commentary...

Red Wings dominated game last night,in a way that i have not seen all year,so far... they came out playing very very tough,getting every puck that they could get to,and Pavel Datsyuk,and Nicklas Lidstrom have played their best games,and Lidstrom have started this season,like he is 30 years old(he is not... ha,ha),and Datsyuk has had puck control,like the puck has been on a string,for him... Red Wings have had eight straight games with,at least,one power play goal,but their percentage on the power play is not up to their standards,yet... Nashville came into Detroit,winners of their first road games,and basically got out-played,by Red Wings... Predators got pasted with 5 goals in game,and Pekka Rinne stunk up Joe Louis Arena,by giving up,not one soft goal,but actually,five soft goals,in game,when Rinne gave up two goals,from inches,and one game-winner that was shot from less than a foot,and i do mean that the three goals were three different shots,from less than a foot;two stuffs past his pads,and then you had game-winner shot,from about six inches,by Datsyuk,you know that you are having a bad day in goal... Chris Osgood came up with a solid workman-type effort,for his 398th NHL win... Nashville's defense,around the net,was like butter,all night...

Red Wings' game score,and analysis of game...

Red Wings 5,Predators 2... Pavel Datsyuk had three points(two goals,assist),and Ruslan Salei had two points(both of them,assists)... Red Wings dominated game from drop of puck,and ran Predators out of building,because of beating them to puck,all night long,and Pekka Rinne had a very bad night in goal for the Predators,giving up five bad goals(two stuffs,and three rockets went past him,including a beautiful game winner,by Datsyuk,that basically was a stuff shot past Rinne,in second period,but his puck,and body control,was a real sight to see,on the goal... they are 6-2-1,and they play Calgary,in Calgary,Wednesday...

Red Wings' news...

Game on,at 4:30,between Nashville,and Detroit,today,then trip to Western Canada,for games against Oilers,Canucks,and Flames...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play Nashville,for first time,this season,tomorrow... analysis of game pre-game,and post-game,along with game score,will be tomorrow...

analysis of game,and Red Wings' game score...

first period doomed Red Wings,tonight... they came out flat in first period,gave up three goals,in first twelve minutes,and first two goals came within two minutes of each other,and game-winning goal,was short-handed,and a goal that knuckled past Chris Osgood,from about 40 feet away that looked like it caromed off,by a hair,Lidstrom's stick,that threw it into a knuckled shot... Chris Osgood got a bronx cheer,and was jeered,by the crowd,in Detroit... the last two periods,they played well,but could not the bounce of the puck that they wanted,or needed,to tie the game up,in the third period... in last minute,they had a 6-on-5,and puck in Phoenix's end of the rink,but the puck would not settle down(the bounce of the puck),and Phoenix scored a empty net goal to seal a 4-2 win for Phoenix... they can not win all 82...

NHL history...

a important date,in NHL history,happened fifteen years ago,today:Red Wings started five Russian players,in starting lineup(October 27,1995)... Vladimir Konstantinov,Igor Larinov,Sergei Fedorov,Viacheslav Fetisov,and Vyacheslav Kozlov were the five Russian players... it was the first time in NHL history that a team started five Russians in starting lineup... they were known as, "the Russian 5"...

Red Wings' news...

Detroit plays Phoenix,tomorrow... Red Wings beat Coyotes,2-1,in overtime,fighting them all the way,and mugging Tomas Holmstrom,in overtime,on October 16,2010,and not getting a shot-on-goal,in the five minute overtime,and two penalties(the mugging of Holmstrom,being one of them)...

Griffiths' news...

Grand Rapids Griffiths,are 4-2-0-1,beating Rochester Americans,4-1,on Saturday,and Toronto Marlies,6-3,on Sunday... serious note:Michael Nylander,a 38 year old veteran of the NHL,trying to make it back to NHL,got hit by a Griffiths' player,into the boards,and actually broke his neck,but walked off the ice,during the 4-1 win,for the Griffiths... hope and pray that he is going to be fine,and i mean as a person,not as a player...

NHL trivia...

Teemu Selanne,of the Anaheim Ducks,who scored 40 goals,in 2005-2006,and 48 goals,in 2006-2007,is the oldest player,in NHL history,to score 40+goals,in consecutive seasons,at age 35,and 36...

Red Wings' history...

