dat's sick

First prediction in a while: 5-1 Wings. Datsyuk 2, Zetterberg 1, Franzen 1, Hudler 1.

Wow, first hat-trick at the age of 40. Lids is clearly slowing down and should just retire 4 assists for Z. Nice, can't believe Pav didn't have any points though, he was just sick (as usual). Overall a very good effort, you could always ask for more from some players, but as a team they played good.

Sweet play! Good, make them pay for acting like goons.

What the hell was that!? Dirty as f***..

Hitting the net would be good.

Captain! Good s***, hope it opens the game up.

I can live with Bert and Fil being invisible, I didn't expect either of them to keep up their early season performance. But Franzen... It's been so long since he took over a game, since he looked interested out there, since he scored a goal that was not a perfect set-up and open net, since he took the puck hard to the net and ran over the goalie in the process. Please Johan, wake up. Soon.

Or "Hudler". ...oh wait.

What the hell are you talking about? Datsyuk has been getting better every single year since he got to the NHL, last season being the only exception (maybe, I still thought he looked better than ever in the last months of the season and the playoffs, and in the World Championships where he was selected best player). When he first got here, he had some fancy passing and stickwork, but little else. He was weak, and far from a Selke candidate. Look at him now. Consistent with the guy he was 8 years ago? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH RIGHT! Also Crosby is supposed to be the 2nd coming of Gretzky. He was hyped for years before he was even drafted. Datsyuk, no one thought he'd make it to the NHL. No one knew who he was when he was drafted. Now we are comparing the two. Isn't that amazing?

Uhm.. what an insane game. Kings shouldn't even have been in this game coming into the 3rd period. But it seems Quick really got in the heads of the Wings players and they lost their confidence. Also I'm not really blaming this on Howard, but I sort of feel Babs should have gone with Ozzie tonight. He had a really great game against New Jersey and Howie could have used a longer breather.

Hudler has them both beaten.

Beyond horrible saturday for me. Heading for my worst week yet..

Disrespect my ass. NHL players aren't senior citizens who you should open the door for and give the best seats on buses and adress "Mister" or "Sir". And I really fail to see how it's in any way disrespectful. Is it less disrespectful of Datsyuk to make oppposing players like like complete fools night in and night out? That shootout move he did on Niemi last year, SURELY that was disrespectful? No? Was it maybe because...he's not a rookie? And as soon as a rookie does anything other than act like a media-trained robot who rambles cliches about "learning", "taking one game at a time", "looking up to the guys in the lockerroom" etc, people get all upset and call him disrespectful? Personally saw a rookie who should have been playing in the NHL for months, probably should have already been in his 2nd NHL season, who finally got his chance to show his stuff and did the most of the opportunity. Besides, the shootout is a joke anyway. It's a skills-competition, there only to please the crowd. Omark brought entertainment, he got people talking. Mission accomplished. He showed who he is and I bet you that the Oilers management will have a hard time justifying sending him to the AHL again. Which they probably will anyway just because they're morons.

Friday, December 10 Montreal at Detroit New Jersey at Ottawa Colorado at Atlanta Carolina at Dallas Tampa Bay at Edmonton x2 Calgary at Anaheim Saturday, December 11 Philadelphia at Boston Pittsburgh at Buffalo Detroit at New Jersey Atlanta at NY Islanders Montreal at Toronto Colorado at Washington NY Rangers at Columbus Carolina at St. Louis Dallas at Phoenix Florida at Nashville Tampa Bay at Vancouver Minnesota at Los Angeles Chicago at San Jose Sunday, December 12 Washington at NY Rangers Vancouver at Edmonton Minnesota at Anaheim

Why wouldn't he win it this year, assuming he keeps playing like he is?

Except for Datsyuk, god dang it that guy is amazing..

Leino just scored for the Flyers. How the hell did the Hudler situation turn out so bad for us? He leaves, Leino fails at replacing him, Hudler comes back and plays about as bad as Leino did for us. And now Leino is doing great elsewhere, which Hudler will probably do also if we trade him.

It's great that he's mentioned that high, even above Stamkos. Pav is finally starting to get the attention he deserves around the league. But to be honest, right now I'd probably put both Tim Thomas and of course, Crosby ahead of him when it comes to the Hart. Both of them have been just insane this year.

Wings have been pretty damn good this season, I haven't watched EVERY game, but what I saw in the 2nd half of last nights game was the worst I've seen them play this season. Z almost never has a BAD game, but that's what he had last night. He's had games where he's been invisible, but I can't remember ever noticing him doing so many things..wrong. Maybe it's not his worst game ever, but it HAS to be up there. So no, I don't think I was being overdramatic.

True, however Ekman-Larsson is going to be a brilliant d-man and I would have no problem trading Hudler+Kindl for him. I do wonder if Phoenix would let him go for that, I think not actually. Hudler's value right now is LOW, and Kindl isn't on the same level as OEL.

The 2nd half of the 2nd period and the 3rd period was probably the worst hockey the Wings have played this season. Just terrible. Howard didn't have a great game, but he was bound to have a bad one eventually- all goalies do. Also, Zetterberg's worst game this season. Maybe one of his worst ever? He didn't do a lot of things right out there. Imo Datsyuk, the 4th line and..Ericsson (!) are pretty much the only ones who looked good. I hate that we lost like this against the Sharks, but they're somewhat desperate for wins already and the Wings are anything but, so it's not a huge deal. Hopefully we see a better effort next game though. One more thing: Franzen's goal was beautiful! Or rather, everything that lead up to it. Datsyuk's entrance of the zone in particular. At that point I felt for sure we'd win the game, don't know what happened..

Eh, expected a loss tonight so the point is a bonus. Ozzie did better than expected, the team in front of him looked a bit tired.

That's pretty unrealistic to be honest.

No kidding, even if they lose this one in regulation it's been a good road-trip. A win and it's well above what you can ask for.

Doesn't look like the Wings have much energy left. I'd be happy if they can hold on and get a point.