Sevumar

To me, the worst part is he knew he was messing up. Every time the camera showed his face, he looked positively homicidal. Even so, I think Lilja gets a bit more heat here than he deserves.

Lilja takes too many penalties and tends to make costly mistakes at the worst times. Having said that, I like Lilja. I'd like to see more of Ericsson, too, but the kid needs time to find his legs and his confidence. I wouldn't put him in for the playoffs, but start him off in the lowest pair next season.

I hope that's sarcasm. From where I'm sitting the rivalry's been dead for some time.

It's retired, but it's not. But it is. But it's not.

Here's hoping he changes his ways.

Don't forget that Kopecky gave up 28 for Rafalski and switched to 82.

And the retarded Calgary announcers say that the "hockey gods were smiling on Kiprusoff and the Flames" in this game... Really? It takes divine intervention to beat a team with half a dozen injured players and a defense composed of AHLers? Well, congratulations. Wings played a good game with what they had to work with.

Not surprising at all, considering Rogers contributes the worst feed of any of the Center Ice affiliated networks. Before this, I didn't think their announcers were such douches though.

Anyone catch how the Calgary announcers named the hit on Kopecky the hit of the game?

I hope it doesn't take 7-10 days to get him back on the ice at game time. The good news is that we don't have another game until Friday, so that'll give him some time to rest up.

Sorry, Engblom is a card-carrying member of the "Mullet for Life" club.

I wonder how Downey would do against Phaneuf or Iginla. Calgary's been pretty rowdy lately.

Good imagery, but I that's not the impression I get from Downey. He's actually very smart about the way he fights -- doesn't drop the gloves if he knows it won't help his team and he protects his guys as best he can.

You guys see how long Downey is in for? 17 minutes total penalties against him and I bet he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm concerned about Lidstrom, but I'm waiting to react until we hear something.

Way to respond, Downey!

I just don't think it's a big enough upgrade, that I'd feel good about dumping a guy who has been in Detroit all his career, likes the team (and the players) and is loyal to it, and is emerging as the next generation leader for this group of guys, in Tampa Bay.

This is just getting silly. Lecavalier has one less goal than Z and only 5 more points, but we're falling all over ourselves to give up anything that's not nailed down for him?

Voted for you guys a bit. Good luck!

I honestly don't see us giving up Z or Dats as part of a deal for Lecavalier. If anything, we'd be trying to add him to our stable, not trade away the best players we already have.

I saw most of the game last night. Hard fought by both clubs, but Vancouver really earned the win. The brawl at the end was unbelievable. I'm shocked no one picked up a fine for any of it.

I was just commenting a couple of days ago that I was glad the NHL doesn't do this. It was disappointing the first time I saw them on AHL jerseys. As for the players who are pushing for them -- do they have no pride in their teams? Do they really think destroying the look of their jerseys for a few bucks is good for the sport or the organization?

I've been watcing some of the Wings' pre-lockout games lately. Because I only became a fan in the "new NHL" era that began with the most recent CBA, I find some of these kinds of posts confusing. To my eyes, the game looked a lot more physical 5 or 6 years ago than it does today. I know the rule changes have had a profound impact on the style of play, and that as you say, the days of the old-style enforcers are over. It seems to me that in this league, it's easier than ever before for teams to compete playing a style of hockey than is more finesse oriented. It doesn't give you a pass on having people who can play physically, but you've certainly got more options than you did in the past. Despite this, people always seem to be shouting for more physicality on the Wings' roster as though it was 2002 and the Wings were playing with their current roster. It looks like the people who are going to be goons have gone underground about it. There are fewer opportunities for them to practice their craft in the open, so they are the ones making the dirty hits these days. I don't think the Wings want to play this kind of hockey. If they can find a way to get players who can be physical within the bounds of the current league, I'm all for it, but I don't think we're looking for the same kinds of guys we'd look to in the pre-lockout days.

I was kind of wondering about this too. The only thing I can think of that comes to mind is that Quincey has been in circulation longer and made a respectable showing in last year's playoffs.

Hopefully this'll jumpstart things. I'm past the point where I look at any adjustments made and say, "gee, this has really got to be the thing that does it." The truth is no one knows what it'll take to light a fire under the Wings again. Maybe it's yoga and a thrilling literary discussion with Aaron Downey. Perhaps it's a line and goaltending shakeup. All the things we as fans have expected to spark a rebound haven't, yet.