I've put my original blog down below for those that haven't read it yet, but I needed to say something considering the position the Wings find themselves in. For those who don't know, the Wings were up 3-0 in their Western Conference Final series with the Dallas Stars. Going into Game 4, the Wings were better than the Stars in every aspect. Now, after 2 lackluster performances, the Wings are still trying to close this thing out, as Dallas has stormed back to get the series to 3-2.
Dallas was in the exact same position in the second round that the Wings are in now. But were Dallas fans freaking out, convinced (on at least some level) that the Stars would blow it and become the 3rd team ever to lose after being up 3-0? Probably not. But I can guarantee you there are a lot of Wings fans out there who KNOW that the Wings could very easily blow this thing, and forever be linked with the major choke jobs (yeah, I said it) in the past: the '42 Red Wings, the '75 Penguins, the '04 Yankees. The funny thing about all this doom and gloom? The Wings are still the ones winning the series. Yet to hear experts and fans of other teams talk, the Wings are done. Finished. And a lot of fans, while outwardly projecting confidence, are dealing with the internal struggle I find myself going through today: will the Wings win? Can they find a way to banish the demons of seasons past and move forward? Are we looking at the continuation of a 33-year pattern? A week ago I was convinced the Wings would win the Cup; now I'm not even sure they will make it out of this round. Such is life as a Wings fan.
My original posting:
"Folks, if ever want to experience total frustration, utter incomprehension and paralyzing paranoia, become a Red Wing fan. I guarantee, the amount of stress you will put yourself through will make you stronger in all walks of life. No team can prepare you for the trials and tribulations of everyday life like the Red Wings. I mean, the dizzying highs, the crushing lows, the complete lack of trust in an entity that you love so much; isn't that life?
The Red Wings were up 2-0 in their series against the Nashville Predators, and 4 minutes away from being up 3-0. Then a funny thing happened; the Wings turned into their old selves. It doesn't matter who's on the roster, who the coach is, what year it is, some things never change, and the one of those things is that the Wings will not make things easy for themselves in the playoffs. No matter what the situation, the Wings will ensure that their fans go through the most amount of stress watching them go through it. Think about it; in the last week, the Wings went from winning 2 big games at home, to completely dominating (no pun intended) the Predators through 2 periods in Game 3, but because of something they talked about avoiding (quick goals by the Preds), they are now tied 2-2 going back to the Joe on Friday night. I could take this if it were the first time; but in 2001, the Wings were up 2-0 in a series against the Kings, and were leading 3-0 in the third period of Game 3, and lost that series. Eerily familiar, eh? Just last year, the Wings were up 2-0 to the Flames, went to Calgary, and came back to Detroit tied 2-2. They went on to win that series.
Is it sad that a part of me lives for this every year? I know the Wings will do this to me, and yet here I am, cheering for them, riding the roller coaster that is the playoffs with them operating the controls. I don't know if we'll get over the hump and move on, or if the ride will break down before even starting. But, that's being a Wings fan. Knowing your team is more talented than their opponent, and watching that opponent win when all odds and experts say they shouldn't. Seeing them have complete control of a game, only to watch it disappear in less time it takes to go to the bathroom (which happened to me in Game 3). So everyone, hold on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride."