Miss Wing Queen

For a moment there the Russians were taking the "mule" thing literally, and treating 93 like a pinata.

Nice goal by Zata!

I just hate how we went out this year. No fight, no heart, we laid down like soft little *******. The fact that it was in the 1st round does not bother me half as much as how we went out.

Although quite a few things bothered me about this early of an exit, this is what bothered me the most.  First I will say that as a dedicated fan, I understand how lucky I am to have a team that has made the playoffs for the last 21 years and especially those since the lockout.  However, at what point does quantity take the place of quality?  To me (as I stated in another post), this year felt like the team just wanted to add another consecutive year in the playoffs to the tally and after that, nobody cared.  There are excuses that can be made--injuries or half-healed injuries, lack of depth, the refs, etc--but every team has to deal with that in the playoffs.  What disturbed me was that this team showed absolutely no pride in the logo they wore on their chests.  They played with no heart, no drive.  To me it seemed like the team had used any that they had during the 23 game streak.  I can live with the Wings being eliminated in the playoffs but why even get there if you play like you are in a game in early October?

I was really upset by the mentality of the team as well.  
--Babcock saying after game 4 that Mickey Redmond's comments were way off, that the team was getting really good shots on Rinne, and that he wouldn't be changing a thing (one of his worst faults).  
--The team showing no hustle on the ice.  Letting pucks just sit in front of them, allowing the Predators to come to them.
--Most of the team displaying an uncharacteristic amount of laziness.  Franzen big time--I've never seen him coast so much in games.  He needs to spend some time on the third line.  Hudler--Yes, he got two goals (which his part was just finishing the shots), but he could not catch any passes and was a severe disadvantage to his line and the endless opportunities they got early in the series.  Filppula--Where did the career-high forward disappear to after 4/11?  Even Datsyuk--where was the faceoff king, the magician that could hang on to the puck with five guys on him?  I could say more about all the guys on the team too.
--A team of one, maybe three.  Zetterberg was the only one who looked like an NHL player out there.  Cleary's 50% sure looked 100 times better than many of his teammates supposed 100%.  And Jimmy was very good considering the team in front of him.  I can only have issue with him for Game 4 goal 2.

I liked that at some point the lack of heart and pride was acknowledged:
"Right now, your thoughts aren't really there," defenseman Niklas Kronwall  said. "Right now it's just an empty feeling. Very disappointed, not  only myself but the way our team started the game. We have to be a lot  better than that, show a lot more pride than that.''

Let's hope this offseason brings a retooling in personnel but also in the pride and respect one should possess as a Red Wing.

I actually forget which Cup it was (nice problem to have), I think it was 2002 when the crowd at the Joe kept chanting LOUDLY "SHOOT THE PUCK" and they actually did,. maybe, I don't know, a little pressure from the home crowd if they can win this next one

I was at the game last night and on several occasions, I heard various parts of the crowd yelling "Shoot!  Shoot it!" myself included.  They eventually would but always too late.

The crowd looks/sounds as narcoleptic as the team on the ice.  I'd love for the fans to get into the game, maybe light a fire under their asses, but the fans would have to attend the game, and then stay the whole game in order for that effect to take place.

Last night there were quite a few times, especially in the third where the fans were booing (and not just for Weber).  Every time another PP failed, and especially at the end of the game.  The team has stated that they did not like being booed off the ice at the end of last season, and that was part of the reason they wanted to up their game at home this year.  After the streak, that seemed to go out the window.  You would think that hearing it during the last regular season games and during the playoffs would be enough of a trigger to get them going.  And not many people left until about the last minute and especially after the third goal last night.  In fact, from about 2:47 on in the third, EVERYONE was on their feet for the remaining minutes.  That was when they had showed the video montage they always do at the end to "make noise" with clips from different movies.

