LINCICOME: After thumping, Avs need to start over

By Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Thursday, May 1, 2008

As expected, the Red Wings and Avalanche went at it hammer and thumb Thursday night.

Ouch. That's going to be sore for a long time.

So thorough was the humiliation, and so easy to do, even the Red Wings were blushing. That is, when they were not whacking the puck past those twin garden gnomes in net for the Avs, first Jose Theodore, and then Peter Budaj.

Or when the Red Wings were skating with so much room and so much freedom you expected them to get marks for flair and originality from the French judge.

It got so bad that you half expected the Avs be allowed an extra goalie, just to make things fair.

Golf settles these things on the first tee, two strokes a hole, adjust after nine. Baseball will stop games with a 10-run sympathy rule. The losing team takes the ball out of bounds to keep basketball fair. Even boxing, the cruelest game, recognizes the TKO.

In hockey, losers must suffer, puck drop to final whistle, and few teams have ever made themselves more sufferable than the broomed out Avs. They raised futility to, if not admirable art, to very clumsy craft.

The Avs became road kill and home kill, too, a wounded and shaky shell of a team, flinching at shadows, napping between shifts - and during them, the Avs goalies having to take off their gloves to count the goals.

The Avs were trying to beat the Red Wings with one arm tied behind their backs; more than that, really, with no Peter Forsberg again, no Paul Stastny, no Ryan Smyth, no Wojtek Wolski and assorted others. More like six arms and a dozen legs tied with double knots.

How bad was it? The Red Wings used high octane fuel while the Avalanche used just the fumes. The Red Wings sang original songs while the Avs attempted karaoke. The Red Wings rang out with a full orchestra while the Avs strummed air guitar.

You get the idea.

If there is any consolation, it might be that Joe Sakic cannot want to leave like this.

Sakic, along with the rent-a-Swede Forsberg and Adam Foote, is the last of the first Stanley Cup champions here and has played for no other franchise. He has said he will decide this summer if he wants more, and he deserves to get whatever he wants.

But this is a league now getting younger, as the Red Wings have shown, as the blanket marketing of the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin is so directed, leaving Sakic and Forsberg and even the Red Wings' Chris Chelios and Nicklas Lidstrom some kind of dusty mantelpiece relics.

Going younger is an approach the Avs have haltingly tried to adopt, and if any optimism can come out of it, the play of rookies David Jones, T.J. Hensick and Cody McLeod has been encouraging.

But real success will not come from late season patch and putty with the likes of Forsberg and Foote and Ruslan Salei. What the Avs need is more forethought and insight.

And maybe better scouts, certainly in Europe, from where now most of the hockey ranks are filled.

The hard truth is Sakic is more sentiment than strength now, and to have had the flashback with Forsberg and Foote is not without a warm smile. But Forsberg was an outpatient for this series, and Foote, for all his clout, was always a poke check behind.

If, as coach Joel Quenneville admits, the Avs knew of Forsberg's health problems, not just the perpetual foot agony, but apparently even the nagging groin problem, then why bring him back? If he was worth a chance once, clearly he no longer is.

The Avs have gotten as much, and more out of Sakic and Forsberg and Foote, as they ever could, and possibly if injuries and fate had been more kind, this could have at least been a series.

The Avs were a hodgepodge bunch never really built to restore the old glory as much as to keep it from wasting away entirely, never ready to trust tomorrow.

Maybe this was as much as could have been gotten from this team, a second-round exit from the playoffs, but not such a humiliating finish.

But what it seemed, especially as contrasted to the younger, quicker Red Wings, was a bad idea from a time that has passed.

The most vivid defect was in goal, where Theodore regressed alarmingly (now with 15 straight losses in Round 2), making a lie of his brief return to competence and merely delaying the establishment of Budaj.

Budaj, the Avs' first draft pick in 2001, has never really been given the chance to build anything, especially with so expensive and celebrated a figure as Theodore forever looming.

It is not just time to turn the page. It is time to get a whole new scrapbook.

