Lidsyukerberg

For a while my boss kept a sign hung up in our pod with our incentive program written on it. It was very inspirational always having that reminder right there where we could ponder it daily. "Work or you're fired!"

Was it just me, or did Homer seem like he was in a cranky mood last night? He didn't seem like his normal jovial self. He really looked cranky, like he had a terrible day. Totally unlike him. Although, it did make him kind of scrappy, and I thought that was kind of cool.

I mean the mad look he was sporting all night. I don't mean his energy. He just looked like he was in a really bad mood. I'm not really talking anything about the game, just as a person he looked grumpy.

Are you off your meds or something? No really that's a serious question.

This sentiment is getting old and played out. What games have you been watching all year? In his fight card (which you can see for yourself here) he has not lost one fight this entire year. He has had an almost equal amount of draws and wins. If you really wanted to you could even go to YouTube and do a search for Downey, I think you'll find your statement to be way off base. As for scoring, his job is not to score. It would be nice to see him score, but that is not his role here. His role is to shake up the other team and take them off their game. And if you don't think he's done a good job of that go back and watch some games from earlier this year and just listen to Mickey and Ken go on about how every time he hits the ice the other team hits panic mode and are always looking over their shoulder for him. Unless of course you don't think Mickey and Ken know what they're talking about. Personally I would love to see Mac and Downey on the same lineup for a lot more games. I would sit Hartigan in a minute for Downey, and I would absolutely bring in Downey over Abdelkader any day. We have an unbelievable scoring core, what we need are more guys to protect them and let them do what they do best. I wouldn't put Mac and Downey on the same line though, I would split them up so that we can protect two lines. I like the idea of prevention over retribution. I'm sorry for the rant but it is getting a little old hearing people say "Downey hasn't won a single fight all year." It really makes me think that either people are totally biased against Downey and are not willing to look at the facts/stats, or that they are totally ignorant to what they have been watching, or that they haven't been watching at all and have just been mimicking something they heard somebody else say. It can only be one of those choices, because facts and stats are facts and stats, you can't change them and they are not subjective or biased, they are what they are. Granted Downey is not a scorer, and not much of a skater, but he makes up for those things by doing what he does really well. Can we finally get off the whole "Downey never wins fights" topic and base our assessments on facts and stats? Opinions are fine, and I don't even care if you don't like him, it's no skin off my back. But at least base your arguments on facts not feelings.

Well, there's a couple minutes I'll never get back.

Alright, this question doesn't really have a right answer because it is totally based on opinion, but I wanted to get some of your opinions. I am undecided. Which do you think is better? 1). Sweep a series and let our boys get some rest? or 2). Take the series out to 5 maybe 6 games and keep a stride going? (6 might be pushing it, but just for the sake of argument). I think it's a tough call, because on one hand we get a sweep and get to take a much needed break. On the other hand if it goes out a little bit then they get to go into the next series already in full stride. Of course there are arguments against both sides as well. On one hand they sweep and get rest but then they have to get back up to speed in the next series. Kind of like drag racing in spurts against another driver who is just going all out. On the other hand they stay in a little longer and get to keep the stride, but risk injury and fatigue. I don't know, obviously seeing a sweep is always nice, but is it what is best for a playoff run? Just food for discussion.

I am not sure what my plans are for Friday yet (it seems like there was something I was supposed to be doing). But if I can make it I think it sounds like fun. I work about a block from there.

Sweet, another Irishman on the boards? Bonus. Cead Mille Failte

That sounds reasonable to me, but I think it would have to be more fast paced than regular drill. They would have to do drills that would keep them in playoff conditioning I think. No bag skates or anything, and obviously no creaming each other against the boards, but maybe some high tempo scrimmages or something. Solid point.

