For the fourth time in 11 years, the Stanley Cup is being hoisted in Hockeytown.
After losing a grueling Game 5 to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in three overtimes, the Detroit Red Wings rebounded for a 3-2 Game 6 in in Pittsburgh to win the 2008 Stanley Cup.
Swedish-born Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, who took over for the venerable Steve Yzerman, won the Conn Smythe Trophy (for Most Valuable Player) and became the first European-born team captain to hoist the Cup.
They played a soundbyte on the radio of one of the players talking about winning the Cup. You could tell, from the loud boos, that the Penguin fans weren't too thrilled about it. Still, when you consider the play of Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and center Sidney Crosby, it's very probably the Penguins may be hoisting the Cup within the next five years.
The Red Wings parade to celebrate their victory is set for Friday. No doubt that Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will want the celebration to last as long as possible; the longer it lasts, the less attention is put on his less-than-honorable administration.
For Canada, the Stanley Cup drought continues. It's been 15 years (the 1992-1993 season) since a Canadian team (the Montreal Canadiens) last won the Cup. The two seasons before that, the NHL champions were--interestingly enough--the Penguins.
When you consider the financial problems the Penguins have had and how they almost moved to another city, their performance this year is very impressive.
