Heroes of Hockeytown

This game honestly looks like it's being played backwards. These jerks have had the puck the entire time and the Wings can't do anything. Wakey-wakey, guys.

I guess we're still watching the All-Star Game. C'mon Team Lidstrom!

What a perfectly executed 3-on-2. Also, nice backcheck there Fisher.

Good to see the PK faithfully remains a mess; these guys can't clear a puck to save their lives. Also, Jimmy, you are no Hasek, try and stay upright bro.

Snazzy as ever. Nice touch with the new Bolts logo.

Mine would be that he and the Wings played the Columbus Blue Jackets in round one but much better teams in every other round.

My guess is it has something to do with this guy.

I think he was just taking a shot at the Blackhawks with that comment. As long as we're on the subject though, while I think the fact that over half the league makes the playoffs is a little silly, dropping from 16 to 8 playoff teams seems like a big leap. Eliminating a whole round of the playoffs and a lot of playoff hockey isn't what I'd want to see. If there were to reduce it an NFL style format would be best, in my opinion. It would give teams that excel during the regular season a real, tangible, and huge advantage in a first round bye; and it would also reduce the number of playoff games during the first round only, when there are already so many games being played that you can't watch them all anyways.

I guess the main reason the league isn't slapping together bulls*** rules to try and strong-arm Crosby into attending the game, like they did to Nick and Pav, is because he was injured long enough ago (about three weeks) that his presence at the game shouldn't be anticipated at all. Unlike the Wings' players that pulled out at the last minute, as was perfectly within their rights before the NHL threw a hissy fit.

I guess the main problem with the All-Star Game is that its purpose is basically so everyone can see all of the NHL's "big stars." Which was probably cool a million years ago when the only way to see these guys was either for them to be on your team, or to wait for them to come to town, which might be a rare occasion if they're from another conference. But today everyone has access to every game all the time; they can follow any team or player they want. The allure of seeing all of the big stars is gone if everyone's already doing that anyway.

The conditions for the suspension were that they didn't miss the game before the All-Star break. It was stupid because Datsyuk missed the last period of a close game that he would never have missed if he had been well, but it fell within their rule anyways; Lidstrom didn't miss any time before the ASG. Crosby obviously fulfills the condition since he's been out for a while. So it doesn't compare, but it didn't really in '09 either. Consider: Crosby is essentially just a boy, living in Mario's basement; the only obligation he has is sitting on his ass and playing Halo. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are men, they have families and probably had plans and vacations in the works before the league threw their dumbass, hastily constructed ASG suspensions at them.

Doesn't count even when it does. No finish today, be it posts and crossbars or whiffs and whistles. Sometimes that's the way it goes. More pressing manner, as it has been all season but especially now, is all these defensemen standing around in front of the net watching as the opposition scores goal after goal on their team.

Well that's a brutal call. Good thing it doesn't mean anything.

I guess they figure if they're going to lose, they may as well get as many turnovers out of their system as possible.

And that's all she wrote. At least all this nonsense will be over after the All-Star break.

They've played well recently. They haven't scored today, although that's only by technicality for Hank. Probably the biggest thing hurting them is that the only fast skaters they have right now are grinders and nobodies. Hank and Mule are not particularly fleet of foot, but Pavs, Dano, and Flipper are, and none of them are playing today.

Well between the Hank no-goal and then Hudler dinging the bar/Kopecky goal, it certainly feels like a "not in the cards" kinda game today. But, they yet draw breath -- 20 minutes to glory, fellas!

Everything is terrible and nothing is good.

Nice one, Bert.

I guess they'll never kill a penalty again.

I'm diggin' the old man stories about Tony Esposito and old school Mickey.

If they kept a "faceoffs ejected" stat I'm certain he would lead the league by a country mile.

And now the Islanders will waive him, causing him to fall from team to team, not reporting to any until he lands in the hands of the Wings. Just as planned!

Interesting decision by Rafalski to attack the puck carrier. Didn't really work, but Jimmy is feelin' good today. Probably outplayed overall but can't complain about 1-1.

Snappy looking breakouts today. And some good jump from Hank as well.