Blackhawks win;up 2-0

great game,and both goaltenders were great,but Niemi was slightly better than Leighton... got pounded with a ton of shots,in third period,but did not budge in net... teams,up 2-0,have won 31 of 33 series,but Detroit was up.2-0,last year,and lost in seven games,because a short-circuited offense,in last two games,scoring only two goals in last two games... game winner,for Chicago,was second goal,in 28 seconds,in second period,and it was a great shot by Ben Eager,and should have been stopped,by Leighton,but it was blasted by him,and he did not move,but with a small wave,as goal went into net,as a rocket over left shoulder,and hit water bottle,and net,just under crossbar,in the middle of net... what a game!!!!!!!!!! Philadelphia has not played badly,but Chicago,has played just well enough,to lead,2-0,but has played better defense,in third period,of both games....

NHL trivia...

Wayne Gretzky had a great career.... how many seasons did he have 200 plus points? has the record of most goals,in a season? what is the number of goals? has record of most assists,in a season? what is the number of assists?... answer in next post

trivia answer...

Wayne Gretzky had four 200 point seasons... top season was 215 points... had 92 goals,in 1981-1982,and 163 assists,in 1985-1986... (had a 215 point season,in 1985-1986;had a 212 point season,in 1981-1982;had a 208 point season,in 1984-1985,had a 205 point season,in 1983-1984),and a fifth season of 196 points,in 1982-1983.... so he scored over 1,000 points,from 1981-1982 to 1985-1986.... is that amazing?... source:NHL.COM

Defense,what defense? do not need any stinkin' defense...

Chicago went back and forth,with Philadelphia,for two periods,and no one could stop the puck... 6-5 win for Blackhawks... good news for Flyers:they can score... bad news for Flyers:they could not stop a puck,tonight... sloppy,but exciting game... Philadelphia,in third period,did absolutely nothing,and Chicago played defense well enough,to keep Flyers away from net... most of the Flyers' shots in third period were from long distance,and Chicago kept them near the boards,whenever they got into the Blackhawks' zone,in third period... this game was Philadelphia's best chance to steal a game,in Chicago,because Blackhawks were to be had tonight,if not for Niemi,and perfect defense,in third period... Flyers will kick themselves in the butt,if they do not win Stanley this year,because they had Chicago on the ropes,and they let them off the canvas,and they lost the game,with a totally pathetic third period,on offense... may look back in series,and say that this is turning point,in series... know it is very early,but Chicago will be better on defense,and for two periods,Philadelphia played great hockey,but Blackhawks were very good in third period,and can Philadelphia play better? they better,or Chicago will clamp down,in game two,on the Flyers,and their scorers... if the Flyers do not play better overall defense,and their goaltender does not steal a game from the Blackhawks,this will be a very short series... game two is critical for Flyers,because if they go down,0-2,in series,it will be over in a very short series,because Chicago will get better,and they,most likely,will win a game in Philadelphia,because they have been most impressive on the road,this playoff year...

prediction...

it will be interesting to see the Blackhawks play the Flyers... i do not like either team personally... Chicago is Red Wings' most hated rival,in their division,so if you know how much i love Red Wings,you have some idea on how much i dislike Chicago... besides that,Chicago has more firepower than Philadelphia,and can play defense,too... a very bruising series,indeed,but it will come down to the goaltenders,and Niemi has a slight edge in that capacity,but if Leighton plays on his head early in series,i can see an upset,but if Chicago plays with the intensity,and toughness,of Duncan Keith,who lost seven teeth,when he took a puck to the mouth,and yet,came back to play in third period,against San Jose,Philadelphia is in deep trouble... early on in series,Philadelphia has to steal a game,in Chicago,but if they go to Philadelphia,down 0-2,it will be a very short series... Chicago has won a NHL-record seven straight road playoff games,and if they have a weakness this playoff season,it is their home playoff record... however,knowing that they are playing at home,in front of a crowd that is going to rip off the top of the arena,in cheering for the Blackhawks,Philadelphia better score first,keep pressure on Niemi,go to the net,and keep shooting the puck at him,try to rattle him early,and get him off his game... give him confidence,and it will be over quickly... unless something quirky happens,or if Leighton plays out of his head,his game,and steals a game early,it will be Chicago,raising Stanley,for the first time,since 1961,in six games... one caveat,defense wins championships,and if Chicago goes out with no fire,and sleepwalks through game one,thinking this is going to be easy,Philadelphia could steal the series... honestly, i do not see that happening,because the Blackhawks have not looked like,in any of their series,they are overlooking anyone,and they have pounded everyone,since early,in round one,against Nashville,when they were down early in that series to the Predators... the main key for the Flyers will be the play of Mike Richards(their captain),and if he plays as hard,as he did in the series,against Montreal,then it will be a very interesting series...