No but three lefts do. BEAT HIM IN THE HEAD!!!! I'm sorry, that wasn't right. Actually, I'm pretty sure that he didn't say anything that wasn't said in the Detroit locker room, his statement was just written down. I think if the Wings just stick with their game there shouldn't be any problems. The Preds have played using Tootoo's philosophy every time they have played us, I think he just verbalized it to try and shake up our team. I don't think it will, Detroit has known that this is how they play all along. It's nothing new, just verbalized is all. I wouldn't worry too much about it. The only thing that concerns me is a panicked Nashville team running at our key players in an effort to try and stay in this thing. But I don't think it will have anything to do with Tootoo's statement. --edited for spelling--

Actually, I wasn't coming at you, sorry if it seemed like I was. Yours was the post with something about Mac and fighting in it (and it wasn't really negative) so I chose it just to highlight my views on the topic of whether or not Mac can/will handle dropping the gloves at this stage of his career. Honestly, I am not sure what the outcome will be either, it's just that after what we all saw him do against all odds, I won't put anything past him at this point. He has always been the type of player and person that never ceases to amaze and surprise. Sorry if it seemed like it was aimed at you, it wasn't. By the way, I totally agree with your comments about Babs, I won't argue with any of his decisions either. He has shown himself to be a very good and very smart coach. Besides, there is plenty good reason why he is getting the big bucks and I'm not.

I am not so sure that Mac can't throw down, everybody keeps saying they don't think he can. But as I recall everybody also said "he'll never make it out of the IHL, he's all washed up and doesn't have anything left." Then it was, "Well, he'll never get a goal in the AHL." Then it was, "well sure he got some goals, but it's not the NHL, he'll never crack the lineup this year." Then it was, "Well, he may have gotten signed but he'll be lucky if he sees any ice time this year, maybe next year." Then, "Yeah, but he's not going to get any points." We then heard "yeah but it's just an assist, big deal, it's not a goal. He'll never crack the playoff roster." So here we are 2 games into the playoffs, Mac has not only cracked the roster, but he has played both games, AND has tallied a goal. So, when I hear that he has nothing left and isn't going to be able to throw down the gloves, I don't think I am ready to jump on that band wagon. I am not putting anything past him. I am not saying that he will win every fight he gets in, nobody does, I'm just saying that I think he will be able to throw down when needed. I saw him in Flint when he took to scrapping and he didn't look far off his form. Sure you could argue that it was just the IHL, but you could also argue that it was young kids trying to crack their way into the NHL by taking on the likes of Big Mac. Anyway, to answer the first question, I hope Downey gets to see some ice time, but not because anybody else is going to struggle against any particular teams (I've actually even been very happy and impressed with Drake to this point and anybody who knows me knows that I have not been a big Drake supporter), I would like to see him get a shot at it because he has earned it. He definitely has some hustle, I love his energy when he hits the ice. He also has a great knack for shaking up the opposing team, and I think that has a place in any playoff game. I'm not all that concerned about whether or not he scores any goals, nobody can argue that his purpose on the team is to score goals, I want him to do what he does best. I would like to see him in the final game against Nashville just to shake up an already panicked team and lock in the win (not that I am saying it would be him that locks it in, just that he would shake up their game plan and take them off their game). Anyway, that's just how I see it, I could be wrong, and I'm not too proud to admit when I am. But this sounds good to me.

They're just dusting off tired old excuses because they have nothing else and they can't just admit that we have the best team in the league with or without a salary cap. To me this sentiment just shows ignorance to the NHL. If they really paid any attention at all, they would realize that with the salary cap we can't buy any more talent than their team can. I would say it's a testimony to our front office, we know how to pick good hockey players and then develop them into world class hockey players.

I think the whole Hossa situation speaks to this. If we were the Yankees of the NHL he would be here right now. "Unhand me damn Yankee!"

