WingNutt

I agree with the first part, that game was amazing, lots of action and battling. Nice to see a game where they focused on the play between Malkin and Ovechkin without having to talk about Crosby the whole time like usual. Backstrom also had a amazing game, his assist on Ovechkin's second goal was jaw dropping. as for your rumors of Ovechkin and Malkin not liking each other is so wrong, Alex and Evgeni are infact good friends. They do however both have what you would say a brotherly competive thing going on, both know that they are great skilled players and when on different teams they will try and one up each other like they did last night, both always joke about if they find the other in the corner they better look out. jokingly that is. Great game, fun to watch Alex and Evgeni, now wait and see how fun it will be this weekend when they play together again, (Malkin will most likely fill in for injured Crosby) Ovechkin and Malkin on the same team is deadly.

Glad you enjoyed the game, Detroit is a fun city you just have to know the areas to avoid, and never carry around a ton of cash on you. oh and be careful at gas stations, their are always the homeless guys/crack heads, that try to wash your windows with the gas stations supplies and expect you to tip them even though you never ask or give them permission to wash the windows. funny stuff, they can spot a outsider a mile away, here let me wash your windows sir. haha oh and the people mover is usually a peice of crap that breaks down, good way to move around the city buy at the same time a little bit risky. How much was the Filppula jersey? I assume you got the replica just wondering if the Joe is charging more for them these days, less or the same as hockeytown authentics. oh and not trying to start anything but if your going to continue the pointless bashing you might is well get it right, his name is spelt Samuelson.

i agree with most of your picks, but Patrick Kane's numbers aren't good enough this year for a All Star Game pick in my opinion.

First and foremost, -Pascal Leclaire got screwed, Legace over him?? give me a break. Even Ilya Bryzgalov would have been a better pick than Legace, no offense to him. Pronger shouldn't have made it in my opinion. -Nikolai Zherdev should have been their. -Paul Kariya? -Brian Rolston (Jonathan Toews if he wasn't hurt) (Ryan Smyth if he wasn't hurt)

hopefully I can make up for a terrible week last time. Friday: St Louis @ Columbus Minnesota @ Chicago NY Islanders @ Calgary Phoenix @ Vancouver Saturday: Boston @ Philadelphia Dallas @ Los Angeles New Jersey @ Buffalo Detroit @ Ottawa Montreal @ NY Rangers Colorado @ Carolina Pittsburgh @ Atlanta Tampa Bay @ Florida Nashville @ Columbus Toronto @ San Jose Sunday: Philadelphia @ Washington Colorado @ Florida Vancouver @ St Louis Phoenix @ Minnesota NY Islanders @ Ottawa San Jose @ Anaheim Calgary @ Edmonton Chicago @ Nashville

Good for Sasha even though nothing is final yet it makes sense, I would have loved him to play in Detroit, just like the capitals were talking about Datsyuk coming to Washington before he signed his deal. However if hes not playing in Detroit I think the Caps are a good fit for him, makes you wonder though the numbers he could put up on even a mediocre team. The Caps have been strugling since he arrived their even after signing more talent, the coach change seems like its starting to move them more in the right direction but all Alex wants to do is make it to the playoffs and move on from their. He plays 110% every night but the Caps can't find a way to win. He has to be frustrating for him. He deserves every penny

I was just reading the forums as usual and in the past two weeks, I've seen more Samuelson bashing then ever before, so it seems he is the new Official LGW whipping boy. Just as Pavel Datsyuk and Robert Lang were before. and I wondered am I the only one bothered by him getting singled out all the time? The fact is, yes he hasn't had as productive a season as he did before, but the guy is still playing alright, He has 23 pts, tied with Filppula. 7 goals, he could have more for the way he shoots the puck, 16 assist not bad for a guy that shoots as much as he does. He doesen't have a bad +/- at a +10. He seems flat at times yes, but thats just his style of play, The guy is not a defensive player, never was, never will be, He wasn't signed for his Defensive abilities, He is a good asset to have for a 2nd line powerplay guy I'd say. Finally the Wings are playing outstanding hockey lately, and I don't think we can complain about too much as fans, Hasek had a few bad games and everyone was on him talking crap, now 2 shut-outs in a row and not a peep, true he is playing behind probably the best defensive guys in the league, but playing solid none the less. I understand the fair-weather fans which we have a lot of, but why so many negative things to say when the team is playing so well?? if things are not broke then don't fix them, Sammy could be playing better but he also could be playing a lot worse. Give the guy a break, besides its fun to watch him stir the s*** up with other teams forwards. A better instigator in the league you won't find many.

