A Year To The Day

[weGotTheCup89 41]

So here we are, a year from the date of the most epic Game 5 of the 2008 Finals.

The Joe was hype, and as loud as I could ever remember it, with everyone expecting us to bring the Cup home that night.

However, we started off pretty weak and got down early until we turned it on for the second half of regulation (the story of most of these playoffs too, no?)

From about the midpoint of regulation, the Wings just caught fire, and we saw some of the best end-to-end hockey I can remember, with I believe the Wings scoring 3 consecutive goals after getting down 2-0.

The Joe was going crazy, and there was an incredible sense of true euphoria with the minutes ticking down and the unbridled "WE WANT THE CUP!" chant..

and then 34.7 happened

and we went to one overtime, two overtime, THREE OVERTIMES, with the Wings playing some of their best hockey ever

and we lost following a Jiri Hudler double minor, with Fleury ending with fifty-some saves.

And yes, I realize that we won the Cup the next game and all was forgiven, but this game raises a few questions for me still:

Are we gonna see that same Fleury that we saw last year play out of his mind again, or even just well enough to steal a game?

Will we see the Wings again dominate play like they did around this time last year, or is Pittsburgh going to keep outshooting us?

And... is anyone else still scarred by this loss? When I think about all the good things that the Wings have done, I keep coming back to this game and think how I was less than a minute from seeing Nick Lidstrom and the team celebrate right before my eyes.. but maybe I'm just bitter

LET'S WIN GAME 3!!

[Ladsud2002 0]

Aren't you a ray of sunshine.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Great game.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Just thinking about that goal still hurts, even though we won it in game 6 and we're back in the finals... the absolute sense of deflation followed by the dejection an hour or more later sits pretty vividly in my mind.

[Electrophile 3,554]

I want to pretend it never happened, thanks very much. Why not talk about Game 4 of the '95 Finals too?

[wingsdiehard13 33]

I take it you were there? Man that would be dissapointing. I bet the crowd was absolutely electric. I went to game 1 last year and that was the loudest I've ever heard the Joe. Game 5 must have been amazing.

[RedWingNut78 0]

So here we are, a year from the date of the most epic Game 5 of the 2008 Finals.

The Joe was hype, and as loud as I could ever remember it, with everyone expecting us to bring the Cup home that night.

However, we started off pretty weak and got down early until we turned it on for the second half of regulation (the story of most of these playoffs too, no?)

From about the midpoint of regulation, the Wings just caught fire, and we saw some of the best end-to-end hockey I can remember, with I believe the Wings scoring 3 consecutive goals after getting down 2-0.

The Joe was going crazy, and there was an incredible sense of true euphoria with the minutes ticking down and the unbridled "WE WANT THE CUP!" chant..

and then 34.7 happened

and we went to one overtime, two overtime, THREE OVERTIMES, with the Wings playing some of their best hockey ever

and we lost following a Jiri Hudler double minor, with Fleury ending with fifty-some saves.

And yes, I realize that we won the Cup the next game and all was forgiven, but this game raises a few questions for me still:

Are we gonna see that same Fleury that we saw last year play out of his mind again, or even just well enough to steal a game?

Will we see the Wings again dominate play like they did around this time last year, or is Pittsburgh going to keep outshooting us?

And... is anyone else still scarred by this loss? When I think about all the good things that the Wings have done, I keep coming back to this game and think how I was less than a minute from seeing Nick Lidstrom and the team celebrate right before my eyes.. but maybe I'm just bitter

LET'S WIN GAME 3!!

Buzzkill Alert !!!

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

it was brutal.. no doubt, but that's part of what makes winning so ******* glorious! Would it have been awesome to win that game... of course, but even after that heartbreak.. the boys gave it all again...and brought The Cup home and all was right with the world.

Edited June 2, 2009 by Rocket Queen 30

[weGotTheCup89 41]

I want to pretend it never happened, thanks very much. Why not talk about Game 4 of the '95 Finals too?

Maybe on June 24, thanks!

I take it you were there? Man that would be dissapointing. I bet the crowd was absolutely electric. I went to game 1 last year and that was the loudest I've ever heard the Joe. Game 5 must have been amazing.

