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Boycotting a game? Why? It's hockey outdoors. Should be a good game.

I thought the same thing and yes the brain does block out very painful memories, its for our own good. As a result none of us will remember Jiri Hudler playing a single game this year.

yep I'm with you on this one. There could have been about 12 teams that could have been in this thing that is now ruined because all they care about is pushing things down loyal hockey fan's throats. Its so f***in disney its sickening.

I'm not watching a day filled of NBC creaming itself over Sidney (yet again). There were plenty of other teams and locations that haven't had the chance, that are more deserving. Edit: This is not a Crosby topic. This is about how unfair it is for pits to be repeatedly thrown in the spotlight.

Every team has it's share of fans that are jerks, this team is no exception, even though I root for the LSU Tigers down here to win, I consider a lot of their fan base to really be a bunch of over the top jerks. I know plenty of Saints fans down here that are over the top with things as well, but in general (at least for the Saints), I consider many people down here to be welcoming and friendly, enjoying the company of people and fans from out of town and typically nobody goes overboard to where visitors feel unwelcomed. I know all Blackhawk fans and Chicago fans aren't like this, but it's just a disgrace that Chelios was disrespected by a large majority of people last night just because he played for a rival. And this isn't the first time I've seen or heard of really bad disrespect from Chicago fans. In 2006 when the Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl, they beat the Saints in the playoffs that year. I didn't travel up for that game, but a few friends/family did, not one story I heard from them, or from people on local talk radio down here was positive. They were not really welcomed or wanted, they were harassed, etc. And it's not like any Saints fans that I know of were looking to start trouble or stuff like that. I hate doing that - basically don't provoke me or give me reason to snap back at you in an angry or negative way when all I want to do is watch the game and mind my own business. It's unfortuantely because I really like the city, went there in April and was the first time I was there in at least 15 years and I loved it. I don't share in some of the disliking of the Blackhawks like some do in here because I'm not from the north (though I think I get it/understand it), I was happy they won the Cup last year partially for Hossa and partially because I have some family ties living up there and one of my friends down here is from Chicago, but for people here who live/have lived there or go there sometimes or whatever, do bad game experiences outweigh the good ones?

Hopefully he comes back no later than that. I was so excited to see Modano play for Detroit, and it's really sad that he had to get injured this one year by some freak thing that happened.

And I still won't be watching.

BAHAHAHA!!!! Oh my God... We have to win the cup this year now with Eaves on the team. We just have to. His reaction... I can only imagine, but oh my goodness. For that reason alone, we just have to win the cup. Simple as that.

Not this s*** again.

I dislike when people try to define what a true fan is. Should we all hold hands at the Joe and be proud of lackluster efforts just because we are all Red Wings fans? Everyone makes mistakes, I fully understand that. However, it's a discussion board and there are instances where it's perfectly fine to be upset especially when those mistakes cost the Red Wings a game and one of their teammates a milestone victory he deserved yesterday. It's not like this is the first time Rafalski has turned the puck over or been poor defensively. He's getting paid as a first pairing d-man and I expect a better effort than what Rafalski has shown for that price tag. If true fans can't voice their displeasure with their team's or a player's performance, then there doesn't seem like much of a reason to ever watch sports.

Rafalski doesn't "suck", but I'm sticking by my claim that he's overpaid and the worst defensive d-man on the team. Sure, he's terrific on the point and he usually makes a great first pass out of the zone, but he's very weak defensively. Lidstrom, Stuart, Kronwall and even Salei are consistently more reliable in their own zone and it's really kind of inexcuseable that Babcock would keep going back to the Rafalski/Ericsson pairing so late in a close game. That defense pairing needs to end because both are turnover prone and neither can position themselves well enough defensively to avoid getting pinned in their own zone. The most frustrating part to me about Rafalski is the fact he was unbelievable defensively at the Olympics with Suter against the best talent in the world. However, he has never consistently shown that with the Red Wings to justify six million dollars for some nice breakout passes and assists on the powerplay. I think it's fair to blame the loss yesterday on Rafalski -- his gaffes led directly to the tying and winning goal. Ozzie deserved way better than that effort.

You know, the Wings actually played a pretty good game today. They got their fair share of chances, finished decently.. I mean, sure, Helm missed an open net, but we know he has hands of stone anyhow, and the play was started solely by him... it shifted momentum as a bonus. Ozzie played a good game. Overall, the Wings looked fairly good. However, I would particularly like to thank Rafalski for singlehandedly costing Ozzie career win #400 by a stupid giveaway, a penalty in overtime (wtf are you doing with your stick that close to the legs of one of the biggest divers in the league?) and poor timing on joining the rush in OT. Thanks, Raffi.

no way this guy signs here and accepts assignment to AHL. i can't see Babcock accepting another one-way project like Leino. I'd rather see the Wings give our drafted youngsters a shot at a roster spot.

You all want a medal or something?

That is the point. The fact that you can name many players like that. The enforcer topic comes up because the anti-enforcer crowd wanted someone like Hudler and Modano over those useless fighters who never score. Meanwhile, the enforcer crowd wanted tougher players on the bottom two lines, instead of guys who weren't acclimated to not being a top 6 forward. I guess people (myself included) are gloating that numerous enforcers are playing better than Hudler.

11>4

that a boy cheli, get em real butthurt

Get this - I read that when the booing started and persisted, Bobby frickin' Hull walked out in disgust. Good job, Blackhawks "fans". You even disgusted quite possibly the best player in the history of your team.

it would be nice if we could have a do over in detroit and honor him they way he ought to have been honored.

You can't be serious. The salary cap has nothing to do with the decades of poor drafting and management in Toronto and the seeming disregard for a fan base that will gobble up the garbage on their plates, belch, and beg for more. Toronto fans deserve what they get because they are too busy pointing their jealous fingers at teams like the Wings and saying absurd things like "the wings buy their cups," instead of asking questions about their own organization and demanding changes be made and voting with their feet if they aren't satisfied. But they seem perfectly content to wallow and swallow so f***'em.

Their two biggest draws, eh? Would you like to know the two biggest fanbases in the league? 1. The Maple Leafs 2. The Red Wings

Fixed it for ya, since all three you mentioned make more $ than pits.

I'll be reading a book. I don't like the Penguins and I don't like football, so rather than surf around endlessly trying to find something to watch, I'll just finish one of a few books I've been meaning to. Win-win proposition the way I see it.