Johan Franzen scored the first goal for the Detroit Red Wings this year...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play only two games in next nine days... so it will be hockey trivia time,this week,along with game scores...

analysis of game...

on Thursday,i noted that Holmstrom,and Zetterberg were not scoring so far,this season... who scored two goals,and had two assists,tonight? Henrik Zetterberg!!!! Tomas Holmstrom had a beautiful goal,on a deflection,of a shot,by Brad Stuart,and also had one assist... Lidstrom had three assists,and Pavel Datsyuk had the game-winner... have to note that Teemu Selanne scored his 610th goal,tied for 15th in goal scoring,in NHL history,for the Ducks(noting milestone)... a tough tight-playing game... Red Wings were down,3-1,in the second period,and,4-3(Selanne's goal)in the third period,before Zetterberg's,and Datsyuk's late game heroics... Zetterberg's second goal of night tied game,at 4,and Datsyuk ended it with a beautiful goal,with 11.4 seconds to play... Red Wings showed grit,guts,and determination,in coming back twice,in game,and played very well,most of game on defense,even though game score,was 5-4... they played a bad first half of game,on defense,giving up two goals,in 34 seconds,and the first three Anaheim goals,in a eight minute span(covering the last half minute of first period,and first seven minutes of second period),but came back with two goals,in last ten minutes of second period,to tie it,at 3,after two periods,setting up a dominant third period,for Red Wings... even though Selanne scored,to make it,4-3,Ducks,as a fan,you just had feeling that Red Wings would come back,once again,and honestly,it was a game that i felt that Red Wings were going to score in last minute,and Datsyuk did score game-winner...

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 5,Ducks 4... Datsyuk with winning goal,with just under 12 seconds to play;will readjust time of winning goal,when i give analysis of game,later...

Red Wings' news...

Anaheim plays Detroit,tonight,in Detroit... teams do not like each other... expect fisticuffs tonight... the last two fights that Pavel Datsyuk had were with the Anaheim Ducks,so when he fights,you know that they really hate each other,as teams go...

Wings' game score,and commentary...

Calgary outplayed Red Wings in first period,then Detroit went in for first period intermission,got pissed,and simply kicked Flames' butt,the last two periods,tying it in second period at 2,then clamped down in third period,and scored two goals to win game,4-2... winning goal was by Johan Franzen,whose goal,popped up over Miikka Kiprusoff's shoulder,and landed on the back of shoulder,and slid into goal... then Red Wings played perfect,or near-perfect defense,after the goal,by Franzen... Lidstrom,and Zetterberg scored their first goals of season,on great shots... Zetterberg scored first on a tic tac toe play,on a 2 on 1 play,to tie game,at one,then Calgary scored their second,and last,goal... they scored about 40 seconds,after Detroit tied it at one... the three goals,in the first period,were scored,in a matter of three minutes... Lidstrom scored on a 55 foot rocket from the blue line,after a dazzling display of puck control,by Pavel Datsyuk,who simply undressed the Calgary player,by putting puck on string,and going through player's legs... he passed puck to Lidstrom,who blew the puck past Kiprusoff,and scored... what a play!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Wings' game score...

Red Wings 4,Flames 2.... analysis tomorrow...

RIP Orange Hat Guy...

Kenneth Rucker,who was a season ticket holder,since 1972,was a fixture,and shown on screen during every home game,because he wore a orange knit cap,died Sunday,at age 63... his seat this year at the "Joe",will be orange in color,and tonight,was draped,in a orange knit hat,in memory of a great fan... rest in peace!!!!!!

commentary...

at morning skate,Red Wings truly are not happy,with start of season,even though,they have seven,out of a possible ten,points... they are not very happy,because their power play,and two major starters(Tomas Holmstrom,and Henrik Zetterberg),have not played well,in scoring points... Holmstrom has not scored a point,yet,and Zetterberg has not scored too many points,but has played good team defense,overall,and has not gotten out of the gate,offensively,too well... Babcock is miffed,because the Red Wings have played well,but not up to expectations,yet... i guess that they are grumpy,because they have as much talent as any NHL team,and they can not get gelled fast enough,for their tastes,nowadays... Babcock did say,"that we expect to come to the rink and win,and we(Red Wings)are not there,yet..." Watch out NHL,when Red Wings get everything clicking,on all cylinders,because a tough night,is coming your way!!!!!! i pity the team,or teams,that run into that buzzsaw,when it gets going full steam ahead!!!!!!!

