The new rival in Motown: Pittsburgh
by Casey Richey on Mar 23, 2010 12:59 PM CDT
in Opinion
38 comments
What we saw last night was the result of playing one team more than any other team over the last couple of years. Even including the Blackhawks, Detroit has played the Penguins the most since the start of the 2007-2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Last night's game was the 17th time the two teams have faced off since that first Cup match-up.
Surely that will breed some hatred and some ill-will between the two teams. That was all capped off last night with Sidney Crosby's late game shenanigans. Apparently, Crosby is not a fan of being shut down on the score sheet or completely shut out of plays by the Red Wings. So what does he do? Take out his frustration on an undeserving Henrik Zetterberg.
I'm not implying that Zetterberg can't stand up for himself and that Crosby shouldn't pick on him. Rather that as the face of a team and possibly the League, you make yourself look like an idiot when you start crosschecking out of nowhere against a player that did nothing but own you up and down the ice all night. You're in the running for the Rocket Richard trophy, you've won a Stanley Cup and a Gold Medal, and several other accolades. What do you have to bitch about?
This no doubt all goes back to the first of the two Stanley Cup Finals and the way the Red Wings smothered the Penguins defensively. Frustrating for any team to experience, let alone a young team used to having its way offensively. Then it continued the next year in the regular season and the ensuing Stanley Cup Finals. A team that the majority of Detroit fans had hardly any reason to hate now are one of the circled games on the calendar.
The tension could be felt throughout the entire game last night and the animosity between the teams grows each time they meet. There's a certain level that the Wings play with against the Penguins that only shows up again when they play Chicago. The same goes for Pittsburgh that they play a different game against the Wings, with intensity that is only matched by games against Philadelphia or Washington. I guess that's what happens when you gather the two best teams in the NHL over the past 3 seasons for a game huh?
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Immediately behind me was a woman wearing a Sidney Crosby jersey. After the first couple of rounds of “CROSBY SUCKS” chants, she turned to the gentleman sitting next to her (who was wearing a Red Wings hat. “I can’t believe that the fans really hate him that much. I thought they’d boo, but they shouldn’t use such bad language.” I turned around and stared at her for a moment to pass along a “you really can’t be that stupid” look.
In fact, I was really surprised at the number of Crosby jerseys within Joe Louis Arena last night. Suffice to say, most were rather quiet on the way out of the building.
What was really amazing,
or on second thought maybe it isn’t that amazing, were all the older men wearing Cindy jerseys last night. I had one sitting next to me. He kept saying things like " Crosby should be flattered by all the booing" and " He’s only the best player in the league right now.." So I said to him, 1. I don’t think Cindy would put up the numbers he has if he played in the Western Conference and 2. If Derrick Meech played with top 5 draft picks from the last few years, his numbers would be just as good.
BTW, I didn’t partake in the CROSBY SUCKS chants, but they did make me giggle every time they did it .
"Would you like to come in for a cupcake and a glass of wine?" - Mr. Herbert.
by Wings3_26_97 on Mar 23, 2010 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah so sick of people saying he is the best player hands down
i always felt Malkin was the better player…Crosby didn’t get to the playoffs his 1st year he only got there when Malkin arrived…Malkin missing yesterday made a big difference with there team yesterday…he IS there best player
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 23, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I used to think Malkin was better, but Crosby is way more consistent. I probably would take Crosby over Malkin on my team. But no way would he be captain and no way would he be allowed to act the way he does.
I would take Crosby too
Malkin can’t do crap in shootouts or breakaways
by Casey Richey on Mar 23, 2010 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions
man all those are so close
definitely used to be the Blues and Avs more years ago…it is basically a 2 horse race to me between the Ducks and Penguins…Blackhawks not quite there yet because they haven’t beaten us in a playoff series…i would have to go with the Penguins but before last year definitely the Goonz a.k.a the Ducks
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
Not sure
Historic rivals are probably ’Hawks and Leafs, but today is a toss between Ducks and Penguins.
To me, the only thing really keeping them from “biggest rivals” status is the lack of games between them.
i went with the ducks
just something about them i cant stand. lately it seems they have been our kryptonite, even though we did beat them last year in the playoffs, they could could probably be the worst team in the league and still be the last team i want to see.
plus i just have a huge hatred towards getzlaf.
draft micah johnson
yeah that douche Getzlaf
mister i am balding at 24 years old…always with that stupid smurk on his face
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 23, 2010 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions
hahaha yeah i was going to add something about him balding
i laughed so hard when i seen that during the olympics.
draft micah johnson
We had a poll on RWBrasil during the Olympics,
Readers voted Pittsburgh as our greatest rivals. I still think it’s the Ducks.
Crosby fine?
I’m all for Hockey being one of if not the toughest sport because i love the intensity of the game. But what Crosby did last night was inexcusable. He deliberately went after Zetterberg when he knew the game was over. The puck was even right next to him with a gaping net and didn’t even notice. He just wanted to hit Z. It might be my hate for Cindy Crosby and my love for the Wings making me a bit bias here, but how is the most recent Ovechkin suspension any worse than what Cindy did? Ovechkin pushed someone that was on edge which unfortunately sent him into the boards with injuries to follow but it looked unintentional. Cindy cross checked Z 5 or 6 times and yeah he retaliated but Cindy clearly started it. Is it just Cindy’s pretty boy image keeping him from being fined or suspended?
