under_par_00

I was also pretty happy to see the USA lose! I just hope it isn't one of those losses that makes them stronger later on in the tournament. On Mrazek, he looked great in net. His team did not help him at all against Canada, and he was the sole reason the score was only 1-0 for much of the game. He seems really fast in net, really athletic, and has a head of steam.

I think we have all seen by now that Ericsson will never be sitting in the press box, unless for injury reasons. Although sometimes I think he should, it is clear that the coaches will not sit him. Kindl is a good skating, puck moving defenseman who needs to work on his D-zone play. He has been more physical this year which is a good sign. He has good size and this is only his 2nd year in the league. He still has a lot of room to grow. Commodore has pretty much established his game as a hard hitting, defensive specialist with very little offensive abilities. He does fill a void in this Red Wings team, however he brings a much different skill set than Kindl. Like someone previously mentioned, these are good problems to have

TSN is not showing the Slovakia game in Canada, and I have not been able to find a stream anywhere. How are you watching? I have seen that Jurco and Tvrdon have scored! Tough test for these guys tomorrow night against Russia!!

Well our boy Pulkkinen decided to take a wicked shot right off the foot of Canada's Smith-Pelley. Probably the most physical player on Canada now has a broken foot and will miss the rest of the tournament. In the prelim games, he put up something like 8-10 hits per game. Huge hits too.

I'm pretty sure he has one more year.

He also had a fight a couple games back, didn't do so well, but against a much tougher, more experience fighter. At least he will stick up for himself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVMuRV1Wu0E&feature=player_embedded

Yes, I noticed that too, but Fil does have one of the weakest wristers on the team. I dont think Ive ever seen him take a slapper. Where Fil really stands out this year is on the breakout out of his own zone. With Zetterberg doing the dirty work, Fil can stay high in the D zone, and really use his speed to his advantage to make a good breakout play. I think Fil is the second fastest player on the team, by a mile. He has nearly Helm like speed, and I dont know who would be 3rd, but Fil and Helm are a step above the rest.

Announcers "It's fortunate for Kronwall that he's not going head first." What, it really looked like he was going head first into the boards. But this article says that Kronwall was able to turn his head.

From my limited experience of watching Mursak, it just seems to me that he doesn't have the balance at high speeds to survive in the NHL. Or maybe he just isn't quite strong enough. I am excited to see what he can do when he comes back, but I also have some doubts.

Mursak looks like a promising prospect, but he flat out has insane speed. His speed was the reason for this injury, and unfortunately I see him making the same move over and over again. Try to rush the net beating the defenseman on the outside, one little slip up at that speed and it can be very dangerous.

Because Kindl is good. Commodore makes our defense that much deeper, with Janik and Exelby next in line.

I fully agree, but the problem is who? Right now, Fil - Z - Franzen will not be broken up, and either Filppula or Franzen would help out Datsyuk much more than Cleary or Homer. It's like Babcock is sticking our best top 6 forward (Datsyuk) and trying to rig together a scoring line with the 2 worst top 6 forwards. Actually, I could argue that Cleary and Homer are both not top 6 forwards. Bertuzzi might be better served in that role. Or dare I say it, Hudler

It seems like Dats is being used in a more defensive role right now, playing with Cleary and Holmstrom. Although it is a scoring line, those wingers are not going to chip in much 5 on 5. Datsyuk is just relying on his strong 2-way play to make positive contributions to the team, even though he will not light it up with a 100 point season on that line. It seems like Babs is using the Fil-Z-Franzen line as the top scoring threat. Datsyuk certainly can shut down any 2nd line in the league and still contribute a good amount of points. It's still ok for the team to win, but I'm a little upset I took Datsyuk in the 2nd or 3rd round in fantasy, when he is not being used in an offensive role. I mean, look at that power play line of CLeary - Datsyuk - Holmstrom! It is so weak. Thank God for Lidstrom. It seems like Dats is being used in a more defensive role right now, playing with Cleary and Holmstrom. Although it is a scoring line, those wingers are not going to chip in much 5 on 5. Datsyuk is just relying on his strong 2-way play to make positive contributions to the team, even though he will not light it up with a 100 point season on that line. It seems like Babs is using the Fil-Z-Franzen line as the top scoring threat. Datsyuk certainly can shut down any 2nd line in the league and still contribute a good amount of points. It's still ok for the team to win, but I'm a little upset I took Datsyuk in the 2nd or 3rd round in fantasy, when he is not being used in an offensive role. I mean, look at that power play line of CLeary - Datsyuk - Holmstrom! It is so weak. Thank God for Lidstrom.

Good test for the Wings here against an up and coming young team on a hot start to the season.

Zetterberg will be here for the next 12 odd years. I really hope he steps it up this year, as the next in line for the C. This team is playing way too fancy, lead by the Fairy Godmother herself #93, Johan Franzen. I wouldn't say heartless, just gritless, grinderless, etc. Lidstrom has been the best player on this team all year, by a nautical mile. You cannot call him out for how the team is performing, even if he wears the C.

All you need is your passport. Sometimes they ask to see your tickets, other times they just ask you to open up your jacket. Tunnel bus is definitely the best way to get to the game from Windsor. $8 round trip, but kind of confusing (if you're not from the area) how it will leave from the bus station, but drop you off right at downtown Windsor when you return.

I attended the game tonight, 2nd regular season game after our 2-0 SHUTOUT of the CANUCKS. Horrible effort by everybody on the ice (except #5). Franzen needs to be in the press box way before Bertuzzi. Hudler is soft and I am starting to serve my own crow for his performance. It seems like the team is trying to play really fancy with no grit at all. They are not lacking work ethic, they are lacking toughness and grit. I am going to start blaming the ass. coaches, the PP looks incredibly tic-tac-no, and absolutely nothing is working 5-on-5. Everyone is trying fancy dangles and then back passes to defense that get picked off and start odd man rushes. I think the other team knows that the gameplan against Detroit is to purposely leave the D open, and then collapse, block the shot, and break-out while Kronwall/Stuart/White are still recovering from their offensive effort. Good gameplan if you ask me. And that first goal Howard let in tonight certainly doesn't help a 5 game losing streak. However, he has been solid for the most part this season.

Kronner's OK guys!! http://www.freep.com/article/20111102/SPORTS05/111102032/1053/sports05

The real question is, Nail Yakupov or Ryan Murray? Yakupov is a sick LW sniper, while Murray could be the next franchise defenseman.

I think this is about par for the course for Zetterberg. Of course we can expect him to step up his play in the playoffs, but he simply is not motivated enough with his 10-year $6 mil per contract. Zetterberg is not getting any younger, has chronic back issues, and now has a nice juicy contract. Wake me up when it's time for playoffs and let's hope he is healthy then.

We all know that Hudler is next in line for the 'C' right behind Lids!!!

I have another link. Looks like you're sorted out though. If you need it, PM me.

I just picked this guy up as a free agent in my fantasy league. Hopefully he keeps up the pace of 82 goals! I think he will have a few strong years on Buffalo, that team is the real deal, and Leino is almost guaranteed the #2 centre spot. Dont really have to worry about his defensive lapses with Regehr, Myers, Erhoff, and Miller behind him!

We shall call it, the Original Division!

Ouch, that is terrible. I see this happening a lot for Mursak, his speed is just insanely dangerous when he goes crashing in there.