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play Calgary Flames,at 4:30,in Detroit,tonight... game score tonight after game,and analysis of game late tonight,or tomorrow morning...

commentary...

the pundits are saying that the Red Wings are getting off slowly... at 3-1-1,i believe they are getting off to a good,not great,start... their power play,so far,has been sluggish,but they will improve,as they meld into one team... team defense,except for one game(Dallas),has been good... Howard has had a very good start,and getting used to the new players,on team... they may be the oldest team(average age)in the NHL,but they are very,very dangerous... Datsyuk,Holmstrom,and Zetterberg have not really clicked,on all cylinders,yet,but they will not stay quiet for long... they have too much grit,skill,and talent to stay immobile for a long time... with Modano,Hudler,and Franzen,in the mix,along with one of the best defenseman,in NHL history,in Lidstrom,they will roar to life soon... question:how many teams would love to have the Red Wings' dilemma,talent,and pedigree of success... answer:all twenty-nine other teams... the season has just started,and pundits have said that the Red Wings are getting slower,and older,by the game... Red Wings normally start slow,and yet,have picked up the pace,over the years... Red Wings have made playoffs 19 straight years,longest current streak of any pro sports team,and will be a playoff team this year,not struggling just to make it in... they,as a team,had 26 more days of rest,than the last two long playoff runs to the Stanley Cup Finals,in 2008,and 2009,which makes them more rested,and very hungry,for an another long run,this year,into the playoffs,and a chance at winning their 12th Stanley Cup championship... they have too much pure hockey sense,skill,and talent,not to be one of the best teams,in NHL,this year... why did the NHL schedule the Red Wings,to open home seasons,for four teams,this year... ratings,my dear father,pure ratings,and the top three teams for pure ratings,are the Penguins(Pittsburgh,Sidney Crosby),the Capitals(Washington,Alex Ovechkin),and the entire Detroit Red Wings team... the only other teams on that list would be the Montreal Canadiens,or Toronto Maple Leafs(for Canada),but those five teams are the marquee teams in NHL,bar none...

Griffiths' news...

with Red Wings not playing until Thursday,time to look at the Grand Rapids Griffins(Red Wings' American Hockey League team)... over the weekend,they swept Manitoba Moose,the last win,a 3-2 win,in Winnipeg,giving goaltender Joey MacDonald his 90th win,in goal,for the Griffins,tying Jimmy Howard's franchise record,for wins... they are tied,early in this season,for first place....

Red Wings' statistics for the season-long fight...

Red Wings have scored fourteen goals,given up twelve goals,in a 3-1-1 start,tied with Nashville,with seven points... Nashville has played one less game,and i know that it is early,but keeping you up-to-date is important... it will be updated,from time to time...

commentary...

Red Wings play Calgary,Thursday,at home... Red Wings are 3-1-1,so far,this season... Phoenix sucked,and Red Wings were disciplined in game,winning,2-1 in overtime... they needed win,after solid effort,and you could tell the Red Wings wanted the win last night,badly... Phoenix did not even get shot on goal,in overtime,being out-shot,by Red Wings,8-0,in overtime,and scored only goal with seconds,to play,in first period,but did very little,otherwise,throughout the game...

Red Wings' game score,and commentary,on game...

RED WINGS 2,COYOTES 1(overtime)... Phoenix kept shooting themselves in foot,with penalties,and two penalties,in overtime... if you give a NHL team eight power plays a game,like Phoenix did,you are going to pay on scoreboard,sooner,or later... the Phoenix goaltender stood on head,and had a great game,but his team did squat,in third period,and overtime,but fought like little pups,yapping at Red Wings,all night,and literally mugged Tomas Holmstrom in overtime(all four of them),for second penalty,of overtime,and they paid the final price,with a game winning goal... they play two more times in 21 days(of the four times they play,both on Saturday)... they do not like each other,at all... guess they are whining about the referees... blame yourself,Coyotes,not the referees,because you did not play well,and did squat,in third period,and you caused the loss,by being toughies,instead of playing hockey...

commentary...

Red Wings seem to be their opponent's favorite opponent,to open their home season...they opened home seasons for Pittsburgh(preseason-new arena),Chicago (Stanley Cup banner raising),Dallas,and even though Phoenix played two games in Prague,tonight is their official home opener,against,guess who?,Detroit... what fun!!!!!! game score later... analysis tomorrow...

hockey history...

on April,11,2004,at 17,575 feet,a group of Canadian climbers,on Mount Everest,Nepal,played a game of shinny to celebrate the 1970's Summit Series,between the Soviet Union,and Canada... it is the place that has the record of playing hockey,at attitude...

