Lidsyukerberg

You have to be a season ticket holder. Last year they had a thing going called Olympia Club member for a day and for $80 you got a ticket to the game, parking pass, a table at Olympia Club (for the whole game) and a meal. I did it a few times, it was a blast. You got to show up early, eat your meal (saw Cleary in there one time eating dinner when he was a healthy scratch), and then go up for the game. During the intermission you go back down and your table has a fresh drink waiting for you (not included in the price) and a bathroom with no line. After the intermission you go back up to your seat. It was very cool. I took my son one time and he loved the royal treatment. Then one of the wait staff told him that some of the players pass by the front door after they are showered and on their way home, and if he waited he could get their autographs. So we waited and he got his Hockeytown magazine signed by Cheli, Osgood, and Manny. He also got his picture with each of them. He was stoked. Very, very nice place. The players do a lot of interviews there. I wish they still did it, I'd go again.

I think you guys mean "lower body injury" Just kidding. I sure hope it's not serious, it would be a real bummer to win the cup without him. Sure his name will be on it, but it just wouldn't be the same for him I'm sure. And he has definitely earned it. Get well soon Homer.

That's not gonna come off in the shower.

You could pretty much insert any Probert or Kocur fight here and I would be happy, might even consider it my favorite fight until I see the next one, then that one will be my favorite fight. That being said, I love the totality of the . I was quite impressed. Downey started heading for the box almost before Boulerice hit the ice, he knew he had the knockout. *Edited for grammar*

This is definitely one of the distinct disadvantages we have by being in the Western Conference. This is one of the reasons we should be in the Eastern Conference. Even though I don't know how many times a year I can stand looking at the baby puke yellow of Boston. Seriously, I think they put that yellow everywhere just to mess with the visiting teams. What a psych job, that would crush just about anybodies will to live.

Shouldn't you be chained to a tree somewhere hippy? I'm just kidding. I actually agree with you, I think they did a good job too. I am really looking forward to seeing a completely healthy lineup, I think it's going to make a big difference. You can see the playoffs in the eyes of a lot of players right now, on all teams, the pace is starting to quicken and it's starting to look like hockey out there. WOOHOOOO!! Bring on the Cup baby!!

March 26? Just kidding, I just wanted to get a rise out of you guys. Actually, I have that game on DVD, I may watch it since there isn't a game. Kind of works out.

Does anybody know what the heck Fox-D+ is and how to get it on Dish Network? I'm beginning to get sick and tired of chasing the games around. It seems like every time I upgrade my packages the games move again. What's going on?!? I realize that this is just one game, but I see it as a sign of things to come.

Well, I just went and tried that channel and it looks like it's an alternate channel. So far it appears as though I get it, not sure yet but keeping my fingers crossed. I looked to see if the game was listed on that channel for 7:00 (because right now it is just the screen that says Sports Alternate channel) and it did list the game. I set it to record because I am going to be busy later and it let me set it up to record so it looks promising so far. I have the Americas Top 250 pack (just so I could get stupid VS.), hopefully it doesn't require the Americas Everything pack or they can forget it, especially if they start broadcasting games on it next year. Anyway, we'll see how it turns out. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking.

How about "Don't worry, it happens to everybody"?

Ok, I'm not going to get on here and be one of those natterin' naybobs who are going to run around here with my tinfoil hat, holding a sign that says "The end is near". I would never count our boys out, and would definitely not pigeon hole them into a first round exit. However, with only nine games left before the first round begins, we better start gathering up some steam. Call the engine room, tell them to double time the coal. We need more power Scotty.

Excellent, a math major. You can help me with a word problem that has been nagging at me for a long time. Bobby, mows his lawn in 3 hours. His lawn is 14ft X 20ft. Billy mows his lawn in 30 min. His lawn is 20ft X 14ft. What is wrong with Bobby? Nothing is so complicated that it can't be further confused by math I'm just kidding. I'm glad we have you math guys around, because if it was left to me we'd be in a lot of trouble.

That is true, Downey is a pretty weak skater. Drake definitely beats him hands down in that area.