• May 1, 2008

  11:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  nick_in_sweden writes:

  Well Bernie, seems that "Loserville" is the place to be right now if you're still looking to win Lord Stanley's cup. I think you single handedly gave the Red Wings motivation to go out and give a good old fashion butt kicking to the Av's and their fans have you to thank for that. Dont think for one minute that your article wasn't pinned on the Wing's dressing room bullitin board. It struck a nerve even here in Sweden. Your classless, child-like, amateur written article did a disservice to both the fine people of Detroit as well as Denver. How you draw a paycheck for writting the garbage you do is beyond comprehension. It's people like you that bring out the worst in people. I am saddened to see the injuries took their toll on the Av's, as I was looking forward to a really good series. That said, I'm not sure there is any team that can beat the Wings the way they are playing right now. Us Wings fans unfortunately in the past have had to our team lose in the playoffs due to injuries as well, so I can understand how you feel. It just wasn't your year. GO WINGS

• May 1, 2008

  11:58 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BWilliams writes:

  I don't often agree with Bernie, but in this article, I think there are some good points.

  If there is humiliation to be had from today's loss and the season sweep by Detroit, then some deserves to lie at the feet of Pierre Lacroix. After the 00/01 Stanley cup, I think Lacroix mortgaged the future by haphazardly mashing together free agents at the cost of trading away young talent. The Avs are digging their way out of those decisions today. They are a very young and a very old team all at the same time.

• May 2, 2008

  12:40 a.m.

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  eboro writes:

  Good points?....He contradicts himself with every graph. Avs in six.....or SWEEP. At least the avs could show some pride and not let that happen to them.

• May 2, 2008

  12:52 a.m.

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  xtofer writes:

  It's just entertainment. Relax, people.

• May 2, 2008

  1:24 a.m.

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  mustanglax21 writes:

  How can you say that Sakic is unable to produce anymore?? Need I remind you that he LED the team in points this offseason. 10 points in 10 games.. not too shabby for a 38 year old. And its amazing how quickly we all turn on those recently gaining praise for being the next Patrick Roy - as Theodore was being compared to after Round 1's performance. I don't think he is our goalie of the future, but he is one of the main reasons we even made an appearance in the playoffs this year. Foote has played solid D since arriving in Colorado - I didn't follow him much in Columbus, but I would still let him play with the Avs if it were my team. Liles needs to be brought back, but he needs to let his cannon ring from the point more on the power play. Maybe you have forgotten about all of the young talent that the Avalanche DO have. Stastny, Wolski, Svatos, Jones, Hensick, Hlinka... All should amount to something in the NHL. Now all we need is a solid goalie.. I wonder if Budaj is that guy.. I am not sure, that is not what I get paid for sadly.

• May 2, 2008

  1:32 a.m.

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  GoldNoggin writes:

  I think Colorado has a new chant...

  Red Wings Sweep!

• May 2, 2008

  2:58 a.m.

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  ADKWingsFan writes:

  "So thorough was the humiliation, and so easy to do, even the Red Wings were blushing."

  Apparently the humiliation wasn't thorough enough because Bernie had to jump on the "Avs suck" bandwagon to add to it. But thankfully is was easy enough for even Bernie to figure out how to get in on it.

  Come on Bernie, can't you come up with an original thought? You're awfully good at coming up with the wacky Dr.Phil-ish phrases to describe the obvious but where's the originality in the actual substance? It seems to me that you must go read what other writers have already written and then just add a dozen metaphors and wacky comparisons. For example, "The Red Wings used high octane fuel while the Avalanche used just the fumes. The Red Wings sang original songs while the Avs attempted karaoke. The Red Wings rang out with a full orchestra while the Avs strummed air guitar." I bet if you weeded all the superfluous nonsense out of our writing there wouldn't be much more than a few lines left. Way to hide your extemporaneous efforts behind a pile of steaming crap.

  Speaking of extemporaneous steaming crap, why do you just make sh+t up? Why not do some research before you write? The wings aren't younger. They might be faster, but they aren't younger. Come on Bernie, pull your head out of your behind and start writing quality articles. The Avs fans and players deserve better than what you're offering up.

  I'm not going to say that the Avs suck but due to the poor choices Quenville made this series and the "slap on a Swedish bandaid, that'll fix it" style of their management, I will say it must suck to be an Av.

  The rivalry is over. It would be an insult to the wings if anyone tried to put them in the same league as the Avs. And yeah, you can use that as the subject of your next "the Avs suck" article - just be sure to give me credit.

• May 2, 2008

  5:42 a.m.

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  rsdemers writes:

  Nice 4-2 prediction. Could you have made a more 180 call. I guess any narrow-minded turd can write a sports column in Denver.

• May 2, 2008

  5:50 a.m.

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  originalsix writes:

  I hope Sakic comes back. He's a great player and a class act and good for the game. Other than that they need to re-tool.

  BEST SPROTS CENTER EVER!!!!!!!
  The beginning was great.

