Jersey Wing

This whole "Are we better off as the #6 seed" discussion is why I just wait to worry until we know. One could easily turn themselves inside out saying we match up better with LA though they are so used to clamping down in one goal games this year but Nashville saves us time in travel but Rinne is better than Quick in LA though the Sharks are having difficulties on defense but they know how to beat Detroit in the playoffs....WHEW I find unless the matchup in question is say the #8 seeded Columbus Blue Jackets it's going to be quite hard no matter whom we draw. 2-1 Wings today

Well one of two things is going to happen. Either this is like 2002 and they bumble their way into the playoff but wake up in time to make something of them OR they won't. Pretty simple. I have a hunch we'll have a pretty good idea after game two of the first round

Message sent. ScottTrade Center fans go home weeping. Huge comeback. And we're less than a week away from Photoshop fun!! Life is good

I knew Hunwick wearing that helmet was bad juju. Seven years of darkness in Columbus is upon you. Do stay safe

The Wings can certainly play better but so can Nashville. If they play in the first round I'm convinced it's going seven games.

Today is my birthday and my father said I could have anything I want. And today I want a 5-2 Red Wings victory. Henrik Zetterberg is my favorite player so he should have at least 2 goals and an assist. Oh and beat the crap out of Rick Nash in a line brawl. Now I'm not saying this game needs to be like my birthday Brawl-O-Rama from 1997 vs the Nordilanche. Nor does it need to be as good as the time my friend got me 6th row seats for my birthday and Martin LaPointe had a hat trick and I was able to send my cap to Hockey Valhalla, the Joe Louis Arena ice. Only hats and octopus go there. But like I said it's my birthday (along with Jimmeh Howard) and I want a win and an easy one at that so St. Nick and Datsyuk can have realistic first games back minutes.

First off it was a very nice evening win lose or draw. Rangers fans were in good form and were very welcoming last night towards their Original Six brethren. A lot of them just wanted to talk Western Conference matchups and hockey in general. MSG made a big deal out of it being an Original Six matchup with two nice video pieces; One on the history of the octopus in Detroit before the game and a nice video on Gordie Howe between the second and third periods. Honestly for being as banged up as they are (a point not lost on many Rangers fans, in fact two said if this game is this close now at MSG, they worried what a healthy Wings team or western conference team might bring) I thought they played hard in the corners and stood up to a top team in the east who plays that style. I saw some reason for hope in the Wings last night, I did. If they can challenge the top team in the east on the road and lose only in OT, they'll be OK if and when they get healthy. Onto the pics and a video clip of Zetterberg's goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g6LayP4ACc&feature= Defending a Rangers rush Quincey moving the puck up the wall Action packed....or not The Abdelkader line creates a chance The draw It's been very foggy here at night lately and walking to the train last night I was able to snap this one. Fog makes any picture better.

I'll be there with my wife. Section 120 representing!!!!

Penalty on the Devils Ryan Carter a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Devils Cam Janssen a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Devils Eric Boulton a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Rangers Stu Bickel a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Rangers Brandon Prust a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Rangers Mike Rupp a 5 Minute Major for Fighting. Penalty on the Rangers Stu Bickel a 10 Minute Misconduct. Time of the penalties, 3 seconds...

Anyone meeting anywhere? It'll be a gorgeous day in NY tomorrow, mid 60's and sunny. There is this event I got from the Wings FB page: Official Detroit Red Wings TWO SIGNED DREW MILLER JERSEYS AND AN EVENT IN NYC Our parent company, Olympia Entertainment is giving away a pair of Drew Miller autographed sweaters to celebrate the CCHA Championship / NCAA Hockey Tournament. 'Like' their page and enter to win. The winner gets a signed Red Wings jersey and an autographed MSU sweater. We're also throwing a Social Media Meetup tomorrow at the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in New York City. Stop by, chat with fellow fans, win some cool swag and march to the Garden in your red! The event runs from 5:30-6:30 PM. I promise to represent and be loud and help turn this ship away from the edge of Panic Waterfalls

Here's the video...

