dat's sick

I think the key here is that Kopitar never touched the puck. And all Phaneuf had to do was touch the puck and it would have been icing. Instead he went straight after Kopitar. Whether it's an elbow or not doesn't really matter, it's a dangerous hit regardless.

Friday: Philadelphia @ Boston Atlanta @ Buffalo Saturday: Carolina @ NY Rangers Vancouver @ Dallas Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay Washington @ Los Angeles Atlanta @ NY Islanders Colorado @ Columbus Toronto @ Calgary Chicago @ St Louis Anaheim @ Nashville New Jersey @ Minnesota Detroit @ Phoenix Edmonton @ San Jose Sunday: Philadelphia @ Ottawa Buffalo @ Montreal Pittsburgh @ Florida Anaheim @ Chicago

1. Pronger 2. Corey Perry 3. Ribeiro 4. Mike Green 5. Crosby

Phew, I almost thought that because of Stevie and Babs I wouldn't be able to fully hate Canada and hope for their complete failure in this Olympics. But I can count atleast 5 players that I absolutely can not stand on that team. Perry, Crosby, Pronger, Niedermayer, Getzlaf.. yeah, the lineup looks unbelievably strong and I think Stevie made wise choices (no Greeen = thumbs up) but I just can't bring myself to feel anything but a strong wish to see them get knocked out in the Quarterfinals against Belarus.

It's hard to get something done when your team is being dominated. I'm more disappointed in Slovakia than I am in Tatar.

Man, I agree with all those plays you guys are posting. That Franzen superman-goal is one of the most underrated goals in recent years.. didn't see it on any Goal Of The Year lists last season. It's obviously hard to pick just 10 plays from an entire decade.. it's hard enough to pick 10 goals. My biggest gripe with TSN's list is that they have two Ovechkin goals. Should have only had the one against Phoenix on there.

Caps for sure. Defense is not a top priority for them.

I saw that. Amazing how every goaltender somehow looks like the reincarnation of Terry Sawchuk against us.

Well, Selanne has been that superstar for you guys. He was a 40 goal/90 point player in the NHL 4 years ago. He can still score goals, but he's not on the same level anymore. Sweden has superstars retired or in decline too, but we also have the Sedins, Kronwall and Zetterberg, all players that have improved since the last olympics and will be huge for us in this tournament. And we have guys like Tobias Enstrom, Nicklas Backstrom, Louie Eriksson etc. that weren't even on that Gold Winning team but are now very good players in the NHL. I just feel like Finland will be weaker this time around, like I said they can never be counted out, but unless Selanne plays like his old self and Backstrom/Kipper stands on their heads I don't see them getting anything but 4th place at best. Especially since it's on small-rinks, which I don't think benefits the finns style of play. But sure, Canada and Russia are the big favorites.

Finland can never be counted out, but honestly looking at that roster I don't see them being a threat to Canada, Russia or even Sweden. Mikku Koivu is a personal favorite of mine, Selanne can still score goals, Kimmo Timmonen is good and you have 3 great goaltenders. But I don't see a Zetterberg, Crosby, Ovechkin etc. on that team.. you know, a superstar that can lead the team.

Halak is playing solid hockey, and they have Chara, Hossa and Gaborik. I could see them being a dark horse and making it into the battle for the medals.

That was an amazing save. I love the effort he plays with and the energy he brings to the team. But it's also becoming more and more obvious that there are many parts of his game he needs to improve if he's ever going to be more than a 4th liner (on a healthy red wings team).

Goalies were awesome, we don't have enough goalscorers, Lebda was out on the ice for the only goal against... yeah that about sums this game up. 3 out of 4 points against a division rival is pretty good. Only a game or two more here and we should have Hank back. Maybe Ericsson and/or Cleary too. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, it's worse than 2 points.

He says he's planning to go with the team on the road-trip coming up right after new years and hopefully play this weekend.

Man, I feel like every Wings game this season has been about the opposition goaltender standing on his head and me wondering "will we every score a goal again??". But Howard looks really good too.

My god did you see the stick-handling by Pasha when he carried the puck out on that PK.. crazy.

I'm liking Ritola.

Good work by Ritola to draw a penalty as well as create a scoring chance. Now pretty please get something done on the PP, even it's just pressure and a few shots.

Well that period went by in a hurry it felt like. Not many whistles, lots of back and forth but not many good chances. Filppula looks good to me. Datsyuk needs to do MORE.

He's got elbow tendonitis or whatever it's called. I don't know why he didn't have surgery on it during the off-season.

Come on refs, what is with these penalties.. let them play hockey, mm'kay?

Good PP for columbus, important kill.

Really, really weak call on Filppula there. It was just a battle for the puck.

Awesome move behind the net by Fil in his first shift.