Yeah, emotional roller coaster for sure, but the best game I've ever been to. But I also went to Game 7 of the Anaheim series this year. Perfect vindication, and that "Oh, this is what it's like to be here when we win a series in that fashion" feeling was great.

[Doc Holiday 0]

A year later and it doesn't really sting anymore.

Surprising to me considering how pissed off I was about it months after the fact.

[SoDakWing 8]

So here we are, a year from the date of the most epic Game 5 of the 2008 Finals.

The Joe was hype, and as loud as I could ever remember it, with everyone expecting us to bring the Cup home that night.

However, we started off pretty weak and got down early until we turned it on for the second half of regulation (the story of most of these playoffs too, no?)

From about the midpoint of regulation, the Wings just caught fire, and we saw some of the best end-to-end hockey I can remember, with I believe the Wings scoring 3 consecutive goals after getting down 2-0.

The Joe was going crazy, and there was an incredible sense of true euphoria with the minutes ticking down and the unbridled "WE WANT THE CUP!" chant..

and then 34.7 happened

and we went to one overtime, two overtime, THREE OVERTIMES, with the Wings playing some of their best hockey ever

and we lost following a Jiri Hudler double minor, with Fleury ending with fifty-some saves.

And yes, I realize that we won the Cup the next game and all was forgiven, but this game raises a few questions for me still:

Are we gonna see that same Fleury that we saw last year play out of his mind again, or even just well enough to steal a game?

Will we see the Wings again dominate play like they did around this time last year, or is Pittsburgh going to keep outshooting us?

And... is anyone else still scarred by this loss? When I think about all the good things that the Wings have done, I keep coming back to this game and think how I was less than a minute from seeing Nick Lidstrom and the team celebrate right before my eyes.. but maybe I'm just bitter

LET'S WIN GAME 3!!

Don't remind me of what happened last year game 5. that sucked

[Jake Ryan 1]

I want to pretend it never happened, thanks very much. Why not talk about Game 4 of the '95 Finals too?

I can still picture Coffey lying on his side after blocking a puck. I'm thinking to myself: "Get up! Get up, you *****. Get up and get back in the play." He lies there 5 seconds longer than any other player in the NHL would have and BAM. Devils goal. That was the most pissed I've ever been watching a Red Wings game.

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

I can still picture Coffey lying on his side after blocking a puck. I'm thinking to myself: "Get up! Get up, you *****. Get up and get back in the play." He lies there 5 seconds longer than any other player in the NHL would have and BAM. Devils goal. That was the most pissed I've ever been watching a Red Wings game.

you're a sadist.

[#19forPresident! 1]

I was there too.....that was rough.

It was one of the best hockey games ever played and I got to see it.....But that still doesn't deaden the fact that I was less than 35 seconds from seeing the cup hoisted by my lifelong favorite team on home ice. Which is why I have tickets to game 5 this year too!

Here's to hoping I end up getting a refund on those because the game isn't necessary. :beerbuddy:

[timothy1997 0]

it was 34.3 seconds left, not 34.7.

[Wings4Life19 150]

Babs should have the wings sit and watch game 5 before the game tonight to get them fired up and not let pitt get back in the series

[HOCKEY MATTERS 167]

Playoff Hockey .....No place for a nevous person.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

I was there. I begged my bf to get me tickets and he did because he loves me. Then they scored that goal with 34.7 seconds left...RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I did not speak the entire way home. But that won't be the case this time. But I will admit that I will be a little bitter if we do win it in 5 and I'm not there because I should have been.

[hankzet40 233]

I remember I was at a bar with my buddy and his GF and we were the only people there going for the Wings. When the Pens got the winner the reaction was literally deafening and I don't think I've been more upset at a hockey game. Oddly enough it seems like most of the random people I've talked to are going for Detroit this year.

[OsGOD 3]

i was at home with some people... got sad then i realized... w00t! one more game of hockey to watch and JOEVISION!!!!

[xtrememachine1 795]

Yeah and then they won the Cup on June 4th... when's Game 4 this year? I'm thinking of a word and it rhymes with weep.... hmmmm

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

That was a good game.

[JayUp88 1]

I have been to around 100 games now and that was the best game I have ever been to and we didn't even win. The energy in the place was crazy. I was slapping hand and hugging people I didn't even know.