Hockey Whooha

With

Wingnut

Of

Pepee's Pornn Palace

It's All Over Now ...

Yep, I said it .. the Canes are all done. It might take two more games (likely one), but it is time for them to make their tee times.

The game plan for the Canes was to find the nearest Red Wing and hang on, actually hang on and don't let them go. Then hope to get a puck by the Detroit goalminder. It seems to somewhat work in games 1 and 2 and 3 as they managed to win game 1, and game two was close until the end.

The highlight of the series was by far game three. In what turned out to be the third longest finals game in cup history and a game in which each team took turns in playing well during each period the Canes blew the game late in the third period. Three overtime periods later (nearly the equivalent on another game) the Wings broke the backs of the Canes and scored the game winner, and in my opinion the series.

The irony of the whole game three event, was for the oldest team in the league (sometimes called geriatric), winning the game with the leagues oldest player scoring the game winning goal. So much for the old not having the endurence to go the distance. Igor Larionov at the tender young age of 41, lit the lamp late into the third overtime, and looked as though he could have skated another three periods. His endurence gives any of us 35 and older crowd inspiration that we can keep up with the younger snot nosed punks.

Now I suppose there will be many people who say the Canes lost the series because of the post Ronnie Franchise hit in game 4, or maybe the brutal cross check Jiri Fisher delivered (and will be suspended for Thursday's game), but those are just excuses. The Canes had a great season, Cinderella like results, but in the end got out played. It's as simple as that.

Now that I have all but handed the Wings the cup, they have yet to actually earn it. Tune into the game on Thursday, I expect it to be an entertaining game, as Carolina has a lot of pride and will make every effort to win the game. If Detroit wins, they will skate the Stanley Cup on home ice, an event you must watch as it is amazing to witness.

Keep your stick on the ice and put the puck on the net.

Wingnut

WESTERN CONFERENCE As of 6-12-02
Rank	Team	Wins
1	DETROIT	3
3	CAROLINA	1