Alright, I realize that the answer to this is probably buried in a sea of posts somewhere on here, but I don't have the time right now to sift through it all. Anyway, does anybody know why Babs decided to sit Mac and dress Downey (not that he couldn't dress himself, but it's always nice to get a hand)? Because with only a few games left before the playoffs, Mac is going to need all the ice time he can get if he is going to get up to speed and prove himself worthy to crack the roster. I'm not saying that he can or can't at this point, just that if he is going to have any shot at it, he needs to get out there. Was Babs not happy with his effort Friday night? Did he just want to see Downey put a lump on Tootoo? (not that he had to bench Mac for that, he could have sat Drake) Were Mac's ribs bothering him after the game? I could go on forever, and I have been in my own mind since yesterday which is why I am asking. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Actually, I am one of the people who doesn't like it when Downey is benched. I wasn't saying that I wanted Mac in over Downey. I have just resigned myself to the fact that Babs has chosen Downey as the one he is going to rotate Mac with. I was actually just wondering if there was a reason that he benched Mac that last game. As for wanting Mac to play more than Downey, personally I would rather see Hartigan or Drake, or Kopecky, or Hudler benched over either, take your pick. So it doesn't have anything to do with wanting Mac over Downey, it was just curiosity about why Mac wasn't playing Sunday when there are so few games left that he will either get to earn a spot, or at least get to play some games before his season is over (whichever happens). That's all. Personally I really hope to see Downey in the playoffs, but I would also like to see Mac in. Pitch some non producing forwards, and replace them with brawn. So what if Mac and Downey don't rack up the goals, at least they'll lay the body on some guys. Unlike Hudler and Kopecky or Hartigan who don't play a physical game or rack up any goals (at least not lately).

Wow! You guys aren't gonna believe it, I found this really cool tool on the internet that answers your questions like some kind of magic genie. It's called Google, and I think I found the answer. Don't know why I didn't check there before. According to Mlive: I think I'm going to like this Google thing.

I couldn't agree more, this is a total mistake. However, he might be giving Mac a trial by fire. We already all but know that Downey won't be playing too many playoff games, so Babs might be looking to see if Mac will be able to cover that role along with adding experience. I hope nobody gets hurt in this little "experiment" but I think Mac will handle it. At any rate, I guess this answers the question we have all been posing leading up to tonight. Who will be bumped from the lineup to make room for Mac? I just think it is the way wrong answer. I would Downey over plenty of other guys right now, I think some very acceptable names have already been mentioned.

From the Free Press Darren McCarty promises a hard-nosed style for his return I think he will be careful to a degree because of his ribs, I mean it would suck to come back for one game and get injured and out for the rest of the regular season. However, at the same time, he only has five games to earn a spot on the roster for the playoffs, so I think he will give it his all, only he will be smart about it. Unfortunately, back to the five games, he doesn't have a lot of breathing room here. He has to come out with everything he's got so he can get up to speed quickly and show that he has what it takes to make the playoffs.

They're going to ban fighting? In Hockey?! Somebody needs to kick their A@$.

I can definitely agree with that. We do need everybody, and the first round is a toughy. But I would like to think that our boys can carry the load while he's out. He could make a big difference, but I would like to think that we have the depth to cover for him while he's out. Because if we don't then we could be in for a bad post season even if he does make it back before the playoffs begin.

Wow. How do you get tickets to that??? That sounds way cool.

Check with them about the details, I'm not sure how it works. You may have to pay for a membership or something, I don't know. All I know is that they said it was for season ticket holders only. I would give them a call to be sure. The food was awesome, it wasn't even food, it was cuisine. I didn't even know I would ever get to use that word in my normal every day life.

Shouldn't you be out on a ledge somewhere? Just kidding. But in reality, why are you assuming that we won't make it past the first round without him? I mean, I agree he is a great hockey player and a great asset to this team, but he is not the great white hope. We actually have other players, and surprisingly they're not too bad. Don't get me wrong, I love Homer and really hope to get him back as soon as possible too, but I am not going to hang up my cup hopes if he isn't in the lineup in time. As great a player as he is, I don't think that he is the single deciding factor in our playoff run.