BlueMonk

That's a really touching story. How cool.

The end to tonight's game really was crazy. Thought for sure the Sens had salvaged a point and then, poof! No dice.

The way Sammy left the ice reminded me of how Brendan Morrow left the ice during the playoffs last year. Looked the same way after taking a slash to the foot, everyone assumed it was broken, but it turned out to be just a skate problem and he was right back out. Wonder if Sammy's problem was a skate.

Awesome. Good to see them not taking fans for granted. Is this a feather in the new marketing guy from Nashville's cap??

Funny how we all respond differently to the same thing. Here I am breathing a sigh of relief that Draper's MRI came back negative and he'll only be out two weeks, and everyone else is pretty down about it! It's no good to lose a player like Draper, but when you think about it, you're going to lose players to injuries over the course of a season, no matter what, so when they aren't serious that's by far the most important thing.

They aired this during a time I just can't listen to XM radio. I have the Home Ice station on in the morning, at lunch and on the drive home. But 4pm is one time I'm never in my car, so I missed it.

I really have mixed feelings about the whole thing. On one hand - and this is the more sensible of my two hands for sure - it would probably be a good economic move for the Wings to build a new arena. With all the factors, economic and otherwise, contributing to declining ticket sales at JLA, a new arena with lots of executive suites could be a nice incentive to draw season ticket holders. Just by creating a little buzz. My less sensible but equally strong hand likes the JLA the way it is. I hate the cookie cutter, corporate sponsored arenas and their generic, sterile, high-tech environments. I like the old-time arenas, with all the quirks and oddities that come with them. Rats? No problem. Old bathrooms? I like pissing in a trough. Sorry, that's just me. Old time hockey. Home ice advantage, baby.

I actually posted the same thing Lou did on the previous page. I admit it's not a sure thing Lilja doesn't step in anyway, but this team seems different to me this year.

I have no problem with the Phaneuf hit. Hudler was chirping at him, waving his glove in his face, during the game. He's gotta be looking out for that hit instead of admiring his pass. And the Red Wings responded appropriately, with Lilja challenging him. Good win for the Wings. Datsyuk was ridiculous!

The beauty of having a legitimate tough guy or two (Downey, Drake before the shield) is that it's contagious. The whole team ups its physical play, knowing someone has their back. I think we see that a little bit tonight with Lilja immediately challenging Phaneuf. Not saying there's no chance he does that without a guy like Downey, but it sure didn't hurt.

D-Mac here when the Flames are in town, could be on behalf of either city I guess.

Good man, Lilja. Much respect for that.

Thanks, Harold. Back to the game: Yeah!!!

I stepped away. What did he say?

Cripes, even *I* might get in line to have Datsyuk's babies if he keeps playing like this!

Bowman is a hall of fame coach, but speculating that he would be a great GM is ridiculous. He certainly wasn't in Buffalo. On the other hand, he'd be a marquis signing on name alone, so it could be a good PR move for the Leafs.

Hartnell had all kinds of time to hold up on that hit and didn't. Dangerous with a player in such a vulnerable position.

He scored a beauty of a goal tonight. Just fought his way through defenders, didn't dive, got rewarded with a juicy rebound.

Boston-Philly has been as advertised, lots of chippiness. Bunch of cheap shots by the Flyers, particularly a check Scott Hartnell finished on Alberts when he was on his knees playing the puck along the boards, checking Alberts' head into the dasher.

Last night Godard and D.J. King went... one of the best fights so far this season!

My only hope is that since every other team already has a tough guy or two, he won't get picked up next time they waive him. Babcock wants what Downey brings, hopefully that counts for something.

I know, it's frustrating. I think it's a combination of not attacking these games the way they need to and some bad luck. Chicago has played well against the Wings, but not 4-0 good. The Wings have led in almost every game but the Hawks and other teams in the Central use Detroit as a measuring stick game. The Wings do need to make an adjustment and attack these teams the way they do the traditionally good squads. They haven't done that yet.

I'm not disagreeing, but through a quarter of the season, they've done well enough to be in first place overall in the conference.

My perspective is they're in first place, because despite not beating teams much in their division yet, they're still in first place. That's because, overall, the other teams haven't been able to keep pace. Is there a special prize for winning games against division opponents? What do they call that trophy? I must have missed it my last visit to the HHOF.

Despite all this, they're in first place. This means other teams are doing less. Perspective.