Red Wings' news...

Johan Franzen went out looking like he has concussion,and will be evaluated Thursday... hope he is not injured too badly....

game score,and commentary...

Dallas scored in first minute of play,and was never threatened tonight;scored four goals in first two periods... defense around our net was not in the building... they swept in from all over;not many shots,but Osggod did the olay to a bull,and Dallas scored four garbage(soft)goals,beat Red Wings to puck all over the rink,all night... final score:Dallas,4,Red Wings,1... funny fact:last year,Dallas beat Detroit three times(of the four games,they played)...i am starting to hate Dallas,almost as much as i hate Colorado....

commentary...

halfway through tonight's game,down,3-0 to Dallas,looking like sleepwalking through game... the three goals given up have been tic-tac-toe goals,great crisp passes,by Dallas,and Osgood has been nowhere to be found,in goal... i hate the way that they are playing right now... Wings have had power plays,in fact,they are on one right now,as i write this.... getting beat to the puck all over ice,by Dallas,like they are in quicksand... luckily,it is very early in season,but this really sucks;just terrible... game score,after game...

Red Wings' news...

Mike Modano goes back to Dallas,as a Detroit Red Wings' player,after 20 years of playing with the Stars,when Detroit plays Dallas,tonight... game score later,after game...

commentary...

the retirements of both Chris Chelios,and Kirk Maltby remind me of the years that i have enjoyed watching the Red Wings... Chelios played for three teams:Montreal,Chicago,and Detroit... played 25 years in the NHL,and wanted to play until he was 50 years ago... that was not to be,but his workout regimen was legendary,in terms of NHL standards.... he is hated in Chicago,his hometown,because he played for the Red Wings... the fans booed the fact that the Blackhawks wanted to honor him,in Chicago,when he retired,earlier this year...
Maltby was the best dollar that the Red Wings ever spent,because they got him off the waiver wire,from the Winnipeg Jets,for one Canadian dollar... four Stanley Cup championships,was a true grinder,and a team player,without parallel... when Kris Draper was demolished,by Colorado's Claude Lemieux,with a vicious hit that cut,and bloodied him up bad... in the next year,Maltby put a stamp on the Red Wings' dynasty,when he fought,basically pummeled,and again demolished the Avalanche mentally to the point,that Patrick Roy(Avalanche Hall of Famer)said that,"they won the Stanley Cup that night",after Red Wings won,6-5,on an overtime goal,scored,by,guess who,Kirk Maltby,39 seconds,into overtime... his sweater may never be raised to the rafters,but both of them are true legends of Hockeytown,and always be,and in the same breath,as Gordie Howe,Sid Abel,and Steve Yzerman,in my honest,and humble opinion...

Red Wings' news...

Kirk Maltby retired,as a Red Wings,yesterday,after being a member of four Stanley Cup championship teams(1997,1998,2002,2008)... a true Red Wing legend,and may he find fun in retirement!!!!

Red Wings' game score...

Colorado beats Detroit,in shootout,5-4.... got a point,but let point slip away... analysis tomorrow...

NHL,and Red Wings' news...

Brian Ralfalski has arthroscopic knee surgery today... timetable on return is not known,but i suspect that it will be 3-6 weeks,but it was done to"clean" up the knee... NHL.com says he will be out of action,3-4 weeks...

Red Wings' news...

Colorado plays Detroit,tonight,in one of only two games tonight... i despise Colorado,more than any team,outside division... game score after game...

Red Wings' news...

Mike Babcock signed four year extension,as coach,of Red Wings...

Red Wings' game scores...

opening game was against the Ducks... Pavel Datsyuk had a Gordie Howe hat trick(fight,goal,and an assist)... last fight for Datsyuk,was May 12,2009,against Ducks... must hate Anaheim...team was kidding him about losing Lady Byng(most gentlemanly player,which he has won four times,after fight)... crowd erupted when penalty was announced for Datsyuk... Mike Modano scored goal on his first shot on goal,of season... Jimmy Howard faced twenty-one shots,for his first shutout of season(a 4-0 whitewashing of the Ducks)...
second game was against the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks... Valtteri Filppula scored two goals-including game-winner,at 6:01,of third period... Todd Bertuzzi scored the other goal,in a 3-2 win,over the hated Blackhawks... defense was good around net,in last thirteen minutes... win spoiled Stanley Cup championship banner-raising for Chicago... Blackhawks have lost first two games,in overtime,against Colorado,in Denver,and now,against Red Wings,at home,in Chicago... hate Blackhawks,and loving them losing,the first two games,like Red Wings did last year... it was a back to back series of games,and they beat both opponents,with a passion that was not seen,until after Olympic break,last year,and they were rested,unlike last year,when they injured,most of the year,as a team... GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!! WATCH OUT NHL!!!!!!!

