaha. May you be as lucky as I was...

J.