  Pistons WIN
  Redwings WIN
  Tigers WIN

• May 2, 2008

  6:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  teden20 writes:

  Hey Bernie, you got it right finally. That's one in a row for you. Glad to see you finally found a spot to blow steam after your less-than-hay-days at the Chicago Tribune. That's one bad rag; it ain't no Sun Times, you know what I mean. By the way Bern, how giving us your 2 cents as the Wings burn somebody else next. They are that good, they will win the west.

• May 2, 2008

  6:22 a.m.

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  WingNutInFlorida writes:

  Gordie Howe should have duked you...for turning on your own team...

• May 2, 2008

  6:26 a.m.

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  harryschirati writes:

  Will you crybabies get a frickin' clue....please? A sports columnist's job is to post an OPINION that sells papers or reaches online readers with one objective - increase readership to sell advertising. It's entertainment, kids.....nothing more. Columnists are the equivalent of good actors - they aim to elicit a reaction, which obviously Bernie is very good at doing. Take minute to enjoy what's being written, whichever side of the fence you're on, and chill. Life will be a lot less stressful. It's great that so many Denver sports fans are passionate about their teams and heroes - how about balancing that with a dose of common sense....please?

• May 2, 2008

  7 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Motown writes:

  Denver has great sports fans? You wouldn't know it by reading this thread.

  'Crybabies.' Thats funny. Crying is what losers do harry. Furthermore, opinions are made to be criticized. Why don't YOU get a clue?

• May 2, 2008

  7:09 a.m.

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  markhead writes:

  It's too bad that too many Wings fans are as classless as their team is classy. They deserve credit for not letting up on a team with so many injuries. The wings aren't as good as they looked in this series and the Av's not as bad as they looked but circumstances are what they are. You either love or hate the wings, may they lose the next series in the ugliest possible way!!

• May 2, 2008

  7:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  HockeyHak writes:

  The Avs are a really good team. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are.
  Really.

• May 2, 2008

  7:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  HockeyHak writes:

  Accept it Av fan - regardless, WE OWNED YOU ALL SEASON LONG AND ALL POST SEASON SHORT! I guess Q-ville was right not to start Budaj afterall; he let in 5; 5!!!! The Avs are really good. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are. No, really; they are. They are a really good team. No really, they are.
  Coulda woulda shoulda - what freakin ever - Suck it up slimeball Av fans and give us our due.

• May 2, 2008

  7:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  WitchKing writes:

  This message is for Bernie and Bernie alone. He'll understand

  Hey Bernie--NHL's garbage swept out the door!!!

  Hey hack, maybe you can find gainful employment in Des Moines, your outlets seem to get smaller and smaller as you stink more and more

• May 2, 2008

  7:43 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  karpat74 writes:

  OK, the guy predicted the Av's to win in six and made childish remarks about the Red Wings and Detroit. Now he is giving "expert" analysis on the Av's current situation? What a joke! Does he have ANY credibility left with Colorado sports fans? Is the News really this hard up for contributors that it has to hire a guy that is new to the sports world?

  I hate to say it, but this guy is worse than Drew Sharp...incredible, just incredible.

• May 2, 2008

  7:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Herecomesthebroom writes:

  Well folks, it's time for the closing ceremonies. It's sad to see it come to such a quick end...watching last night's game wasn't even that fun....no wait, it was. Actually, watching all 3 games was fun, if not slightly difficult, last night. Now if only we could convince those damn Lions to start winning...ah well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad. I honestly feel for all of the loyal Avs fans today, we Wings fans have been in this very same situation (First round exit to LA in 2001...ouch). As for those rejects like Bernie and the other premature shite-talkers...I only have one thing to say. In the words of aspiring novelist Brian Griffin: YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH! IN YO F***ING FACE, F***WAAAAAAD!!!!

• May 2, 2008

  8:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BigJohn5 writes:

  So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.
  I'd like to stay and taste victory champagne
  Yes?

  No.

  So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.
  I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye,
  Good BYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEE.

  The sun has gone to bed and so must I
  So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye,
  Goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye,
  Goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye,
  Goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye

  Goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye

• May 2, 2008

  8:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ki420 writes:

  All I can say is I am thankful I wont have to read page after page after page of Red Wing fans low IQ comments and barbs anymore. The only people posting are Wings fans--don't you guys have something better to do? Pathetic--you don't deserve the team you have.

  As for the Avs, my heart is definitely broken and last night the Avs threw it in the fire, but I still stand by this team and I know they will find a way to be a better contender next year.

