Dawn of the new Knights

The Key word at John Labatt Centre these days: Transition. It's a movement forward that will truly launch itself through the next OHL draft. Whether they make the picks or use them to attract assets in trade, the Knights are prime position to redefine a franchise in need of a fresh look. It's all because of the influx of draft selections coming back to London before the trade deadline. 9 were acquired on Monday, 12 if you count the 3 involved in the Daniel Erlich deal with Guelph.

Many compare what the Hunter's are doing right now with what they did 10 years ago. Back then they sell good parts for the potential of new, even better ones without stripping the cupboard completely bare. That results of that attempt are legendary. As for this time around? Well, let's find out. But don't bet against another impressive era from taking shape. And sooner rather than later.

Pen them in?

It's been 30 years since a team captured a major North American pro sports title in a game 7 on the road. That team: the Pittsburgh Pirates who capped off a World Series championship with nothing to spare against the Orioles in Baltimore. 30 years later the Penguins, also of Pittsburgh and also away from home for the finale, also appear to have the odds stacked against them.

It's just history

A Penguins victory Friday night may not be as long a 'shot' as history would lead us to believe. No, they haven't been able to win in Detroit, yet, but with one more crack at it left and the champs in unfamiliar territory themselves, the Motor City could become Upset City (if it isn't already).

Of the Wings' four Stanley Cup series wins in the past 12 years, none have gone 7 games. In fact, the Wings game 6 triumph in Pittsburgh last Spring was as deep as they've had to go to claim the jug since becoming the juggernaut most of us non-Wings supporters envy.

Too easy

Scotty Bowman's teams of the mid-to-late 90's easily did away with their Stanley Cup foes. The '97 winners swept the Flyers, the '98 champs did the same to Dale Hunter and the Capitals. In 2002, Paul Maurice's crew snatched one back from the eventual champs, but hardly enough make'em sweat. And sweat, it seems, is what the Penguins have the Red Wings finally doing. Sure, the champs offer poise, performance, pedigree and prize, and none of it produced in the pressure filled environment of a game 7.

Still the favourite

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe for a minute the Wings can't again deliver on home ice. I just don't believe it's absolutely certain that they will. If the Pens have done what they should have and built on these championship experiences with the Wings, then Friday's game 7 may just as well be their special moment, even in Detroit.

The stage is set

Is this not a perfect opportunity for Sidney Crosby to cross the threshold into that exclusive world of star champions? And is it really impossible for the usually "money" Wings to finally not come through? Hey, we know anything can happen in a game 7, the unexpected, the unwanted, the unbelievable and all of it without discrimination. As challengers, and visitors, the Pens aren't favoured Friday night, but with momentum from Tuesday's win at Mellon Arena and perhaps a bounce or two waiting to go their way, this is an underdog positioned to bite when it counts; in game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, a place neither team has been or seen in a long time.

btw: Happy Birthday, Melissa! A month and 6 days...

Ouch

Wonder what Dale Hunter is thinking tonight?

His decision to sit Trevor Cann in favour of unproven Daryl Borden may have cost his team the series. Poor Borden, thrown into a tough situation at such a critical time and failing. I wanted him to pull it out. What a story it would've made!!!

Now back to reality.

Borden didn't do what Hunter had hoped. The kid's a Junior B wizard, but to provide his kind of magic on a stage like the OHL West Final and against a seething group of OHL superstars was a long shot at best. Hunter will be second guessed over the move and he should be. He's the head coach. With praise comes criticism. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that. Its all part of the gig. Both gigs. That said, Borden should've stopped that puck. He knows it, and had he the outcome may have been different. He didn't though, leaving some of us to wonder if Trevor Cann would have? Monday's miss is a perfect example of just how tough it can be to coach under pressure. There's so much at stake, so little room for error. Over the years, Hunter and his various coaching staffs have had to make many difficult decisions and this one ranks among them. Not many have gone bust, this one did. Hey, they made the wrong call. It happens. Time to move on.

And there's always another way to look at it.

Just boil it down to a couple of bad breaks for the reason we're going to game 5 with the Spits in position to clinch. Its a scenario that's disheartened the Knights not broken them. There may not be much, but there's still time to turn it around.

I'll bet any money Cann is the guy who'll be making the saves for the Knights Wednesday night in Windsor. I wouldn't be all that surprised if he pulls it off too.