First, I would like to state that I am not basing my opinion on stats, I am using the stats to support my opinion. Now to answer your questions. How many points do you want out of Drake? I am not worried about points, but I want him to do SOMETHING. I barely ever hear his name when he's on the ice. He has hardly any penalty minutes. He's starting to show more energy lately, but a for a long time he had no energy. The other team didn't even care when he was on the ice. I think the reason he is picking his game up is because Downey is coming in and stealing his lunch and he knows it. Does Downey EVER play penalty kill? If Downey was the one who got to choose whether or not he was on the PK, then this would be a legitimate argument. However, who knows why Babs does the things he does, so you can't blame Downey for that. And you can't say that it's because of something he did or didn't do, Sammy is still in the lineup and so is Hudler. Babs makes the choices he makes and the players abide by them. Is Drake's roll a point getter? or a playmaker? or a leader? It could be said that he should be all three. But let's break it up. Pointmaker: He only has three more points than Downey. Big deal. Playmaker: Playmakers get assists, that's the point, they generate a play that turns into a goal. Downey and Drake are tied in this area for 2 assists. Could be better on both parts, but as it stands we're just comparing the two of them. Downey on the other hand however, not only generates plays, but he is good at breaking up the oppositions plays as well. They can't play when they are watching over their shoulders for him all the time. Leader: A leader brings energy. A leader makes people talk. So far all I am hearing announcers talk about is Downey. Go back and watch the Blues game, Ken and Mickey couldn't shut up about how the Blues were constantly looking over their shoulders for Downey whenever he was on the ice. Downey has been getting a lot of attention off the ice as well, in interviews and the pregame show. I'm sorry, maybe I have been missing it, but I haven't been hearing all that much about Drake for some time. If you know of something please share it, I must have missed it. I've been listening for him (I honestly have), and have been looking for him on the ice, and a lot of the time I miss him. But, I swear, whenever Downey hits the ice he's like a crazed little badger who has been let loose on the dinner table. He's going after the puck like it was his chew toy. There have been times that Drake was playing and I didn't even realize it until the second period when he made a good play. And it's not because I don't like him or ignore him, because I have been watching for him, trying to see the great stuff people keep talking about. I just haven't been seeing it. You see your leaders. They stand out. You can't miss them. I am pretty sure he is a leader to all his teamates, he wants nothing more than to give another cup to Detroit faithful. I've never really heard the team talk about him as a leader, I've never heard them talk about Downey as one either, but I don't think either of them are here to be a leader. The team talks about the leaders as leaders. Our leaders are Lids, Draper, Chelios, Zetter, Pavs, etc... We have enough leaders, we don't need either of them to be a leader, just generate energy on the ice. As for the Cup statement, I'm pretty sure that Downey want's to bring the Cup to Detroit as well, I'm pretty sure they all do. I'll keep listening for Drake and watching for him. I honestly want good things for him, and he has stepped his game up lately. I'm just saying that he better watch his lunch, because there's a hungry badger running down the table right at it.

I get that we are only 3 away from a top spot, but I'm pretty sure that we have already clinched a playoff spot. I mean, it would take an act of God, like the Wings being kicked out of the league, to not make it into the playoffs at this point.

Ummm...... Am I missing something?

I agree that rotation is probably the way to go, and probably how it is going to go. I also agree that both have stepped up their game, and that is a good problem to have. As far as which line Mac will go on, I am a huge Mac fan, he is in my top three favorite franchise players. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to see the Grind Line reunited, or Mac making a permanent spot on any line, I don't think that is a reality. Kenny has already said that the days of seeing Mac play more than 10-15 minutes a game are over. Obviously minds are made to be changed, and with some hustle Mac may see more ice time. But at least at first, Mac is just going to be rotated in where needed. I don't think we're going to see any permanent line (as permanent as any line is) with Mac as a fixture. I think we will see him with Maltby and Draper a few times, but I think we will end up seeing him all over the place. At least for a while. Of course, when he comes back and razzle dazzles Kenny that will all change.

Man, you're not kidding. When the goalies were in the crowd you couldn't even tell them apart from the skaters until the camera panned down to the (tiny) leg pads. Nowadays when the goalies are out there in the crowd you can't even see the other players behind them.

