BigWillieStyle

I know it was televised somewhere in the Detroit area, because my father, who decided not to make the pilgrimage with 2 of my brothers and myself, stayed home and watched it. I'm wondering if it was on channel 50, or if maybe, it was on Pass Sports, or one of the other paid channels that televised some of the games that didn't get coverage back then. I will be seeing my father on Thursday, I will ask him if he remembers. I wouldn't be surprised if he has it recorded on Betamax in his collection. I've been saying it for years now, but some day I'm going to digitize his whole collection of recordings from the early 80's well into the late 90's. I think he has every HNIC episode on tape during that time. Or pretty close to every one at least. I'll dig around, because now that it has sparked my interest, I want to see that brawl again.

Hopefully they'll be celebrating number 400 with Cristal.

Hopefully, Bert and Fil and Mule, will stop playing pass the puck and start shooting now that the need for goals has become just a little more urgent. It also gives others a chance to step up and and show us how bad they want to be a star. Hope Mursak has us all happy with the decision to call him up. Don't know why they didn't call up Ritola?

Your memory isn't failing. Steffan was our go to guy in goal that year. Everything that would go to him, became a goal. Had a lot of pucks put behind him that year. The team was in transition the whole year. From Harry Neale being fired half way through the season, to Brad Park taking over the job and completely losing control of the team, it was a great one. The only thing that kept me going to games was for the fighting, and, to see some of the other teams great players. After Neale got the door the attitude became if you can't beat them, Beat Them Up. Kocur had several multi-fight games and even a few "fight-tricks" if I recall. Probert got called up about half way through the season, and, well, the legend was born. Warren Young, Randy Ladouceur, Reed Larson, everyone got their hands dirty. The highlight had to be a bench clearer at Maple Leaf Gardens near the end of a game that probably had 8 fights to that point. I don't even remember if we won or lost, but it was a 4+ hour game. Probert received the first of his many suspensions for a headbutt on Bob McGill during the bench clearer. I don't know if it was his longest fight ever, but they danced for what seemed like 5 minutes or so before Bobby put him down with the headbutt. It made the trip to Toronto worth a million bucks. Thankfully the exchange rate was a little bit more friendly than that. Other memories, The Boards were white, as was the ice. Unless blood was spilled that is. None of the over commercialization that litters the arenas today. The youth movement was on as we brought in all the youngsters that had been drafted over the past few years. We said good bye to Reed Larson, Our stud D man of the day. Ron Duguay, a much loved player at the time. Both were trade deadline aquisitions for playoff bound teams. At the end of the season, we lost our Captain, Danny Gare to free agency, and thus was born the legend of "The Captain". And attendance was all over the place, from a low of, I'm estimating, 6000, to sold out games. It all depended on who was on that nights fight card. Oh yeah, one last transition to recall. Colin Campbell, (yeah that guy), made the transition from hard nosed blueliner to assistant coach. What a great year it was. I'm glad we've come a long way from there, I don't know if I could go back.

Did I read that correctly, Buttercup ( Clutterbuck ) and Burns tied for goal leaders. So much for those high end forward contracts. Let's Go Wings. Big Nick with a +4 today!

I don't think they can afford to sign a top 5 draft pick with their cap situation. They are in a big old mess of screwed.

Maybe it is him... If he had more teeth, then he would need teethpaste.

2 year contract, $1,875 million cap hit, 35+ contract. I don't think Kenny would be very happy with that retirement decision.

I couldn't stop laughing after the part where, "Lebda" and "skilled player" were put right next to each other in a sentence. And I recall Meech playing a good number of games at forward, and even one game where Chelios played forward, but for the life of me, don't remember Lebda playing forward, ever......I do remember seeing him several times below the other teams goal line without the puck though! Is this time in which they were released from the penalty box and had to play until they could clear the puck and get a line change? Sounds like the most probable scenario.

Now he looks like a typical hockey fan. Just needs a few beer stains on his shirt.

There they go running up the score again.

2 if you count the one they didn't use because of Kopecky.

It's good to see a ittle more shootzy, and less cutesy.

I would love to see an " active stick" taken to his head.

We could maybe work to get Hudler in there. You know, possibly raise his stock a little, right before the trade deadline.

The Stanley Cup will be on display in Lapeer today prior to and after The Lapeer Loggers game. Pictures with the Cup will be $5, with proceeds going to Lapeer Regional Medical Center's Cancer Center. http://lapeerareaview.mihomepaper.com/news/2010-12-09/Front_Page/Lord_Stanleys_Cup_to_visit_Lapeer.html

Keep hitting that way, and people will start respecting you real quickly, P.K. Another beauty of a check by this kid. He might be a little cocky, but I bet Marchand is giving him big respect right now. Well, at least when his head clears he will.

Talk about going on the cheap. They use a guy on a tryout instead of bringing up someone from the minors. Why are we saving this team again, Gary??

Kantskatesky, Kantfightsky,... just a product of the linemates he's played with this year. I would almost bet that Hossa or Toews, or any of the other skilled forwards that he has had the privilege of playing with, could knock a few pucks off myself and into the net, therefore making me a scoring threat of equal caliber. Just my thoughts though.

Flyers 3-2. So what's the over / under on a few PP's being given to The Crosby's in the last five minutes?

Just loved Keith Jones' non biased view of why the East is the better conference. Hey Jonesy, I could see your Bruins skirt hanging out from under the desk.

Are you sure about Stewie? I swear I've heard about Babcock giving him a few days off, to go visit his family. I also thought I've heard Kenny and Murph ( or Mickey) talking about his family still being there. Maybe I'm just imagining that. Another symptom of my refusing to grow up, no matter how old I may get.

Brad Stuart's family still lives in the San Jose area. He's been to Boston, Calgary, LA, and Detroit in that time. Sometimes it's easier to have a stable place for your children to grow up, and have dad go make money where he can. I think these situations are more common in sports, and in regular life than we would think. Doesn't Pavel's family stay in Russia still??? (not sure)

Yes. It leaves more time for a few pre-game drinks. Without the need to arise hungover again and having to slug out another day a work in that condition. On another note. Hudler could really win back our hearts tonight by challenging Parros...........and winning.

Voice to text program. Push button and talk. Works like a charm. I did this whole response that way. Now push button to send.