Vladifan

And herein lies the crux of the class of the Wings' organization. It's just one more example of how morally and athletically they're elite. There's Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Ron Artest, Roger Clements, Sean Avery, the New York Yankees, Al Davis, the Steinbrenners, Brian Burke, Mark McGwire, Pierre (?) LeCroix and all the other me-first, money-grubbing, steroid-using "pros". I'm guessing we could each make up a list of those we think fit that category. On the other hand, we have Mike Ilitch, Kenny Holland, Steve Yzerman, the scouts and the players for the Deeeetroit Red Wings. I'm so grateful I fell into loving and idolzing this team and I will continue to genuflect in their general direction.

Agreed. And it's like someone else said here - that the Wings play like a team. And what a team!!! Again...it's a credit to the management AND the players that even with all our hotshots/stars, nobody really stands out. THEY get the idea. Witness the all-star fiasco. I don't think our guys cared all that much that only two were singled out to go. As for the Penguins and Crosby and Malkin, look where they are in the standings...Yeah, I know - if you put better players with Crosby, yada yada - but the point is the same. THE WINGS PLAY AS A TEAM AND THEY LOVE IT THAT WAY.

Good post. It's like Eddie Olczyk said the other night about Draper and Maltby. Something like, "you accept your role and you play it as best you can". Sammy has done just that. In spite of the fact that I've bitched about him too he's done everything he's been asked to do and did it a helluva lot better than I would have thought. So thanks for the stats. And shut my mouth!

I'm just grateful I don't have to make the decision whether or not Mac stays or goes. I love Mac and what he's done for the team and Deetroit. I hope he rehabs well and gets back to what he loves doing best. Playing for the Red Wings. I wish him nothing but the best because he's such a great Deetroit icon.

"They" haven't called but there's no way I'm not gonna give my opinion. The hell with 'em. What do they know? Hossa has to stay. And from what I hear, he wants to stay. The positive chemistry between him, Dats and Zets is immeasurable and it is blatantly obvious he raises the level of play, whatever line he's on. Tonight's game was an excellent example of that. I want Franzen and Hudler to stay, and I would not mind at all seeing Filppula and Kopecky moved. As for Leino, YES! Anybody else watch Malts, Drapes and Leino together? That line shows great potential and looks a helluva lot better than when Kopecky plays on that line. Helm, Abdelkader, Meech and Ericcson must also be retained. Work the money anyway you have to. Thankyouverymuch. :deal:

Every good source of news/input like this one needs a qualified archivist. One that brings history to life when it's necessary. Thenk yew for taking on this sometimes thankless task.

I too wish you a great birthday with lotsa cake, ice cream, steak, etc., really expensive presents and a win where Conklin plays just iffy enough so they'll bring the Great Oz back soon, but the Wings win anyway. :beerbuddy: :colorspin: :band:

Welcome, Preds Person. Hey, one of my best email buds is a rabid Avs' fan, so some of us are either very open or just don't know any better.

We watched this game from a motel room in Chicago. We were here because of a memorial service for my brother. Most importantly, the service went very well and the church was jammed with people who loved him. It's been a real rough week for our family, but you know what? MY WINGS WON SOOOO WELL YESTERDAY AND TODAY and I am so grateful to them for literally helping me through this weekend. I know that probably means my priorities are really misguided but honestly, I don't care. I am so damn grateful to be a Red Wings' fan. They are the class act of the athletic world and even though they'll never know it they added hugely to my well-being this weekend by their drive, their heart and their skill. THANKS, my beloved Red Wings.

Off topic, but I am intrigued by your "shadow and light" comment. For whatever reason I've been thinking a lot about light and all its physical and spiritual properties, and the reverse, as in shadows or the dark. ...SOOOO many ways you can go on that topic but of course, not here. And no, I haven't hit the sauce.

Well, if Panger's right it won't be just the Yote's minds that are constipated....And oh yeah, I hope it backfires on 'em, so to speak.

There is no "try". There is only "DO". And you do dang good, dude!

