Jersey Wing

I could be wrong, I hope I'm wrong but I have always had some kind of working sixth sense. There is something about the Rick Nash trade possibility I'm not convinced the Wings aren't pursuing. I have no inside info, I didn't talk to a guy who knows someone who lived in Ken Holland's old neighborhood, it's just a hunch that either they trade for him or we find out much later they tried very very hard (and came close) to land Nash. We'll see, right now it's an uneasy pensive feeling.

I like this trade on a few levels; He's an upgrade in the 5-6 pairing. He can eat minutes. He definitely upgrades the depth the Wings will need in the war that will be the Western Conference playoffs. He's a RFA not a rental. It's barely a dent in the Red Wings cap space. It also shows the Wings are thinking "Death or Glory." A smart reasoned trade I think. After a possible President's trophy where would that #1 pick be exactly?

I'm picturing some troll somewhere typing out of an English as a Second Language textbook

Of course here we got that swell Sabres vs Penguins game which pissed me off enough I switched over to the MSU basketball game (Sparty On!) for stretches. Oh, and I want to give a shout out to all the raucous Joe Louis Arena crowds anymore. You can tell people. You're incredibly engaged from the hop and there's a new energy the last 18 months that is SO AWESOME to see and hear. Did you hear yourselves the other night almost bust the Nashville crowd mics? http://video.predators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlg=20112012,2,862&event=DET449&fr=false Smashville's feed could barely hear the horn over you people. I for one would like to give a standing ovation to any and all of you making this happen. It's magnificent to see the fanbase take it to a level I honestly haven't seen in years.

Since there is no Wings game today, (man I LOVE it when they are winning and don't play on Saturday and you can just sit back and watch other, lesser teams, fight for their lives) I thought I'd post a nice video I was LUCKY enough to be filming for on my iPhone. I'll include a few pics but the video was what I wanted to share. It's the closest I've ever been to a goal. Best if you watch it in full screen at 1080p Pictures from that same game: Devils score

That Datsyuk goal got both my wife and I off the couch at the same time fist bumping and doing the Church Lady Superiority Dance

Yes, he is

I just saw an e-something over at the fabulous Vaporware Rumor monger that the Wings "may try to move on Semin" before anybody else. Semin? I merely relayed this to get the juices flowing by saying 'Semin'. Feel free to laugh, yawn or start your own e4 rumors http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/LA-Van-Chicago-Toronto-Lead-Push-for-Nash-Canadiens-Wings-Semin/1/41936 I watched Oduya for a couple seasons here in Jersey. They could do a lot worse in picking up a depth 5-6 defenseman

That's gonna leave a mark

Boy did Reaves with St. Louis and McGrath with Nashville just have a scrap. Good game tonight from Nashville. A good lead in to the Red Wings at 10

I am SO STOKED today. My wife is out of the country and the hockey starts at 1pm and goes til 1am. Wings in HIGH DEF always a treat here against a team they SHOULD beat but yet questions need answering. Edmonton's going to be brimming with confidence after--wait, what's that? They just scored on the Hawks AGAIN? Wow. Anyway the Oil shall be pumped up and on any given night (See, Canadiens, Montreal) the unexpected can bite a couple points into your lead. Can the Oilers keep their momentum? Ty Conklin must answer questions. Will one of the trades HAVE to be a backup netminder? How long will the crew here at LGW hang together the moment another team makes the first big trade and the anxiety clock hits midnight? I think I shall get tickets to Thursday's Devils vs Blues game and get some pictures and give a game report on the Blues... Oh, and Wings 5 Oil 3 Datsyuk, Cleary, Zetterberg, Stuart and Sheppard

Montreal started like a house afire going up 2-0 and carrying play for long periods of time but Price butchered one, another went in off Clarkson's leg and yadda yadda the Devils have Zach Parise and the Canadiens don't. Parise had two tonight and he's more awesomer every time I watch him play. He's getting his nose dirty and isn't afraid of going to the hard places. Just great to watch him play. Clarkson also had 2 and now has 18 for the year. Yes one went in off his leg and one was an empty netter but still, 18. The friend I was with is a huge Devils fan and she's wondering if Brodeur shouldn't be the backup. Feel free to debate. Some shots: DENIED! David Desharnais pretty much force feeds the Devils an early goal And there was much rejoicing! David Clarkson is rewarded for having his leg in the way Devils win! Devils win!