  Bye Bye Theo--thanks for once again showing your true colors--black and blue

• May 2, 2008

  8:16 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GeeTee writes:

  better luck next year

• May 2, 2008

  8:19 a.m.

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  willee writes:

  I love how Bernard has not made a single statement on his prediction and classless comments prior to the series...shows how much your beloved Loserville columnist knows about the current game of Hockey.

  You can run from the truth Bernard but it will come back to haunt you come review time.

  What is most satisfying is last night's deathblow seen by the entire planet.

  Stay classy Avalanche fans and good luck next season.

  Bernie Lincicome - You are an embarrassment to the Avalanche organization and fanbase and I hope you get what's coming to you sooner than later.

• May 2, 2008

  8:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sojad writes:

  I'm a Wings fan from Detroit. Wings fans, for the most part, are blue-collar working stiffs. We enjoy our teams...yes, even the Lions, difficult as that is. I'd guess none of us had heard of Bernie before this series. But when his comments about not just our team, but our city...us - were communicated to us via the Detroit Free Press, yeah, it kinda fired us up. Loserville? Don't you actually have to lose to be there? My ultimate point is that the Avs are a good team. Pretty much always have been. They have been tougher than Detroit in years past, no question. Better? Well, I'm not sure about that. Detroit should have dominated hockey for the last 10 years, given the talent pool, but didn't. No one to blame but themselves. Colorado probably could have done the same, for a slightly shorter stretch of time. They didn't either. For all the trash talk, neither team has excelled to their potential, and both have performed embarassingly at times - probably more so for the Wings, I can admit that. In the here and now, Detriot is the better team, by far. We'll see what happens next year, when we'll do this all agian, most likely. Tough luck Avs fans. Go Wings!

• May 2, 2008

  8:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  detroitmetal writes:

  Sorry Avs, the Wings have been there too.

  Holland may be the best G.M. in all of sports, at least the best scouting staff. Everyone in the NHL bitched that the Wings bought their cups, even changed the rules. But the Wings haven't had a 1st round pick in what....10 years, and they still find outstanding players. - All the players the Wings lost due to the expansion draft are doing great with other teams. Losing a potential hall of famer in Konstantinov - Losing a potential all star in Fisher due to heart problems. Franzen was picked what 97th overall? Datsyuk 171st overall. Zetterburg was 210th overall! Lots of teams passed on these guys. And the Wings keep rolling.

  Here's a hint for the Avalanche, if Quenville wasn't good enough to coach in St. Louis, why would he be good enough for Colorado?

• May 2, 2008

  8:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  skilledwinger writes:

  To all Avs fans - not all Wings fans are classless but there are a few idiots in every crowd, even your crowd. The truth is, many Wings fans, including myself, have great respect for the Avs franchise. You earned it with your play over the years and having a class act like Sakic leading you. We are never going to respect Forsberg, though. That's just the way it is. The Avs will hit the reset button, get healthy and be better next year. You're getting better but this was just not your year, no matter what. You need a few more weapons. So many factors go into making a Cup run as you well know, health being a big factor. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Wings-Avs become big again in the near future.

• May 2, 2008

  8:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Octi_puss writes:

  My question is...Where did AvsIn6 go??? We will miss you and I'm pretty sure we won't be hearing from you again :(

• May 2, 2008

  8:58 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  wingsfan1 writes:

  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Haha. SWEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

  Welcome to the Hockeytown School of Ass Kicking.

  In the words of the great Homer Simpson: "That team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I've seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!"

  Haha, Later queefs!

  GO WINGS!!

• May 2, 2008

  9:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  detroitmetal writes:

  queefs ?!

  dude.... ?!

• May 2, 2008

  9:26 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kjohnsen writes:

  Dear Red Wings fans,
  If you are not from Michigan, you are not actual Red Wings fans. Same with Red Sox nation. Same with WGN Cubs fans and TBS Braves fans. If you are from Michigan, congratulations on a job well done and enjoy your team's success. If you're not from Michigan, then you are a front-runner and a bandwagon jumper, and a top-stepper and a red-lighter. There are no exemptions from this rule.
  Good luck to the true Red Wings fans, and the others should examine their motivation.
  Keith

• May 2, 2008

  9:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Avs_Blow writes:

  Yay...Im from Michigan...according to keith that makes me a true wings fan....YAY!