Wings win 5-1. While Helm has the puck against the boards, Kopecky mistakenly hits him and the puck caroms off Bryzgalov and goes in. Cheli deflects a puck off Carcillo's nose and Dats tips it mid-air into the Yotes' net. Cheli is then heard saying, "You wanna see me do that again?" For weeks after, Carcillo will be called "Pinnochio". Dats, Hossa and Zets team up for eight passes up the ice for a goal, and Bryzgalov and three other Yotes end up with their jock straps around their necks. Refs almost forfeit the game to the Wings for the game delay. Lidstrom scores from the other blue line and Gretzky lliterally implodes. Big Al tells their team, "YOU clean it up. I just do ice." The refs DO call a game delay and help hunt down the squeegees and mops. Ozzie slams the puck up the ice and after it careens off two Coyote players and three refs, it goes in the net. (After the game, some people will swear they see Oz scratching his nose with his middle finger. ...Wonder what that's all about?...!) Within a week, Bettman will propose a rule change saying NO team can possess the puck more than 10 minutes a period. He is demoted to marketing all the warm climate hockey teams.

This is such a classy contribution to this board. Thanks for all your hard work.

SOOOOOOOOOO well put. THANKS.

Agreed. I LOVE to watch this kid play. He never seems to let up.

There's no way he could get suspended if all they have to look at is that one shot up the guy's nostrils. Then they try to cover up their crappy camera work by saying something about Lilja's elbow up on the guy's neck and that was probably the reason they called him. How the hell would we or anybody know? Toward the end of the game one of our guys (?) looked like he got hit the same way but NO call. Pee on 'em. Meanwhile, [/size]KICK ASS, OZZIE!!!!!!

Whoa and wow! That I did not know. Don't like 'em, but now I'm thinking I can certainly live with them. Especially when it's the only channel in town. Thanks.

This is probably the tenth thread I've seen on various boards over the years that have ripped Ozzie, and oh my it's wearing thin. Whether we as Red Wings' fans admit it or not, we are spoiled rotten. We're used to winning and having it our way. And we're used to winning YESTERDAY. We assume that everything will go smoothly. For years now, our stars have been playing like a team and playing pretty much without major incident. Meanwhile, many of us have obviously conveniently forgotten that most of our third and fourth line players would play on top lines on other teams. Now we find that our team - partly our defense, but especially our first-string goalie - is letting us down. He's human. He's fallible. And even Lidstrom is seemingly losing his touch. OH MY GOD. Check the frickin' skies... Well, kids - while many of you rant, rave and stomp your feet and want Whoever benched YESTERDAY I'm just gonna go on being so very grateful for what this team has done in the past and I will most certainly look forward to what they'll do in the future. From Mike Ilitch and Kenny Holland on down, they are a collective class act which is a helluva lot more than I can say for many of the posters here. And thank God they're the ones with the experience, perspective and maturity.

WORD. Even the defense says it's mostly the defense. Thenk yew. Not sure about your take on the goalies. I'd like to think they're both just going through an iffy time at the same time. And no. Pigs don't fly yet but you just never know....Science and aeronautics are wonderful things.

UH. Ozzie didn't play today. He's not the one who didn't stop those two stoppable ones...

Pretty much sucked as a stop, didn't it. ...urp...

Tootoo has great timing. He waits for the whistle and then does his damage. He and Barret Jackman are both complete pieces of s*** in that regard. Neither of 'em has any social redeeming value.

Yeupp. Wasn't it in 2002 that the Wings pretty much sucked going into the playoffs? Hasek was not playing well; the team was not playing as a team, etc., etc., etc. Meanwhile, instead of watching any of the All-Star crap, I replayed all the Wings' Championship DVD's from the four-disc set. Over and over, the players on those teams emphasized Team Play, using phrases like "we came together as a team", or "it was because we played as a team". This has always and forever been the heart of the Wings' stellar play. Even when they had all those stars on the 2002 team, you could see their comraderie and chemistry on the ice. Until they reach that point again this season, they will not succeed. So we can sit here and blame one individual, but the Wings know better. Thank God.

eeeohhh gawd, I hope you're right. At the moment, Flipzeedoo is driving me battier than Kopecky, but we each have our little hates, don't we??!!