well said bb91, I had a feeling you would show up to this thread sooner or later, yourself along with a few others, as I always come to the aid of players that are getting bashed and don't deserve it. We share the same mindset when it comes to that, and the sadest thing this time is the Wings are winning and people still find something to complain about. I don't understand if its out of bordem or if they are just really unhappy people. I am not saying crticism is out of line by all means, point out the guys flaws and what we could improve on thats what talking hockey is all about, but when people just follow the leader of another poster that has a grudge or simply just hates a player, then it makes everyone look foolish. I agree that Sammy has his moments where I'm say to myself what is this guy thinking, but he makes plays sometimes and I'm like Wow ! didn't know Sammy had that in him. So I try and give him a break, I gave Lilly Pad ( the old whipping boy name for him haha funny right?) a break when he pretty much gave the puck to Selanne on a silver platter to go and score and pretty much elimate us from a well played hard fought playoffs. No hes a human and humans make mistakes, except this time, noone can say I'm just sticking up for Sammy because hes my favorite player because hes not and far from it. and they can't say I'm sticking up for him because hes Russian because hes not, and they can't say even that is because hes a Wing because if it was any other team, the guy still shouldn't deserve the worst player ever what a joke trade him now. I know it will happen again, and I tend to ignore it now for the most part, I kept my mouth shut with the Hasek bashing even though it was hard being a Goaltender myself and knowing how half the people trash talking don't know squat about playing goal. The sammy thing was getting out of hand. so I had to say something and more or less wondered if I was the only one getting tired of hearing about how crappy a player he was, we can come up with better thread topics than that can't we? Like the discussion going guys, and its good to know most of you understand what I was trying to get across with this thread.

valid point, but you can't just look at the stats, judging by your avatar you live in Europe and you don't get to see a whole lot of Wings games, Samuelsson shots constantly even when he doesen't intend on scoring, sometimes I think he winds up and shoots hoping a rebound will come to a nearby team mate. He could pass more in my opinion but like I've said above doesen't deserve to be singled out like he has.

In the past you and myself have had quite the bit of disagreements on things, although I couldn't agree more with your words and opinion on Samuelsson. this post wasn't meant to praise Sammy or claim he is the best, only that people are giving him a hard time because he isn't putting up the numbers Datsyuk and Zetterberg are. I think He has talent and plays hard everygame. Not the best player and yes he is having a bad season but not that bad a season that he needs to be rediculed left and right when the Wings are doing pretty much everything right. well said though harold for once we agree

Amen Brother Kipper blows

The guy might not have many traits to brag about, but have you ever seen him play? His shot is about the only thing noone can deny he has.

kinda like this right??

This sucks, I was looking forward to him going again, Roberto is the man. if not then yeah Ozzie should go, matter of fact, Anyone except Kipper it better not be Kipper. so tired of his overrated-ass and I actually think Pascal Leclaire deserves to go as well. The guy has been playing great this year just as Ozzie.

This is great news, I'm glad we'll have Ozzie around for the next few years, as for those who say the Wings signed him to be our starter for the next three years are wrong, although his outstanding play this season is part of the reason they re-signed him its not the complete reason why. I'm sure when Dom retires (again) They will bring up Jimmy Howard who is developing more and more each year in the AHL, and have Ozzie Mentor him while they both flip-flop in goal, so Jimmy can get experience and if things go bad, they have Ozzie to fall back on. This is if Dom is done after this year, you never know with the Dominator. The Wings organization have known for years what Chris is capable of, his play this year is more than they expected from him but they are far from being suprised by it. and lets not forget I don't think it will happen but GM's well Smart GM's like Holland don't sign a player for having one great season, look at Jim Carey for example he was the hottest goalie in the league and everyone was sure he would have many many successful seasons in the NHL and be a hall of famer one day. where is he now? Congrats Ozzie good to see your staying where you belong.

