Finally!

YES.  The Winged Wheel finally polishes off the pesky Penguins.  I am happy for the team, but especially for Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Babcock and Osgood.  Zetterberg gets recognized with the Conn Smythe.  He can play in any situation the game throws at him and excel.  The guy always backchecks and has solid PK skills, while also being a short-handed scoring threat.  Datsyuk pretty much shed his "I disappear in the playoffs label" last year, but was a physical beast in the Final.  Wow.  I never thought I would see the day that Datsyuk is crushing people into the boards.  A new found respect for the slick Russian dangler.  Babcock is the Zen mastermind keeping these guys together as a team.  That has been the most impressive aspect of the Wings, steady and dominating team play.  Babcock is the guy making it happen, with his steady demeanor.  Congrats for keeping superstar egos in check and making it look easy.  He got the Ducks to the Final and lost, but took advantage of this opportunity.  Then there's Osgood.

 

Could there be a bigger story than Ozzie?  I most remember him for crying about being the playoff scapegoat while trying to supplant Vernon in his early days.  He seemed a little weak in-between the ears and was prone to the occasional bad goal, that usually killed the Wings.  But after stints with the Blues and Isles, he's back.  What a transformation.  He's a different guy.  His play seems a lot more technical now.  But an equally big change in his mental fortitude.  The guy seems calm and confident and unflappable.  Did this come out of no where?  Not exactly.  The guy had crazy solid numbers this season.  He patiently backed-up for Hasek, knowing he would get a fair share of starts since Hasek is fragile.  Or maybe he knew Hasek would eventually get injured.  So, stepping in during the Playoffs didn't phase him either.

 

Speaking of Hasek.  Does he get his name on the Cup?  The telecaster said something about playing in the Cup Final Series or at least 40 regular season games; otherwise the team has to petition.  I didn't think Dominator played 40 games.  But after check this morning, it appears he did.  Barely.

 

This topic was brought up because of Chelios.  He missed the Final Series with a leg injury.  I hope that's true, otherwise Cheli needs to retire.  He looked slow against Dallas.  I thought he was scratched from game 6 of that series and that the coaches made up the injury excuse out of veteran courtesy.  But later the leg injury was disclosed.  So, it makes sense that his mobility was hampered.  Otherwise, the modern day Gordie Howe plays on at 47 next year???

 

I have to give the Pens some credit for extending the series, in what seemed like a lop-sided affair.  I saw this series as a team with talented players, versus a talented team.  Individual players can steal you a few games, but a strong team wins in a 7 game series.  But, I have to admit that I underestimated Fleury.  The guy got outshot every game and stole a couple.  This from a guy that almost lost his job to Conky during the regular season.  I thought that maybe he was ruined and the Pens had rushed his development.  Turns out that he was playing injured?  Anyway, his play became stellar at the end of the season and he carried that into the playoffs.  Crosby won Game 3.  The guy's an amazing set-up man, competes harder than the role players, but asking him to single-handedly beat the Red Wings is a bit ridiculous.  And maybe that's the problem with Malkin too.  He can score, but when Sykora and Hossa become invisible, there's not a lot a playmaking center can do.