If Detroit can pull out of this, they need to remember that "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  Rinne is good but not infallible.  If all the shots you are putting on this goalie are from the right and left point, he is going to see it and stop it.  In games 1-3, they had some really good chances when all three forwards came in hot and heavy, but stupid things like Hudler never being able to catch a pass on his stick and one time it, prevented that from going any further.  That and this damn hold onto the puck and skate the whole perimeter of the offensive zone s*** has to stop.  Get traffic in front of Rinne, storm the crease, be there for the rebounds when they come.  Their star players need to start pulling their weight and showing why they have these hefty contracts (Franzen, Datsyuk, Filppula).  And for God's sake, hustle!  Don't stare at the puck when it's two feet in front of you and wait for the Pred player to get and come to you.  Get some jump in your step and show that you actually want to be a playoff contender instead of just coasting into the playoffs to add another tick to the tally of consecutive years in the playoffs and then not caring what happens after that.  /rant.

Bert took it away because Weber hadn't folded down both halves (one side was still vertical) and was reenacting Game 1 using the Zetterberg plush figurine.

Thank you for sharing this article.  I think about Bethann from time to time and pray for her and the kids.  I know Ruslan was only with the Wings for 1 year, but I wish the Red Wings would have honored him and Stephan Liv with Brad too.

As soon as we lost control of that puck, I couldn't help but flashback to the 11/21/10 game vs. Calgary.  Thank you, Pavel, for recreating that night minus overtime and the +1 for the Preds.

Well, he did keep asking Corey Potter if he was related to Harry Potter.     And in turn, he ends up with the HP scar.

In all seriousness, hope he does okay and it heals well for him.

First, I don't understand why this post has not been merged with the other relevant posts or why it is worth pinning.  Hardly any of the comments discuss the topic of the post which is the future of hits by Stuart or Kronwall, not the Fistric hit or past hits by Stuart or Kronwall.  Saying that, while I love to see great (but legal) hits by these two, if they are dwindling on hits in exchange for more focus on improving their defense, offense, or "goaltending," that is an exchange I'm fine with seeing.

Will be there tonight in 118 by the glass.  Give me a lot of reasons to stand up and cheer, Wings!  Go Wings!!

Hi, ladies!  I'm sorry I've been absent lately . . . I've been busy going to too many Wings games (like that's possible)!  Anyway, I have some goodies to share with all of you.

First, I have to share my silly experience from last week.  I went to Toast of Hockeytown on Wednesday night and had a special present with me that I was going to deliver to the proud new papa, but he was not out meeting with fans.  I talked with different attendants that night to see how I could get my gift to Jimmy (and Rachel, and of course, Jimmy Jr.) and ended up calling the main office on Friday to see if there was a way to deliver it to him in person on Saturday.  Unfortunately, outside of ToH, it wasn't possible.  However, they arranged for someone to come to my seat during Saturday's game to get the gift and hand deliver it to Jimmy.  Someone did come and pick it up, so I hope he and Rachel got a kick out of this little gift that I made for them.  Here is a little outfit I made:







Second, a friend of mine shared this video from training camp, and you'll see a few "local" celebrities in the video at 9:16, 11:59, 12:48, and 13:21.  Warning: It is sad at the beginning, but overall a great way to get a taste of camp.



Third, I uploaded all of my Toast pictures to photobucket.  You can view them here using the password "lgwwomen".  I didn't have a chance to crop them so they were just the boys, so please excuse me in all the pictures!  

Fourth, I have some pictures from the warm ups for the Nov. 3rd game.  In the one with Ty in goal, I think you might see a familiar face hidden behind a camera!

Enjoy!!

Well (knock on wood), I have a perfect record so far this season of wins when I go to the games, so here's to me being added to the pile of lucky charms.  Play the game, play simple, and the goals will come.  Don't overthink things, don't try too hard or try to be "cute."

Go Wings!

Okay, on the Awww-O-Meter:

Awwww x 100 (Oh, Pat, to have been you in that picture!)