you guys like LA Ink?? I think that show is a cheap rip-off of Miami Ink and refuse to watch it. Kat got fired for a reason and took the idea of the show and the connections she made while working at Miami Ink, copied the show, copied the name LA Ink?? come on she couldn't come up with something more original? I think I'll start up a show and call it Detroit Ink. Hire Darren Mccarty as my security and hand out 40 0z to anyone getting work done

You make a good point, but its just funny how the leading and second in the league goal scorer and offensive talent in the east, weren't picked over someone like Alfreddson.

lol sad but true my friend, the broadcast team has ZERO energy and enthusism on VS. Its a sad day when the most motivated guy on the broadcast team is \\ DATSYUK SCORES As I type this

of course its possible and could happen. He has my vote

Wings win tonight 4-1 Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hudler and Cleary get goals Avs who cares. Lets go boys lets show the World why Detroit is still and will always be hockeytown

I agree 100%, its because for the most part the All Star game lets fans vote and anyone could win, Its just a popularity contest, I can't complain too much, because 3 guys from Detroit including my favorite player Datsyuk made the cut this year, but we all know other players in the league that should have went over others, Osgood should have been their and everyone knows that. Unless hes picked for a backup but i don't see it happeneing I hope I'm wrong. Kovalchuk and Ovechkin should have been on the top line with Crosby, Lecavalier and Alfredsson should have been second line guys. but like I said its a popularity contest and if Ilya and Alex make it they will prove they should have been on the top line. on the other side Congrats, Pavel, Henrik, and Nick for making it, I know the West will demolish the East this year, in the game, and skills both.