love of father...

this will be only post about my father... we kid around a lot,argue about the Red Wings,and about they will do against his,being a Sharks' fan... you are my foil,and i miss you more than i can say... you are total class,and very much loved,by me... remember many things that we have done,like golf,air hockey,Scouts,and just being there for each other... had our troubles,of course,but love has never been lost,even though,sometimes we did not see eye to eye,or even talk for a long while,but i still care very much for you...

trivia answer...

Wayne Gretzky scored 894 goals,and Gordie Howe scored,801 goals,in their career... Gretzky scored 1,016 goals in career,including playoffs,in his NHL career... by the way,to be honest,Howe scored 203 goals,in the WHA,and Gretzky scored 46 goals,in the WHA... goals scored in total careers: Gretzky:1,062 goals(NHL,and WHA),Howe:1,004 goals(NHL,and WHA)... source:NHL.COM

NHL trivia...

who are the only players to score 800+ goals in their NHL careers? and who has more than 1,000 goals,including playoffs,in his NHL career?

trivia answer...

Henrik Zetterberg in a 7-4 victory,against the Anaheim Ducks,on November 14,2009,in Detroit... Zetterberg scored a playoff hat trick,against Phoenix,on April 16,2010,in Phoenix,in an another 7-4 win,to even the series against Phoenix,at that point...

Red Wings' trivia

on May 6,2010,Johan Franzen,scored four goals,against San Jose,in a 7-1 blowout(their last victory,in playoffs,and of season),in Detroit.... who had the only regular-season hat trick,and the other hat trick,in playoffs? answer to trivia in next post

Bye,Stevie Y,Hello Mr.Yzerman...

being a fan of the Red Wings,i am saddened by the departure of Steve Yzerman,from the Red Wings' front office,after all of his Hall of Fame career with the Wings,and his work in the front office for the team... his work for Team Canada brought a smile to my face,because he was an alumnus of Red Wings University(my coinage of a term)... being a Red Wing was special,and to be remembered,in the same breath as Howe,Lindsey,Abel,Delvecchio(old time),and Lidstrom,Holmstrom,Datsyuk,and Zetterberg(present-day) is a deep honor... he played with the latter group,but was a Hall of Famer,in the truest sense of the word... never got to see Howe,and company play(even though did see Howe play once,as a Houston Aeros' player,of the WHA,in 1977)... Yzerman was the toughest player i ever saw play,period,playing one time,in playoffs,with a taped up,and twisted knee and leg,and still led his team to the promised land... that was pure Red Wings' toughness... he was "the Man",when he played,and showed Red Wings how to purely win,with his toughness,and he did not speak often in locker room,but when he did,they listened... he showed leadership on the ice,played his heart out,Red Wings' red... he will be always a Red Wing,in my heart,and in my soul... he showed class to the NHL,for his Hall of Fame career... as Tampa Bay Lightning GM,he will show what Red Wings are made of... i will not root for the Lightning,when they play Detroit,but it will be interesting to see how they will do,in years to come... tip of hat to Stevie Y.,and good luck to Mr. Yzerman... thank you from this true fan for what you have done,in Detroit...

being a true fan....

to all the Red Wings' fans,do not be upset with the season past for the Wings... after the Olympic break,Red Wings were the best team in the NHL,because they were healthy,for basically the first time,since opening week of the season... they showed NHL,who they were,and no one wanted to play them in the playoffs... the series against Phoenix was a very good one,and even though,Phoenix refused to give up,they did not have enough firepower,to get past Red Wings,and their defense... the series,against San Jose looked like a blowout,in number of games,but Detroit did score more goals in series(thanks to a 7-1 blowout,in game four),but Red Wings gave away game three,in third period,and overtime,at the Joe Louis Arena,which was the series turning point,and that was it for Red Wings... be a true fan of Red Wings,and hockey,and truly understand that Red Wings were injured,as a team,most of the year... Howard had a great rookie year,and was MVP,of the Red Wings,period... the number of shutouts suffered this season were high,but injuries caused a lack of offense,and,sometimes,a lack of tight defense... as a fan,i am very proud of what Mike Babcock,and the Red Wings did this year... they will be back next season,hungry for another run for Stanley.... never give up,true Red Wings' fans...

trivia answer...

answer:Gretzky played for Brantford Charcon Chargers-minor,ON(hometown team),in 1974-1975; his first team was Vaughan Generals,OHA-B,in 1975-1976;his first pro team were Indianapolis Racers,of the WHA,he played three games,and then was traded to Edmonton Oilers,of the WHA(later NHL,when WHA folded,and teams were added to NHL) source:NHL.COM

hockey trivia....

trivia question:what team gave Wayne Gretzky his first contract? answer tomorrow....

