BlueMonk

PTI is one of the better sports shows on TV. But they don't talk about hockey, so you shouldn't expect to hear anything about it.

This is outstanding. I can't wait to have it up on YouTube! I thought that's what I heard, but I figured my mind was playing tricks on me.

Even the guys on XM204 get their sh** mixed up sometimes. Today, on my lunch hour, they were talking about goaltending duos in the NHL. They mentioned Hasek and Osgood. They went on to say that, yes, Osgood won a Cup with Detroit, but he was also responsible for letting in the center ice goal that turned around the Detroit-Vancouver series a few years ago. I can't remember which of the two hosts it was, but he said, "who was it, Vancouver? Osgood let in that center ice goal. It turned the series around." Anyone else hear this? I tried to think of what else they could be talking about, but I honestly think they confused Dan Cloutier with Osgood.

What's absolutely mind blowing is that both Kelly and McNab (but not together) were in the booth for VS network (when it was OLN) last season, doing nationally broadcast games. I think each one even did some of the NBC games. They must have been really hard up for on-air talent to have to settle for either one of those bozos, let alone have to employ both of them at various times. I haven't seen either of them this year.

They were just making fun of his call on the goal yesterday on the Center Ice Edmonton feed. And to think they lost one of the worst, John Kelly, to St. Louis. It didn't even make a dent, they still have the worst crew in the league. I don't understand why a team would even want that kind of homerism. It's one thing to talk up the home team and get the fans involved. That kind of homerism is fine, and appropriate. But to just be myopic monkeys like the guys Altitude hires for the Avalanche games can't even appeal to the fans. If I rooted for that team, I'd feel like my intelligence was being insulted by the organization. Oh, and I like Rick Jeanerette. I think he's a classic.

"Gretzky was nothing special" deserves to be quoted in some member signatures. Awesome!

Calgary plays a style that matches up really well with Detroit. They're a dump and chase team with bruising forwards and defensemen. Colorado's style is one the Red Wings welcome. Peter Budaj is a hot goalie now. Mikka Kiprusoff is a Vezina winner and a proven playoff performer who put his team on his back when they couldn't score goals to save their lives. Regular season matchups are meaningless when the playoffs start. I'll take Colorado.

We can have RICK Nash? Cool.

He's talking about this:

The league does a piss poor job of promoting its players. An active league that was properly run would trumpet the hell out of an event like this. The U.S. is precisely the market that needs the biggest kick, and here they have a perfect chance to celebrate the accomplishment of a homegrown player, and promptly do absolutely nothing. It's typical, and it's why the NHL will probably always be a niche market. Now, as for the Predators, they probably should have at least announced the record. Boos or cheers may follow, whatever. But above all, the Stars come across really whiny about this.

I'd much rather play the Avs. Screw this "careful what you wish for" crap. I WANT COLORADO. The Flames are big and strong and Kiprusoff has "Hot Goalie" written all over him. Don't want anything to do with that team, no matter how bad they're playing now.

Bobby Orr.

Anaheim and San Jose I would be most fearful of. I still think Calgary would physically manhandle the Wings in a series, so win or lose, they'd pay a price I'd rather not see them pay. Those are the three teams I'm least optimistic about the Wings facing. By the way, I don't particularly like the matchup against any of them. The West is pick your poison this year. No easy matchups at all.

Sure, that's a fair statement. I just wasn't quite sure how you were connecting the two when I first read your post. I get it now.

I guess I'm missing something. How does a decline in Canadian hockey players across the league equate with a higher talent level?

Part of the Western Canada thing is that these teams are typically floating around the middle of the standings while the Wings come in near the top. They get up big time for Detroit, like it's a statement game, while the Wings don't really reciprocate the effort. The Canucks attacked from the opening faceoff like this was a playoff game. The Wings were badly outshot and committed a ton of stupid penalties. Frankly, I expect the same thing in Calgary.

No, it won't. Brodeur was lit up today by the Hurricanes. 4 goals on 12 shots! He got yanked.

Luongo was solid, but the Wings missed an awful lot of empty nets. Calgary won't be any easier. My main concern for the Flames game is injuries. This time last year, they lost Datsyuk.

I said on the last PP. Not for the entire game.

You know, there's nights when you do everything right and it just doesn't work out. That's how that last PP was for the Red Wings. Wide open nets, pucks sliding off skates, you name it.

The veterans almost all look terrible tonight for Detroit. Lots of mental mistakes and carelessness with the puck. Even Lidstrom is having a bad game. Western Canada is a house of horrors for the Red Wings.

Someone look it up: How many times have the Wings played in Western Canada, scored the first goal, then let in the next 3 or 4?

I don't care who's getting the calls, this many penalties is a joke. Let the guys play. Both teams are working hard and we deserve to see some flow to this game.

The Wings have themselves to blame for the penalties, not the refs. Just some stupid penalties they're taking. Hasek is having to stand on his head. They need to wake up soon.