Nev

With his new found feistyness, 1-game suspension, and Redwing-fatigue in the media I don't think this will go to Datsyuk this year. If he wins anything, it will be the Pearson.

Thanks to Tazzer for the pic

Where are you guys getting your pics from? - got an idea, just need the right pic (the Zetterberg goal in game 2 with the puck over Mason's right shoulder would be perfect)

Are you doubting the powers of St. Sydney of Crosby? Thats the real reason Bettmen will be there - to personally adjust the official boxscore

Minor dilemma here. This game is on TV over here tomorrow (Wednesday) night which means I won't get to watch it till Thursday night Can I (and do I want to) avoid the internet between now and then so I can watch it "as live", not knowing the score? Or do I just get up tomorrow morning and find the score & highlights ASAP? Probably the latter. Two whole days is too long to wait to see the wings win 14-3 (Datsyuk a goal and 13 assists, Crosby with all 3 goals for the BJs )

Last shave will be Thursday morning, then its the hirsute look for me Last years beard was pretty epic. I fear that this years may not reach that stage

"Nick Lidstrom went 18 straight playoff games without a hit" And? So? Relevance? He shut down every team he played against, and Detroit won the cup, and that Mr Cherry, is what its all about. Difference between Don Cherry and Nick Lidstrom? :champs: :champs:

One thing to bear in mind is the number of 30 goal scorers there will be this season - currently an astonishing 36 players have passed that mark, with a dozen or more in touching distance. Now five years ago, 30 goals put you in contention for the Rocket Richard, not any more... Now, I don't have a complete list of 30-goal free agents - Franzen, Cammalleri, D Sedin spring to mind - but so many players scoring that many goals can only drive the value of Franzen down, no?

Fixed that for you No, we didn't "coast" last Feb, we had 10 (count 'em, TEN!) starters out injured, including our top-4 D-men. Our 1st defensive line was Lilija-Lebda

Pretty sweet goal HOWEVER Datsyuk tried a similar move the other week in Calgary - not with the toe-drag and all, but he definately tried to chip the puck over Kipprusoff as he came in from the left wing.

I wonder if Mule's value has actually come down this season given all the 30+ goal scorers this year - something like 35 players are projected to be in that bracket this season. 5 years ago that would've won you the rocket Richard award. As long as we don't give him a stupidly long contract (only 5-6 years) for under $4 per year, then I'm happy. I'd still rather have Hossa mind.

You really have just woken up haven't you? Have you checked out Pavs LW?

Lets be honest, they should just rename the Masterton Trophy the "Who Has Come Back From Serious Injury Trophy". I don't think Cheli winning this or not will be the key to his election to the Hall Of Fame

Shanahan-Federov-Yzerman. Robitalle-Larionov-Holmstrom Maltby-Draper-McCarty Deveraux-Datsyuk-Hull I was gunna ask where Doug Weight would've fitted on that 2002 team, but then I wrote out those lines, and I suddenly noticed the weak link in the line-up. Would've been tough to sit Datsyuk though!

Well, the OP stated that the standings will virtually stay the same, so they still effectively rank the teams. What I would do is change the 4on4 OT from 5 minutes to 10 minutes, and then the shootout - but then, I love the current OT format. Tremendously exciting hockey as both teams go for it, **knowing they've already got a point in the bag**. Probably the best thing to happen in the NHL under Bettman. In England 20-30 years ago we went to 3 points for a win in Football (soccer), I wouldn't say it changed the game tremendously in terms of promoting attacking football, but it does reward teams that are prepared to be adventurous- Liverpool under Rafa Benitez will sit and defend a 1-1 game with 10 minutes left, Man Utd under Ferguson would be throwing forwards on and trying desperately to get the win. Guess who's won the most titles? :!:

I was thinking about something similar when watching the Calgary game - purely because Phaneuf but him on the ice 3 times, and I couldn't remember the last time I saw Pavel put to the floor so many times in one game (he was still our best player on the ice mind). And that got me thinking about Crosby (after the TSN announcers gushed all over Pav and agreed he was better than Crosby and those other 2) and how he is injured repeatedly and gets hit **A LOT** Teams go out of their way to hit Crosby and succeed, the also try the same with Pavel, and fail. So he's slippery as an eel, and very hard to hit. But he also doesn't pick up the run of the mill injuries that go with proffesional Hockey - groins, hamstrings, backs. He's just one of those players (like Nick) that don't pick up injuries, unlike the Franzens, Zetterbergs and Kronwalls of this world who are always going to pick up knocks and niggles.

Another great puckdaddy interview. Really interesting to see that despite his honest dislike of the Wings, he still rates Datsyuk as the best player in the league. Comments like that give me hope that Pavel will win the Lester B Pearson he so thoroughly deserves.

People seem to be getting all het up over a very minor and somewhat pointless argument. This season Dats has clearly been the better player. Before this season, probably Zetterberg. I expect Zetterberg will come strong again in the future. Give him a healthy back, a decent off-season and no contract talks weighing him down and he will most likely break Hakan Loobs record of goals in a season by a Swede (stated objective of his). Especially if Dats is his centre Fact is we're damn lucky to have both.

The retirement of Lidstrom scares me far more than the retirement of Yzerman ever did. Stevie was a 3rd liner with a broken body playing through sheer willpower alone when he finally called it a day. Lidstrom is still arguably the most important player on our team.

Very funny So have they installed some unwritten rule that no team can be on NBC more than 4 times in the regular season? Its the only reason that it wouldn't be the Rangers, Pens and Philly every weekend (it just feels like they're still on every weekend). Not just NBC mind, ESPN was virtually the home broadcaster for Philly when they showed the NHL back in the day. OTOH, I can see why they want to show big market teams (more viewers)

IIRC it was at MSG that Bure first blew at his knee - caused by a rut in the ice - which led to his retirement several years later.

Wow, what a thing of beauty Shame the refs jumped in when they did (I know they had to, but I mean c'mon, it was Tootoo) Great job San Jose

Considering all the great years Bondra had in Washington, that really surprises me. A very impressive achievement.

Surprising - although that is probably more due to that brutal streak last February when we had 10 (ten) starters out injured and Lebda & Lilja were our top D-pair. Can anyone honestly say this years Wings have been better than last year? Last season, we were a machine, every night. This season, we are a machine, occasionally. When we can be bothered. All that said, it is a very impressive achievement and the Wings top brass deserve all the credit in the world.