No Forsberg, shaky D...but a win. That's what matters

Friday April 25, 2008 @ 02:23 PM EDT

Thorsten currently plays wealthy casino owner, Zach Slater, in ABC’s daytime drama, All My Children. For that role, he received a Daytime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Lead Actor” in 2006. He has also appeared in films, The Silencers, Deadly Desire, and The Bone Collector. An avid rugby and hockey fan, Kaye will chronicle the Detroit Red Wings run to the Stanley Cup.


So I was on set during the first part of the game last night, and I had the photographers I was working with updating me on the game. It was 4-1 by the time I got back to my apartment and I saw the highlights of the Wings goals, and I was feeling very confident.


Then, all of a sudden….”What happened?”


Almost immediately after seeing replays of the Wings’ goals, I saw two Avalanche goals and it seemed like the boys were hanging on from then on out. It could’ve easily been 5-4 Avs. The Red Wings have to play defensive and protect a lead better, have to tighten up in their own and pay closer attention to detail.


Now, I know there was lots of talk about the Wings-Avalanche rivalry, but it’s just a couple of the players that were around when that rivalry was at its pinnacle. The series isn’t the same as it used to be, but mark my words it will be gritty and it might come down to depth players like Ian Laperriere, Darren McCarty, or Kris Draper.


If that happens, you’ll know we’re in for one heck of a series!


Now, I’m not one for singling out guys and blaming them but Colorado’s short-side goal was a bad one. Osgood needs to stop those if we want to win this series.


I’m not blaming him because I imagine it’s hard to get back into the swing of the playoffs after you’ve played a tough series like the one against Nashville and have had a few days off.


Especially since the Wings beat the Avs every time they played this season; that usually bodes for a long series for both teams because one team has a lot of pride on the line and doesn’t want to get embarrassed.


And I’m not going to get confident just yet because Forsberg’s absence makes a big difference, and it changes the outlook of the game. He’ll be back as soon as he can, because this guy is a warrior, and you know when he’s back, he’ll be a factor.


Which leads me to something I read online this morning.


What I was reading was Mitch Albom’s column from the Detroit Free Press. Now, if you don’t know Mitch, he’s a bit of a fair-weather fan, because he’s high on the Wings when they win and he’s quick to jump on them when they lose.


He was talking about Forsberg and said something to the effect that Forsberg is something like a chocolate bar – he’s rough on the outside, but mushy in the center. Basically saying that he’s tough, but he keeps falling apart.


I don’t think that analogy is much to begin with, but we’ll leave that alone for now.


Believe me, if Forsberg could play, he would. He’s a warrior, a heart-and-soul guy who always played fair and within the rules, but he played hard and he died to win. And let’s not forget he was Wing killer in his heyday.


He can and will play through pain. I met him at one of the NHL events, and when I shook hands with him I could tell how solid he was. Imagine going into the corner for a loose-puck battle? Give me a break.


But luckily, the Wings were able to hold on, and they take a 1-0 lead into tomorrow’s game. Tomorrow’s game will be a swing-point in this series, I think, and you can bet I’ll be watching from start to finish.


And if Forsberg is in, you’ll see how “mushy” his insides are.


Luckily, we have some boys that can play with him.


Let’s Go Red Wings!

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