55fan

Of course, that's just one chick's opinion. It may well be that the Hockey Goddess herself will smash down your door the second you undo the knots. Or the Wardrobe Police may charge you with a violation. And your bracelets would be charged as accessories. Just do it quietly when no one is watching.

Haha! Joke's on you! I didn't have a camera in 1996 either. On to dawings' problem. I don't see any problem with fixing/repairing bracelets. We want to represent our team well, don't we? As I said before, just so no one sees you without them. Even the guys sometimes trim the beards and clean the oreo crumbs out of them.

Wow, after reading these stories, I have to say how impressed I am with the Minnesota fans. They were nice to me even though I was a Wing fan. There is a line. It's too bad people cross it. BTW, thanks for clearing up the dupas thing. I saw the name and was racking my brain trying to remember who he played for. I don't speak Polish. I was sure he had been a Leaf or a Hab. Silly me.

As others have mentioned, rest is good for a veteran team, healing injuries, etc. Being a veteran team, we also have the guys in the locker room who are self-motivated and will keep with it even if there is nothing scheduled on a particular day. They will also influence the younger, less experienced guys who may think that since we swept the Avs that they can take time off to party. That's where momentum can change- with attitude. we have the leadership to prevent that from happening. Raise your hand if you tried to say "Red Wings Rest" ten times fast. Yeah, I thought you did.

Probably the beard. My bracelets haven't been scratchy at all. Try using conditioner in your beard. I've heard that helps. (Not that I've ever grown one, just heard it from friends that have.) As long as you're practicing good hygiene (and I'm sure you are), I'm sure it's a healthy scratch, and we do seem to have a lot of those around here. BTW, if I can find a friend with a camera, I'll post pics. I don't have one of my own.

yes, he would. If you have played at least 42 games in the regular season, you get your name on the Cup as long as you're still on the team.

This is really a tough one. A nice problem, to be sure, but a problem nonetheless. I really like Malts, but I can't see that he is enough better than anyone else to warrent playing him in their place. I guess I would say that he sits for sure the first game in the next round, and then takes the place of anyone who is not 100% (except Hanky, Panky and the Crease-Crashing Tanky). Injuries are bound to happen at some point, no matter how hard we hope not to see them. I say use Malts as a go-to guy for injuries, or even if we are up 3 games to 0 or 1, put him in for someone who needs a break. They won't admit they need one, but you know how it is in the playoffs. Guys will play with IV bags if they can get away with it. I do hope he gets the chance to play in at least one post-season game, just for old times' sake. I know nostalgia doesn't win cups, and I'm not saying we should do anything to threaten our run for the cup, but if we're winning and it's a pretty good certainty that we will outplay the team again, let Malts join the party.

I would shove my octopus up their <expletive deleted>, take their marker and write "hey, Bettman, inspect me for octopus matter" on their butt, and throw them on the ice after a goal or the anthem, taking care not to hit a player or on-ice official. I would not boil them. That would be overkill, and they would probably taste much better sauted in olive oil with mushrooms and served with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

I don't usually admit to liking Sammy in the GD. He's kind of like that younger cousin that the big kids have to let play with them, but they make fun of him and you secretly hope that he will grow up and play circles around them just to get them back and show them up. Not that the Wings make fun of him, just LGW.

Along with the physical play, Kronner has had 8 assists. Raffy, Helm, Drake- all doing well too. Keep it up boys!

I guess it's better than Hanky and Panky.

Because we all know you have that special Red Wing Magic known as The Power Of Z and if we do something bad, you're gonna GET us! And we love you. But you knew that.

I don't think taking them off for repair/replacement jinxes anything as long as you are not seen by anyone without the bracelets. Mine from yesterday broke this morning as I was taking off my coat at church. 10 beads...all over. The ushers found 5, I found another 4, and after Sunday School three of us middle-aged women were crawling around under the pews looking for one I thought I had heard fall. We didn't find it, so I replaced it when I got home. It was an F. Hopefully this means that Franzen & Flip will get some sort of special blessing. Or whatever.

Debone a crow. Coat in egg, dredge in flour. Panfry until light brown. Place in a shallow pan. Cover with equal parts cream of crow soup and milk. Cook for about an hour at 320 degrees. I'm calling it........Crowhan Franzen. And I'm eating it for saying he was one of the more tradable players on the team. For those of you who said little Nik was a waste of money and had no potential, etc.- feel free to use this recipe for a tasty dish of Crow-nwall. (Yeah, I know it's not a long O. Work with me here.) For our vegan friends, replace the milk with soy milk, the crow soup with mushroom, omit the egg, and replace the meat with crowfu. Go, Mule! I'll never doubt you again.

I've been having to replace my white ones since they turn red when they get wet. I had to run to Walmart today for more beads. I ran out of F's. Imagine that!

They're the Eurotwins: if one wins, they both win. I'm only partially kidding here. If one wins, he will be excited. If the other wins, he will be happy for him. Both are young enough that they know they will be nominated again in the future, and both are mature and classy enough that they know this. They are good enough friends that they will cheer for the other. This year, I give Dats the edge. Next year, who knows? I'd like to see both win at some point in their careers, preferrably more than once.

He's just afraid that it may become encrusted with Flying Octupus Matter.

I really like him. I like his energy and his attitude and, of course, his talent. I'd love to see him raise the Cup some day, although I realize with the salary cap and his contract, it probably won't be in a Winged Wheel, which would make me happiest. Still, if there's a year when they are in, and we're not, I'll be rooting for him. After I get done crying.

DET/COL 4-2 SJ/DAL 4-1 MON/PHI 4-3 PIT/NYR 4-2

Duct tape, honey. I've been using it and it works wonders. The silver is for the Cup. Just don't shower with it. I mean, take showers, yes, but remove the bracelets and then put them right on after the shower.

Side with Bettman. Side with Needy. Side with Bettman. Side with Needy. Do we have an intracranial explosion smiley?

They're cumulative. You just keep adding red for a win and white for a loss. Right now, we have 4 red and 2 white. I've been adding beads with the initials of the players who score goals in each game. The bag also came with little hearts, so I added one on each end of the players' initials for each bracelet that clinches the round. I also add the goalie's initials in the event of a shutout. Edit for speeling (bad spelling).

Make that 10 grand plus posting my bail plus travel expenses and game tickets, and you've got yourself a deal. I'll spring for the octopus as well as anti-bacterial soap in case I accidently touch Bettman.

As we all predicted, the point leaders right now are Dats, Hootie and Kronner (5 each). I give Dats the edge as MVP, with the other 2 as seconds, along with Lids, who is, as usual, perfect. Kudos also to Johan & Drake. Hats off as well to Ellis. He did well.

I'm so thrilled by the shutout. I was sitting on the edge of my seat all game saying "thank you, Ozzie" after every save. Good to see the team playing well and headed to the next round. I am truly giddy.