Miss Wing Queen

Isn't that a continuation of the preview for Russia's opening ceremony for 2014?

I was thinking along the same lines: "Homer, are you using the new Febreeze Sport spray?"

Just checked today to see if Darren Helm Reebok t-shirts were back in stock for those looking to order them. On Amazon.com it looks like they are back in stock: Darren Helm shirt

This. It's starting to look like the Olympic break was the worst thing for Howie. I know many don't think Bert is a top 6 forward, but I would just like Babs to try these two lines just to see if the chemistry would be better than it is now (to see if it would be like it was before the injured came back): Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

"Not able to whip it loose is Hossa." Gotta love hockey commentary. It's a playground for a dirty mind.

You mean you didn't kiss him beforehand and that's why he gave you such a beauty of a goal to cheer about? If I can figure out how to post pics, I have a few from Wednesday's game of him up close that you might like.

So, got back from the game . . . We looked so damn slow through the neutral zone, you would have thought we played the night before. And for the record, Luongo was not great; the defense was the difference maker. Things I noticed: 1. Ericsson looks like a deer caught in headlights every time the puck comes near him. Could we maybe kidnap Sutter when he comes here on Friday and shove Big E onto Nashville? 2. Too many damn Canucks fans at the Joe. I got sick of hearing "Loo" instead of "boos." 3. No heavy hitting tonight, with the exception of right after Ozzie came in. Lilja and Franzen could have both taken it harder to them. 4. I was thinking Babs might pull Howie after 2 but waited until after 4. Ozzie was just as rusty, but it was obvious Howie was shaky from the start. 5. Kronwall's blooper--absolutely lol. The medal ceremony at the beginning and my great seat were the only good things about the game. I read an article where Babs talked to the team about if they wanted to make the playoffs. There are those on here that are saying there's no way in hell they are making the playoffs and those that are still holding out hope they will. Neither is the issue. This team has already made that decision. They do not want to make the playoffs. If they did, they would have strove to make long-term changes that would have carried through from the most injury-riddled stretches to now, when they are 99.9% healthy. It's a mental thing with this team. Yeah, the offense is down and for a good part of the year, we played with AHL talent, but in reality, they copped out mentally from the playoff race a long time ago and this just feels like a facade now.

I'll be there in the third row by the penalty box (hopefully our guys won't have to use it too much). Now that we know his weaknesses, let's take it to Lou. Here's to Raffi getting a goal, and maybe Lils, but let's definitely have more magic by #13 like we saw Monday night. Let's get a win tonight and start to get on a roll . . . GO WINGS!!!

That was his smiling face. They look the same. Thanks! I'm just glad the game wasn't decided by a shootout. Nice to have that climactic ending to a superb game, giving non-hockey fans a taste of the thrill of winning top honors in hockey--the Stanley Cup! Does anyone else have the feeling that these games and the 2014 games will mirror the 2008 and 2009 SCF? I can't help but feel that USA will come back and win gold in 2014.

I really wanted Babs to get his gold, but at the start of OT, I was praying, "Please, God, do NOT let it be Crosby. Anybody but him, but let Canada score." I then was trying to find a suitable Canadian player to get the OT goal. I'm convinced that God is in Bettman's pocket too, along with all the NHL refs and the hockey gods. Those must be deep pockets . . . Seriously, I'm very happy for Canada getting the gold and USA for the silver. I don't care what other people say, but Rafalski had a terrific Olympic tournament, and I'm very proud of the way he played. I'm proud of all of our Olympic Medal Wings--Fillpula, Rafalski, Babcock, and Yzerman, . . . and Ryan Miller by association . Most of all, I am so excited that so many millions of people enjoyed a terrific hockey game! Yeah Canada and USA!!!!

No, the guy on the left is Charles Hamelin, the short track skater! Love the Raffi one and Iginla one.

Everyone except themselves.

I always liked Downey just because he was such a great guy and Ozzie because he's Ozzie. But I'm really liking Helm, secondly, Kronwall, and thirdly, Lilja.

Lol. This is just sick and wrong . . . . . but true.

