Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 4.39

www.afootinthecrease.com

So here we are: game seven, the Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the Stanley Cup. This should be as good as it gets. The passionate hockey fan, the casual sports viewer and those who watch whatever is hot at the moment, be it the American Idol Finale, the World Cup Final or the Super Bowl should all be tuning in for this one-time winner take all heavyweight bout.

The storylines? They are all there too. Will the Red Wings draw from their vast experience, use home ice to their advantage as they have already done on three occasions in this series, win their fifth Stanley Cup in twelve seasons and become the NHL’s newest…dynasty. Or is this the coronation of the next generation of legends. We all know that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are great players but to truly take that next step in how the hockey world remembers you, Stanley Cup championships are essential. This is their chance; this is their time to shine.

On two occasions during this series, the Penguins were written off and left for dead, first after going down two games to none and then after being blown out of the Joe Louis in game five losing 5-0. But both times the Penguins have responded with a mature, professional and inspired effort seemingly well beyond their years.

Pittsburgh has mastered the art of resiliency and to win the Cup, they will need to exorcise their demons one more time to rebound from a deflating game performance.

Oh yeah, one other storyline conspicuous through its absence: Marian Hossa. Turned down big money for a long term for what he perceived as a better chance to win the Stanley Cup. He might well be right. Mats Sundin wishes he had Hossa’s success picking and choosing but you can be sure the Penguins would like to make a fool out of Hossa. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.