The Chase: Vlad
March 15th, 2010 | by Chris Hollis |*As the Wings make a run at the playoffs, MW counts down the points needed to hit the proverbial “magic number” of 94 for a Western Conference playoff berth. To assist the countdown, we’ll call on a past or present player who wore the corresponding jersey number for inspiration.
As if there was any doubt…
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I feel bad hurrying this post along, especially as I am attempting to channel the spirit of one of the heroes of Detroit hockey into tonight’s game. The real world has been keeping me busy (hence the lack of a Sabres wrap-up), but I wanted to make sure that I got something up to keep the jersey points countdown rolling along. But as I thought more and more about what to write, I realized that even the name of Vladimir Konstantinov is more than enough to drive the most outward looking person deep into their own being. I hear that name and I’m instantly launched back in time to that bright summer day when we all heard the news of the accident and when we all began praying that Vlad would pull through.
He did, and his spirit and will to live has made him one of the most cherished hockey icons in this city. Everyone feels for him and there’s not one of us who wouldn’t love to see him out there on the ice again. Instead, Vlad is now one of the biggest cheerleaders of this team, his presence occasionally manifesting itself through a visit to the Joe, but never far from our minds even when he’s not there.
And while comparing the Wings fight for the playoffs to the fight Vlad went through just to live would be completely inappropriate and irresponsible, the passion and fight that #16 continues to live with are more than enough inspiration for a team looking to take a giant leap forward in the late season rush to the playoffs. The Wings are finally playing like they believe they are in the fight and are playing a desperate, inspired, physical brand of hockey than even ol’ #16 would be proud of.
16 points to 94.
As if there was any doubt.
