Hockey finals

Toronto, June 06, 2008.

On Wednesday, June 04, 2008, the very hot Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in Pittsburg in a game that proved again that hockey is the most captivating game in the world. This was the team’s fourth championship win in 11 years. The game also showed what separates the men from the boys, as the more experienced side overcame a very determined but younger Pittsburg Penguins team that surprised pundits by providing some of the most nail-biting moments in the world’s most exciting game.

Led by Niklas Lidstroom, the Swedish international who became the first European to captain a Stanley Cup winning team, the Red Wings won the best of seven series 4-2 with a well deserved 3-2 win over a Pittsburg team that launched a valiant attempt get a last minute equalizer to force the game into extra time, reminiscent of their startling Game 5 win. Pittsburg fans were on their toes until the last seconds of the game.

Niklas Lidstroom was part of an almost impenetrable defence line that kept the high flying offence of the Pittsburg team led by their young Canadian-born super star, Sydney Crosby, who was expected to become the series’ most valuable player. That title went to Hendrik Zetterberg, who also won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Zetterberg scored the first goal and the cup winning third goal.

The second star of the game was Niklas Kronvall who contributed two assists and was part of the rock solid defence that kept the brilliant Pittsburg offence at bay. The third star went to Evgeni Maltin of the Penguins, who scored Pittsburgh’s first goal and set up the second.

Because every member of the winning team has the right to take the cup home for a few days, the world’s oldest and most travelled trophy will spend much of this coming summer holidays in Europe as seven members of the Detroit Red Wings’ winning team, including their captain, are from Sweden.

While licking the wounds of defeat, the Pittsburg Penguins face the unenviable task of keeping their free agents in their line up. Their star winger, Marion Hossa can only remain at Pittsburg if he agrees to less pay than the free market can offer him. Then their star goalie Marc Andre Fleur may need a big increase to remain with them, and Evgen Maltin, coming out of a very successful season, may be tempted to test the free agent market for better prospects.

One can only hope that Pittsburg, like Detroit, will choose a winning team over money to give us a contender for next seasons Stanley Cup.