Penguins at Red Wings tonight. Puck drop right around now.
Are any FHL owners in attendance?
Could be last time, barring a playoff series between the teams, that Sir Sid plays in "The Joe."
I have never made it to "The Joe" (or the Olympia for that matter). But the memories of the back-to-back finals, won by the Red Wings in 2008 and the Penguins in 2009, will live on.
Wing Ryan Malone was a warrior in the 2008 finals, won by Detroit in 6. I remember seeing camera on him on bench late in a game with major gash across his nose. Sad that he ran into personal problems that cut short his NHL career.
Also, the memory of the Penguins' big win in the third OT in Detroit in Game 5, 4-3, on a goal by Petr Sykora that staved off elimination. In that series, the Penguins could not overcome a 2-0 hole, being shut out 4-0 and 3-0, in Games 1 and 2 in Detroit.
As far as 2009 is concerned, memories at the top of my list have to be Game 7, won by the Penguins 2-1 in Detroit. Both goals from F Max Talbot and G Marc-Andre Fleury sliding across from the left post to the right post to stop HOF D Nicklas Lidstrom pinching in from the left point in the waning seconds to give the Penguins first Stanley Cup since 1992.
Farewell Joe Louis Arena, unless we meet again in the playoffs.