The Semi-finals of the 2008 World Junior Championships are tommorow. any predictions, comments, or Discussion can be posted here. my predictions are as follows, Russia 4 Sweden 3 (Good matchup Sweden is favored I'm sure but I see the Russians coming out with the upset win here) USA 5 Canada 4 (Everyone expects Canada to win but this year USA's junior team is loaded with talent and playing extremly well. look for a close game and a upset win by the red, white and blue) Russia -vs- Sweden Fri, Jan. 4 | 10am | Pardubice Arena Scoring Leaders: Russia- Viktor Tikhonov 5g 1a 6pts Sweden- Robin Figren 4g 2a 6pts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and USA -vs- Canada Fri, Jan. 4 | 2pm | Pardubice Arena Scoring Leaders: US- James vanRiemsdyk 4g 6a 10pts Canada- Kyle Turris 4g 2a 6pts ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAM STATISTICS As of 03.01.2008 Scoring Efficiency (Ranked by highest SG% / highest GP) R Team GP GF SSG SOG SG% 1 SWE 4 22 118 140 15.71 2 KAZ 5 14 97 111 12.61 3 RUS 5 22 175 197 11.17 4 SVK 5 14 119 133 10.53 5 CZE 6 18 156 174 10.34 6 CAN 5 16 142 158 10.13 7 FIN 6 19 178 197 9.64 8 USA 4 17 161 178 9.55 9 DEN 6 12 116 128 9.38 10 SUI 6 16 189 205 7.80 Power Play (Ranked by highest PP% / highest GP) R Team GP ADV PPGF PP% TPP M:S 1 SWE 4 20 6 30.00 31:22 05:13 2 USA 4 28 8 28.57 44:51 05:36 3 DEN 6 32 8 25.00 55:43 06:57 4 FIN 6 33 8 24.24 61:32 07:41 5 CAN 5 35 8 22.86 57:56 07:14 6 KAZ 5 24 5 20.83 39:43 07:56 7 SUI 6 31 6 19.35 50:54 08:29 8 RUS 5 33 6 18.18 51:51 08:38 9 CZE 6 41 6 14.63 81:16 13:32 10 SVK 5 36 5 13.89 55:57 11:11 Penalty Killing (Ranked by highest PK% / highest GP) R Team GP DVG PPGA PK% TSH M:S 1 CAN 5 28 3 89.29 50:56 16:58 2 SWE 4 25 3 88.00 49:22 16:27 3 USA 4 24 4 83.33 40:33 10:08 4 CZE 6 32 6 81.25 59:50 09:58 5 RUS 5 28 6 78.57 46:14 07:42 6 FIN 6 30 7 76.67 53:16 07:36 7 SVK 5 38 9 76.32 59:31 06:36 8 DEN 6 42 10 76.19 63:27 06:20 9 KAZ 5 34 9 73.53 53:12 05:54 10 SUI 6 32 9 71.88 54:44 06:04 Goalkeeping (Ranked by highest SVS%) R Team GP GA SVS SOG SVS% GAA SHGA PPGA SO ENG 1 CAN 5 7 130 137 94.89 1.40 0 3 2 0 2 KAZ 5 19 214 233 91.85 3.80 0 9 0 0 3 USA 4 8 84 92 91.30 2.00 0 4 0 0 4 SWE 4 9 89 98 90.82 2.25 0 3 0 0 5 SVK 5 16 155 171 90.64 3.21 2 9 0 0 6 RUS 5 15 138 153 90.20 3.00 0 6 0 0 7 CZE 6 16 131 147 89.12 2.67 0 6 0 0 8 SUI 6 22 170 192 88.54 3.64 1 9 0 3 9 FIN 6 24 146 170 85.88 3.95 0 7 1 2 10 DEN 6 34 191 225 84.89 5.69 3 10 0 2 Penalties (Ranked by highest PIM) R Team GP 2 5 10 GM MP PIM PAVG 1 DEN 6 45 1 0 1 0 115 19.17 2 CZE 6 40 1 0 1 0 105 17.50 3 FIN 6 38 1 0 1 0 101 16.83 4 SVK 5 42 0 0 0 0 84 16.80 5 KAZ 5 38 0 0 0 0 76 15.20 6 RUS 5 35 0 0 0 0 70 14.00 6 SUI 6 35 0 0 0 0 70 11.67 8 SWE 4 29 0 1 0 0 68 17.00 9 CAN 5 30 0 0 0 0 60 12.00 10 USA 4 27 0 0 0 0 54 13.50 Shorthanded Goals (Ranked by highest NET / lowest GP) R Team GP SHGF SHGA NET 1 SWE 4 3 0 3 2 KAZ 5 1 0 1 3 CZE 6 1 0 1 4 USA 4 0 0 0 5 CAN 5 0 0 0 5 RUS 5 0 0 0 7 FIN 6 0 0 0 8 SVK 5 1 2 -1 9 SUI 6 0 1 -1 10 DEN 6 0 3 -3 Attendance (Ranked by highest average attendance) R Team GP Spect AVG 1 CZE 6 38686 6447 2 SWE 4 23165 5791 3 CAN 5 28606 5721 4 SVK 5 22575 4515 5 RUS 5 16141 3228 6 USA 4 8038 2009 7 FIN 6 10857 1809 8 DEN 6 5940 990 9 KAZ 5 3841 768 10 SUI 6 4081 680 Total 26 80965 3114 LEGEND 2 2-minute penalties 5 5-minute penalties 10 10-minute penalties ADV Advantage (times on power play) AVG Average DVG Disadvantage (number of times shorthanded) ENG Empty net goal GA Goals against GAA Goals against average per 60 minutes GF Goals for GM Game misconducts GP Number of game played MP Match penalties M:S Average time in min. and sec. NET SHGF - SHGA PAVG PIM in average PIM Penalties in minutes PK% Penalty killing percentages PPGA Power play goals against PPGF Power play goals for PP% Power play eff. in percentage R Ranking SG% Percentage of goals from total shots SHGA Shorthanded goals against SHGF Shorthanded goals for SO Shutouts SOG Shots on goal S Spectators SSG Shot saved by goalkeeper SVS Saves SVS% SVS in percentage of shots on goal TPP Time on power play TSH Time shorthanded in min. and sec. ICE HOCKEY IIHF World U20 Championship, MEN PLACEMENT ROUND IHM142100_ http://www.worldjuniors2008.com/