Red Wings' game scores...

Red Wings are,2-0,beating Anaheim,4-0,then beating Chicago,tonight,3-2... more later tomorrow... analysis too..

Red Wings' history...

Red Wings have won Stanley Cup eleven times(1936,1937,1943,1950,1952,1954,1955,1997,1998,2002,2008),most of any American-based team...

silly man...

Dan Rosen,of NHL.com,predicts the Detroit Red Wings,will play Washington Capitals,in 2011 Stanley Cup Finals... Silly prediction of the season,so far... too many good teams,and games to play,to be that stupid,or moronic... give me about 30 games to give an educated guess,and analysis,of this season...

NHL news....

NHL season opens tomorrow with a game,from Finland,at 9 am,Pacific time... Carolina Hurricanes vs. Minnesota Wild...

sports news...

there is an AP report,out of Detroit,that Mike Ilitch is negotiating with the owners of the NBA's Detroit Pistons to buy the team,and the arena(Palace of Auburn Hills)... that means one of many things that could happen:the Red Wings are temporarily moving into the arena,as they fix up Joe Louis Arena,a 31 year arena,and the oldest arena in NHL:they could leverage a deal,with Wayne County,and the city of Detroit,because both do not want Red Wings moved into the suburbs,even temporarily,for a new arena in downtown Detroit,or renovate Joe Louis Arena,themselves... it would make Mike Ilitch,the second owner in history,to own three pro sports teams in same city,as he owns the Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers,and the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings... bonus trivia question:who was the first owner to own three pro teams,in same city? answer:Ted Turner,who owned the Atlanta Braves,Atlanta Hawks,and the Atlanta Thrashers,all at same time...

NHL,and Red Wings news...

Mathieu Dandenault,who played thirteen years in NHL,nine years in Detroit,and four years,in Montreal,and won Stanley Cups,with the Red Wings retired today...

NHL news...

you talk about Detroit,being injured most of the time,last season... here is proof:Detroit had 307 man-games lost to injury,last year,fourth in the NHL...

Red Wings' news...

opening game is Friday,against Teemu Selanne,Jonas Hiller,and company,in the Anaheim Ducks,in Detroit...

Red Wings' exhibition...

Detroit lost to Pittsburgh,5-2,but exhibitions do not count... Friday,against Anaheim,does count...

NHL exhibition...

Red Wings do not like the Penguins,because when Tomas Holmstrom gets PENALTIES for slashing,unsportsmanlike conduct,and a ten minute misconduct,for an exhibition game,you know that there is a lot of bad blood between both teams,and this reminds me of the Detroit/Colorado blood feud,in mid 90's,to the early 2000's... watch out NHL,for both teams,this year... score later...

Red Wings' exhibition...

Red Wings lost to Toronto,4-2,but play final exhibition tomorrow,against Pittsburgh,with most of the regulars,in Detroit...

commentary...

the key to Red Wings' season will be goaltending,and whether they can be mostly healthy,as a team... with thirteen players over 30 years old,they needed rest after last season... major injuries to the team last year did two things,for Detroit,one positive,and one major negative,for the team... the positive was giving the minor leaguers a chance to play in Detroit;the negative was the star players basically played too much hockey,with the World Cup,and the Olympics,last year... Thursday night,is opening night,for the NHL,and i will be thinking about mom,because she kept telling me that she would not see me until June,and i would laugh,and Thursday night,i will be smiling broadly,saying that to mom,and maybe shedding a tear,too...

Red Wings' exhibition...

Detroit Red Wings destroyed Toronto Maple Leafs,7-3,tonight... scored three goals in first period,and third period... Jiri Hudler scored two goals,and Mike Modano had two assists... i know it is exhibition season,but it just shows what firepower they may have,this season...

NHL history...

in 1983-1984,Wayne Gretzky scored 100 points,in just 34 games... the next year,he did the feat,in 35 games,the second fastest in NHL history... Mario Lemieux did the feat,in 36 games,in 1988-1989... between them they have recorded the top twelve fastest seasons,as of 2009...