12/22 GDT: Red Wings 4, Wild 1

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

From Detroit News Online...

Faceoff: 8 tonight, Xcel Energy Center, Minneapolis, Minn.

TV/radio: FSN Detroit/WXYT 97.1, 1270

Outlook: The Wings are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, the Wild are 7-3. The Wings defeated the Wild in the only game between them this season.

Maybe another entertaining human bowling episode from last game?

Might be missing out tonight's game as a friend from college days is in my neck of the woods this weekend on business, so this evening might be catch-up on what we are doing time.

Since no central division matchup, I'll go with another Wings kool-aid prediction of 3-2. Gaborik keeps his nutty production up with another goal, and Hasek (assuming he is starting with the goalie rotation) staves off late-game pressure for a clutch win.

Gonna go with Lidstrom, Kronwall, and Datsyuk as the scorers.

Sorry, not good with the pre-game GDT graphics and stats creation stuff. Big aflac should be back in action for that soon though.

Edited December 22, 2007 by SouthernWingsFan

[RusDRW 155]

5:3 wings Dats 2, Zet 2, Cleary 1

[puckloo39 5,686]

Thanks for the GDT, SWF! Not sure how many faithful will be here tonight, with holiday festivities in full swiing.

Game day Star Trib

The Wild, winner of nine of 12, tries to win five in a row for the second time this season. Detroit, however, is running away with the Western Conference with a 25-7-3 record.

The Wild is 7-0 on Saturdays this season. Don't take that stat lightly, Wings!

G Dominik Hasek [is] 8-0-2 against the Wild with three shutouts and a 0.98 goals against average

G Josh Harding has won four in a row with a 1.75 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

Henrik Zetterberg, who had a hat trick against the Wild two weeks ago, is second in the NHL with 25 goals and 50 points. C Pavel Datsyuk is eighth with 42 points.

Marian Gaborik recorded the 55th five-plus goal game (42nd player) Thursday against the Rangers. He has at least a point in 11 of his past 12 games. Just in: He's also learned to keep his head up.

Should be a good game. I may or may not be able to do GDT, supposed to go to another gathering tonight.

Go, Red Wings! Score a bunch of goals!!!

[Nero 20]

I just got a new authentic RBK Edge jersey for the holidays. I look forward to happily donning it tonight

Thanks for the GDT. Hopefully whoever is in net tonight shuts Gaborik down. In the case of Hasek, I mean stop the shots, not put him in a coma!

Edited December 22, 2007 by Nero

[puckloo39 5,686]

I just got a new authentic RBK Edge jersey for the holidays. I look forward to happily donning it tonight

Thanks for the GDT. Hopefully whoever is in net tonight shuts Gaborik down. In the case of Hasek, I mean stop the shots, not put him in a coma!

Dom is in goal, according to everything I am seeing in game stories for this morning. I might have given ithe game to Ozzie, to make up for the last outing where the Boos swiped the W with player in the crease. But that's happened before this season to Dom, too. It just doesn't seem to count (recalled goal, due to goalie interference) when it's a Wings goalie who gets the goal against. Go figure.

Hasek stopped all the pucks last time v. the Wild, don't worry. And Gaborik needs to stop looking at the puck, rather than paying attention to where he's going. Rather than worry about Dom, I would worry that our D doesn't stay with the man this time, preventing the need for "Bowling for Forwards" again.

Another factoid: Marian Gaborik recorded the 55th five-plus goal game (42nd player). The last player to do this was former Red Wing Sergei Fedorov, in a 5-4 overtime win over the Capitals on Dec. 26, 2006.

Go, Wings!

Edited December 22, 2007 by puckloo39

[gcom007 1,465]

Dom is in goal, according to everything I am seeing in game stories for this morning. I might have given ithe game to Ozzie, to make up for the last outing where the Boos swiped the W with player in the crease. But that's happened before this season to Dom, too. It just doesn't seem to count (recalled goal, due to goalie interference) when it's a Wings goalie who gets the goal against. Go figure.

Hasek stopped all the pucks last time v. the Wild, don't worry. And Gaborik needs to stop looking at the puck, rather than paying attention to where he's going. Rather than worry about Dom, I would worry that our D doesn't stay with the man this time, preventing the need for "Bowling for Forwards" again.

Another factoid: Marian Gaborik recorded the 55th five-plus goal game (42nd player). The last player to do this was former Red Wing Sergei Fedorov, in a 5-4 overtime win over the Capitals on Dec. 26, 2006.

Go, Wings!

Osgood played well last game. Nothing to make up really. You can't win them all. He'll get his chance when it's his turn. Again, I'm all for a straight rotation for the most part. Is it me, or have the tables turned? I thought I was supposed to be the one saying start Osgood?

[Guest Jeremy88]

A non-division opponent...we'll play well

[puckloo39 5,686]

Osgood played well last game. Nothing to make up really. You can't win them all. He'll get his chance when it's his turn. Again, I'm all for a straight rotation for the most part. Is it me, or have the tables turned? I thought I was supposed to be the one saying start Osgood?

Hiya! The Wings brass are making a big deal out of the goal against Ozzie, having it reviewed by the league, etc... I found that a little unusual, since they didn't do that on others that have happened this year. Maybe because it was a one-goal loss, or because we probably won the other games where it happened.

I think the rotation "Red Wings-style", which means "other factors" may apply on occasion, like travel and back-to-backs, so it may not always go in a straight Oz-Dom-Oz-Dom fashion. It wouldn't have surprised me completely to see Ozzie in tonight. I worry a little that somebody's going to take a run at Dom but he'll be ready for it, if they do.

