NeverForgetMac25

No, I am not 100% positive on this, but I will back up my statement based on what I've seen the past few years. Never once have I seen a guy get penalized for an impending icing hit unless it was a dirty hit to begin with (I.E. A direct hit from behind, a head shot, etc.)

Is that the confirmed "weekend" date they're are referring to? The Wings also play on Sunday, and the only reports I've seen say they think he'll be able to go this weekend, with no mention of whether they mean Friday or Sunday.

But its also not enough to fault them for it either. It's not their fault the rules are set up that way, and if the Wings had won 15 games via shootout most members of this board would be saying the exact same thing I am rather than knocking them. If you don't like the SO that's one thing (I don't care for it either), but to fault a team because they are successful at is another given that they didn't set the rules for it in the first place. Also, lets not take anything away from them regarding their injuries. Look what happened to the Wings when the injury bug hit them. Now, look at the mountain the Oilers had to climb and SO wins or not, its damn impressive.

I completely agree. Franzen has developed a real knack for the goal front during the PP while Homer's been out, and with the success the Wings are having on the PP, there's no need to rush him. He probably won't be 100% for the playoff run but like you said, as close to 100% as possible.

Of course its a universal truth. Does that make it 100% correct?

Really? To me, the fact that they are making the tear they are is amazing given the injury situation they've had to overcome this year. Sure, SO wins are ticky-tacky points but you have to play decent hockey for 65 minutes just to have the opportunity to get those in the first place.

But that's not entirely right, either. True in most regards, but Campbell shouldn't be given a pass because Bettman's "the boss".

Or the things that are Campbell's fault that somehow get blamed on Bettman.

I'm always in a good mood the day of a Wings game.

Whatever you gotta tell yourselves. That being said, I don't like Bettman either but I do think people misunderstand a lot of things and come to believe they are all Bettman's fault when half of them aren't. Edit: (Kelsey) Grammar

This isn't Bettman's fault, its TW and the NHLN not coming to agreements in all viewing areas.

SOB, that's right! I swear to god if that's the game Mac comes back I'm going to tear TW a new one. It's the last game of the season for the Wings to get pulled but it's such BS!

TBH, this is the exact playoff scenario I am hoping for. You pin up the hottest team in the league right now against Loungo, a Stars team that while struggling lately still has Anaheim's number (going 5-2 on the season series thus far), and most likely a throw away series in the 3 versus 6, while Detroit is lucky enough to catch the 8 seed playing poorly as of late. It would be even more incredible if the 6 seed beat the 3, thus likely pinning SJ and ANA against one another in the second round (given that Detroit wins that is). I love this time of the year, and watching the way the seeds shift. It's uber-exciting!

It's going to be so surreal seeing Mac take the ice this weekend. The Joe is going to go absolutely nuts!

:nonono: Who'd of thought 12/28 would net me third place. A weekend chalked full of upsets.

Up until a few weeks ago I would've disagreed with you but its starting to get to an alarming amount of missed starts. Osgood has been beyond solid this season and I'm really starting to believe that it could go down to the wire. That being said, if Dom is healthy I still see Babs leaning toward him, regardless of whether or not he should.

Very true, but the real test will be what they do next year. I've seen runs like the Blackhawks and the Jackets are having only to be followed by an embarrassing run the following season. The fact of the matter is, it happened to Chicago more than a couple times.

Plain and simple, the Central Divisoin as a whole is apparently lazy and it sucks. I think much like plenty of other hot start teams, they dropped back to reality. I actually give Nashville a lot of credit due to what they had to deal with this offseason (ownership change, fire sale), but the bottom line is that the other 3 just don't know how to win, and that goes for their brass as well.

It seriously seems like forever ago that he was in the lineup. Great news!

If Bab's really wanted to fire them up, he'd tell the media that the team isn't as good as his Stanley Cup runner-up team in Anaheim.

Who knew George Parros had a twin on the Red Wings?

Sure they could, but they don't. Probably the reason behind that is like you said, it gets answered by the players. The fact remains though that regardless of whether or not its legal/illegal, interference/unsportmanslike conduct, it still gets let go. You're remedy to the situation sounds great, but my point was that regardless of its legality, it still happens and the refs don't do a thing about it. Sidenote: It's Monday morning......I'm allowed to be a stickler/smartass. It helps get you through the first workday of the week.

There are a lot of members here that do grow a beard, and last year there was even a thread to post your playoff beard pics. It was pretty entertaining to see as the month and a half wore on. Welcome to my world.

I would agree, but that's still the type of player I want the Wings to add this offseason. Ideally they'll ink Stuart, but seeing as that I don't think he'll stay I'd like to see them add someone like him or Markov. That type of player is a great compliment to the other Dmen currently under contract.

I'd love to bring Stuart back, but I don't see it happening. It's pretty clear he wants to be in SoCal and it might not matter what the Wings offer him. Obviously, they can't go overboard to keep him, but if the Wings give him $750,000 more than his market value, he still might not take it just so he can keep his family in Cal. That being said, I think the Wings are looking at a UFA this offseason to fill the gap or inevitably bring up Meech full time along with Lebda or Lilja. Personally, I'd rather they go after a guy like Markov or another UFA of the like.