Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

One Last Party At The Joe

04/10/2017 at 8:18am EDT

from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

The Red Wings skated to center ice and raised their sticks to salute the fans, and the fans raised the ministicks the team had given away as souvenirs in return, underscoring the connection the team and the city made in this place.

It was a playoff atmosphere, a party atmosphere.

"I've never had goose bumps this many times during a game in my career," said Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, and this was his 1,000th NHL game.

If there was any consolation for the Red Wings missing the playoffs, it was this: Everyone knew this would be the last game at the Joe. The Red Wings could plan festivities and invite alumni to come back. The fans could come ready to say their goodbyes and raid the local fish markets.

Thirty-five octopuses hit the ice. Thirty-five. The Detroit tradition started in 1952, the eight legs of an octopus representing the eight playoff victories it took to win the Stanley Cup then. Well, on this night, it was almost as if each octopus represented a year at the Joe. Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said there were so many that the players could smell them toward the end of the game.

"In a tough season, like it's been for us, I think this was a nice way to go out," Abdelkader said. "This building deserves it."

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added 8:34am, from Craig Custance of ESPN,

This entire season, players have been asked to name their favorite Joe Louis Arena memory. It took until the last game to realize there was a much better question to be asked: Whom did you share your favorite Joe Louis Arena memory with?

That's what this place was about. Not necessarily the moments, but, instead, the people. The people you shared it all with. And that, that's not going away.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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