Redwing Hokie

I'm looking to see my first Wings game live and in person. I work in Charlotte area and will be driving up for the game without tickets in hand. First off is anyone here going and would anyone be selling extra tickets there? Second off, what can I expect in terms of scalping tickets at the RBC center? Thanks for any input you may have and go Wings!

Joe Pavleski had 11 shots on goal. For a guy playing with his type of confidence and scoring touch right now that is unacceptable. Have to do a better job putting a body in front of their superstar.

Dumb penalty by Ericsson. He was baited into that roughing by a couple baby rabbit punches. I wonder if this game will ever be 5 on 5 for more than a minute. I also wonder if this becomes a foot race will our tired legs keep us from winning...

Yeah I'm diggin' it. I would surmise that there is plenty of room on that bandwagon now... the streets of the Capitol must be littered with tossed red jerseys.

As a fan of a team with a player like Tomas Holmstrom I've grown over the years to understand what they will consistently call as interference on plays like that. And that was a legit call. I do predict a Washington win, however. Too much puck raining and the odds are just against Halek from stopping 928 shots in a row.

I'm really pulling for Stamkos. For one, I'm tired of seeing (though I understand the reasons) the NHL only pushing Crosby/Pens and Ovechkin/Capitals. Good to see a young guy from a losing team come out of nowhere and steal the scoring title. Oh, and if you haven't noticed Stamkos is a -4. How ridiculous would it be to have a scoring title goto a guy with a minus.

I have to say this is one of the best posts I've seen on LGW since I joined a few months ago. As someone who spent a year working in DC and someone now getting their 2nd degree at Virginia Tech, a town littered with Northern Virginia/DC/MD suburbanite kids I wholeheartedly agree with what has happened. The transition from knowing that there was another team playing in the same arena as the Wizards/Bullets to undeserved arrogance of the notion that the Capitals are the best team to play the game of hockey this season (actual quote will come later) is ridiculous. When I go out to Big Als, my favorite sports bar and watering hole, I always enjoy when any hockey game, even non RW games, are on. I love the sport and as someone who has been to other arenas of non-Wings rivals, I generally love talking to opposing fans about traditions, history, favorite players, experience, and their take on the modern state of the NHL. Capitals fans do not allow me this option anymore. They truly believe what they are doing is unheard of in hockey and that they are the standard of what everyone wants to be, regardless of the fact that that Stanley Cup trophy case is empty. Instead of posting another encyclopedia, I'll leave you with a few direct quotes from recent discussions with Capitals fans both in Blacksburg and at the Verizon Center in DC: 1- You just wish Detroit had what Washington has 2- We win this year and we half what, half as many Stanley Cups as Detroit in a lot less years?! (seriously) 3- (Overheard sitting next to a pair of fans in matching jerseys)Is this the greatest team in NHL history? (not at this point, not in the regular season, just ever) 4- (During Capitals-Canes game last season; I was wearing a Red Wings shirt at Verizon) Capitals fan turns in reference to recent crowd volume to say: Hey buddy don't you wish Detroit had it this good? Stuff like this which is ridiculous and nonstop from people who didn't even know they had a team pre-Ovechkin just leads me to agree with Octopus- I hate the capitals.

I would rather play Chicago or San Jose, with a strong lean towards San Jose. I feel that Vancouver's style of play could really be a thorn in our side and may take some time to scheme against in a series were time is of the essence. With Chicago I think its a coin-toss but as you saw yesterday the energy in that series would likely wear our skaters out for a potential 2nd round were we to make it. I agree with the sentiments here that San Jose is very vulnerable both in terms of matchups and the mental aspects against the Wings. I could easily see our boys bringing some swagger into that contest from previous wins with banged up, Mule-less teams and taking that one 4-2.

Zetterberg- Datsyuk -Holmstrom I don't think we're playing well enough to seperate Dats and Zet, and I think we need to stack some scorers on one line instead of spread them like the Swiss seem to be doing Franzen- Filppula -Bertuzzi Cleary- Helm - Williams Eaves - Draper- McCarty - I'm bringing Darren out of retirement to jack some jaws and lace another clutch playoff hat trick Lidstrom- Kronwall Rafalski- Stuart Lilja- Ericcson

Anyone know of a site where we can get any of the other country's shirts like that? Not that I have any inclination to pull for them over the US but it would be cool to own a DATSYUK Team Russia or a LIDSTROM Sweden with the C on it.

So most of the lines are set and I can't imagine any more of a powerful Top 2 than what Russia has put forth: Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin Kovalchuk-Malkin-Afinagenov Wow. Its gonna rain pucks when these guys are out there assuming they can get the chemistry right.

Sweden should try not to piss off the team that provides about half of its national roster!

I think the Wings getting Kovie is purely a pipedream at this point.

I think we're finally seeing what true potential this team has. Healthy AND, most of all, in rhythm. Its nothing to just have players back if their timing is off. Things are looking up. The additions of Lilja and the Mule can only help. I'm getting good vibes here guys! GO WINGS!!! Oh, and despite the jubilation above it aint over yet!

Guarded optimism. Sharks 5 Wings 2 Helm and Zetterberg on the board.