Did anyone else have flashes...
…of Malkin pulling Z in to fight at the end of that cup game last year?
I still think he (Malkin) should have been given a game suspension for that (and forgive me if that is a topic that was covered at the time, as I’m sure it was at least discussed). I can’t remember the rule exactly right now, but I remember I had a reason last year to think that it warranted a game suspension.
But on topic…I hate the Pens because I live in Erie, PA. A couple of years ago we were a Sabres town…one guess who everyone claims to be fans of now?
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
Agreed
I quoted that rule on this website the day after that happened and the thing was that YES Malkin broke that rule, but the NHL claimed that rule was put into effect to avoid having Nobodies injuring important people at the end of a game. So because Malkin isn’t a nobody they let it slide. However, he completely broke that rule. And here it is by the way:
According to NHL rule 47.22: “A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five minutes or at any time in overtime shall be suspended for one game, pending a review of the incident. The director of hockey operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not be limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. …”
Thanks for that!
Yeah it’s all coming back to me now.
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
I do
The thing that really got me on this is that Malkin swings with his stick 2-3 times before he drops it. It was less then 5 mins left in third. It was the first time I started to see what kind of players the Pens have and how bad there sportsmanship is.
by buttwheat48059 on Mar 23, 2010 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Crosschecking no longer illegal
Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 20:00, S. Crosby
Detroit roughing – 2 min 20:00, J. Howard
Detroit roughing – 2 min 20:00, H. Zetterberg
Apparently you now can crosscheck at will and it is not a penalty.
Ducks R Dirty...
For that reason and that alone – I voted Ducks. Their bowling ball headed coach likes them to play on the edge, well they do, and oftentimes over it…most penalized team again this year Randy???
Don’t get me wrong, I thought Sidney’s actions last night at the end of the game were gutless – and frankly best left to other Pitt sleazeball, can you say Matt Cooke (who should have been suspended for that incredibly dirty gutless hit on Savard, but I digress…). So Pitt is moving up in the hate game after last night. Still stuck on 45 Sid???
Hawks – nope, not yet, wait til Seabrook cheap shots Cleary or Fillpula, then they’ll move up. We just haven’t played them enough…plus we almost always beat Joel Q coached teams….why is that….hmmmm.
Can’t wait for St. Lou on Weds
Smitty
Cindy was just frustrated
because Hank, Raffy, and Lids continuousy jailsex him year after year and his inadequacies become glaringly apparent. Hey Cindy, you aren’t that good, try playing a little more defense.
"Would you like to come in for a cupcake and a glass of wine?" - Mr. Herbert.
Oh, and defense isn't continuously crosschecking someone in the kidneys
until they fall down and the puck is then miraculously free. Douchebag.
"Would you like to come in for a cupcake and a glass of wine?" - Mr. Herbert.
by Wings3_26_97 on Mar 23, 2010 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I grew up with the Colorado rivalry. I’m 20 and the vast majority of my hockey education involved the hated Avs. Still hate them, even though only Hejduk and Foote remain, really.
Back in the Mid-to-late 90's
time used to literally stop when the Wings played the Avs. You would ask for that day off from work. The hatred was almost tangible here in the state of Michigan. I still can’t believe how anyone in this state could by an Avalanche montrosity truck thingy. I can taste the bile in my throat now.
"Would you like to come in for a cupcake and a glass of wine?" - Mr. Herbert.
by Wings3_26_97 on Mar 23, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions
The Draper hit by Claude still resonates with me.
by Apocalyptic0n3 on Mar 23, 2010 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't hate any teams
Some players and play styles I have absolutely no respect for.
And I’m hoping for a first-round matchup with the Avalanche. No rivalry there (any longer), but the winner of the series wins the Cup more often than not.
It was hard for me to decide whether I hate the Ducks or the Penguins more
But I went with the Penguins.
Pitt and Chicago equally...
Now, I don’t have a problem with Chicago the team in general, it’s their stupid fans. They are all fair weather fans. How else do you explain a jump in attendance from last to first? I mean come on!
Not to mention, they don’t know anything about hockey, and ALWAYS make up excuses. They bash the Wings constantly, when I don’t usually here any Wings fans bashing Chicago (I guess that one is forgiving, since we’ve made them look silly the last, what? 20-30 years?).
I voted for the Ducks. I still can’t stand them even after Pronger got traded. They get downgraded from amazingly super douchey to extremely douchey because of that, but I pretty much dislike every person on that team except Joffrey Lupul. They can still give the Wings trouble. I say they’re still our biggest rivals.
The quality of the hockey played last night against Pittsburgh was great, though.
i dont have jonas hiller
thats probably the only person i can stand. he is a good goaltender and possibly will be great. i cant hate the guy for being good, maybe hating him for giving wings fits
draft micah johnson
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