Esquire

How is celebrating a goal ridiculous? Ovechkin is the best player in the world's best hockey league that is filled with the world's best players. If that were me, every time I scored a goal I'd hit the rafters! This guy is always going full tilt and you're going to fault him for not hitting the killswitch on the adrenaline and emotions when he scores, what are often, highlight reel goals? This kid is living his dreams an making millions doing it too. As for Don, he's a relic of hockey's past and can't be expected to change a single thing about himself at this point of his career/life. Personally, I don't even watch Coaches Corner any longer due to these rants as well as all the memorial tributes to soldiers. Don't confuse what I just said with being anti-war, anti-army, etc. What I mean is, I turn on hockey to forget about everything that sucks in the world for a couple of hours and NOT to be slapped in the face with memorials to fallen soldiers. The guy is an entertainer and that's all. What bugs me is that he happens to use a Canadian institution (a publicly funded one at that) like Hockey Night in Canada as a podium from which to rant. Also, I don't see how comparing OV's celebrations to that of a soccer players does anything but help bolster support for the continued display of celebrations. Last time I checked Mr.Cherry, the sport of soccer was the most popular, widely played game on the planet who's players are known around the world and not just in their respective markets. Celebrating goals doesn't seem to be hurting that sport one bit not to mention the fact that OV's last about 5 seconds where as a soccer players celebration can last a lot longer. Lastly, in regards to someone "taking him out", it's inevitable that someone tries to take him out because he's the best player on the Caps and beating them means neutralizing the best player on the team . I pity the guy who finally takes a run at him. Maybe the reason nobody is doing it is because they realize this guy is 6th in the NHL in hits which clearly indicates he can take it just as well as he can throw it out. Or maybe it's because whoever decides to try taking him out better damn well do it the first time. The only thing worse then not putting your man down is when that man is the highest scoring player in the NHL and he gets up off the ice and drops a hat-trick on your ass... ...and then you get to watch him celebrate.

Larsson looked good in net. That guy can get across the crease just as fast as anyone I've seen and his speed/reaction time is what stopped the Marlies from tying the game late in the third. Certainly not the biggest guy, but overall I liked watching him play goal. The score really wasn't a great indication of his play due to the fact that 3 of the 4 goals came on Toronto PP's and the Marlies did a good job of getting guys in front of him.

I had the pleasure to see yesterdays game against the Toronto Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum and the result: GRIFFINS WON 5-4!!! Ericsson looked really good out there IMHO. Dude is a giant! Even added a helper in the win and finished +2 on the night. Great game all around by the Griffins expect for a streak of bad penalties that allowed 3 straight PP goals that got the Marlies back in it. Larrson came up huge near the end when a scramble in front of the net almost resulted in a Marlies goal. I waited near the Griffins exit after they announced the 3 Stars (1. Ryan Oulahen, 2. Anton Stralman, 3. Garrett Stafford) and asked Stafford for a stick. He told me it was his last one. Guess the economic pinch is hitting everyone. The local TV station interviewed Oulahen and I got a fist pound from him when it was done. Good guy. Oh, I hate to report this as well, but Jimmy Howard wasn't dressed yesterday either. John Ceci was dressed as Larsson's backup. Hopefully Jimmy is making a full recovery! GO GRIFFINS!!!

I think we're all missing the real big question here: If this involves the Kostitsyn brothers and/or other Europeans, what is Don Cherry going to say about them on Coaches Corner this weekend?

...we are. The Detroit Red Wings I mean. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267776&amp...=headlines_main Thoughts?

I propose that our fellow Wings fans in Sweden take it upon themselves to help find accomodations for the rest of us who plan on making the trip across the pond.

Can someone shoot Flip in the head? Terrible tonight.

HEY LOOK!! 3 goals against. Surprise!

Well, after reading numerous threads regarding the pros and cons of having a Downey type player in the lineup, I'm certainly leaning towards having him in more future games. Personally, I was on the edge of my computer chair every time he was on the ice! I think I even caught a fan vote where 40% thought he was the best player on the ice. So, with Stuart on LTIR, does this open the door for Downey on an extended basis? Does it present other options? Can we realistically keep him up? Discuss!