Awwww x 1000


Awwww x Infinity

I agree.  I think Eaves needs to dress every night.  I don't think that Homer should be in the rotation for who's a healthy scratch UNLESS Babcock insists on keeping him on the fourth line.  If he plays with Pavel and/or Zetterberg and he is regularly used on the PP, then he needs to play every night.  But he has no chemistry on the fourth line, and in that case, switch him out for someone else that might click better.

I don't know much about Amway or it's ethical nature.  However, I agree with those that said this is more so about the business end of things.  First and foremost, this team is a business, and just like every other business there is a budget to be balanced between income and expenses.  Do you think the tough economy does not hit a business like Ilitch Holdings in some way?  Part of it is the nature of sports in this era and it being infiltrated with overwhelming sponsorship, the other part is that they have to meet their bottom line or expenses will have to be cut.  

I, for one, would rather suffer through excessive advertisement (as much as I don't like it and think it is distasteful for such a tradition-steeped sports team/franchise) than have to worry about cuts that could affect more important things in relation to my team: keeping/hiring quality players, providing them with the best equipment/athletic training, team transportation and safety, etc.  The deal so far is for three years.  It may just be a bridge until economic issues improve and the need for extra sponsorship income is not needed as extensively.  But keep in mind, Amway (while being the most obviously advertised) is not the only sponsor this year.  You have to include DTE, Quicken Loans, VolunteerEnergy, and previous ones like Belle Tire, AT&T, Kroger, Meijer, Better Made, Tim Horton's, State Farm, Miller Lite, and the DMC.  

It can be an eyesore to our arena, but in grand scheme of things, I'm just happy to be able to watch my team compete night in and night out.  All that other stuff just fades into the background when players like Lidstrom, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg step onto the ice.

Ladies, I'm crying in my beer . . . if I was drinking one.  I'm at home now, and way too sad that camp is over and it's back to reality tomorrow.  But I had so much fun this weekend.  Pat and Michelle, it was great seeing you both this weekend.  Michelle, I so glad you got to meet Ozzie (although it took awhile).

So to add to the good stories, in addition to giving Joey MacDonald a kiss on the cheek on Sunday night, I have a few more highlights.  First, and I'm sorry for those who will be jealous, but I melted into a puddle of goo on Tuesday after the Red & White game, when one of my other favs ventured out in a sexy white polo sans glasses (due to recent lasik surgery).  Yes, Mr. Kronwall came out, and after I got him to sign my mini helmet and take a picture with me, I asked him (while only slightly shaking) if I could also give him a hug.  He said yes, and I gave/got one the best hugs ever.   I was also asking him about his Scotland trip and if he loved the country, which I've also been to, and whether he had played certain courses.  I told him we would miss his cute glasses but would get to see his nice eyes more now.  And second, during the Red & White game intermission, a man came up to me with a video camera strapped to his shoulder and asked if he could interview me, saying, "I singled you out of everyone because of your earrings."  I have Red Wings earrings, but other people do too, so I think it was partly because I was on the end and maybe he was flirting.  So he asked me my name, where I was from, what I liked about camp, etc.  I then asked him what this was for, and he said he worked for channel 7/4 (NBC) up there and it would be on the 5pm news.  I was shocked in a good way, and after he walked away, the people in the bleachers around me said, "I think we should ask for your autograph now."  The reporter said he could send me a copy.  I watched the 11pm news and there I was (a small snippet) sandwiched between video of the game.  I'll post it when I get it.

Yesterday afternoon, Ken Holland came out at the very tail end of the day to sign a handful of autographs and this afternoon, Hank, Franzen, Fil, and White came out.  I asked Franzen how his baby was and if he was growing like a weed, which he said yes to.  And Loo, you will be glad to hear some of the security guys were wearing name tags with Brad and Rusty's names and numbers on them as a remembrance.  

I was sad to see Traverse City in my rear view mirror, but the silver lining is that the regular season is right around the corner.  Yeah!