Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:43 am EDT
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.)
Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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http://watchnhlplayoffs.blogspot.com/
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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.
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yuk...
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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.
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+1 to you for defining what would be Fleury's ultimate sacrifice for his team...
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