:UPDATES: USA -vs- Canada 0-0 2nd Period Staring Goaltenders USA- Jeremy Smith Canada- Steve Mason ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TSN pre-game Sweden beat Russia 2-1 in overtime in the first semifinal. The winner of the Canada-USA showdown will thus face the Swedes in the gold medal game. Sweden beat Canada 4-3 in the preliminary round. Russia will play the Canada-USA loser in the bronze medal game. In last year's semifinal, the Americans dominated most of the play and led 1-0 with 10 minutes to go. Canada came back to tie the score and then prevailed in a tense, seven round shootout. It was an all-time classic when it comes to shootouts. Dominated by players already in the NHL just a year later, it featured last-second poke-checks, corners getting picked, pucks dying on the goal line and, perhaps most memorably for Canadian fans, the unstoppable Jonathan Toews. According to international rules, shooters are not limited to one attempt if the shootout remains tied beyond the first round. Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg kept sending Toews out to shoot, and he kept on scoring until Canadian goaltender Carey Price was able to stop the Americans. Toews, however, is not on this year's Canadian team. In fact, the Americans have most of the offence with James vanRiemsdyk, Colin Wilson, and Jordan Schroeder all among the tournament scoring leaders. Price is not here, either, and Hartsburg has chosen Steve Mason to start in goal against the Americans. Mason had an uneven game against Finland in the quarterfinals, winning 4-2 but allowing two soft goals. "We feel Steve will get the job done for us," Hartsburg said. "We trust him." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- History The world junior championship began as an invitational tournament in 1974, and was sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation three years later. Medal history Russia: 26 (12 gold, nine silver, five bronze) Canada: 23 (13 gold, six silver, four bronze) Czech Republic: 13 (two gold, five silver, six bronze) Finland: 13 (two gold, four silver, seven bronze)) Sweden: 11 (one gold, six silver, four bronze) United States: 5 (one gold, one silver, three bronze) Switzerland: 1 (bronze) Slovakia: 1 (bronze)

no bid deal, I thought they would beat the Swedes but I give them credit, they played a great game, and Russia may still medal this tournament, they play the loser of US/Canada game. A lot of good hockey this year, and last years US/Canada game was one of most exciting shoot-outs I've ever seen. Toews is a amazing player but Canada doesen't have him this year. US might get its revenge. should be a great game though good luck to your team wingslogo19 stay tuned for updates on the game.

:UPDATES: Russia -vs- Sweden 1-2 Final Russia Goal: Filatov (Cherepanov)38:27 Sweden Goal(s): Figren (Andersson, Moe)PP, 51:50 Mikael Backlund (Svensson Paajarvi,Moe) 66:18 Staring Goaltenders Russia- Sergei Bobrovsky Sweden- Jhonas Enroth watch the game LIVE! on TSN.ca Click here to Watch sorry Canada citizens only, if anyone knows anywhere else the game is being streamed please post a link. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USA -vs- Canada 2pm Game Time TSN pre-game Sweden beat Russia 2-1 in overtime in the first semifinal. The winner of the Canada-USA showdown will thus face the Swedes in the gold medal game. Sweden beat Canada 4-3 in the preliminary round. Russia will play the Canada-USA loser in the bronze medal game. In last year's semifinal, the Americans dominated most of the play and led 1-0 with 10 minutes to go. Canada came back to tie the score and then prevailed in a tense, seven round shootout. It was an all-time classic when it comes to shootouts. Dominated by players already in the NHL just a year later, it featured last-second poke-checks, corners getting picked, pucks dying on the goal line and, perhaps most memorably for Canadian fans, the unstoppable Jonathan Toews. According to international rules, shooters are not limited to one attempt if the shootout remains tied beyond the first round. Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg kept sending Toews out to shoot, and he kept on scoring until Canadian goaltender Carey Price was able to stop the Americans. Toews, however, is not on this year's Canadian team. In fact, the Americans have most of the offence with James vanRiemsdyk, Colin Wilson, and Jordan Schroeder all among the tournament scoring leaders. Price is not here, either, and Hartsburg has chosen Steve Mason to start in goal against the Americans. Mason had an uneven game against Finland in the quarterfinals, winning 4-2 but allowing two soft goals. "We feel Steve will get the job done for us," Hartsburg said. "We trust him." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ History The world junior championship began as an invitational tournament in 1974, and was sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation three years later. Medal history Russia: 26 (12 gold, nine silver, five bronze) Canada: 23 (13 gold, six silver, four bronze) Czech Republic: 13 (two gold, five silver, six bronze) Finland: 13 (two gold, four silver, seven bronze)) Sweden: 11 (one gold, six silver, four bronze) United States: 5 (one gold, one silver, three bronze) Switzerland: 1 (bronze) Slovakia: 1 (bronze)