Richards for Mayor?

Philadelphia did beat Montreal,4-2,to go back to Stanley Cup final,first one since 1997,when they were swept by Detroit... but in the city of Brotherly Love,they are touting the hustle of Mike Richards,who scored the first goal of the night,for Philly,after beating Roman Hamrlik to the puck,spun off a three way collision,between Halak,Hamrlik,and Richards,and kept his eye on the puck,which went towards the goal,and Richards avoided a goalie stick,near the net,and tapped in a short handed goal,to tie game at one... Philadelphia,at that point,took over game on defense... Jeff Carter scored twice,including an insurance goal,on a pass from,guess who?Richards,who refused to give up on the puck,beat his man to the puck,tripped over his own feet,and laid a pass to Carter,who basically tapped in a backhand into the net... Richards was first star of the game,in my book... he had a goal,and two assists... he earned my respect,and,no wonder why,he is Captain of the Flyers... Montreal did score first,at :59,of the first period,when Brian Gionta,blew one past Leighton,but after the short handed goal,i could tell Montreal was done... it was just the way they played,jumpy,and jittery,for the rest of the game... after Carter scored the first goal of two goals,to make it,3-1,Montreal seemed to know it was done,but did make a run at the Flyers,the last seven minutes of game,and did score to make it,3-2,on a goal,by Scott Gomez,but Philadelphia played defense just well enough,to put Montreal,on golfing patrol,and summer vacation this year... now Chicago plays Philadelphia,in Chicago,at the United Center,Saturday.... should be interesting...

Bulldozing like "Broad Street Bullies" Part 2?

Philadelphia has outplayed Montreal,in three of four games,shutting out,and down Montreal... Montreal has played Washington,and Pittsburgh,both in seven games,and shut down their top guns,in process(Ovechkin,and Crosby,respectfully),but their goaltender(Halak)has played spectacularly,most of playoffs.... Philadelphia,has played New Jersey,and Martin Brodeur,and Boston,in the playoffs... playing like the "Broad Street Bullies" of old,they have bulldozed their way into conference finals,and coming back from a 0-3 deficit,against Boston(becoming the third team in NHL history,to do so),they seem to be a team of destiny... matching three shutouts that J.S. Giguere,had against Minnesota,for Anaheim,in 2003,Leighton has played very well,and Philadelphia has played great defense in front of him... game five is tonight... can Montreal come back? yes,but in Philadelphia,it will be tough,but in my own opinion,Halak needs to steal a game,and force a game six in Montreal.... the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs,and the 1975 New York Islanders are the other two teams to come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a seven game series(1942 Toronto Maple Leafs,won Stanley Cup,against Detroit),and the 1975 New York Islanders,almost did it twice,in 1975,losing to Philadelphia,after again going down 0-3,and forcing a seventh game,before losing,to the "Broad Street Bullies", who won back to back in the 1970's...

Firepower? Sharks fizzle,go poof!!!!!!!!

being a fan of hockey,and playoff hockey,in particular... Sharks' did not have enough firepower,to beat Blackhawks,because,even though,they got past my beloved Red Wings.... their team were shut down by superior defense,and a better goaltender... Niemi may be rookie,but he is playing on his head.... Pavelski,and company had Wings running all over the place,and Wings were in the penalty box too much(especially,in game two),and the Sharks got every break imaginable,late in every game,but one(game four),and timely penalties on the Wings,doomed Detroit... just a recap... in the series,against Chicago,Sharks got outplayed in most of the games,especially in third period,and momentum was really never in the Sharks' camp throughout the series... getting swept in four by Blackhawks sucked... i do not like Chicago,because they are in the Wings' division,but they were the superior team,over the series...

hi there hockey nuts

this is wings' hockey nut ray: this blog is to comment on the Red Wings,and NHL,in general... you will get opinion that people may disagree, but i will try to be fair,and honest,in my opinion... facts,like dates,will be checked,to the best of my ability,so if i make a mistake,please understand... enjoy my blog about Red Wings' lore,and hockey,in general... Red Wings will be back next year... Watch Out NHL...