The stage was the biggest and the lights were the brightest, so the ovation was the loudest.
Hockey shifts are like a stack of resumes on a hiring manager’s desk. They all start to look the same after awhile, but then suddenly, one stands out.
Kirk Maltby skated to the bench that June evening in 2009, his work done and his helmet laying on the ice. Whenever the hockey player’s head isn’t inside the wayward bucket, it’s a start.
The Joe Louis Arena crowd rose to its feet and roared its approval. Maltby had just given the patrons 45 seconds of thrills and the Pittsburgh Penguins 45 seconds of torment.
In those 45 seconds, Maltby did what he did best—make a nuisance of himself with relentless skating, checking and pick-pocketing. The Penguins were the substitute teacher and Maltby was the derelict class clown who wouldn’t stop acting out.
It was 45 seconds inside Game 1 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, and Grind Liner Maltby had just schooled the Penguins in the art of grinding.
The Red Wings won the game (though they would, sadly, not win the series), and afterward I trudged dow ...
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Article written by Greg Eno
Kirk Maltby Will Be Missed, Except By Opposing Forwards
October 13th, 2010 by Greg Eno Leave a reply »
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