Heroes of Hockeytown

Of course they don't. The players get paid based on what they produce, if they try to tank it they would be hurting their overall value. The NHL is a business from top to bottom -- the owners care about their bottom line, the coaches care about their bottom line, the players care about their bottom line.

It's a shame the Wings can't play every year -- the pageantry and atmosphere in these games is fantastic. Fenway is, of course, an excellent venue and the Bruins and Habs/Rangers gives you another solid O6 matchup. Should be a blast.

From a competitive team sports standpoint I take issue with the shootout, but all of this here is a pretty big leap in logic. If anything the shootout is taking unknown guys like these in European and minor leagues and giving them some exposure and press and maybe helping them get to the next level. And seeing as the unique circumstances of the shootout are really the only ones in all of hockey conducive to these types of dekes and moves, it's not something you're going to see emulated during the normal course of play.

Any particular reason for your rooting interest?

Unusual first goal with three Dmen getting the points, don't see that too often.

Lilja was KO'd standing up, if he had fallen down like normal it wouldn't have been an issue. Without that to signal the end of the fight, there was no reason for Weber to let up against a reeling opponent who had not moments before slammed him down to the ice from behind for no discernible reason. I count three, but only maybe one good shot among them, and that's normal. Guys fall to their knees and get right back up and keep on trucking all the time. An actual enforcer probably would have let up, but this wasn't some tough guy vs tough guy sideshow, this was a heat of the moment true blue fight. The refs immediately skated in to stop the fight the very instant Lilja dropped to his knees. Nobody even knew Lilja was hurt until after the game. The fight was fine. It was unfortunate that a serious injury came out of it, but sometimes that's just the way it goes.

You won't be missed, foul Herald of Doom.

The Pain Train has run out of steam. For now. Get well soon, big guy.

If it weren't for the Oil and the Flames and the Pens, yeah, maybe. The Wings could easily make the same claim, having twice been eliminated by the Oilers in the Campbell Conference Finals.

Getzlaf is, however, completely and totally a Wings-killer.

Comin' up on some biggies -- his idol Grant Fuhr and Mr. Goalie.

They need to take out the three story tall mythical Kraken before they can get credit for defeating the Detroit octopus.

EDIT: Never you mind, think I forgot to carry the one.

That name is bad juju.

Even a guy gettin' punched in his dumb ugly face. I know you were all about that.

After the Nashville fiasco. EDIT: Or St. Louis, I'm an old forgetful man sometimes.

Nah, he's a s*** captain.

Very good game. The best in recent memory. Leaned on Ozzie early, which is understandable given it was a back to back and Buffalo was pressing out the gate, and he was outstanding. Ten minutes later the Wings shut it down and didn't give the Sabres life at all for the rest of the game. Top notch defense, Lidstrom was a beast. After their own end was looked after it was only a matter of time til the goal scoring started... Two thumbs up.

Bah, couldn't get Hossa on the ice. Well, game's over either way.

Glad to see the Wings still attacking late with the lead. Two goals is nothing if you're sitting back.

Shift after a goal = bad times.

Datsyuk to Hossa is a good connection.

There aren't any, but that doesn't mean Lilja managed a draw in the Weber fight. He obviously lost. That Train got his brains scrambled was an unfortunately side effect.

'Ere we go!

Eddie O was misidentifying Flip for Nick for a while but he corrected himself. I'm not sure why they changed Flipper's penalty to roughing but he was totally getting called for the trip.