I don't care who's in goal, personally, I am not an All Hasek All the Time fan, and am perfectly happy with Ozzie so long as Dom gets a chance, too. Dom has a sterling record against the Wild plus a shut out last time, so it makes sense to put him in tonight. Hope everyone else shows up tonight. I thought in the Boos game, they left Ozzie hanging out there a bit a couple of times. I bet they all play well tonight, so everyone can have a Merry Christmas!

[gcom007 1,465]

Hiya! The Wings brass are making a big deal out of the goal against Ozzie, having it reviewed by the league, etc... I found that a little unusual, since they didn't do that on others that have happened this year. Maybe because it was a one-goal loss, or because we probably won the other games where it happened.

I think the rotation "Red Wings-style", which means "other factors" may apply on occasion, like travel and back-to-backs, so it may not always go in a straight Oz-Dom-Oz-Dom fashion. It wouldn't have surprised me completely to see Ozzie in tonight. I worry a little that somebody's going to take a run at Dom but he'll be ready for it, if they do.

I don't care who's in goal, personally, I am not an All Hasek All the Time fan, and am perfectly happy with Ozzie so long as Dom gets a chance, too. Dom has a sterling record against the Wild plus a shut out last time, so it makes sense to put him in tonight. Hope everyone else shows up tonight. I thought in the Boos game, they left Ozzie hanging out there a bit a couple of times. I bet they all play well tonight, so everyone can have a Merry Christmas!

I think the brass raising a fuss about it is more about trying to minimize this kind of crap in the future. I think they just want a level playing field. There's no way the NHL can ignore there point on that one and it did cause a loss to some extent so I think they're just trying to raise noise so some calls are made to keep it fair. Good call on their part.

"Other factors" will certainly apply and that's fine. I've got no beef with it. I'd love to see Ozzy go in the playoffs, but I wouldn't want anything to change rotation-wise to accommodate that until at least the trade deadline so for now, keep it simple and run the working rotation. Give Hasek his shot and keep them both fresh and ready. There's nothing to lose when the team in front of both of them plays so well.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

hard fought battles all night, hasek doesnt get a shutout this time...but does get a penalty like last time

wings win 4-2 (huds, z, dats, cleary)

[55fan 5,133]

Dad says I jinx the Wings when I visit on days they play. To undo the jinx, I predict a Wild blowout. Wild win 71-2 (1 kicked in by a Wild defenseman and the other a Flip penalty shot).

[40#1Fan 0]

According to Mlive Hank will not play tonight due to a sore back, but it's not considered serious. And Homer has a bruise on his knee and is expected back soon.

[Duck Guy 86]

hopefully no one on the wild has a 5 goal night again 4-2 Wings win it.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Two of our first liners are out tonight.

We shal still win! 3-2 (Datsyuk, Flip, Draper)

GO WINGS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALTBY!!

[scotvm 0]

According to Mlive Hank will not play tonight due to a sore back, but it's not considered serious. And Homer has a bruise on his knee and is expected back soon.

Z better get his back healthy. i hope this doesnt become a trend.......

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Actually, Dats is gonna carry us over the Wild with a 5 point night.

Edited December 22, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Wings 5 (Datz, Flip, Kronner, Kopper,Rex)

Wild 3 (who cares)

EDIT: injuries

Edited December 23, 2007 by Wings_Dynasty

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Downey needs to have a positive impact tonight, i think you could almost say he's forced himself into fighting. I absolutely love what he's brought to this team as you all know, but even I have to admit the last probably 4 games he's been in he hasnt really done much of anything. He's been relatively quiet...just a couple decent hits here and there, hasnt fought, and has taken a few penalties. Not that someone like Ellis has done anything either, but Downey will always have to do more than someone like that for the Wings to keep him higher on the pecking order. I hope he has a good game...I feel like the next few he's in are very important for him.

[CrossCheck24 2]

With Z and Homer out, i can see the Wild D being able to push Dats around a bit. Im looking at Drake to get his first goal of the year, along with some help from the D: Rafalski, Lebda

and a good fight, someone standing up for Gaborik

3-1 wings

[puckloo39 5,686]

No Z or Homer? That's not good. But I expect Dats and Flip to step up, and Kronner will have a great game, too.

[Grittzkey 1]

Downey-Drake-Kopecky better be crashing and banging

[Guest Agalloch]

Only way the Wings win this is if Datsyuk goes insane and the defense limits the Wild to ten shots at max. If Osgood was playing, there'd be a decent chance of the Wings winning, but Hasek + so many damn injuries = very unlikely that this game is a win.

[edicius 3,269]

Filppula with the game winner tonight. I heard his name in my head when I was doing dishes earlier today.

[Nero 20]

Dom is in goal, according to everything I am seeing in game stories for this morning. I might have given ithe game to Ozzie, to make up for the last outing where the Boos swiped the W with player in the crease. But that's happened before this season to Dom, too. It just doesn't seem to count (recalled goal, due to goalie interference) when it's a Wings goalie who gets the goal against. Go figure.

Hasek stopped all the pucks last time v. the Wild, don't worry. And Gaborik needs to stop looking at the puck, rather than paying attention to where he's going. Rather than worry about Dom, I would worry that our D doesn't stay with the man this time, preventing the need for "Bowling for Forwards" again.

Another factoid: Marian Gaborik recorded the 55th five-plus goal game (42nd player). The last player to do this was former Red Wing Sergei Fedorov, in a 5-4 overtime win over the Capitals on Dec. 26, 2006.

Go, Wings!

I was being completely sarcastic with my comment towards Dom

[auxlepli 17]

Can't believe Zetterberg will be out too. Hope we're getting the truth in that his back spasms are nothing serious.