• May 2, 2008

  10:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  mayorofhockeytown writes:

  Bernie Lintcomb: Avs in six. Fodder for the masses, I'm sure. Most likely the column for the next Wings/Avs series is already written--you just have to change a few names and dates. It was Hockeytown vs. Turtletown, now its Hockeytown vs. Sweeptown. Have a nice summer--and, nice comb over.

• May 2, 2008

  10:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  poz235 writes:

  Mr. Lincicome, coupled with your previous work, your description of Nicklas Lidstrom, who is about to win his sixth Norris trophy, as “some kind of dusty mantelpiece relic[],” reflects all that needs to be said about your knowledge of the sport upon which you write, and reflects the true lack of professionalism you have displayed throughout these last couple weeks.

  There is no place in professional journalism for any writer who’s lack of knowledge, which in this case rises so high as to call into question the author’s own ethic by demonstrating a complete failure to research even the basic facts of the subject upon which he is reporting, forces him to resort to using baseless and immature name-calling and defamatory remarks to try and make a name for himself. Enjoy yourself Mr. Lincicome, and enjoy the useless infighting your “work” has produced; however, I would recommend that you relish your fifteen minutes as they are at an end.

  Your complete lack of devotion to your profession and your complete lack of professionalism will leave you as nothing more than a forgotten, failed shock-jock sports writer for a small, insignificant local paper. I would say you would be remembered as such, but the truth is you will not be remembered at all. There have been others who have walked this path ere your coming and I, among many, have read their collective works over the years; and yet, not one single such author can I, or anybody else, remember.

  People remember greatness, and those whom at the least gave the illusion that they conducted themselves with dignity and class, and who treated both their profession and their fellow man with that same respect. So, as I say, enjoy yourself now, for tomorrow you will have been forgotten by all those except whom you tried to degrade, and but for your ignorance failed to do so; and as for them, they too will forget you soon enough.

  So Mr. Lincicome, I implore you, think of your failures every time you look in the mirror and by doing so may you discover your conscience, and thusly and rightfully be haunted by, and suffer that fate which dispelled Dostoyevsky’s Raskolnikov. For your crime against your profession, may that be your punishment.

• May 2, 2008

  10:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  rodney writes:

  I HAVE BEEN A REDWINGS FAN SINCE I WENT TO MY FIRST HOCKEY GAME IN 1949 AT OLYMPIA STADIUM IN DETROIT. IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN FUN. THEY HAVE HAD YEARS WHEN THEY WERE TERRIBLE. MAYBE NOT EVEN THAT GOOD. NONE THE LESS I CONTINUED MY SUPPORT BECAUSE I LOVE THE SPORT AND MY DETROIT TEAM. LAST NIGHT AT THE GAME IT WAS APPARENT THAT MANY, MANY, MANY AVS FANS ARE NOT REAL FANS! I WAS EMBARASSED FOR THE AVS REAL FANS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY LEFT AFTER THE 2ND PERIOD AND THE EXIDOS CONTINUED DURING THE 3RD PERIOD.I HOPE MY REDWINGS GO ALL THE WAY BUT IF THEY DON`T I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM. BERNIE I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE YOURSELF A CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP. YOU TRASHED TALKED THE REDWINGS, THE REDWING FANS AND THE CITY OF DETROIT NOT TO MENTION YOUR PREDICTION OF AVS IN 6.NOW THAT IT IS OVER YOUR COMMENTS DON`T ADDRESS THE OUTCOME.
  I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU FACE TO FACE BUT I DON`T THINK YOU`D ENJOY THE CONVERSATION. YOU ARE THE WRITER IN THE EMPTY SUIT.

• May 2, 2008

  12:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  addfab writes:

  Q MUST GO!! It is clear that he is not the guy for this team and hasnt been from Day 1! I live in Dallas and the Mavs just fired their coach for an equal if not better record than Q. Guigere needs to get some cahjones and go get us Tortella from Tampa Bay or Lindy from Buffalo! It's obviously not working, injuries or not. Our lack of a PP is proof enough! Q MUST GO!!

• May 2, 2008

  12:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  MrBrightSide writes:

  The team that Lindros built is no more. Let's see if lightning can strike twice and Pierre can be so lucky as to rebuild the Av's to their previous stature. I'm thinking no.

  The rivalry is dead.

• May 2, 2008

  1:03 p.m.

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  hughnormus writes:

  Avs Fan...Stop useing your injuries as an excuse. Even if you had a healthy team, the series may have went 6 games. The Wings went through 2 months of injuries just prior to the playoffs. They still managed to win the Presidents Trophy handily. That shows how great of a team we have.

