Casey

As am I. My football coach in HS did this, and it really works. You think you played a perfect game, then this guy comes up and says "Your ends were playing a bit soft, and your QB is taking an extra stutter-step to set, and..." It's painful, but it shows results. My senior year, we went 7-5. Two years later, in about year five of this program, we won the state title.

My gut says Conklin. Nothing to back it up, but I'd bet Babs lets Ozzie sit a game or two and just practice to get his confidence back, start him against lesser opponents for a while.

Personally, I prefer the fanfare and the like they used in the playoffs. It gets the place jumping, and you can see the team feeding off it. Comparing my 3 most recent Wings games, 2 playoff and 1 regular season... Game 2, WCF against Dallas. Light show, the flamethrowers after Wing goals, and the place was going nuts. Same was seen for game 5 against Nashville. The emotion was palpable, and you could see the lift the team got from it. The noise was incredible, for every second. I've been to rock concerts (last was Korn in '99), I've been to football games with 36,000 in the stands, basketball games with 15,000 in a tiny arena, and none of them were as loud as the Joe during OT of that Nashville game. NY Rangers, 08-09 regular season. No lightshow or pregame entertainment to work up the fans, and it showed. They eventually got warmed up, and the house came down when Hossa scored in OT, but for the first period it was quiet as a church except when there was a goal. The crowd was down, and it showed in the play on the ice.

3 straight games with 2 goals against in the space of 30 seconds or less. Exactly how would Dom have turned that around? Won Game 1 because of him. Won Game 2 in spite of him. Lost Games 3+4 because of him.

CrossoverThrash with the assist. Babs, I'm begging. Reunite Pavel and Hank.

Looking last night, his confidence is shot. I truly believe he can turn it around, but the defense has to step up and cover him so he has the chance.

I'm looking really hard at a couple sets of those as Christmas presents for my wife. Shhhh.

Assuming complete health? ZDH Franzen-Fil-Hossa Hudler-Maltby/Helm-Samuelsson Cleary-Draper-Kopecky Maltby's able to clear waivers, so Helm could be brought as needed. 2 power lines, one grind, one speed.

Ummm... maybe the one he's had for years? Pavel somebody?

For God's sake, reunite Dats and Hank. Dats and Hossa are playing well, but Z+D is one of the best pairings in the game. I'd also let Ozzie sit a bit. I'm a fan, I'll back him, but his confidence is taking a beating.

I'm sad.

My wife's sick. Now we can't go. Kill 'em anyway, lads.

I'd rather Tim Horton's subs, actually. TPBM needs a nap.

The "Lidstrom Cap" is unofficial at best. I'd lay a twenty on the table that says Lids would be just fine with giving Z what he wants, for the sake of the team.

Brick count? We were taking off storm doors at work, and the glass had to go. TPBM has a car with over 200,000 miles.

You got it. You'd think they'd notice his personality. TPBM happens to like hockey. Longshot, I know.

There'll be a pretty big group of semi-insane med students there, so the Wings'll have to put on a good show. 4-0. Or 14-3, your call.

That's insane- no idea what to study in said chapter, just a chapter name. That's a level of toolishness I expect out of one of my wife's profs.

You kidding? More often than not, if I make cookies, they are never actually baked. TPBM would like a soft pretzel right now.

Very much true. It's like hearing nails on a chalkboard. TPBM is going to the Vancouver game.

Much win! Where?

Always good. Any reason?

Ever see Manos: the Hands of Fate? Pronger's knees are going to look like Torgo's by the end.

I like 4-2 as well. Ozzie gets back in the groove a bit, 30 saves. Hossa, Hudler, Zetterberg and Datsyuk for the goals, Franzen with 2 assists.

Considering I have 2 skull-shatteringly boring lectures, I'll take a 4 hour if you have it. TPBM has superglued themselves to something they were fixing.