Puck Daddy - NHL

Listen, Detroit Red Wings: It's been a great run.

Spectacular, even. No regrets, no remorse, and you've got those spiffy rings from last year to ease the pain of losing Game 7 tonight to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Because Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma has, in his possession, his lucky pregame burrito from the Qdoba restaurant at Grant and Sixth streets near Mellon Arena. So you're pretty much screwed tonight.

Please recall earlier this week when we reported on the "Bylsma Burrito" phenomenon, in which the Pittsburgh coach consumes an Ancho Chile Pork BBQ Burrito, made with a mix of hot and mild salsa plus cheese, on Penguins game days. As Chad Brooks, the owner of that Odoba franchise, informed us last night:

"Coach Bylsma came in today and had us pack a burrito to go for him for Detroit tomorrow. Record now stands at 21-1 while following this ritual. I think we have a solid chance. To be the champ, you gotta beat the champ. That is the task in front of us and I feel good about our guys. We need a good early stop by Fleury, like in Game 7 against the Caps, and we should be good to go from there."

Well that analysis was a bonus, huh? Anyhoo, here's more on Bylsma picking up his pregame voodoo from The Pittsburgh Channel:

According to a woman at the restaurant, Bylsma stopped in sometime between 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday and ordered a burrito -- which was put on ice -- and then headed out the door as the team prepared to travel to Detroit.

Again: Condolences, Detroit. The magic of the Joe, the legend of the octopus, the touching (or non-touching) of postseason trophies ... all of it is trumped by that foil-wrapped, pork-filled charm in Dan Bylsma's hands.

We're sure the Penguins are thrilled to know that on the night of the biggest game of his life, their coach will be slowly digesting a day-and-a-half-old burrito purchased in another city. (Yuck.)

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90 Comments

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  1. slosh
    1. Posted by slosh Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:50 am EDT

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    Dodgy photoshop effort with the burrito.
  2. Jim M
    2. Posted by Jim M Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:50 am EDT

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    Would hate to be on the Pens bench
  3. Mark A
    3. Posted by Mark A Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    What a Joke
  4. Deker
    4. Posted by Deker Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    I was gonna say, Wysh are you doing some photshops now? Where'd that come from? "Day-and-a-half old and from another city" burrito? As if the quality is any worse than that of say Taco Smell, or the ones you heat up at 7-11? I'm sure it will be tantalizing after a 45 second nuke-job. Go PENS!
  5. Towelie
    5. Posted by Towelie Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:01 am EDT

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    I heard he turned to burrito's because he didn't like his wife's lucky taco.
  6. Zombi
    6. Posted by Zombi Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:09 am EDT

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    Expect quick line changes by the pens....but the lucky burrito has nothing on the power of Babcock's hair. GO WINGS!
  7. http://hotfilipinawomen.blogspot.com
    7. Posted by http://hotfilipinawomen.blogspot.com Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:09 am EDT

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    watch it live
    http://watchnhlplayoffs.blogspot.com/
  8. Tim
    8. Posted by Tim Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:10 am EDT

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    I heard he liked the lawn guy's burrito somewhere...
  9. books
    9. Posted by books Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:10 am EDT

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    How's that Vancouver parade looking now?
  10. eggitmon
    10. Posted by eggitmon Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:12 am EDT

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    Qdoba for life. I got the bubble guts without eating a day old burrito...not sure if it's the impending game 7 or the guiness draft cans from last night.
  11. michblk
    11. Posted by michblk Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:16 am EDT

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    I'd hate to be in the small visitors locker room at the Joe with some guy that ate a day old burrito. Go Wings!
  12. tmr
    12. Posted by tmr Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:19 am EDT

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    That's pretty cool that Bylsma is doing the burrito thing...why not? It probably takes the edge off of the guys and keeps things loose...pretty important because THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAME OF THEIR LIVES (so far).
    Anything to distract the youngsters from the reality of the importance of this game is what coaches are supposed to do. The TRUTH is that some of these guys will NEVER have another shot at the Cup - this is it, their one and only chance of a lifetime FOREVER. When you put it in terms like that, players tend to lock-up (kind of like at the pee trough in the men's room at the Joe - not that it happens to me...). Locking up is not good for proper execution on the ice. Improper execution on the ice loses you the Stanley Cup.
    So hats off to Bylsma for his efforts...he knows that this is as much a head-game as it is a hockey game.
    His real problem is Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings. That said, he should have brought 2 burritos.
  13. WingeyDo
    13. Posted by WingeyDo Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:19 am EDT

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    imagine how much slime formed on that thing.
    yuk...
  14. Koba
    14. Posted by Koba Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:20 am EDT

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    Vastly superior ritual to Therrien's dozen burritos prior to game time.
  15. Ryan C.
    15. Posted by Ryan C. Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:24 am EDT

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    Let's see, rally monkey, lucky burrito, octopi, T-Rex, the Joe, man so many good luck charms in every sport. The things people come up with, it's so dumb it's funny. Now it's time to sit on the couch for exactly 5 minutes, then get up take three mango's chop them up and put them in a joint with some good smoke. Then take only 4 hits, put it out go outside and piss on my neighbors lawn mower and yell I like grits and jello. then go back inside and sit on the toilet for 3 hours for good luck. Maybe that will work too.
  16. WingeyDo
    16. Posted by WingeyDo Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:25 am EDT

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    It would be cool to see Bylsma barf on his team.
  17. GT
    17. Posted by GT Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:25 am EDT

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    I guess the Pens won't run out of gas!
  18. hockey101
    18. Posted by hockey101 Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:34 am EDT

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    @smiling Bob
    I have almost the exact same ritual. The only difference is between the lawn mower and yelling I go find a random stranger to punch... That part seems to give my team the aggression they need.
  19. books
    19. Posted by books Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:34 am EDT

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    Holmstrom should try something like this. Nothing like dropping a nasty bomb in front of the goalie to take screening to the next level.
  20. Shelley M
    20. Posted by Shelley M Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:35 am EDT

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    What's his record when buying the burrito at home and taking it on the road?
  21. Ryan C.
    21. Posted by Ryan C. Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:36 am EDT

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    @ WingeyDo, that would be funny as hell if he did. If he does he will be the number 1 star of the game.
  22. John D
    22. Posted by John D Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    i dunno what kind of weak ass stomachs you ladies have but a qdoba burrito has never had an ill effect of my digestive tract
  23. tmr
    23. Posted by tmr Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:40 am EDT

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    @ books...
    +1 to you for defining what would be Fleury's ultimate sacrifice for his team...
  24. habs1rule
    24. Posted by habs1rule Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:41 am EDT

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    Wonder how Sidney likes His Burrito...And where!!
  25. WingeyDo
    25. Posted by WingeyDo Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:41 am EDT

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    it's disgusting.

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