therock48880

I don't really agree with that. He plays hard, agitates things, fights when necessary, but he isn't dirty. To be honest, a guy like Maltby is worse in my book because he will never fight back. Lappy knew he was going to lose to Downey, but stood there anyways. The Maltby's of the world would have been running away. Sure, he turtled at the end after receiving several good lefts, but he TRIED to fight first.

Perfectly said. It should have been a two-minute penalty and an ass kicking. We just had to settle for the ass kicking. Phaneuf should be suspended a game.

And he's a whiny *****. You forgot that part.

I don't think you can compare Lappy and Ulf. Lappy plays hard and is irritating, but for the most part, doesn't cheapshot people. I honestly don't feel like he did that on purpose to Lidstrom. He even said after the game that he really hoped he was Ok. Ulf, on the other hand, tried to take peoples' knees out.

Without making a move or two? No, I don't think they can win it, even if they were healthy.

Exactly. For some reason SJ scares me more with Hossa than the Ducks would. Both would have to be considered the favorite to come out of the West if they had him, as would Detroit.

I wish I would have never seen this! Now, I'll lay in bed tonight thinking, "hmmmm, Ellis was put on waivers and someone is in serious negotiations with Hossa". First, I'll be excited thinking it is the Wings working on a deal with him, then that will all turn to fear sometime around 1 a.m. is my prediction. Fear that either Anaheim or SJ will get him instead and that the Ellis move is a precursor to a McCarty signing, which is much more likely. So, I have two options. 1. stay up all night thinking about hockey again or 2. take some lunesta and hope for the best and be groggy tomorrow. Don't you hate it/love it when hockey takes over your entire thought process????

Ever consider getting a hobby? j/k In all seriousness, thanks for doing the math here. I honestly didn't think Hossa long-term would be possible, but I guess, in reality, it may be possible after all. Now, if Atlanta would be willing to do the deal.............................

I can't imagine how anyone would balk at a Flip for Hossa deal or try to say that Sundin is better than Hossa. Finding salary cap room to keep Hossa, Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Rafalski, and to re sign Z is another problem that conveniently gets forgotten.

I guess I'd give him the benefit of the doubt also considering his past. He's a hard-nosed, abrasive, ass but he's not really the cheapshot kind of person (like pronger). However, how on earth that's not a two minute penalty is beyond me. Here's a good quote from Lidstrom" "I have a pretty good mark on my chin where he hit me. Whether he tried to or not, I don't know, but he followed through and finished with his elbow up on my chin and that's when my head went back into the glass." http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...ri_on_knee.html

We found something we agree on.

For me, it matters where his elbow was when Listrom's head was against the glass. An elbow to the face of a player who is slipping is the same as an elbow to the face in any other situation. An elbow to the face is an elbow to the face. It's not allowed in hockey. I guess we could all follow Pronger's excuse too, he's so much taller than Holmstrom so should be allowed to elbow him in the head. (I'm not comparing the two hits, by the way. Prongers was malicious, Lappy's wasn't. However, an elbow is still an elbow)

Seems that Downey and Babcock thought differently: Babs: "Obviously, I wasn't very impressed with what happened," Babcock said. "It's a situation I thought our guys responded well from. He doesn't get hit very often and I didn't like the hit, it was high. To me, the league is about protecting the guys' heads. A five-time Norris Trophy winner shouldn't be having to protect his head against someone." Downey: "I got no problem playing the game good and fair. I play the game good and fair. (But) we can't be running our superstars. If you want to have a good, clean, hit, go out there and have a good, clean hit, but when the elbows are up, when you hit a five-time Norris winner, one of the best defensemen to ever play the game, it's a joke in my mind. Best Downey quote: "So my message is simple: The next time anyone runs any of our guys in a way that shouldn't be done, then a message will be sent. I'm not going to go out and run your skill guys, your superstars. I'm going to go right to the guy (who did it), and fair justice is fair justice." http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...valanche_0.html

I just set this is my background. Downey needs to be dressed every game from here on out. The games are becoming more physical and his 3-5 minutes per game can be invaluable.

It's nice when Kopecky remembers that he's big and plays like it.

Like I said earlier, I didn't Tivo it. However, from the replays I've seen, it sure looked like Listrom's head jerked to his left when idiot's arm came up. Also notice, I didn't techinically say it was a dirty play. I said it was a borderline play.

Thank You!!!!!!! Now for a goal 5 on 3 and then for Downey to kick Lappy's ass again!

Seems like if his right knee was injured, they would have given him support on his right side instead of his left side.

By the way, I've read a few posts that talk about the hit as being "clean". He elbowed him in the jaw. This is one reason I hate the instigator penalty. Someone should not get penalized for taking retribution on a hit that was borderline dirty.

I didn't tivo the game, damnit! Anyways, didn't Zetts come up and help him off the ice on Lidstroms LEFT side? If someone taped the game, that would be good to know that.

The way they're playing right now, I'm starting to think that it wouldn't hurt to have him come up to the Wings. SOMETHING needs to light a fire under these guys. I would imagine the Joe would get pretty loud if he stepped back on the ice there as a Wing. Maybe that excitement would get the team going again. I think it SUCKS that Maltby got a contract extension last year. He does nothing on the ice any more. He's lost a step and isn't nearly the pest that he once was. Maybe a reunion with McCarty would help him too. ???? I don't know.

I agree with the first part. Franzen is a great third liner who's being expected to do too much. I'm also not thrilled with their lack of power play production. Any time Samuelson is your second point man on the power play, you've got problems. Now, we just need to hope Kenny and Co. can make a splash at the deadline.

I'm not glad he's hurt, but at least now there's a reason for his recent play. I'd rather have him be injured now than in a couple months.

And as soon as the Wings get one like that, people will complain that he doesn't play like Lidstrom. I agree with you, though, that they need a big, mean, d-man. Someone that's unpredictable and irritable. In terms of forwards, I'd like to see LaPointe come back. Big, strong, can go to the net, and he's a bit unpredictable.

Anyone have a video of the play where Osgood smashes Kunitz in the knee with his head? Ozzie should have gotten two minutes for interference on that play. (dripping with sarcasm)