Hockeytown Red Wings

FS Detroit +, so no TV for me.

Hello everyone. Go Wings.

Lidstrom was probably the best but his excellence is understated. As far as wow factor, probably seeing Sergei Fedorov in his prime.

I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so familiar what a crushing 41-14 loss to an SEC school in a huge game felt like. Biggest difference is, we thought we were better than Florida going into that game. Most Michigan fans I knew were based in reality and pretty much knew an ass kicking was coming. But yes, I still enjoyed it.

Caps fan plastering net behind Thomas with Obama posters and signs saying they printed them with taxpayer money. Very clever.

1. Just score on the chances given. Stop finding ways for it not to go in. 2. When having the puck in the middle of the ice, 10 feet from the net, you should probably shoot. 3. Skate hard! No coasting. Make a decision and play the decision hard. No half in, half out. Notice I say nothing about Nashville. Because if the Wings play to their best of their ability, it does not matter what Nashville does. The refs? Another matter entirely. But that being even, the Wings have a level that I haven't seen Nashville reach.

That's an experiment I'd be all for, for a game. Quincey was driving me nuts in Game 2. I don't recall him pissing me off yesterday though.

It really doesn't matter what the fans focus on. Just as long as the players have their heads right(assuming Weber doesn't assault them).

It's the playoffs, we all know how this works. Suddenly all common sense goes out the window. Things that weren't penalties in the regular season suddenly are. Things that are suspensions in the regular season suddenly aren't. Wouldn't be the first time and nothing shocks me anymore.

I've had a playoff beard since last April. I will trim it for the last time tomorrow.

I've been increasingly disappointed with Cleary's play as the year went. I felt like I knew it had to be his knees and not just a sudden significant dropoff in production and value. If he's only able to play to 50 percent of his ability, it seems that there might be someone more useful to take his spot while he heals. If it's an injury that needs surgery and isn't going to heal, maybe that provides some insight. But it's been clear to see all season that something was off.

Unacceptable. I don't understand why you would attack someone just for what they're wearing. Don't get me wrong, I've been to games at the Joe where there was one ******* who I really wanted to watch get a beer poured on himself, but I'm not gonna attack anyone for what team they root for. I've been attacked at Michigan Stadium before for being a Buckeye. And I've also been treated with amazing hospitality at the same place. It happens the same way down here too. You really can't do too much about it, except to diffuse the situation if you see it happening. Full disclosure, I have beaten the hell out of a Blackhawks fan before. But he was a friend and roommate and liked getting his ass kicked for some reason.

*Peeks in.* So we're panicking? Cool. I'd have liked to pick up a scoring forward or Gaustad. We didn't. I don't think the sky is falling. No one improved vastly from where they were. Hell, I don't think anyone improved anything more than marginally. Sammy Pahlsson? If the players we already have aren't playing well, any additions would not have made a difference anyway. Continue your broadcast of chaos and doom.

I don't think we'd have to give up that much to get Selanne. He wants to go to a winner, he's in what it is probably his last season. No team is going to sell the farm for four months without a chance of retaining the player at years end. Unless Pierre Lacroix is back in town.

Living where I do and living with a BJ fan, I take issue with Rick Nash's hustle. He's constantly lackadaisically skating around unless of course there's a scoring chance and then he turns on the jets. Otherwise, it's floating in circles around the ice and an apparent allergy to backchecking. Maybe being part of the Wings and the expectations that comes with it would change his work ethic. I'd like to think it would. But I fear we could be giving up a lot for a clearly more talented, yet much higher paid Robert Lang.

So every season ticket holder should quit their day job and apply for team president? Seize Howson, burn him at the stake, and complete the hostile takeover by making team decisions by committee. People are paying for entertainment, a service of the competitive nature, knowing that there is no guarantee of positive results. But you do expect things to get better and for there to be a direction in place at some point. Otherwise, you have two options, only one of which had been exercised until now. Stop showing up and giving them your money, which they have done in increasing increments over the years. Or you can organize, get some recognition, and put some public pressure for something to be done. Will it actually result in anything? Maybe that is just a pipe dream. But to say a group of fans getting together to announce their displeasure is anything but "getting of their butt" seems to be pretty backwards to me. I'm quite aware of how easy I have things being a Red Wings fan. It's almost like having a pass to display extreme confidence even in managerial decisions you're not entirely sure of. I have lived on the other side of the coin for a lot of my life as a Tigers (I was a Tigers fan before 2006) and Lions fan(I was a Lions fan before 2011).

Of course! It's so simple! So just become General Manager of the Jackets? I'll be sure to tell all my friends they're stupid. I mean, how idiotic of them to stage something to try to get attention of the people they feel are responsible for ruining their experience as a fan. Some of which who have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars never to see a single playoff win. You're right. Nevermind the fact that it was a pretty positive "protest" unless you're Scott Howson.

Nashville would be great too. Had a great time there this summer. Bridgestone Arena is right there on Broadway with all the bars and things to do downtown too. Saw Social Distortion there at the Ryman Auditorium (the original Grand Ole Opry), so thankfully it wasn't all country music.

Columbus is a great town with a great Arena District. No it's not New York City, but calm down on the pretentiousness. Detroit is a fun city if you know where to go, but it's not exactly the tourism capital of the world itself. And you'd be surprised how many hockey fans are in Columbus if they'd ever put a decent team on the ice. Let alone how many Red Wings fans there are in the area. Anytime I wear Wings gear out someone gives me a 'Go Wings'. If you hadn't seen a Lions game before 2001 you would have thought no one in Detroit cared about football. Also, the Blue Jackets aren't going anywhere. Renegotiating of the lease to Nationwide have pretty much guaranteed the Jackets aren't going anywhere until 2039.

Looks like Lidstrom is out. Maybe this is so Gary can't suspend him for opting out of the All Star Game again. Just the flu though, no injury. A full week off should do Lids well.

I agree with everything you just said. Seems to be a lot of techno at the Joe these days. Which is fine because it at least has a beat and some pump-up value versus a random motown song. But Pittsburgh does seem to have the best arena music I have heard.

I was cruising along and had the local Columbus sports radio on when they announced breaking news, the Tigers sign Prince Fielder. I was pretty shocked and immediately called my brother who said he couldn't find anything on ESPN about it yet. I did not see this coming, and now we have the two best bats outside of Pujols in baseball. Unbelievable.

St Louis, Weather The game was played on January 2nd. The temperature in St. Louis that day? 55.9 degrees Fahrenheit. January 1, 2011? 64 degrees. January 1, 2010. 37 degrees. January 1, 2009. 43 degrees. January 1, 2008. 35 degrees. In Detroit, the temp was above 35 only once in those years. As you've said, they have the ability to keep ice frozen above freezing temperatures, but it doesn't really feel like the Winter Classic if it's 50 degrees out. And since you've stated you're not lobbying to get the game at St. Louis, I'll leave it alone.

I imagine St. Louis winters being too unpredictable to host a WC. The average high in early January I'm assuming to be in the low 40s (or upper 30s as CPrice mentions), sort of pushing the boundary on the whole outdoor ice thing. There is a lot greater chance that it'll be a warm 55 degree winter day in St. Louis than places the game has already been held. The Winter Classic will always be played in places Philadelphia-northward. I expect Denver to get one sometime soon, Minnesota is a no brainer, and you'll certainly see the Rangers hosting one soon. I guess the best a Blues fan can hope for is that they're invited to be the visiting team.