10/3 GDT: Red Wings 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (F/SO)

[Viperar 16]

Hudlers SCORES!!!!

lovin it

[Donaldjr2448 43]

All in all I thought we played well for the first game of the year. I thought the first tem minutes were a but sloppy, but after Hank burried the first goal, I thought the Wings took over the game. 2 defensive errors lead to the Ducks goals, but Championship teams get those chances and put them home.

I was very impressed with our Power Play. I thought we controlled most of the 2minutes, which is something we didn't see lastyear.

I think that Anaheim was a bit jetlagged, and I think that is why we outshot them 42-15, we'll see in a couple of weeks when we play them in Anaheim!

I was pleased with Hudler tonight, I think once he gets some confidence he will start to rack up the points!!

Also I could not believe that Pronger did not get a penalty when he shoved Flip into the boards!!! How 2 refs miss that is beyond me!!

Hank and Dats were simply amazing as always. Raffy was decent, he will get better, and I was impressed with Lilja, He is finally using his size to protect the puck in the defensive zone, instead of pushing the puck ahead, if he continues to play like that he could be a similar version of Derian Hatcher. I like the strides Lilja has taken!

Overall I would give the Wings a B+ tonight!!! I will take the 2 points!!!

[Shy Ranger 0]

A season-opening victory is good for my heart rate. Always nice to see D&Z tearing it up, particularly Zetta.

Now I'm considering getting Center Ice in order to avoid missing a good chunk of games...maybe I could skip out on dinner every other day...after all, chicken wings or Red Wings? - the choice is easy.

[Kp-Wings 3]

What a fun game! My family and I just got back, and we all had a blast!

It's a little disappointing the game didn't sell-out, but that was probably the loudest regular season game I've been to in a long time. It was a good, entertaining game, and it's nice to see the real hockey fans showing up for once, instead of the corperate executives who don't care.

The Drake-Perry fight was great! Although, I must say, I'm extremely disappointed in Perry. I knew he was a total girl to begin with, but I figured in a fight he might not be so much of one. But fighting with his helmet and visor on after Drake takes his off on his own? What a joke. I'd say that Drake would have gotten the win had it been a fair fight and Perry not deciding to hide behind his visor.

Booing Bertuzzi and Pronger was pretty fun. The guys sitting next to us we're really going nuts when Bertuzzi was up for the shoot-out. It was pretty funny, to say the least.

All in all, we all had a great time. We we're up in the nosebleeds (the cheap $9 seats we're a good deal) so I didn't take that many pictures, but I'll try to post the ones I did later if you want.

Edited October 4, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Drake and Maltby played great tonight. Z and Hudler played great. Johan, Homer and Datsyuk were good. Lidstrom and Rafalski were good.

Kronwall was fantastic tonight as well. Dom was solid the whole game IMO.

[Viperar 16]

I agree. No one has brought up Kronwall, he was very solid tonight!

[Kp-Wings 3]

I single out Maltby as having a great game. I think having Drake on his line will really help his play.

Hopefully Downey get's to see some game action soon.

[Donaldjr2448 43]

Drake and Maltby played great tonight. Z and Hudler played great. Johan, Homer and Datsyuk were good. Lidstrom and Rafalski were good.

Kronwall was fantastic tonight as well. Dom was solid the whole game IMO.

Yeah I failed to mention Drake and Malts!!! as well as Homer and Johan, thanks for reminded me!!!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Malts had a terrific game, threw some big hits and drew some penaltys. Im looking forward to this season!

[johnnyoski 0]

I disagree with anyone who says Bertuzzi was lucky. He's been healthy and great so far for the Ducks the first 3 games. I hope he doesn't make us regret that we didn't resign him.

Bert did get lucky that the puck ended up on his stick. The pass wasn't even intended for him, it bounced off a skate.

To his credit though he buried the shot and did a nice job setting up Getzlaf for their 2nd goal.

[daniel1 32]

Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and......Hudler?

I miss J Willie in the shootout

... but not on the ******* point.

[sharomyga 6]

Good start of a season!

[Duck Guy 86]

Wow Thanks man!

Are you sure you're a Ducks fan? lol

ok maybe i should try .... OMFG U GUYS JUST GOT LUCKY DUCK PWNED ALL.... but that would be lieing...

[daniel1 32]

Am I the only one who HATES that camera angle for the shootout? You can't tell where the puck is half the time.

Remember we are dealing with a network that is more accustomed to filming hippos trying to f*** in the mud while a lion stalks them silently in the grass... I'm amazed they don't wanna ask the NHL to try a hockey/safari mix for f***'s sake... "Chelios down the wing, oh, wait, he's picked of by a cheetah!"

[Viperar 16]

hahaha duck guy, glad to have ya around

[rick zombo 3,739]

Holy crap Detroits defence is mobile. So much fun to watch them move the puck and jump in to the play.

I already see how Rafalski > Schneider.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Paul Stastny has a trick for the Avs.....man he's going to be one sick freak in the NHL.

[Dabura 12,232]

"Chelios down the wing, oh, wait, he's picked of by a cheetah!"

[zata40 3]

Paul Stastny has a trick for the Avs.....man he's going to be one sick freak in the NHL.

i just saw that, and i agree, that kids going to be huge for that team

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Hudlers SCORES!!!!

Pretty standard issue forehand-to-backhand deke, probably as reliable a shot as you'll get. I tried calling what all the guys were going to do - shoot, deke and if so what way - before they went and I think I went ofer. I called Rex shooting. Wrang.

I'll take the tie, and the extra point. Ducks can probably call themselves lucky to get out of there with one. If only Nick had buried it. Curse his lack of breakaway skills! I appreciated some of the hitting that Kronwall and others were laying out, and I was happy to see Drake stand up to that ***** Perry and let him know as much by mimicking the helmet strap after the fight to rub it in.

All in all... hooray hockey's back!

[Viperar 16]

Paul Stastny has a trick for the Avs.....man he's going to be one sick freak in the NHL.

got him on both my fantasy teams

[Guest jaytan]

i got screwed over tonight. i set my dvr to record this and spent all day looking forward to watching it - and all afternoon avoiding finding out anything about the outcome. i get home and somehow it didn't record.

oh well, at least we won. when's the next televised game going to be/

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

oh well, at least we won. when's the next televised game going to be/

Saturday, 8:30, in Chicago. It'll be on good ol' FSN. Huzzah for the return of Ken and Mick!

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

I'm very impressed at how well we played tonight... We dominated the play against the defending cup champs and they had a two game head start to the season.

That being said, a couple of things bothered me:

Rafalski... I'm sure he's just taking a bit to get used to our system, but seriously, what the hell was that turnover in OT about?

Bertuzzi: He's actually looking good. Something tells me we're going to regret not signing him.

Chelios: Was looking a little slower than usual out there.

Some good things:

Sammy actually throwing the body around just a bit?

Drake fighting

Zetterberg looking even better than last year, if thats possible

The power play clicking

The 1st line of dats-homer-franzen looks great still

and most importantly:

Hudler proving his omnipotence to non believers in the shootout

[jgagnon2 0]

BOOOOOYAH!!! That was a great game. I just got back, and what a blast. It felt like Game 8 of the Western Conf. Finals or something, very intense. All in all, it was a great night to be a Wings fan in Detroit~!

I'll post some pics in a bit