From yesterday's NY Times... Luring Stanley Cup Viewers With a Torrent of Games By TANZINA VEGA Published: March 14, 2012 TURNING the Stanley Cup playoffs into a must-watch television event lasting for weeks in the spring is no easy feat. Many Americans did not grow up with the game, few know who the players are and watching 10 weeks of playoffs is a big time commitment. But the National Hockey League’s plan to get more viewers is, in fact, to show more games. This year, for the first time, the league will televise every game of the playoffs, which begin April 11 and could last up to 10 weeks, with the last possible day for the final game on June 15. The N.H.L. renewed its media partnership with NBC last year after the company was bought by Comcast, and can now offer programming across multiple platforms including NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC and the NHL Network. “We’ve spent the last five years talking about building national scale,” said John Collins, the chief operating officer of the N.H.L. “If you can’t get the games on national television, you’re not going to be able to relate to it.” The league seems to be learning from the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s basketball strategy. In 2010, the N.C.A.A. reached a 14-year deal with CBS and Turner Broadcasting to show the games across multiple networks including CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV — effectively allowing first- and second-round games to be shown nationwide. Before the pact, early-round games were shown only in certain regions — Michigan State fans could watch their team on television but might not have been able to watch, say, Gonzaga or Georgetown. Rest of the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/business/media/luring-stanley-cup-viewers-with-a-torrent-of-games.html

I'd change the outcome of the Salt Lake City and Vancouver gold medal hockey games. The Salt Lake City game first because St. Herbie coached that one. I'd take away the Rangers game 7 win over Vancouver and have Linden finish with a hat trick in that one. I hate the Canucks for all the right reasons but since moving to the NY market that 1994 year is already insufferable. I'd change the outcome of the Buffalo vs Dallas Cup Final too. Brett Hull's foot was in the crease that rule was a 100% adamant rule all year long until at the very end. Yeah I know it was only game six but if I can change the outcome the Sabres win that cup. Now for number five follow me here, work with me people. Game seven on the 2009 Final. I don't want to change a THING the Wings did all night. I do not want to affect their play in any way shape or form. I only want to change that Max Talbot scored two times for Pittsburgh. Near as I can tell that only affects the Penguins, not the Wings.

A good game-day read, thanks!

I'm enjoying watching both Nyquist and Smith myself.

In some ways this reminds me of the Stuart hit on Umberger vs Columbus in the playoffs. Voracek and Umberger looked up briefly, fiddled with the puck, and never anticipated how fast the gap was closing when they turned up ice.

Patrick Kane, Ze hockey player? How you score from penalty box?

Luckily our forwards can take some of the workload from our 5 remaining defensemen. Super extra effort time

Kindl out now? Dammitall...

I say we call Helm "Peggy" after abusing Ze hockey player Patrick Kane on that feed to Kronwall

4-1 Wings. Rick Nash won't be heard from all night long is my guess as the long slow divorce plays out publicly. Helm (SH), Franzen, Kronwall, Flip (PP)

Or maybe Ken Holland knows something we don't. That Jiri Hudler will GO OFF and score 13 playoff goals and be in the running for Conn Smythe. Detroit will go Hudler mad!

I like the Wings in goal. Nobody is gonna outclass Jimmy in net. I like the defense and the depth on defense. With Smith and Kindl gonna see minutes going forward this is where "over-ripening" pays big dividends. Speaking of which the WIngs do have depth with NHL experience in Mursak and Emmerton. As guys who could possibly be forced into playing were there a couple injuries I feel confident the wouldn't hurt the team. They're disciplined, they practice against the best in the world and buy into the plan. I like our depth down the middle vs Vancouver. Nashville got better in that Nashville unassuming under-the-radar way. They are a nightmare second round matchup for somebody. St. Louis is dangerous as they get healthier but right now I'm not sold they are a Final contender. The Hawks better hope they play Vancouver in some of those 6-5 games they have had in the past. Odouya helps but not enough. San Jose got a couple forwards I'm just not sure they were the right kind. Time will tell. They are still dangerous but they just don't seem as imposing as in the last say, three seasons. Phoenix is that lower rung in the west you want to avoid in round 1. They play well on the road and don't allow a lot of goals. So yeah, possible injuries aside I like the Wings chances. I like Babcock, I like the incredible fan support at Joe Louis Arena, the stunning home record, and I like that they really really wanna win another one for Nick.

In not looking at this through Wings-colored glasses, there's a fair amount of historical backing for my point. Vancouver has a glass jaw, until they don't.

I think if the Wings had traded for Quincy TODAY there would be a lot less grousing. That being said I really really wish Kenny had added a depth forward with either some grit or a top faceoff guy or a second PP contributor. It was NOT Mission critical to get one though. Not the end of the world some here are saying. West contenders improved, East contenders did not