I wholeheartedly agree. There have even been times when he's been out there with Lids and Lids makes a bad play. He's like kryptonite. Thankfully, the only person he has little to no affect on within close proximity is Howie.

I think the biggest factor, like others have said, is that we are getting our injured players back, and while it will be good in the long run, right now it is messing up the chemistry the team had developed in their absence. For example, our defense had become more solid and tighter, and when Ericksson came back (this is not to bash Big E, although he continues to be the Mr. Hyde to last year's Dr. Jekyll) our defense started to become sloppier and make more defensive blunders and bad passes. This has been seen even more with Kronwall coming back too. It's a combination of these injured guys getting back into game mode and the team re-balancing themselves with the newly added players. I agree with 55fan that Franzen with be a big addition as well. I don't think he will magically improve this team, but his presence with bring a marked improvement. There are many times throughout the season where I have seen missed opportunities and said, "Franzen would have gotten that one." I also think that having Homer out right now has had an effect on this team too. Cleary has stepped up some in the role of net presence, but nowhere near the capacity of Homer. And when we have been the best at scoring goals this season it has come from either driving the net or creating traffic around it. Both of these guys will be a big difference (but probably not the end all be all answer to the team's possible success) when they return.

Send them all to Downey in Canada to work out. Hauling ass over hills and fields with half a tree on your back should give this team some strength. I don't remember where I saw that, but he was always known for working really hard when he was back on his parents' farm.

This season has had a horrible cyclical pattern to it. We kept going through droughts and then heavier scoring games, then playing 60 mins to blowing leads. The feeling right now is similar to that period of games when Draper went and ripped the team a new one. I think he (or someone else) really needs to do that again to light the fire again under this team. I think the reason so many get so upset after losses like tonight's is that games like this reflect the whole theme of this season so far. At the beginning of the season with our offensive scoring taking such a hit in the off season, the expectation was that the team would struggle and just not live up to previous years. And with each consecutive injury, the hole we were in kept getting deeper and deeper. But the part that makes this so hard to watch is the fact that the team didn't follow expectations. Certain guys have stepped up, wins have been scraped out, and somehow this team has made it to the edge of the playoffs. But what is frustrating as hell is that, just like the finals last year, they get to a certain point and the thrusters are shut off (similar to being within a game of taking the series against the Pens and then blowing the lead we had). It would be so much easier if the team just outright sucked, but instead they giving us a reason to believe they can do this, and it's disappointing that they can only give 80% most of the time when we know they are so much better than this. Is it just that they are so tired from being in the playoffs the last 18 years (and when you add it up, have played enough hockey to equal 3 extra seasons) that they just can't push themselves anymore? Is that really a good enough excuse? Yes and no. And I don't know about anyone else, but I was hoping Phoenix would score first because I thought I heard our record was better when the other team got the first goal. Sad, I know.

I smell something fishy. Something might be in the works a la Holland style as others have stated. Holland is patient and calculating. I want to see how this plays out.

God, I almost prefer when we are shutout. At least then there is no need for me to get my hopes up. Taking a two goal lead in the 1st/2nd is just ******* emotional abuse. I love the team most nights, but this s*** they've been pulling lately is just ******* pissing me off to no end! Do these guys even WANT to make the playoffs?

Well, I enjoyed it while it lasted. Go Wings on Saturday!

Of course they get a point. Ugghhh!

Damn Kings and Smyth. f***, f***, f***.

Let's make it MILLER TIME x 2, pretty pretty PLEASE! If not, then I am seriously beginning to think that the hockey gods rest quite comfortably in Bettman's pocket.

After the parade in '08, I happened to be making my way to Comerica Park to meet some friends and stopped into Cheli's to see Ozzie standing on the bar with the cup, along with some of the other guys (Cheli, Downey, Quincey, Lebda, Meech, Howard). Luck was definitely on my side because I was able to make my way through the packed crowd and to the bar where I was able to hoist myself up to drink out of it. Best damn beer I've ever drank in my life! Although a good portion spilled on me too. Thankfully this was before the cup was taken away to be repaired, at which point the place cleared out pretty much. I met up with my friends and watched Howie play bartender for awhile. One of the best days of my life.