I've always been of the mind that if you even have to hesitate and ask if a guy should have his number retired the answer is no. Lidstrom? YES, 100% never any debate. Datsyuk is getting closer, another 5 years at the current pace, another cup (which would give him three) and maybe a Conn Smythe or a Hart Trophy and yes, he's up there. Zetterberg is tougher. Since he took on the role of shut down checker his offensive numbers are down. That being said he has banked a Conn Smythe and has won a cup. I'm willing to overlook offensive numbers in return for shutting down players at big times (ie Crosby in that 5 on 3 in the 2008 Final). Z will have to win at least one more cup and perhaps a Selke or two before I think he should make it up to the hallowed rafters of JLA. Fedorov leaving in the way he did has always pissed me off. He'd won everything he could in Detroit. He was aces. If he'd have played his full career here his number certainly would have been hoisted but his own selfishness stopped that from ever happening.

Did the Canadiens perhaps hang a big banner outside the entrance to the arena that said welcome to Long Island and Nassau County Coliseum?

Call it a feeling. I think the Habs may come out feisty for old times sake knowing they all have a few days off to recover. Old time hockey, Eddie Shore, Toe Blake...

Wings 3 Blues 2 Kocur and Garth Butcher scrap

Thank You. He makes the bullet points and then says those bullet points make good sense. Sounded like Rick Moranis as Vince Clortho in Ghostbusters to me...

He had already begun to lose an edge on his right skate before Z breathes on him and he goes all cattywumpus into the boards. Honestly by getting kicked out Zetterberg served his "suspension". Shanahan will be better served looking for unpunished rogue elbows to the head and getting serious about those.

At the very end I love where the mascot starts rubbing its eyes like a bawling baby

I say the Wings run out to a four goal lead on goals by Helm, Franzen (2) and Kronwall. Sergei Fedorov scores late for the Blue Jackets to break the shutout

I'm happy they won for now but no doubt watching the late game tonight on Center Ice via CBC I'll be mad they gave up a point to the Hawks.

The Devils have a beautiful stadium. I truly enjoy going to the Prudential Center for games. The place is clean, the seats are nice and the fans that do go are loud. That being said I just don't know for how long you can expect people, even with public transportation abounding, to head into Newark on weeknights. Now, the Newark PD and mayor Cory Booker are working hard to make the area between Penn Station and the Prudential Center safer and safer there still have been several high profile shootings near the Prudential Center in broad daylight. Sadly too, there just aren't a lot of bars or places for Devils fans to go hang out and revel in a big win after the game. You go, you watch the game, you leave. Not like going to the Lafayette or American Coney Islands or The Post in Detroit. It's sure not like Broadway in Nashville with a plethora of fun stuff to do after the game. The fans maybe fill The Rock 75% most nights. If they are playing Winnipeg or say Phoenix, make it 50%. If the Devils could build a stadium in say Jersey City or Hoboken the chances of their survival would be greater but we have no land here in JC or up in Hoboken for them to build a 20K stadium on. The Devils are cursed with Newark, the same reason the Nets are leaving for Brooklyn

TSN with more: The Chicago Blackhawks will be without one of their top scorers for an extended period of time, as forward Patrick Sharp will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Sharp left Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings moments after scoring his 20th goal of the season - just 4:19 into the contest - and didn't return. (Cue those tapes) http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=384617

For the last 10 years it seems no matter how good the Wings are and how BAD the Islanders have been the Isles ALWAYS Seem to play the Wings very tough. I have no idea and or theory as to why this happens but it does. I think anyone predicting a huge Wings victory should take a quick look at the recent history of this series... Jan 12, 2010 Islanders 6, Red Wings 0 Dec. 31, 2010 Islanders 4 Red Wings 3 In fact, from Lighthouse Hockey, the Isles online fan page: Is it tempting fate too much to mention the odd "streak" the Islanders have going against the Red Wings (4-0-1) I still say the WIngs will win but I'll make no score predictions...

3-0 Red Wings. Mostly hopeful thinking on my part so I don't have to hear that shi**y Edmonton goal horn