Agreed! With all the bad things we can point out about the Wings tonight, I'd hate to imagine what outlook would be for the team if Downey hadn't come up tonight and not only provided a spark but a renewed optimism, albeit for a brief amount of time. We'll bounce back obviously, and I hope Downey will not only be on board for the turnaround but will be looked at as a contributor to the turnaround.

Anyone else's internet feed of the game stop working? Maybe they just decided to call it a night after seeing the score at the end of the first...

Wings forecheck looks RABID! Datsyuk looks crazy hungry too!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=264892&amp...s=topStory_main I guess when he said he was sitting out because his injury was "real" and others just needed "rest" it must have been a pretty serious injury eh? Guess a miracle happened in the 3 days since the ASG! Apologies if this is old and has been covered already.

Ok, I concede everything said about me being an idiot and etc... I'm done arguing about this. I guess we just don't see eye-to-eye about it. No harm intended. If there's a mod reading this please lock it or delete it. I apologize for taking everyone's precious time in dragging this out and won't further comment about it in this, or any further post. Moving on...

Outstanding! Looking forward to seeing their output. They both should be chomping at the bit now that they've been in GR for this long. Good luck boys!

Yes there is a "special reason" regarding his intentions to play. If he knew he was intending to play soon, why feel the need to make the statement? 3 days between making that statement and coming back to play doesn't exactly help to confirm the apparent seriousness of his injury compared to other players. As Gordie put it, I'm not a "******* doctor" but I don't need a medical degree to know that anyone that springs back from an injury serious enough to sit out playing over the weekend, in 3 days, is either an abnormally fast healer or has simply misinformed the media or been misinformed themselves. Also, I know he's been out a while before the ASG which means he's had more time to rest his injury. So, would it be fair to say that the longer a player is out (with an injury not requiring surgery/non serious injury) that his return is more likely than a player who has just recently gone off the roster? So to be perfectly clear again, it's not his suspension OR his return that I'm contesting. It's the motivation behind his comments. If nobody can answer this, then that's fine. I'll leave it as one of life's little mysteries. I didn't come here to sling mud and be accused of being a "Crosby hater".

(in regards to the bold type) 1) What gave it away? The title of the post? I didn't want another "Crosby *****-fest", I wanted an answer to the question, "why he felt the need to play down other players injuries". Don't assume to ever know what I'm thinking. I've never met you, I've never talked to you before this. It makes you look ridiculous to assume these things. 2) I never mentioned anything about being upset about the suspensions. Lids sat because he was injured and Dats left the Yotes game. Common knowledge. They got suspended for missing the weekend. Case closed. I've moved on from this and so should you. 3) Once again, I know their injured. I know they were very likely to miss the game since the both said they were injured. 4) Thanks again for assuming something and that I was taking a shot at Bettman "indirectly". Where have I mentioned his name? Thank you for your time in posting all that, calling me names, and contributing nothing to this thread.

*looks at clock* Yup! Just in time! Another person that hasn't read any other post but the first one. And since it has Crosby's name in it, assumes the worst. You're right. Like clockwork.

Ok. Last time. My comments weren't about the suspensions. My thread was intended to point out that Crosby stated in the ASG interview that his injury was "real" and that others simply wanted "rest". How bad of a state was his injury that he is able to bounce back in 3 days time? Why go out and intentionally make your injury try to seem more important or critical than the Wings players? I know that he was eligible to play since he was already injured before the ASG and he also showed up for the entire weekends festivities, regardless of the circumstances. Nowhere have I read that everyone knew he was 100% intended to play in the first game back. If there's an article published before the ASG weekend that says he was expected to play in the first game back, please provide a link and my question will be answered and I'll have what I'm looking for. That's all.

I hear ya. I didn't mean to come off bitchy either. Just been a long day at work and then I come home to shovel 20 cm of fresh snow out of my driveway. I've also spent the entire day defending the Zetterburg deal to my Wing hating friends who also foolishly say stupid s*** like "Zetterburg's injury is karma for the Wings not participating in the ASG" and "Holland is an idiot for giving him 12 years"

We knew he was coming back the game after? This I'll be sure to send disclaimers out to all LGW members next time. Didn't ask you to read it. Didn't ask you to post about it either.

The point of my post really, was to point out what he had said about his injury in comparison to Lids and Datsy's.

I'm not making a big deal about it because it's Crosby. Don't assume to know what I'm thinking. I'd be making the same comments regardless of the player. It just so happens to be Crosby in this position.