BlueMonk

This is pretty funny, from MLive: Pavel Datsyuk had two assists in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Nashville to extend his points streak to nine games (two goals, 13 assists). But, Predators coach Barry Trotz apparently wasn’t too impressed. “I thought we did a really good job taking away their top guys, guys like Datsyuk, really, he wasn’t a factor in the two games,” Trotz said of the home-and-home series. “It was, I’ll say not really their lesser-weights, but Jiri Hudler (who had two goals Wednesday and three in the two games) is not exactly the first guy that comes to mind when you’re playing the Detroit Red Wings.” Datsyuk had 3 points and was a +3 in the 2 games combined. I don't know if that can really be considered "taking away" what he does. But the other thing is, they spent a lot of time trying to keep him in check, which means Nashville's best defender was typically busy with him, freeing up other guys. Saying he's not a factor isn't really right.

Reverse homerism adds spice to the board.

For the two games combined, the Preds had 13 power plays to Detroit's 4. I really didn't think the penalties they called on the Wings were that bad in these games. But Nashville was doing a lot of stuff that wasn't getting called. Hey, Dan Marouelli was part of both crews. Draw your own conclusions. Overall, I haven't noticed anything like this before these two games, though, so I'm not all that concerned.

Columbus sends 5 skaters to the shootout and none of them is named Nash or Fedorov?

A few years ago, I started a thread keeping track of every time Barry Melrose called a player the best (blank) in hockey. You know, the stuff he says all the time. The best goalie in hockey, the best young forward in hockey, the best power play in hockey, the best section 212 in hockey, etc. I'm too lazy to look for it now. I bet it's been archived.

Yep, I got my towel. It reads: Join the Red Wave March To The Playoffs! No idea why they picked this game. Always nice to get a souvenir, though!

Had a great time at the game. The crowd was pumped up and the game was pretty intense. Lots of physical play and some end to end play. At one point, I noticed Nashville sending 3 forecheckers into the Detroit zone. Now that's hockey! None of this trapping horsesh**. Very impressed with the Calder-Lang-Hudler line. Lang may be slow, but he's almost impossible to get off the puck once he has it. His stick looks seven feet long sometimes when he protects the puck from the defender. He got a little sloppy at times, but the three of them work together really well. Hudler was great. Hasek came up huge. I couldn't believe the scoring chances Nashville got in the first period. If not for Hasek standing on his head, no way are they even in that game. Hell of a game, really enjoyed it. The Preds battled HARD. Similar to a playoff game.

This is a great point. Especially when his team was getting knocked out in the early rounds. There are a lot of hockey players who stunk in the first round but went on to have great playoff stats in later rounds. They would have been considered busts, too, except their teams had other guys step it up and give them another chance to get it done.

Yeah. Fil-IH-pyu-lah is the best. Fil-POOL-uh is second best. FILL-puh-lah is the way he actually pronounces it, which sucks. Like I said, he needs to change it.

He serves a purpose. Hockey doesn't all boil down to individual scoring and +/- stats. If he gets opposing players off their game, gets them to commit penalties, has them more worried about the impending hit than playing hockey, makes room on the ice for his linemates, etc., then he's contributing. He doesn't have to get an assist on the scoresheet to have assisted in the scoring of a goal. Draper and Maltby were great defenders in their time, and they both liked to run around and hit like crazy. Maltby in particular always ran around yapping, diving, playing with his elbows up and laughing through his visor. Neither was a gifted scorer, although they both could skate. Opposing players and fans hate that kind of an agitator. Tootoo is sort of the same kind of player. But while Draper and Maltby wouldn't fight and left it to McCarty to back up their actions, Tootoo does it himself.

I'll be curious to see what happens with Datsyuk in the playoffs if Zetterberg is healthy and they play on the top line together. Datsyuk was hurt last year and he really hasn't ever played on a top line in the playoffs. This year, he will. I like his chances. Even if he fails in the postseason again, who's going to do the regular season scoring if they let him go? They've relied on him to do the scoring that gets them to the playoffs, and his chemistry with Zetterberg seems to form some kind of synergy. If all he does is help you get 100 points in the standings every year, that's worth something. Plus, like it or not, style points count. Players like him generate excitement and fill the seats.

I thought his name was Filippula back when he was a prospect. The problem is, of the three ways I've heard his name pronounced, the real way is by far the worst. Filippula flows more naturally. Filppula works, too. Filppula sucks. The kid should change it.

The Wings just beat the top team in the NHL in their own barn with Bootland "wasting a spot on the roster." Pretty cool, eh?

What happened to Dawn of Pred? Don't worry, if the Preds win tomorrow, he'll be back.

Hudler is playing great. When you consider he's not much of a defender, checks in at about 4'4"/125 lbs. and can't particularly skate, it's amazing how effective he is as a scorer. He's earned his ice time. Calder is terrific. Huge upgrade over Jason Williams. I realize that the list of people who aren't an upgrade over Jason Williams consists of only my name, but still. Filppula is a player. Really glad he got that breakaway goal. It felt like a reward for a really hard day's work. Osgood had a great game. He really came up big when they needed it. I'll be at the game tomorrow night. If you're there, look for me. I'll be the angry drunk guy.

You guys sure you're not thinking of McCarty's goal in the Philly series? That sounds like the move you're describing.

If it gets people interested in hockey, I have no problem with it. Just the fact that people here are talking about it and taking shots at the Nashville fans for copying the octopus is a good thing if you ask me.

Something like, "It wasn't a great night for officiating."

Hehehe. Well, color me wrong. Babcock just mentioned the officiating.

Babcock's not going to talk about the officiating with the press, I don't think. That stuff is for on the ice. And possibly a complaint from the front office to the league.

I normally have a violent reaction to complaints about the officiating, but tonight was just brutal. Babcock doesn't normally just keep going off like that at the end of the game. I'd like to think that missing a few early calls and listening to the Wings complaining all night on the ice about it wouldn't lead them to "punish" the Wings by giving favorable calls to Nashville. I'd like to think that.

Wouldn't be surprised to see more time suddenly appear on the clock.

Hehehehe.

What's that, 9 power plays to 3 now? Wow.

Wings better keep their heads up. Nashville inclined to goon it up.