Zion

San Jose played our game against us. Again. That is why we lost.

No, your equation is pretty good, with one exception: this is their 3rd game in 4 nights (and I can't remember if they had an extra day off after Dallas), and I hate that these two teams couldn't have met on the first leg of this Pacific Division swing.

Yeah, and guess who else played on the top line with Thornton? Cheechoo, who now (since he isn't a 50-goal scorer anymore, yes, I know: he's been injured) plays on the THIRD line. Michalek SHOULD produce playing with Clowe and Pavelski: they're TERRIFIC hockey players!!! I'll admit (courtesy of my wife) that calling him a joke may be a bit harsh, but I'm harsh on Cheechoo because I know how well both of these players can play. Fact is, he shows a little too much Yashin in him for my taste, as of late. And as for Hudlum, I'll always ***** about him being too small, too slow and too lazy in the defensive zone... until I hear him actually cluck.

I disagree. I've seen just how good Michalek can play. I watch almost every Sharks game. He is a joke. Clowe, Pavelski and Setoguchi have lapped him and he won't play on the top line anytime soon. I agree with Plihal, but he's no Kopecky. Give him a little time. Your education sucks.

Michalek is a joke now. He has the size and speed to be a potential power forward, but he tailed off last year and became a highlight after getting destroyed by Brendan Morrow in the playoffs. Ryane Clowe is much tougher, and as far as "agitators", I'd look to Plihal or one of their minor leaguers they've been calling up in Torrey Mitchell's absence to be more of an agitator than Michalek.

Excellent.

Jody Shelley.

This is a joke, right? Maybe I'm thinking of a different "chee choo", but J. Cheechoo (esq) is a very clean player. Consider yourself educated.

It has been AWESOME this year. Here in Buffalo, they always talk about how this is "the real Hockeytown" and how Detroit games always have empty seats, but the game we went to last year had a TON of fans wearing the Winged Wheel. Good stuff! Yeah, it is REALLY dumb hearing "Red Wings suck!" coming from Kings fans. They've been doing that for years though. Same organ tune. Same stupid chant. Lets Go Wings music

Calder stopped skating a while before any contact was made. Pavel was practically FACING McCreary, which is probably why he didn't raise his arm and call the penalty. It was DEFINITELY checking-from-behind (when did that stop being called as such?) and Calder got two for charging. Doesn't O'Halloran know to pack his own heat when trolling for hookers? Damn, I thought that was common sense.

Parros sells tickets. Win or lose, the Quacks pride themselves on team toughness. Fans love fights and Anaheim gives them that. Parros stays. Getzlaf is every coach's wet dream. I hate the guy now that he's really good (liked him when he was an up-and-coming playmaker) and is using his size well. Cocky f***. Kunitz has good speed and hitting (though not always clean), and will improve, though probably not as fast as Getzlaf and Perry have. I didn't want to say anything about Bobby Ryan because a No. 2 overall pick SHOULD be really good. I've seen a few small flashes of BRILLIANCE from a kid that looks just lost at times. Reminds me just a hint of Valterri Filppula. Only this kid will be pretty tough to boot. The big problem I see is that Pronger and Niederfag make BIG bucks, and I don't see them taking paycuts of any sort to keep the team together, or for that big free agent signing. There could be some MAJOR retooling coming up.

Needavacation absolutely sucks on defense. Corey Fairy is a ***** to the 10th degree. The discussion about helmets coming off is moot point when you have pansies like this faygot (sic) hitting his opponent when both players hit the ice in a fight or shoving them to the ice in the middle of a fight. Pronger gets away with a lot of penalties. I'll leave it at that. f*** Anaheim. There. You have my input.

Bring it! I can take it. I'm just glad I had nothing stupid to say about this deal. I remember thinking that I hope it would be like the Kronwall deal where it is a steal in the long run. Matt, Zata at 7.3? I was hoping he'd take Pavel's money. When Norris Nick retires, we'll have room to bring Hossa back or sign a big name defenseman like Wade Redden.

Awesome photos. Staples Center is fun... so many Wings fans!

Well done!

Actually, the rumor now is that Datsyuk is sitting out because he feels his contract should be re-negotiated. He wants his deal to now be 10 years, 75 million per year with a 15 million dollar signing bonus, and a signed Fedorov jersey thrown in.

Horses***. This is what we do here. Rub it in! Cicada, RyanBarnes and akustyk (read below) can suck a lemon... though I don't think any of us could have envisioned just how dominant Datsyuk would become. He is simply amazing to watch now, and he actually has me doubting whether or not Kenny should take a stab at Hossa and Mule vice Z... and I say that only if the rumor about 10 years at 75 million is true, because I'd rather have Z than Hossa straight-up. "fu* bulls* they sign him prior to the playoffs for a very long term and for huge bucks... my respect to Holland just dropped a lot. not a very smart move IMHO. if you're looking for another Yashin-story here it is, with quite a likelihood "

He was a playmaker before he started undressing defensemen and goalies. He's only recently started lighting the lamp.

You people are ******* SICK!!! And I mean that in the most respectful, complementary way possible. I CANNOT BELIEVE I was hearing the boos when (Puck) Fronger had the puck. That is just AWESOME!!! Now all you need to do is get the "Let's go Red Wings" chant going loud and proud at Staples tonight. I'll be watching!!!!!

Nope. No sense at all.

That's what LGWers are for.

Sorry, that was from WAY earlier. Stuart is brutal lately. Even his passes are s***.

You're not seriously blaming LILJA on that, are you? Wow... I'd better go to bed now before I get really pissed. Hopefully Ozzie gets a little more support (he doesn't seem to have faith in his D and is trying to do too much) in the 2nd and 3rd. I'm especially confused about the penalties in the offensive zone we're taking.

Oops. Forget to show up again, Stuart? Maybe against the Kings?

Half-assed Hudler did a great job on Getzlaf.