Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman and captain Nicklas Lidstrom joined the “Jamie and Stoney Show” on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday morning to discuss his legendary career, as well as the loss that still sticks out as being the most painful.
No surprise that it was Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, a 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins win at Joe Louis Arena that was sealed when Lidstrom's last second attempt at tying the game was stopped by an acrobatic Marc-Andre Fleury.
“Thinking back to the losses, the early 90’s we had some tough ones. But the one that stings the most is that Game 7 loss, at home in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and being so close,” he said. “If you look back at the things you wish you could have done differently, that’s probably one of the things that sticks out the most, to be able to at least take that game into overtime and see what could have happened.”
“Fleury looked like a soccer goalie. He dove across and I think I hit him right in the chest. And actually one of my kids asked me after, ‘Dad, why didn’t you put that one in?'” Lidstrom recalled with a laugh. “I did all my best to try to score, but he made one heck of a save on that shot.”
It's now been seven years since he decided to hang up his skates, which he said is “hard to believe”.
“Doesn’t feel like seven years,” he said, “but it’s been good. Spending a lot of time with my family. Still miss hockey every now and then, too.”
But could he still cut it in today's NHL?
“No, I’ve seen how fast the kids are nowadays. It’s too late for me,” he said. “I enjoy sitting up in the press box with the fans watching the games, but the game’s way too fast for me nowadays.”
Lidstrom will be signing copies of his book, ‘The Pursuit of Perfection.' He'll have book signings Friday at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Allen Park, Saturday at noon at Meijer in Madison Heights, and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Northville.