  The Avs should be able to beat the Wings at golf though, at least you have that going for you. FORE!!

  Linicome...You're a no talent Assclown.

• May 2, 2008

  3:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jbcohen writes:

  First off, Lincy.... suck it. Second, someone said that Wings fans who DON'T live in Detroit aren't real fans, and I have to disagree with that. I live in Bloomfield Hills Michigan, and I am defending those who have lived in Michigan but moved out of the state. Are you calling them not true Wings fans? Just because they don't live in the state of which their team is located? You must be joking. They moved out of the state because of the economic hardships, which still continue today. That's why there are Wings fans spread across the nation.

• May 2, 2008

  3:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bringontheavsholes writes:

  Avs fans are the worst in professional sports. Hands down. Most of the Avs fans are FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE TOO. Do you realize that? I love the, "Go back to Michigan" rant...good one. "Red Wings Suck"...even better.
  I'm so proud to be a Wings fan it's unbelievable. Yes, we are still loyal to our teams after we move from our home state. I know you'll never leave Colorado so you'll never understand that. I love that you see more Cubs fans at Coors Field than Rockies fans. You know why? It's called a BANDWAGON. Last year it started driving by, picking up passengers in September. You all hopped on, and now where are you? Rockies fans, Avs fans, you're all the same. Worst in sports.

• May 2, 2008

  4:43 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  WingsFanfromSD writes:

  Hey kjohnsen,

  No exceptions to your lame rule about you must grow up in Michigan to be a wings fan????

  I guess no one in North Dakote, Wyoming, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Montana, etc are allowed to like hockey?

  Well my WHOLE Family is from Toledo OH - closer to DET than Columbus (not that they had a team when I grew up).

  I grew up in South Dakota, 8 hours from the closest hockey team from Minnesota (North Stars).

  Should I not watch hockey????The wings sucked so bad when I was a kid - get a clue then call in the bandwagon!

  PS - I have lived in Denver for the last 13 years - you know as well as i - ALL Denver fans are total BANDWAGON except Broncos fans. No one talked any hockey here on sports radio, or around town, till they resigned some old washed up fools - the they beat MIN and everyone got all excited again. Remember - no one liked hockey or gave the avs a chance till they upset the wings via Roy in 96 - then it took 5 more years for fans in Denver to realize how great Roy was.

  I will talk football with a Denver fan, but leave your hockey talk at home - Ddenver is the original bandwagon (I see more pro Lians posts here than Avs! - whats up with that???)

  I LIVE IN THE CITY OF DENVER, AND HAVE FOR 13 YEARS - ALL I CAN SAY IS BANDWAGON!

• May 2, 2008

  7:55 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LETSGOREDWINGSLETSGO writes:

  I have to laugh at the colorado fans blaming THEO!

  Y'all need a better excuse than that, because he played great. Where was the rest of the team?

• May 2, 2008

  9:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  eboro writes:

  harryschirati harryschirati harryschirati
  You should get a clue! Calling the avs in six is a columnist. Calling out a city in one article, and disparaging a fan about his weight is different. STICK TO THE GAME...Show mw the detroit columnist who talked about a fan being fat in the article. Wings fans knew the Avs were sitting ducks. Weonly get pissed when the game is second to some old mans witch hunt.

• May 2, 2008

  11:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  CAAvsfan writes:

  I seriously hope that Joe Sakic does come back and play at least
  one more year because he is truly one of the best to play the
  game and is a real gentleman and ambassador of the game. I hope
  that Forsberg and Foote also come back and that they can get
  a great goaltender in the off-season to compete against the
  elite teams in the western conference. Theodore has been good
  but he is not a Patrick Roy by any means. Budaj had a great
  run last year but he did not look that great this year.
  I think that Coach Joel Quenneville will be able to get the
  team past the second round if he has a team that is willing to
  play defense and is of course healthy throughout.

  The Red Wings played a great series and my hat is off to them
  this year, but I hope that we can get a chance to have a
  rematch in the next couple of years to prove that we do
  belong in the upper echelon of the western conference. We also
  need a chance for redemption/revenge.

  To all of the Red Wings fans in these sports blogs I say this...
  Congrats on your victory over the Avalanche in this series,
  but seriously folks do you really need to bash and trash Av's
  fans like you have been doing in the above comments? Some
  of us are sensitive ;>) ... Good luck against Dallas.

• May 6, 2008

  6:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  motahcity writes:

  Bernie, you bring out the best in everyone!