Heroes of Hockeytown

He was apparently one of only two Wings that decided to throw a hit last night. I know stats for the home team are always inflated, but nothing could have prepared me for that.

If ever you're feeling down about our Wings, turn thy head and look to southward, and instead be eternally grateful.

Gaustad's nothing special (certainly no first rounder) but he's a hard hitter and PK kinda guy. Emmerton is a straight up nobody.

I can't believe people are still on his case about last year's playoffs. Remember how he slid into the boards and smashed up his ankle? And missed several games? I think that might have had something to do with it. He wouldn't be the first Red Wing to be rendered ineffective in the playoffs because of an injury, nor is he anywhere near the most talented of the players that's happened to either.

Unfortunately the Ducks have gone on a bit of a tear lately after being way out of it earlier in the month. Really the only teams in the West that can be written off are Edmonton and C-bus.

And consider if the Wings retained Hudler and then managed to grab another top-six forward type. You could end up assembling something like this: Franzen-Datsyuk-New Guy Cleary-Zetterberg-Hudler Bert-Flip-Miller/or whoever And you can mix and match wingers to find something else you might like, but that's some pretty good firepower in three lines. I realize this shafts Flip a little ZDC so you must hate it.

Well, Homer is probably going to retire next season. Who knows what will happen with Hudler, or Eaves for that matter. So there are some forward spots opening up. And if they went out and got someone like Parise and needed to bump someone out of the top six I don't think there'd be any trouble with that guy being Bert, who has already spent part of this season in the bottom six. And you never know, in eras long past the Wings had so many good forwards they were able to put together three quality scoring lines.

Bert has consistently been a guy that gets 40+ points a season and is reliable in the shootout; every team needs a few Berts to survive. I think one year may have been more appropriate, but if management is confident in his ability to keep playing that long than so am I.

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That's... less than spectacular. But I agree, best to get it done now and get him geared up for the playoffs. Last time Pavs was hurt Hank stepped up in a big way; he's already gotten on a nice run of late. The minor arthroscopic kind, evidently.

I agree with pretty much all you wrote. When Ovechkin first came into the league I was enamored with his exciting and explosive play. I would see him cherry-picking and floating on the backcheck but figured these were things he would pick up, while still have that incredible speed and shot. He never picked up any of those things, and the moves that used to score him so many goals don't work anymore, not just for him but for everybody. The league is a much different one than it was six years ago when he came on the scene, defenses have adjusted to the speed and openness of the game. It seems like Ovechkin is unwilling to adapt.

Veinte. Y. Tres.

What a virtuoso shift from Hank. Outstanding.

I doubt it. It's clock-bleeding time. Hold onto your butts.

Awful turnover from White. Here we go again. Four minutes left.

I can hardly believe it but it looks like the Wings are going to win another game where they were seemingly outplayed. I think this year's team has leaned more heavily on goaltending than any one in a loooong time. And the J-class of goalie has delivered.

Hell yeah missed high stick.

But I like power plays better. Nice running man, Homer.

I have a bad feeling the Wings are going to be treating this period as a 20 minute PK.

Can't disagree with any of that. Even when the Wings have the puck it's incredible how every play they make has it bouncing off sticks and to San Jose players.

Unseen from the shadows, the Silver Fox strikes again.

No joke, this is not the level I was expecting them to be playing at.

Geez Flip what the hell was that.

Managable when you've got the best GAA in the league.

Can these loser f***up Blackhawks do one damn thing right and beat the Blues for crying out loud? It's 1-0 Blues after one...