I think Downey is showing more promise than Drake. Downey has been getting a lot more ice time lately and there's a reason for that (more than he used to I mean). He hustles, works hard and keeps the opposition looking over their shoulders whenever he's on the ice. I have not seen that out of Drake. As for Drake being able to chip in a few goals you could not have put it better, considering that 3 goals is the exact number of goals he has for the season. I don't call that a huge contribution when there is nothing else to go along with it. I wouldn't care if he had no goals and no assists if he brought energy to the game and kept the opposition on their toes. But the fact is, he doesn't. The opposition doesn't care when he's on the ice. I don't know what Babs is going to do, but I gotta tell you, I think Downey has earned more ice time than Drake this year. I would be really bummed if Downey was benched before Drake. Of course I don't want to just leave it at that, I will give the stats and you can decide for yourself. Drake: Games played: 55 Goals: 3 Assists: 2 Points: 5 +/-: -7 PIM: 37 Downey: Games played: 46 Goals: 0 Assists: 2 Points: 2 +/-: -1 PIM: 97 I'm sorry, but Drakes meager 3 goals are not enough to convince me that he is the harder worker, or the better player out of the two for this team. I know I keep beating this same drum, and I sound like a Downey groupie, but it's more like I am a realist. I have been seeing more out of Downey than Drake, and for my money I would keep Downey in there long before Drake. It's hard for other teams to play when they are looking over their shoulders every time they touch the puck, and we all know who they are looking for, and it's not Drake. It's the guy with 97 PIM in 46 games, who has no problem with dropping the gloves. Consider the Blues game, at the end of the game Downey had 3 guys wanting to fight him at the same time. Why 3? And why not Drake? Anyway, that's the view from my seat.

What value does Drake offer that you are speaking of? Is it all 3 goals in 55 games? Perhaps it's the whopping 2 assists he's tallied. Maybe it's the staggering 37 PIM. Or maybe it's his unmatchable -7. I see what you mean, Dallas Drake is essential to this team, replacing him would be a mistake of epic proportions. And as a side note, to say that Mac is only doing this for the money is kind of silly don't you think? I mean, would you do your job for free? Of course not. Mac loves the game and wants nothing more than to be a part of it again, but he does have a family you know. He wants to make money just like everybody else. He's not going to play for free. Unless you think he should also get a side job at a McDonalds or something. Keep in mind, this is his career. I'm a Web developer, if I were to lose my job where I currently am I would not look for a job doing something else, I would look for a job in Web Development, it's my career. I need to make money too. I love what I do, but that is just a bonus, of course getting a job is about the money. So to say he is doing it for the money is ridiculous. You can't chastise a guy for wanting to get a job, and make money in his career field. Unless of course it would make you happier, and convince you more that he deserves a shot, if he is willing to starve and play for free just to prove to you that he loves the game.

I think we should use the name: The Bell Tire Guy Cruisin' in his Chevy, drinking a Coke and Munchin' on some Little Ceasars Pizza Arena Of course that's just a thought. It might be a little long, but we can always take Arena off the end, I think people will know what it is. In all seriousness though, I kind of hope they don't build a new arena. Not for nostalgia or anything, but simply because if Mr. I builds a new arena the cost will ultimately come down to us. I think we already pay enough as it is, I do not want to see higher ticket prices just for a new arena. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Mr. I providing us with such a great team and all, but let's be honest, he's kind of cheap and doesn't have any problem with charging us out the teeth for everything. He will not pay for the new arena, we will, mark my words.

Oh, sorry. My bad again.

Don't forget, they went to the Super Bowl last year. That's one of the benefits of hosting it at your field, you get free tickets.

By 2010, having grown tired of Lady Bing trophys Pavel Datsyuk will finally snap and take up boxing in the off season. To return to the NHL in the following season as an enforcer who will eventually lead the league in PPM. And on a side note, the following year, 2011, a pack of rabid geese will go berserk and take out the entire Anaheim Ducks franchise. The apparent reason for the attack is the bad name that the Anaheim Ducks are giving actual ducks the geese fowl brethren, but nobody knows for sure. The last time the Ducks franchise will be seen on t.v. is on a special episode of "When Animals Attack".